Corey Gouker's Machine Inside the Mind

Going through Scoble's blog, CTRL+Q'ing the stuff that's duped or isn't so interesting I stumbled upon blogger comedy gold.

The brothers in RSS advocacy aren't in sync anymore. Scoble has unsubscribed from Pirillo.

Back about 8 months ago in March I talked to Chris about the lack of full text feeds on his blog. He did mention looking into getting them turned on. At the time though he also suggested I do the incredible and actually download the webpage (via Fetchlinks for NewsGator).

What the!? Combine this with all the dead blogs. And the dead readers.

Maybe the blubble has burst, dead blogs, dead readers, nothing radically new, major RSS advocates not even using RSS to the fullest. Tsk tsk... What is going on in the world?

I really don't understand this one. One of the top ten search queries that people use to find my blog is "how to self induce vomiting" (the highest by about three times as many hits in case you're curious is "outlook not responding"). It all started because of this blog entry I posted on my birthday last year. I was sick at the time and was trying to clear up the phlegm in my throat not trying to actually make myself throw up.

Please could someone tell me why this is being searched for? May I suggest searching something else?

msn | google - eating disorders
msn | google - anorexia nervosa
msn | google - bulimia nervosa
msn | google - binge eating

Go to WebMD. Search WebMD for help about eating disorders.

See your doctor! Please do something, it's not healthy.

Finally, good luck, I hope that if you suffer from an eating disorder you'll be able to get help.

In my last post about FLAC I talked about how to convert FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) using Adobe Audition. That works just fine. But what I wanted was to not have to run the individual files through Windows Media Player manually entering in data. So this time around we'll do it much more fluidly.

Basically what we do is take our copy of Nero then download and install the plugin for FLAC. Default location for plugins being C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\AudioPlugins.

At this point go through the normal Audio CD creation process using Nero. If the FLAC comes with a CUE file, just drap and drop the CUE file. If not, hopefully the tracks will be numbered, just drag and drop those.

Burn the project using the Image Recorder setting. Save the NRG file somewhere. Then mount the file using Nero ImageDrive. Once this is done open up Windows Media Player and enjoy. You should find that by going to the Rip pane WMP automatically finds all the track information with album art. Hug the wonderful code behind this one that analyzes things for you. Then rip to WMA VBR or MP3 and not have to worry about the metadata.

I should also mention that if you're a fan of the SHN (Shorten) codec you can download this plugin. Then just convert the files in the same way.

If you're a fan of WMA and the way WMP manages your media as I am this is probably the easiest solution for making sure WMIS (Windows Media Information Services) gets things right.

At long last, since I heard the bloody song in the UK I've finally realized what the Sugababes "Push The Button" reminded me of. Why yes, it's "the most dynamic female soul singer in the history of the music", Tina Turner's "The Best". It seems blatantly obviously now that I've got both and merged them together. But when you don't have any words pop in your head at the time it's quite difficult to remember anything and use Google to help. Oddly it was playing Push The Button and somehow remembering a cruise line advert that used The Best the suddenly triggered the connection. Not being a huge fan of either of them it's just nice to finally put this one to rest. I just can't stand when I can't place a connection when I'm 100% possitive there is one.

To relieve anyone else that swore Push The Button reminded them of something, here's a WMA to confirm things for you.

Then 106,435 shares were sold and I'm still waiting and seeing if I should sell my 100 shares. I want $28.50 now, fingers are crossed.

And I just wish I could've done it quicker. In the past year I've been with AT&T / Cingular on the cheapest $39.99 plan I've had the following available to me, 400 + an additional 50 free minutes and Unlimited Nights & Weekends. Oh and 0 SMS with the cost per SMS at $.10, great really. Not. At least not when you send a max of 5 SMS per month and haven't had a single month in which you went over 100 minutes.

Making matters worse I've never had a bill that's run my $39.99. This month I just paid $52.07, previous month was $53.55, etc. All that for my wonderful 100 minutes max usage. So rather than paying $.10 a minute or something reasonable I've been paying close to $1.92 a minute. Screw that.

Having just called Cingular to verify my contract end date I just received more bad news. I bought the phone off Amazon on November 10th so I thought my contract was already up. Apparently not, I was originally in San Jose with a 408 number but switched to a 425 number when I found out I was moving up to Redmond to work for Microsoft. I did that on January 12th, and so I've been told that Cingular created a entirely new service contract for me thus renewing my contract till January 12th, 2006. Grand.

So there you have it, hopefully, with fingers crossed, I'll be switching to T-Mobile's PAYG service on January 12th, 2006. I've also been told that T-Mobile with transfer my number, though of course if my PAYG expires then I'll lose the number. Oh well.

Since I've not got any data services, which is another story, I figure I'll be saving myself about $43 every month. I'll start out with only the SIM and activate with the $25 card which should give me 130 minutes, that'll probably last 2 months. Then I'll pay $100 for 1000 minutes, those will expire after 1 year, not bad but not as good as PAYG in the UK . Figuring I make less than 100 minutes of calls every month I figure that one payment of $100 will last a full year.

Total savings after switch, $524!!! Man that'll be a good feeling.

Am totally impressed by this how to I just finished reading on Engadget. I'm keeping an eye out for any dead looking dishes now...

Jon and I were both shocked this morning when we noticed that Dom actually updated his blog on MSDN. The shocking part was probably that one of the many Microsoft blogs that have made their way into our "Abandoned" folders actually got a new post. Dom's post gap? 10 months to the day, 304 days total! The shame. What's the point?

So I've got a question. How many blogs at Microsoft and other corporations and such have been like this? I ask why bother? I mean so many softies have blogs that are like this. They post 5 or 6 posts within the first 2 months. Then every so often (every 304 days) they post a random thing asking for opinions or feedback or about a meeting or something along those lines. Then expect to get some sort of response or readership.

Dom, I already know your argument for not posting so often. You want there to be some value for your reader and yet you can't talk about some things that are under NDA. Plus you don't want to mix personal life and work. Plus you don't want to drop your other commitments at work. Make up your bloody mind already. Keep the blog and post something or just kill it.

There is of course the exception. But generally I think the majority of softies that started a blog have probably just let them die.

So many personal blogs are like this as well so corporate blogs definitely aren't in the minority. I suppose I'm not one to talk either, if you look at my archive you can definitely see the gaps and low posting trends every so often.

My closing point may be that could it be a good time for corporate bloggers to change the way they go about blogging?

I honestly can't believe Jon's web app still isn't up on the World's Best App contest. He showed it to me before the contest was even started and continued to improve it till they opened up the submissions. With the admission that Jon isn't the only one having issues getting their app even added to the site wouldn't that lead someone to say, "hmm this contest isn't quite going right is it". Then just postpone the timeline till things are sorted. At the same time whoever is running the contest doesn't seem overly concerned with their rules as there's at least one non game app that totally ignores them. At any rate, you'd think even a simple contest could be pulled off without issue but I guess not. Maybe they should take a lesson from other MS contests that seem to be doing well...

UPDATE: After nearly a month, 29 days, since Jon submitted his app it's now live. So click here to check it out and vote for the world's best messenger app.

After having 3 other MVP's help me, a former MVP who I know (he works on Exchange now) help me, I finally decided to just call. I was on hold for over an hour apparently, I didn't notice or anything since I had the headset around my neck with the volume down. It was a bit odd since it was about 3AM. He was on EDT so obviously on the night shift. Anyway rather than get into details of the call I'll just say it was great, the guy that helped me was great, deserves a 4.0 just for getting things working when no one else could.

This should be a lesson for anyone that has any sense or say on Exchange. Make the setup of OWA, FBA, RPC, etc all much easier. In terms of the things we did to make RPC work in the first place with FBA, we only checked the settings and modified one registry setting (we specified port 6001 and 6002 separately rather than doing what the KB suggests which is server:6001-6002;). Even then it didn't work, we double checked everything again redid some settings that didn't change (just for verification). Then magically everything worked. Except FBA.

To get that working he had to look through the KB and find some mysterious article that wasn't even released to the public yet. Here's a copy of the resolution for those that are curious. You'll need MetaEdit 2.2 (ignore the IIS6 warning) / Metabase Explorer from the IIS6 Resource Kit. After you get MetaData Edit you browse to the virtual server that's running OWA, go to the Rpc directory and in the right pane create a new DWORD with the value of 45054. Now just do an iisreset and things magically work. Oh and it should be noted that according to all the KB articles I found there was nothing wrong with my configuration and all the settings and such were correct to begin with. Here's the full text and a few more links that will help one down the path of agony:

PROBLEM
========
Scenario:

1) Manually create a secondary HTTP VS in ESM (so we're not using "Default Website")
2) Install RPCproxy and manually create the /rpc directory in this secondary HTTP VS through IIS Admin
3) Install an SSL cert onto the secondary HTTP VS
4) Enable Forms Based Authentication (FBA).

After step 4, the RPC-over-HTTP functionality will be broken. Attempts to manually navigate to the https://server/rpc directory will bring up the FBA sign-in screen rather than a prompt for credentials and a permissions error as expected.

RESOLUTION
==============
This is because the OwaLogon ISAPI filter is installed to the entire secondary HTTP VS when FBA is enabled. This includes all of the subdirectories of this secondary HTTP VS on which it is not explicitly excluded. Since the /rpc directory was created within IIS Administrator (not ESM), it is not affected by DS2MB metabase replication and should not be overwritten. The filter setting can be bypassed for the /rpc directory by setting property 45054 to "0" on this directory.

Steps:
1) Open up Metaedit.
2) Navigate to the LM\W3SVC and then navigate into the proper HTTP VS (in my case it was 100)
3) Click through "root" and onto "rpc".
4) In the right pane, verify that 45054 is not listed. If it is, we will modify. If it is not, we will create.
5) Assuming it's not listed, right click in the right-pane and select "New->Dword".
6) If you get an error about "trying to get property names", simply click OK. This can be ignored; not all properties are named.
7) Leave the ID drop-down as "(Other)", but change the number from "0" to "45054".
8) Check the Inherit attribute.
9) Set the "Data" field to "0" at the bottom and click OK.

With this change in place, both FBA and RPCHTTP should function on a secondary HTTP VS.

KB ARTICLE FOR RPC OVER HTTP:
==========================
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=833401

1. LINK - Exchange Server 2003 RPC over HTTP Deployment Scenarios
2. LINK - How to Deploy RPC over HTTP for the First Time on Exchange Server 2003 SP1, No Front-End Server
3. LINK - How to configure RPC over HTTP on a single server in Exchange Server 2003
4. LINK - How to use the RPC Ping utility to troubleshoot connectivity issues with the Exchange over the Internet feature in Outlook 2003
5. LINK - How to troubleshoot client RPC over HTTP connection issues in Office Outlook 2003
6. LINK - Exchange ActiveSync and Outlook Mobile Access errors occur when SSL or forms-based authentication is required for Exchange Server 2003

And finally the steps above for RPC over HTTP with OWA FBA is a yet to be released KB article so I can't reference it, but maybe a search for 45054 might reveal something.

If you're having trouble with OWA FBA or RPC over HTTP, post in the comments and we'll see about triaging the issue and maybe get it working .

Dana Cline has started up a new site called FairUseLaw.com which goes into some good detail and provides links to further information regarding Fair Use, Broadcast Flags, DMCA, EFF, etc. Nice round up of important information regarding the issues.

At the same time Ian Dixon has new new podcast up about DRM. On the show they have "Bob Weber Rights Management expert and Marcus Matthias from Microsoft talking about DRM (Digital Rights Management), what it is, why we have it, what is means to us and the future of DRM in Vista".

I created a nice little task for myself this week and figured I'd start early. I expect some more changes and updates soon but for the time being I've switched to a new theme. It's basically just the Essence theme created by Jelle Druyts for dasBlog. I've modified it quite a bit, swapping the text sides, making the body wider, fixing a minor bug with the columns stacking when in windowed mode, and I popped in a header image. Picking an image was quite hard since there's only 100px in height to work with, etc. I'll most likely change it out over time. For those that read in a RSS reader it won't mean any difference. I just had to do it since I got sick of seeing the same thing when I went to manage the blog here. I also added the GeoURL info to the metadata as well. More changes soon.

Come on MSFT, fingers crossed, hit $28 hit $28. Of course that's if I really want to sell to pay off a bit of the student debt I have. It seems to make sense when what I'm earning on MSFT is far far less than the interest I'm paying on my loan.

Sorry to say it Chris, but you won't be any happier with Cingular. Sadly I think the sentiment and frustration with mobile service providers and land line providers is growing more than ever. It's not just a feeling us geeks have either. When I was in England I absolutely loved the service I received there. With any of the providers you got all your incoming calls and texts for free. None of this minutes bull. Texts were on average 6-10p per message (cheaper if you had a good contract). Most average contracts include 300-500 texts per month with 100-500 minutes. As an example lets look at O2 (the provider I had in the UK), here's the plans they offer online. 200 minutes to any mobile and 500 texts for £30 on a year contract, so you might be thinking "that's not a lot of minutes". Well it doesn't have to be, you don't pay to receive calls. You might ask about the phones you can get. Well surprise, take one of the most popular phones out right now, the Moto V3, that's free, the Rokr, that's free too. So I'm not totally biased here. Personally I still felt as if I was being screwed for the service I received even while in the UK. I didn't think it was good value for money either. The main point I'm trying to make is that in the US we're being screwed on these huge 2 year contracts for phones that we've still got to pay $100+ for when in the UK they're getting them free on 1 year contracts and getting free upgrades every renewal period. I paid £25 for a Nokia 6610 (unlocked) when I first got to the UK on a 1 year contract with O2. When I came home, about 3 months later, I was disgusted when I saw the same phone just finally come available and be marketed as new and such, price, $249 on a 2 year contract. Please tell me why, how does that make sense?

I get this feeling that the US carriers are just happy and giddy that they've pulled off the most amazing trick. They've managed to make America forget about the rest of the world. I highly doubt the average person realizes that everywhere else people don't pay to receive incoming calls (or incoming texts [see T-Mobile US]). And in other countries they certainly don't pay an arm and a leg for 2 year contracts and new phones. Plus just look at how Sprint, Verizon, etc can manage to just not have phones that only work in the US. They've certainly managed to maintain the existing America is the world mentality. Sadly it's not like things are better in the north, Canada has it even worse, some there even pay for voicemail. How much is the V3 with Rogers in Canada? Currently $99 CAD on a 3!?!? year contract, $375 CAD on a 1 year contract!

Yet all of us in North America continue to pay. So many of us are just fed up and switch from one provider to another only to find they are all horrible thieves that continue to think we'll just love them for the same crappy service that's so behind the times.

I think secretly the reason why so many of us are dying for good data plans on mobile networks is so that we can just give the service providers the finger and start using VoIP. Heck I know I am. If I had my way, I'd use the data services while out and about to make VoIP calls and use Messenger. Then when near an open WiFi node, use that. How many of us would just die for a plan that provided unlimited data with say 100-300 minutes (just in case) for $20-40/mo. I know I would.

Don't get me started on landline providers. The idea of choice there is a joke. So many areas are still only served by one provider when it comes to the basic local line. It's horrible. I've been trying to get my Mom off of Verizon's land line service which costs her something like $70/mo for unlimited US and Canadian calls and onto Vonage purely because of the huge price difference. She's tied to it because Vonage doesn't currently let her keep the number she's had for over 5 years now. For those in reach of cable internet there's a huge opportunity there to just be rid of a land line completely. The service speeds and reliability are probably good enough to just get a good VoIP service (Vonage being one, Lingo not) and save a huge amount of money.

Please tell me when will things finally change for the better? Maybe I've become far too cynical or far too impatient, I have just about lost any faith that consumers have anything going for them anymore. That's another story though...

The other day I showed both the iRiver and Creative Portable Media Center to my cousin. Tried turning both on and both didn't work, figured the battery had died in both. Today I finally remembered to plug them in to charge to test them out. I noticed the Creative had this black spot in the top right corner of the screen and some weird dark thing going on. Tried powering it on while plugged in and nothing. Figured I should reset it. Tried opening the back but couldn't. Pressed down hard enough and finally got the case open. Sure enough the battery exploded. It damaged the screen and everything else. The entire unit plus the battery will need to be replaced. It's been sitting on my desk in the same spot for over 6 months now. It's not been hot and it's not been cold so who knows.

Here's the important information about the battery for reference:
Model Number:   PMA-BA0001
Date Code:      SMMJDHBC
Part Number:    BA20603R79913

Oh and here are four pictures for your viewing pleasure. While stating that the battery "exploded" would be pushing it, the battery definitely expanded. Note the curve in the plastic:
Photo 1 - shows battery standing
Photo 2 - shows battery lying down
Photo 3 - shows pmc screen distorted in bottom left
Photo 4 - shows pmc screen with spot in top right

So while the Creative PMC may have the best battery life of the PMC's be warned that it's physical life may be short lived.

Alex posted a fine image of some Black Cab's from San Francisco today. Geez are they a sight for sore eyes. I really miss black cab's. Reasons why they're better than crappy Crown Vic's: can easily hold 5 people (6 if they're drunk), are really comfy, have plenty of space for luggage if there's only two or 3 people (there are two extra seats that fold up that face back-wards), get better gas mileage, oh and they're British . I really hope and can't wait till they make it here. Hopefully they'll invade all the major cities to start then invade the rest of the country. Down with Crown Vic's and up with Black Cab's. God Praise the Queen!

Without writing anything of my own I'll simply link to Jon which is just spot on. I'll only add the following:

PS3	vs.	Xbox 360 Core System, okay so Xbox 360 to be fair.
iPod	vs.	PlaysForSure, Portable Media Player, Digital Media Player (everyone vs. iPod hasn't come together and decided on anything coherent).
Mac OS	vs.	how many version names of Windows.
Google	vs.	MSN Search

I don't know how many Microsoft people I've heard discuss how the company has a serious naming problem. It's not really a matter of brand recognition either since everyone recognizes Windows, MSN, and Xbox. But like so many have said, who wants to MSN Search it, or play music on their PlaysForSure Portable Media Player.

Why bother making great products if you're just going to destroy them with long in the tooth naming.