Sunday 31 August 2008
Fancy Alt-tab
Windows Vista comes with a new alternative to Alt-tab --- the Windows-key tab -- a more graphical context switching tool that gives Vista a Linuxy L&F.
Monday 25 August 2008
Wireless Channels
I've found the need to switch wireless channels on my WiFi network regularly to maintain QoS. Fortunately, in Europe we have as many as 13 channels to choose from, whereas the US has only 11. The Intel Centrino chipset is also built using FCC-approved wireless which means only 11 channels.
This limitation also means that the number of channels available for public hotspots in Europe is effectively 11, to cope with the greatest possible number of users (e.g. American tourists won't be able to use channel 13).
Installing new objects in your home may increase multipath effects (basically radio waves bouncing on and off objects enhancing or diminishing the received signal) and may create the need to switch channels. Also new wireless networks in your area may require you to switch channels.
This limitation also means that the number of channels available for public hotspots in Europe is effectively 11, to cope with the greatest possible number of users (e.g. American tourists won't be able to use channel 13).
Installing new objects in your home may increase multipath effects (basically radio waves bouncing on and off objects enhancing or diminishing the received signal) and may create the need to switch channels. Also new wireless networks in your area may require you to switch channels.
Thursday 7 August 2008
DEC Alpha Emulation for Windows
A Dutch company has developed PersonalAlpha, a DEC alpha emulator for 32-bit Windows (XP etc). Just as Linux is basically UNIX for PCs, PersonalAlpha is DEC alpha for the PC.
Don't know what is DEC alpha or why PersonalAlpha is so cool?
DEC alpha's run the OpenVMS OS (VMS=virtual memory system) developed by DEC (which was purchased by Compaq before being merged into HPQ) which has a reputation for solidity.
Armies and stock exchanges use VMS technology (just check out this article here). Need a quick intro to programming concepts for VMS. I have just the ticket right here on the HP website.
Wednesday 6 August 2008
Python Eggs
The Philosophy of Eggs
An increasing number of Python programs are being distributed as "runtime eggs". Eggs are simply a way of distributing Python programs similar to RPM. They are installed using easy_install.
An example of a package using eggs is Pyglet, a toolkit for games and visual effects (BSD-license).
A great deal of eggs can be found on the Python package index. They are installed in one of two ways:
easy_install package.egg
easy_install http://www..../package.egg
easy_install is based on the distutils package. Basic concepts of distutils can be found here.
The "Old Way"
Most packages currently come in tarballs that you unzip and then run:
python setup.py install
This will build and install everything in one step. If the build process is heavy you may want to split this up into two steps:
python setup.py build
python setup.py install
To install modules locally (in your own personal "stash") you need to do:
python setup.py install --home=<home>
An increasing number of Python programs are being distributed as "runtime eggs". Eggs are simply a way of distributing Python programs similar to RPM. They are installed using easy_install.
An example of a package using eggs is Pyglet, a toolkit for games and visual effects (BSD-license).
A great deal of eggs can be found on the Python package index. They are installed in one of two ways:
easy_install package.egg
easy_install http://www..../package.egg
easy_install is based on the distutils package. Basic concepts of distutils can be found here.
The "Old Way"
Most packages currently come in tarballs that you unzip and then run:
python setup.py install
This will build and install everything in one step. If the build process is heavy you may want to split this up into two steps:
python setup.py build
python setup.py install
To install modules locally (in your own personal "stash") you need to do:
python setup.py install --home=<home>
Administrator Command Prompt in Vista
In Vista you will not be able to copy files into C:\Program Files....unless you run Administrator Command Prompt!!!! Right click on cmd.exe and select Run As Administrator.
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