Matt Croydon::Postneo

Day: August 13, 2003

  • Chiba and Boa Constructor

    Chiba 0.9:

    Chiba is an Java implementation of the upcoming W3C XForms standard. This release is now about 90% feature compatible with the new Proposed Recommendation and adds DOM Event support, Dependency Recalculation, improved and simplified rendering, request parameter mapping and a complete reworked object-model.

    Boa Constructor: 0.2.6 in CVS:

    Since the 0.2.3 release, the following major features were added (and are available in CVS): Sizers; Support for sub-menus and separators; Alternative image handling with wxPython.tools.img2py modules; Support for BicycleRepairMan; Help projects; and Improved plug-in preferences/settings handling. Boa Constructor, SourceForge.net’s August Project of the Month, is a RAD GUI-building IDE for wxPython.

     

  • Opteron Ultimate Linux Box

    Linux Journal’s Ultimate Linux Box runs on Opterons.  If money were no object, so would mine.

  • Apache Ant 1.5.4

    Apache Ant 1.5.4, the last version that will support JDK 1.1, is out.  Go grab it.

    Yes, Erik has already blogged it.  It is by definition “so earlier this morning”.

  • test.py: Self-Testing Test Script Runner

    Garth Kidd has introduced a self testing test script runner called test.py.  It tests itself and makes sure that the modules for your tests can be imported before testing.

    Bravo!

  • 10 Python Pitfalls

    10 Python Pitfalls was pointed out by several people last night and early this morning.  I’ll read up on it later, but a quick skim looks promising.

  • Wi-Fi Wants to Be Free

    It’s true.  Paul Botin’s piece in Wired about free Wi-Fi access has been making the rounds lately, but a title from the Seattle Post Intelligencer’s weblog says it like it is:

    Wi-Fi wants to be free.

  • Nikon Coolpix 3100: Don’t Buy

    DPReview:

    Just posted! Our full in-depth review of Nikon’s entry-level zoom Coolpix 3100. This three megapixel three times optical zoom digital camera was announced at PMA earlier this year and is aimed at beginners or those on a budget, it’s pocket sized proportions and cute rounded styling make it a great go anywhere camera which won’t break the bank. Read the full review to see how the Coolpix 3100 performed in our tests.

    I would personally advise against purchasing a Nikon Coolpix 3100: It runs on one really expensive, non-rechargable, CR-V3 battery.  You of course have the option of purchasing seperately rechargable NiMH AA batteries, but at the $299 price range, a digital camera should include a rechargable Lithium Ion battery.

    Using non-rechargable CR-V3’s is a recent trend that doesn’t make me very happy.  It screws the consumer while allowing the manufacturer to lower the all-important price point another few bucks.  A single CR-V3 battery can cost over $15 here in Washington, DC.  For $15 you can get anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or so of usage.

    It’s not just Nikon.  Some recent models that I’ve seen from Samsung, Olympus (they make one that requires TWO CR-V3’s!), Kodak, Pentax, and others use this non-rechargable battery.

    Make it stop.

  • Slow

    Wow, windowsupdate.microsoft.com is really slow tonight for some reason…