使大特, Starter on Startup

Do a test on my new toy...

2011-06-06T21:28:00.000-07:00

Dear oh dear, I am testing my new feature that allows other people to embed a link to a store...

Does it work?

Phases of a startup – Mark Jung

2010-03-09T23:20:00.001-08:00

This is one of the very good speeche I heard over iTunes U. For more info, go to http://odeo.com/episodes/22136500-Phases-of-a-Startup-Mark-Jung-IGN

The story of lstrlen exception

2009-12-30T17:19:00.001-08:00

Lately my team got a work item for removing all the usage of lstrlen. lstrlen, as we found out during investigation, contains a SEH try block that swallows exception. So what’s the big deal? Think about this scenario: Usually, dereferencing a non-null invalid pointer cause the thread AV like this:

PWSTR sz = 0x05; // 0x00000005 is invalid, but not NULL

wcslen(sz); // Die die die. thanks for the invalid pointer

However, if you replace wcslen with lstrlen, your app won’t crash. It won’t crash because lstrlen handles the EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION exceptions and “gracefully” returns 0. This is awful, thank you very much.

So why it is awful?

It is awful because it hides an error that shouldn’t happen at the first place. In the case above, the pointer ‘sz’ should never be pointing to 0x0005. If it ever happens, it means the process is already in a unexpected bad state. Bad states has high likelihood to corrupt user data, which is really the last thing an user wants. So when the process is in bad state, the only responsible thing to do is to terminate it ASAP. The longer the process survived, the more trouble it will make, period.

So why not to get the lazy Microsoft guys fix their broken code?

Isn’t its Microsoft’s responsibility to fix this behavior? After all, they own the code. Well, to be fair, they can’t. They can’t not because they’re too lazy. They can’t because there are existing application running in millions of computers that actually rely on this behavior to survive. Fixing this problem, although this is arguably the right thing to do, will make previously running apps crash. When you have an OS that cause a million app crash everyday, regardless who is ultimately responsible for the error, you call it Windows Vista. Not only making MS look ass sucking, but also cause real damage to their customer. So what can they do? Well, nothing, absolutely, sadly, nothing. They would have to spend the rest of their life, looking at mirror, and feel bad about designing such a bad API. I hope the very developer who designed this API can sleep at night.

The moral of this story is, when you design your function, especially library functions, be as straightforward as possible. When in error, fail the operation and report it. When it should crash, crash bravely and responsibly. Trust me, people blame Microsoft anyways.

進行中的踝關節痛疼診療

2009-09-23T01:16:00.001-07:00

今天下午請假, 塞了二十幾英里的車到某醫學中心做 CT Fusion 的攝影. 我不太確定 CT Fusion 中文要怎麼翻譯, 聽醫生說, 這種檢驗好像很神的樣子. 技師把我放上檢驗台後, 看著電腦螢幕上的影像, 好像很興奮地說, "厚, 還沒開始照就這麼有反應, 照出來的結果一定很可觀". 我苦笑地回答, 說, "對啊, 我這腳這次真的不太服舒, 上週才做了 MRI, 希望能找出問題在那裡...".

我左腳踝一直有關節炎. 現在回想, 第一次出現腳踝發炎的症頭, 大概是十五六歲剛進五專的時候, 一開始頻率低. 爾後漸轉頻繁. 下成功嶺後照過一次 X 光, 發現腓骨末稍斷裂. 又驗血發現尿酸值頗高, 所以判定為痛風. 從此, 腳踝疼痛, 成為我生活的一部份.

最近一次發作, 約是七月下旬左右開始, 就一直時好時壞. 很不方便, 於是決定一次把它看好. 找了醫生, 照了 x 光, 發現我的右腳踝裡竟然有三處骨刺, 之前斷落的腓骨, 似乎也在時續地刺激附近的軟組織. 最後, 最誇張的, 是跟骨在靠近阿基里斯鍵的地方, 竟然長了一個大倒勾, 好像被入了一個大珠一樣…

Little frustration with SOAP web service

2009-06-21T06:22:00.001-07:00

Today I tried to prototype a soap client in C#. While Visual Studio works like a champ, my web services calls seem to be creating new session every time. I tried to look for info for this subject, but didn’t have too much luck yet, marked today a day of minor frustration…

---- Resolved 06/21/2009…well, kind of ----

Ok, the problem was worked around referring to this article:

http://www.galasoft-lb.ch/mydotnet/WpfTests.TestSessionId/index.html

In short, the problem is, session relies on cookie, and cookie is disabled by default. Therefore, the solution is to enable cookie by instantiating a System.Net.CookieContainer and assign to your web service objects .CookieContainer property.

But there is a trick: It assumes the generated web service object derived from SoapHttpClientProtocol instead of anything else. In tools like WSDL, SoapHttpClientProtocol is exactly the base class so no problem. However, if you, like me, used Visual Studio to generate the proxy by choosing [Project/Add Web Reference], then sorry, no SoapHttpClientProtocol.

The reason I marked this as “kind of resolved” is because I really want to enable the scenario for code that’s generated by Visual Studio [Project/Add Web Reference]. After all, these are all just some HTTP sessions created and tossed around between client and server, so hack, it really leave a bad taste in my mouth until I could do exactly what I want in all cases…

A few things I’d like to do

2009-02-17T20:20:00.001-08:00

Do a study and review on Kirk’s scope library and come out a document like a bluffer’s guide

Setup WTT job for doing unit test as well as making UI automation a no brainer

These two should be enough for now…

Vista 效能雜談: superfetch

2008-12-29T00:25:00.001-08:00

很多人感覺 Vista 越用越快, 這並不是錯覺, 而是因為 Vista 的 Superfetch 正在發揮它的功能. Superfetch 的前身是 prefetcher, XP 時代就有, 在 Vista 時期變得成熟並且更積極:

disk I/O 是系統效能的最大殺手, 現下 CPU 的指令是以 nano second 在算的, 而 disk i/o 則是以 millisecond 在算的, 這兩者相差百萬倍, 故而, 減少 blocking i/o, 能有效增加系統效能, 這是 superfetch 的基本精神.

當系統執行時, Superfetch 服務會在背景記錄每一支程式的 disk I/O, 包括啟動的頻率, 載入那些 DLL, 開啟那些資料檔等等. 這樣的使用計錄累積一段時間之後, superfetch 開始"猜"使用者最可能需要那些檔案, 然後利用系統閒置的時間把這些檔案預載到記憶體中, 等使用者真的要執行這支程式時, 因為所有需要的檔案已經載入記憶體中, 不再需要從磁碟中讀取, 所以可以大幅增加啟動速度.

除此之外, prefetch 也會要求系統的磁碟重組程式把這些檔案重組到鄰近的磁區. 等磁碟重組程式開始進行例行性的最佳化時, 會根據之前 superfetch 的提供的資料更精準地最佳化. 理論上, 檔案重組後, 因為 seeking 大幅減少, 所以存取速度會快很多. 讓 superfetch 的預載更有效率

預載檔案需要使用記憶體, superfetch 隨時監視系統記憶體的使用量, 當有應用程式開始需要大量記憶體時, superfetch 會動態地把記憶體歸還給系統, 讓應用程式有足夠的記憶體而不需要 paging. 反之, 等應用程式把記憶體釋回系統後, superfetch 會再次把檔案預載回記憶體中.

可想而知這樣的機置要有很多 ram 才能順暢, 所以如果可以的話, 最好讓 Vista machine 安裝 2G 以上的記憶體. 同時, 如果 CPU 不太差, 加插一支 USB 拇指碟啟動 ReadyBoost, 效能的改進將更為顯著

Mystery remain, but I got the evidence I wanted.

2008-11-16T07:26:00.001-08:00

In this post I wrote prior I mentioned my frustration of not being able to find the page that says whether vector<T>::size is inline or not. Well, I found it:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bw1hbe6y.aspx

So if I remember right the size() function was implemented in the vector class definition. Assuming this is true, then according to the page above the size() function is indeed inline. However, chances are that the optimizer determines the size() function is better off to be none-inline.

So come back to the original question: Should I request my colleague to remove that line?

I guess I come to reach a conclusion in myself that it doesn't really matter. After all, the caching idea will most likely be done by the optimizer so what he has done doesn't really help. Raising tiny point like this is more like showing off knowledge toward language detail on the cost of being unnecessarily annoying. (Well, Mr. Anderson would probably do that and make people think he is tough and knows a lot). The most, and probably only, important thing is that I've found the piece of info I wanted to find, and that added little tiny happiness to my day.

筆桿也能當玩具

2008-11-14T01:32:00.001-08:00

今年稍早, 我偶然在公司的記念品中心試用了一支鋼珠筆. 那是一支純黑霧面的筆. 黑色的墨水, 顏色很濃, 行筆也滑順. 我很喜歡, 俗俗一支七塊米金, 買起來毫無負擔.

這支筆很快就變成我的新竉物. 但是好景不常, 不出幾天, 這支筆開始變得卡卡的, 墨跡也分岔. 猜是筆頭壞了. 為了它, 我溜去 office depot 找更換茟芯但無功而返. 再一天兩, 它的筆頭似乎是完全崩壞了, 大概與我無緣吧.

我知道我會喜歡一支好筆, 一支可以代表自己的筆. 一支能與我的手完全配合, 墨色濃郁優雅的筆. 然而這個需求不急, 我也忙, 就沒有再想起來了.

支到我看到 01 上的這篇 Pelikan 的介紹文:

http://www.mobile01.com/newsdetail.php?id=6505

看到之後, 心裡那個愛亂買東西的壞小孩竟然一整個衝出來. 我想像, 如果自己擁有一支好筆, 那我就可以享受那種舒服極了手感, 然後隨手一筆一劃, 都可以充份感受從筆尖傳來那種充滿生命力彈性, 字自動寫得瀟灑工整, 連文采都增加十年的功力....噢, 我一秒鐘也不能等啊.

所以, 結果勒? Well, 直至本篇文稿上網, 我沒有買萬賨龍, 也沒有買百利金. 因為我這兩天開始提筆寫字, 發現, 呃, 我寫的字, 如果傳出去, 那人家就不用做人了. 所以在此時此刻, 還是原子筆蒙寫, 然後等字練好一些再說.

Katherine, 70, and my sorrow

2008-11-12T13:27:00.001-08:00

每年耶誔節前夕, 公司大廳會擺上顆聖誔樹, 上面沒有掛晶光閃閃的燈飾, 取而代之的, 是一張張巴掌大的小籤. 每一張小籤上都有一個名字, 背面則是手寫的一小句祝福, 還有一個小玩具之類旳東西. 名字的主人是在這城裡某個角落的清寒小朋友. 這樣的一張卡片, 是這個小小的心靈, 在寒冷安靜的冬夜裡, 怯怯地做著的美夢. .

Inline or not, that's question

2008-11-10T11:25:00.001-08:00

Today I did a code review that does the following:

void
Foo(
    const std::vector<T> &v
)
{
    size_t count = v.size();
    ...
    // use count in several places
    ...
}

At first I wanted to point out that there is no point to caching the v.size() because:

You really should expect optimizer to take care of such caching
Function implemented in header files automatically inline by default

After I typed it in my review feedback I came to wonder: How sure I was for both of my points? I know item #1 is purely an assumption and would really differ from compiler (and linker of course) to compiler, what about the 2nd point?

I thought I read that from MSDN but couldn't recover it to back me this time. I didn't want to spend more than it worth, but without written evidence I couldn't present this to my colleague, so I decided to take my comment back with some degree of unpleasant feeling of being defeated.

Is Function implemented in header files automatically become inline? My impression was challenged this time. Perhaps someday I will find some written document about it. Only the frustration of being unclear will made my feel bad for the rest of the day.

Aero Shake

2008-11-04T02:28:00.001-08:00

One Windows 7 feature that I found amusing yet never get to make it work is Aero Shake. Honestly I don't really find it useful, but looking at the idea it does give Win 7 a fresh look. Made it ever so slightly departed from the old serious aka no fun at all kind of OS.

Superbar, the next generation of toolbar

2008-11-03T14:40:00.001-08:00

As WinHec and PDC progress, more and more people have access to Windows 7. Most frequently asked question is "What's new in Windows 7 anyway?"

I think the new task bar, or also known as super bar, is something most visible, and also something I really like. Below is a CNet clip showing what the new task bar can do for you.

(cont.)

Beat It, Made in China

2008-09-10T07:41:00.001-07:00

3 simple word: OH MY GOD

意慾蔓延

2008-08-09T01:52:00.001-07:00

說真的, 玩具這種東西, 可以看, 可以想, 但如果真的想出手去買, 還真怕不久之後就會散盡家財, 不過, 作夢無罪, 我來列列我最近有興趣的東西:

Tablet PC: Lenovo X61 或 Dell Latitude XL: ~usd$ 2200
HTC Diamond/Victor PDA phone: usd$600
Dell 2408 monitor: usd$ 600
A Sand Wedger
Toyota Sienna, fully loaded ~40,000
Acura MDX, fully loaded, ~50,000
52" LCD Flat screen TV. ~2200
xbox 360 console with gold xbox live membership: 450
A new, quiet quad CPU system with good video card 1500
Free time that I can do whatever I want without worrying other family member: priceless, man, priceless

看, 很貴吧, 我甚至沒有列任何鏡頭勒.

Vista 究竟那裡比 XP 好

2008-08-01T20:50:00.001-07:00

在 01 上大家吵得沸沸湯湯, 我來考考自己, 看 Vista 有那些 XP 沒有的東西:

1. Superfetch, Vista 內建智慧性的快取系統, 能夠分析使用者的使用習慣, 預先載入需要的系統檔案

2. Prefetch 開機最佳化. Vista 會分析系統開機時的檔案載入順序, 加以微調, 加快開機速度

3. ReadyBoost, 利用高速 flash memory 做為系統快取

4. UAC, 雖然有一點煩, 但它可以保謢系統, 減少中病毒或木馬的機會

5. Session separation. Services 都在 session 0 執行, 這樣不用擔心惡意程式使用 DoS 攻擊

6. Media Center built-in home premium edition or higher.

7. Better Error reporting and tracking.

8. Search integrated start menu

9. Better layout for all programs.

10, brand new thread pool API

11, a more secure TCP/IP stack

12, 開機的 glowing windows mark. 唔, 對使用者沒有任何幫助的東西, 但是是我做的, 哇哈哈

我...我是好人!!?

2008-07-25T23:19:00.001-07:00

今天找 "心中OS" 的詞源與語意時, 找到偽基對好人的解釋

http://zh.uncyclopedia.info/wiki/%E5%A5%BD%E4%BA%BA

其中:

領有好人共和國民身分證的好人，職業通常有下列幾種：

對幫助遊戲裏的女玩家練級有極大熱情，但自己從來不敢提出見面要求的網路遊戲玩家
程式設計師
資料庫管理師
網路管理工程師
系統工程師
硬體裝修工程師
電腦專賣店服務員
資訊管理系學生
資訊工程系學生
資訊科學系學生
具有電腦相關執照的SOHO族
不管黑人白人，個人會修電腦的職業通通都歸類成好人。
說人好人的都是好人。

呃......還好我已經畢業了...

"!!!" 的內心 OS

2008-07-25T04:05:00.001-07:00

現在大概可以說了, 但是要從頭開始.

晚餐過後, 我爸媽固定會帶兒子到社區裡散散步. 就這樣日復一日, 有一天, 他們散步到一半, 後面有人用中文呼喚他們, 是一位帶著小孩的鄰居

"你們好", 鄰居開始寒暄, "常看到你們, 你們住這裡嗎"?

"我們來看孫子" 爸說 "我兒子和媳婦也住在這個社區裡"

"你兒子是不是延平初三四班畢業的..." 鄰居說. "叫使大特是嗎?"

"... (唔..這是什麼人...)" 當我爸開始警覺時, 鄰居從後面突然摸出一本延平畢業記念冊

"我是使大特的初中同班同學," 鄰居翻到我們班, 指著某面有我們兩個人同時出現的內頁, 有圖有真相

喂喂喂, 這裡是在離台北一萬公里遠的無名小鎮耶

"!!!" 我爸心裡 OS.

爸媽散步回來, 告訴我這件事,

喂喂喂, 這裡是在離台北一萬公里遠的無名小鎮耶

"!!!" 我心裡也 OS

於是我打電話給同學, 小聊了一下, 決定遵從網友見面模式, 電話之後就約週末出來見面.

但是我太忙了, 忙到很忙很忙, 所以沒有再電話約時間, 到了禮拜六, 吃過晚飯後, 就決定全家出門散步到同學家, 看看同學有沒有也剛好出們溜兒子. 然而, 我們撲了個空, 沒見成. 我們只好另外找樂子. 一家子人繼續在社區裡逛逛.

後來因為某些事情, 我們全家進入瘋狂忙錄的狀態, 有一天, 同學來電說要來家裡坐坐, 於是, 拖了幾個禮拜, 我們終於成功地見面了. 大家聊得很開心, 聊著聊著就聊到景氣與房市. 同學聊道, 他們家附近的義大利夫婦也在賣房子云云

機會來了,

"你說的是布朗尼他們家嗎?" 我問

"咦, 你也認識布朗尼啊" 同學說 "我還去看了他的 open house 勒, 原本還想看有沒有機會換房子的說, 結果他昨天告訴我, 他的房子已經賣出去了"

"是噢" 我說 "那都是托你的福啊" 我接著笑笑的說, 然後觀察同學的臉, 看有沒有出現 "!!!" 的 OS

True story, in a code review conversation...

2008-07-03T16:58:00.001-07:00

BUG: ---------, *** leaking file handle upon operator new failure

It is hard not to be emotionally affected by *** code.

Nevertheless, ****** complains that *** leaks file handle when *********::operator new() failed. It is essentially a very simple change, but I couldn't help myself to do a clean up....

阿蛋:
"It is hard not to be emotionally affected by *** code." Ha! that's the understatement of the year. They forced you to write a GOTO? I'd be taking really long shower to make myself feel clean again.

雜雜寫 6/29

2008-06-30T01:52:00.001-07:00

最近生活比較忙錄, 偶有觀點, 最後也在混亂中遺忘. 我從來不是勤寫的那種人, 不過想想有些思路的點滴就這樣留失, 也挺可惜的. Anyways, 就做做流水帳吧.

* 6/29, 今天熱到讓人捉狂, 完全忘了這個月是百年來最冷的一個六月. 於是下午帶著老婆和兒子到附近的咖啡店逃難. 到了傍晚, 空氣還是很悶熱, 於是決定帶一家子人去吃 Typhoon of Redmond. Typhoon 是一張有趣的雅痞 Thai restaurant. 出菜的量都小小的, 與一般的美式老粗大盤炒不一樣. 他們的招牌是茶單比酒單長, 上面用很炫的方式列出什麼烏龍啊鐵觀音啊之然的中國茶. 很清新健康的樣子. 但是我們都沒點. 大概是對美國人選中國茶的能力沒有信心吧. 最後, 我發現自己果然比較喜歡美式老粗大盤炒. 顯然雅痞的形象離我越來越遠了...

* 6/28 開著租來的 Mini Van 帶一家老小去 Orcas Island 玩. 一直聽說 Orcas 比 San Juan 漂亮, 讓我十分嚮往. 結果大概是因為大家都太早起的緣故, 原本計劃湖邊野餐+環湖散步, 最後變成餐廳力戰歡小孩, 湖邊車上睡大覺的局面. 讓我不得不再次提醒各位還沒有小孩的朋友, cherish your life when you still can. 等你們有小孩之後, life as you know it no longer exist. I meant it.

* 6/27 內子收到考試的結果. "Pass!!" 信上說. 當下全家歡騰, 四海同慶, 稍晚, 帶兒子去做兩歲的身體檢查. 原本以為要打幾針小孩會大哭的. 沒想到醫生阿姨輕鬆地說從現在開始到四歲都不用再打針. 哈, 想到兒子不用大哭一場, 醫生阿姨這輕描淡寫的一句話當下又是另一個令人開心的好消息. 最後, 與小舅子去換球桿的握把, 看到店裡有在 on sale, 竟然就說 "ok I'm getting it" 買下 TaylorMade R7 CGB Max driver. 這支球桿好像很能化腐朽為神奇, 讓我以為從此就可以自由地運用一號木桿縱橫球場. 結果, 和我其他的玩具一樣, 買了沒時間玩. oh well, C' est la vie!!

最後, 今天發現自己收到一則留言, 沒想到我的 blog 有讀者耶, 歐爺

Tiger Woods Swing Analysis

2008-05-20T00:33:00.000-07:00

[轉貼]你最愛的人是誰

2008-05-05T12:26:00.001-07:00

(使大特: 這篇文在細節的部份處理得粗糙 (那一篇網路短文不是呢), 但我原則上同意這篇文章的觀點, 所以分享出來做他山之石)

佛陀曾遇到這樣的事：有一天國王來到佛陀跟前聽法，並開始練習內觀，而通常在家中只要有一個人開始學，慢慢地，法就會影響到家中其他的人。

因為國王是一家之主，一國之長，他的影響力自然很大，家中所有的人都在練習這種方法，而皇后瑪麗，也成為一位很好的修行者。他倆常在皇宮裡同一個禪房內觀。

有一天內觀一小時之後，國王問皇后：「若有人問你，你最愛的人是誰？你會怎麼回答？」

她說：「我內觀的時候，同樣的問題也浮現出來，我發現其實除了自己，我誰也不愛。」

國王笑著說：「好極了！我也有同樣的問題，同樣的答案。」

於是他倆相偕去見佛陀稟告他這件事。

佛陀說：「說的好！說的好！這是走出痛苦的第一步，當一個人開始發現這個問題癥結所在，就可以走出問題，解決問題，否則一輩子都活在想像中。我愛我兒，愛我妻，我愛我夫，我愛這，我愛那。」

其實你誰也不愛，你只愛自己；愛自己的欲望、希望、夢想，

我愛這個人是因為我期待他能實現我的理想，一但他的行為與態度與我所要的背道而馳，所有的愛就消失不見，所以我不是愛別人，而是愛自己，只要能認清這點，就很容易去除私念，就能夠走出以自我為中心的習性，所以這是內觀者第一個重要的體會。

我們常在許多時候感嘆，世間沒有完美的愛戀與情人，卻忽略了自己要的到底是人還是神明；常常希冀著完美浪漫的戀情，卻忽略了浪漫和現實難以相容的部分。

我們常常愛上了感覺，愛上了默契，愛上了浪漫，卻不一定愛這個人，孰不知你該愛的是因為他是你的選擇。

(使大特: 以下這句話我不同意, 但為維持原文完整不予刪除)

沒有人生來是完美無缺的，如果你真的愛上一個完美無缺的人，那麼在往後的相處日子裡你們還有什麼成長的空間呢？

好站推薦 - 科景

2008-05-05T11:23:00.001-07:00

這個網站介紹很多科普相關的文章. 內容廣泛, 有很多生活化的例證, 用字也淺顯. 可以做大男孩的故事書. 好站!!

這是 URL: http://www.sciscape.org/index.php

引用該站的[關於本站]

---

Sciscape成立於1999年4月，為一非營利的專業科學新聞網站，目前由數十位各科學領域的研究生擔任義務編輯。

本站重要紀事表

1999年4月：Sciscape成立，架站於站長私人機器上
1999年8月：開始徵求義務編輯編輯
2000年5月：發表第一百篇報導
2000年6月：開始授權新聞予其他科學網站
2001年1月：開闢全球新聞綜覽專欄
2001年2月：開辦電子報
2001年8月：平均每日瀏覽人次突破一千人，頁數突破三千頁
2002年8月：主機搬遷到台大物理系主機
2005年1月：主機搬遷至Quadsys network

站長的話：

Sciscape創立於1999年4月，在此之前我維護另一個與電腦軟體 Litestep 有關的網站。有一天忽然覺得與其花這麼多時間維持﹐還不如做一個與自己的專業比較有關的網站。當時國內尚未有一個以大學理工學生為主的綜合性科學新聞網站﹐加上許多傳統媒體的科學新聞水準極低。因此興起了製作這樣一個網站的念頭。

這個站的目的很簡單﹐就是希望能提供國內關心基礎科學的大學生或研究生一個觀察世界基礎科學發展的入口。短程的目標是提供各學門的科學新聞﹐中程的目標是提供大家一個互相交流與發表的空間﹐長程目標則是希望藉由網友們的投稿建立一個各類專題文章的中文資料庫。

Sciscape從一個個人網站開始，發展至今已經變成一個擁有數十位各科學領域研究生支援的網站。從早期僅是節譯外文網站的新聞內容，到目前強調報導的原創性， Sciscape在眾多義務編輯的努力下，已經成長為國內最大的專業科學網站之一。 Sciscape並且將新聞授權給許多其他科學網站或政府與學術單位轉載。

另外要特別感謝林修平先生義務擔任本站的法律顧問，協助建立本站所有的規章文件與法律制度，並且處理轉載授權以及文章著作權等諸多法律問題。另外也要感謝台大物理系提供本站主機空間以及技術支援。還要感謝各位網友長年來的支持與鼓勵。

-- 站長羅中泉於 Boston

What does ACTRL_DS_CONTROL_ACCESS do?

2008-04-29T12:07:00.001-07:00

So saith MSDN:

Access allowed only after extended rights checks supported by the object are performed. This flag can be used alone to perform all extended rights checks on the object or it can be combined with an identifier of a specific extended right to perform only that check.

What is "Extended right checks"?

Anyways it doesn't look like something that should get into the Security Dialog for AD object.

寫程式: 會, 不會

2008-04-28T13:00:00.001-07:00

01 上有這麼一則討論

"請問資工資管畢業生有幾%不會寫程式"

這是個月經話題了, 不過, 今天我想了一想, 在討論"會不會寫程式"之前, 必需先定義什麼是"會寫程式"

我不完整地劃分出幾個等級

1. Casual Scripter - a trained monkey can do

有能力編寫基本的 script 用來操控系統或資料庫
有能力編寫基本的 server side script. 或 dynamic web pages

2. 入門程式設計師 - showing potential

能使用業界慣用的工作做出 script 能做到的事, 並且效率更好
熟知, 並且能實作基本的演算法與資料結構
對 programming 與 computer science 具備廣泛的常識
大概知道那些服務應該由 OS 提供, 而那些又從 language 本身提供
能實作一支 10000 - 20000 行的程式

3. 中階程式設計師 - good implementation

對問題與執行環境有大略清楚的掌握
完整地處理所的錯誤
正確地使用 System API, 正確地 implement 一個 design.
程式碼條理清楚, 遵偱既定的 coding standard, consistent style.
能正確地選擇, 便用最合理的演算法 (e.g. tree v.s. list, standard library v.s. custom made), 並且能提出具體的理由支持自己的選擇
能有系統的 debug
能領導測試人員與 PM 一同達到最好的產品品質

4. 可堪獨立作業的程式設計師 - good designer

清楚地掌握問題與環境
清楚地比較各種設計的優缺點與限制
清楚地掌握各種 state 與行為
沒有不必要的 layering
預見, 處理所有的 edge case.

我預期一個科班畢業生最少達大一半以上的 level 2. 而在入行二年後達到大部份的 level 3.

合理嗎?

Mr. Anderson 跳船先, 留下老饕乾瞪眼

2008-04-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

週一的 team meeting, 老饕告訴大家 Mr. Anderson 要閃人的消息. Mr. A 算是 team 裡的第二號人物, 某方面來說, 他對team 裡的 technical decision 的影響力比老饕廣. 他這一閃人, 空出來一個大大的洞, 大概要讓老饕很多天睡不好覺吧.

今天和老饕開會, 老饕告訴我我會分到的餅, 唔, 不是最肥美的那一塊, 不過, 多分一塊算一塊就是了.

水一樣流, 日子一樣過, 太陽一樣東邊起, 晚上一樣西邊落

GetTickCount64

2008-04-11T02:14:00.001-07:00

In the past GetTickCount has been a good friend to scenarios where you want simple time counting. One typical usage is to count the timeout by yourself. Say, you want to wait for your objects for 10 seconds while allowing your Window messages loop to proceed uninterrupted. Instinctively you write code like:

1: DWORD dwTimeout = GetTickCount() + dwMilliseconds; 
2:   
3: while (dwTimeout > GetTickCount()) 
4: { 
5:   
6: 
.... 
7:   
8: MsgWaitForMultipleObjects(); 
9:   
10: .... 
11: } 
12:  

With some experience you know that this function has a seemingly innocent but in fact very serious restriction: GetTickCount() wraps every 49.7 days, which translates to: every 49.7 days, this block of code will have a dwMilliseconds millisecond Window to fail. Every n milliseconds per every 49.7 days may sound safe to ignore. Well, this might be true for casual freeware running on client computers. But for servers that run 24/7, or for components that ship with Windows. This will fail, and it will fail at the worst timing ever, period.

Starting Vista, Windows offer an 64 bits version of GetTickCount called GetTickCount64(). a 64 bits tick count is practically timeless (if it ever wraps, the speed of light will become negative and the universe will vanish). With this new API, the simple implementation became solid again and your logic can be as simple as you'd like.

Sound all good? Perhaps. Let's switch to API designer's seat and think about the problem again: GetTickCount is a API that looks simple, really simple, so simple that it attracts lots of usage. However, beneath the skin of oh-it-is-so-easy-to-use, the API itself is in fact cumbersome to use correctly. This illusion of simplicity invites bug that is very difficult to reproduce and investigate. So think the problem again, does it sound as good?

"When reviewing an API design, think about how it will be abused". I don't remember where this sentence came from but it has been proofing itself again and again. If the designer of GetTickCount thought about how this innocent API would lead many hard bugs, he or she will probably use the 64 bits time counter from day 0.

So, for you my dear reader, what can you take out today? I'll say two things:

1. Windows Vista is better from fundamental API support

2. When designing API, think about how they can be abused and how likely they're abused

I really hope my API won't be picked for bad API design discussion. oh well.

Backup? Who wants backup

2008-04-07T12:35:00.001-07:00

Answer: Everybody.

我有零星地與一些朋友聊過說我覺得 online backup 是一個很好的 niche market, 大概的想法是, 設計一個自動備份的網路服務. 在用戶端有一個 Service 自動計錄檔案變更的記錄, 然後編碼上傳. 在 Server 端, 除了上傳需要 login 之外, 下載可以直接使用 http, 因為檔案在上傳時即有編碼, 所以就算被盜用, 盜用者也無法解譯其內容.

在與朋友聊這種"什麼東西好像可以做"的話題時, 我有一句機車到爆的冷水句 "如果你現在看到什麼需求, 想自己跳下去創業, 最好有別人已經做好在那裡等著了的心理準備", 我對自己也這樣說. 所以雖然我越來越確定 online backup 市場雄厚, 還是站在一邊旁觀

前兩天聽到別人口耳相傳一個叫 MOZY (http://www.mazy.com) 的公司, 就是專做這種備份生意的, 看它的 title: Mozy, an EMC company, 來頭還真不小吶. 厚厚.

雖然我機車地覺得這家公司不太可能爆紅變成 the next major software company. 但是看到有人所見略同, 還是挺開心的. 至少我有看到一個正在長大的餅, 而不是一個已經發完開始餿的雞肋. 嘿

Some info about 64 bits Light Room

2008-04-04T11:53:00.001-07:00

Posting link first, seem like an interesting article.

http://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/2008/04/photoshop_lr_64.html

Can't comment at all because I don't have time to do it.

1D Mark III v.s. 5D Mark II 之內心糾葛

2008-03-25T14:25:00.001-07:00

我猜有不少等不到 5D 2 的同好也在盤算直上 1D3, 所以也來聊聊我現在的想法.

我現在使用 2004 年末購入的 20D, 20D 是很不錯的機身, 但漸漸地我感到有些不足. 首先當然是 APS-C 在廣角端的天限. 去年把主力鏡從 17-85 換成 24-70 F2.8L, 開始強烈感到廣角不足的不便. 同時, 機身耐候性全無, 曾經有過被一滴水打趴二天的經驗. 這讓我很有芒刺在背的不安.

我想換成全幅, 因為 APS-C 把我的 24mm 封印太久. 完全無廣角可言. 同時, 我另一支 70-200 的 200 端, 在 APS-C 上也因為太長所以絕少便用. 然而, 5D 對我卻全然是一個 no no. 5D 的畫質當然是沒話說, 然而它的機身的建構與 20D 沒有差太多, 在耐候上沒有提昇. 再者, 3fps 實在是太慢. 5 fps 是我能接受的最低標準. 我很期待謠傳中的 3D 能夠問世, 如此, 我在意的 5fps+ 連拍, 耐候, 與全幅能在同一台機身上找到答案.

然而, 這個月, 我開始從 3D 搖擺到 1D Mark III, 原因是:

就像大家說的, 不管是 5 還是 3 系列, 永遠無法變成 1. 手感也好, 耐候也好, 用料也好, 都是.
小馬三的對焦系統應該已經趨於成熟, 開始發揮它神奇的性能. 就像第一點說的, 不管是 5 還是 3 系列, 永遠無法變成 1
當我真的把 24-70 接上 5D 試過一段時間之後, 反而覺得 24mm 太廣了用不太上. 28mm 差不多就夠用了. 甚至, 正港的 70mm, 以我拍人像的構圖習慣, 反而有些太短. 相對之下, APS-H 的 1.3x 反而是更佳解
5D2, 7D, 3D, 都還只是謠傳, 就算真的六月能上市, 等第一波 debug 結東 + 供貨正常, 最快也是是年底了. 我沒有興趣等那麼久
我期待 3D 的訂價落在 usd$3200 - usd$3500, 如此, 與小馬三的 usd$3900 已經沒差多少. 要一次攻頂, 也是一個不錯的選擇

所以結論呢? 二個月前我還在想 "如果再買新機, 肯定只會考慮全幅機". 然而 1D 的呼聲一天比一天高, 讓我心癢癢, 越來越可能學樓主 "有一天心一橫....". 不過我大概會試著冷靜, 等到 3D 或小馬三n 發怖之後, 再做決定.
噢, 只是這個站著癢癢, 坐著也癢癢的感覺, 很難挨啊....

網誌的撰寫工具

2008-03-25T12:43:00.001-07:00

昨天聽說朋友的網誌複站的消息, 很高興. 然而維護網誌很花時間, 朋友又比牛仔更忙, 所以我決定推薦朋友使用 Windows Live Writer + Windows Live Photo Gallery. 因為, 這兩個工具加在一起, 還真是很好用吶:

Windows Live Writer

支援主流網誌的自動設定. 以敝網誌為例, 當我設定 Live Writer 時, 只要鍵入網誌的 URL, 再輸入 user ID 與密碼, Windows Live Writer 就會自動連線到我的網誌, 並且完成設定. 我不確定樂多和 Pixnet有沒有被支援, 希望可以囉
可以很容易地編輯網誌文章
草稿可以儲存在本機 (快速), 或網誌 (方便)
"一稿多投" 超級容易
永遠不用再因為寫到一半網頁跑掉而文章全毀的憤怒
可以下載 plug in, 最方便的是 flickr plug in, 可以超方便地把 flickr 照片加進網誌, 配上 Live Photo Gallery 超好用 (後述)

Windows Live Photo Gallery

方便, 快速, 又好用的免費圖片管理軟體
支援很多格式, 包括 Canon 與 Nikon 的 raw 檔
即便照片超多, 速度還是很快
加 tag, rating 非常方便
可以把照片直接發佈到 Flicker, 這個超方便. 當然也可以發佈到 MS 自家的 Live Gallery, 不過, 那東西誰用呢?

聽起來像是一個不錯的工具嗎? 想嘗試的話, 可以到 http://get.live.com/ 免費下載噢

在深夜, 聽薛岳

2008-03-14T00:13:00.001-07:00

今天晚上心情不太好, 晃著晃, 找到了薛岳唱的 "如果還有明天". 我看過薛岳的小傳, 對他這樣個性的人, 我猜自己大概不會和他太麻吉, 但是他的歌聲, 有一種穿透力, 能潛入我心情最不願為人知的地方, 然後用力的搖. 所以我每次聽他的歌. 都不敢開大聲, 更不敢專心, 因為怕自己聽了之後, 會無法收拾碎了一地的情緒.

如果還有明天（If There Still A Tomorrow）
詞：劉偉仁　曲：劉偉仁　

如果還有明天　你想怎樣裝扮你的臉
如果沒有明天　要怎麼說再見

我們都有看不開的時候　總有冷落自己的舉動
但是我一定會提醒自己　如果還有明天

我們都有傷心的時候　總不在乎這種感受
但是我要把握每次感動　如果還有明天

如果你看出我的遲疑　是不是你也想要問我
究竟有多少事沒有做　如果還有明天

如果真的還能夠有明天　是否能把事情都做完
是否一切也將雲消煙散　如果沒有明天

Sigma 30mm F1.4 on APS-H

2008-03-13T16:36:00.001-07:00

最近 1D 在呼喚呼喚呼喚我. 一定是冥冥之中自有安排, 今天讓我看到伊達淳一的 30mm F1.4 DC 測試, 測試平台竟然是 1D, 而更勾引人的是, 30mm F1.4 這顆鏡頭在 1D 上幾乎沒有什麼成像圈吶. 雖然誠實地對 S 30mm F1.4 沒有興趣..(嗯, 好吧, 沒有"太大"的興趣) 但還是很殺啊

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/review/2005/06/30/1833.html

補述

發現 30mm 可以上 1D 之後, 我發現 Sigma 10 - 20 也很有潛力, 1D 又加分了, 噢噢

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Sigma-10-20mm-f4-56-EX-DC

Street Fighters, the later years

2008-03-13T14:24:00.001-07:00

之前在 You Tube 上看到一個連載. 超爆笑. 今天再查一次, 發現它終於演完了. 歡迎六年級老男孩們一起來回憶

第一話

第二話

第三話

第四話

第五話

第六話

第七話

第八話

最終話

Magpul FMG-9

2008-03-12T13:01:00.001-07:00

I guess this is NOT in my wish list, but saw this on engadget today and found it interesting.

This reminds me an ancient film RoboCop 2, where the innocent looking little bastard Hob attempted to stop Robocop by similar super compact machine gun. Gosh I'm old and stinky.

New 5D 2 spec: dreams are nothing more than wishes and a wish is just a dream.

2008-03-11T15:34:00.001-07:00

之前就有謠傳 Canon 要把 5D 這個線一分為二. 初階版為 7D, 12 mp FF 4-5 FPS single DIGIC III, 訂價在 usd$2500 左右, 而中高階會在性能上接近 1D, 為 1.3x 的' 1D 系列劃下句點.

這也接近我的猜測, 很白目地用畫素數來計算 throughput, 現在的 Dual DIGIC III 大概可以處理 100 mpx per second (1Ds III 21 mpx * 5fps, 1D III 10 mpx * 10 fps), 如果來個 16 mpx 的 sensor, 那每秒應該有 6fps 的 throughput. 如果這台新機像 D3 一樣支援裁切模式, 那就是一台同一塊 sensor, 但是面積大一號的新 1D. 然後可以用 10 fps 拍 APS-H, 說不定也可以用 12 fps 拍 APS-C
如果真的做到這樣, 就算價格是 usd$5000, 也很抵買.

Rumor: 5D Successor to come out on April 22nd.

2008-03-11T15:32:00.001-07:00

月經文了, 不過, 對在等 5D 2 的攝友, 大概會是一個話題. DPReview 連結:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1032&message=27125455

轉載原文:
- 15.3 MP full frame CMOS sensor (vastly improved light-gathering capacity per pixel: improved micro lenses; miniaturized micro circuitry; enhanced signal/noise ratio)

- Weather sealing same as 1Ds Mark III

- Dual Digic III with all-new "CXR" NR system reported to best 3rd party NR software. Available as a C.F with 4 levels of customizable parameters.
14 bit A/D conversion

- ISO 12800 (C.F. up to 25600)

- Reported 1 2/3 stop sensitivity improvement

- All-new 29-point TTL CMOS sensor with 12 cross-type for F/2.8 or faster lens (35% faster than 40D)

- Micro lens fine adjustment for up to 14 lenses

- 300,000 exposure shutter durability

- 6.0 / 3.0 fps

- 3.0" LCD 922,000 pixels

- EOS Integrated Cleaning System

- Live View (improved from 450D; latest generation)

- 6/3 fps continuous shooting for up to 68 frames

- MSRP $3499, available June 2
----

感覺比較像 3D 的等級. 但是沒有 Eye Controlled Focus. 雖然希望是真的, 不過我不太相信, 最少那個 1D level weather sealing 就與 Canon 一貫的產品線規劃相背. 反正是謠言嘛, 聊聊愉樂一下就好了, 別太當真

On a reply to a question "good kids camera"

2008-03-07T11:49:00.001-08:00

Can't help laughing on this:

"I got my little girl a Canon 20D so we can share lenses. Now I buy her lenses for her birthday, and she buys me Barbie dolls for mine. Works out great – she doesn’t get me neck ties I don’t want anymore, and I don’t buy the wrong dolls. Everyone is happy. Almost. I’m divorced now, but I have nice toys. "

Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon... then you know the rest of the story, or watch on...

2008-03-04T00:53:00.001-08:00

昨天小舅子問我有沒有看過 Sarah Silverman 和 Matt Damon 的 MV, 嗯. 我找到了...

然後, 是第二話.

Not installing Windows Live Messenger

2008-03-03T12:17:00.001-08:00

Today I am reinstalling software packages on my work machine. One thing I came up in mind is not to install Windows Live Messenger. The reason is simply that the Live Messenger became too distracting and frankly, an IM chat is never efficient anyways. And I realized that not having messenger installed on system actually gave me a good refreshing feeling.

Another interesting alternative is that, although I avoided messenger, I still went to www.live.com and downloaded Live Writer and Live Photo Gallery. Live Writer quickly became my primary blog authoring tool because of its excellent integration with the blog hosts I use. The Live Gallery, on the other hand, out performs Windows Photo Gallery because its integration with flickr. I guess Live team can call these two features a victory…well, only over Windows Vista though.

變年輕的彩妝魔法

2008-02-20T23:35:00.000-08:00

好像 Youtube 看癮了. 不過, 這個短片很有趣噢, 看了讓我會想自己試一試勒.

當然也會看到這種東西 Orz

2008-02-20T12:29:00.001-08:00

正所謂, 有圖無真像啊

單純的表達

2008-02-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

今天看到這個, 好感人呦

觀感: 「Google大學」鈍化學生好奇心

2008-01-15T02:58:00.001-08:00

今天在中時看到這一篇文章, 大意是說, google 讓資訊太容易取得, 但傳回結果的品質良莠不齊, 造成大學生輕信低品質資訊的現象. 原文連結:

http://news.chinatimes.com/2007Cti/2007Cti-News/2007Cti-News-Content/0,4521,110504+112008011500531,00.html

我同意 google(或任何一個 search engine)傳回的資料良莠不齊, 或說, 在 internet 這個萬言堂, 大多數的資料都有可信度與深度的問號. 然而, 筆者主張大學生對資訊品質的辨別能力有限, 或不在乎資訊是否正確. 這個論點我不能苟同.

首先我認為筆者這樣的觀點很根本地不尊重學生. 筆者假設學生皆用得過且過, 交卷即可的態度求學. 這樣的假設對認真求學的學生很不公平. 不但對學育沒有幫助, 反而會讓學生因為被否定而降低求學的動力.

同時, 品質低落的資訊也出現在傳統媒體 (例如名文:"硬體給我報報"). 故而,資訊品質的問題不限於網路世界, 甚至, 因為網路資訊快速流通, 謬誤被發現指出的機會更多.

最後, 筆者的論點忽略網路上同時存在優質資訊. 這樣的資訊因為 search engine 而得到更多的 exposure. 因為有search engine, 學生們有機會接收更多的優質資訊, 進而做出更宏觀的研究.

我認為 search engine 是一個強大的工具. 它能幫助學生用很高的效率 (和十年前比起來)找到需要的資料. 我同意因為 search engine 的普級, 學生需要具備更多判斷能力與科學精神. 然而, 這是一個根本的教育基礎建設, 英國的狀況我不熟, 但以我所知的台灣與每天都收到的 "FW: 重要必讀"的信, 我想, 這個部份還有一些路要走.

最後, 文章的結尾說:

教師必須訓練學生成為積極批判的思想家，讓學生具備詮釋及過濾網路資料的能力，而不是照單全收。

說真的, "積極批判的思想家" 往往是那種講得最多, 做得最少, 每天打嘴砲卻沒有真正執行能力的人, 這樣的人對社會到底能有多少貢獻, 是個問題. 呃..好, 我大概能猜想這是記者把critical thinking 直接譯成了 "批判" 了. 這樣的品質, 是不是很遜. 中時算是傳統媒體, 這樣的品質, 你說怎麼能怪 searching engine 是"大學生依賴劣質資訊" 的原罪?

Shell API Makes sense this time

2008-01-13T23:58:00.001-08:00

With all due respect: Shell API is powerful. No doubt about it, but it is so complex that it brings all sorts of extra stuff you don't really anticipate until it is too late. This price tag made Shell API less likely to be the first choice when facing a typical programming problem.

Today I witted a rare chance where the Shell API became the most reasonable choice.

My problem was to validate an user input and see whether it is a network path. For example, given something like \\server\share\dir1\dir2 , if the path is valid, I should return true.

When I first get this, I thought this is like a 5 minutes of work. Call FindFirstFile, if the call returns a valid handled, check whether WIN32_FIND_DATA.dwFileAttributes contains FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY. However, it was during my dev test, I found this FindFirstFile works fine on almost all scenario, except a very fundamental case: \\server\share. If you feed FindFirstFile with \\server\share, it will simply fail. So what do I do?

With remote impression, I found an API called NetShareCheck(). According to msdn this is what I needed. So my code became something like

HANDLE handle = FindFirstFile(…);

If (INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE != handle)
{

// Do what I used to do
}

else

{

// 15 lines of code or so to parse and setup

// the params for NetShareCheck

NET_API_STATUS result = NetShareCheck(…);

If (NERR_Success == result)
{

// ok this is what we want
}
}

So go to dev test again. Bah, no luck. Unfortunately NetShareCheck doesn't work the way I expected and I always get some asynchornize I/O like error. I was blocked and having a bad headache.

Problem always got resolved after a night of sleep. When I drive my wife to exam the next day, I suddenly realized there are shell API I might be able to use. After all, if explorer can see it, it is likely that your code using the same API can see it. I know Shell offers SHParseDisplayName (ref link) and SHGetPathFromIDList(ref link). The former one let you convert a path into Shell's "Item ID List" (ref link), and the later let you convert the item id list into its display name plus getting attributes we'd need. So my 3^rd attempt wiped out all existing code and did something like this:

Pidl = SHParseDisplayName (szPath, xxxxx);

If (pidl)

{

hr = SHGetPathFromIDList(…pidl,…, attrResult)

if (IsWhatIWanted(attrResult))

hrRet = true;..

}

Did it worked? Oh yeah, flawlessly. Loved it.

Alright, now let's see how much we paid for this convenient function:

As soon as I called into ShParseDisplayName, the system loads all these jazz:

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\uxtheme.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\apphelp.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\networkexplorer.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Unloaded 'C:\Windows\System32\networkexplorer.dll'

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\networkexplorer.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\oleaut32.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\propsys.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\wininet.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\normaliz.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\iertutil.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\mpr.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\ntlanman.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\netapi32.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\psapi.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\secur32.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\drprov.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\davclnt.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\cscapi.dll', No symbols loaded.

'Generic.exe': Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\userenv.dll', No symbols loaded.

Huh, warned you, didn't I

YouTube HD

2008-01-08T02:49:00.001-08:00

跨年當天, 我上 YouTube 找 101 的煙火給家人看,突然後知後覺地意會到, 短短的兩年之內,隨選視訊變成一種唾手可得, 理所當然的東西. 好像在不知不覺之間, 時代又向前邁進了一步似的. 我幾乎可以看到 YouTube 在不久的將來, 會變成和 google 一樣的動詞. 一旦一個產品的名字變成動詞, 那表示這家公司的"獲利"也會從名詞變成動詞. 我相信 YouTube 會變成 google 的另一顆大搖錢樹, 甚至扮演廣播世代終結者的角色.

然後又到了敝人最喜歡的趨勢猜猜猜時間了. YouTube 接下來會怎麼發展呢?

YouTube HD: 讓使用者下載 480P+ 的影片. 這個很有可能. 因為現在數位相機隨便拍也嘛是 640 x 480. 只要 YouTube 花多一些錢 (反正 google 銀彈無限), 就可以留下高畫素版本的影片. 因為 480P+ 的影片需要太多 bandwidth, 影片將可以被選擇性的下載. 這樣的功能, 會讓 You Tube 完全稱霸 PC based VOD. Hollywood 可能會因此狀告 Google, 不過, 只要 YouTube 再多花一些錢 (反正, again, google 銀彈無限), 就可以與 Hollywood 從相怨變成相戀.
TV based VOD, 被 MS 拿下來, 但是普級速度緩慢: MS 會和 Hollywood 搭上更多線, 然後用 Xbox 360 與 Vista Media Center 做為平台攻下 TV-based VOD. NetFlix 會變成主要的 VOD 系統商, 並且和 Media Center 合作. Blockbuster 被 busted. MS 和 Cable companies 目前亦敵亦友的態式, 會更火熱.
ITunes, iPod, iPhone, 會加入 YouTube 訂閱與下載的功能. 然後繼續賺錢.

以上.

SX Geo Tagger

2007-12-26T15:10:00.001-08:00

SX GT (StarterX's GPS Tagger)

Disclaimer

This document denotes a software project purely of my personal interest. I do not make any promise of anything mentioned in this document and all technology I used in this project is NOT related to my day job. This project only use published API and SDK tool. No trade secret or confidential information from my day job was used in this project.

Abstract

SX GT is a Geo Tagging application that incorporates Windows Mobile 5 (and up) and a Windows application. The main audiences are photographers who have GPS enabled Windows Mobile devices and wish to imprint the position information into their digital images.

This system is consisted of two main components:

The Recorder: An application runs on top of Windows Mobile 5 or higher. This piece of software enables the device to record geographical position information in a specified frequency. At the end of a recording, the application produces a position log, which contains the detailed GPS readings during the recording time. The log will be passed to a Windows based PC for further processing.

The tagger: An application runs on top of Windows Vista (or higher) that writes the GPS information into a specified set of digital images. When writing, the tagger retrieves the shooting time of the given image, and calculates the most probable location. The tagger also supports auto keyword tagging, which is, automatically apply keyword to the image's metadata when the image was taken at a specified area.

Scenarios

(The be filled…)

V1 development phases:

The Tagger (console based):
1. Geo Writter – write GPS info into metadata
2. Auto keyword tagger –automatically adding keyword if the image was taken at a specified area
3. Blackout – Automatically remove GPS information if the image was taken at a specified area
4. Tag with keyword – Tag the image with a predefined value if a specified keyword is found. (e.g. translate "space needle" to 47º 37' 12.49" N 122º 20' 55.19" W)
The Recorder (basic functionality)
1. Start/Stop logging
2. Persist safely so an unexpected lose of power won't corrupt the log
ActiveSync integration
1. Produce a extension for ActiveSync and download the log automatically to a specified location

矽電池大反攻

2007-12-19T13:26:00.001-08:00

今天在 Engadget 上看到這則新聞, 大概是說, 史蛋大的了不起教授發表了新的電池技術: 利用奈米矽纖維做電池, 可以儲存十倍於鋰電池的電量. 這樣的話手機只要一個月充一次電就好了. 真酷.

不知道這種大存量的電池能實用到什麼程度, 如果可以把離峰時候的電力儲存下來 (不管是在電廠, 或是私人工廠/住宅), 都太棒了. 這才是科技啊

原文連結

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/19/stanfords-nanowire-battery-leapfrogs-li-ion/

déjà vu all over again, on security

2007-12-18T15:43:00.001-08:00

The more I stay in Windows Programming, the more I know I don't know. Windows Security has been one that I have been unconsciously avoiding. This is the time I shall confront security, then I will become Jedi……or will I?

Jedi or not, I'm on the destiny of prototyping an app that creates a security property page for an object. Meaning I'll be dealing jargons like Security Descriptor, DACL, SACL, this, and that. This is so not fun.

Ok, enough whiny, start the hard to read MSDN document. Long live emperor…

燃燒吧, 我對隨身機的熱情火焰

2007-12-15T03:09:00.001-08:00

因為一些機緣, 這兩天開始再找隨身機的資料. 希望能找到有廣角, 畫質不錯, 手感又好的機種. 記得 Ricoh 有一台 24 – 70mm 的機種, 於是找了一下. 沒想到, 越看越有興趣. 這是六年來唯一一台點燃我熱血的隨身機

這裡有一些連結:

http://wiselyview.net/blog/read-835.html

mobile 01 上也有一篇頗具代表性的文章

就是比你 Wide！Ricoh Caplio GX100

當然, 也少不了 DPReview 的測試報告

初步的想法是:

24-70mm 的焦段很具吸引力: 一般隨身機的廣角都從 35mm 起跳, 少數從 28mm 開始. GX-100是我唯一看到從 24mm 開始算的變焦隨身機.
GRD 近似的機身造型: 我喜歡比較有"相機感" 的機身. 一般隨身機大多缺少那種決定性的信頼感. 這樣的感覺, 金屬機身的 GX 100 似乎有機會看得到
我還挺喜歡Ricoh 這個品牌的. 我的第一, 二台相機都是 Ricoh 的, 比起我炫麗的三號機 Fuji 6800Z, 我比較喜歡 Ricoh 系所呈現的畫質.
高 ISO 似乎表現普普, 這讓我有點 hold back. 我現在大概只有晚上在家裡才有機會拍照, ISO 800 是最低要求, 看到 GX 100 的樣圖, ISO 800 的效果實在不算好. 雖然有些 R 家的支持者說那是底片的顆粒感, 但是, 我不相信什麼 "特有的顆粒感"這種扯蛋.
Turn around 時間長, 寫入一張 Raw 要 5.5 秒有點誇張, 一台中高階的隨身機沒有 buffer 是不被允許的, 拍一張照片等5.5 秒是要等南北韓統一嗎?

最後, 我還是很想去那裡找一台來把玩看看吶.

感光器比一比 - D3 v.s. 40D

2007-12-11T17:31:00.001-08:00

今天看到這篇文章, 結論大概是 D3 那種嚇死人的高 ISO 其實是用軟體做成的. 延伸的意思是, 只要有相同能力的演算法, 40D 大概可以打平 D3, 而 5D 在超高 ISO 時, 大概可以海扁 D3.

這大概可以讓眾 Canon 使用者對自己的相機多一些信心, 在和 Nikon fans 打嘴炮時, 多一分自慰的快感

原文與翻譯

Conclusion

The readout noise of the Nikon and Canon CMOS detectors is very similar. The high ISO sensitivity displayed by Nikon is for the marketing: Nikon D3 CMOS (and also the CMOS D300 CMOS - Sony origin) is a very high quality sensor, but in the end, Nikon just rises now the level of Canon technology.

從 Nikon 與 Canon 的感光器讀出的數據十分接近. D3 的高 ISO 數據比較像是廣告手法: D3 (與 D300) 的 CMOS 是一個很好的感光器, 但是追根究底, 它只能算追平 Canon 的程度.

The behaviour of Nikon DSLR are radically different from the Canon ones for long exposure:

Nikon DSLR 長時間曝光的做法和 Canon 系統很不一樣:

- For Nikon, the hot pixels are eliminated by a sophisticated digital processing external to the sensor. During this digital processing, the signal of the neighboring pixels is also affected. The damage of such processing is well-known in astronomy: the weak stars are also eliminated and the image loose photometric qualities on stellar like objects.

在 Nikon,熱噪點從 Sensor 讀出來之後, 再由複雜的影像處理演算法抹處, 這樣的抹處過程會影響旁邊的畫素. 這會造成一個常見的天體 (是星空, 不是光屁屁的那種) 攝影問題: 亮度低的星體會當成噪點被抹掉.

- For Canon, the thermal signal is reduced for each pixel by a differential reading method. The thermal signal level measured at the output of the sensor is very low. The residual can efficiently be removed during the image processing (a simple substraction of a reference dark signal map).

在Canon, 機身會使用不同的讀取方法從 sensor 讀取資料. 所以讀出來的熱噪值比較低, 較利於在後製時抺除.

It is tragic to see that Nikon solved the problem of thermal signal by a digital processing of the RAW files (i.e. NEF files do not contain true raw data). This processing can surely meet the daytime users and the high performance for main application is evident. But by repeating the same mistake made on the D70 and the D200 (equipped with a CCD) on the news Digital SLR Nikon probably divorces once more with the astronomical community.

Nikon 使用軟體除噪真是一個悲劇(原諒我全然酸葡萄的翻譯) (所以 NEF 並不是真正純然不加料的raw 檔). Nikon 的做法在一般攝影可以過得去, 但在天體攝影(again, 不是光屁屁的那種), 它重覆了 D70 與 D200 的問題而無法使用.

Today the Canon and Pentax cameras seem to be the only ones useable digital SLR for efficient and advanced astronomy

看起來, Canon 與 Pentax 的還是唯二比較勝任天體攝影的相機.

(迷之音, 那到底那一種比較適合光屁屁的那種天體攝影?)

原文出處

http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/nikon_test/test.htm

我不是智者….

2007-12-11T16:09:00.001-08:00

所以我對謠言和八掛感興趣. 這是另一則在網路上謠傳的 7D 消息, 也是到目前為只我最..呃..想聽的…

http://www.cpanet.cn/gcms/end.php?news_id=10908

Comment:

12 mpx, 好! 事實上我 prefer 12 mpx over 16 mpx. 因為我完全沒有昇級電腦的預算. 哇哈哈
5 fps, 好! 5 fps 真的是現在中階單眼的 min bar. 5D 的 3fps 是在是太 lame 了….
除塵..of course…this doesn't count as a feature.
點測與 35 zone meterming…again, why bother to list this.
15 pt auto focus with center cross type. Lame ass! 最少也要九點 cross type. 期待是筆誤
96% viewing area and 0.71x. Lame canon, what can I say.
LCD, no comment, don't trust it anyways.
ISO 50 – 3200, this is fine, don't care about ISO 6400 anyways.
Connector weather/dust proof. 反正不會是 full weather seal. 沒誠意沒信心也沒差
14 bits Digic 3, huh, why bother listing
HDMI, don't care, why bother?
800 mpx in 16:9. What's the freaking point?
Live View, having is nothing, doesn't expect too much.
Support 5D battery and grip. Will make Kevin happy I hope

Overall, 5 fps and 12 mpx made it better suit my expectation. I don't expect it to match the quality of 1 series but should worth many people's usd$2500.

My evil plan is to wait to see how 5D 2 (or more likely 7D) is like. If it is good, I'll wait until I can get from B&H when there is no long back ordering. If by the time Canon announced the new much anticipated 1Dx, I'll re-evaluate again.

求圖, 有 GPS 定位資訊的照片

2007-12-08T00:37:00.001-08:00

這大概是一個有點奇怪的求圖.

我試著在閒暇之餘寫一個 GPS tagging 的工具. 目前大概的想法是用 GPS 手機把 location history 計錄下來, 再寫入圖檔.

在實驗的過程中, 想要參考一般市售的 GPS tagger 寫入的資訊種類. 我不會把圖檔移作他用. 同時, 這是個人的興趣, 無關工作. 如果有大大剛好有這樣的圖片願意借給我測試, 請留言給我. 吾將不勝感激.

New B&H Deal Codes

2007-12-04T11:37:00.001-08:00

B&H usually has very good year-end sale. This year of 2007 is no exception. Here are the codes I got from SlickDeals.net thread:

Canon Cameras
ps1107c7oc2 - Canon EOS Rebel XT Body (Black) - $414.95
ps11073tpnl - Canon EOS Rebel XT Body (Silver) - $414.95
ps1107klp9e - Canon EOS Rebel XT Kit (Black) - $494.95
ps110791ddq - Canon EOS Rebel XT Kit (Silver) - $494.95
ps1107djsye - Canon EOS Rebel XTi Body (Black) - $559.95
ps1107i8bha - Canon EOS Rebel XTi Body (Silver) - $559.95
ps1107L74WK - Canon EOS Rebel XTi Kit (Black) - $639.95
ps1107tsxii - Canon EOS Rebel XTi Kit (Silver) - $639.95
ps11071hxtu - Canon EOS 30D Body - $874.95
ps1107bngu5 - Canon EOS 40D Body - $1269.95
ps1107qzizf - Canon EOS 5D Body - $2169.95

Canon Lenses
ps1107g0l0g - Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Autofocus Lens - $609.00
ps1107se5k4 - Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Autofocus Lens - $854.00
ps11072dhty - Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Autofocus Lens - $1184.00
ps1107wpejx - Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens - $984.00
ps1107gza1t - Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Autofocus Lens - $1589.00
ps110768kob - Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Autofocus Lens - $1474.00
ps1107voivm - Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Autofocus Lens - $944.95

Sigma/Tokina/Tamron Lenses for Canon DSLRs
ps1107nsnvq - Sigma 10-20mm f/2-5.6 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon DSLRs - $459.00
ps1107lwkdw - Sigma 39mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon DSLRs - $389.00
ps1107tdywc - Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro Autofocus Lens for Canon DSLRs - $349.00
ps1107bcozs - Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS Lens for Canon DSLRs - $509.00
ps1107pveqv - Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon DSLRs - $789.00
ps1107y45hp - Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 AT-X 107 DX Autofocus Fisheye Lens for Canon DSLRs - $529.95
ps1107qgwrt - Tokina 50-135mm f/2.8 AT-X 535 PRO DX Autofocus Lens for Canon DSLRs - $669.95
ps1107zz3vs - Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD IF Autofocus Lens for Canon DSLRs - $419.00
ps11076na0r - Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD IF Autofocus Lens for Canon DSLRs - $469.00

Canon Flash
ps1107etgul - Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash - $329.95

(Mysterious sound: but why some items are boldend???)

腳踏車也要 Hello Kitty 呦

2007-11-28T11:28:00.001-08:00

今天看到這個. 非推不可

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/27/bicycle-tire-rocks-hello-kitty-tread-pattern-world-wonders-why/

Leopard’s Blue Screen Of Death

2007-11-27T12:05:00.001-08:00

今天看到這篇 Getting Leopard's BSOD? Try uninstalling APE, 心裡有一種平反的爽快.

我一定是對 Mac 太 Defensive 了, 也或許是對電視上那個 Hi I am Mac 的廣告太不以為然. 總是想找 "Mac is just another ordinary OS" 的證據. 如果把 crash rate 除以 install base, 不知道它還能屌到那裡去.

到了最後, 系統穩不穩定, 還是要看使用者本身的習慣, 如果使用者熱情奔放, 什麼軟體都愛裝來玩一玩, 那不管是什麼系統, 都可以死給你看.

我的 Leopard 初體驗

2007-11-20T02:32:00.001-08:00

大概一個月前左右, 妻子的電腦開始出現一些零星的問題, 於是我們開始討論替代的機種. Mac Book Pro 是我們的侯選機種之一. 原因之一是妻子任的是 designer 的工作, 遲早會有機會需要使用 Mac. 其次是我工作的緣故, 讓我很想自己體驗 Mac 與 Windows 的差異. 好巧不巧, 妻子的電腦在今天正寢, 我們依先前的討論, 買了一台 Mac Book Pro. 於是開始了我第一次的水果接觸

所以, 我的第一印像

硬體作工與設計: 十分優良.機體美感當然是久享盛名. 除了造型之外, 鍵盤的手感也很好. 按鍵回饋的力道掌握得恰到好處. 整個機體的建構十分紮實, 完全沒有一些國產筆電那種邊角按一按會有怪聲甚至凹下去的問題.

Leopard UI 第一印像: 明亮, 生動: Mac 的配色與 Windows 系統差很多. 如果說 Windows Vista 是正經八百, 一板一眼, 那 Mac 大概可以用生動活潑來型容. 很多 Window transition 用動畫處理地很棒, 讓整個系統看起來好像有生命一般. 反觀 Windows XP 與 Vista, Dialog box 不管怎麼改, 看起來都是那一副死樣子, 尤其是 XP, 配色沒品味的程度令人..

當然也是有一些問題

首先, 三句不離本行, 我試著連上書房 Vista 系統的 HP 印表機, 但是, 雖然我能從網路連線中看到我的主電腦, 但看不到 Printer. 我試了幾次, 都無法成功. 當然, 我還不熟 Mac, 做異質平台資源共享本來就會有難度 , 我只能說, 身為一個新使用者, 這個經驗讓找感到有點挫折. 光就這一點, 我在 Vista 的流程比較容易使用, Add Printer Wizard 可以自己搜尋 subnet 裡可以使用的印表機, Driver 也可以自己下載與安裝. 一切都很自動.

第二, (目前) 無法連到 Windows 的隱藏共享目錄: 在 Windows 裡, 如果 share folder name 的後面加一個 '$' 符號 (例如: foo$), 那這個目錄就不會被列在共享清單裡, 只能直接連線. 這是很重要的功能, 然而, 我今天也試了好一下, 還是無法讓 Mac 連線到我主電腦的隱藏共享目錄. 這讓我無法把先前備份的資料拷貝到新 Mac 上.

UI language 與 system default language 無法分開設定. 所以在 Mac 上無法使用英文 UI, 又同時讓 default codepage 設為中文. 這讓 iTunes 在解我的 MP3 metadata 時完全失敗. 我覺得這方面 Windows 做得比較好. Windows 的 MUI 系統與語系設定, 在 XP 時代就作得十分成熟. 到 Vista, 雖然並沒有大改, 但是在 API level 改進不少.

以上

Connecting Mac to a Vista Print Server

2007-11-19T14:09:00.001-08:00

Looks like this is a way worth trying.

Citing the original post from Obsidianspider of PA:

After clicking the + on the Print & Fax screen a window will come up. If you right click in the toolbar and Control-Click in the toolbar you can then select "Customize Toolbar". You can then add the "Advanced" icon to the toolbar and then by selecting "Advanced" you can manually configure your printer.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5779905

果涷筆單挑三年沒洗澡的 Sensor

2007-11-17T02:41:00.001-08:00

算算時間, 20D 嫁進我們家來已經快三年了, 還沒有真的給它的 Sensor 洗過澡, 前幾天在 01 上吸毒的時候, 看到這支 Pentax O-ICK1 的介紹文, 於是試著上網尋寶. 美國似乎還沒進口這個套件, 正想放棄改請台灣朋友代買的時候,竟然在 ebay 上讓我給找到了. 想到身邊不少朋友也在玩單眼, 應該會有人也興趣, 就一口氣把賣家最後兩套存貨都吃下來了. (所以我手上還有一套空著, First com first serve)

開始清理之前

套件內容我不重覆贅述. 我們來看清理的結果.

首先在開始清理之前, 我先拍下對照組: 這是 20D接 24-70 F2.8L 的最小光圈 F/22, ISO 100 下照白紙的結果, 為了突顯髒污, 我在 DPP 裡調了一下 EV 與 Contrast:

開始漬潔之前: F22, Av mode, EV: -0.5, Contrast +60, Color temperature 2900K

照片中可以輕易看到不少黑斑, 事實上, 我已經有很長一段時間不使用 F8 以上的光圈拍照, 為的就是要避免 Sensor 的污點被拍進來, 現在看這照片上的黑斑, 不論數量或大小, 都比我原先估計的情況好很多. 讓我鬆一口氣.

然後慘劇發生了.

按照慣例, 在一切接觸性清潔開始之前, 先把可以吹掉的吹掉. 但是我的吹球正好不在手邊, 我又懶得爬二層樓去拿, 於是決定心存僥倖, 想用高壓空氣罐來噴噴就好.

高壓空氣罐最大的問題是有時會噴出濕氣, 所以很多人建議避免使用, 所以在對著 sensor 噴之前, 我先試了一下確認沒有濕氣的問題, 沒想到清到一半的時候, 還是被液態氣體噴得花花花, sensor 比一開始更髒了

第二組照片, F22, Av mode, EV: -0.5, Contrast +60, Color Temperature 2900K

到了這個田地, 就更沒有回頭的餘地了. 我開始按照說明書的指式, 一步一步地把 sensor 黏過一次, 再拍一張, 結果:

F22, Av mode, EV:-0.5, Contrast +60, Color Temperature 2900K

嗚哇哈哈, 經過簡單快速的清理, 雖然 senso上還是有一些黑點, 但是被空氣罐造成的浩劫已經救回, 而且 sensor 也乾淨許多, 真是太讚!

經驗總結:

優點:

簡單, 快速, 不用像 Sensor Sweep 一樣還要先磿靜電.

缺點:

頭太小, 一點一點黏, 清一個 APS-C Sensor, 還是要花一些時間. 再者, 頭這麼小, 要記住那裡清過, 那裡沒清過, 不太方便. 第三原廠附的清潔紙沒有畫格線. 相隔一段時間再使用, 會忘記那裡用過那裡還沒

後續更新:
對使用 5D 的朋友, 建議攻頂, 直接入手 Canon SCK-E1, 這個產品在 Mobile01 上有一篇開箱介紹文

Cryptology, and all that jazz

2007-10-22T02:35:00.001-07:00

One unresolved puzzle in my mind is public key encryption. I've heard this jargon for more than 10 years. I know it is an asynchronous encryption mechanism, but I never really know how it works. Luckily, today I find this web site that talks about it. Better yet, it is in Trad Chinese, with sample code. Oh Yes!!

http://blog.yam.com/luyuanhsiung/article/9599539

會不會太操了一點

2007-10-11T02:48:00.001-07:00

今天又加班到快三點, 想在睡前休息一下, 逛逛不用大腦的網頁, 又發現腦袋好像風乾的樹葉一樣又乾又脆. 唉, 記得年初回台灣的時候在濱江市場買了紙片肉乾, 如果我的大腦變成紙片肉乾, 大概一定會又脆又薄. 十分好賣...

唉

Bug of the week

2007-10-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today I was called to take a look at a problem: A bug that was created by me. Given the context I couldn't figure out why this is happening. Looking at my computer screen, scratching my head, I couldn't figure out why the problem. The line that has the problem looks like this:

SHGNO flag = static_cast(SHGDN_FORPARSING (check()) ? SHGDN_INFOLDER : 0);

The design was, if useRelative() returns true, we apply the SHGDN_INFOLDER flag, otherwise we just use SHGDN_FORPARSING alone. However, with this code, the 'flag' was always set to SHGDN_INFOLDER and made some dev manager send me a furious in Tuesday morning.

So eventually my boss figured out the problem, and the answer is as simple as one damn word: order. Turns out that the bit-wise or operator has higher priority. That is, I assumed that after the code was compiled, the order will be:

SHGDN_FORPARSING (check()) ? SHGDN_INFOLDER : 0));

turns out, it was actually:

(SHGDN_FORPARSING (check())) ? SHGDN_INFOLDER : 0);

Huh, what a shame, a simple bug cuased a high profile break...

網. 戒

2007-10-05T11:27:00.001-07:00

最後一根稻草壓垮駱駝. 今天, 我決心減少掛網站的時間. 從今天起, 不再去 dcview, photosharp 和 diggirl.net, 也要有意識地減少到 mobile01 的次數.

這種掛網真是太昂貴了. 嗚啊….

More on Active Directory and security stuff

2007-10-04T19:48:00.001-07:00

Gosh, this week have been painfully tiring. Yesterday I ran into Rob in the hall way and he said he was tired and stressed out. Rob always appear to be confident and with great pride. If it wasn't I heard it myself, I wouldn't believe Rob actually said he is tired. Wow, I have a mixed feeling knowing that I am not the only one suffering from the schedule.

Anyways, some good news on the progress:

Now I can do standard operations on my AD objects: Creation, update, deletion, all works well. I'd still need some time to make code up to production level, though, but it is really good.
I can tell whether the AD is read-only now. To do that, simply make a call using ADsOpenObject, if it failed, try ADsOpenObject again with ADS_READONLY_SERVER flag. If the 2^nd call succeeded, it means the main directory was down and we're using a RODC. Wait, is RODC even related to AD? Huh…hum..

But bad news here too, I'm still blocked on detecting whether the user has write/delete permission on a particular object. GetNamedSecurityInfo keeps failing on me…huh, that sucks. :-(

Blocked, Active Directory and security stuff

2007-10-03T01:06:00.001-07:00

Huh, it is the painful 1:06am by the time I came to write this post. In the past few days I need to build a wrapper object for Active Directory. The wrapper object is to interface my code (yet to write) and ADSI. The objective is to:

1. Read/Write my AD class instance
2. Determine whether the AD is read only
3. Determine whether the current user has the privilege to write to a particular object.

Call myself bad luck or simply under estimated the complexity of AD. I have been trying this for 3 days and still couldn't even create the AD class I wanted using ADSI Edit. It is indeed a painful shame yet I still couldn't have any breakthrough. I find myself hopeless. By the way, my work is one day past due and I still have little progress. gee I'm in trouble. :-(

Anyway, anyhow, my log of the day is: little progress, but I do have plan for tomorrow:

1. Get myself a private domain:
- Setup a Win2k3 domain myself and create schema there. Since the private domain I borrowed from colleague doesn't really work (the way I expected).

2. Trying to get access privilege on a DS object:

- call GetNamedSecurityInfo to get the ppSecurityDescriptor
- use AccessCheck to determine whether writing is granted to the current user.
- If all attempt failed and the light of hope dims, try win32prg for help

3. Trying to know whether the DS is read only.

- Search for ADS_READONLY_SERVER in existing code base and see how it's used. Rob had done something similar and I just need to borrow the work from him...

4. Test, try to finish it as soon as possible and move the heck on.

TED, Ideas worth spreading

2007-09-21T12:14:00.001-07:00

Today I took a brief glaze on this web site: TED, Ideas Worth spreading. Quite an interesting web site and here is the link to the demo to PhotoSync:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/129

My (educated?) dream toward 5D successor

2007-09-20T00:15:00.001-07:00

Canon has been the world leader of showing the world how lack-of-sincerity a company can be. The 5D is a classic example: while being full frame, the burst rate is miserable, the body construct is weak and not weather proof. I hate Canon for being such a bad product designer, but without meaningful compeittion, they have no fear about losing any market share.

Nikon's debute on D3 certainly gave Canon a big good shake on shoulder. I hope the appearance of D3 would drive Canon to put more meaningful features to 5D successor. This is what I'm hoping to see:

1. Single DIGIC III (really don't expect to see dual proc on prosumer level product)

2. Burst rate 5fps. I don't expect the burst rate to be higher than 1Ds Mark III, but under 5fps will turn lots of customer to Nikon, given D3 is 9fps and D300 can go up to 8 fps.

3. FF, 12 - 16 MPix. I don't really care, actually I would probably even prefer 12Mp but rumor said the 5D successor is aiming 16MP, we'll see

4. Weather seal.

5. Dust shake-off, live-view, and all that 2007 DSLR jazz.

6. Possibly eye-controlled focusing with 45 point auto focus point, with 9 cross type focusing point. With this, Canon might name the new system 3D.

7. Initial price to be around usd$2800 to $2500.

Well, suh my anticipation was slated. Behold, and we will see how far away the real thing gets. :-)

WSDCodeGen worked, but it is just the beginning

2007-09-19T17:25:00.001-07:00

Blocker: Calling native API and get an COM object from managed code

2007-09-19T17:23:00.001-07:00

Blocker resolved, but keeping this entry for logging.

SHGetIconOverlayIndex 的詭異演出

2007-09-14T01:16:00.000-07:00

模擬 Drag and Drop 卡關之三, worker thread 一直等到 main thread 結束才動作

2007-09-14T01:15:00.000-07:00

模擬 Drag and Drop 卡關之二, IDropTarget return S_OK 但還是沒動作啊..

2007-09-14T01:14:00.000-07:00

模擬 Drag and Drop 卡關之一, 即使用了 SHCreateDataObject 也不行嗎...

2007-09-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, finally I found some time to update this post, let me tell what happen to me last week.

Story started when I'd need to write a unite test for the printers folder. One of the test case was to programmatically simulate drag and drop printing. This task really doesn't look difficult: You call IShellFolder::GetUIObjectOf to get the IDropTarget for the printer you'd like to use; then feed the object with the IDataObject that contains the list of files you'd like it to print. As for creating the IDataObject, you can use Shell API SHCreateDataObject, which takes an array of pidl and put that in the IDataObject. I expected that this would be pretty much what it takes to simulate drag and drop. Well, apparetnly there is no cheap lunch or this post won't ever be written. ;-)

With my assumption I implemented the code: Get the IDropTarget from the printer is pretty trivial and IDataObject was created alright. I fed the IDataObject to IDropTarget::Drop and the returning hr was succceeded as been verified by SUCCESS() macro. I ran my test, waited a bit, and wait for another bit, and wondering why nothing happened at all. Soon, I realized that the returning hr was actually S_FALSE instead of S_OK, I knew that the IDropTarget::Drop call never actually went through.

After sleeping over the problem for one night, I soon learned that it is the CF_HDROP data type is missing. Internally, CF_HDROP is a merely a DROPFILES data structure. It wasn't complex to fill it, and after feeding CF_HDROP to printer's IDropTarget, the document prints. Superb!!

還有這個 - 天線燎原!!

2007-07-24T23:05:00.000-07:00

也是從焱的繪圖小站看到的, 讓我肚子好痛的作品....

http://blog.xuite.net/sat00149/blog/12518151#

模擬市民演唱會!!! 國父與小叮噹

2007-07-24T22:53:00.000-07:00

我也不知道怎麼說了, 我差點沒有因為這個影片斷氣. 自己看才知道為什麼...

http://blog.xuite.net/sat00149/blog/11458061

記得要開喇叭呦

What is WSD, WSD Scanner, and WSD Printer

2007-07-24T11:19:00.001-07:00

Lately I frequently heard about the jargon WSD flying around me. So I know that WSD stands for Web Services On Device, the basic idea is to allow accessing/controlling the device remotely through web service. In addition, I suppose in the WSD framework it also defines ways for device to broad cast events (e.g. powering up, entering sleeping…etc) to the entire subnet.

I still have little idea about the big picture, but I guess it would be a big part of my life from now to the rest the year. Let's see what WSD would do.

Here is a link to a quick start of WSD:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa480212.aspx

Got something new to learn everyday I guess…

風景照不能

2007-07-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

今天週六不用愁工作, 和老婆小孩媽媽阿姨一起去逛 Redmond Farmer's Market. 今天天氣很好, 藍得好像在笑的天抺上幾片高高淡淡的白雲. 拎著 20D, 我渴望享受那久違了的攝影喜悅.

但是, 前前後後逛了快兩圈, 我一張都沒有拍到; 或是說, 雖然胡亂按了幾下快門, 但拍出來得東西大概勉強只能用莫明其妙來形容.回家檢視照片時, 感覺有些挫敗, 心情不太好.

唉, 看來我還是很不會拍風景照啊. 一定是上天註定了要我去參加比基尼外拍, 然後我的心情就能從這樣的挫敗中得到一些平復. 老婆, 如果你有在看這篇網誌的話, 你也一定這麼認為, 對不對.

我能被錄用嗎?

2007-05-24T11:25:00.001-07:00

大阿姨轉寄這封信來:

摩托羅拉公司應徵員工.... 一生受用的題目

這是摩托羅拉公司招考新員工的測試題，其中的一題:

你開著一輛車，在一個暴風雨的晚上，你經過一個車站，有三個人正在等公共汽車。一個是快要死的老人，好可憐的! 一個是醫生，他曾救過你的命，是大恩人，你做夢都想報答他!還有一個女人(男人)，她(他)是那種你做夢都想娶(嫁)的人，也許錯過就再也沒有了!

但是，你的車只能坐一個人，你會如何選擇呢？請解釋一下你的理由。

請想一想，再往下看.........

結果我想的, 和"標準答案" 差不多:

在200多位應徵者中，只有一個人被雇用了，他並沒有解釋他的理由，他只是說了以下的話:

"給醫生車鑰匙，讓他帶著老人去醫院，而我則留下來，陪我的夢中情人一起等公車 !"

噢耶, 二百個人才一個這樣回答耶, 我想我一定是什麼時候先看過這篇文章了. 不過, 如果我這樣回答, 會被錄用嗎?

嗯. 我想, 如果我不告訴主考官, 當那個老頭和礙眼的醫生滾蛋之後, 我真正想做的事, 大概會有機會吧.

呼呼...阿門

照片數量與備份

2007-05-24T01:37:00.000-07:00

在 01 上有人起了個 "一萬多張照片怎麼備份管理" 的話頭, 我也回頭清算了一下照片的總量.

近兩年我開始毫不留情的刪圖, 通常的生活記錄, 如果沒有用心拍, 大概十張會刪個八九張, 這樣近十年下來竟然才只有二萬多張. 比我想像的少. 嘿

關於照片的備份

我的照片大概 80 幾 gig, 放在一個外接碟裡, 每隔一段時間備份到另一顆硬碟. 用 Robocopy 或 SyncToy, 很方便. 我不用 DVD, 因為前幾年曾經發生光碟兩年不到就讀不出來的慘劇, 二來是一張張的碟片收起來很佔空間, 所以我自己已經很久用 CD/DVD 備份了. 多買一顆硬碟, 差不了多少錢, 但速度快又省空間, 何樂而不為.

目錄的安排則是:
\\, [, jpg]\
於是, 如果今天去淡水玩, 那大概目錄看起來大概會像
\2007\2007-05-24, 淡水出去玩 (放 Raw 檔)
\2007\2007-05-24, 淡水出去玩, JPG (放修過後的JPG)

結果帖子放上去之後, 有人問為什麼 2005 會爆大量, 是不是出國玩. Well, 2005 是結婚. 嗯, 現在大家人手一機, 也不吝分享. 結果一個晚上光是熟朋友們拍的就近六仟張的照片, 三個小時的婚禮除一除, 平均一分鐘被拍 33 張, 豬公都會以為自己和不來得彼特一樣帥...

慘劇

2007-05-06T03:24:00.001-07:00

今天發生了一件慘劇. 一件很標準的, 每一位 blogger 都會遇到最少一次的, submit fail 然後沒備份的文章從此消失的那種慘劇.

這實在是一種十分令人氣結的 error. 難道這種鳥事完全不能避免, 每次寫 blog 都得先用 word 或 notepad 先打好兼備份嗎? 我不是 DHTML 或 ASP/JSP 的專家, 我不知道, 不過, 這真是很挫折.

唉, 沒力了, 睡覺去, 別再為 blog 浪費寶貴的睡眠時間了.

小黑, 到新主人家也要加油噢!!!

2007-05-02T01:56:00.000-07:00

五月的第一個下午, 我把陪伴我二年五個月的小黑 EF-S 17-85 送到它的新主人的手上. 為我們的緣份寫下一個句點.

小黑的外殼是黑色的強化塑膠做成, 微微反光的表面, 有小氣泡般的紋理.

"它真是一顆漂亮又實用的好鏡頭呢!"

在幫小黑做最後的身體清潔時, 我一面用細綿花棒清著它的邊邊角角, 一面這樣想著. 小黑和 20D 作伙一起來到我家之後, 上山下海, 從不缺席. 算算我們走了那裡地方: 日本, 台北, 宜蘭, 花連, 加拿大, 新墨西哥, 我們去那裡, 它就跟我們到那裡. 原本我想, 小黑這麼被我操弄了二年, 刮痕啊傷口啊什麼的應該不少. 沒想到我清完之後,發現鏡身沒有什麼刮痕, 突然有一種打仗回營後, 發現全連弟兄都無傷而返的那種深刻的喜悅.

在弱光環境中功不可沒的的防手振功能

面對面看一看, 大眼框配小眼睛

瞧瞧屁屁, 看起來挺新的呢,

小黑, 到新主人家也要加油噢!!!

老狗狗 Snickers

2007-04-22T23:54:00.001-07:00

這隻狗叫 Snickers. 十幾歲了. 我剛買 Sigma 70-200 DG 的時候, 興沖沖地跑到公司附近的狗狗公園試鏡. 看到這隻老 Snickers 被老阿嬤主人半推半送地要他下水去游泳. 但老 Snickers 興趣缺缺, 老阿嬤說他不知道為什麼老 Snickers 那天沒有興頭. 那是一個四月很冷的下午. 氣溫不到十度. 為什麼 Snickers 不想下水, 咳, 我想這不需要十年經驗的獸醫就可以猜個大概

雖然主人阿嬤要我去游那個涷死狗的河, 但我們還是好朋友

Snickers, 來路方長啊, 下次見面也要有精神噢

Hello world

2007-04-11T00:14:00.000-07:00

std::wcout << L"Hello World :-)";