Planetside 2 newbie guide

Planetside 2 is a great game, but there is no official documentation, and there were a few things that were unclear to me when I first started playing the game, so I thought I'd share my findings: Capturing bases Each base has capture points that you can see on the map and your display as letters (A, B, C, etc). To capture a capture point, just stand close to it until it turns your empire's color. Then a meter will show up with the enemy's color...

Elementary luna beta1 non PAE live CD

I booted up the elementary luna beta1 live CD today, only to be greeted by this error:This kernel requires the following features not present on the CPU:paeUnable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your CPU.After fumbling around for a while, I was finally able to make my own non-PAE image. I'm not sure how well it will work for others, because the installation itself seems to install a PAE kernel, but it worked fine on my machine that was giving me the above error and doesn't support PAE (at least according to cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep...

Elementary luna beta1 is here!

Elementary linux luna beta1 is finally here!:Hello, Luna Beta 1Don't know what elementary is? It's linux with a crisp, clean, and consistent UI (user interface) and a unified UX (user experience). It's basically everything linux should be. Read more about it at the link above, or you can check out some of my posts on elementary:http://bmaupin.wordpress.com/tag/elementary/Now stop reading this and go download ...

OpenLDAP mdb backend ready for production

OpenLDAP's new memory-mapped backend, mdb, is ready for production. It was first introducted over a year ago, and since then, the OpenLDAP developers (Howard Chu in particular) have put quite a bit of work into getting all of the bugs worked out. The OpenLDAP mailing lists report that several companies are deploying it in production: http://www.openldap.org/lists/openldap-technical/201208/msg00137.html The latest version of email/collaboration software Zimbra uses the mdb backend as well: http://wiki.zimbra.com/wiki/OpenLDAP_Tuning_Keys_8.0#OpenLDAP_Tuning_Keys All...

sudo -s on RHEL 6 doesn't preserve HOME

Solution: If you're the only one using this machine, the easiest fix is to run this command as root: visudo and then add this line to the sudoers file: Defaults env_keep=HOME If this is a shared computer and you aren't at liberty to change the sudoers file, you can add this code to .bashrc in your home directory. be sure to log out and back in for it to take effect: # hack to preserve home when using sudo -s on rhel 6if [[ `cat /etc/*release | grep "release 6"` ]]; then    sudo() {        if...

uninstalling problematic rpms

if you're unable to uninstall an rpm using yum erase/remove or rpm -e because something in the rpm's uninstallation process is broken, try using rpm -e with the --noscripts --notriggers flags: $ sudo rpm -e sblim-sfcb/var/tmp/rpm-tmp.54035: line 7: /etc/init.d/sfcb: No such file or directoryerror: %preun(sblim-sfcb-1.3.11-0.7.14.x86_64) scriptlet failed, exit status 127$ sudo yum remove sblim-sfcb...Running Transaction/var/tmp/rpm-tmp.49575: line 7: /etc/init.d/sfcb: No such file or directoryRemoved: sblim-sfcb.x86_64 0:1.3.11-0.7.14 ...

Export playlists from Google Play Music

After some brief googling, I was unable to find out a way to export playlists from Google Play Music, so I just figured it out for myself. In order to do this, your Android device must be rooted, otherwise you won't have access to the music database file where the playlists are stored. If you don't have an Android device, there's a chance you could use the android emulator from the Android SDK. You'd have to find an .apk file for the Google...

Android: can't upgrade read-only database from version 0 to 1

Solution: If you have named one of your SQLite tables "default", change the name to something else. Details: So I was poking around with Android programming the other day, and I ran into this error: 04-12 14:35:09.779: ERROR/AndroidRuntime(790): Caused by: android.database.sqlite.SQLiteException: Can't upgrade read-only database from version 0 to 1: /data/data/com.example.test/databases/mydatabase.db04-12 14:35:09.779: ERROR/AndroidRuntime(790): at android.database.sqlite.SQLiteOpenHelper.getReadableDatabase(SQLiteOpenHelper.java:170) The...

GO Launcher EX: a great LauncherPro replacement

I've been using LauncherPro for my android launcher/home screen for a while. I was quite happy with it at first, but I've been gradually growing less pleased with it: It hangs/crashes every time my phone first boots up If I accidentally long press on one of my widgets, I get an annoying nag screen to buy the pro version Over a year ago, it stopped showing my unread gmail count Why have I still been using LauncherPro then? it has a really...

Fix Half Life 2 lighting issues

Solution: You need to be using a video card that supports DirectX 9 and the DirectX level in Half Life 2 needs to be 90 or higher. In the console, type mat_dxlevel to see the directx level. To set it to 90, for example, type mat_dxlevel 90 HDR needs to be fully enabled. The easiest way to do this (after correctly setting the directx level) is by typing this in the console: mat_hdr_level 2 and then type mat_hdr_enabled to make sure HDR is in...

Cross-platform mobile development: PhoneGap + Enyo

If you want to develop a mobile application, but don't want to have to rewrite it for every platform you want to develop for (Android, iOS, etc.), PhoneGap is what you want. It allows you to develop applications using web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), and then deploy them to a large number of platforms, such as Android and iOS. It has APIs that let you interface directly with the mobile device's hardware (camera, GPS, accelerometer,...

The evolution of Android Arabic support

Now that full Arabic support has finally been added to the latest version of Android (4.1, nicknamed Jelly Bean), here are some details as to what extent Arabic has been supported in previous versions: up to and including Android 2.1: No Arabic support whatsoever. Any attempt to show Arabic text will result in rectangular boxes instead of characters. Applications that wish to support Arabic must include their own Arabic font. There is no shaping...

Pimsleur: the best way to learn a language

First, a disclaimer: I'm not getting paid to say this. I am not affiliated with Pimsleur in any way, and there are no affiliate links here. I'm simply a huge fan of a great product. I've used many programs to study languages, including (but not limited to): Berlitz Living Language Rosetta Stone Teach Yourself VocabuLearn Pimsleur beats them all, hands down. Here's why I recommend it to anyone wanting to learn a language: It teaches you using the same methods you used to learn your first language as a baby. So the focus is on listening and...

no wifi networks showing on android

if for some reason no wifi networks are showing on your android device, first reboot it. if that doesn't do the trick, restoring your wifi access points from a previous backup may work: open Titanium Backup click Backup/Restore scroll down and select Wi-Fi Access Points click Restore next to the most recent backup reboot your phoneof course this will only work if you've already rooted your phone, installed Titanium Backup, and backed up your wifi...

android vs iphone/ios

I just read an incredibly well-written article from the point of view of a 4-year iphone user switching to android. if you're looking for an iphone (or android) bashing, move along. this is actually a balanced article that points out the pros and cons for both. very well done:29 Days with Andr...

Eclipse Subversive plugin out of Java heap space

Solution: Use the JavaHL SVN Connector instead of SVN Kit. to install the JavaHL Connector: In eclipse go to Help --> Install New Software... Work with: --> choose the community.polarion.com update site Expand Subversive SVN Connectors Choose the JavaHL version corresponding with your version of subversion Click Next, and then follow the instructions to complete installation Window --> Preferences --> expand Team --> select SVN --> select the SVN Connector tab --> change the SVN Connector to JavaHL --> OK There...

wine crashing on ubuntu 10.10

solution:downgrade wine, like so: uninstall the current version of winesudo apt-get remove wine1.3 wine1.3-gecko ttf-symbol-replacement-wine1.3 install the older stable version of winesudo apt-get install wine1.2backstory:I was recently trying to install steam on ubuntu 10.10 using the latest wine (1.4 something I believe). it kept crashing X windows right as it tried to launch steam.exe, or when I tried to launch it manually. here's the end of the terminal output:err:wgl:is_extension_supported No OpenGL extensions found, check if your OpenGL...

Playing Half Life 2 on an old/slow computer

I wanted to play Half Life 2 on an old laptop with Intel GMA 900 graphics (910GML/915GM chipset), but with the default settings the game would often become unbearably slow. So after doing some googling and lots of testing, I found some settings that seem to work. First, create a text file named autoexec.cfg and place it in the hl2/cfg folder. Give it the following contents:// see http://www.tweakguides.com/HL2_8.html for more information// also see https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/List_of_HL2_Cvars// ***** major stuff *****mat_compressedtextures...

my next OS: elementary

as ubuntu 12.04 brings yet another buggy release (see the comments here), I'm all the more excited about elementary's upcoming Luna release.elementary, for those of you who don't already know, is everything linux (and any operating system) should be. it's crisp, clean, and most importantly, consistent! the team at elementary have created a desktop environment and suite of applications that adhere to a common set of interface guidelines. it's evident...

Powerbook G4 not enough disk space

Solution: Set the date and time. Details: So I had an old Powerbook G4 lying around that someone had given me. I hadn't used it in a while, and I turned it on, plugged a USB drive in, and tried to copy some files. I got an error message saying there wasn't enough disk space. Strange, as there was plenty of space, on the hard drive and the USB drive. I ctrl-clicked on the hard drive, clicked get info, and the space wasn't even reporting. Even more strange. Well... turns out it was the fault of my own laziness. When I first booted the laptop,...

problems overriding android compatibility methods

I had a class that extended android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity. I wanted to override onRetainCustomNonConfigurationInstance, and I ran into the following error, indicating FragmentActivity didn't have that method:The method onRetainCustomNonConfigurationInstance() of type ... must override or implement a supertype methodhere's how to fix it: open the android SDK manager update the compatibility package copy the updated compatibility package to the /libs folder of your project. see here for where to find the compatibility package: http://developer.android.com/sdk/compatibility-library.html#SettingUpthat...

Playing old-school adventure games on Android

Did you know you can play many of the old-school point-and-click adventure games on your Android device? Here's how: Install the ScummVM app Check compatibilityIn the game compatibility list, pick a game you want to play, and make sure it's compatible. Be sure to click on the game and read the compatibility notes. Install the game engineGo to the list of game engines, find the game you want to play, and then find the engine it needs. Then go...

Free resources for learning Python

I've blogged on here a bit about Python, but it occurred to me that I haven't actually provided any resources for anyone interested in learning Python. A great place to start is learnpython.org. It's got simple tutorials as well as an interactive shell so you can try it out as you learn. There's also Dive Into Python, a free book that's also been published by Apress. Dive Into Python covers Python 2, but there's a Python 3 version available as well for free, published by Apress as well. Of course there are a lot of other free resources available,...

switching to linux - german-style

I don't speak German, but I ran across this, and it's pretty cool, because it's by a pretty popular magazine in Germany called Der Spiegel. it's a series of articles on switching to linux. the first one is called "Nie wieder Viren" (no more viruses):Umstieg auf Linux: Nie wieder Virensource:‘Der Spiegel’ Helping German Readers ‘Switch to Lin...

offline android development

if you ever find yourself with time on your hands and no internet (maybe waiting at the airport and like me, too cheap to pay $5 for a measly couple hours of internet), have no fear, you can still do android development. but you'll have to plan ahead, and set up a few things while you do have internet: git so we all know git is a great, super-fast way to keep track of revisions in a decentralized way. because it's decentralized, you can commit changes to a git repository without any internet access. just make commits as you normally would, and...

Why Linux?

Let's be honest, sometimes when I'm using Linux I get pretty frustrated. Especially with distributions like Ubuntu who have been focusing so much on new bells and whistles that they've been lackadaisical when it comes to fixing bugs. ...and then I have to use Windows for something or other (normally gaming), and I'm reminded why I use Linux in the first place. So I thought I'd write down some of the advantages, for myself, if nothing else: No more viruses! (or spyware)Not only do you not have viruses in Linux, an even bigger advantage in my...

Using LIMIT with android ContentProvider

So you're using a content provider in your android app, and you want to supply a LIMIT parameter. The problem is, ContentProvider's query method doesn't have a limit parameter. Well, fortunately there's an easy solution; put the limit into a query parameter: First, in your content provider, create a constant for the query parameter key:public class MyProvider extends ContentProvider { public static final String QUERY_PARAMETER_LIMIT = "limit"; In the query method of your content provider, get the limit from the Uri:public Cursor query(... ...