Mar/100
iFreeze iPhone for no Wi-Fi
Ok, so check this out. I have an iPhone 3G 8GB and I bought 6 or 9 months ago. Since I’m on T-Mobile and not AT&T, I need to jailbreak it and unlock it which all went great. I’ve been using it for this entire time without a hiccup until this past weekend. I grabbed it to check my mail, but it wasn’t connect to my home Wi-Fi network. Weird as it supposed to auto-connect. After several minutes of playing and tweaking, still not connected. I was presented with the message “Unable to connect to blah” everytime.
Over the next few days I reset my home router, changed the SSID, changed the password, changed the security type (WPA, WPA2 and WEP). Nothing worked. It would no longer connect to my work wi-fi either. I tried resetting my network connection settings to no avail. I resorted to restoring it with the jailbroken firmware only to remember AFTER that once you restore, you then need to download the unlocking app from Cydia to get it to work on T-Mobile. Well, with no wi-fi, how am I going to do that? I turned my super-slick iPhone into a glorified iTouch. Few more avenues of tweaking and even letting a co-worker, whose a certifiable genius in all things gadgety, work with it and still nothing.
Jump ahead to this morning. I was doing a last ditch effort to search on the Goog’s for a solution. I came across the most odd solution ever, but I was desperate. What was this solution? Put it in the freezer. Yup, you read right. The Freezer.
45 minutes in the freezer and I took it out. So cold I could barely hold on to it. Turned it on, went the wi-fi screen and was presented with a lengthy list of networks in our building immediately, whereas before it took a few “searching rounds” to find some and then not all. I tapped, entered the password and Voila! I connected! Eureka! The freezer worked! I opened Cydia, downloaded Ultrasn0w, and now my brick is a phone again! Oh how I missed you my sweet!
Moral to the story? Turn your iPhone into a Popsicle if it won’t connect to a wi-fi network.
Dec/090
Day 1 of Playstation 3 Ownership
So I’m a devout PC gamer. Or at least was.
Here’s where it begins. Ever since my first computer in 7th grade, an Acer Aspire Desktop with an Intel 486 processor, 500MB hard drive, and, if memory serves me right, 512KB or ram, I have been obsessed with everything computers! Then I discovered that GAMES, of all things, run great on computers! Eureka!, I know, right? Anyways, this obsession started with “Virtual Fighter” and continued onto Warcraft 2, StarCraft, The Sims, Call of Duty series, and countless others.
About 3 years ago I was able to finally build my dream, albeit not a frolicking in the meadows of raw, unadulterated computing power dream, machine. Dual core Intel, nVidia graphics, 2GB ram, etc. I was finally on the path to gaming heaven. I was fully hooked on the Call of Duty series games and could not stop playing them. This brings me to this past summer when I decided that I should spend my time else where and not game so much. I listed my computer on CraigsList and sold it with most all my computer games. Yes, even some of my later CoD games.
Fast forward to about a month ago when, like a 747 hitting a flock of geese in mid-air, I realized that I was an idiot for selling my computer because the newest and most anticipated CoD game of all time, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, released. Well, needless to say, I am too poor to buy… scratch that… build a new computer. So what’s a gamer to do with nothing to game on? Sure my Macbook Pro met the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM specs for the game, but what an atrocity that would have been to play! Naturally, it popped into my head to annoy, bother, and sometimes beg my lovely wife for a gaming console for Christmas. After several failed attempts and even a few spats, it was settled. If I could get everything I wanted for UNDER $300, it was a deal. I could get it.
The hunt began.
I decided, almost right away, on a Playstation 3. It’s a no-brainer really. Plays games with mind-blowing graphics. It’s style-ish. And it plays Blu-Ray movies! What more could a guy want? So now where to get it. After searching for weeks (yes, even during the approval process), I found the place. A refurb shop where I could get a 40GB model complete with manuals, controller, and all cables necessary for $220! I ordered it (I’ll never order from them again, mind you, but that’s for a different story, or rather, a rant). Now to buy the game that took the industry (and my sanity) by storm! Naturally I looked to Newegg.com to see what they were doing (I love Newegg). To my great joy, they happened to be offering the very game I so desired with a $5 off promo code right on the page itself! Oh, and what’s this I see? Free Shipping? It is all coming together so nicely! Add to cart, do a little math with the total from the console purchase and come to find out, I can even get an HDMI cable if it’s under $13 dollars! Found the same one I have hooked up between my TV and my DVD player for $9 on Newegg also. The clouds parted, rays of sunshine shown down on me and I heard the angles singing! Voila! I ordered it all! Now to wait.
*Jeopardy music playing for a week and a half*
Finally the day arrived! I unbox the Playstation 3 and set it on the counter to warm up from being left on the doorstep in sub-freezing temps for hours (yeah, I’m a little cautious about making sure things have a proper start). Play with the my daughter for a couple hours, give her a bath, brush teeth, feed the “fishy” in her room, and finally, tuck her in. Goodnight little princess.
Now it’s time for the angles to sing again!
I carefully carry the entire package into the living room where in previous days I have cleared a spot and prepared all possible connections in anticipation of this day. I hook up the HDMI cable, the network cable, and finally the power cable. With a quick flip of the main power switch on the back, I can almost hear the power surging through the circuitry screaming “PLAY ME!”. I slide the beautiful piece of entertaining eye-candy into it’s spot and gently lay my finger on the touch-sensitive power “button”. BEEP! It turns on and I hear the unmistakable start-up sounds from the TV.
I now am looking at a screen saying it detected and HDMI connection and if I want to use this (”Yes” or “No”). I grab the controller, which is connected by the USB cable at this time, and use the D-pad to move to “Yes”, but nothing happens. I try again, nothing. I look all around the controller and the 1-4 controller number indicators are not on. Not sure what to do at this point. I search the manuals, but nothing. I then remember the “Reset” button underneath the controller and hunt in vein for something small enough to stick in there to press with. Nothing. At this point, I’m almost ready to call my lovely wife, who is out with her sister for a night on the town, and tell her to pick up a new one at the store on her way home. But then I remember a little trick I once had to use on a wireless mouse to do the same thing, push the “Reset” button. I run to the bathroom and find a pair of my wife’s earrings. No, not to wear. To use the stud to press the button. So I anxiously press the button and try to use it again to select “Yes”. Nothing. No lights on the indicators. Nothing at all. Now I’m starting to get mad. I then try again, but this time I hold the button down. I decided to hold the button down until something happened or until I fell asleep, whichever came first. After what seemed like a lifetime, I see the indicator lights light up! Score! I’ve done it! Now to press the “PS” button to get a controller number assigned. Voila! I’m now holding controller #1 and navigating my way through the menus.
I’ll spare you on the rest of the set up, just software updates, setting time, users, PSN login, etc.
Now onto the “Shot heard around the world”. Modern Warfare 2. I put it in the drive and it does it’s thing and launches. Game Update download required. I let it go through and watch as my screamingly fast Comcast cable pipe piles the data into the PS3. Update successful, screen boundaries set, and on the main menu! I’ve decided to go through the single player campaign first for 2 reasons: I always do SP first; and I didn’t want to look like a fool in MP having NEVER played a shooter with a controller before.
With the game’s manual laying on my lap open to the page that tells me what button does what, I start going through the in-game tutorial course. I failed the first time. I go again. Horrible. I decide to go again. Horrible again. Again. Again. Again. Finally, after what seemed like 10 tries, I decide I may have the minimum skill necessary to do this. I select the easiest difficulty setting and continue. The main campaign starts and I’m like a bull in a china shop! Nearly detonating gernades in the middle of my squad when I mean to shoot the gun at distant enemies. Can’t control my movements worth a damn. This is going to be a long road to success, I fear. Nonetheless, I will prevail and it will be gloriously fun!
Stay tuned for more updates!
Sep/090
Domain For Sale: pcplayeronline.com
Here is a great opportunity for any PC enthusiast to start a great and memorable website! I own the domain “pcplayeronline.com” and am selling it. Please contact me to learn more details if you are interested.
Mar/090
Scalability – Key to Success in Programming
It doesn’t matter what language you are writing in or what the application is, an important key to being a successful programmer in today’s industry is Scalability.
It can be more difficult, in some instances, to program with this philosophy, but it is much more productive in the future.
If you’re unfamiliar with what I’m talking about, take this example: You are charged with the task of writing a message alerting system. At the current time, only one message will be alerted so you write the system specifically for that one message. 2 weeks from now, a new module is introduced to your application that requires a message to be alerted as well. So you duplicate the functionality of the first message alerting system specifically for the second message. After a while, a few more module are introduced and you now have, potentially, a few hundred lines of code that are dedicated to alerting messages, but are nearly identical with the exception of the message itself. Then your boss throws another wrench in the works by telling you the message displaying needs to have a certain feature upon acceptance of the message. Now you have to go back to all of the previous message scripts and add in the same change.
This is where scalability in the initial writing of the code would have saved time, file size, and headaches. Initially, the messages could have been added to an array or an object as they were generated. After all messages were generated, you have one function dedicated to looping through the array or object and displaying the messages one at a time or all in a string, etc. With this type of architecture, you now only have 1 function to update with bug fixes or the new acceptance feature instead of, potentially, several or hundreds!
I’ve found it’s best to always think this way. You never know when you will need to use that function again.
Feb/090
Washing Aquarium Substrate Gravel
An easy and effective way to wash substrate gravel is to take as much as your two hands can hold together (no more!), and dump it into a colander for draining spaghetti and other noodles. Then, over a bucket in the bathtub or utility sink, run constant water over the gravel while agitating it with your hands or by constantly swishing the colander side-to-side until the water runs clean and clear. Now you can dump the muddy water down the drain and the larger pieces that made it through the colander will stay in the bottom to be dumped outside or in the garbage. That’s it!
Back-story:
I’ve decided to pick up a new hobby outside of my web programming. This new idea comes on the heals of watching how entranced my daughter is when looking at Grandpa’s immersive 100 gallon planted aquarium with several different types of fish and other life forms swimming and crawling about.
I’ve picked up a 20 Gallon fish tank kit complete with hood, fluorescent lamp, heater, filter, net, thermometer, and a few miscellaneous items at my local department store. My very next purchase was Seachem Flourite substrate for growing plants within the aquarium. The bag says the gravel has been pre-washed, but it may be a good idea to rinse again before using. I’m going to say that it is virtually a requirement to wash it and wash it good. Here’s why:
After rinsing it out as well as I thought I needed to, I proceeded in putting approximately 2 to 3 inches in the bottom of my empty aquarium. Then I placed a small, rinsed-off coffee cup saucer on the surface of the gravel and started pouring the water into the tank, onto the saucer as to not disturb the layout of the gravel. After getting the tank full, the water was a brown, murky color and I could not even see to the back where the filter and heater were.
I plugged in the heater and filter and figured the filter would do the cleaning job for me. After almost 24 hours of full flow filtering, the water was barely cleaner. I then decided to do it all over again… I cyphined out the water and scooped up the gravel. After starting to wash it again I realized how much I had missed the first time… This time it will be much better.
Jan/090
PHP Regular Expressions
I’m not sure who all is with me on this one, but regular expressions can make even a seasoned programmer cry. Understanding these cryptic sequences of seemingly random characters can be a daunting task and will turn a lot of “professional” programmers off. I, for one, have found ways around using them because the shear time it can take to read or create one can throw a project way off budget.
However, I have found the solution to understanding and learning them. I don’t find my own way around them anymore, I jump in head first and have fun doing them! PHPRO.ORG has a tutorial called “Introduction to PHP Regex” written by Kevin Waterson. What a find! This has helped me immensely with understanding and writing Regular Expressions. This article is worth a look because it’s the best one I have found on the web yet.
http://www.phpro.org/tutorials/Introduction-to-PHP-Regex.html
Enjoy!
Dec/080
SSH Slow Login Fixed
I run this site, as well as others, on an Ubuntu Linux machine. After installation of everything, it was running good except my SSH / SFTP login was reeeeally slow. I would type my user name and the hit enter. Then I would wait for 10-15 seconds before it would prompt me for my password. It was really bothersome so I started looking for a solution. After approximately 10 minutes of looking, I found it. Thanks to “conjur3r” over at the Ubuntu forums, I have discovered that putting “UseDNS no” into my “sshd_config” file makes ssh skip using DNS to resolve hosts.
Here’s the link to the original thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=630623
Dec/080
Opening and Closing PHP
The easiest thing to do in PHP is to start a page. All you need is an opening tag at the beginning and a closing tag at the end. These tags are as follows:
<?php // PHP code here ?>
Thats it. Nothing else is needed to start and end a PHP page.
Dec/080
My Mind on the Web
You found it. My mind. My CPU. Stay tuned to read more about my experiences and my knowledge on web development and more specifically, PHP and MySQL.