EthanLiew.com

Hi fellow readers, Elinkz - A "Serious" Developer Blog is now ethanliew.com

To be more "serious" ( with the quotes ), had registered ethanliew.com and started a nice domain for my self as 2008 's gift on 01/01/2008

Obviously Ethan Liew would be my name and .com would be my site domain name.

The three incremental dot aligned in forward 45 degree designed to bring me a better opportunity and expand further in what I am doing.


ethanliew.com is now live!

Feel free to drop me an email : info@ethanliew.com

Several changes had been made including my blog title, key word, theme, logo and design soon!

Thanks for your support !

Happy New Year 2008 At Genting, Malaysia

Happy New Year 2008 to all my readers!

Well, I am celebrating New Year 2008 at Genting (now 1:52am 01/01/2008)
I am writing this blog at Starbuck beside Genting Resort.

Last year, just now, 2007 eve, was entertaining Jacky Wu & friends at Star Of Arena, Genting.
Out of my expectation, not too excited because Jacky ( my idol ) not creating much more jokes (as usual).

Yet, we have a wonderful eve enjoying fireworks in front of Genting Resort.

Here by to wish you all have a good planning at the first day of year and success in doing in year 2008!

Download Gmail To Outlook

I tried to add Gmail POP manually ( without referring any information ) to outlook and create several issues such as duplicated outlook email and loading all my Gmail ( about 3Gb )... My goodness! Because I checked "Leave a copy of message to mail server"

So here we have a better way to do it!

Steps:
1. Login you Gmail > Settings ( Right Top )


2. You can refer the settings above, depend on your needs.
a. Forwarding:
Disable forwarding because I am not going to forward my gmail to other account.

b. POP Download:
Probably you will need the second check box if your Gmail message is large!
Second option will only retrieve the new Gmail from the time you set it.

c. Choose 'Archive Gmail copy' . This option will help you leave a copy into your 'ALL Mail' in your Gmail. Thus, NO NEED to check the outlook 'Leave a message on server' option.

You should read the configuration part to get further information.

For fast settings, refer here:
On your outlook

Account Type: POP3
Incoming mail server: pop.gmail.com
Outgoing mail server: smtp.gmail.com
User Name: your-gmail-account ( I prefer full gmail rather than ID )
Password: your-gmail-password
Check the 'Require logon using Secure Password Authentication (SPA)


Outgoing SMTP



Delivry settings ( no need to check it )

You may test your email by sending it to your self :)

Thank Gmail for POP3 service !!

Recommended Reading

• How To Hide Outlook From Taskbar

• Add HTML Signature to Outlook 2007

• Click To Connect MSN Messenger

How To Hide Outlook From Taskbar

Did you feel your task bar full of application?

Probably you have outlook turning on all the time to receive email.

So, to hide or remove or get rid of it?

Here we go...

Steps:



1. Right your outlook icon on your notification area ( usually right bottom )
2. Tick the "Hide When Minimized"
3. That's all :)

Recommended Reading

• Add HTML Signature to Outlook 2007

• Click To Connect MSN Messenger

SVN With Visual Studio 2008

How To Get SourceSafe-Like Features for SVN on Visual Studio 2008 ?

Sometimes, just not too convenient to commit or check modification for files in windows explorer. I need to switch from applications to applications, is a bit troublesm.

It takes me about 1 month to find the best solution at the moment!
( I mean without paying any penny )

Currently I am using AnkhSVN and the settings files below.
For Difference Checking and Merging process, I am using WinMerge and KDiff3.
All of them integrated with Visual Studio IDE too.

Let's see what can we do with this settings solution!

Menu Bar


External Tools Menu


Most Wanted Right Click Menu
( When you select file, folder, project or solution, you will get different menu )


Most Wanted Menu Toolbar

So , for those who like the simplest way, can refer the method below.

Click To Download The Solution For VS2008.

Click To Download The Solution For VS2005.


Steps:

Copy settings file to your visual studio settings folder
1. 'your-domain-user-settings-folder'\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Settings
2. paste file
a. SubversionMenuToolbarContextsVS2008.settings
(Visual Studio do not allow long file names!!)

Install registry file
(May be you should export and backup your registry first )
1. Copy to any folder of your local machine and run/install this file
a. SubversionMenuToolbarContextsVS2008.vbs

Load settings file to Visual Studio
1. Visual Studio 2008 > Tools > Import and Export Settings
2. Choose Yes, save my current settings and click next button
3. You notice exclaimation mark on the check box.
Expand it and CHECK both checkbox
a. Command Window Aliases
b. External Tool List
4. Click finish and your will get this message.
"Your settings were successfully imported from SubversionMenuToolbarContextsVS2008.vssettings.
"

To Show SVN Tortoise Toolbar
1. View > Toolbars > Subversion

You are done!

Resource modified to suit local development from
http://garrys-brain.blogspot.com/2007/07/tortoisesvn-and-visual-studio.html

Thanks Garrys!


If you want more features, try

a. AnkhSVN at http://ankhsvn.tigris.org/

b. WinMerge at http://winmerge.org/

c. KDiff3 at http://kdiff3.sourceforge.net/

I will write more about it soon!


Related Info:

• SVN Server Setup

TrueCrypt - Open Source Volume Encryptor

http://www.truecrypt.org/

Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP/2000 and Linux

Main Features:

• Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
• Encrypts an entire hard disk partition or a storage device such as USB flash drive.
• Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.
• Provides two levels of plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password:
• 1) Hidden volume (steganography – more information may be found here).
• 2) No TrueCrypt volume can be identified (volumes cannot be distinguished from random data).
• Encryption algorithms: AES-256, Serpent, and Twofish. Mode of operation: LRW.
  
  WHAT IS HIDDEN VOLUME ?
  Hidden volume has two layer
  Outer layer and inner layer
  
  When you create a hidden volume,
  you will prompt to set password for outer layer
  which allow to be revealed.
  
  While inner layer is actually the most 'private' data
  
  It may happen that you are forced by somebody to reveal the password
  to an encrypted volume.
  In this case, you may just reveal outer layer password.
  
  MAP A TRUECRYPT DATA FILE TO A NEW DRIVE

To mount a new data file to map with a new drive / volume z:



Mount Method. You can set as read only and protect your hidden volume option.



Success Mounted. and you will get an extra drive z: with your data inside.
Right click and open it. You may want to store your 'private' data inside :)


CREATE A NEW VOLUME


Creating a new volume



Select an encryption option and set the volume size then format it before you can use it.

SpeeTest.net - What is your current broadband speed?

What is Speedtest.net?

Speedtest.net is a free broadband speed test with servers located all over the world. Compare your results with others and easily share them.

Click here to Test your own speed now.

Choosing CyberJaya Server ( which is the most nearest server from my house )
By the way, It will prompt you with a recommended server which is Metrofon.



SpeedTest.net allow you to view back your past result. So that you can compare the speed at difference time.


The Top 5 country.... Malaysia would be in..........


I think this information is useful to have a glance of rating among our ISP's.
The result is submitted by users. If your ISP is not in the list, probably you can help to submit it.

For my case, I am staying above 6th floor. According to Maxis Broadband instructor, the signal might be lessen if you staying more than 5th floor..... I still can't understand why. Somebody can answer me ?
And obviously, My speed is not as good as cable broadband.



I can get the max and min point from the graph. It is nice to have this features!



This is the upload speed result comparison among ISPs



* The information from speedtest.net at 23Dec2007.
I am using Maxis Broadband ( 384 Package) > 6th floor.
It might differ on difference user, areas, broadband package, interferences or other factors.

Feel free to post comment for you speed.
Mine: sever:Cyberjaya d/l: 313kbps u/l: 25kbps Package: 384kbps

What is yours ?