Use the NEW Grooveshark HTML Preview in ANY browser!

If you've been on Grooveshark's Beta page lately you'll know they released an all-HTML version of their massive jukebox. However it only works in Chrome, or so they say.

Now I'm sure there is good reason to only "supporting" a single browser at this time, I want to give people the opportunity to find out for themselves. Here is a small JavaScript snippet that will enable allow other browsers to run the Grooveshark Preview.

Step 1
Goto: http://preview.grooveshark.com/ and sign in. It will soon complain about not being able to load in your browser.

Step 2
In the address bar copy and paste:

Then press enter. All the warnings should disappear.

Step 3
Have fun playing :)

Awesome Android Apps #1

Most of everything on here is free. If it's not free, it's because I feel it's totally worth every penny. This post is unfinished.

Utilities

Barcode Scanner (free)
Anyone who has a mobile device with an autofocusing camera needs to have a barcode scanner. Normal barcodes are boring, but here I'm talking about QR Codes. They are 2d barcodes that hold messages and links to offers or websites. They are getting popular, wise up to them.

ES File Explorer (free)
A handy tool for getting into the filesystem of your droid considering mine didn't come with one.

Es Task Manager (free)
This task manager keeps power hungry apps at bay by visually showing you whats running. Also, a handy desktop shortcut widget for killing all whitelisted apps :)

Google Googles
Need to translate spanish to english? Need to search for a book, movie or product? Take a picture of it! Google is pretty smart and uses really smart monkeys to deliver your results.

My Tracks (free)
Need to keep track of a route you take when biking or jogging or whenever? This utility does just that and plots it all on a google map. Is niice!

SMS Scheduler (free)
Ever need to send a text and a specific time and fell asleep? This app prevents all that mess. Send a text whenever you want it to be sent.

Games

Cestos (free)
A very fun and addicting multiplayer game. The basic premise of the game is to get rid of the other player's marbels by knocking them off the platform, into holes or blowing them up. Beware of the new Cestos 2 as it's in BETA and has been buggy lately.

UniWar ($5.99)
Team up or play against your friends. Steal bases, build troops and ships, it's all out war!

Robo Defense (free basic, $.99 full)
Keep waves of troops, tanks and planes from entering your base. Build and upgrade towers with an endless difficulty rating system.

Angry Birds (free)
The pigs have stolen the eggs from the hen house! You must slingshot birds to destroy the pig villages and get your revenge!

Social Networking

Foursquare (free)
Share location information with trusted friends. This is an opt-in service and doesn't follow your every move. Many businesses are starting to offer specials to people that become "The Mayor" of that location by visiting there more than everyone else.

Multimedia

Grooveshark (free trial period, $3/mo afterwards)
Grooveshark is by far one of the best music streaming jukeboxes on the web. It is now also on mobile devices and packs just as much power. You can even build playlists on your phone or pull down songs for offline play. Totally worth the subscription fee.

Google Listen (free)
Are you into podcasts? This free app will keep your podcasts up to date! Search through the categories or browse whats popular.

Rock Player (free)
The best video player I've found so far. It's free and plays more videos than the phone could when I un-boxed it.

IES Form Test

Bright House is Slow and Irritating

For the past couple months, the internet in my home has been very unstable. Up and down, up and down. At first, I thought that it was my roommates router, after setting up a Linksys WRT54GL and getting the same problems, we turned to the cable modem. Nothing. So whats the deal here?

When I ping www.google.com -t for a while, I get scary results:

Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=66ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=239
Request timed out.
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=69ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=69ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=75ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=67ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=239
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=66ms TTL=239
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=239
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=67ms TTL=239
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=75ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=66ms TTL=239

 
That's a lot of timing out. And, it's been worse.

Nearly every other click, website, download, or IM is hesitated up to 2 minutes depending on the application and how hey implemented network errors.

I'm paying extra for the pro-package. My connection speed 3 months ago was registering on speedtest.net at 14mb. My average download was 500-600k/sec down and 300k/sec up, I'm starting to get a little pissed that I cant download anything from a respectable server faster than 40k/sec. Not to mention, it takes forever to just navigate around a website.

I have heard that somewhere between Bakersfield and LA is a broken connection and is therefore contributing to this mess, true or not, this sounds feasible. I have various friends all over Bakersfield who have the same issues. In the time it has taken me to write this blog, here are my pings:

Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=66ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=63ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=70ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=67ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=67ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=70ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=69ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=69ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=69ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=181ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=75ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=69ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=68ms TTL=239
Request timed out.
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=71ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=73ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=239
Reply from 74.125.95.104: bytes=32 time=66ms TTL=239

Magically all better, WTF??? Any why am I still averaging 67ms to google.com ???

This is the kind of crap this is bugging the hell out of me. As a programmer I make a lot of FTP uploads and navigate the web quite often. It's pretty annyong chatting on yahoo about how google.com won't load. It's irritating.. existing connections work somewhat ok, but making NEW connections is iffy...

Bright House needs to get their shit together because I for one am tired of this crappy service. I was at a friends business and a Bright House employee came in to 'inspect the modem' and was greeted with "So, here to fix my internet?" his responce was "Well, I can't guarantee that"

So, could Bright House be sending out employees to keep people thinking it's their faulty equiptment? You decide.

If you are having issues with Bright House, please leave a comment and a sample of your pings by using ping www.google.com -t in cmd

Six tools you shouldn't live without

Hello, I have decided to blog about some of the various applications I have installed and can't live without. These applications will help you speed up your computer lifestyle.

Process Explorer

What it is:
Process Explorer is a Task Manager Replacement and I can't stress this one enough. The Task Manager that comes with windows is a piece of crap, to put it kindly. Process Explorer is actually recommended by Microsoft, what, huh? That's right, and it does a HELL of a better job.

What it does:
It allows you manage your processes, and get TONS of detailed information about them. For example, you can right click on firefox.exe and see how many TCP connections it has and where.

Notes:
I have mine set to replace the system task manager. You can do this by going to:
Options -> Replace Task Manager (doing it again reverts it back)
I also turn off the bottom tray, because it can get annoying unless you need that information.

Get it! http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx


TaskSwitchXP

What it is:
A replacement for the standard Alt-Tab Task Switcher. This is my second favorite application.

What it does:
In addition to the standard alt-tab, it can be configured to use different skins, become sticky, and you can even right click an application and end it's process without even needing to use Process Explorer or Task Manager (shun).

Get it! http://www.ntwind.com/software/taskswitchxp.html


UltraMon

What it is:
UltraMon is screensaver/desktop/taskbar manager for multi-screen windows users.

What it does:
UltraMon gives you the power to have seperate screensavers, wallpapers and even extends a taskbar to your other monitors. Also, applications are given extra buttons to toss them between monitors. If you are using multiple screens, you NEED THIS.

Get it! http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/


TeraCopy

What it is:
TeraCopy is a Windows File Transfer replacement. It's fast and not as annoying.

What it does:
TeraCopy handles file transfers in copy/move operations and when you tell it to always do something, it remembers that. File transfers also don't get killed with an error on low disk space. The application simply waits for free space. All in all, great applications!

Get it! http://www.codesector.com/teracopy.php


AutoRuns

What it is:
This is a MSCONFIG replacement recommended by Microsoft.

What it does:
AutoRuns shows you tons of information about your system startup and is a better replacement for MSCONFIG.

Get it! http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx


DirectFolders

What it is:
Direct Folders allows you to have shortcuts to applications and folders. It will also assist in remembering applications open/save dialogs so the settings for displaying files is set per-application.

What it does:
Too much to explain, watch this video: http://www.codesector.com/directfolders-demo.htm

Get it! http://www.codesector.com/directfolders.php


I hope these tools help you as much as they've helped me! Don't forget to comment!

The Database

When re-writing a project that you've already done it sometimes gets difficult planning out the entire project in your head. This is easy to do with smaller projects, but when you are working on something that manages multiple sites, employees, users, products, orders, email, reports and accounting, things can get a little hectic at times.. especially when you've put hours into something and have to re-write it or hack it to death to implement an overlooked feature. Welcome to programming! Just like the first photoshop job you did, looking back on old work is hard and sometimes down right scary.

I believe the first thing to be considered when starting a project is your database. It most likely will containing every bit of data you will be outputting to the user and it only makes sense to satisfy the needs of correctly storing and handling it. Once you have thought out your database tables and fields, the next step is to fill your tables with test data.

One thing I have learned over the years is, NEVER EVER WRITE ADD/EDIT FORMS FIRST!! It is far easier to use phpmyadmin to load the database with values to test things than it is to have to keep going back and forth editing your form html and form logic pages. Once you have the data successfully stored, create a way to display/edit and then finally add your data. This has always saved me time, try it yourself.

I was just bored and thought I would write something

Updating Old Code

The time has finally come. A custom CRM that I developed for a company about 5 years ago needs to be completely rewritten. You might say that at the time of writing version 1.0 I was a bit of a newbie. I didn't understand Objects, I was still designing in tables and my CSS abilities were limited to in-line font modifications.

When I first opened up my code, I was immediately frustrated. I decided that as I go about writing version 2.0 I should share the experience.

The CRM has a couple basic sections:

• Today Page
• Orders Page
• Address Book
• Messages / Notes
• Sample Requests
• Mass Mailer
• Report Generator

With new features planned for v2, I need to get v1 code ported to prettier code that I will feel good about calling v2. This requires re-writing all the MySQL tables and updating all the old MySQL queries to take advantage of join optimization, separating the logic from the presentation and from the data, re-designing the CRM with divs and smarty, and writing scripts to convert the old db to the new db.

I will be doing lots of posts as there is a lot to do. I will report in daily.