Owner: Onion Peels URL:http://blueonionsoftware.com Join Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:33:26 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: .NET, Technology, Life, Whatever Site statistics:Click here
Vista Firewall Control 32-bit version 2007-10-04 19:45:29 Microsoft has been touting the new Windows Firewall
in Windows Vista
, which it says for the first time includes an outbound filter as well as an inbound filter. Outbound filters are important because it keeps programs on your computer from making outbound connections to the Internet without your permission. Great idea but the problem is that the Windows firewall is all but impractical to manually configure. Vista Firewall Control
is a free program from Sphinx Software that configures the Windows Vista firewall for you. In operation, it's similar to other firewall programs. Once it detects an outbound connection it checks to see if you have approved/disapproved it's use. If it's the first time, it pops up a dialog asking for your permission. There's a plus version
(isn't there always a plus version) with more capabilities but the free version will likely serve your needs. This is a great way to keep your computer from making unwanted outbound connections.
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GOOG-411 graduates from Labs 2007-10-12 17:54:31 The idea is so simple and yet brilliant. Call the toll free number 1-800-GOOG-411 (4664-411) and using just your voice, get information about local businesses. It even dials for you. The voice recognition is excellent and apparently required extensive training. From Google: It's a voice-based local search service, which means it uses speech-recognition algorithms to recognize what a caller is saying and then finds the local business information he or she is looking for. These algorithms had to be trained with real utterances, much like how a baby learns language by listening to its parents. Since its unveiling in April, GOOG-411 has successfully served millions of callers. And we owe a big thanks to everyone who took our speech recognition algorithms from infancy to adulthood! To mark the occasion, they're celebrating with a brand new website that includes a fun video.
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Vista One Month Later 2007-10-17 19:30:06 I mentioned earlier that I couldn't figure out why people hate Vista
so much. I've found it to be stable fast and fun to use. I suspect the people who are railing on it so much either haven't used it or are predisposed to disliking anything Microsoft. Interestingly, I haven't found the need to tweak Vista much. It just works. Also, it seems like I run fewer applications on Vista because I just don't seem to need as many as I did in XP. For instance, I have not installed a desktop search utility because Vista comes with one that works well. It's been about a month now and I've used the system enough to think that most of the programs important to me are installed now. Here's a quick snap shot of what I've installed to date. AxCrypt - File Encryption for Windows. Right-click integration with Windows Explorer makes AxCrypt the easiest way to encrypt individual files in Windows. Double-click integration makes it as easy to open, edit and save encrypted files as it is to work Read more:Month
Cool Clocks 2007-10-28 07:59:31 Any reader of this site soon discovers I like calendars. The corollary to this of course are clocks. Poodwaddle.com offers a myriad of flash clocks you can run on any web site. The selection is extensive and inventive. My favorite is the earth clock.
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USB Flash DriveTip 2007-11-02 11:14:50 Here's a simple idea for identifying your USB flash drive. Add a file called Owner.txt to the root folder with your name, address, phone number, email and other contact information. I also offer a reward of replacing the USB flash drive with an equivalent size/quality if it's returned. If you're like most people, the data on the USB flash drive is worth more to you than the memory stick itself. There's no guarantee that the finder will return it but at least you've given them some motivation to try.
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Testing BlogJet 2007-10-30 18:20:57 I have installed an interesting application - BlogJet. It's a cool Windows client for my blog tool (as well as for other tools). Get your copy here: http://blogjet.com
"Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid; humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond imagination." -- Albert Einstein
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Instantly Create a Mobile Version of your Blog with MoFuse 2007-11-07 20:06:12 This is one easy way to setup mobile content for your blog. Signup, point MoFuse at your feed and add the mobile chicklet to your website. There's an SMS widget as well. See the sidebar for an examples of the chicklet and widget. Integration with Google AdSense is a snap. Include your AdSense publisher ID and Google AdSense ads are inserted into the mobile content automatically. Makes me wonder why feedburner.com didn't do this. Check out the mobile content for this blog. What is MoFuse MoFuse, or Mobile
Fusion, is a web application that allows content publishers to easily and instantly create a mobile version of their blog or website. How Does It Work If your blog or website has an RSS feed, we will use that as the main source of content for your new mobile site. This will allow you to create your mobile site using MoFuse and forget about updating it. All you have to do is keep posting to your blog! You can also create static content pages. This gives you the ability to have pa
Dual Monitor Wallpaper 2007-11-05 08:59:49 I have dual 1600 x 1200 screens here at work and have been trying to find some high quality photographs that will span the two monitors. I favor nature and landscape scenes although other subject matters are welcome. Problem is, I just can't find anything out there. I see a lot of 1024 dual monitor stuff but they just doesn't look that good expanded. The other thing I've found annoying is that some sites say they have 1600x1200 but then make me go through every photo to find the ones in my preferred size. So dear reader, if you know of links that fit the criteria above, please send them along. Much appreciated.
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Daylight Savings Time is ending, time to fall back 2007-11-04 07:41:34 From the Windows Vista Team Blog
In 2007, DaylightSavings
Time started on 11th March 2007, three weeks earlier than normal. Daylight Savings
Time is ending this year one week later than usual, on 4th November (tomorrow). Because in 2007 we've had four more weeks of Daylight Savings Time
, your PC's date and time may be affected when Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend.
If you are a Windows Vista user and have Automatic Updates configured for Windows Update, you most likely already have the necessary update to ensure your date and time will make the change come the 4th.
However, if you are unsure whether your Windows Vista PC has the update, you can go to the Daylight Savings Time Help and Support Center at Microsoft.com and use the associated wizard to get the necessary update for your PC. If your Windows Vista PC already has the update, when attempting to install the update you will be alerted that it does not apply to your system.
Another way to check to see if your Wi
Safari Beta for Windows 2007-11-17 15:27:08 Amid all the announcements from Apple this week I found an updated beta of Safari
quietly inserted. I've blogged about Safari before and found it a very good browser even with the bugs. The update fixes many of the issues Windows
users found annoying. Chief among these is that you can easily resize and minimize the browser via standard windows commands and operations. Secondly, and almost equally important, is that you now have a choice between the Apple font smoothing technology and ClearType. It's great to have a choice on something so personal and subjective as font rendering. Safari works great under Vista. I've experienced no issues like crashes or excessive memory or slow downs. Is it faster than Firefox and IE as Apple claims? That's hard to say objectively. Subjectively, it certainly is no slouch. Pages do seem to snap to life a bit quicker but it's not a deal winner by any stretch. Firefox and IE are no laggards on my system. There are some issues that keep it from bei
Microsoft Office Accounting 2008 Free! 2007-11-15 17:53:18 Microsoft
has updated its Office Accounting software, and just like last year, the company is offering free and paid versions. Office Accounting 2008 will set you back $199, while the slimmed down Office Accounting Express 2008 is available for free. If you run a small business with international clients, you might want to shell out a few bucks for the professional accounting package with support for things like multiple currencies and multi-user access. But if you're self employed and are just looking for a way to manage accounts, track invoices and bill payment, and a few other basic business features, the free version looks pretty nice. The 2008 edition also includes Spanish language support and integration with new online banking services. [from Download Squad]
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My Favorite VS 2008 Feature 2007-11-14 18:41:12 Visual Studio 2008 will be releasing soon. It's a nice evolutionary development of Visual Studio 2005 with no jarring changes or surprises. In general, things just seem to work better. I've been developing actively with beta 2 and have found it to be a pleasure to use. There are lots of little (and big) improvements but easily my favorite is the the "Remove and Sort" usings command. Click it and it will remove your unused using statements (say that 10 times) and sort them. Something us anal retentive types just can't resist.
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See 5000 Years Of Religion In 90 Seconds 2007-11-22 20:57:26 If you like history, you'll enjoy this. It's flashed based video that shows the expansion of religions over time. See 5000 Years
Of Religion
In 90 Seconds
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Ala Crate - Nice 2007-11-19 20:40:24 I'm starting a new category and calling it Naughty & Nice in honor of the season. I buy products online all the time and prefer it to shopping at retail stores. Of course, like all things in life, there are good vendors and bad vendors. I'm documenting my online buying experiences under this category in hopes it will help others. I do not get paid for these endorsements. I simply relate my experiences as I see them.And the first entry goes to Ala Crate
. Ordered a Logitech V270 Bluetooth Mouse on Friday afternoon and it was in my hands Monday evening. Product shipped within hours of ordering and was sent priority mail with tracking number. Nice!There online catalog leaves something to be desired but if you do find something you like, I expect you'll have it in short order.
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How to Check C# Parameters 2007-11-27 18:56:04 I just downloaded a sample from The Code Project and as usual spent 20 minutes cleaning up the code. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the contributions and use them often. What bothers me is that many of what the industry considers "best practices" are simply ignored in these contributions. One of the most fundamental "best practices" is to check the validity of parameters. What's even more annoying is that it can be done in one line of code if you don't mind a little unusual line formatting. if (item == null) throw new ArgumentNullException("item");
Now that wasn't so hard?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Side note: Sure would be nice if C# allowed something like this:
item ?? throw new ArgumentNullException("item"); // Not valid!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strings are a bit more work.
if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(item))
{
throw (item == null)
? new ArgumentNu Read more:Check
OpenDNS = Instant Speed Boost 2007-11-25 07:28:28 Want to improve your Internet connection right now? Simple. Just head over to OpenDNS
and follow the directions to setup your computer or router to point to OpenDNS. If you're not sure what a DNS is or why you should care, seriously, take 5 minutes to head over to the site and read their excellent materials. Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention the service is FREE! Is it really faster? In my case, yes. I have a rule about performance increases. If I can't see it, feel it or otherwise sense it through casual use, then I don't think it's an improvement worth having. I figure most people like myself don't notice performance increases of 10% or less. Well, I do notice the difference when using OpenDNS. Probably has something to do with the Comcast DNS (my ISP) which has had news worthy outages in the past. YMMV. Still, even without the performance benefits there are good reasons to use OpenDNS. If your a parent (as I am) then you'll appreciate the filtering. You can block content rig Read more:Speed
, Boost
C# 2.5? | Did it with .NET 2007-11-23 11:17:42 Hey, now here's a tip that's really useful and something I didn't realize. Many of the features of C# 3.0 are available when targeting the .NET 2.0 framework when developing with Visual Studio 2008. Visual Studio 2008's multi-targeting support for compiling projects to different versions of the .NET Framework is very powerful. Multi-targeting is a compelling feature because it enables users to continue working on solutions that target .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0 while upgrading to the latest and greatest IDE. What isn't obvious is that all projects, regardless of target, are compiled with the C# 3.0 compiler. That means users can employ many of the new C# 3.0 language features in legacy projects. The only language features that can't be used are those that require library support from .NET Framework 3.5, in essence, LINQ, Expression Trees and Extension Methods. Implicitly-typed local variables, lambda expressions, auto-implemented properties, object and collection initializer
Logmein release remote control for Macs 2007-12-04 18:15:20 One of my favorite all time web applications, Logmein
.com allows you to remote into your desktop using only your browser. I've blogged about this tool in the past. It's absolutely fantastic. Mac users can now take advantage of this free service as well with Logmein Free for Mac. This just totally rocks.
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Add CopyTo and MoveTo to context menus in Vista 2007-12-04 18:04:21 Here's a fun little productivity tip. Add CopyTo and MoveTo to your right-click context menu in windows explorer. Saves you having to open a second explorer window or navigate away from your current location. Simply open notepad and copy the following lines into it. Watch out for the word wrap. It should total three lines. Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAllFilesystemObjectsshellexContextMenuHandlers{C2FBB630-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAllFilesystemObjectsshellexContextMenuHandlers{C2FBB631-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}] Name it copyto.reg (or download this file). Double click copyto.reg to add the registry settings.
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iPod Battery Depot - Nice 2007-12-02 14:46:27 Recently I had to replace the battery on my aging iPod
. iPod Battery Depot
sells replacement batteries for a variety of electronic devices. In the case of the iPod, they sell batteries that are larger than the originals. They also have videos on how to replace the batteries. I ordered my battery and it arrived promptly along with some tools to help pry open the iPod case. Try as a might however, I couldn't get the darn thing to budge. Going back to the web site, I bought the "Pro" installation service. Normally, it's $35 but because I bought the battery, they knocked $5 off the price to cover the shipping I paid on the first order. Nice! They sent a postage paid box to ship my iPod in. A week later it returned ship shape and ready for use. What I liked about iPod Battery Depot is they didn't let me fail. By giving me options and not penalizing me for trying it myself, they made me one happy customer. P.S. I don't get paid or otherwise compensated for these comments. I'm just a
Tracking Santa, then and now 2007-11-30 15:17:09 Here's a great story about how NORAD got started helping kids track Santa
on Christmas Eve. Don't know what I'm talking about? Head over to NORAD's website for more information. Good reading!
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My Christmas Gadget Wish List 2007-12-10 18:53:41 Everyone has a list of gadgets they want. I'm not what you would call a "gadget boy" and yet here I am with a list of gadgets as long as my sleeve. Guess my inner geek is expressing itself more than usual. Apple AirPort Express I can't count the number of times I've been in meetings where there are not enough network connections. Spyderco byrdRench Multi-Tool A unique combination of pliers, crescent wrench and bit driver not found on other multi-tools. Sony Reader There's been a lot of noise about the Amazon Kindle as of late but I actually like the form and feel of the Sony Reader better. It can't download ebooks directly but that's not a deal breaker for me. iLuv i903 Bluetooth Headphones Because wires suck... Â HP MedaSmart Home Server Must have more power... Â Pin Clock - Thousands of perfectly aligned movable pins raise and lower to display the time in a 3D display. The pins magically reshuffle every minute by lifting and retracting to form t Read more:Gadget
, Christmas
Colorful error messages may not be the best choice 2007-12-09 15:51:37 The error
message below appeared on our corporate intranet site the other day. While I can empathize with the programmer's frustration here it was not a good choice. Especially since it is likely offensive to some. Still, I did get a chuckle. Word to the wise, always remember that your work is public whether source code, log messages
or UI. I would not want to be this programmer or his supervisor for that matter when management comes calling.
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PDC 2008! 2007-12-06 19:54:03 http://msdn.microsoft.com/pdc Announcing PDC08 October 27-30, 2008 Pre-conference October 26, 2008 Los Angeles, California PDC is the definitive Microsoft event for software developers and architects focused on the future of the Microsoft platform. Beg, steal or borrow your way to this event. It always delivers with fun, jam back information and industry buzz. Mark your calendars and save the date.
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Give the Gift of Safe 2007-12-06 19:41:11  I know, I'm an OpenDNS fanboy. It really is a great service. First, you get to enjoy the brief, funny video Chris put together explaining the benefits of OpenDNS to his skeptical father. If you've ever done family tech support, you're going to recognize every step of the way. ;-) Second, you can share the extra protection of OpenDNS with your friends and family, all via a simple email Watch the video and share the gift: http://www.giftofsafe.com/
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Safari Web Inspector 2007-12-13 19:37:22 I seem to be using the Windows beta of Safari
more and more. I can't say exactly why. Some how it just feels right to me. One thing I do miss is the excellent Firebug plug-in for Firefox. But fret no more! There is something similar in Safari called Web Inspector
. It requires that you add a line to the preferences file to enable. Instructions can be found here. The Web Inspector can be opened by right clicking anywhere on a web page and choosing Inspect Element. Once open, it highlights the node on the page as it is selected in the hierarchy. You can also search for nodes by node name, id and CSS class name.
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Repairing IE7 in Vista 2007-12-24 10:30:00 I've been using Vista
on my new laptop for 3 months now and still like it. I'm puzzled why there is such hatred leveled at this operating system. CNet in fact called it one of the 5 worst technologies of 2007. I guess I've just been lucky. Yesterday, I hit my first real issue and I'm not even sure it's a Vista issue so much as an IE7 issue. Anyway, I couldn't open web pages in IE7 without getting JavaScript errors. Even Google's home page caused issues. I usually use Safari or Firefox for browsing so it wasn't a big deal. Still, the one thing I find IE7 better for is developing ASP.NET applications in Visual Studio 2008. The integration is just better with IE7 in this one instance (no surprise here I suppose). Well, after spending hours searching forums and trying everything from resetting IE to sacrificing a small goat, I found a message board entry that suggested re-registering the JavaScript engine (Jscript.dll). In hindsight it should have been the first thing I trie
The True measure of software quality 2008-03-11 12:17:01 This is probably closer to the truth than many of us would care to admit. When people ask me what WTF means I tell them politely that it means "Where's the fault?". Any other inventive meanings?
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Cigars International - Nice! 2008-03-10 11:40:16 I've been buying my cigars for years from this outfit. They have the best prices, the best service and their reviews are spot on in my opinion. For even better deals, get on their mailing list. About twice a week you get an email with limited time offers. The email deals are often outstanding and can represent a sizeable savings. Highly recommended. P.S. I don't get paid or otherwise compensated for these comments. I'm just a guy who likes to buy stuff on the Internet and report my experiences.
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