Geeks Blog

Where Geeks Rule

Learning to Code This Code Year

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Feel like upping your geekiness level this year?

If you are not a software developer and just want to add something geeky to your resume, then you’d probably love the idea of signing up for Code Year. So just how does signing up for Code Year up your geekiness level?

Code Year participants, who are exactly 341,648 people as of this writing, are sent interactive programming lessons every Monday, which they are expected to complete within the week. So far the topics finished have are “Getting Started with Programming” and “Functions in Javascript”. Note that all of the lessons assume that you have no background in programming, so you shouldn’t be afraid that they would be too difficult for you. If anything, they might be a tad to easy for you if you already have some background in programming.

So why is it again that you should sign up for Code Year? Frankly, I don’t know. To each his own. Some might want to sign up for the fun, some to learn something new, and some because they want a taste of programming to see if they would maybe like to someday really get into programming. Whatever your reasons are (and one of mine is to gain better appreciation of what my husband does on a daily basis), you can bet that you’ll learn something new if only you give it a try.

Veteran programmer already? Then Code Year is definitely not for you, but maybe you can spread the word and have your non-programmer friends try it out.

Image via CodeYear

VNC Viewer: The Perfect Prank Tool for Computer Geeks

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One thing I love about being a geek is being able to pull relatively simple pranks on my unassuming family and friends. Ok, so this prank was pulled by my husband on me years ago before his geekiness rubbed off on me. Still, I find it funny and like all juvenile pranks something I just can’t seem to get tired of.

Back when I first encountered VNC, the iPad still hadn’t arrived on the scene and revolutionized the mobile industry. That meant that my hubby had to use the other PC in the house to play a joke on me. Just a few days ago though, my netbook started “acting weird”, and since my husband had no PC he can use to prank me with I really thought something was wrong with my touchpad. Then I realized he was happily grinning while “playing” with my son’s iPad, which of course instantly made me suspicious. My suspicions proved well founded because you can now apparently download VNC Viewer on your iPad and iPhone, a fact that I’ve overlooked for more than a year now.

If you haven’t hear of VNC Viewer, then you probably have no idea how to use it for a prank.  VNC is, as its developers RealVNC puts it, a “remote control software which allows you to view and fully interact with one computer desktop (the “VNC server”) using a simple program (the “VNC viewer”) on another computer desktop anywhere on the Internet.” In short, if you have ReaVNC installed and activated on a computer, whether it be a desktop or laptop, you can peek into what’s happening on that workstation and control what’s being done there (i.e. move the mouse cursor around) using the VNC Viewer on another device including your iOS and Android mobile devices. Obviously, VNC was designed for more productive purposes, but just think of the endless possibilities for pranks you can pull on non-techie people!

Happy pranking!

Analog Format Loss Syndrome

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Nope, it’s not a disease, but rather the stark realization that your old vinyl records, VHS Tapes and black and white photos are fast becoming obsolete and forever destined for the garbage can. There is help though for the many baby boomers out there who do need help with such conversions in order for most analog gadgets and gizmos to have their contents converted into the proper digital format that would allow them to be used with your iPod or saved onto high quality DVD’s for eternity (well, not an eternity but as long as the DVD retains it’s ability to hold the information safe anyway for even they have life spans or expected time frames before they fail). Many technologies such as voice recordings on cassette tapes, old video on reel tapes, Black and white photos of the days of old and many other older analog technologies that have long been overstepped by the digital revolution.
For photos there are scanners that allow you to digitize them and convert them to your preferred format for storage and viewing. Old photos are sensitive and some even crumble due to time and climate conditions. Digitizing them makes them available for manipulation and restorations as well as playback as a slideshow on your PC or TV. Old VHS tapes can be digitized through several appliances you connect to the video in port or through the USB port that with accompanying software allows them to be converted into digital video formats and even DVD’s (this you’d best leave to the experts for it takes almost a day to convert a few hours of video but DIY is still possible and widely available). Old 8″ vinyl can be transferred onto your multimedia players through similar appliances that converts them to popular audio formats.
Lastly, this world is ruled by the law of supply and demand and as long as people need help with such analog to digital conversions, there will always be entrepreneurs who would provide the services necessary. Whether you aim to do it on your own or to hire a professional conversion firm, it’s up to you, but do it quick for technology changes as a very fast rate that it may again render today’s technology useless by tomorrow.