ActiveX

I'm working as developer, I'm working with "Visual Studio 6" and some time with "VS2005.Net", every developer some time need to use 3rd party software solution called ActiveX.

you can find many companies presenting OCX or DLL component to help you, if you visit Component Source on the web you can see many OCX, like solution to take your application to convert document to PDF or to edit Image Files or to Create more beautiful interfaces, and more good ideas and easy solution to you as a software developer.

i hate those 3rd party solution, because late size of my application grow, and i must have licence to install OCX with my application on client PC's, and some time when client upgrade to another Windows OS, the OCX not working good, and some time Company of OCX closed, and you can't find new versions or update of it, my friends uses many OCXs in small project, thats late the project working slow, i like to use Microsoft OCX because its coming with Programming Language (VB6,VB.NET), and easy to install and free, and sometime you can find them built-in in windows, and you dont need to install them again.

many time i create small OCX when i need to use collection of controls in many forms in my project, in Bank2000 Core System i made many OCXs to help me, when i make OCX i dont need to write Source Code in all forms i use same code, just write once then use every where in application, you can fix error and update code in one place then all places update automatically.

but some time you can't do every thing by your self, in this point i must use 3rd party OCX, like:

• Sheridan OCX component (from Sheridan Software Systems, Inc.): it's very old OCX component, you can find some version worked on VB3, we use this component to make very simple interface to view data from database, with TreeView, Combo, ListView and GridView, but the big problem with this OCX company closed, because that you can't find new versions suport WindowsXP or Vista or Support Visual Sudio 2005.NET.
• Pegasus ImagXpress: with this component you can working with image files as you need, capture from twain drivers (Scanner,webcam or TV input), and save it with many foramts (i think you can save as 40 or more photo formats), and with new versions you can working with FingerPrint, Barcode and OCR picture files.
• Device Driver OCX: some devices not late you to connect direct, you must use OCX or DLL comping with this devices, i working with PR2 Olivetti Printer/Scanner device, Olivetti POS device and FingerPrint Device.
• Crystal Report Controls: i'm not working wth it in my personal application, because i use Datareport thats coming with VB6, but in the office my friend use it, its big and must make installation files to client to install many OCX and DLL, but gave good result, but we use old version, i think version 7, now i hear about version 10 or 11.

if you are developer, do you make your own OCX or use 3rd Party OCX?

Listen to unlimited Music in your car

Every one need store many songs in his car, to listen to them, you can find many kind and tricks to do that like:

• use CD-Audio CD-R.
• use CD Car-Player support MP3 CD's.
• Connect Portable-CD to Radio Car.
• Connect to CD-Magazine.
• and more tricks.

but i use cheap trick to do that, i use FM Transmitter support USB Harddisc + 1GB USB Flash disc, after that i can listen to more than 500 MP3 songs in my car without burn any CD, and i can change Songs by very easy, just plug USB Flash Disc to my PC or Portable and copy music files, i can connect to any music device support 3.5 outpot jack audio.

Prices:

• Lightwave USB to FM Transmitter = 25 L.D.
• 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Disc = 27 L.D.

PocketPC: advantage and disadvantage

now after about one month or more of using iMate PDAL as my mobile phone, i can talking about advantage and disadvantage of PocketPC.

advantage:

• Windows OS, thats mean all document and application stell in your pocket. 
• you can find many applications, and you can make your own application with compact framework.NET.
• working like PC.
• you can see wmv,divX, MPEG(1,2) and Xvid.
• power of WiFi connected (when you working on local network).

advantage and disadvantage:

• low speed CPU.
• memory full when you run more application, you must free it every some hours.
• you can send or recieve old style picture messages (pocket outlook not support it).
• bad built-in camera device.
• you can't find FM Radio in iMate phones.
• you cant mute camera sound shooter in PDAL device.
• on screen keyboard not easy to use.

but in future i think still using PocketPC, but must be use more power CPU (400MHz or more) and more memory (1 GB or more), full keyboard device, and more big wide screen with FM Radio, what about your future mobile?

Return of the Jedi

I remember the last scene in Star Wars Movie Trilogy, when Luke Skywalker open the mask of Darth Vader (his father), and saw real face of Darth Vader, and the rebel destroy death star.

I like this part of film very much, I think George Lucas is best Sci-Fi movie director and writer, especially when change  episode (1,2,3) to episode (4,5,6) and present new parts (1,2,3), where the parts told story before old episode (4,5,6), these parts told story of Darth Vader and how changed from Jedi side to Dark Side.

George Lucas liked to use power of Visual Effects, digital sound and vision, I remember the sound of TIE fighter when fly near death star, and X-Wing fighter when fire Lazer weapons, do you remember these sounds?

in final who don't remember the themes and sound track of star wars, its from John Williams, the best composer and conductor of Sci-Fi movies, like: Jaws, Superman, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Hook, Harry Potter and Star Wars, what's your favorite Sci-Fi film?

Stoping TV Schedule Application

 

From 2 months or more i made small application to save events like Movies, TV Shows and Sport Event in small database, then i saw vents with times in nice small user interface, first i like it and used it many times, but now i can't use it more time.

Because first i can find many sites where i can collect TV events like Showtime, Orbit, MBC and more, then i convert it to access database, then with VB6 application make event reports to programming my Reciever PVR to save this events.

from month ago i can't find sites where i can collect events of TV, thats mean the collect event go more hard, any one know where i can find TV schedule?

i-mate JasJam

its just first look, my father take one and i compare with my Mobile Phone i-mate PDAL, and i descover many deferent between them.

JasJam more power with 400Mhz CPU and Big Screen (samae resolution 320X240 Pixel), the memory is same but i added 1GB to my mobile (best for MP3 Player, if you want DivX Player i think 2GB is better).

the big good point for JasJam is working with 3G (from Libyana Local Company), and contain fron cam to make video call (PDAL not working with 3G), other point JasJam have many buttons on case + QWERTY keyboard, but not have audio jack for headset, you must use USB headset, and have Flash light camera with professional camera application (you can mute camera shoter sound, i can't sound with my PDAL).

other things its same, expect price:

i-Mate PDAL about 850 Libyan Denar, i-Mate JasJam about 1100 Libyan Denar, and you can find him in El Madar Street (near el madar company) or in Elfateh Tower Mall.

last weekend was good

In finally, Last weekend was good, good weather not hot and not cold, I went to the family farm and saw many things like Birds, Cats, Flowers and Trees, I like it.

But this days we are in last days of spring, but some time rain dropped, and you can feeling some cold, other way you can see people on the beach, do you go to the beach last days?

WiFi in my home

 

Last month i install D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-2100AP, i think its better access point to use in Office/Home, with high speed WiFi (up to 108Mbps) and working as:

• Access Point (as i use it).
• Point-To-Point Bridge.
• Point-To-Multipoint Bridge.
• Repeater.
• Wireless Client.

 

i use it as Access Point now to connect Prtable Toshiba-L10 and my  Mobile Phone iMate-PDAL to my local home network, and i fell the power of my WiFi after i testing Internet High Sopeed HotSpot, and access to it from any device by wire/wireless kind of network, i like it.

Another bad Weather in Weekend

I dont know why, but in last two months every weekend (Friday) weather coming not good, last weekend id today (4/5/2007), its very windy with sands, I go to the farm but I think I still in home, because it's not good weather to still outside home, today windy + very hot + sands.

I think I still in home with cold drink and watching TV and open air condition, what about your weekend ?