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Firefox extension: CookiePie

Problem: I’m testing a Facebook application of mine, so I’ve created a few ‘testing’ accounts. Rather than logging in/out of each account – I’d like to be logged into all accounts at the same time. Got me thinking there must be a Firefox extension to do this.

Solution: CookiePie: The CookiePie Firefox extension allows you to have cookies which remain only within one tab. After installing the extension, a new option is added to the right-click menu on your tabs – to toggle on/off the CookiePie feature. Exactly what I was after!

2007 06 23 russ web dev Comments (1) Permalink

Hand-held browser

Here’s something I’ve been trying to convince anyone who’d listen for a while: I think there’s a market for a hand-held browser appliance. And judging by some of the products coming out recently someone out there agrees with me.

I’d like a device with a display at least 800 pixels wide, wifi connectivity, and a ‘fully-fledged’ browser. Something my wife could take into the kitchen to view a recipe. I could sit on the couch a surf the net while I’m watching TV, reply to emails from bed.. How many people buy a PC/Laptop and just browse websites? Most importantly this device would have to be CHEAP – this is competing with Celeron M laptops selling for $AUD800. Throw in a skype client and this device could also become your cordless phone.

What devices are out there that fit the bill?

  • Nokia N800 – looks very nice, 800 pixels wide display, Linux based OS with a good following of hackers, I’d prefer a slide out keyboard though: $USD400.
  • Sony mylo – 320×240 resolution, sounds a bit too small. But does come out of the box with a skype client: $USD280
  • Pepper Pad – $USD699, enough said? Those keys also look they could be comfortable for typing.
  • Palm Foleo – announced just last Thursday, touted as a “companion device for all brands of smartphones” – translated from marketingese means “we don’t want this device to cannibalise our existing markets”: $USD499. (The comments on the Engadget article are pretty amusing: Palm Foleo announced.)
  • Intel’s MID UMPC / Mobile Internet Device – not a lot of news on this one just yet.
  • Asus Eee PC 701 – “supposed to start as low as $USD200”. Not bad! Even the Engadget crowd like this one!

2007 06 07 russ Uncategorized Comments (1) Permalink

Silverlight

Microsoft’s new technology Silverlight is out – and already being referred to as a potential flash killer. Silverlight performs a similar function to Flash, giving developers a platform to create rich internet applications. Silverlight appeals to me as a developer as applications are built using Microsoft’s XAML to create the user interface, and Javascript to add interactivity. These are technologies I’m already familiar with. Beta 1.1 of Silverlight even has a cross platform CLR called the CoreCLR – making it possible to code Silverlight applications in any .net language. Strongly typed .net languages make an intriguing alternative to Javascript/DHTML/AJAX development. Using an XML language to describe the user-interface also makes it easier for me to code generate portions of an application.

So what’s it look like? Plenty of examples in the Showcase. You’ll need to install the Silverlight beta – download links on the Getting Started page.

Great, what tools are there for it?

  • Microsoft Expression – comes in a few flavours (from Wikipedia’s Microsoft Expression page):
    • Microsoft Expression Web (code-named Quartz) – WYSIWYG website designer and HTML editor.
    • Microsoft Expression Blend (code-named Sparkle) – Visual user interface builder for Windows Presentation Foundation applications.
    • Microsoft Expression Design (code-named Acrylic) – Raster and vector graphics editor.
    • Microsoft Expression Media – Digital asset and media manager.
  • Silverlight tools for Orcas – the add-on tools for the beta version of the next Visual Studio.

So, how do I start coding? So far I’ve just used Textpad to edit the HTML/XAML/JS files in my sample applications. The QuickStarts pages are a very good place to start. I’ve also used Expression Blend to “drag-and-drop” the XAML, but continued my development in Textpad. Once you start ‘trying your own hand’ at XAML/Silverlight, you will need a resource like the MSDN Silverlight Reference.

I’ve been working on a little Silverlight project – so expect a follow-up blog post sometime soon.

2007 05 27 russ silverlight Comments Off on Silverlight Permalink

Google Finance

Google has entered the finance info field – and brought with them some very fancy features, all with a nice UI: AUD to USD. The graph is draggable, grab it and move back into the history – or click the ‘1y’, ‘5y’ links. News items are plotted on the graph, and scroll into view as you move back through the history. The viewable area is expandable, by dragging the edge of history window under the graph. View a stock graph – GOOG – compare the history with another stock by clicking the compare button.

Feature request: a ‘permalink’ – so I can send someone a link that would take them directly to the 5 year history of the Australian Dollar, or directly to a comparison of GOOG and MSFT.

2007 04 22 russ Uncategorized Comments Off on Google Finance Permalink