Learning JavaScript 2

Following my first attempt at the name game, I released that my hint code was rubbish (but really, I knew that at the time) and that it’s very difficult to guess a random name with so few clues.

First of all, the code has been improved. It will tell you how many letters you have correct from the first letter, ie first 3 letters or first 100 letters. Secondly, as additional help it can tell you every letter that is correct. This major addition should make guessing from scratch much easier. Version 2 of the name game never made it online as I was already working on version 3. Version 3 got updated to v4 since being posted!

Guess The Name Game v4

Make a guess at the name:



 
 
 
 

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Learning JavaScript – Name Game

When I was younger I found it really interesting you could piece together ‘tags’ to make web pages. More recently, I’ve found it fascinating how the guys at Cyanogenmod and ModaCo can hack through source code for phones. They improve not only the speed but also the functionality of android phones sometimes far beyond where the original manufacturer gave up. My example is my old HTC Magic which was running Android 2.1 reasonably well thanks to Cyanogen and team but HTC left me high and dry on Android 1.6!

So the point is, I’d love to be able to do that too. I told myself while I was in Canada I would learn Java but never got round to it (busy life!). Since then I’ve been spending my time filling in job applications…

Lifehacker brought my attention to Codecademy, an interactive teach-yourself site currently focused on javascript, so I decided to give it a bash. Within a few minutes I was hooked and completed the whole thing in one sitting. Not terribly long but it put wood on the fire. I decided to do something with what I learnt and the result is below.

I just hope that Codecademy update with more detailed lessons in more languages in the near future.

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[TASKER] Automatic response to SMS while driving

Inspired by Lifehacker’s App Of The Day suggestion for Auto SMS, I decided once again that instead of having another app installed I would change my Tasker profile.

In Some Tasker Profiles I detail how to set up a profile to read out a SMS while driving. As I need the same contexts I will simply add a task to the profile.

A quick reminder of original profile

Context

  1. Event: Received Text
  2. State: Power [ Source:Any ]
  3. Application: CoPilot Live EU Major

Tasks

  1. Wait [ Seconds:4 ]
  2. Say [ Text:%SMSRN sent the following SMS: %SMSRB ]

If I’m driving for a long time, I’d always have the phone plugged into a charger and on copilot. The reasoning behind the order of the contexts is predominantly for the sake of battery life (minimising the context checks). The delay in saying the SMS is to allow the notification tone to finish.

The extra task you need for auto response

Send SMS [ Number:%SMSRF Message:[Auto Response] I am currently driving and will get back to you soon. James Store In Messaging App:On]

I have formatted the above to make it more clear. Whether or not you ‘store in messaging app’ makes no difference to sending the message, I simply wanted a record of what has been sent back and forth.

You can download the full profile Read SMS While Navigating 2, don’t forget to change the name if you’re not called James!

On Android Market:

Tasker

[wcs_qr_code url=’https://market.android.com/details?id=net.dinglisch.android.taskerm’ size=’128′ ecl=’L|2′]

Auto SMS

[wcs_qr_code url=’https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tmnlab.autoresponder’ size=’128′ ecl=’L|2′]

 
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Sony DSC-WX10

My parents got this camera a few weeks ago. Despite having access to this camera for a while, I’ve only just got round to taking some ‘real’ photos with it. I’ve already tested it in poor lighting conditions on full auto (green) mode here. On that page I show how this camera has a nice wide angle lens with good zoom capability and strong low light performance.

In summary, it takes good photos with no effort. One thing you notice straight away when using the WX10 is that the build quality is not as good as it’s predecessors. My W7 had a ‘metal-alloy’ shell and the W300 a titanium one, the WX10 is plastic and the buttons feel cheap too. Do I think it’ll fall apart? No, but it is a step backwards.

The WX10 is packed full of features I personally have no use for, like HD video recording and 3d panorama sweep. Both great features to have (so ideal for my parents) but I couldn’t be bothered to test them out here. There was one feature I wanted to share and that is the built in HDR within the scene selection. It works well and will make a huge difference to holiday shots in cathedrals and other ‘difficult’ light environments.

Built in HDR demonstration

Testing built in HDR

Clear improvement with the HDR mode

The camera was positioned pointing predominantly at the sky for both shots (as seen) and metering set at default (multi position). The shot of the left was taken on full auto (green) mode and on the right on HDR mode (via SCN). 

I’m impressed at the results, the camera only took a second or two to save the picture. A lot less time than it takes to edit a RAW shot from a DSLR to get the same end photo. The detail on the under side of the trees is much more clearly visible.

Worth noting that these photos, other than being aligned and cropped, are untouched. 

 

Sony DSC-WX10Sony DSC-WX10Sony DSC-WX10

 

I rushed taking these photos and unfortunately due to the dim light, the photos are all a little fuzzy. Although tempting to blame the Canon 450D for sucking in low light, it was because I was meant to be catching a train so didn’t get the flash out! Anyway, you get the idea…

Quick Stats

  • 16.2 Megapixels
  • 7x Optical Zoom
  • 24mm (35mm equivalent) wide angle
  • ISO 3200
  • Continuous Shooting for 10frames at 10Hz or 2Hz
  • Sweep Panorama
  • 1080(50i, Interlace) Video Recording (& 720p 30fps)
  • Carl Zeiss lens

Sample Images

Also on Flickr in original sizes.

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