Starting An IT Help Site

As part of my plans to create my own company providing IT services and programming, I want to start putting out content on IT topics, programming, or just other technology-related subjects. I wouldn’t mind doing some streaming question and answer type things, but I don’t know if that would always work out.

To start, I want to cover some of the basics of IT and see how that goes. I have written a few lists of topics to cover that would be easy to start with like HTML, C#, Wireless Networking, Network Cabling, Blogging, who knows what else comes to me.

I have two domains I can use, one was an old technology news site I tried to run but found out it was lame just rewriting press releases, and no one wanted another one of those sites. The other would be a tutorial site similar to this, but I now think the name is lame now, and it has no presence online yet.

I hope to have text-based information, real-life photos of examples, and some videos about the topics. That way, it covers the primary way any average person learns new things. I also plan on producing a video just talking about a topic each day (3-5 days a week), Eli The Computer Guy is an excellent example of what I am thinking of basing these videos on.

If I can handle all this, I also want to try making a video every other morning after taking one of my kids to school talking about the news or other things going on around me or in the world not related to technology in particular. I think it will be an excellent way to vent some of my thoughts without having to put too much effort into it, like writing one of these 300+ word posts, not that I won’t be trying to do more of this.

Will see what happens in the next few weeks, it’s hard to get clients for my IT services business with things shut down and people working from home, I would like to get more business either way, but I can only put myself out there and hope people are looking for me. I hope to keep my blog updated on the progress.

PS: I am writing this differently than usual, I started writing this in Grammarly’s editor. I’m hoping it will help me not only spell things better but produce better text. So far, it seems to have helped with some words that make me sound better and see if the premium is worth it now.

IE HTML5 & CSS3 with Selectivizr & HTML4SHIM

While reading though my book about HTML5 and CSS3 they talk about a JavaScript library that helps Internet Explorer understand CSS3, and its new ways of styling websites. Selectivizer, previously IE-CSS3, will let you use good HTML5 code and some of the new ways of doing styling in CSS3 without adding lots of extra code that other browsers don’t need.

The problem with a lot of these JavaScript libraries is that they expect you to know how to get these things working without much explanation. So after a few pages of searching Google I did find Rey Bango’s blog and he gives a good explanation on how to use it and set it up.

Here is the code snippet that he gives about how to get it running on a page:

<script src="jquery-1.4.2.min.js"></script>
<!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="selectivizr.js"></script>
<noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="css/ie-fallback.css" media="screen, projection"></noscript>
<![endif]-->
<link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet">

Also if you are trying to use HTML5 for building new websites or fixing up an old site you should also check out the html5shim that will fix IE so that it will understand some of the new elements added to HTML5.

To get it working on your site just add this code, no downloading needed because it’s all hosted up on Google Code:

<!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="//html5shim.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/html5.js"></script>
<![endif]-->

These are a few things that are needed to make a site work right in IE because IE is such garbage.

The Humble Frozenbyte Bundle

The pay what you want game bundle is back, I got this last year with games like World of Goo, this year it looks good, but its a good way to get some cool games for what ever you think they are worth. Also you can add them to Steam so you don’t have to worry about updates or installing problems. What you pay goes to the developers, and or charity’s how ever you set it up. Go to http://www.humblebundle.com to get in on the fun.

Android Market on PC

So Google released the Android Market on PCs in a web browser a few days ago, and from my playing around with it, it’s kind of cool. There is lots of work to be done though but it’s a start. First you can install apps from the website and have it install on your device right away. This makes it really nice so you don’t have to do all that scan a QR code or send a link to the phone or what not. Second it’s easier to find apps you may want to use, and it’s easier to see what they are with more images and even videos of the apps. But finally the bad part is it is always trying to get you to get the paid apps, which is ok but I like to find free apps and if I like them to get the paid version with more features.

Other then the fact that it wants all paid apps, I like being able to get new apps easy.

NS2 Engine Test released!

Hello everyone!

Today is a big milestone for Unknown Worlds: we’ve just released the NS2 “Engine Test” to everyone that has pre-ordered the game. This is the first version of the game and game engine that will allow you to run around on a couple small maps and fire the rifle at animated dummy targets.

This will help us test our technology to make sure we get it running smoothly on a wide variety of computers. Grab it now! (http://www.naturalselection2.com/download)

The first time you run it, you’ll need to enter your NS2 game key (sent after ordering the game). If you’ve lost your game key you can retrieve it here (http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/retrieve).

This release will also allow you to load up any map you build and run around it. Finally, enterprising mod-makers will also be able to start hacking around with the game script code that comes with it, although this is not meant as an official mod release.

We’re looking forward to your feedback (http://tinyurl.com/ns2feedback) and we hope you enjoy this firstlook at the cool technology behind the game!

-The NS2 Team

Intel Core presser: 32nm Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 CPUs (update: video!)

 
 

Sent to you by Webluke via Google Reader:

 
 

via Engadget by Vladislav Savov on 1/7/10


Intel has just concluded its first CES press event of 2010, dedicated to “announcing” the already well known Arrandale and Clarkdale CPUs. They will be part of Intel’s planned 27 total SKUs coming in 2010, including four varieties of Core i3, eight Core i5s, and five Core i7 models. We were treated to a demo showing off a Core i5 laptop CPU running a 1080p video with another video stream overlaid on top of it with a measly 10% CPU usage.

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