Entries for vesuvius

Google Search Font Size Increase [Google Search Font Size Increase]

vesuvius — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:26:09 GMT

It's a very small but obvious change. The cynic in me says,

Why has it taken so long to realise that the text was small?
Is this a direct response to Bing, which had a bigger and clearer font till now?
Do you feel as if your are being treated like you are visually impaired?

in reply to Google Search Font Size Increase

UAC - from the Horses Mouth [UAC - from the Horses Mouth]

vesuvius — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:19:55 GMT

Mark Russinovitch constructs a disquisition. I know people have been complaining about how out of date information is, this is hot off the press.

in reply to UAC - from the *Horses Mouth*

Back to the future Channel 9 [Back to the future Channel 9]

vesuvius — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:12:50 GMT

All the posts on the front page are from a week ago, with no content from this week.

21:14 22/05/2009

in reply to Back to the future Channel 9

The New Channel 9 Editor [The New Channel 9 Editor]

vesuvius — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:41:05 GMT

The previous editor has been vanquished, and hopefully we will start to get more reliability from this proven editor. I think this is a very good move. Simple, no frills, effective.

Thank you Channel 9 Team [H]

I know the "smiley brigade" will be kock-a-hoop! To blowdarts dissaprobation I must add.

Thank you also for the messages that the server was down. I guess Europe is always most likely to suffer "system downs" because of its geographical location.

in reply to The New Channel 9 Editor

What don't you like about Windows 7? [What don't you like about Windows 7?]

vesuvius — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:59:04 GMT

OK, the release candidate has been out for a bit, with the beta being out for 5 months already, is there still anything left you are displeased about? Are you in the its Vista but better, or it's what Vista should have been, or it's exactly like Vista camp?

Obviously it couldn't be Vista, as that broke a lot of applications to make us safer - I last used anti-virus in XP. Some people "threw the baby out with the bathwater", but some of us (hopefully wiser) know and appreciate that increasing the security boundary was a necessity.

The typical wearisome XP/Pentium 3 fanboi, with tales on how fast XP is, how not bloated it was, how much prettier it was seems to have gone by the wayside. If you have the audacity to compare Windows 7 with gNewSense or PC/OS and resolve that they are better, then surely a visit to a reputable optometrist and psychiatric ward is in order?

Apart from an issue with me preferring the selected node in the treeview to not be set to "FullRowSelect" as I cannot see why they needed to change this from Vista, I feel as I am a part of something truly special, which Windows 7 absolutely is.

in reply to What don't you like about Windows 7?

WPF Background Worker [WPF Background Worker]

vesuvius — Mon, 11 May 2009 07:12:31 GMT

Is there a way to achive multi-threading with the ease and elegance that the BackgroundWorker does in Windows Forms?

in reply to WPF Background Worker

WCF in Windows 7 [WCF in Windows 7]

vesuvius — Mon, 11 May 2009 07:10:45 GMT

I have a WCF application that does not compile but does Ok in Vista. IIS is configured correctly. What has changed?

in reply to WCF in Windows 7

Windows 7 Explorer Drawing bug [Windows 7 Explorer Drawing bug]

vesuvius — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:57:22 GMT

Initially, I reported this problem in the beta here on channel 9 and via feedback but the problem is still present

This problem also affects Windows Media Player in that the drawing code is not calculating that it needs to draw the right border. For a conclusive example look at Windows Live Mail

Here the dialog has the same explorer drawing bug in the left column, but the right hand column draws as it should. This bug is not visible in Windows Vista and needs to be fixed in Windows 7.

in reply to Windows 7 Explorer Drawing bug

If you could change a keyword [If you could change a keyword]

vesuvius — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:37:03 GMT

In order to improve a language (in your view), what keyword would you change?

I for example, would like to change the "Dim" keyword in Visual Basic to "This". I think the language would be near on perfect then.

in reply to If you could change a keyword

Why not test Windows Media Player 12 on Vista? [Why not test Windows Media Player 12 on Vista?]

vesuvius — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:18:26 GMT

Windows 7 is RC [nearly], and surely this [Windows Media Player] is to be released for Vista as well, so why not get as much testing for the product as possible?

Did someone forget to do this?

in reply to Why not test Windows Media Player 12 on Vista?

Transparent PNG's and IE6 [Transparent PNG's and IE6]

vesuvius — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:59:04 GMT

What typically is the best was to deal with this issue? Thus far I have come across this and that, but would like to know if there is any other method, as one of these methods is still beta? Does anybody have some other preffered method?

This is for an ASP.NET 2.0 site with masterpages (by the way).

in reply to Transparent PNG's and IE6

Why does scratching relieve an itch? [Why does scratching relieve an itch?]

vesuvius — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:26:39 GMT

A curious question, something I'd never though about, just done. Apparently the activity is in the spine, with the technical explanation here.

So, if you scratch an itch on your head, its the same as scratching an itch on your leg, mmm...

in reply to Why does scratching relieve an itch?

I went back to Internet Explorer from Firefox [I went back to Internet Explorer from Firefox]

vesuvius — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:12:22 GMT

In case you may have noticed more spelling errors in my posts, this is because I don't have the spellcheck feature in firefox and have not found one in IE yet.

Nevertherless, I know I will probably install firefox again (and Opera etc), but I have used IE as my sole browser fro the last 3 weeks, and the experience has been a very pleasant one. That it is a better browser is unquestionable, and am finding accelerators to be very useful.

It certainly is not as slow as it used to be, and all in all, I don't really miss Firefox at all. Web sites are not as broken as they were in Windows 7 (not testing that anyore), and can see me using IE for quite a while into the future.

If you are a Firefox stalwart, you may want to give it another try.

in reply to I went back to Internet Explorer from Firefox

Visual Studio 2010 or Visual Studio 2003? [Visual Studio 2010 or Visual Studio 2003?]

vesuvius — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:56:02 GMT

Looking good, but please don't leave in the Office 2003 icons. Even Windows 7 has some new icons that add a fresher feel, and icons (as well as computer monitors/graphics) have moved on in leaps and bounds in recent years.

in reply to Visual Studio 2010 or Visual Studio 2003?

C# to Visual Basic [C# to Visual Basic]

vesuvius — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:08:39 GMT

I need to convert the following method to Visual Basic, but just cannot seem to get it

        private IEnumerable<DiggStory> BuildStories(DownloadStringCompletedEventArgs e)
        {
            if (e.Error != null)
            {
                return new List<DiggStory> { new DiggStory() { Title = e.Error.Message } };
            }

XDocument xmlStories = XDocument.Parse(e.Result);

            var stories = from story in xmlStories.Descendants("story")
                          where story.Element("thumbnail") != null &&
                                !story.Element("thumbnail").Attribute("src").Value.EndsWith(".gif")
                          select new DiggStory
                          {
                              Id = (int)story.Attribute("id"),
                              Title = ((string)story.Element("title")).Trim(),
                              Description = ((string)story.Element("description")).Trim(),
                              ThumbNail = (string)story.Element("thumbnail").Attribute("src").Value,
                              HrefLink = new Uri((string)story.Attribute("link")),
                              NumDiggs = (int)story.Attribute("diggs"),
                              UserName = (string)story.Element("user").Attribute("name").Value,
                          };

return stories;
}

I know you can use XML literals but the Visual Basic IDE down have an XDocument class and it works. the best converter has gotten me to this point

    Private Function BuildStories(ByVal e As DownloadStringCompletedEventArgs) As IEnumerable(Of DiggStory)
        If e.Error IsNot Nothing Then
            Return New List(Of DiggStory)(New DiggStory() {New DiggStory() With {.Title = e.Error.Message}})
        End If

Dim xmlStories As XDocument = XDocument.Parse(e.Result)

        Dim stories = _
         From story In xmlStories.Descendants("story") _
                 Where story.Element("thumbnail") IsNot Nothing AndAlso (Not story.Element("thumbnail").Attribute("src").Value.EndsWith(".gif")) _
                 Select New DiggStory
        '    CInt(Fix(story.Attribute("diggs"))), UserName = CStr(story.Element("user").Attribute("name").Value),
        '        'Dim TempUri As Uri = New Uri(CStr(story.Attribute("link"))), NumDiggs = CInt(Fix(story.Attribute("diggs"))), UserName
        '        'CStr(story.Element("thumbnail").Attribute("src").Value), HrefLink = New Uri(CStr(story.Attribute("link"))), NumDiggs
        '        '(CStr(story.Element("description"))).Trim(), ThumbNail = CStr(story.Element("thumbnail").Attribute("src").Value), HrefLink
        '        '(CStr(story.Element("title"))).Trim(), Description = (CStr(story.Element("description"))).Trim(), ThumbNail
        '        'CInt(Fix(story.Attribute("id"))), Title = (CStr(story.Element("title"))).Trim(), Description
        '        'Id = CInt(Fix(story.Attribute("id"))), Title

        'stories as NEW IEnumerable(of DiggStory)
        Return stories
    End Function

in reply to C# to Visual Basic

Tired of Channel 9 in a browser [Tired of Channel 9 in a browser]

vesuvius — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:26:32 GMT

What would it take to create a client based application to read, post and download content from Channel 9?

I presume you use the MetaWeblogAPI. If I used the Windows Live Sign-in SDK to log in users, would I need any special licensing (cough cough...should read, would you be prepared to license access) or have you any web services available that clients can use to obtain information?

I am thinking of something like Live Writer for Channel 9. Do niners think this would be a waste of time?

in reply to Tired of Channel 9 in a browser

NHibernate for .NET [NHibernate for .NET]

vesuvius — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:17:36 GMT

Has anybody used this ORM and is sufficiently pleased with it that they would recommend it over Linq to SQL or the Entity Framework?

I have read up about it on their website, but, as with these things, someone who has actually completed a project with it is usually the best person to seek advice from.

in reply to NHibernate for .NET

UK government backs open source [UK government backs open source ]

vesuvius — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:49:50 GMT

No, it is not Deja Vu. In this post I was criticised by some for being factually incorrect, but it is now Official.

Is it really worth continuing to put all your eggs in one technological basket (or Company) as a developer, or is it about time one diversified, maybe worked in another field?

How secure do you feel as a developer if you have Silverlight and WPF skills, and businesses say they would rather use Open Office and Mono, because it is free, rather than paying you £60 000 a year?

Should Mono have ever been allowed to get its hand on Windows Forms?

Why develop Moonlight if companies (enterprises) are only going to turn their back on you, and use thin client applications in Firefox on Linux?

in reply to UK government backs open source

F# Discussion [F# Discussion]

vesuvius — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:09:34 GMT

Ok, I've been looking at the September 2008 CTP and have had a look at the tutorial which I will post below.

The first think that stuck me coming from a C type training is the use of the keyword let

Pretty much everything is like using the keyword var in C#. Everything is about type inference. Everything is also immutable like a string in .NET, i.e. let x = 10 cannot be changed(unless you use the mutable keyword)

I also like tuples, which we just do not have in .NET, you would have to write your own in C#. also looking at list again, none of this

List<int> intList = new List<int>();

You just go

/// The empty list

let listA = [ ]

/// A list with 3 integers

let listB = [ 1; 2; 3 ]

What other interesting constructs can you make out, without writing any code?

// F# Tutorial File

// This file contains sample code to guide you through the

// primitives of the F# language.

// For a larger collection of F# samples, see:

// http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=124614

// Contents:

// - Simple computations

// - Functions on integers

// - Tuples

// - Booleans

// - Strings

// - Lists

// - Arrays

// - More Collections

// - Functions

// - Types: unions

// - Types: records

// - Types: classes

// - Types: interfaces

// - Types: classes with interface implementations

// - Printing

// Turn on the lightweight syntax

#light

// open some standard namespaces

open System

// Simple computations

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

// Here are some simple computations. Note how code can be documented

// with '///' comments. Hover over any reference to a variable to

// see its documentation.

/// A very simple constant integer

let int1 = 1

/// A second very simple constant integer

let int2 = 2

/// Add two integers

let int3 = int1 + int2

// Functions on integers

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// A function on integers

let f x = 2*x*x - 5*x + 3

/// The result of a simple computation

let result = f (int3 + 4)

/// Another function on integers

let increment x = x + 1

/// Compute the factorial of an integer

let rec factorial n = if n=0 then 1 else n * factorial (n-1)

/// Compute the highest-common-factor of two integers

let rec hcf a b = // notice: 2 parameters separated by spaces

if a=0 then b

elif a<b then hcf a (b-a) // notice: 2 arguments separated by spaces

else hcf (a-b) b

// note: function arguments are usually space separated

// note: 'let rec' defines a recursive function

// Tuples

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

// A simple tuple of integers

let pointA = (1, 2, 3)

// A simple tuple of an integer, a string and a double-precision floating point number

let dataB = (1, "fred", 3.1415)

/// A function that swaps the order of two values in a tuple

let Swap (a, b) = (b, a)

// Booleans

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// A simple boolean value

let boolean1 = true

/// A second simple boolean value

let boolean2 = false

/// Compute a new boolean using ands, ors, and nots

let boolean3 = not boolean1 && (boolean2 || false)

// Strings

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// A simple string

let stringA = "Hello"

/// A second simple string

let stringB = "world"

/// "Hello world" computed using string concatentation

let stringC = stringA + " " + stringB

/// "Hello world" computed using a .NET library function

let stringD = String.Join(" ",[| stringA; stringB |])

// Try re-typing the above line to see intellisense in action

// Note, ctrl-J on (partial) identifiers re-activates it

// Functional Lists

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// The empty list

let listA = [ ]

/// A list with 3 integers

let listB = [ 1; 2; 3 ]

/// A list with 3 integers, note :: is the 'cons' operation

let listC = 1 :: [2; 3]

/// Compute the sum of a list of integers using a recursive function

let rec SumList xs =

match xs with

| [] -> 0

| y::ys -> y + SumList ys

/// Sum of a list

let listD = SumList [1; 2; 3]

/// The list of integers between 1 and 10 inclusive

let oneToTen = [1..10]

/// The squares of the first 10 integers

let squaresOfOneToTen = [ for x in 0..10 -> x*x ]

// Mutable Arrays

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// Create an array

let arr = Array.create 4 "hello"

arr.[1] <- "world"

arr.[3] <- "don"

/// Compute the length of the array by using an instance method on the array object

let arrLength = arr.Length

// Extract a sub-array using slicing notation

let front = arr.[0..2]

// More Collections

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// A dictionary with integer keys and string values

let lookupTable = dict [ (1, "One"); (2, "Two") ]

let oneString = lookupTable.[1]

// For some other common data structures, see:

// System.Collections.Generic

// Microsoft.FSharp.Collections

// Microsoft.FSharp.Collections.Seq

// Microsoft.FSharp.Collections.Set

// Microsoft.FSharp.Collections.Map

// Functions

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// A function that squares its input

let Square x = x*x

// Map a function across a list of values

let squares1 = List.map Square [1; 2; 3; 4]

let squares2 = List.map (fun x -> x*x) [1; 2; 3; 4]

// Pipelines

let squares3 = [1; 2; 3; 4] |> List.map (fun x -> x*x)

let SumOfSquaresUpTo n =

[1..n]

|> List.map Square

|> List.sum

// Types: unions

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

type Expr =

| Num of int

| Add of Expr * Expr

| Mul of Expr * Expr

| Var of string

let rec Evaluate (env:Map<string,int>) exp =

match exp with

| Num n -> n

| Add (x,y) -> Evaluate env x + Evaluate env y

| Mul (x,y) -> Evaluate env x * Evaluate env y

| Var id -> env.[id]

let envA = Map.of_list [ "a",1 ;

"b",2 ;

"c",3 ]

let expT1 = Add(Var "a",Mul(Num 2,Var "b"))

let resT1 = Evaluate envA expT1

// Types: records

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

type Card = { Name : string;

Phone : string;

Ok : bool }

let cardA = { Name = "Alf" ; Phone = "(206) 555-8257" ; Ok = false }

let cardB = { cardA with Phone = "(206) 555-4112"; Ok = true }

let ShowCard c =

c.Name + " Phone: " + c.Phone + (if not c.Ok then " (unchecked)" else "")

// Types: classes

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// A 2-dimensional vector

type Vector2D(dx:float, dy:float) =

// The pre-computed length of the vector

let length = sqrt(dx*dx + dy*dy)

/// The displacement along the X-axis

member v.DX = dx

/// The displacement along the Y-axis

member v.DY = dy

/// The length of the vector

member v.Length = length

// Re-scale the vector by a constant

member v.Scale(k) = Vector2D(k*dx, k*dy)

// Types: interfaces

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

type IPeekPoke =

abstract Peek: unit -> int

abstract Poke: int -> unit

// Types: classes with interface implementations

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

/// A widget which counts the number of times it is poked

type Widget(initialState:int) =

/// The internal state of the Widget

let mutable state = initialState

// Implement the IPeekPoke interface

interface IPeekPoke with

member x.Poke(n) = state <- state + n

member x.Peek() = state

/// Has the Widget been poked?

member x.HasBeenPoked = (state <> 0)

let widget = Widget(12) :> IPeekPoke

widget.Poke(4)

let peekResult = widget.Peek()

// Printing

// ---------------------------------------------------------------

// Print an integer

printfn "peekResult = %d" peekResult

// Print a result using %A for generic printing

printfn "listC = %A" listC

in reply to F# Discussion

Ingredients to make the Windows 7 Taskbar an Epic Fail ? [Ingredients to make the Windows 7 Taskbar an Epic Fail ?]

vesuvius — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:30:40 GMT

The good folks at Microsoft have changed the way we navigate our applications in Seven, which was very good of them, and I can see why they have done so and applaud them so.

The Task bar will be perceived to be problematical, until an API is released that allows native and managed developers to target the task bar API, and make their applications easier to use. At present, the only programs that work with the taskbar well are Microsoft ones (Word, Explorer etc.)

All other programs like Firefox, Free Download Manager and even my own custom Windows Forms applications are really painful to use because they are in the Task bar, but are second class citizens as far as the taskbar is concerned.

There is a Task bar API in development, but that has been assigned to be joined with the VistaBridge which was released two years too late, and progress in development in it, is like a dog with three legs.

The mistake you [Microsoft] have made is in not making available a feature complete task bar API, that all appplication developers can start to use that is itself beta so as to mitigate any friction with the inevitable recalcitrance you will encounter by people inured to previous versions.

You should know by now just how much most people dislike change, and the availability of this API would surely palliate those voiceferous about the change. The biggest problem Vista had was misconception, and I have worked with many users over the years and know that my visually impaired uncle for instance will not be able to use Seven. If you don't do something about this soon, you will be Mojaving the task bar in 2012.

Just my 2 pence.

in reply to Ingredients to make the Windows 7 Taskbar an Epic Fail ?

SharpDevelop. I just don't get it? [SharpDevelop. I just don't get it?]

vesuvius — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:58:21 GMT

A new version is out.

Why would you want to use Sharp Develop and not C# express. Is it that it is more advanced than C# express, and not as expensive as Visual Studio?

What are the advantages of using it over the aforementioned IDE's? Also, by the look of it, this new version is now capable of targeting .NET 3.0 and .NET 3.5 which is really coming to the party rather late now is it not?

It is admirable though, that there is a community wanting to develop said product. What if for instance, if they decide to become a mono .NET port, and allow .NET on open source (license pending of course)?

There just seems to be something I am missing about why you would want to be involved in such a thing, unless they think Visual Studio is crap?

in reply to SharpDevelop. I just don't get it?

Getting the Windows 7 Release Candidate? [Getting the Windows 7 Release Candidate?]

vesuvius — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:45:30 GMT

I have been using Windows 7 for 2 weeks as my main OS and there is no going back for me. I however, would like to get my hands on the release candidate (s) when the present beta becomes one.

Are any mere mortals going to be afforded the opportunity to test this out, or is it a case of "no way Jose!"?

in reply to Getting the Windows 7 Release Candidate?

Required Windows 7 Taskbar Improvement [Required Windows 7 Taskbar Improvement]

vesuvius — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:46:21 GMT

I am now acclimatised to the new Win 7 taskbar, but keep feeling that I would like a numeric indicator as to how many tabs/windows/processes each taskbar button has running. That way (even in the days of 8 gig ram), you can easily control the amount of instances of any application you may have.

At present I am having to hover over each tab every once in a while, to know what is running and what is not. Billy Hollis had a great WPF application some time ago that handles this scenario perfectly. Just look at the menu options at the bottom with the instances running enumerated.

in reply to Required Windows 7 Taskbar Improvement

This site may harm your computer. Google goes bonkers. [This site may harm your computer. Google goes bonkers.]

vesuvius — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:14:30 GMT

Is it just me or is this really annoying?

Just today, searching for something like Scott Gu or anything else for that matter brings up this irritating prompt.

I use UAC so am aware when anything tries to install malicious stuff onto my PC. Is it time to jump ship and go to; cough, cough, Yahoo?

Entries for vesuvius

Google Search Font Size Increase [Google Search Font Size Increase]

UAC - from the *Horses Mouth* [UAC - from the *Horses Mouth*]

Back to the future Channel 9 [Back to the future Channel 9]

The New Channel 9 Editor [The New Channel 9 Editor]

What don't you like about Windows 7? [What don't you like about Windows 7?]

WPF Background Worker [WPF Background Worker]

WCF in Windows 7 [WCF in Windows 7]

Windows 7 Explorer Drawing bug [Windows 7 Explorer Drawing bug]

If you could change a keyword [If you could change a keyword]

Why not test Windows Media Player 12 on Vista? [Why not test Windows Media Player 12 on Vista?]

Transparent PNG's and IE6 [Transparent PNG's and IE6]

Why does scratching relieve an itch? [Why does scratching relieve an itch?]

I went back to Internet Explorer from Firefox [I went back to Internet Explorer from Firefox]

Visual Studio 2010 or Visual Studio 2003? [Visual Studio 2010 or Visual Studio 2003?]

C# to Visual Basic [C# to Visual Basic]

Tired of Channel 9 in a browser [Tired of Channel 9 in a browser]

NHibernate for .NET [NHibernate for .NET]

UK government backs open source [UK government backs open source ]

F# Discussion [F# Discussion]

Ingredients to make the Windows 7 Taskbar an Epic Fail ? [Ingredients to make the Windows 7 Taskbar an Epic Fail ?]

SharpDevelop. I just don't get it? [SharpDevelop. I just don't get it?]

Getting the Windows 7 Release Candidate? [Getting the Windows 7 Release Candidate?]

Required Windows 7 Taskbar Improvement [Required Windows 7 Taskbar Improvement]

This site may harm your computer. Google goes bonkers. [This site may harm your computer. Google goes bonkers.]

John Martyn [John Martyn]

UAC - from the Horses Mouth [UAC - from the Horses Mouth]