Managed Digital Camera Control

Coolness....  Not sure what I would use this for yet but it is nice to know of its existence.

Sunday, November 30, 2003 11:00:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related | .Net

Smaller Wi-Fi Cards Emerging

Excellent.... Do I dare ad Wi-Fi as a requirement to my Smart Phone requirements list? 

(Note:  Low power is always a relative term.)

Sunday, November 30, 2003 10:44:31 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related

Explicit vs. Non-Explicit Interface Implementation and the CLR Internals

This is an old post but I love IL/CLR implementation details like this.  Thanks Chris!

Sunday, November 30, 2003 10:28:23 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related | .Net

Connecting Outlook 2003 to Exchange 2003 over HTTP

I tried to connect to Exchange over HTTP today.  Unfortunately, it didn't work very cleanly for me.  When I went to the connections tab in Outlook 2003 there was no option for connecting to Exchange over HTTP.  This article mentioned KB 331320, which provides a link to a download for the Windows XP Patch of RPC Updates Needed for Exchange Server 2003.  This patch fixed the issue flawlessly for me. 

It is interesting to note that connecting over HTTP requires SSL.  The connection settings URL begins with HTTPS and you can't change it. 

You can find information on how to configure this at the following links:

• Outlook 2003: New features create new support issues
• Using Outlook 2003 to connect to Exchange 2003 using RPC over HTTPS

Sunday, November 30, 2003 8:35:08 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related

SSL Certificates for a Reasonable Price at InstantSSL

For some time know I have been cursing Verisign and the exorbitant cost of certificates.  That is why I was so excited to come across http://www.instantssl.com/.  At a cost of $49 per year or less for multiple years, I finally believe I can get a legitimate certificate for a reasonable amount of money.

Furthermore, InstantSSL also offers free email certificates through Comdo so that you can encrypt and sign your email.  Thawte offers the same thing but it is quite a bit more involved (this is both a good and a bad thing) to get one that includes your name.  (Previously I have not been successful but today I noticed that of the notaries in Spokane there are two individuals at STCU in Liberty Lake.  This means I could get both the required notaries simultaneously.)

Saturday, November 29, 2003 10:12:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related

Power Line Carrier... (Yikes!)
This is appearing more and more like a critical threat to Itron...
Tuesday, November 25, 2003 7:08:14 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Itron

Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software by Eric Evans
This book was recommended to me yesterday by Dan Brown from the Microsoft Business Framework (MBF).  It certainly sounds worth taking a look at.
Monday, November 24, 2003 9:20:02 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [1]  Computer Related | .Net

A Great Windows Tip Site

I noticed a comment on my blog today that I never noticed before.  It pointed me to the JSI FAQ and I browsed around (thinking I could read all the FAQs until I realized that the one I stumbled on was number 6000 something...).  Anyway, great site!  Here are a couple tips I found useful immediately:

• How do I use Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services to connect to and shadow a console session?  (This happens to be the one John mentioned in his comment to my blog entry.)
• How do I install Plus! for Windows XP on Windows Server 2003?  (This lead me to search what the command line options for msiexec.exe were since "/?" doesn't work.)  I wonder how often "/qn" allows installs that would otherwise be disallowed?
• How do I create a custom startup WinPE CD-ROM in Windows XP?
• Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE)?

Monday, November 24, 2003 9:13:16 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related

Offline Folder Tips & Tricks
Here's a quick rundown on a feature that became available some time ago but is seldom mentioned these days.
Monday, November 24, 2003 12:20:24 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related

Background Spelling for Avalon Text Boxes
How stinkin' cool is this...  (given mi speling).  I wonder if it will work on web pages too.
Thursday, November 06, 2003 1:41:58 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related | .Net

Keywords vs. Contextual Keywords

Regular keywords cannot be used anywhere within your code except from the designated positions in the specification.  For example, you cannot name a variable with a keyword (unless you use the verbatim identifier of course).  However, it is no problem to name a variable with a contextual keyword because contextual keywords don't have any significane unless they are placed in specific locations within your code.

Wednesday, November 05, 2003 12:29:10 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  

Syntax Inconsistencies between C# Specification and PDC-Whidbey Build

The C# 2.0 draft specification was published by Microsoft shortly before the PDC.  Then, at the PDC developers received a copy of Whidbey, which included the C# 2.0 compiler.  However, there are a three noticeable inconsistencies between the C# 2.0 specification and the compiler itself that deserve mentioning:  Some of the mismatches are not actually in the draft specification but they can be gleaned from Anders Hejlsberg's presentation on C# Language Enhancements at the PDC.  Obviously updates will be made but the specification is a moving target and until it is approved, there are no guarantee of compliance.

1. When writing iterators the C# specification uses the syntax yield return.  However, the PDC version of the C# compiler requires the yield keyword on its own, without the return.  The reason for the change is that by including the return keyword after yield, it was not necessary to add a new keyword to the language since return is already a keyword.  By placing yield prior to return, yield is considered a contextual keyword which is significantly different from a regular keyword.  (partial, another C# 2.0ism, is also a contextual keyword.)
   

         public struct Pair<T>: IEnumerable<T>

         {

               ...

               #region IEnumerable<T>

               public IEnumerator<T> GetEnumerator()

               {

                     yield return First;

                     yield return Second;

               }

               #endregion IEnumerable<T>

         }

2. In the C# specification it indicates you can have mismatched access modifiers on properties (something not allowed prior to C# 2.0).  For example:
        public string Name
        {
               get
               {
                   return _name;
               }
               internal set
               {
                   _name = value;
               }
        }
   private string _name;
3. Namespace alias qualifiers:
         using IO = System.IO;
         class Program
         {
              static void Main()
              {
                   IO::Stream s = new IO::File.OpenRead("foo.txt");
                   global::System.Console.WriteLine("Hello");
              }
         }

Wednesday, November 05, 2003 4:27:22 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Computer Related | .Net

Family Life Marriage Conference

This weekend I attended a Family Life Marriage Conference at the Coeur d'Alene resort.  The material presented was solid and served as a great reminder for making my marriage strong.  Of far greater value, however, was dedicated, un-distracted, one-on-one time with Elisabeth.  Elisabeth was even able to refrain from calling home to check on the kids.  It was truly a phenomenal weekend in which our marriage was greatly enriched by such focused time together.

Goals: 

1. Attend a marriage conference of some kind at least once a year.
2. Take a at least one weekend per. year away with Elisabeth that is devoted entirely to spending time together. 
   (Note to Self:  Refrain from trying to accomplish anything, conquer anything, or do something you have never done before.  Just be together.)

P.S.  Thanks to my parents for babysitting.  We couldn't have done it without them.

Saturday, November 01, 2003 4:13:36 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Personal | In Pursuit of God | Personal | My Family