Fri, 12 Nov 2004
Installing FireFox Extensions
One of FireFox's best features is it's community of developers and the
third party extensions they create. While it's always been pretty easy
to install these, over time, this mechanism has grown to be more secure
and less user friendly; a common trade-off. The checks it made (for
example you could only install new extensions from certain sites by
default) were rational they forced people to either download and
install or dig around in the Options screens until they found the
correct settings.
With the release of version 1.0 the process has become a lot simpler. If you try and install an extension from a site that isn't in the current list of acceptable download sites a bar pops up under the toolbars and explains what's happening. On the far right is an "Edit Options..." button. If you click this then the 'Allowed Sites' dialog box appears with the URL already entered. All you need to do is think about the consequences and either hit allow or cancel. And it doesn't need a restart.
Well I was impressed.
Like this post? - Digg Me! | Add to del.icio.us! | reddit this!
Posted: 2004/11/12 20:42 | /tools/firefox | Permanent link to this entry | This entry + same date
Upgrading to FireFox 1.0 -- Extension Updating
I've just upgraded my main machines web browser to FireFox 1.0 and I was
pleasantly surprised by its ability to upgrade some of the third party
extensions I use. While I've historically bitched about the changes in the
extension mechanisms and packages it seems that all the pain was for a
good reason.
On the first run of the new version I was shown the extensions that wouldn't work and then prompted to search for upgraded versions. Twenty seconds later and over 75% of them (I use some very old extensions that have had development stopped as better solutions became available) were upgraded and working nicely. Very impressive.
Like this post? - Digg Me! | Add to del.icio.us! | reddit this!
Posted: 2004/11/12 20:42 | /tools/firefox | Permanent link to this entry | This entry + same date
Code Brews -- Time to 'borrow' an Idea
Over at Longhorn blogs Bill Evjen has posted an entry
about Code Brews, an event where a small group of techs
meet up and, by the sound of it, have a cross between a show and tell
and a number of short tutorials. I have to say I'm very jealous.
Now that I'm working as a full time sysadmin I don't get to spend any real time writing code so just to keep my hand in I read a number of developers blogs to keep abreast of the emerging ideas. I think Code Brews would be an excellent way to combine good company and neat tech into a single night while actually learning something without the grief of having to start from scratch on your own.
Maybe it's time to look at Skype / VNC / Video conferencing and doing this kind of thing remotely.
Like this post? - Digg Me! | Add to del.icio.us! | reddit this!
Posted: 2004/11/12 20:42 | /events | Permanent link to this entry | This entry + same date
Wrong Numbers are Never Engaged.
If you don't believe me then pick ten random numbers from a phone book and
try it for yourself!
I don't like phones, despite the fact I now have four in my life, work mobile, personal mobile, home phone and work desk phone, I don't think they add anything to my life; instead I think they make it worse.
My home phone isn't plugged in, it (and the line) are there for external calls because it's cheaper to pay for the calls and the line than it would be for making the same calls via a mobile. Now on to my personal mobile, I have this with me most of the time but it comes with a lovely feature called vibrate (and not in that way...). My friends can call me when ever and if I'm asleep or busy I can ignore it without disturbing anyone else. And then easily see who I missed.
My work phone is a Treo phone/PDA combination and, while being quite bulky, has a permanent GPRS Internet connection. It's great to have (the company pay for the calls ;)), it lets me have Net (and by extension SSH and Terminal Services) access from almost anywhere and has a killer feature, almost no one has the number for it!.
And now on the phone that drives me nuts, my desk phone in the office. It rings when someone tries to call me. Considering most of my work is mental and requires at least a little concentration this is a bigger annoyance than you may think. But not only that, it rings when someone calls ANYONE ELSE in the company and they either don't answer or they have busy lines.
When you actually think about it phones are amazingly rude, they sit there and make noise until you pay them immediate attention. If you ignore it then you either drive other people nuts or you get a little 'chat' on why professionalism requires you to answer your phone. Note for the world: first person to raise this issue with me will never dance again.
So if phones are inventions of the devil what's the solution? For me it's email. It's non-intrusive, it gives you an audit trail (never underestimate this one!) and you can respond to them with the attention they deserve, when your schedule permits. Phones... BAH!
Like this post? - Digg Me! | Add to del.icio.us! | reddit this!
Posted: 2004/11/12 00:16 | /nottech | Permanent link to this entry | This entry + same date
KT Tunstall -- False Alarm EP
I made some noise on the subject of the great KT Tunstall on Jools Holland
appearance a little while ago. After spending some time looking around I've
finally managed to get my hands on her False Alarm EP.
The CD contains four tracks, False Alarm, Heal Over, Miniature Disasters and Throw me a rope. While the first two are respectable songs in their own rights the latter two are an excellent taster of the album to come (in December now, allegedly due to a family of mice in the printing facility...).
Miniature Disasters is my favourite song of the four, upbeat backing with great vocals (which reminded me a lot of Stings work from about two years ago) and well worth the cost of the EP on it's own. The last track, Throw me a rope, is a good showcase for the singers voice as well as a touching song in it's own right.
I think the EP release was a great idea, it provides an accessible, and quite cheap, intro to the singers style and abilities. Now to book a ticket for her ICA gig...
Like this post? - Digg Me! | Add to del.icio.us! | reddit this!
Posted: 2004/11/12 00:00 | /nottech | Permanent link to this entry | This entry + same date
Copyright © 2000-2005 Dean Wilson
