Installing Guest Additions for Linux in Oracle VirtualBox

I’m making a note here, because it seems I always have to relearn how to do this.

If you want to install the Guest Additions in VirtualBox on a Linux VM, they don’t always install automatically, I have no idea why. But to do it manually, from the Devices menu you need to select the option Insert Guest Additions CD Image. Once inserted, open a Terminal window and navigate to the root of the inserted CD.

Once there, enter the following command:

sudo bash VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

What does it mean though?

• sudo means to run as a super/root user with elevated permissions
• bash is the shell that you are running (at least for Debian derivatives)
• VBoxLinuxAdditions.run is the script to execute

The rest should then happen automatically – reboot your guest at the end of the process. The benefit of installing the guest additions includes automatically resizing the OS to the size of your VirtualBox window, and full integration with your mouse pointer.

Princeton Flunks the iPad

Apparently the new Apple iPad has some issues around respecting DHCP lease settings – so Princeton has taken steps to block iPad’s accessing their Wifi network.

The short version is that if your iPad screen is locked, it doesn't request to continue using the assigned IP, and just keeps using it after being unlocked. Princeton is a little different though, as their lease time is measured in hours, rather than days.

More information available here.

Mailview POP3 Screensaver

Mailview is a screensaver for your Windows based PC that monitors your POP3 email account and displays your inbox email count on screen.

Features
- Show your email count when the screensaver is active
- Choose to show the sender and subject line of emails
- Multi-screen supported

Requirements
- Windows XP or higher
- Microsoft .NET 2.0

Screenshot

[Main Screensaver View]


[Configuration]

Purchase
Purchasing Mailview is conducted via the Share*It! Payment processing service. Basically you pay, and they send you a personalised download link.
 Purchase Mailview v1.1 Screensaver for only USD$10!
[Product Code 300380123]

Release History
1st June 2009 – Version 1.0 Created for personal use
19th April 2010 – Version 1.1 Released
* Multi-Monitor Support Added

NAVER Clock iPhone Application - English Translation

There is a nice little application for the iPhone and iPod Touch called NAVER Clock.

Unfortunately for me the settings screen is all written in Korean.

However, thanks to the help of friend (Hi Euna!), I can give you the english translation. So, without further ado, here's my modified screenshot:

GUI Prototyping with Pencil Add-on for Firefox

If you've ever used Microsoft Visio to mock up a GUI prototype, then you really need to check out the Pencil Project - it's a free add-on for Mozilla Firefox 3.

Using XULRunner, you can also run it independently of Firefox. This is well worth you taking a look. The layout and positioning of elements seems very slick - you won't be micro-managing the layout like you would in Visio.

[via Scott Hanselman's Ultimate Tools List]

Newsgator gives up consumer online RSS feeds

Users of FeedDemon on Windows and NetNewsWire on the Mac using Newsgator synchronisation have a month (until the end of August) to update your software and migrate your OPML feed list to Google Reader. Alternatively you could find some other means to manage your feeds. For help on transferring your feed list to Google Reader, check out the instructions here.

Personally, I use the client tools across all three of the supported platforms, Windows, Mac OSX and iPhone. I'm hoping that the transition to Google Reader will "just work".

Read more at Newsgator Daily and Google Reader blog.

Web service shape for Microsoft Visio

If you are busily diagramming your latest enterprise application in Visio, and you want something to represent your web service, there is a shape that you can use. Popularised by Microsoft a number of years ago, it has proved particularly difficult to get a hold of for Visio.

However, if you want it you can grab it as part of the Microsoft Exchange 2007 Visio Stencil pack. There are a few other handy shapes in that stencil as well.

Iconic Easter Eggs

Check out the Apple Blog for easter eggs hidden in Apple icons. Is there anything equivalent in Windows icons?

A personal favourite is the pointed message to Windows users, with a dreaded BSOD...

Q: When is an alarm not an alarm?

A: When you’re running an iPod Touch v2.2.1!

I had a situation the other day, when I had an alarm scheduled for a specific time, and prior to it firing, I received an updated Meeting Invitation courtesy of my Exchange link over Wi-Fi.

Because the Touch was displaying a popup on the screen, the alarm notification couldn’t appear and play the sound until after I had dismissed the popup – 30 odd minutes after the alarm was to fire!

Something to be aware of if you want to use your iPod Touch as an alarm clock to get you up in the morning…

Get a list of all checked out files from TFS

There are times in every TFS installation where you need to make sure that all your files are checked in. This could be when you are migrating servers, or even if you are leaving the company and want to clean up everything before you go. If you ever have a need to find all checked out files across all your Team Foundation Server workspaces, you should run the following command line program (assuming you have Team Explorer 2005 installed):

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\TF.exe" status /server:<SERVERNAME> /workspace:*

The same command should also work for Team Explorer 2008:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\TF.exe" status /server:<SERVERNAME> /workspace:*