Pem’s Tech Blog

I use Pidgin for IM.  It centralizes your IM clients into one program, with centralized IM logs (which are an HTML format).

It has cross-platform support (Windows, UNIX/Linux).  Unfortunately it doesn’t out-of-the-box run natively on Mac OS-X.  For Mac OS-X, Pidgin suggests to: (use Adium instead) or (install Pidgin with the Fink installer) or (compile Pidgin and its dependencies yourself, since Pidgin is open source).

I am able to use Pidgin on multiple computers, with shared-and-backed-up logs-and-preferences using service like (DropBox, Live Mesh, Syncplicity).  This is easy because you just have to set the environment variable PURPLEHOME to a directory that gets sync’ed.

It use it for: AIM, Yahoo, MSN, Google Talk (XMPP).  And it allegedly supports…  MySpaceIM (no facebook yet?).  ICQ, IRC, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, GroupWise, QQ, SILC, SIMPLE, Sametime.

Servers for Yahoo and MSN, only lets you be signed in from one location at a time.  AIM lets you sign into one account from multiple places at once, although it does send you a nag message (Your screen name (evilpem) has signed in from another location. This screen name is currently signed in at 2 locations. To sign off the other location(s), reply to this message with the number 1. Click here for more information).  I haven’t tested this yet for Gmail; it let me sign on with two different computers but it gave me an error when I tried to send myself a message.

Pidgin lets you set custom smileys, so it is possible to use the “correct” smileys, such as the standard Yahoo IM smileys.  You have to import these as non-standard add-ons (Tools –> Preferences –> Smiley Themes).  This requires some effort and maintenance, because stuff can change with new versions of the IM host servers (Yahoo, etc).

Pidgin is an open-source project, so if you were really into it, you could compile and modify the source to do anything, or contribute to the project.  Or write a plugin, or just use a plugin someone else wrote (Tools –> Plugins).

But one of my favorite features, that I actually use, is the Buddy Pounce.  For example, I can set it to call an external script when a particular person IM’s me.  Calling an external script means it can do anything.  For example, I use it to send me an email when I get an IM from a particular person, with the most recent HTML message log attached, then I get the email on my smart phone.

There are some little things too, like you can customize it more with plugins (I haven’t used much yet), and you can have a really long list of saved status, and I can group buddies from different IM services into a single group.  Though be careful, not all of the little things are good.

This past week, Pidgin stopped working for me with Yahoo, and I didn’t know what was going on.  I was able to sign into Yahoo from standard-Yahoo-Messenger and from Meebo, but not from Pidgin.  Apparently the problem turned out to be that Yahoo Messenger had shut down its old version 6-to-7.5 IM servers.  So the fix was (accounts -> manage accounts -> Yahoo -> Pager Server, and replaced scs.msg.yahoo.com with 66.163.181.170), and it worked.  I found the fix here searching google news for “yahoo pidgin” and got a 5-hour old post here (http://stuff.techwhack.com/6804-yahoo-messenger-pidgin) which had the answer.  (Edit: 2009/06/25: new version of Pidgin (2.5.7) fixed this, after I changed it back to scs.msg.yahoo.com)

One thing I will admit is that Pidgin takes more effort than (just using the standard IM client) or (using Meebo).  However, for me, the extra power-flexibility-clean-logs-preferences is worth the effort (and sometimes loss of other features), at least thus far.

Sometimes it is behind on a feature.  Like standard Yahoo Messenger has had video and voice chat, but Pidgin is only just adding this.

Digsby also supports Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, but I don’t really use these.  And I like Pidgin, partly because of the chat logs and the buddy pounce.

A competing IM choice, is meebo.  Meebo also uses libpurple.  Meebo also centralizes your IM logs and lets you chat from one central program.  It’s even more portable and cross-platform since it runs in a web browser.  And I guess it simplifies the message logs by making them online, but why would I care since I’d rather use DropBox/etc, and so far you can’t even download the IM logs from Meebo.  So far, Meebo has an iPhone and Android app.  I am watching meebo, and I think it has potential, but I’m still using Pidgin instead of meebo.

IM clients on smart phones (mobile devices) is sort of a different topic…

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/19 (Friday, June 19, 2009) :: Communication: email, IM, social network, etc :: No Comments »

Verizon has finally done something right…  The idea is that you could easily use this with multiple devices, such as:
* laptop or netbook
* iPod touch
* smart phone with WiFi but no data plan
* backup internet for your desktop computer
* freedom to easily share it

Overall I think it’s great news.  But I do still have some concerns…

Verizon requires you to get a $30/mo data plan with any smart phone.  So even if you got a MiFi, you’d still have to pay the $30/mo for your Verizon smart phone data plan.  Although, you could try just using the MiFi WiFi device with a WiFi-enabled Skype device/phone, but I’d bet that’s at least less usable/stable if not simply unusable/unstable.  Or, you could get an unlocked smart phone and use AT&T’s voice network but Verizon’s MiFi WiFi for data.

One big question about this is…  If you get an unlocked smart phone to put on AT&T’s voice network, such as a Nokia N97…  Then, what eats your battery life faster?  WiFi to the MiFi?  Or direct use of AT&T’s data plan?  And if the WiFi eats the battery faster, how much worse is it?  And are there other trade-offs or gotchas?  Sounded like AT&T’s 3G is faster, but Verizon’s data is more available?  Are there longer lag-time for turning the WiFi on/off vs. turning the 3G on/off?  Is it easy (and legit) to just make your N97 a WiFi hotspot anyway?

In the end, as much as I love the new MiFi…  I think it’s definitely at least a viable alternative to have (a phone with 3G coverage that can turn itself on/off as a WiFi hotspot for your iPod touch, laptop, etc).  I think it’s better to have both choices too.  I think I’d personally prefer the WiFi hot spot from the phone (and you can turn it on/off) (and just carry a 2nd or 3rd battery), but it would depend on the specific details.

I should add that there can be trade-offs between (having 2-in-1 device) vs. (having 2 separate devices).  Similar thing with GPS-on-phone vs. GPS-standalone.  With 2-in-1, it might be smaller overall, and have potential integrated capabilities.  But you’re also sharing a battery/stability, and the 2 become physically inseparable.

Although one big thing I like about the MiFi is that it looks very thin and small:

The other interesting thing is that before the MiFi came to Verizon and Sprint, I had long been dreaming about getting a USB modem and plugging it into a Cradlepoint PHS300.  There was even some company that I think re-sold Sprint data connections for $50/mo no contract.  What the MiFi adds to the table is that it’s another 2-things-integrated-as-1.  This makes it simpler (you don’t have to plug-in the separate USB modem) and smaller: (4.7 x 2.8 x 0.8) vs. (3.5 x 2.3 x 0.4).  It’s also an official Verizon or Sprint solution, but we could debate, for example, if that’s actually better than using the PHS300 with an AT&T USB modem (speed vs. coverage?).  Or, better than using a smart phone as a WiFi hot spot.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/05 (Friday, June 5, 2009) :: Mobile Devices/Services :: No Comments »

This example is from Verizon.  Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 1.6 Ghz, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive, 10.1" Diagonal SD LED BrightView Infinity Widescreen Display (1024×576), 802.11 b/g.  The comparable netbook from HP Mini 1000 XP series is $375.  So $375 vs. ($200, plus over the 2-year contract, $60/mo * 24 months = $1440).  Although they also include the internal broadband card, so I guess I should compare it to HP Mini 1000 Mobile Broadband series, which is $505 with the same specs.

If it were me, I wouldn’t do it, unless the only use for internet/WiFi you have is on your netbook.  I’d much rather get a $30/mo smart phone plan (less money), or the freedom of the wireless $60/mo Verizon MiFi wireless hot spot choice.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/05 (Friday, June 5, 2009) :: Mobile Devices/Services :: No Comments »

The general impressions I got are:
* All 4 are $60/mo 5 GB/mo cap ($720/yr); the only real differences are speed and coverage
* AT&T is fastest, at least if you are in an AT&T 3G coverage area
* Verizon probably has better overall coverage (AT&T is second), but that can depend on the specific location(s)
* International roaming from US carriers is basically a scam (absurdly expensive); but you can just get a prepaid data card from a carrier in the country you travel
* AT&T (and T-Mobile) use GSM with SIM card

In the US (not everywhere), the carrier also determines your choices for devices (typically discounted and locked, which sometimes means partially-crippled).  For example, AT&T has iPhone, Sprint will be first to have Palm Pre, T-Mobile was first to have Android, everyone has Windows Mobile and BlackBerry, Nokia Symbian is only available unlocked only for AT&T and T-Mobile (GSM), MiFi is for Verizon and Sprint.  You also can’t have a smart phone on Verizon’s network anymore without at least the $30/mo data plan; while for AT&T you could at least use an unlocked phone.

Here’s the full post: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/26/engadget-labs-the-best-mobile-broadband-carrier-in-america/

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/05 (Friday, June 5, 2009) :: Mobile Devices/Services :: No Comments »

This new category could apply to some offline things, but it’s probably not going to be anything about family or social life or twitter-style-what-I-had-for-lunch-today.

The new category is basically an admission that this blog has gone from it’s original intent to give specific concise useful category-specific computer info / tips / tricks (“useful tech notes (info, tips, how to, ask me) (computers, software, hardware, blogging, mobile, devices, phones, Windows)”)…  To becoming more like, just me writing about whatever I feel like; though generally this is a strong computer/technology focus (or at least from that sort of angle).

I may still start up a separate / second blog that is dedicated to game development, such as for a specific project.

In theory, I might be crazy enough to put up personal stuff, or even mundane things like “today I drank a Mt Dew”.  Many other people do it, but that has issues like, do friends or family or roommates or coworkers or neighbors etc want you putting stuff up on the totally public internet about them.

In some cases, you might even risk giving someone info to encourage them to pick you (or someone you reference) as a criminal target, such as identity theft or stalker or theft etc.  Though I don’t want to sound too paranoid.

In theory, I might also put one up about day job, but that has other issues like, what if I said something as a rant, or what if coworkers didn’t like it, or what if it was against some company policy or accidentally gave out too much info, etc.

Whether either of these could be (a bad idea) or (a good idea) or (harmless yet also pointless), probably depends on the details of a particular situation.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/05 (Friday, June 5, 2009) :: Blogging, Personal :: No Comments »

Obviously it’s for a female not a male, though I had a roommate say he thought about getting a “Hello Kitty” credit card just to see if he’d get any entertaining reactions (like, “you stole this?” or “uh, that’s not a very masculine card”).  My comments here are more of a philosophical question about cost and real-value vs. subjective-value vs. fake-value.

My first thought was: is this just an excuse to charge extra for nothing?  My worry was that you may pay extra money just for snob-appeal (ie, you pay extra for something that is not actually worth more, just so you can tell yourself “oh I paid extra so it must be worth more!”).  In other words, you almost never get what you paid for.  Usually you get less or more.

But I think it actually depends on the particular case.  There are many cases where I would very strongly argue there is overpriced junk, like a $10,000 dress or a $10,000 iPod with some log and worthless stones/metal on it.

But in this particular case, a $700 laptop is not obscene.  It’s not so expensive that it’s obvious whether the value is real vs. fake, so it might be more in the category of subjective.  In fact, maybe Apple computers are just as overpriced (or even more in some cases – hello Macbook Air?).  But let’s check the details.

HP makes it really easy to do the comparison, because you can configure an equivalent (Mini 1000 XP series) netbook.  The same specs for a (HP Mini 1000 XP edition series) is $375 vs. $700 for the pretty one (yes I’m also assuming that we actually like how it looks).

I think percent-wise, it looks bad since you could almost buy 2 of them (well, if you get the $20 cheaper Linux version).  But as an actual dollar amount, is $325 too much?  $10,000 is too much. $20 or $50 or even $100 sounds reasonable.  But $325, I think it’s kind of on the border of subjective-value vs. fake-value.  But if someone (yes, probably a female) really likes it, then…  I think you’d have to like the way it looks a lot for it to be worth the extra $325.  But it’s at least not over-the-top or ridiculous / obscene.

Maybe good for a gift?  (Well, that would be a whole-nother issue to consider!)

I think the matching mouse is extra:

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/03 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) :: Philosophy and Opinions :: No Comments »

I’ve considered doing a separate blog that focuses more on “subjective” things, or philosophy / opinions / politics etc.  But for now, I thought why not just throw out a “Philosophy and Opinions” tag.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/03 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) :: Blogging, Philosophy and Opinions :: No Comments »

One thing I think I was kind of wasting time on is worrying too much about what the tags should be, and whether each post should be exactly one tag vs. multiple tags (and if multiple tags meant my post wasn’t topic-focused enough, or that my tags weren’t good enough).  I think this is pretty OCD, and worrying about the tags too much is a waste of time.  So, rather than try to look too far ahead, I’ll just add some more tags as I go.

I tagged this post “Blogging”, and I also tagged it “Web” and “Travel”.

Web is just generally website stuff that I personally noticed.

Travel is from a tech/geek – minded perspective.  So, you want to use good online trip search tools, and have a good packing system with useful travel gadgets (and computer stuff)…  For me, this is more about access and productivity, or just about having more access for something to do during the trip.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/03 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) :: Blogging, Travel, Web :: No Comments »

You may have noticed that I did (1 post 2008/08) and (2 posts 2009/01)…  And then this is my 5th post for 2009/06/03 in only a few hours.

Well part of the reason is that my sleep was interrupted by a leak in my apartment’s ceiling/roof, but the other reason is…

I think it’s obvious that using a desktop application for blogging (Windows Live Writer) (instead of just the default php WordPress web page stuff) has made it a lot less tedious and a lot more organized, for my personal taste.

So now that I’ve tried out Windows Live Writer…  I might just stop here, or…
1) more posts here: tech/computer blog
2) start tech-philosophy blog
3) video game development project blog

In reference to (video game development project blog):
* message board, but it’s all private as of 2009/06/03: http://www.mepem.com/game/forum/
* brief intro status for game just starting as of 2009/06: http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/17385

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/03 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) :: Blogging :: No Comments »

Kind of a turn-off that they are Intel-only (no AMD) (and specifically the Mac Mini right now is NVIDIA-only, no ATI), but I am still seriously considering a Mac Mini.  As an additional non-primary non-day-job computer, on top of: Windows desktop, Windows tablet/laptop, smart phone, iPod touch.

Not because I’m going to pretend it’s a good deal for the price/performance (frankly it is overpriced and underpowered).  Yes, it is tiny/portable, but so are plenty of Windows PC’s.  So, the real reason for my interest is…

Just to use to get some Mac and OS-X familiarity, and its development environment (Xcode, iPhone OS, Mac OS-X OpenGL)…  And possibly for cross-platform game project.

I wonder when the next model upgrade will come out…  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_mini#Overview) has a chart saying: late 2005, early 2006, late 2006, mid 2007, early 2009, so who knows If it’s less than 6 months or not…

In other Apple news…  I’m still using a Verizon Windows Mobile phone, and waiting for the 64 GB iPod touch.

In other Apple news…  I’m still fantasizing about the Kindle just a little, but also hearing rumors about a super-sized iPod touch, or a Mac tablet computer.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/03 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) :: Operating System focused: Mac OS X :: No Comments »