Pete’s Guide: ToolTip Torture Test
ImgSource reduction comparison - compares 17 image reduction algorithms, also timings
Good Lord, this took me forever to find again. I though I'd blogged this a long time ago, but was unable to find it. So, more keywords (yes, how primitive): Mozilla DHTML DOM window properties demo test page
There are a bunch of other tests in the directory listing as well.
I spent the afternoon writing a simple file processing Perl-script, which brought two things to my attention: 1) my Perl is rusty and 2) the online Perl documentation sucks. PHP's documentation blows away perldoc when you're looking for function references or peculiarities. I will acknowledge that the CPAN and PEAR documentation both consistantly suck equally.
EXIF parsing:
I'd never even heard of, much less seen anyone use the Windows Script Encoding before Andy sent me a link to a site that had an interesting JS effect (IE only). It's actually by Kokogiak. I actually think I hit that site a long time ago, but didn't notice it either because it wasn't there or I don't browse w/ IE.
A quick google search led to an article describing the Windows Secript Encoder algorithm, and how relatively trivial it is to break (here's MSDN's description of Using Script Encoder). Two decoders: Windows Script Decoder (in C), and in one in Perl, and in Javascript, part of an apparently long since abandoned JS scripting API.
Related:
Along the way to posting this, I found a few interested related links, one On the (Im)possibility of Obfuscating Programs, and a second, a page of Obfuscated-HTML De-obfuscation Tools, which looks like it has some very useful tools.
I was taking a look at some small form factor pc's, and found a link to mini-itx.com. There are some great projects featured heare, including an amazing tube radio conversion, and some fun ones like the NESPC and the E.T.PC.
Even more interesting than the mini-pc's are the micro-pc's, like the Cappuccino PCs (relabeled Jadetecs it looks like) or Maxan systems. Pretty neat stuff.
Would you look at that, William Gibson is going to have a blog soon. I wonder if he'll update it as often as Neil Gaiman and his journal?
I just re-read neuromance about a month ago (my friend was taking a sci-fi english lit class and I decided to drop in). It really stands the test of time, and is perhaps even more impressive looking back at it now. It's also always fun reading about fencing 4MB of RAM.
Hmm, interesting. New Photoshop, Indesign, After Effects, and Indesign by the end of the year according to Think Secret.
More innocuous things: mpt on When good interfaces go crufty. In related user stuff, webword has put up a Userati list which tracks links among usability blogs. (that's good stuff).
Instead of doing much useful the past few days, I played my eyes out on Chrono Trigger w/ Snes9x. After finishing that this morning, I decided to try out DreamSNES, a port of Snes9x to the Dreamcast. It's an impressive effort, but runs sorta pokey (the SNES CPU is a 3.5MHz chip, but apparently, it's the custom graphics/sound DSPs that are a PITA to emulate). Also, playing the games on a 50" widescreen TV is a bit much. (The Dreamcast controller does beat the pants off the Gravis Xterminator I have lying around though.)
Sigh... news sucks. Happy new year.
Seanbaby's EGM's Crapstravaganza: The 20 Worst Video Games of All Time article is a way more entertaining read than GameSpy's similarly themed recent Top 10 Shameful Games article. Surprisingly, Action 52 isn't in Seanbaby's list. The hilarious reviews on GameFAQs was almost enough to convince me to search for the ROM and d/l it. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed.
More game funnies: SA's Game Reviews, SA's ROM Pit
I'd like to just take a moment to again reiterate my complete and utter disappointment in CSS2. A longer rant has been brewing for a few months now. It's almost ready to make it's way out.
I just threw up some recordings of some new (unreleased) songs that Conor sang on the tour. I believe he sang all three in the encore of the LA Bright Eyes show I went too. The first two are excellent recordings from an Austin show, and then last song (my fav of the three) is unfortunately lower quality (from SF).
Wow, there are some amazing panoramas over at WorldWide VR Panoramas.
Ha, next time one of your friends shows you their shiny new iPod, you can take consolation that with the non-replacable battery will be giving them headaches in a year. Of course, from the discussions, it looks like most of the most severe problems are probably due to the 1.2 firmware. And I suppose you could always try to replace the battery yourself.
I've had a Nex II for about a year and a half and overall have been pretty happy. It plays MP3s and WMAs, and uses type I & type II compact flash cards, and runs on AA's (very convenient, since I was able to interchange both memory and recharagables w/ my old digital camera). It also cost me under $100. There's a new Nex coming out soon. I might be motivated to upgrade, especially if it has OGG support...
I'm always a bit surprised when 'miracle' cleaning supplies actually work. Perhaps it's from being jaded from being exposed to too many infomercials as a kid. I picked up some Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover recently, and when I tried it on a month old stain, it actually worked. That was a pleasant surprise.
Footnote: curiousity sent me to Google Groups. Looks like Folex is well known and generally recommended. Now, about cleaning those venetian blinds...