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• Oracle Releases New Mainframe Re-Hosting in Oracle Tuxedo 11g

  - by Jason Williamson

  I'm excited to say that we've released our next generation of Re-hosting in 11g. In fact I'm doing some hands-on labs now for our Systems Integrators in Italy in a couple of weeks and targeting Latin America next month. If you are an SI, or Rehosting firm and are looking to become an Oracle Partner or get a better understanding of Tuxedo and how to use the workbench for rehosting...drop me a line. Oracle Tuxedo Application Runtime for CICS and Batch 11g provides a CICS API emulation and Batch environment that exploits the full range of Oracle Tuxedo's capabilities. Re-hosted applications run in a multi-node, grid environment with centralized production control. Also, enterprise integration of CICS application services benefits from an open and SOA-enabled framework. Key features include: CICS Application Runtime: Can run IBM CICS applications unchanged in an application grid, which enables the distribution of large workloads across multiple processors and nodes. This simplifies CICS administration and can scale to over 100,000 users and over 50,000 transactions per second. 3270 Terminal Server: Protects business users from change through support for tn3270 terminal emulation. Distributed CICS Resource Management: Simplifies deployment and administration by allowing customers to run CICS regions in a distributed configuration. Batch Application Runtime: Provides robust IBM JES-like job management that enables local or remote job submissions. In addition, distributed batch initiators can enable parallelization of jobs and support fail-over, shortening the batch window and helping to meet stringent SLAs. Batch Execution Environment: Helps to run IBM batch unchanged and also supports JCL functionality and all common batch utilities. Oracle Tuxedo Application Rehosting Workbench 11g provides a set of automated migration tools integrated around a central repository. The tools provide high precision which results in very low error rates and the ability to handle large applications. This enables less expensive, low-risk migration projects. Key capabilities include: Workbench Repository and Cataloguer: Ensures integrity of the migrated application assets through full dependency checking. The Cataloguer generates and maintains all relevant meta-data on source and target components. File Migrator: Supports reliable migration of datasets and flat files to an ISAM or Oracle Database 11g. This is done through the automated migration utilities for data unloading, reloading and validation. It also generates logical access functions to shield developers from data repository changes. DB2 Migrator: Similarly, this tool automates the migration of DB2 schema and data to Oracle Database 11g. COBOL Migrator: Supports migration of IBM mainframe COBOL assets (OLTP and Batch) to open systems. Adapts programs for compiler dialects and data access variations. JCL Migrator: Supports migration of IBM JCL jobs to a Tuxedo ART environment, maintaining the flow and characteristics of batch jobs.

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• How Exactly Is One Linux OS “Based On” Another Linux OS?

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  When reviewing different flavors of Linux, you’ll frequently come across phrases like “Ubuntu is based on Debian” but what exactly does that mean? Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites. The Question SuperUser reader PLPiper is trying to get a handle on how Linux variants work: I’ve been looking through quite a number of Linux distros recently to get an idea of what’s around, and one phrase that keeps coming up is that “[this OS] is based on [another OS]“. For example: Fedora is based on Red Hat Ubuntu is based on Debian Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu For someone coming from a Mac environment I understand how “OS X is based on Darwin”, however when I look at Linux Distros, I find myself asking “Aren’t they all based on Linux..?” In this context, what exactly does it mean for one Linux OS to be based on another Linux OS? So, what exactly does it mean when we talk about one version of Linux being based off another version? The Answer SuperUser contributor kostix offers a solid overview of the whole system: Linux is a kernel — a (complex) piece of software which works with the hardware and exports a certain Application Programming Interface (API), and binary conventions on how to precisely use it (Application Binary Interface, ABI) available to the “user-space” applications. Debian, RedHat and others are operating systems — complete software environments which consist of the kernel and a set of user-space programs which make the computer useful as they perform sensible tasks (sending/receiving mail, allowing you to browse the Internet, driving a robot etc). Now each such OS, while providing mostly the same software (there are not so many free mail server programs or Internet browsers or desktop environments, for example) differ in approaches to do this and also in their stated goals and release cycles. Quite typically these OSes are called “distributions”. This is, IMO, a somewhat wrong term stemming from the fact you’re technically able to build all the required software by hand and install it on a target machine, so these OSes distribute the packaged software so you either don’t need to build it (Debian, RedHat) or they facilitate such building (Gentoo). They also usually provide an installer which helps to install the OS onto a target machine. Making and supporting an OS is a very complicated task requiring a complex and intricate infrastructure (upload queues, build servers, a bug tracker, and archive servers, mailing list software etc etc etc) and staff. This obviously raises a high barrier for creating a new, from-scratch OS. For instance, Debian provides ca. 37k packages for some five hardware architectures — go figure how much work is put into supporting this stuff. Still, if someone thinks they need to create a new OS for whatever reason, it may be a good idea to use an existing foundation to build on. And this is exactly where OSes based on other OSes come into existence. For instance, Ubuntu builds upon Debian by just importing most packages from it and repackaging only a small subset of them, plus packaging their own, providing their own artwork, default settings, documentation etc. Note that there are variations to this “based on” thing. For instance, Debian fosters the creation of “pure blends” of itself: distributions which use Debian rather directly, and just add a bunch of packages and other stuff only useful for rather small groups of users such as those working in education or medicine or music industry etc. Another twist is that not all these OSes are based on Linux. For instance, Debian also provide FreeBSD and Hurd kernels. They have quite tiny user groups but anyway. Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.     

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• Convert a Door Peephole Viewer into a Fisheye Camera Lens

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Commercial fish eye lenses are a niche product and carry a hefty price tag; if you’re looking to goof around with fish eye photography on the cheap, this $6 tutorial is for you. Courtesy of Dave from Knobtop–a thrifty DIY photography video blog–this hack uses dirt cheap parts (the whole build is composed of a PVC pipe reducer and a door peephole lens) to bring you fun fish eye photography on a budget. Check out the video above to see the build and the results, then hit up the link below to check out the notes on the video for more information. Fisheye Lens for $6 [via DIY Photography] HTG Explains: What Is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Be Using It? HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me? HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux

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• What Is the Purpose of the “Do Not Cover This Hole” Hole on Hard Drives?

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  From tiny laptop hard drives to beefier desktop models, traditional disk-based hard drives have a very bold warning on them: DO NOT COVER THIS HOLE. What exactly is the hole and what terrible fate would befall you if you covered it? Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-drive grouping of Q&A web sites. How Hackers Can Disguise Malicious Programs With Fake File Extensions Can Dust Actually Damage My Computer? What To Do If You Get a Virus on Your Computer

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• Banned Children’s Toys from Christmases Past

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  What could possibly go wrong giving a child a nuclear science kit that includes highly poisonous materials inside? Everything of course, which is why that particular toy only lasted a single holiday. Buzzfeed reports on some of the toys of holidays past that were quickly pulled off the shelves. In regard to the nuclear kit pictured here, they write: Only available from 1951–1952, this science kit for CHILDREN included four types of uranium ore, a Geiger counter, a comic called Dagwood Spits the Atom, and a coupon for ordering MORE radioactive materials. One of the four uranium ores included was Po-210 (Polonium) which, by mass, is 250,000 times more toxic than hydrogen cyanide. “Merry Christmas, Kevin, here’s that giant box of poison you asked for.” Hit up the link below for more entries, including some pulled from the shelves as recently as 2007. 8 Banned Children’s Toys From Yesteryear [BuzzFeed] Our Geek Trivia App for Windows 8 is Now Available Everywhere How To Boot Your Android Phone or Tablet Into Safe Mode HTG Explains: Does Your Android Phone Need an Antivirus?

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• Did You Know Gaming Delves into the Mario Universe [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  If you thought you knew everything there was to know about the Mario franchise, prepare to be surprised by the odd and expansive trivia dug up by Did You Know Gaming. Who knew you could learn so much about a game by picking through the game code for odds and ends? If you enjoyed the above video, make sure to check out Part II here. [via Geeks Are Sexy] 7 Ways To Free Up Hard Disk Space On Windows HTG Explains: How System Restore Works in Windows HTG Explains: How Antivirus Software Works

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• How do I resolve a plugin conflict in Eclipse?

  - by Jason Thompson

  I'd like to upgrade my Helios installation of Eclipse to Indigo. When I do, I get the following message: Cannot complete the install because of a conflicting dependency. Software being installed: Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers 1.4.2.20120213-0813 (epp.package.jee 1.4.2.20120213-0813) Software currently installed: Oracle GlassFish Server Tools 1.6.1.201009290929 (oracle.eclipse.tools.helios.glassfish.feature.group 1.6.1.201009290929) So my first thought was to simply uninstall GlassFish. For the life of me, I can't figure out how and where to go to do this. I went to Help-About Eclipse...-Installation Details. The only place that it looks like I can uninstall stuff is in the "Installed Software" tab. I do not see the Oracle Glassfish package anywhere. If I go to "Feature" or "Plug-ins", I can find it just fine, but there is no option to uninstall. So my next thought was to upgrade Glassfish. So I put the indigo repo in there, but I still get the same message when trying to update. Any ideas?

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• How to Monitor the Bandwidth Consumption of Individual Applications

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Yesterday we showed you how to monitor and track your total bandwidth usage, today we’re back to show you how to keep tabs on individual applications and how much bandwidth they’re gobbling up. We’ve received several reader requests, both by email and in the aforementioned post about bandwidth tracking, for a good way to track the data consumption of individual applications. How-To Geek reader Oaken noted that he used NetWorx to track his total bandwidth usage but another application, NetBalancer, to keep tabs on individual applications. We took NetBalancer for a spin and it’s a great solution for monitoring bandwidth at the application level. Let’s take it for a spin and start monitoring our applications. Latest Features How-To Geek ETC How To Remove People and Objects From Photographs In Photoshop Ask How-To Geek: How Can I Monitor My Bandwidth Usage? Internet Explorer 9 RC Now Available: Here’s the Most Interesting New Stuff Here’s a Super Simple Trick to Defeating Fake Anti-Virus Malware How to Change the Default Application for Android Tasks Stop Believing TV’s Lies: The Real Truth About "Enhancing" Images The Legend of Zelda – 1980s High School Style [Video] Suspended Sentence is a Free Cross-Platform Point and Click Game Build a Batman-Style Hidden Bust Switch Make Your Clock Creates a Custom Clock for your Android Homescreen Download the Anime Angels Theme for Windows 7 CyanogenMod Updates; Rolls out Android 2.3 to the Less Fortunate

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• Tunlr Gives Non-US Residents Access to Hulu, Netflix, and More

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  If you’re outside the US market and looking to enjoy US streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and more, Tunlr is a free and simple service that will get you connected. Unlike other tools that are more expensive (both in price and in hardware/bandwidth overhead) like VPN services, Tunlr doesn’t set up a full tunnel but instead serves as an alternative DNS server that allows you to access previously blocked content. From the Tunlr FAQ: Tunlr does not provide a virtual private network (VPN). Tunlr is a DNS (domain name system) unblocking service. We’re using sophisticated technologies (a.k.a. the Tunlr Secret Sauce ©) to re-adress certain data envelopes, tricking the receiver into thinking the envelope originated from within the U.S. For these data envelopes, Tunlr is transparently creating a network tunnel from your location to our U.S.-based servers. Any data that’s not directly related to the video or music content providers which Tunlr supports is not only left untouched, it’s also not even routed through Tunlr. Hit up the link below for more information about the service, including how to set it up on various operating systems, portable devices, and gaming consoles. Tunlr [via gHacks] HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It HTG Explains: Learn How Websites Are Tracking You Online Here’s How to Download Windows 8 Release Preview Right Now

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• Ask How-To Geek: Fixing the Windows Boot Record, Sharing Mac Folders with Windows, and Reviving the Outlook Reminder Bell

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  You’ve got questions and we’ve got answers. Today we look at how to boot into Windows after uninstalling Linux, sharing folders between a Mac and a Windows computer, and how to reinstate the missing Outlook reminder bell. Once a week we dip into our mailbag and help readers solve their problems, sharing the useful solutions with you I the process. Read on to see our fixes for this week’s reader dilemmas.How To Make a Youtube Video Into an Animated GIFHTG Explains: What Are Character Encodings and How Do They Differ?How To Make Disposable Sleeves for Your In-Ear Monitors

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• Booby Traps and Locked-in Kids: An Interview with a Safecracker

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  While most of our articles focus on security of the digital sort, this interview with a professional safecracker is an interesting look the physical side of securing your goods. As part of their Interviews with People Who Have Interesting or Unusual Jobs series over at McSweeney’s, they interviewed Ken Doyle, a professional a locksmithing and safecracking veteran with 30 years of industry experience. The interview is both entertaining and an interesting read. One of the more unusual aspects of safecracking he highlights: Q: Do you ever look inside? A: I NEVER look. It’s none of my business. Involving yourself in people’s private affairs can lead to being subpoenaed in a lawsuit or criminal trial. Besides, I’d prefer not knowing about a client’s drug stash, personal porn, or belly button lint collection. When I’m done I gather my tools and walk to the truck to write my invoice. Sometimes I’m out of the room before they open it. I don’t want to be nearby if there is a booby trap. Q: Why would there be a booby trap? A: The safe owner intentionally uses trip mechanisms, explosives or tear gas devices to “deter” unauthorized entry into his safe. It’s pretty stupid because I have yet to see any signs warning a would-be culprit about the danger. HTG Explains: Why Linux Doesn’t Need Defragmenting How to Convert News Feeds to Ebooks with Calibre How To Customize Your Wallpaper with Google Image Searches, RSS Feeds, and More

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• Take a Tour of Google’s Data Centers

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Miles of cables, robots archiving backup tapes, and quarter-million-gallon cooling tanks: take of tour of Google’s data centers to see just how the search giant fuels the engine that delivers your search results so quickly. The collection of photos includes data centers around the world and offers a rare behind the scenes look at their operations. In some cases, we’re even treated to a literal behind the scenes view as seen in the photo above, from the Mayes County, Oklahoma data center: A rare look behind the server aisle. Here hundreds of fans funnel hot air from the server racks into a cooling unit to be recirculated. The green lights are the server status LEDs reflecting from the front of our servers. Hit up the link below for the full tour that includes photos and information about the data centers, the people that run them, and even a Street View style tour inside. Where the Internet Lives [Google Data Centers] Why Enabling “Do Not Track” Doesn’t Stop You From Being Tracked HTG Explains: What is the Windows Page File and Should You Disable It? How To Get a Better Wireless Signal and Reduce Wireless Network Interference

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• Three Alternatives to Apple’s Flaky iOS Alarm Clock

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  If two iPhone alarm failures in less than three months (the Daylight Savings bug and the New Year’s bug) isn’t motivation to grab a 3rd party alarm app, we don’t know what is. Check out these feature-packed replacements for dependable time keeping. Latest Features How-To Geek ETC How To Boot 10 Different Live CDs From 1 USB Flash Drive The 20 Best How-To Geek Linux Articles of 2010 The 50 Best How-To Geek Windows Articles of 2010 The 20 Best How-To Geek Explainer Topics for 2010 How to Disable Caps Lock Key in Windows 7 or Vista How to Use the Avira Rescue CD to Clean Your Infected PC Luigi Installs Any OS on Google’s Cr-48 Notebook DIY iPad Stylus Offers Pen-Based Interaction on the Cheap Serene Blue Ubuntu Wallpaper for Your Desktop Enjoy Old School Style Video Game Fun with Chicken Invaders Hide the Twitter “Litter” in Twitter’s Sidebar Area (Chrome and Iron) Public Domain Day: Reflections on Copyright and the Importance of Public Domain

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• Bing Desktop Automatically Downloads Bing Wallpapers to Your Computer

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Windows 7: Bing Desktop is a new and lightweight offering from Microsoft that automatically swaps your desktop background every day and offers quick access to the Bing search engine. In addition to downloading the Bing wallpaper, Bing Desktop also includes a small search box that allows you to search Bing from your desktop–although most users will likely grab the app simply to get the daily wallpaper update. Hit up the link below to download a copy. Bing Desktop is free, Windows 7 only. Bing Desktop [via Quick Online Tips] How to Stress Test the Hard Drives in Your PC or Server How To Customize Your Android Lock Screen with WidgetLocker The Best Free Portable Apps for Your Flash Drive Toolkit

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• DIY Glowing Easter Eggs Ripe for After Hours Easter Egg Hunt

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  This DIY project mixes up LEDS, plastic Easter Eggs, and candy, for delicious and glow-in-the-dark fun. How do you get from a plain plastic egg to a glowing one? All you need to do is craft some simple LED “throwies” and tuck them inside the eggs. Check out the video above to see the entire process from start to finish. [via Make] How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 3 How to Sync Your Media Across Your Entire House with XBMC How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 2

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• How Do Guns Work In Space? [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Why don’t astronauts fall back to Earth? What happens if you shoot a gun in space? How big of a squirt gun would you need to put out the sun? Don’t end your day with these pressing questions unanswered. [via Boing Boing] HTG Explains: Why Do Hard Drives Show the Wrong Capacity in Windows? Java is Insecure and Awful, It’s Time to Disable It, and Here’s How What Are the Windows A: and B: Drives Used For?

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• Tuxedo Runtime for CICS and Batch Webcast

  - by Jason Williamson

  There was a recent webcast about the new Tux ART solution that we released last month. Here is the link to hear Hassan talk about that Link to Listen to Webcast Below is the market speak about what the webcast is about and what you will hear. From my own experience, there is certainly an uptick in rehosting discussions and projects with customers all around the world. The notion that mainframes can be rehosted on open system is pretty well accepted. There are still some hold out CxO's who don't believe it, but those guys typically are not really looking to migrate anyway and don't take an honest look at the case studies, history and TPC reports. Maybe in my next blog I'll talk about "myth busters" -- to borrow some presentation details from Mark Rakhmilevich (Tuxedo PM for Rehosting). *********** Mainframe rehosting is a compelling approach for migrating and modernizing mainframe applications and data to lower data center cost and risk while increasing business agility. Oracle Tuxedo 11g with CICS application runtime (ART) capabilities is designed to facilitate the migration of IBM mainframe applications by allowing these to run on open systems in a distributed grid architecture. The brand new Oracle Tuxedo Application Runtime for CICS and Batch 11g can significantly reduce your costs and risks while preserving your investments in applications and data. In this on-demand Webcast, hear from Oracle Senior Vice President, Hasan Rizvi, on how Oracle Tuxedo 11g with CICS application runtime capabilities is changing the way customers think about mainframe migration. You'll learn: * What market forces drive mainframe migration and modernization * What technologies and capabilities are available for migrating mainframe transaction processing and batch applications * How Oracle brings rehosting technologies to a new level of scalability, robustness, and automation

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• blurry image rendered

  - by Jason

  I'm using Direct2D to render a PNG image using a ID2D1BitmapRenderTarget and then caling it's GetBitmap() function and rendering the image using ID2D1HwndRenderTarget::DrawBitmap(). Some of the images rendered this way are clear but others appear blurry. I did some research and followed a tutorial to make my application "DPI Aware" but it didn't help. What could cause the rendered image to appear blurry? Has anyone experienced this issue before? What can I do about this?

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• Daylight Saving Time Visualized

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  When you map out the Daylight Saving Time adjusted sunrise and sunset times over the course of the year, an interesting pattern emerges. Chart designer Germanium writes: I tried to come up with the reason for the daylight saving time change by just looking at the data for sunset and sunrise times. The figure represents sunset and sunrise times thought the year. It shows that the daylight saving time change marked by the lines (DLS) is keeping the sunrise time pretty much constant throughout the whole year, while making the sunset time change a lot. The spread of sunrise times as measured by the standard deviation is 42 minutes, which means that the sunrise time changes within that range the whole year, while the standard deviation for the sunset times is 1:30 hours. Whatever the argument for doing this is, it’s pretty clear that reason is to keep the sunrise time constant. You can read more about the controversial history of Daylight Saving Time here. Daylight Saving Time Explained [via Cool Infographics] 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7 HTG Explains: Why It’s Good That Your Computer’s RAM Is Full 10 Awesome Improvements For Desktop Users in Windows 8

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• DIY Panoramic Head Dirt Cheap Solution for Panoramic Photos [DIY]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Professional panoramic tripod heads are quite expensive; this DIY solution is put together with scrap wood and a handful of cheap parts from the hardware store and gets the job done just as well. If you’re not looking to impress anyone and willing to sacrifice a little compactness, this simple build can save you a ton of cash. Over at Rasterweb Pete Prodoehl shares photos and video of his DIY panoramic head built out of nothing but scrap wood he had around the work shop plus a hinge, some angle brackets, and screws/nuts/bolts. All very cheap hardware store fare. Hit up the link below to see his build and sample photos. Panoramic Tripod Head [Rasterweb via Make] What is a Histogram, and How Can I Use it to Improve My Photos?How To Easily Access Your Home Network From Anywhere With DDNSHow To Recover After Your Email Password Is Compromised

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• The Evolution of Search: A History of Google Search [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Internet search has changed enormously in the last decade; this video tour of Google evolving search strategies shows us where we’ve been and where we’re going. In the above video Google staff reflect on the last decade of search, innovations at Google, and where they’re taking the search engine experience in the future. While the video clearly has a Google bias (they produced it after all) it’s still an interesting look at how Google and internet search as a whole have changed over the years. The Evolution of Search in Six Minutes [The Official Google Blog] How to See What Web Sites Your Computer is Secretly Connecting To HTG Explains: When Do You Need to Update Your Drivers? How to Make the Kindle Fire Silk Browser *Actually* Fast!

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• Felix Baumgartner Skydives from the Edge of Space [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Yesterday Felix Baumgartner broke the record for highest skydive by leaping out of a capsule 128,100 feet above the Earth. Check out his jump in the following videos. After flying to an altitude of 39,045 meters (128,100 feet) in a helium-filled balloon, Felix Baumgartner completed a record breaking jump for the ages from the edge of space, exactly 65 years after Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier flying in an experimental rocket-powered airplane. Felix reached a maximum of speed of 1,342.8 km/h (833mph) through the near vacuum of the stratosphere before being slowed by the atmosphere later during his 4:20 minute long freefall. The 43-year-old Austrian skydiving expert also broke two other world records (highest freefall, highest manned balloon flight), leaving the one for the longest freefall to project mentor Col. Joe Kittinger. The above video is a 2 minute highlight reel of the ascent and jump; check out the full 15 minute descent video here. For an in-depth look at the technology used to keep Baumgartner safe during his record setting journey, hit up the link below. The Tech Behind Felix Baumgartner’s Stratospheric Skydive [ExtremeTech] HTG Explains: What is the Windows Page File and Should You Disable It? How To Get a Better Wireless Signal and Reduce Wireless Network Interference How To Troubleshoot Internet Connection Problems

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• What You Said: Favorite Web Clipping Tool

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite tools for clipping articles from the web for storage and later reading. You responded and now we’re back to highlight some reader favorites. At the top of the heap, by a wide margin, was Evernote—the ubiquitous web-based notebook that makes it super simple to sync and share your notes. It has a snappy clipping tool built right in, and readers were quite fond of the wide ranging tools and integrations supported by Evernote. Laurel writes: Evernote! That way I always have that info handy on all my computers & phone, at work, home, etc. I can make notes to it and it is always available! It’s the best all around app I’ve found for this use! :) Richard highlights how Evernote’s desktop app has replaced OneNote (another popular reader choice): When in Windows – Evernote desktop 4.1 – it does everything that OneNote ever did for me. How to Make the Kindle Fire Silk Browser *Actually* Fast! Amazon’s New Kindle Fire Tablet: the How-To Geek Review HTG Explains: How Hackers Take Over Web Sites with SQL Injection / DDoS

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• Clockwork: A 40,000 Piece K’Nex Ball Machine [Video]

  - by Jason Fitzpatrick

  You may have built a simple marble raceway out of construction toys like LEGO or K’Nex at some point in your life. No matter how grand a raceway it was, we can assure you it had nothing on this 40,000 piece room-sized monster. The creator, Austron, writes: This is Clockwork, my fifth major K’nex ball machine, and my largest and most complex K’nex structure to date. It took 8 months to build, has over 40,000 pieces, over 450 feet of track, 21 different paths, 8 motors, 5 lifts, and a one-of-a-kind computer-controlled crane, as well as two computer-controlled illuminated K’nex balls. For a more in-depth look at the construction we suggest checking out both his YouTube channel and his build blog. [via Make] How to Get Pro Features in Windows Home Versions with Third Party Tools HTG Explains: Is ReadyBoost Worth Using? HTG Explains: What The Windows Event Viewer Is and How You Can Use It

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• Improving performance of a particle system (OpenGL ES)

  - by Jason

  I'm in the process of implementing a simple particle system for a 2D mobile game (using OpenGL ES 2.0). It's working, but it's pretty slow. I start getting frame rate battering after about 400 particles, which I think is pretty low. Here's a summary of my approach: I start with point sprites (GL_POINTS) rendered in a batch just using a native float buffer (I'm in Java-land on Android, so that translates as a java.nio.FloatBuffer). On GL context init, the following are set: GLES20.glViewport(0, 0, width, height); GLES20.glClearColor(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f); GLES20.glEnable(GLES20.GL_CULL_FACE); GLES20.glDisable(GLES20.GL_DEPTH_TEST); Each draw frame sets the following: GLES20.glEnable(GLES20.GL_BLEND); GLES20.glBlendFunc(GLES20.GL_ONE, GLES20.GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA); And I bind a single texture: GLES20.glActiveTexture(GLES20.GL_TEXTURE0); GLES20.glBindTexture(GLES20.GL_TEXTURE_2D, textureHandle); GLES20.glUniform1i(mUniformTextureHandle, 0); Which is just a simple circle with some blur (and hence some transparency) http://cl.ly/image/0K2V2p2L1H2x Then there are a bunch of glVertexAttribPointer calls: mBuffer.position(position); mGlEs20.glVertexAttribPointer(mAttributeRGBHandle, valsPerRGB, GLES20.GL_FLOAT, false, stride, mBuffer); ...4 more of these Then I'm drawing: GLES20.glUniformMatrix4fv(mUniformProjectionMatrixHandle, 1, false, Camera.mProjectionMatrix, 0); GLES20.glDrawArrays(GLES20.GL_POINTS, 0, drawCalls); GLES20.glBindTexture(GLES20.GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0); My vertex shader does have some computation in it, but given that they're point sprites (with only 2 coordinate values) I'm not sure this is the problem: #ifdef GL_ES // Set the default precision to low. precision lowp float; #endif uniform mat4 u_ProjectionMatrix; attribute vec4 a_Position; attribute float a_PointSize; attribute vec3 a_RGB; attribute float a_Alpha; attribute float a_Burn; varying vec4 v_Color; void main() { vec3 v_FGC = a_RGB * a_Alpha; v_Color = vec4(v_FGC.x, v_FGC.y, v_FGC.z, a_Alpha * (1.0 - a_Burn)); gl_PointSize = a_PointSize; gl_Position = u_ProjectionMatrix * a_Position; } My fragment shader couldn't really be simpler: #ifdef GL_ES // Set the default precision to low. precision lowp float; #endif uniform sampler2D u_Texture; varying vec4 v_Color; void main() { gl_FragColor = texture2D(u_Texture, gl_PointCoord) * v_Color; } That's about it. I had read that transparent pixels in point sprites can cause issues, but surely not at only 400 points? I'm running on a fairly new device (12 month old Galaxy Nexus). My question is less about my approach (although I'm open to suggestion) but more about whether there are any specific OpenGL "no no's" that have leaked into my code. I'm sure there's GL master out there facepalming right now... I'd love to hear any critique.

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