Syntactic Whitespace » Tech http://www.mikedonaghy.org Because semi-colons are for noobs Mon, 31 May 2010 17:22:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 Living with windows http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/living-with-windows http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/living-with-windows#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:02:45 +0000 Mike http://www.mikedonaghy.org/?p=121 As I’ve said many times before, I’m a die-hard Linux fan, but what about those times when you just can’t avoid using Windows

Here are a few things you can do to make yourself more at home.

  1. Virtual Desktops – The thing we take for granted on our linux machines, we can still have on Windows. There are tons of Virtual Desktop apps for windows, but the best I’ve found is called
    VirtuaWin, make sure to get the vwPager module to go with it Here
  2. Get a shell – you can get tons and tons of unix utilities including vi,bash,ssh,cp,ln and all of the rest with cygwin, a unix emulator for windows, with an easy setup and package installer, get all of your favorite apps. Get Cygwin here
  3. Make it Pretty – Linux is known for being able to be customized in a pretty much infinite number of ways, windows however…is not, but you can make it much prettier with Visual Styles. Learn to set them up Here
  4. Get your apps – Don’t forget, most of your favorite Open Source software is also available for windows, including Openoffice, Firefox, find more Open Source software for windows at OSS Win
]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/living-with-windows/feed 0 The Best Song Ever http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/the-best-song-ever http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/the-best-song-ever#comments Mon, 05 Feb 2007 02:32:13 +0000 Mike http://mikedonaghy.org/posts/the-best-song-ever This is the best song ever … listen and buy it Here
Support Independent Music

]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/the-best-song-ever/feed 2 iPhone Features(SNL-SKIT) http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/iphone-featuressnl-skit http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/iphone-featuressnl-skit#comments Sun, 21 Jan 2007 02:33:14 +0000 Mike http://mikedonaghy.org/posts/iphone-featuressnl-skit ….Apple Ceo steve jobs does a (sarcastic) GREAT job explaining all of the iPhone’s features …
a better job than me … watch it Here
(This is So Funny … I’d advise you that if you are to watch this video that you have an extra pair of pants handy)

]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/iphone-featuressnl-skit/feed 0 What would you do for a wii ? http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/what-would-you-do-for-a-wii http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/what-would-you-do-for-a-wii#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2007 01:42:13 +0000 Mike http://mikedonaghy.org/posts/what-would-you-do-for-a-wii I know some people that are dieing to get their hands on a wii. But none that would DIE for one … Apparently this woman would …
A woman reportedly died after participating in a contest called “Hold Your Wee For A Wii” the autopsy confirms that the woman died of
H2O intoxication …. don’t believe me … watch the video
Click to watch the video inline

Via Joystiq[Here]

]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/what-would-you-do-for-a-wii/feed 0 Twit drinking game http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/twit-drinking-game http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/twit-drinking-game#comments Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:43:24 +0000 Mike http://mikedonaghy.org/posts/twit-drinking-game twit is (officially) the most popular podcast in the world … Click here to check it out … anyways …
While you are listening when one of these comes up take a drink of your non-alcoholic (or otherwise) beverage …

General (for all twit shows)

  1. When someone at gizmodo ticks leo off
  2. Every time leo says he will edit something out and he doesn’t – get a liver donor
  3. When Dvorak complains about something – take a drink
  4. When Dvorak makes a crazy prediction about apple – take a drunk
  5. When Leo gets a new computer … mac or otherwise – Get a liver donor :)
  6. When the topic is a windows virus -take a drink
  7. When someone makes a prediction about digg getting sold – take a drink
  8. When the topic is about google acquiring someone – take a drink
  9. Every time windows vista gets a new virus – Take a drink
  10. Every time Patrick promises someone his infamous Box Of Crap – take a drink
  11. When the topic is about the RIAA or the MPAA suing someone – take a drink
  12. Every time someone attempts to shut AllOfMp3.com down – take a drink
  13. Every time a new internet explorer vulnerability is the topic – take a drink
  14. Every time the pirate bay is shut down and comes back 24 hours later – take a drink

Conditional (for certain shows)

conditions:

merlin is on

  1. When merlin says something gut busting funny – take a drink

Scott is on

  1. when scott says mentions the iPhone – get another liver donor

Keep in mind this list is being updated … if you would like to send me an email … find me address Click Here

]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/twit-drinking-game/feed 0 The most brilliant online tool http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/custom-for_dummies-book http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/custom-for_dummies-book#comments Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:03:31 +0000 Mike http://mikedonaghy.org/posts/custom-for_dummies-book Check out what I found on digg today Here
You can make your own “for dummies” book cover …


]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/custom-for_dummies-book/feed 0 Hacking your :CueCat http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/hacking-your-cuecat http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/hacking-your-cuecat#comments Sat, 11 Nov 2006 03:01:31 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=59 My name is Dan Keenan, and Mike had invited me to contribute to his blog. This an 11-minute video I put together almost a year ago on how to hack you single-board :CueCat.
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]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/hacking-your-cuecat/feed 0 Hak.5 Episode 2×04 is out!!! http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/hak5-episode-204-is-out http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/hak5-episode-204-is-out#comments Sat, 04 Nov 2006 20:11:46 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=58 A brand new episode of my Favorite iptv show is finally out !!!!
….I don’t need to say anymore … just watch :

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xydftJ92etw]

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]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/hak5-episode-204-is-out/feed 0 Themes … Themes …Themes http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/themes-themes-themes http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/themes-themes-themes#comments Sun, 22 Oct 2006 04:18:02 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=56 …I haven’t posted in a week or so …And I haven’t checked the blogofficial wordpress blog …. man the wordpress guys didn’t let me down….they added not one …not two …but THREE new themes ….2 of which I really like …1 being UNsleepAble and the other being K2 there is also a brand new theme I have never even heard of…Gotta check it out’
…if you are not using wordpress I HIGHLY recommend you make the switch :)
Also…with all of these cool new themes …expect my theme to switch regularly

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]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/themes-themes-themes/feed 0 Debain to change the name of firefox ? What? http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/debain-to-change-the-name-of-firefox-what http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/debain-to-change-the-name-of-firefox-what#comments Sun, 01 Oct 2006 03:30:26 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=54 Apparently mozilla has been protective of firefox trademarks lately
which is very uncommon for “free”(as in free speech) software …debain does not aggree with this…they believe that its not really “free”(as in speech) …They plan to change the name of firefox in all of its distros ….Wow….Mozilla WTF? …I never though mozilla would do something like this … Whats next … We switch back to IE ?

Via Slashdot

Viraptor writes, “Debian is ready to change the name of Firefox in its distributions, beginning with Etch. They say it can be done within a week. The reasons stem from Mozilla’s recent insistence on trademark fidelity and its preferences regarding Firefox patches. Debian doesn’t want to accept the original trademarked fox & globe logo; they don’t see it as really ‘free’ to use. On the other hand, Mozilla doesn’t want Firefox distributed under that name if it lacks the logo. Mozilla also wants Debian patches to be submitted to them before distribution, and claims that’s what others (Red Hat and Novell) are already doing. But some believe development and releases will slow down if distribution-specific patches have to be checked and accepted first. We will surely see more clashes between copyright claims and ‘really free’ distros such as Debian. Ubuntu is also asking similar questions.” No word yet what the new name will be or what the logo will look like.

Slashdot | Firefox To Be Renamed In Debian

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]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/debain-to-change-the-name-of-firefox-what/feed 0 Google Reader gets a MakeOver http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/google-reader-gets-a-makeover http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/google-reader-gets-a-makeover#comments Sat, 30 Sep 2006 03:43:50 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=53 When google annouced that they were going to make a web based rss reader I was really excited….then I saw it …and
I was disapointed :( NOW they have remade it …it is SO much better now …you gotta try it it is so much better (click to enlarge)Google reader

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]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/google-reader-gets-a-makeover/feed 0 Another feed2podcast hack and my new podcast http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/another-feed2podcast-hack-and-my-new-podcast http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/another-feed2podcast-hack-and-my-new-podcast#comments Fri, 25 Aug 2006 23:26:37 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=45 I mentioned Feed2podcast(.com) Before in my Podcast your gmail post

Now I Found another great hack for them…I have made my own blog here into a podcast with my Ad-free feed2podcast account generously donated after the mix-up and I found a cool way to make podcast downloads available

Why not make a widget ? WordPress suports rss widgets so why not put it there so thats what im going to do…to download any of my posts as a podcast just look at the rss feed called Podcast in my sidebar :)

ps.Thanks for the account rob :)

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]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/another-feed2podcast-hack-and-my-new-podcast/feed 0 Review of the NEW windows live spaces http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/review-of-the-new-windows-live-spaces http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/review-of-the-new-windows-live-spaces#comments Sun, 20 Aug 2006 22:02:00 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=41 After my review of Windows Live Writer I thought I would review its companion product … Windows Live Spaces 

I have to say …. Im pretty suprised by Spaces …Its pretty nice… I mean … its no wordpress … but its pretty sweat

For my full review with pictures click to read more

tags: , , , , , ,  

So anyways…here is the review

This is the main page … it has all the recent posts on spaces

This is the very sleek looking login page…it looks a whole lot cooler than the old msn login :) … if you already have a hotmail account …you already have a space

 

This is the main view of windows live spaces once you have logged in  every single part of your space can be dragged around (ajaxy!!!)

This is the settings page.. it is very simple and does not give much in the way of customization … , but it’s very functional

 

All of spaces menus are neat and drop-down , very simple to use

Here is a picture of the post interface ….it is very neat and has all the tools you need like alignment , links , pictures , fonts ,emoticons , etc …it allows you to preview the entry or save it as a draft before publishing

Right under the post title you will see a box that says catagories … it has about 10 default catagories … but  if you click “add a catagory … a nice  (AJAX!!!) box pops up to enter the name of your new catagory

 

It is also very easy to add links via (ajax!!!) entry boxes

The comment form is good…it looks about the same as most other comment forms with the addition of 4 buttons for :Underline , Italic , Bold , and Hyperlink

….Now …on the topic of Customization ..yes like most blogging software there are themes/styles/templats … AND LOTS OF THEM there are abotu 100 templates …and they are all pretty good …

there are also many “modules” to add to spaces …these are like plugins/extensions there are a lot of them

 

also another nice thing about spaces is that you can change the layout of any of the themes  on the fly

 

spaces also has the cool feature of rss widgets (Like wordpress) so you can add as many rss feeds as you want that will appear in your sidebars (also like wordpress) I have My Digg feed and my WordPress.com feed

One other thing I should mention is that there is no direct template custumization … now editing templates at all … no html code in sight …which is probably ok for about 80% of people ….I Give spaces an 8/10 ….it is a nice upgrade from msn spaces …but it lacks some features that would make it even better like template editing

Bottom Line:

Spaces is a great app with lots of potential …it has social networking features and a nice ajax interface

Who Needs it:

People who want a blog NOW and like the social networking features and don’t mind the fact that you can’t customize the templates …also for less sophisticated users

]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/review-of-the-new-windows-live-spaces/feed 0 Introducing …Windows Live Writer http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/introducing-windows-live-writer http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/introducing-windows-live-writer#comments Sun, 20 Aug 2006 01:31:20 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=40 I just foind this really cool app called Windows Live Writer  I have to say …for everything microsoft has done…Maybe …Just maybe…they got something right… this thing is nice…It lets you do anything that the web interface does ….Except easier it even does catagories, tags , comments (enable/disable) , trackbacks , pings , timestamps , blockquotes ..everything …And for ONCE …just ONCE they are NOT forcing you to use there service …msn spaces ….Im using it right now for wordpress…and also …it is VERY easy …it took me about 30 seconds to startup (and thats with downloading posts too) All it needed was my blog address and user/pass

Im writing this post with it now …Here are some pictures :

 

 

You can even insert maps from  Windows Live Maps

(pictured –> )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall this is a pretty neat piece of software…even if microsoft made it…It is very smooth and integrates well  , even with non-microsoft products (*gasp*) it is even STANDARDS COMPLIANT (*double gasp!!!*)

 

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]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/introducing-windows-live-writer/feed 2 Worlds Smallest and Fastest PDF reader http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/worlds-smallest-and-fastest-pdf-reader http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/worlds-smallest-and-fastest-pdf-reader#comments Fri, 11 Aug 2006 23:51:26 +0000 Mike http://miked.dyndns.org/~miked/?p=35 And NO its not foxit …although foxit reader is a great reader I have one that goes so fast…you gotta erm…you gotta….WELL ITS FAST OK

Its called gsview and its a gui frontend for ghostscript for windows … it takes about 1 second to open the average pdf

you can get it here

]]> http://www.mikedonaghy.org/post/worlds-smallest-and-fastest-pdf-reader/feed 0