Comment Rating Field Plugin

Installation:

1. Download the Comment Rating Field Plugin.
2. Activate the plugin
3. You’ll see a rating field appear on all comment forms, and rating stars appear when a rating is left on a comment.

Rating on a Wordpress Comment

Known Bugs / Issues:

1. Uses jQuery and Javascript to add the rating field to the comments form (need to research a better way of doing this – possibly a Wordpress hook).
2. Rating is only optional.

I’m hoping to keep this plugin updated and publish some fixes within the next few weeks – so if there are any other issues, please leave a comment to let me know.

Download:

Download Plugin.

Samsung LED TV Scart Adapter Cable

Having purchased my Samsung UE40B6000WW LED TV second hand, it didn’t come with the above cables.  Not a problem, as I’d anticipated that I would need to purchase replacements.

On speaking to Samsung UK, they suggested 4mysamsung, who are the main supplier of Samsung spare parts, such as remote controls, cables etc.  On speaking to 4mysamsung, they stated they had not heard of the above cables, and did not have any.

Samsung UK then suggested their official warranty repair company, based in Birmingham.  They reassured me that they stock all spare Samsung parts.  On speaking to them, they stated they do not supply spare parts.

Finally, Samsung UK suggested several other generic spare parts suppliers.  And again, none of them had the part available.

So what would happen if the cable were to break under warranty?  Surely Samsung must have a way of providing replacements for faulty accessories that come with their TVs?  On asking Samsung this, they confirmed that yes, they would be able to send out replacement parts.

Despite the TV being second hand, it was still within its 1 year manufacturer warranty.  I’d registered my TV on their “My Samsung” service, and then opened a support request to state that my scart cable was faulty.

One week later and a replacement cable turns up from Samsung in the Netherlands, free of charge:

Replacement Samsung Scart Cable

Oh, and they decided to include the other breakout cables, remote control, pebble remote, cleaning cloth, cable management, backplate and god knows what else:

Samsung LED TV - All Accessories

There are two issues here:

1. Despite my honesty about not having the cable, Samsung and their authorised repairers and suppliers did not have a replacement cable they could sell.  This is probably because:
2. I only needed a scart adapter cable.  Instead, I received a complete accessory bundle, probably worth £50+ at retail.

Because of this:

1. It appears individual parts cannot be replaced, whether it be under warranty or purchased
2. Duplicate, unecessary accessories were sent, which involves a waste of money, transportation etc.

So if you’re looking for a replacement cable, it seems you can only get one if your TV’s under warranty still.

Try the new Self Employment Calculactor. It’s a quick web app that I put together yesterday, that makes some basic calculations if you’re a freelancer, or considering going freelance. Just enter your income and expenses for the year, and the calculator will estimate how much tax, national insurance and (if required) student loan repayments you’d need to make.

Self Employment Tax Calculator

Of course, if you’re a company or working for an umbrella company, this calculator won’t apply (there’s a good discussion here on the advantages and disadvantages of this).

Try out the Self Employment Tax Calculator.

Insert Link Class Plugin

Installation:

1. Download the Insert Link Class Plugin.
2. In your Wordpress Administration, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload, and select the plugin ZIP file.
3. Activate the plugin
4. You’ll see a Link Classes option appear on the menu; use this to add, edit and delete custom classes.

Insert Link Class Plugin - Admin Interface

Known Bugs / Issues:

1. Form validation needed.
2. Better handling of Wordpress’ in built classes.

I’m hoping to keep this plugin updated and publish some fixes within the next few weeks – so if there are any other issues, please leave a comment to let me know.

Download:

Download Plugin.

Tested in Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3.5, Google Chrome 4, Safari 4

Try the demonstration

Installation:

1. Download the CKEditor Word Count Plugin
2. Upload the /wordcount folder to your /ckeditor/plugins folder
3. Edit your CKEditor configuration file (usually /ckeditor/config.js):
   1. CKEDITOR.editorConfig = function(config) {
   2. config.extraPlugins = ‘wordcount’;
   3. };
4. For your CKEditor instance, use the following HTML markup (‘content’ can be any element name you wish, so long as the hidden field has its element name in the format ‘elementWordCount’)
   1. <label for="content">Content</label>
   2. <textarea class="ckeditor" name="content"></textarea>
   3. <input name="contentWordCount" type="hidden" value="250" />

   Word Limit: If you don’t want to display a word limit, don’t include the hidden input tag, or set its value to zero.

5. Download jQuery and include it on your web page, between the head tags:
   1. <script src="jquery/jquery.1.4.min.js" type="text/javascript"><!–mce:0–></script>

Known Bugs / Issues:

1. The word count can be a few words out – this appears to happen between paragraph tags.
2. Pasting large chunks of copy that exceeds the word limit sometimes causes issues, whereby the additional content isn’t always removed.
3. I’ve only tested this using the HTML markup specified above (it should work in other methods – please let me know if it does / doesn’t)
4. Multiple instances of the CKEditor on a single page may cause issues with word counts.

I’m hoping to keep this plugin updated and publish some fixes within the next few weeks – so if there are any other issues, please leave a comment to let me know.

Download:

Download Plugin, CKEditor, jQuery and example web page.

1. Identify the IP address assigned to your 3310 All-in-One, by pressing Setup -> 7. Network -> 1. View Network Settings -> 1. Print Network Configuration Page on the 3310 printer. The section you are looking for is 802.11 Wireless (or 802.3 Wired, if you are connecting with a network cable). Within the section, locate the line IP Address. Make a note of this number

2. Open the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts using Notepad. You should see two entries (there may be more, depending on your PC setup):
127.0.0.1 localhost
HP7A4A24.Belkin HP0017A47A4A24

The HP entry is the important one (yours will have different numbers and letters after the HP letters, and may a different ending, depending on your wireless router). Add two entries before this line, where 192.168.2.3 is the IP address you obtained in step 1, and the two HP text strings are already in your HOSTS file:
192.168.2.3 hp7a4a24.belkin
192.168.2.3 HP0017A47A4A24

(Incidentally, the local domain suffix ‘belkin’ appears to have come from the Wireless router – despite not setting a local domain suffix on the router! This meant when a lookup on hp7a4a24.belkin was performed, it could not resolve to an IP address (i.e. 192.168.2.3), therefore scanning functionality would fail).

3. Download and run the HP communications fix from http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericSoftwareDownloadIndex?cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&softwareitem=sj-32245-2&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

4. Right click the “HP Digital Imaging Monitor” icon in the taskbar (if it’s not running, you’ll need to run it).
- Click “Launch / Show HP Solution Centre”
- Click Settings -> Scan Settings -> Scan to… Setup
- You can choose the Scan Destinations; these are the options that will appear on the printer when you press the Scan button, and allow you to determine where the scanned image is sent to (for example, a program such as Microsoft Word or Paint, or alternatively to an image file, which you can then view and edit using your own software as you wish)
- Choose “Save to File” by clicking on it, clicking on the Right “add” arrow, and then click OK

5. Test the Scanning functionality
- Press Scan on the printer
- Press OK when 1. Select Computer is selected
- Press OK when you select your computer from the list
- Press OK when you select the “Scan To” option (in our example, we should only have “Save to file” available
- HP Scanning software splash screen should appear on screen and run, the printer will scan and save the file to your PC
- Printer will confirm scan completed by displaying “Scan was sent. See computer monitor for results.”
- PC will confirm scan was completed by asking if you want to Scan another picture, or click Done to finish.
- Windows Explorer should open a window showing the scanned image

A recent article in Sitepoint, Boagworld’s podcasts – even a site dedicated to prompting users to get rid of IE6 – all talk about how corporate environments are allowing IE6 to live on.

How have they come to this conclusion?  Where are the published, meaningful statistics to back up this claim?  Have they questionned a number, or cross section, of corporate users to draw this conclusion?  Have any of the web designers and developers touting for the end of IE6 worked in these corporations, and seen the reality?

Let me make something clear from the start – I’m in support of getting rid of IE6.  It’s a horrid browser for web designers and developers to work with, due to its numerous issues and lack of web standards compliance.  Development times lengthen to provide fixes and hacks to ensure a web site functions in IE6 – even at a basic level.  Microsoft have moved on from IE6 with the launch of IE7, and more recently IE8.  Rival  browsers have also gained market share.

Why is Internet Explorer 6 still around?

1. A bespoke intranet or web application breaks in newer browsers, and there’s no budget to upgrade it.

I specifically target bespoke intranets or web applications, because these will typically have been built in house or by a small development company specific for the client.  The client may not have the budget to pay for upgrades (“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”), and IT departments would have a hard time “selling” an upgrade – even with the security enhancements of moving away from Internet Explorer 6.  Most companies simply don’t have a budget for IT support and development – it’s typically an ad hoc arrangement.

2. The user still has Windows 2000 (which doesn’t work with IE7 and IE8)

General Browser OS stats from W3Schools suggest that the Windows 2000 has a market share of around 1% (June 2009).  That’s 1 in 100 computers that cannot run IE7 or IE8.  It’s true that these computers could run a secondary browser alongside IE6, and it’s a small number of potential IE6 users.

3. Vista was a flop

Windows Vista comes with IE7.  However, Windows Vista has been regarded as a slip up on Microsoft’s part.  They produced an operating system that proved slow, and required huge computer resources to run smoothly.  There was also a major shift in terms of application compatibility – one IT support firm I worked for found existing applications would freeze or simply not run under Windows Vista, when they worked fine under Windows 2000 and XP.  These applications weren’t in house developments either, but large products from leading CRM (IBM) and accountant software houses.

As corporate downtime means lost revenue, IT departments have been forced to either issue a quick fix, or opt for the downgrade route to Windows XP.

But why would downgrading to Windows XP cause us problems with IE6?

4. Windows XP doesn’t always come with Internet Explorer 7

This is my killer point.  Even at Windows XP SP3, system manufacturers, such as Dell, are offering desktops and laptops with the XP downgrade option that, by default, comes with Internet Explorer 6.  In most IT environments, such as the one I’ve worked in, IE6 would be upgraded to IE7 (and now, IE8), without a moment’s thought.  But not everyone will want to do that – for the reasons given above, and the reasons given below.

5. The Netbook Market Explosion = more Windows XP, please

Netbooks are small, low powered laptops, designed for basic email and internet connectivity.  Most run Windows XP – which as above, we see doesn’t always come with Internet Explorer 7.  Users could upgrade their browser to something else, but why would they want to?  If IE6 does the job for them, why suddenly introduce the hassle of having to install an upgrade?

6. Users simply want to browse the web

Users are fickle.  The average Joe Public doesn’t care less about which browser they use, or which Twitter and Facebook plugins give them the best stalking friend tracking abilities.  They’re more interested in browsing web sites on topics they’re interested in, perhaps checking their emails online, ordering something from a shop, booking a holiday etc.

We know that application usability typically dictates that a user will do anything to get to the end result as fast as possible – whether that be dismissing prompts, question boxes etc.  Automatic Updates might ask the user about IE7 – some may opt to go with the upgrade, others may opt to ignore or cancel the upgrade so they can get back to what they’re doing.

So what next for Internet Explorer 6?

Windows 7, due to be released October 22nd 2009, moves us away from Internet Explorer 6.  Specific editions allow for XP mode, a virtualised Windows XP machine within Windows 7 – meaning legacy desktop applications can still be supported in corporate environments.  In Europe, it provides a ballot screen, allowing the user a choice of browser.  Even if the majority stick with Internet Explorer as a result, it won’t be version 6, which is a step in the right direction.

In terms of its system requirements, Windows 7 isn’t much different from Windows Vista – we’re told it’s less the annoying bugbears of Vista.  Computer hardware has evolved since the release of Vista, with Intel and nVidia producting some brilliant low powered, yet powerful, Atom and Ion processors and chipsets, meaning OS and software newer than Windows XP is starting to become a reality – and therefore helping IE6’s user base to slowly decline.

Yesterday (August 25th), Facebook started suggesting a person that I might like to add:

Now, I’ve never heard of this chap.  Never emailed him, and never spoken to him.  I’m sure he’s a top bloke, though.

Today (August 26th), I check my Twitter followers.  Imagine my surprise when my newest Twitter follower happens to be:

Now, I don’t know whether Tom followed me before or after the suggested friend on Facebook.  What I do know is that this isn’t an isolated incedent.  Its happened around 3 – 4 times over the past month.  I put the first couple down to pure co-incidence (and the fact that I knew who they were).  However, with more recent Twitter followers, who’ve also been cropping up as suggested friends on Facebook, I’ve never had any contact with them, nor shared my details with them (or vice versa).

Therefore, it would have to be something linking my Facebook profile with my Twitter profile.  My Facebook profile is hidden, so it can’t be Twitter grabbing my Facebook information.  My Twitter profile is open, so it could be Facebook grabbing my Twitter followers information, and suggesting them as friends.

However, there’s nothing to link the two together.  My Facebook username (timcarr) is different than my Twitter one (n7studios).  I do use the same email address for both – but as far as I can see, there’s no public method of getting a list of my followers by using my email address.  So how are Facebook obtaining my Twitter followers, and then suggesting them as friends?

Another possibility is a Facebook application, which I would have authorised, to update Twitter.  By providing my credentials, this would potentially mean the Facebook application could obtain my followers list, search for them on Facebook, and if the same username is found (or the follower is found also to use the same Facebook application), suggest them as a friend.

For updating my Facebook status from Twitter, I use Tweeter.  It’s a Facebook application that periodically checks my Twitter status, and if its been updated, updates my Facebook status.  Therefore, it’s an application that has access to both profiles.  However, looking through Tweeter’s information and documentation, there’s nothing to suggest this would happen – and I can’t see any method for any Facebook application to tell Facebook to suggest somebody as a friend to somebody else.  That doesn’t necessarily mean its not happening – but there’s no conclusive evidence either way.

So Facebook, Twitter and API Developers – which one (or all) of you are sharing my data?

On one site, we encountered an issue where Wordpress would return a 404 error when submitting the form – although we’d still get the email containing the form information.  We’d configured Contact Form 7 with a single form, called “Contact”.  The code used to insert it into the Contact page was [contact-form 1 "contact"].

The workaround to fix the 404 error is to create a second form (we called ours “contactform”), and use [contact-form 2 "contactform"] on the contact page in question.  This cured the 404 issue.

The issue seems to surround the first form (possibly the preconfigured form provided when you install the plugin).  We’ve just left that form in the system, but don’t use it, and all other forms work without issue.