Nor here.

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What Prowl does is send “push” events to your iPhone from virtually anything.
Install the app, register on the Prowl website, generate an API key, and you’re home and hosed for some good hacking.

This means that any application that wants to push a notification to your iPhone contacts the Prowl servers, which then sends the notification on to your iPhone. So far it’s reliable enough, but even they say not to trust it for critical or emergency applications.

There is an API, and it is fairly complete, supporting all your language preferences, (Java, perl, PHP, etc, etc — sorry no COBOL).

Of course, there’s even a plugin for WordPress, (which I have to say is so much easier than Joomla). It will send push alerts for new posts, comments, and other things.

WordPress post alert

Looks like someone has posted another blog entry.

Viewing the notification brings you here:

Alerts

Alerts can be adjusted, the nice feature is being able to silence them for a given time.

And adjust what sounds are played and when, although the default sounds are too quiet I find.

Redirects

Redirects allow a specified application to start when a particular event comes in. Trouble is that there’s no way of selecting anything else but the given set of applications. Maybe in the next release.

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This was for several reasons:
1. Joomla is a pain in the bum for blogging. Its too complex for a blog and I keep forgetting the differences between a “com”, “module” and a “plugin”.
2. Upgrading is a pain in the bum. I just recently noticed that half my content went missing as part of a recent upgrade.
3. I had bought an iPhone and wanted to be able to post while out and about. Getting this going in Joomla was a pain in the bum, (although I discovered after switching to WordPress that it wasn’t really Joomla’s fault).
4. My old TreeCam blog was running on an old version of s9y, and I wanted to combine it all.

Not that Joomla is all bad, it’s a great CMS app, but just not for blogging. It has a fantastic plugin, (module or whatever the heck you call it), for eCommerce, (virtuemart), and even a blog thingy. I always found it to be a struggle. One of those things. It’s not designed for blogging.

It was a good decision to move. WordPress is infinitely easier than Joomla. None of the learning curve. So far there seems to be the same number of plugins for both, but it looks like Joomla is getting a little “stale”. Installing plugins for WordPress is damn easy. Almost a “one click” install or upgrade for all plugins and templates.

Since the switch I’ve discovered all sorts of goodies. EG out of the box weblog API, RPC calls, blog pings, dead link monitoring.

Nice. Really polished app.

Even better is the fact that I didn’t need to do anything for my iPhone to start posting to my blog. Just install BlogPress, (and the free WordPress app), from the Apple app store, enter in my site, and start blogging. I even used it to migrate from Joomla to WordPress, as you can post to multiple sites in one hit.

BlogPress’ settings page

You can post piccies and videos to Picasa and YouTube. Specify multiple blogs to post to.

Pulling down posts

Posting a story

Is dead easy, although may be a problem for those who don’t know their HTML.

Inserting images

Just click on the camera icon top right, and you can insert photos directly into the post.

Save or post?

You can post it, or save it as a draft for later.

Posting an entry

You’re also given the option of viewing it in Safari, which is a minor annoyance for me. It’d be good to be able to turn it off.

– Posted from my iPhone

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Sun’s Java Web Console is a nice little toy. Great for those people who prefer the less extreme learning curve of a CLI, and great for manager types who like pictures.

I’ve used it several times before, but thought I’d try it in on x86 Solaris10u6 box I have here. Bloody Sun. You think a released version implies that it’s stable, and working.

For me the issue was that when I originally installed the server, I used a temporary hostname, and DHCP for network because I couldn’t be bothered to change my local DNS and figure out a spare IP. I then changed to fixed IP and hostname later.

The ramifications of this is that my hostname ended up being assigned to localhost, (aka 127.0.0.1). This means that when the WebConsole was initially installed and configured it used 127.0.0.1 throughout it’s hardcoded, (stupid Tomcat — hate it with a vengence), config files.

This is something that annoys the heck out of me: I understand developers making ‘packages’ that they can ‘deploy’ to a web server, (Tomcat). It’s nice to be able to ‘deploy’ a package. But for heck’s sake, why shove hostname/IP/port definitions in not just one file, but 50 stupid files that are zipped up along with shared libs and binaries? Why? Haven’t they heard of /etc/hosts, or even putting these definitions into somewhere common? Why do they have to have these definitions in multiple places?

Another great example of letting the developer take the lead in systems management.

Anyway, digging around the net trying to resolve my issue showed up a lot of similar complaints, but nothing really to sort it out. ‘wcadmin’ refused to start the ‘deployed’ packages, because they couldn’t connect to the Tomcat server running on my old hostname.

root@somewhere % wcadmin list

Deployed web applications (application name, context name, status):

console  ROOT            [stopped]
console  com_sun_web_ui  [stopped]
console  console         [stopped]
console  manager         [stopped]
console  zfs             [stopped]

Registered jar files (application name, identifier, path):

console  audit_jar     /usr/lib/audit/Audit.jar
console  console_jars  /usr/share/webconsole/lib/*.jar
console  jato_jar      /usr/share/lib/jato/jato.jar
console  javahelp_jar  /usr/jdk/packages/javax.help-2.0/lib/*.jar
console  shared_jars   /usr/share/webconsole/private/container/shared/lib/*.jar

Registered login modules (application name, service name, identifier):

console  ConsoleLogin  userlogin
console  ConsoleLogin  rolelogin

Persistent Jvm options:

-server
-Xmx128m
-XX:+UseParallelGC
-XX:ParallelGCThreads=4

I tried using wcadmin ro ‘undeploy’ and ‘deploy’ packages, and even the brut force method of

root@somewhere % find /var/webconsole /usr/share/webconsole /etc/webconsole /usr/lib/webconsole -type f | xargs egrep -l '127.0.0.1|localhost'

and manually modifying any config files found.

In the end I did a pkgrm/remove configs/pkgadd cycle:

1. Remove WebConsole packages.

system      SUNWasac  Sun Java System Application Server Admin Client
application SUNWmcon  Sun Java(TM) Web Console 3.0.2 (Core)
system      SUNWmconr Sun Java(TM) Web Console 3.0.2 (Root)
application SUNWmcos  Implementation of Sun Java(TM) Web Console (3.0.2) services
application SUNWmcosx Implementation of Sun Java(TM) Web Console (3.0.2) services
application SUNWmctag Sun Java(TM) Web Console 3.0.2 (Tags & Components)
application SUNWzfsgr ZFS Administration for Sun Java(TM) Web Console (Root)
application SUNWzfsgu ZFS Administration for Sun Java(TM) Web Console (usr)

The usual removal:

root@somewhere % pkgrm SUNWzfsgu SUNWmcosx SUNWmcos SUNWasac SUNWmcon SUNWzfsgr SUNWmconr SUNWmctag

Then remove all the config files:

root@somwehere % rm -rf /var/webconsole /usr/share/webconsole /etc/webconsole /usr/lib/webconsole

Or tarball up and then remove:

root@somewhere % tar cvf /tmp/webconsole.tar /var/webconsole /usr/share/webconsole /etc/webconsole /usr/lib/webconsole
root@somewhere % rm -rf /var/webconsole /usr/share/webconsole /etc/webconsole /usr/lib/webconsole

2. Re-install the WebConsole packages:
If you have your original install DVD/CD handy, then just chuck it in, and install the packages from the Product directory:

root@somewhere % pkgadd -d /cdrom/cdrom0/s2/Solaris_10/Product SUNWzfsgu SUNWmcosx SUNWmcos SUNWasac SUNWmcon SUNWzfsgr SUNWmconr SUNWmctag
The following packages are available:
 1  SUNWasac      Sun Java System Application Server Admin Client
 (i386) 8.2,REV=2006.08.16.08.46
 2  SUNWmcon      Sun Java(TM) Web Console 3.0.2 (Core)
 (i386) 3.0.2,REV=2006.12.08.20.48
 3  SUNWmconr     Sun Java(TM) Web Console 3.0.2 (Root)
 (i386) 3.0.2,REV=2006.12.08.23.39
 4  SUNWmcos      Implementation of Sun Java(TM) Web Console (3.0.2) services
 (i386) 3.0.2,REV=2006.12.08.23.39
 5  SUNWmcosx     Implementation of Sun Java(TM) Web Console (3.0.2) services
 (i386) 3.0.2,REV=2006.12.08.23.39
 6  SUNWmctag     Sun Java(TM) Web Console 3.0.2 (Tags & Components)
 (i386) 3.0.2,REV=2006.12.08.20.48
 7  SUNWzfsgr     ZFS Administration for Sun Java(TM) Web Console (Root)
 (i386) 1.0,REV=2006.10.24.20.44
 8  SUNWzfsgu     ZFS Administration for Sun Java(TM) Web Console (usr)
 (i386) 1.0,REV=2006.10.24.20.44

Even though you are installing version 3.1 of the Java Web Console, it actually appears as 3.0.2 for some stupid reason.

Everything will startup as expected using the new hostname defined.

root@somewhere % wcadmin list

Deployed web applications (application name, context name, status):

console  ROOT            [running]
console  com_sun_web_ui  [running]
console  console         [running]
console  manager         [running]
console  zfs             [running]

Registered jar files (application name, identifier, path):

console  audit_jar     /usr/lib/audit/Audit.jar
console  console_jars  /usr/share/webconsole/lib/*.jar
console  jato_jar      /usr/share/lib/jato/jato.jar
console  javahelp_jar  /usr/jdk/packages/javax.help-2.0/lib/*.jar
console  shared_jars   /usr/share/webconsole/private/container/shared/lib/*.jar

Registered login modules (application name, service name, identifier):

console  ConsoleLogin  userlogin
console  ConsoleLogin  rolelogin

Persistent Jvm options:

-server
-Xmx128m
-XX:+UseParallelGC
-XX:ParallelGCThreads=4

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% pkg install gnome

Or

% pkg remove hugin

Or

% pkg verify firefox

Or

% pkg list

I mean.… Why not Sun?

(And what about my cat?)

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So, this howto shows you how to run Opera Mini on Linux in glorious 1440x900.… and take advantage of the speed increase.

Requirements

The Linux distribution I run is Debian, but this HOWTO will apply to any distribution really. In fact it should work on Windows as well. All you need initially is a running version of Java. However the complete list is:
Java 6
Micro Emulator
Opera Mini

Installing Java

On Debian I just do the usual installation process:

root@localhost % apt-get install sun-java6-bin sun-java6-jre

That’s it for java.

Installing MicroEmulator

Now for MicroEmulator. Fetch whatever the latest release is . I used 2.0.2 for this setup.

Extract the tarball to somewhere. Doesn’t matter where. I put it under $HOME/lib

mick@localhost [~/lib] # tar zxvf microemulator-2.0.2.tar.gz

I put in a symlink so that I can reference different version if need be. But you can skip this step if you want.

mick@localhost [~/lib] # ln -s microemulator-2.0.2 microemulator

Now, fire up java and point it to the microemulator jar file.

mick@localhost [~/lib] # java -jar $HOME/lib/microemulator/microemulator.jar

This window will now pop-up.

Now Click on ‘Options’, and then ‘Select device’. There’s nothing stopping you from running Opera in this virtual device. But remember you want to run it in a big window, right!

The window below will pop-up.

Click on Add… You want to traverse to your {directory where you installed the microemulator}/devices/, and select the microemu-device-resizable.jar file.

It will now appear in your virtual devices list. Click on ‘Set as default’ to use it every time you start it up.

The MicroEmulator window will change to a ‘not as snazzy’ window like this:

That’s it for the microemulator.

Installing Opera Mini

Installing Opera Mini is easy too. There’s two ways to do it.
Click here , and here and save somewhere.

Or follow these instructions, (I’ve put them here, because, as you know, links change on the internet, and I hate 404s).

Just fetch the latest version from Opera. There’s 4 steps to download:
1. Select ‘Download to PC’.
2. Select ‘Generic version’.
3. Select ‘Advanced MIDP 2′
4. Select you preferred language, and download the JAD and JAR files.

I placed these two files under $HOME/lib/opera. You will have to create a symlink so that the version you have downloaded will be used properly.

mick@localhost [~/lib/opera] # ln -s opera-mini-latest-advanced-int.jar opera-mini-4.1.11355-advanced-int.jar

Your version may/will vary. You’ll need to symlink, (or rename), the file for it to work, though.

Now you want to open the Opera Mini JAD file you just downloaded.

Find it and open it.

Now you will see it in the list of applications that can be launched by Micro Emulator.

Now just double click on it.

Hooley Dooley Batman! It works! Cool!

Either use your mouse and click, or you can use up/down/left/right keys and enter to traverse web pages.

One last thing

I created the following script to make it easier for me to startup, and called it ‘operamini’.

#!/bin/bash

exec >& /tmp/operamini.log

java -jar $HOME/lib/microemulator/microemulator.jar $HOME/lib/opera/opera-mini-latest-advanced-int.jad

Now I have my super fast GPRS internet connection. Also, a side benefit is that all my bookmarks are synced up to my phone.

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Click on the image to view a larger image, or the download icon.

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Location Location Location

The old real estate sentiment rings true in Mob Wars. Investment in property is what gives you constant income. At the start don’t buy anything except property, except the bare essentials for doing ‘jobs’. Even when you’re high up the ranks — property is essential as it pays for all the ‘upkeep’ on all those warfare items that you will possess. First you buy vacant land:

The ‘undeveloped property’ is used to build properties on. You can still receive income from vacant land, (don’t know how that’s possible, but you can). You have to buy vacant land before you can build on it, (of course).

Once you have a certain amount of vacant land you can then buy properties:

Once you have the correct amount of vacant land you can convert this to developed property, as long as you have the moola.

You can buy vacant land and properties in groups of 1, 5 and 10. Every time you buy you increase the cost of the property or vacant land the next time you buy. So, the trick here is to buy properties and vacant land in groups of 5, 10. Once you have converted all vacant land to a property the cost drops again. So you can buy that ‘one off’ item just to boost your short term income.

What I found useful is to buy one off of the next stage of property which will land me with a greater income, yet won’t bump up the price too much when I come back a couple of days later and buy ten off.

Ding Dong (aka Warfare)

Don’t. Just don’t. At the start — resist the temptation to throttle your opponents and just hide away stockpiling your investments. Be invisible. Turn the other cheek. If anyone attacks you just take it and don’t fight back. That costs money. Besides.… in the early stages you really don’t get much from fighting. Note, though, that every level you go up, you have to beef up your ‘defense attribute’ as much as you can.

Once you’ve built up your investments… then you can start off with the punchups.

However, if you really must attack someone, then concentrate on people who have stats similar to below. That is: They concentrate more on doing jobs than fighting. (Note: This is why YOU should increase your defense attributes on every level you can, and as much as you can.) Someone who has a really low ‘fights won’ ratio. Who has not many weapons, and has a lot of investment properties. Also, someone who doesn’t have a large mob, or rather a smaller mob than you.

I still think, though, this is a ‘later on in the game’ strategy that you can use, and not an initial strategy.

Iron Tank (aka The Bank)

You face a 10% bankers commission when depositing money in the bank. I did this regularly in the early stages and faced the 10% loss rather than risk having it taken away from me, because of the more punch drunk Mob War competitors. Also, I’d much rather that money not going to them, and rather go to the bank.

Later on… once you’ve built up your army. You can leave money in the open a bit more and just shrug off the losses.

Don’t leave money lying around too much. Money sitting in the bank or in your pocket isn’t making any more money. Save up for a specific purpose, (like buying ten hotels), but don’t sock it away. A good mobster won’t have any money lying around at all. The more you invest the bigger the return.

However, there was one time when I had just withdrawn enough to pay for 10 restaurants, and had clicked on ‘buy’ when it said I didn’t have enough. I checked, and found that I had lost $16000! I checked again and it had gone down by another $8000. Aaaaargh! Someone was attacking me and stripping me! I lost around $45k that day, and lost out on $168k of potential revenue.

So you can still lose out even when being cautious.

Da Job List

There’s not much risk of meeting up with the ducks and geese, (police), so doing jobs is a low risk activity. Each time you progress a level more jobs will be available to you. Each job reduces your overall Energy. So you can only do so much with a certain time frame. Do as many jobs as you can in the first days. Time it so just as you have enough energy you’re clicking on ‘do job’. This way you can progress through the levels quickly, (and so getting more Energy on the way).

Levels

You only have a certain amount of energy to do jobs. Every level you attain gives you three points to do as you will. I concentrated on putting all my points on defense and energy. This way I could beef up my defense against attacks, (pacifist policy), and allow me to do more jobs. Which, in the early days, gives a bigger return than the available property you have.

Da Mob

The bigger the mob you have the more fighting power, and the bigger jobs you can do. You increase your mob by inviting your facebook friends to join your mob. Note you have to have a facebook friend to do this. If you don’t have any, or your friends aren’t interested in Mob Wars, then go to the Mob Wars forums where there are plenty of people willing to join your mob, or you join theirs. Either way doesn’t matter, (just who gets the money). Once you have a mob of a certain size make sure that you fit out each mob member with a weapon — don’t let them fight bare fisted.

One word of caution: If you value your privacy, then facebook allows you to setup groups that allow or disallow access to view certain areas of you profile. I’d strongly suggest doing this — if not for your sake, but for your friend’s sake.

Then, when you get all the invites for friends, (the precursor to mob war invite), you can instantly put them into the limited access group. In the above example I created a Mob Wars group. I’ve heard of people, once they have become part of a mob this way — to remove the facebook friendship. But I suspect the Mob Wars application developers will cotton on to this soon enough, and will disable this capability.

Da Goods

You have a number of items that will fill your arsenal. This allows you to do jobs, attack and defend. Make sure you have a compliment of weapons for each member of your mob. When you do buy, though, buy the bare minimum to allow you to do the next job that returns more money. Don’t go hell for leather on buying that minigun too early. Savour the moment, invest. Then, like I did, buy ten of them in one hit and still have money to spare for a hotel or five. Not only that but the bigger items cost money to run. The minigun costs $1500/hour to run. So this is silly to buy in the early stages — when your take home pay is roughly $2000/hour.

Da Hospital

The hospital is a relatively safe place to be. That area of your health between 1 and 20 is where you want to be when you are making large purchases. Because.… when in hospital you can’t be attacked. You can buy those 20 odd HumVee and 20 Casinos without the fear of being robbed on the way from the bank.

Consequently, (having learned this once before), attack other players until you get below 20. Then hide in the hospital and go on a spending spree.

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