Archive for January, 2004


Neat Roller theme

I happened to run into “my cup of java – Caffeine and code” by Juha Komulainen. An neat JRoller theme! (kinda looks like the typepad ones). Well that reminds me, I am working behind the scenes on the JRoller theme contest. I have been slacking on that front but should have something on the books soon.

BTW if you would like your Roller theme to mentioned, please leave a comment.

More to come.. Stay tuned!

Grrr… Its freaking cold!

at: 6:52 am EST |

Currently:
2º 

Partly Cloudy
Hi: 15
Lo: 12

More Current Conditions
Feels Like: -11 º   Dewpoint: -3º
Barometer: 30.02 in and rising   Wind:

WSW 8 mph

 

Humidity: 71%   Sunrise: 7:56 am
Visibility: Unlimited   Sunset: 5:35 pm

Generic Java sour grapes!

I have had 2 minor issues that are paining me, I could well turn out to be my problem. I decided to throw it out to the blogsphere to someone the oppurtunity to say I screwed up (if I have ;) )

 private void deleteOlderFiles() {
  /* Delete older files */
  File directory = new File(JetForm.OUTPUT_DIR);

  File[] olderfiles = directory.listFiles();

  long purgeTime = System.currentTimeMillis() – (12 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
  // Current time minus 12 hours

  for (int idx = 0; idx < olderfiles.length; idx++) {

   if (olderfiles[idx].lastModified() < purgeTime) {
    System.gc();
    if (!olderfiles[idx].delete()) {
     mLogger.error(“Unable to delete olderfiles”);
    } else {
     mLogger.debug(“Deleted file ” + olderfiles[idx].getName());
    }
   }
  }
 }

file.delete() refuses to work! and there is no api call that I can call to see what went wrong! I need to delete my older files before I generate new ones!

Here’s another

 NumberFormat formatter = new DecimalFormat(“#.0″);
 String number = formatter.format(“182345″); // number is now 182345.0
 NumberFormat nf = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance(Locale.CANADA);
 bucketValue = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance(locale).format(Double.parseDouble(number)); // I expect 182,345.0 & I get 182,345
 

I need the commas and the format to have one decimal point. Im sure theres a simpler way to do this.

Life outside the blogsphere

I have been a member of NetIP for the last one year and this year I was asked to run for office, so here I am. I’m currently the VP/Treasurer.

NETIP,  is a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional, cultural, civic, and social growth of Indian Americans in Michigan. Itsa social networking site where you get to meet people and have loads of fun! Its a north american organisation, so if you are in US make sure you visit the site to check for a local chapter.

I decided to take it upon myself to revamp our old website. Heres the link to the new revamped site.

Tech links

iPod in the house!

Yeah! I gave into temptation and bought an iPod! However, I just bought a 10Gb (for 236$ on Amazon) and not a 40GB as planned. Here are my reasons. IPod is really cool device, but it does not have all the cool features that I was looking for to spend 500$. The too main missing ingredients are FM tuner & wireless support(Wifi/bluetooth) and it was rather dissappointing to see Steve jobs not announce anything exciting earlier at the MacExpo! So I decided to give in and buy the cheapest IPod.  Im hoping or rather have a hunch that Steve definitely has something up his sleeve come june for the next Macworld. The two must have features that Im looking for and may be a color screen *droll* would be nice. Having said that heres my take on the iPod so far.

Pros

  • The device is just plain awesome! The design is simply impeccable. One starts to drool when he/she opens the covers, heck even the cover is drollable ;) Everything in neatly planned.
  • This freaking device is so light, that I am afraid that Im going to drop it.
  • The navigation is so simple and awesome ;)
  • Ability to rate songs while playing is sweet!
  • The font on this device is well choosen(Palm, who about learning a lesson or two from apple?)

Cons!

  • USB 2.0 Support - One needs to buy the cable for 19.99$ to support USB2. I had to return to Best Buy and buy the Firewire card instead.
  • Apple really needs to hire people who can design windows software, the windows installation is just *horrific*! Heck, they have a separate installation executable to install the manual. duh!
  • Beware, if you already have an installation of itunes, then the installation screws up. It just does not add the ipod config to the new one, it creates one more installation, one has to uninstall itunes and reinstall the package from scratch!
  • Apple, has put in soo much thought into the design of the ipod that they forgot the basics! The first thing that an end user wants to do is to hear something on the ipod, Apple should have had a single sample track that allows to user to test the device after charging for a few mins. I had to spend all this time fighting with iTunes before I could hear something on the ipod.
  • iTunes/iPod integration – This is by far the most disappointing feature in using the iPod. In my case, I was already using iTunes and had more than 10GB of mp3 imported to iTunes before I bought my iPod. iTunes tried to update the iPod with my collection and craps out saying theres not enough space! duh! what a discovery! There is a check box on the left of every track that allows u to select/deselect copying to the iPod. I cant select all (Ctrk – A) a specific genre and uncheck the boxes. *grrrr*, so I ended up removing all the songs from my iTunes and have imported the ones that I want to import to my iPod. There must be a better solution! Disappointing.
  • Ear phones – I have always had a problem with the small earphones they have never fit into my ears fine, but it is pretty obvious that apple has not put in much thought or effort into the ear phones. The earphones come with a soft cover, but if u put the cover on the markings for left/right on the earphone is covered.

Im still in awe at how this device can hold so many song yet perform so flawlessly ;) Wonder how the owners of 40GB must feel ;) while the hardware & the device being so perfect, the software disappoints! This device is worth 236$ Discovery! ;)

Later: Forgot to mention one important thing, the accessories. Be ready to spend atleast a 120$ for the iPod on accessories (the cover, the fm transmitter and auto charger) No wonder apple’s minting money. Now I need to find more links for software for the iPod. is there an iPod blog some place?

 

Back in business!

Nope! This blog has not been abandoned! It has just been a long and a much needed break to rejunevate and energise my engines. Its been a true break, I havent even fired up my aggregator for the last few weeks. Had a wonderful break down in texas(pics to come) and got to spend quality time being an uncle ;) My nephew is a handful! Anyways, 2004 seems to be looking up and things seem to be improving! I hope the job market kicks in and I get back to product development (have had enough with consulting!). Lots of exciting things to accomplish this year. So fire up your aggregators, cuz im back in business! Good to be back ;)