Tip: Be Administrator

Programming is full of ambiguous surprises :D You keep writing code, or configuring your environment just to be faced by a mysterious error message that takes you into a long cycle of search - try - search...etc

Okay, enough chitchat...

I was developing something against Azure Storage. For some reasons, I wanted to have my Azure Development Storage Emulator running on other machine than the development machine...

Well, that's pretty easy... Here are a couple of posts telling you how to do so:

• Configuring Azure development storage for team development scenarios
• Reaching Azure Development Fabriq from a remote machine

You just need to change the (127.0.0.1) in the "DSService.exe.config" file to the {IP Address} assigned to your network card. After starting the development storage service you will be able to let other computers on the network do work on this emulator.

However, you may get into problems running the service after modifying the config file! And that's my case.. I kept seeing "Access Denied" error message when trying to start the storage emulator :)

After some search, I dropped into this question on msdn. The answer was telling that the fabric and storage services can't listen on IPs other than the 127.0.0.1 for some reasons.. One of these reasons was:

Both of these are likely to be run as administrator...

So, I thought to use the "Run As Administrator" option in Windows. And YESS, It Worked :)

If you still have problems reaching the server after getting the storage emulator running and listening on the machine assigned IP, you may check your firewall settings.

Good Luck!

خواطر حول مقتل بن لادن

تمر الأحداث سريعاً هذا العام

ولكن حديث الساعة، الذى ملأ الأرض من مشارقها إلى مغاربها هو مقتل الشيخ المجاهد أسامة بن لادن رحمه الله

وتباينت ردود الفعل عالمياً.. فهناك من قام يهتف مسروراً، وآخر حزين قام يدعوا له الله أن يقبله ويبلغه منازل الشهداء (اللهم آمين).. وآخرين صمتوا لا يعيرون الأمر إهتماماً

ما دفعنى لكتابة هذه السطور، هو ما جال بخاطرى من تشابه بين ما انتهى إليه الشيخ أسامة وما انتهى إليه الصحابى الجليل (حمى الدبر) عاصم بن ثابت

كلاهما رفض الإستسلام عندما حوصر وأيقن بالموت..

وبعد الموت...

أما عاصم بن ثابت.. فأرسل الله الدبر فحمت جسده.. وأرسل سيلاً بالليل ليأخذ جسده إلى حيث لا يعلم إلا الله

وأما أسامة بن لادن.. فلعل الله أبى أن يظفر بجسده أحد، فألقوه فى البحر، ولم يفصحوا عن مكان إلقاءه.. لترسل مياه المحيط جسده إلى حيث يأمرها الله، وإلى حيث لا نعلم

فاللهم اجمع بينهما فى الجنة على سرر متقابلين

آمييييين

Google Pages to Sites Migration & The GPA Calculator

Recently, I received emails from colleagues complaining about the CSED Alex - GPA Calculator. It suddenly stopped working and when you open it, you instead get the download box to download the gpacalc.html page!!

Well, The reason behind this is that Google decided to close Google Pages and migrate it to Google Sites. Google sites does not permit any custom javascript or css.. This is why nothing suddenly stopped working!! There was two files "gpacalc.js" and "gpacalc.css" linked to the "gpacalc.html" to provide functionality and style.

Anyway, the simplest solution was to download the 3 files and open them locally from your computer. So, to save time and effort, I have merged the javascript code and the css styles into the gpacalc.html; Now you only have to download a single file "gpacalc.html" and run it locally from your computer.

Enjoy!

Teach Your Android The Arabic Language :D

Earlier this year I've upgraded my HTC Magic to use Android 1.6 instead of Android 1.5. One of the disadvantages of that process was losing Arabic support on my phone.

A friend told me about this website.. Arabic Android (https://sites.google.com/a/ut.utm.edu/arabic-android)

Yesterday, I used this site to let my phone read Arabic content (Even if the letters are not connected!!). It's very easy and it took less than 2 minutes.

- I first downloaded "update_fonts_signed.zip" from the downloads section.

- Then, I followed the instructions on their How To page (How to use update_fonts_signed.zip).

You see, two very easy steps, ha! :D

There is another manual way described on the other How to page (How to replace default font). But I went for the easy method.

Well, good luck with your Android ;) Proceed on your own risk if any :D

It's not that hard, try cleaning the dust

Huh, what's the story?!

Okay, I don't know why I'm telling you this.. but I haven't posted any for so long.. mmmm, let's start...

I wasn't cleaning my house then.. It was just my 2 years old laptop's DVD driver is completely useless. I wasn't able to browse any CDs or DVDs. I was worried that in case of system failure I would have troubles setting up a fresh one.

I once thought it passed away and it's lifetime is over. I thought about replacing it with a new one for some money. I don't know what stopped me, I was just lazy to go shopping :D

On the weekend, I picked up a screwdriver and pulled out the DVD driver. Then I went through the process of disassembling it into few cleanable parts. Using a napkin I brushed away all the sticking dust. I assembled it again and put it back in its place.

Okay, let's try it.. A live Ubuntu DVD....... Yesssss, it's working :)

So, Cleaning the dust made the trick!! Try the free solution first :D

Vodafone Egypt HTC Magic: Rooting and Upgrade

Hello back! Long time since my previous post about the major pros and cons I encountered with the HTC Magic offered by Vodafone Egypt.

With no long introductions, here is the story of this new post...

A couple of days ago, I took the risk and started the process of rooting and flashing a new Android image to my HTC Magic. There were two major things in my mind then: First, I wanted to upgrade from Android 1.5 (Cupcake) to Android 1.6 (Donut). Second, I wanted to release my phone from the Vodafone Network Lock.

So after all, what did I win? and what did I lose? This won't be a full list.. It's only the major things I experienced during this short period after the upgrade operation :) Again as I said in the previous post, this can differ from one to another (depending on usage and interests)..

Let's start by the loss to keep the good things for a good ending :D

1 - I still couldn't UNLOCK the phone. It looks like I need to obtain an unlock code from Vodafone itself.

2 - I lost the Arabic support. Applications now display Arabic as symbols. However I could still install an "Arabic Keyboard", an application for sending and reading SMS in Arabic "Mirsal" and some other applications that display Arabic very well. (All from Market).

Well, I didn't experience any more troubles (Thanks Allah). I won some things that I really appreciate and making my loss inconsiderable :)

1 - Android 1.6 with many cool new features over Android 1.5.

2 - By the first sight, I couldn't wait to try this "speech recognition" feature. You can search by voice instead of typing keywords. Or you can tell the phone to dial someone or some number instead of typing.

3 - Android Market. Yes, now I have the official android Market application. This itself is a big great advantage. Now I can browse, search, download and install more and more applications. One application that I couldn't try before having this "Market" application is the Google Goggles application.

mmm, this is all I wanted to tell you for now. But I believe there are more to enjoy ;)

I still didn't tell you how? Well, before you proceed I've to state this disclaimer: "Please make sure to take your own responsibility and risk before applying or trying anything of the following steps on your phone. If anything went wrong, there is no one to blame but yourself :)"

Okay, I don't like to make a copy/past articles. So follow this link for step by step procedure. btw, it is a good practice to read it all and download everything you'll need before starting.

Good Luck :)

Vodafone Egypt: HTC Magic with Android 1.5

Recently Vodafone Egypt has announced its superiority to bring an Android device into Egypt for its lovely customers ;) This device is the neat HTC Magic in its white suit.

Details of the offer can be found on Vodafone website, including the specs of the phone...

By nature everything has advantages and disadvantages... So let's start by.... mmmm, ok disadvantages first :) Here are the major disadvantages I encountered, it may differ for someone else ;) Even though they are listed as disadvantages, I don't have much blame for this..

• Hmmm, How will I browse the application store (Android Market)?! I need to download applications from there to my phone.. Well, there should be an application called Market for this purpose. This is the official one by google. Unfortunately, this one is not there.... Don't despair, SlideME is here.. SlideME is a community for Android developers and is an Android Market too.. This phone is packed with SlideME application :)
• 3G connection and WiFi are really working great.. The problem is, WiFi only works with networks conducted through a router or an access point. Adhoc networks aren't that easy :( I couldn't connect to an Adhoc wireless network at home.. Searching the web, I found a way through.. but it requires me to root my phone!! May be later I'll find an easier way, but it'll stays a limitation till then.
• I've been told while buying that it is locked for Vodafone network.. I can't testify this fact, I only have a Vodafone SIM card :)
• You can use bluetooth to connect your mobile to a headset, but not for data transfer.. It's not that bad, you actually get a USB data cable with the phone... You can use it for this purpose, or for debuging your own developed applications on the phone ;)

However, you can overcome some of these disadvantages by giving up your warranty and start doing some hacks to root your device (i.e, gain a root access) which will enable you to install more applications, flash a new Android image to your device, or even more; You're the master then ;) This one itself is a big advantage, your limits are the hardware.. You can play with the software as you like, even the OS “It's open sourced ;)”

I didn't build an enumerated list for advantages, but this HTC Magic is really doing great.. It's fast performing, it has google apps (gmail, gtalk, maps) installed.. You can use GPS or Wireless Networks for determining location.. Connect to the internet through 3G or a WiFi connection.. Enjoy 3.2MP camera with auto focus and video capture abilities.. Synchronize your contacts, mail and calendar with google account.. Customize it and make it yours.. Download and install applications for free from the Market.. Or even develop your own applications.. Enjoy working with the touch screen.. There is more for this list :)

Really, I'm loving it ;) Check videos on YouTube for more demos :)