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Matt Mullenweg shows us the route ahead for Wordpress.
Interesting times lie ahead!
Technorati Tags: blogging, Matt Mullenweg, Wordpress
Netstumbler has always been a very useful tool for identifying wireless network problems, but alas the word on the street is forget running it on Windows Vista as it isn’t compatible. Yes, another application that won’t work with Windows Vista, but what do you expect? It was developed well before Windows Vista was even a glint in Wee Billy Gates’ eye!
One option is the following command prompt:
netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid
Which will output something like this:
Interface Name : Wireless Network Connection
There are 3 networks currently visible.SSID 1 : wireless1
Network type : Infrastructure
Authentication : WPA2-Personal
Encryption : CCMP
BSSID 1 : 00:11:09:bf:af:a2
Signal : 99%
Radio Type : 802.11g
Channel : 6
Basic Rates (Mbps) : 1 2 5.5 6 11 12 24
Other Rates (Mbps) : 9 18 36 48 54SSID 2 : wireless2
Network type : Infrastructure
Authentication : Open
Encryption : WEP
BSSID 1 : 00:14:6c:b1:ac:e8
Signal : 31%
Radio Type : 802.11g
Channel : 1
Basic Rates (Mbps) : 1 2 5.5 11
Other Rates (Mbps) : 6 9 12 18 22 24 36 48 54SSID 3 : wireless3
Network type : Infrastructure
Authentication : WPA-Personal
Encryption : TKIP
BSSID 1 : 00:14:7c:b1:e5:da
Signal : 18%
Radio Type : 802.11g
Channel : 1
Basic Rates (Mbps) : 1 2 5.5 11
Other Rates (Mbps) : 6 9 12 18 22 24 36 48 54
However, there is a far more elegant solution thanks to the guys over at MetaGeek and it is called, "Inssider". It uses the Windows Native Wi-Fi API, which is a far more elegant solutions than some of the other NetStumbler replacement applications that are appearing.
Best of all, it works with most wireless cards straight out of the box, has a useful and pretty time lapse data graph that makes finding issues with Wi-Fi networks a good deal easier and is open source. However, it is a shame that they don’t have GPS integration to provide useful Wardriving data, which was one of the killer features of NetStumbler.
Figure 1: Inssider capturing wireless network traffic
It does require the installation of the .net 2.0 Framework, which isn’t a problem as most computers probably already have it installed or it is freely available to download from the Microsoft Download Center or through Windows Update for those that don’t already have it. Don’t forget to install .net 2.0 SP1 as well - you can find it here.
One of our key reasons for not moving to Windows Vista earlier was the failure of MetaGeek’s Wi-Spy device, or more particularly their software, to run on Microsoft’s shiny new baby. Thankfully, this has been resolved and the latest versions of Chanalyzer, both the v2 and v3 branches, now work quite happily with Windows Vista.
Figure 2: Chanalyzer screen capture
Note: Chanalyzer v3 doesn’t work with the original Wi-Spy device; you need to be using the newer Wi-Spy 2.4x.
MetaGeek has a new product coming along within the next few months that will add 5GHz (802.11a) spectrum scanning and analysis capabilities. Well worth hanging off on any purchase until that device is available. This is a killer Wi-Fi troubleshooting tool in the making!
As a general last thought, we’re slowly running out of reasons to gripe about Windows Vista! In fact, we’d go as far to say that XP is going to be a dim and distant memory for us very soon!
Technorati Tags: .net framework, 802.11a, Chanalyzer, Inssider, MetaGeek, Microsoft, Microsoft Download Center, Vista, Wardriving, Wi-Fi, Wi-Spy, Windows, Windows Update, wireless, XP
Continuing with our “Geek Sayings” series, Stephen Lamb commented on how the paperless office wasn’t really happening to the degree he’d like to see.
One of the comments, made by Kevster, summed things up perfectly,
“A paperless office is like a paperless toilet” - Kevster
How are others finding the transition to the paperless office? Are you using more or less paper than you did five, ten, twenty years ago? Any tips to share with others on transitioning to saving the trees?
Technorati Tags: Geek Sayings, paperless office, Stephen Lamb
Best wishes to all our customers, suppliers and website visitors for a happy and prosperous 2008.
Technorati Tags: Happy New Year
Within the last week, one of the largest music download websites was shutdown by British and Dutch police. Houses were raided, computers confiscated as evidence and people arrested in both Britain and Holland. According to the BBC the whole investigation took two years by the IFPI and BPI. Well, they can’t be happy bunnies when within one week there are plans afoot by The Pirate Bay to build OiNK v2 in the form of BOiNK.CD. Word of this rebirth is already widely available on the Internet e.g. HERE.
Two years to take down, one week to re-launch. Who looks like winning this war?
Once again the movie and music industry needs to look again at their business model and make the purchase of content from legal sources a compelling purchase. DRM restricted content makes pirate materials a more compelling source so that isn’t the right solution. Also, consumers feel they are being ripped off for legitimate content therefore looking at costs and prices might be heading in the right direction. Some bands are now looking to circumvent the music industry completely and allow their content to be downloaded for free. They will accept donations from fans for whatever the fans believe the music is worth - now that is inspiration and deserves to succeed.
What do you think? Has the day of the public buying CDs now gone? Are we now in the day of donation-based music with fans buying special edition merchandise at band’s gigs and from their websites?
Technorati Tags: BOiNK, BPI, donation, DRM, IFPI, OiNK, The Pirate Bay
Continuing on with our “Geek Sayings” series:
“Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.” - Unknown
Technorati Tags: funny, geek sayings, humor, humour
Continuing our geek saying series:
Alert! User Error.
Please replace user and press any key to continue!
Technorati Tags: funny, humor, humour, geek saying, user error
We know many folk look to do damage to their PCs when it lets them down, so here’s a solution if you’ve got more than one:
Let us help to take away your PC pains. We can assist in making your PC work for you in a secure and productive manner.
Technorati Tags: dominos, PC , technology pain
For those of you who remember Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Iraqi Minister of Information you may find this amusing.
Many thanks to Gordon Staines for his contribution.
Technorati Tags: amusing, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Iraqi Information Minister, joke, security, Windows, Windows Server
If you been following our Telephone Cold Calls No More! postings then you may also be interested in signing this e-Petition on the No10 Downing Street Website.
Technorati Tags: 0870, cold calling, downing street, e-petition, SPAM
CNET have published an excellent article for all video-bloggers and other camcorder enthusiasts:
While driving to Auctermuchty last week we came across this scene at the side of a country back road.
This is a disgraceful abuse of our natural environment, especially so when the local waste refusal centre is only a few miles away. The person(s) who did this should hang their head in shame and disgrace!
Just been spell checking an email before Outlook sent it off. Within the body of the mail, Outlook suggested that I’d made a spelling error with “blog” and suggested “bog” as a suitable substitute!
Are Microsoft trying to suggest that blogs are toilets for our thoughts?
[Note to our foreign readers: bog is slang for a toilet in areas of Scotland]
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