This was the view when I got up this morning at 7. Nice!
Snow In Denver for Thanksgiving week-end from daniel wanja.
Using naked drives for backup. What do you use?
I was listening to Adam from the maccast the other day and he mentioned a solution to use bare-bone drives to do backups. I thought I give it a try and I am sharing my findings in this video:
Using naked drives for backup. from daniel wanja.
Which solution do you use? Let me know.
Using naked drives for backup. from daniel wanja.
Which solution do you use? Let me know.
Cancelling Dishnetwork...took 20 minutes.
With my wife we decided to try to go without a TV. I'm not too worried as I get most of my stuff online....pssst...don't tell her ;-). This said I knew it would be difficult to cancel as usually these big companies have a laborious process you need to follow in order to cancel your account. My hope was that they "improved" and I logged on online and was looking for a "Cancel Account" button, with maybe one confirmation screen...Nope. It did go like that (note I may have skipped some text, but it's pretty much how it went):
First I did login to their online system and looked for the option to cancel the account.
* Didn't find in the menus.
* Did a search using their search box...didn't find.
* Looked at the FAQ, found AskDish...
Yea...that may work...and the answer was: "We are sorry to hear that you want to discontinue your DISH Network service. Unfortunately ASKDISH is unable to fulfill this request. You will need to call our customer service center at 1-800-333-3474, if you decide to leave us.
Electronic Funds Transfer AutoPay allows you to automatically withdraw your monthly DISH Network bill from your checking or savings account. It’s quick, easy and you never have to worry about late fees! Coming soon, enroll online when you log into My Account."
Of course...that would have been to easy. And don't ask me what the second part of the answer has to do with the first.
All right, it's 8pm, let's call that number.
Automated New operator:"In a Few words..how can I help you?"
I say: Cancel Account.
Automated New operator: What do you want to cancel? service, channel, auto-pay, none of those?
Me: none of those.
Automated New operator:Please wait while we transfer your call...
2 minutes pass...
Automated New operator:Please hold for the next customer representative...
Operator:...music...and adds...
2 minutes...
Automated New operator:Thank you for calling DishNetwork. Please hold for the next customer representative...
10 minutes later... a real person
Operator: Can I have your phone number?
Me: (I provide the number and continue with) I want to cancel the account?
Operator: Can you tell me the reasons?
Me: No, just cancel the account.
Operator: We are having system maintenance...I am still trying to pull up your account.
Operator: We would really hate to loose you? We can arrange something? Is it about the bill? Is it about the programming?
Me: no, just cancel the account.
Operator: I need to transfer the call to an account specialist. Please hold on.
Me: ok.
New operator: My name is Marianne.
New operator: What makes you cancel the account?
Me: nothing, please cancel the account.
New operator: If it's technical, I can transfer you to a technician.
Me: nothing, please cancel the account
New operator: If it's financial, I can put the account on hold.
Me: nothing, please cancel the account.
New operator: Please hold I start the process.
couple of minutes go by.
New operator: (she start to read really, really fast a long message...didn't get most of it)... 10 days..30 days to return the equipment...2 receiver..3 remote...eye on the dish....Final bill. Can not give you the amount, you'll get a bill in a couple of days. Otherwise can...We are sorry to have lost you as a customer. Any questions?
Me: What's the reference number of the cancellation.
New operator: It's the number the operator mentioned at the beginning.
Me: What's the reference number of the cancellation.
New operator: (she provides a three letter code).
8:24pm. Pfuu...20minutes. Note bad. Once they get you, they really don't wanna let you go :-) Now let's see if that cancelled my account...or if it's just the start of a longer process.
First I did login to their online system and looked for the option to cancel the account.
* Didn't find in the menus.
* Did a search using their search box...didn't find.
* Looked at the FAQ, found AskDish...
Yea...that may work...and the answer was: "We are sorry to hear that you want to discontinue your DISH Network service. Unfortunately ASKDISH is unable to fulfill this request. You will need to call our customer service center at 1-800-333-3474, if you decide to leave us.
Electronic Funds Transfer AutoPay allows you to automatically withdraw your monthly DISH Network bill from your checking or savings account. It’s quick, easy and you never have to worry about late fees! Coming soon, enroll online when you log into My Account."
Of course...that would have been to easy. And don't ask me what the second part of the answer has to do with the first.
All right, it's 8pm, let's call that number.
Automated New operator:"In a Few words..how can I help you?"
I say: Cancel Account.
Automated New operator: What do you want to cancel? service, channel, auto-pay, none of those?
Me: none of those.
Automated New operator:Please wait while we transfer your call...
2 minutes pass...
Automated New operator:Please hold for the next customer representative...
Operator:...music...and adds...
2 minutes...
Automated New operator:Thank you for calling DishNetwork. Please hold for the next customer representative...
10 minutes later... a real person
Operator: Can I have your phone number?
Me: (I provide the number and continue with) I want to cancel the account?
Operator: Can you tell me the reasons?
Me: No, just cancel the account.
Operator: We are having system maintenance...I am still trying to pull up your account.
Operator: We would really hate to loose you? We can arrange something? Is it about the bill? Is it about the programming?
Me: no, just cancel the account.
Operator: I need to transfer the call to an account specialist. Please hold on.
Me: ok.
New operator: My name is Marianne.
New operator: What makes you cancel the account?
Me: nothing, please cancel the account.
New operator: If it's technical, I can transfer you to a technician.
Me: nothing, please cancel the account
New operator: If it's financial, I can put the account on hold.
Me: nothing, please cancel the account.
New operator: Please hold I start the process.
couple of minutes go by.
New operator: (she start to read really, really fast a long message...didn't get most of it)... 10 days..30 days to return the equipment...2 receiver..3 remote...eye on the dish....Final bill. Can not give you the amount, you'll get a bill in a couple of days. Otherwise can...We are sorry to have lost you as a customer. Any questions?
Me: What's the reference number of the cancellation.
New operator: It's the number the operator mentioned at the beginning.
Me: What's the reference number of the cancellation.
New operator: (she provides a three letter code).
8:24pm. Pfuu...20minutes. Note bad. Once they get you, they really don't wanna let you go :-) Now let's see if that cancelled my account...or if it's just the start of a longer process.
Star Wars: The clone wars.
I just watched the movie in "hi-def" on the AppleTv...well, I really liked it, was really great cinematic, action packed and a cool story. Now I've gonna have to watch the series on Cartoon Network. It will be on once a week. Watch a Special Preview and behind the scenes on iTunes.
Unobstrusive code highlighting with javascript.
I am adding Dan Webb's CodeHighLighter javascript to provide HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Ruby code highlighting to my blog.
All you need is to include his different javascript
A provides the .css styling for the code. I moved all the different css he provides in his example to codehighlighter.css.
Then you just need to wrap the code in these tags:
<pre>
<class="javascript>
All you need is to include his different javascript
<script type="text/javascript" src="code_highlighter.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="javascript.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="css.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="html.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="ruby.js"></script>
A provides the .css styling for the code. I moved all the different css he provides in his example to codehighlighter.css.
Then you just need to wrap the code in these tags:
<pre>
<class="javascript>
Rails influences iPhone Development - FMDB Migration Manager
While at day 3 of the iPhone Studio I was trying out the off topic and nice FMDB framework which is a SQLLite wrapper and abstracts some of the low level data type conversion. My first reaction was "Hey, we need migrations the Rails ways!"....and after some googling I stumbled upon the FMDB Migration Manager framework by Dr Nic. You can find more details in the README.
In short with that framework you can create several migrations that each look as follows:
That way the next time the application is updated the migration required to bring your application uptodate will be run. Cool. Note only can you add and remove columns but you can also run Objective-C code that will adapt the existing data to the required format for the new version.
Now I've gotta play with that framework.
Thanks guys for sharing this!
In short with that framework you can create several migrations that each look as follows:
@interface CreateStudents : FmdbMigration
{
}
@end
@implementation CreateStudents
- (void)up {
[self createTable:@"students" withColumns:[NSArray arrayWithObjects:
[FmdbMigrationColumn columnWithColumnName:@"first_name" columnType:@"string"],
[FmdbMigrationColumn columnWithColumnName:@"age" columnType:@"integer" defaultValue:21],
nil];
}
- (void)down {
[self dropTable:@"students"];
}
@end
That way the next time the application is updated the migration required to bring your application uptodate will be run. Cool. Note only can you add and remove columns but you can also run Objective-C code that will adapt the existing data to the required format for the new version.
Now I've gotta play with that framework.
Thanks guys for sharing this!
The iPhone Developer's Cookbook - first impression.
The iPhone Developer's Cookbook
from Erica Sadun
This is a great book which as the name highlights is a sum of recipes that explain various aspects of the application. I am today at the http://pragmaticstudio.com/iphone/ training and are using Erica's book to find several answers to questions we are challenged with during the labs. It's a great book when you start iPhone development as time over time you will be faced with the question "how do they do that?" and thanks to the books organization it's straight forward to find the answers. In addition the book comes with extensive code sample which you can check out as well as "videos" of the application that you will build. The book has also a recipe on accessing SQLLite that also cover FMDB one of the SQLLite wrappers (http://code.google.com/p/flycode/source/browse/trunk/fmdb). Note the FMDB coverage is not in depth. In short it's a must have if you get started with iPhone development.
Show Source Code Details.
Show Video Sample List.
External Links: Source code and Video of Applications
from Erica Sadun
This is a great book which as the name highlights is a sum of recipes that explain various aspects of the application. I am today at the http://pragmaticstudio.com/iphone/ training and are using Erica's book to find several answers to questions we are challenged with during the labs. It's a great book when you start iPhone development as time over time you will be faced with the question "how do they do that?" and thanks to the books organization it's straight forward to find the answers. In addition the book comes with extensive code sample which you can check out as well as "videos" of the application that you will build. The book has also a recipe on accessing SQLLite that also cover FMDB one of the SQLLite wrappers (http://code.google.com/p/flycode/source/browse/trunk/fmdb). Note the FMDB coverage is not in depth. In short it's a must have if you get started with iPhone development.
Show Source Code Details.
Show Video Sample List.
External Links: Source code and Video of Applications
T:SCC! Sarah Connor Chronicle?
I am jumping into that show from time to time, but where is that story going? Do you think it's worthwhile you time to watch? I like the idea, but it's not catching on. What can the writers add to the plot? What are your thoughts?
iPhone Development Studio - Day 1
iPhone Development Studio
with Bill Dudney and Daniel Steinberg
During this first day we are creating some basic iPhone applications that allow us to walk through some key concepts of Objective-C, XCode and Project Builder and provides some basic understanding of the UIKit framework, such a ViewController, UITextView, UITextField. We currently created one app using Interface Builder and another by programatically creating the view. Although today's pace is quite slow it really allows us to wrap our heads around using the tools and framework and will be useful for the next three days.
In the mean time I was search for some online resources and found these of interest to get started with Objective-C.
Of course I am looking for a tool to avoid having to interact with SQLLite directly and found following links:
I downloaded OmniDataObjects and will check it out over the next few days and will keep you posted. The framework doesn't contain much documentation, I will also have to browse the forums to find some answers. Anyone has a pointer to some sample application?
Wireframe for OmniGraffle
Described here http://theresaneil.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/wire-frames-for-iphone-web-application-design/ and downloadable there http://www.graffletopia.com/stencils/358
I would love to use such a stencil but this one doesn't have many of the newer component...still I like to prototype before coding...as I am pretty slow at coding that stuff right now. I guess I will use paper cards for now.
These guys http://320480.com have a photoshop file with different states your application can be in.
with Bill Dudney and Daniel Steinberg
Day 1
During this first day we are creating some basic iPhone applications that allow us to walk through some key concepts of Objective-C, XCode and Project Builder and provides some basic understanding of the UIKit framework, such a ViewController, UITextView, UITextField. We currently created one app using Interface Builder and another by programatically creating the view. Although today's pace is quite slow it really allows us to wrap our heads around using the tools and framework and will be useful for the next three days.
Resources
In the mean time I was search for some online resources and found these of interest to get started with Objective-C.
- Learn Objective-C: http://cocoadevcentral.com/d/learn_objectivec/
- Cocoa Style for Objective-C: Part I: http://cocoadevcentral.com/articles/000082.php
- Cocoa Style for Objective-C: Part II: http://cocoadevcentral.com/articles/000083.php
- Introduction to Coding Guidelines for Cocoa: http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/CodingGuidelines/CodingGuidelines.html
Of course I am looking for a tool to avoid having to interact with SQLLite directly and found following links:
- http://sourceforge.net/projects/iphonesqliteper
- http://blog.saers.com/archives/2008/03/14/sqlite-for-iphone-sdk/
- http://code.google.com/p/entropydb/
- http://www.builtfromsource.com/2008/08/30/orm-comes-to-the-iphone-sqlite-persistent-objects/
- http://code.google.com/p/sqlitepersistentobjects/
- http://www.omnigroup.com/developer/ (OmniDataObjects)
I downloaded OmniDataObjects and will check it out over the next few days and will keep you posted. The framework doesn't contain much documentation, I will also have to browse the forums to find some answers. Anyone has a pointer to some sample application?
Wireframe for OmniGraffle
Described here http://theresaneil.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/wire-frames-for-iphone-web-application-design/ and downloadable there http://www.graffletopia.com/stencils/358
I would love to use such a stencil but this one doesn't have many of the newer component...still I like to prototype before coding...as I am pretty slow at coding that stuff right now. I guess I will use paper cards for now.
These guys http://320480.com have a photoshop file with different states your application can be in.
iPhone and free Starbucks wifi
The other day I was at Starbucks and thought let's check out there new wifi for the iPhone. Not that I needed it as with the 3G internet access is fast enough for my needs, but I wanted to see how complex setting the wifi access was.
1. Access any web page and you are greeted with a screen where you need to enter your phone number:
2. Wait for a text message witn further access information. I received it in less that 20 seconds...
3. View the text message, it has a link. Click it...
4. Finally, you are connected. Now you can reenter the url where you initially wanted to go.
So all in all I'll keep using my 3g as this step is too complex. Click one button should be all it takes...Try doing the same at http://www.panerabread.com/.
Sbc.com is an ATT property it used to be their DSL offering (I believe).
1. Access any web page and you are greeted with a screen where you need to enter your phone number:
2. Wait for a text message witn further access information. I received it in less that 20 seconds...
3. View the text message, it has a link. Click it...
4. Finally, you are connected. Now you can reenter the url where you initially wanted to go.
So all in all I'll keep using my 3g as this step is too complex. Click one button should be all it takes...Try doing the same at http://www.panerabread.com/.
Sbc.com is an ATT property it used to be their DSL offering (I believe).
I am moving...
...my personal blog from mac.com to Blogger.com. The transition is not done and there are these few steps that I need to complete:
1. setup dns for wanja.com to point to danielwanja.blogspot.com
2. setup MarsEdit so I can easily post new entries.
3. finalize the template to use.
Now why in this of micro blogging (aka Twitter and co) does one still want to start a blog. Call me oldy :-) but from time to time I like to write about gadgets, software, and geek things that are not relevant to my other blogs and where I want to expand a little beyond 140 characters. So my next blog post will be when step 1 and 2 above has been completed. In the mean time I will soon add more Rails related content to http://onrails.org and will continue to expand http://flexonrails.com for all matter related to using Flex with Ruby on Rails, and launch this site in conjunction with the print version of my (and Tony's) Flex on Rails book.
Enjoy!
Daniel
1. setup dns for wanja.com to point to danielwanja.blogspot.com
2. setup MarsEdit so I can easily post new entries.
3. finalize the template to use.
Now why in this of micro blogging (aka Twitter and co) does one still want to start a blog. Call me oldy :-) but from time to time I like to write about gadgets, software, and geek things that are not relevant to my other blogs and where I want to expand a little beyond 140 characters. So my next blog post will be when step 1 and 2 above has been completed. In the mean time I will soon add more Rails related content to http://onrails.org and will continue to expand http://flexonrails.com for all matter related to using Flex with Ruby on Rails, and launch this site in conjunction with the print version of my (and Tony's) Flex on Rails book.
Enjoy!
Daniel
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