Fooling Around // Software Production Line

Longman Dictionary Online updated their website and changed HTTP request syntax, so search plugin for Firefox requires update. Here is the updated Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Search Plugin for FireFox.

Given a DirectShow filter graph, what media samples are being sent through particular graph point? DumpMediaSamples utility gives a fast answer to this question. It prints out connection media type details (with details of VIDEOINFOHEADER, VIDEOINFOHEADER2 and WAVEFORMATEX structures corresponding to FORMAT_VideoInfo, FORMAT_VideoInfo2 and FORMAT_WaveFormatEx format types) and IMediaSample details obtained through AM_SAMPLE2_PROPERTIES structure.

First of all, it is necessary to create a graph of interest using GraphEdit utility. At the point of interest it is necessary to insert [an uninitialized] Sample Grabber Filter with the filter name “SampleGrabber” (this is the default name but if you add second filter which will be given a different name and remove first filter then, the utility would fail).

The graph may look like this:

Read more »

Longman Dictionary, my favorite one, offers online dictionary service through its website Longman Dictionary Online http://pewebdic2.cw.idm.fr/.

I did not notice any intent to offer integration tools, instead they only made available pronouncation .wav files for words starting with two letters, but luckily it is still quite easy to integrate Firefox with the website through a search plugin (if installed manually, it should be copied into %user%\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\%profile%\searchplugins).

WordPress is great but each upgrade or theme change is a bit painful because all customizations have to be moved manually and as long they are direct file edits, including fixes for not quite correct theme files.

So after all at least some of the updates have to be made as WordPress Plugins.

Here we start with Google Talk Sidebar Widget Plugin (for WordPress 2.5). Google offered chatback badge to offer web chat through Jabber/XMPP compatible Google Talk instant messaging network.

User quotes:

What’s cool about it is it’s anonymous both ways. I don’t have to expose my Google-ness to random visitors on the web, and if it gets annoying I can turn it off. Also, and most likely to be actually useful, people I actually know can go to my blog, check my status, and ping me if I’m around, all without downloading a client. On their end, Google is just running a web browser session for them. They don’t even need a Google account.

Download link: wp-googletalk.zip

Permanent link: http://alax.info/blog/tag/wp-googletalk (to bookmark or revisit)

Installation is standard for plugins and after activation a new widget is available on widgets page.

Copy paste <iframe> code from Google chatback badge page into Text field and the widget is ready for use. on your website.

See also:

• Google Talk
• Google Talk Chatback
• Announcement on Google Talkabout
• Relevant discussions on the web via Google
• Home on WordPress Plugins
• A similar plugin announcement noticed (google-talk-chatback)

Alax.Info Be Informed update is available.

What’s new in this build?

• New: System event log notification; event notification can be configured to be written to Windows Application event log (case study will follow)

Keywords: RegisterEventSource, ReportEvent

Application Name: Alax.Info Be Informed
License: Free for personal use, request commercial licenses via email or contact form
Latest Version: 1.0.4
Download Link: Alax.Info Be Informed 1.0.4 (730K)

I have been recently asked a question (by the way through new Jabber/XMPP/GoogleTalk based web chat) about DHCP Server leases.

I’m using the trial version of Alax.Info DHCP Server
And it says there are no more IP addresses available… Do I have to register?

Registration definitely would not hurt, however there is also an alternative. Issued leases are kept in registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Alax.Info\DhcpServer\Leases key. It is possible to open registry editor and remove some of the leases or even delete all of them (or rename key to be able to restore) in order to reset current DHCP Server state and allow it issue new leases again. This trick resets lease counter and allows having new five IP addresses given out by server to old or new MAC addresses.

Order Alax.Info DHCP Server before January, 20 and get 30% off regular price! The offer is valid with coupon code SBRT2762 supplied with the order.