• Minor Bug Fixes

Update 6/2/2011:  New Version Released
Application will automatically update next time it is launched.

• Added ability to create a new note from an active note by using Ctrl N
• Added ability to force Sync an active note by pressing Ctrl S
• Fixed a bug on the location Sync, now it syncs based on percentage , not pixels, so it should look right in all computers
• Added the ability to change font size by using Ctrl (Mouse Wheel)

For quite a while new I have been a fan of Evernote its an awesome platform for creating and maintaining notes of all types that synchronize among all of your devices/platforms. The only thing that Evernote lacked in my opinion was the option of having a sticky note (See window 7 built in sticky note functionality below). This application is very usefull when you need to keep things fresh in your mind since they sit there on your desktop as a constant reminder. But it has the major downside that the notes reside only on your local desktop.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCMMR154xy8

It occurred to me that Evernote was uniquely qualified to implement a similar application but with the added advantage of ubiquitous synchronization across platforms / desktops.

Evernote Sticky is an application I wrote which takes advantage of the Evernote open API to allow you to have the same functionality of the Microsoft Sticky Notes with the above mentioned advantage of synchronization across platforms and desktops. It synchronizes not only the notes content, but color, font and screen position. Making having sticky notes a great tool.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQPeWEjby5Q

Features:

• Synchronizes across desktops and platforms.
• Creates individual notebook for all the sticky notes
• Synchronizes colors and fonts
• Automatically launches new notes when they are created in a different location
• Delivered to Click Once Install from Microsoft ensures that the application is always up to date.
• Takes advantage of the Windows 7 Task Bar for application Interaction
• Written in .NET 4.0 using C# and WPF
• Create a new note from an active note by pressing Ctrl N
• Force sync an active note by pressing Ctrl S
• Change the font size by using Ctrl (Mouse Wheel)
• Install it using Click Once^*
• Install it using Setup.exe^*

^{*Both methods are maintained and  automatically updated when a new version is available.}

Here is the plan

• Get NetFlix streaming only service for 7.99 that gives us access to unlimited streaming movies and TV Shows
  which takes care of the “On Demand” needs
• Get PlayOn.tv which gives us direct access to Hulu, NetFlix, Comedy Central , CBS, ESPN, Nick, and TBS
• Get Hulu Plus for a few extra Perks
• Cut off the cable completely and see if I can survive
• Get “Over the Air” some of the channels we can
  

Here are the shows that me and my family watch and where they are available

Parenthood – Hulu
House – Hulu (Plus) Day after Air
Biggest Looser  - Hulu (Day after Air)
Law and Order SVU – Hulu
Law and Order LA – Hulu
Undercover-boss - CBS
Fringe – Hulu (Day after Air)
The Walking Dead – N/A (AMC)
Merlin – Hulu
Leverage – N/A TNT
HawthoRN – N/A TNT
V – Hulu
Covert Affairs – Hulu (USA)

We start today! I’ll post on what progress / problems we run into

Merry Christmas~

It’s been an exciting nine months since we launched the Google Chrome browser. Already, over 30 million people use it regularly. We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web — searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends. However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web. So today, we’re announcing a new project that’s a natural extension of Google Chrome — the Google Chrome Operating System. It’s our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.

more…

It seems that the endless rumors about Google making an Operating System were not unfounded after all. After this announcement I went through the list of Google products, and I have found that basically Google’s model is simple. They take an existing product or function and create an improved version of it, in accordance with the company’s view. By making such a product the force the hand of the previous competitors, thus accelerating the evolution of said product and benefiting everyone.

Take Gmail for example, before Gmail came around all web based free email platforms had ridiculous restrictions 2-10 mb per account, no large attachments, poor POP and IMAP support etc… Then along comes Gmail and it blows all the caps and restrictions providing free unlimited space with POP and IMAP support excellent search and a snazzy interface. Immediately the competition reacts and now most of the web based email platforms support a wide range of features and unlimited space.

Google has done this with many of their products , Google Earth, Google News, Google Voice, the threat to buy the 700 mghz spectrum and many more. Google is playing a game and the thing is, that they are good at it. With this announcement about an OS they just threw the ball in Microsoft’s court. I guarantee you that the next version of “Windows” will take a lot from this.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEkSSaq-QFk

One of the things I have always done is provide extensive config files in XML format in order to alleviate having to modify the code when simple things change such as passwords, database names, host addresses etc. This has in my opinion always been a great venue to ensure maintainability and stability. But the big issue always was XML..

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a general-purpose specification for creating custom markup languages.[1] It is classified as an extensible language, because it allows the user to define the mark-up elements. XML’s purpose is to aid information systems in sharing structured data, especially via the Internet, [2] to encode documents, and to serialize data; in the last context, it compares with text-based serialization languages such as JSON, YAML and S-Expressions. [3]
more…

The problem I’ve always had with XML is parsing the file; although the support for it and the built in tools have improved greatly over the past few years it still requires considerable amount of code in order to gather the data in some languages (C#), and another considerable amount of code in order to update or change the data in the file. When I was learning Object Oriented programming a while back we were introduced to the concept of Serialization

In computer science, in the context of data storage and transmission, serialization is the process of converting an object into a sequence of bits so that it can be stored on a storage medium (such as a file, or a memory buffer) or transmitted across a network connection link. When the resulting series of bits is reread according to the serialization format, it can be used to create a semantically identical clone of the original object. For many complex objects, such as those that make extensive use of references, this process is not straightforward.
more…

But like the Wikipedia definition above says “this process is not straightforward”, you used to have to define Interfaces and formats and if your object had any kind of list or array in it, you couldn’t use it unless you wanted to spend a considerable amount of time making it work.

While I was working on the practice projects I grew to hate Serialization and had not used it since. Yesterday in a fit of rage, because my XML config file was being stubborn I stumbled across an implementation that used a Serialized object for storing configuration. I was baffled by the ease in which this was accomplished and I immediately implemented it. Now it its extremely easy to add and remove config parameters from my program and at the same time I don’t have to worry about someone deleting or changing the config file since it is stored in binary and gets re-created if deleted.

In order to serialize an object your class must be declared as [Serializable] . After you have done this, the below example will take care of the serialization for you.

//Serialize an Object
FileStreamfs = new FileStream(@”prog.conf”, FileMode.Create); //Create new File where the object will live
BinaryFormatter bf = new BinaryFormatter(); //Create new BinaryFormatter to Serilize Object
bf.Serialize(fs, YOUROBJECT); //Serialize Object
fs.Close(); //Close File

//Deserialize
FileStreamfs = newFileStream(@”prog.conf”,FileMode.Open);  //Open File Containing Serialized Object
YOUROBJECT obj = (YOUROBJECT) (new BinaryFormatter().Deserialize(fs));
fs.Close(); //Close File

Remember to include the System.IO and System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary libraries.

CAN YOU CRACK A CODE?
Try Your Hand at Cryptanalysis 12/29/08
Last year, we challenged you to crack a code created by the “crypt analysts” in our FBI Laboratory, who are experts in breaking ciphers of all kinds.

Tens of thousands of you did so.
Are you ready for round two? We hope so. But bear in mind, this year’s code is slightly more difficult.

Once again: if you want a primer on basic cipher systems and how to break them, see the article “Analysis of Criminal Codes and Ciphers.”

And if you’re a youngster, we suggest you start with the code on our Kids’ page.
Good luck!

VFWTDLCSWV. YD
NSLMIJFWEJFD GSW SL
NIJNQBLM FOBV EJFDVF
DLNIGTFBSL. KBVBF
YYY.AHB.MSK/NSCDC.OFZ
FS EDF WV QLSY SA
GSWI VWNNDVV.

It took me less than 10 minutes to crack it, come on FBI! Next time don’t make it so obvious, its a simple substitution cipher and you really shouldn’t need any hints because it is extremely easy. But in case you are wondering, look for a familiar pattern. Assume it is the most obvious answer and go from there. If you want to know what it says and how to crack it read on, but give it a try first it is really simple.

For those of you that are lazy or don’t have time, look closely at the code you will see the following line YYY.AHB.MSK/NSCDC.OFZ now if you have been alive for the past 15 years you will certainly recognize that pattern as a URL address. So assume the most obvious answer and you get WWW.FBI.GOV/*****.*** from there you can already substitute several letters in the rest of the cipher but as you probably noticed NSCDC.OFZ is not cracked yet. But again if you have been paying attention you will know that most Internet pages end in HTML, or HTM so assume the obvious again and you get WWW.FBI.GOV/*****.HTM now you have several letters to substitute around the code. Once you do this several patterns will emerge that will help you assemble words and the final result is below.

STUPENDOUS WE
CONGRATULATE YOU ON
CRACKING THIS LATEST
ENCRYPTION. VISIT
WWW.FBI.GOV/CODED.HTM
TO LET US KNOW OF
YOUR SUCCESS

This particular system I am working with makes things really simple. It exposes all business object methods as secured web services. This enables you to quickly and seamlessly integrate as many functions as you need while still being held accountable to the Business Logic of the program.

This is the first time I’ve seen this implemented and it has made my life so much easier. It does not only cut the amount of code I have to write but it ensures that everything we send through is valid in the system. I plan on making this a practice of my own. After all exposing logic methods as web services is very simple (especially if using .NET) and it significantly increases the value of your product. The possibilities are endless; you could add your own UI or merge several applications and accomplish all this, while still leveraging the full potential of the commercial software. I don’t know about everyone else, but this is likely to become a standard in my book.