7/23/2007

Roll Up App

*Update: Jimc from GBM have made an awesome Rollup Alternative that allows you to roll up windows like real world blinds. This new version of rollup has a method where I attempt to include this ability. I'll make it an optional one in the final. I haven't added the window shake roll up yet... but i will try. {= D

Alright here's another GBM Forum inspired App: *Updated*(see below).
Warner Crocker was nice enough to make a demo about the app in it's original code (using the F2 Key). You can check the video out here.
The App was also mentioned in one of the weekly Gottabemobile.com podcasts: here.

Rollup will "roll up" a windows application so that all you will see is the title bar. There's no animation yet, though i plan on adding if enough people are interested (so let me know).

There's no installation needed. All you do is run the application, then select which application you want to roll up and press F2 to roll it up. If you press F2 again it will roll the application back to it's original position.

The original position data is stored in an INI that will be created the first time you run Rollup.exe. The INI file will be created wherever the Rollup.exe file is located.

To quit out of the application, you can either right click on its icon in the system tray and click EXIT or you can press the "END" key (at which point the icon should go away).

Please let me know if you have any Questions/Requests.

Written in AutoIt Script V 3.2.4.9
Source available upon request.

---------------------------Updates----------------------------
0.9.4 New Features: Rollup_0.9.4.exe
*** Fixed: Button stays on when last/only window is Minimized
*** Fixed: Button stays on when last/only window is Closed.
*** Added: Autoroll Feature (props to Jimc for the idea)
*** Added: Rollup Animation (props to Jimc for the idea)
To Be Added:
Roll Down animation

0.9.3d New Features: Rollup_0.9.3d.exe
*** Fixed: Button gets drawn when user clicks on desktop background.
*** Pressing End Key actually will exit the App.
*** Fixed: App goes ape s@%$ when clicking on the start menu.
---> Vista Start menu needs to be double clicked slowly for it to work.
*** Added: Logic to detect whether user is running a Theme (Classic or Otherwise).
---> This *should* fix the problem of the button overlapping on the minimize button.
*** Added: Quicker Response to events (better event handling)
To Be Fixed:
--- Button stays on when last/only window is minimized of closed

0.9.2 New Features: Rollup_0.9.2.exe
*** Fixed: Crazy button redraw because of bad loop logic.
*** Fixed: Redraw of button when moving window.
*** Fixed: Redraw of Button when resizing window.
To Be Fixed:
--- Button stays on when last/only window is minimized of closed
--- Button gets drawn when user clicks on desktop background
--- App goes ape s@%$ when clicking on the start menu.

0.9 New Features: Rollup_0.9.exe
*** Added Automatic Button to current active window for Tablet PC compatibility.
This creates an annoying behavior of cancelling most submenus, workaround is to click on the icon and pause the app.

0.8 New Features: Rollup_0.8.exe
*** Added a Rollup Button Next to the Min, Max, Close controls.
--- > This feature needs more testing, behavior can be unstable
0.7 New Features: Rollup_0.7.exe
*** Used two Arrays so that Rollup will not write an INI anymore
*** Change the F2 command to just a single mouse click.
Original Version (0.1): Rollup_0.1.exe

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7/13/2007

Ghetto OQO Stand

I was watching Rob Bushway's video on how to attach(permanently) a stand for the OQO.  It's a great video and an even better solution, but I was in need of a non attached stand.  I was  sitting my cubicle looking for inspiration when I realized that i did in fact have a solution PCMCIA/Cardbus device jewel case. 

We had a few laying around, so I made a few modifications and was able to get my little modded jewel case to support the OQO.  Here it is in all its glory

 Photo_070607_004

Photo_070607_002

So in the spirit of sharing i will demonstrate the modification necessary to get the jewel case to function as a stand.

step .00:   Get a jewel case

 Photo_070607_003

you can either get a jewel case online buy ordering them in bulk, or you can buy a cheap PCMCIA/Cardbus and hope the it comes with it.  We got them at work with PCMCIA/Cardbus Smartcard readers.

Step .01 : Remove the plastic stopper bits.

So I used  needle-nose pliers to get the job done.  They obviously get the job done but having something that could file the bits flush would help.  you want to pinch the plastic bits and they should come off.  if you get some resistance just pivot (while still pinching) until the bit comes off.  File down to desired height.  As you can see I used the grooves of the pliers' as my filing tool. 

Step .02 : Externding the support edge

Some may see this step as unnecessary but I felt like this jewel case's edge was much too shallow (especially for an expensive device).    Again with the needle-nose pliers

Step .03 : behold the glory of the Ghetto OQO Stand

Aside from the annoying noise from the jewel it's a pretty sweet quick stand if you ever need one.  you also plug the power into while it's on the stand

7/11/2007

Windows Registration Information

So Eddie Van Der Beck over at GBM wrote an article detailing how to change the registered name organization in Vista (although it works in XP as well).

I decided to automate that process and wrap a GUI to this function.

Try it out here:

RegisterOwner.exe

Written in AutoIT Script v3.2.4.9

Please let me know what you think, either on this post or on the GBM Thread

Thanks!