TechnoGeeks » News http://techno-geeks.org A fusion of technology, music, and geekyness. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:17:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Check Out My New Numark NDX400’s http://techno-geeks.org/2010/09/check-out-my-new-numark-ndx400s/ http://techno-geeks.org/2010/09/check-out-my-new-numark-ndx400s/#comments Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:17:33 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=498 I recently become obsessed with breaks. I am not sure why, but I can not get enough. My lovely wife was nice enough to let me purchase some CD turntables. These babies are AMAZING for their price! The only thing I dislike is that they don’t read mp3 metadata. Why not go with Serato or Itch instead you ask? The software only runs on Windows and Mac which is NOT for me. I am perfectly happy using CDs and my 4 gig USB sticks.

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]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2010/09/check-out-my-new-numark-ndx400s/feed/ 0 Goodbye CakePHP http://techno-geeks.org/2010/03/goodbye-cakephp/ http://techno-geeks.org/2010/03/goodbye-cakephp/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:57:21 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=403 It’s been a long journey and it has finally come to an end. Due to professional changes in my life, it is time that I stop using a PHP based MVC framework for web applications. Where will I go, you ask? Its simple – Ruby on Rails! While the aim of this post is to not convert people who use CakePHP to start using something else, I do plan on elaborating some of my reasonings for this switch.

1. My New Job
It cannot make much more sense than this. I recently got a new job (started Feb 1st). The place I work is a pure ruby shop and support several financial based web applications. I had 10 days to learn the syntax/basics of Ruby and loved every minute of it. I was ready for something new and fresh in my life.

2. Maturity
Rails was first! As a result, the project has matured more and seems to have a lot more support.

3. Package / Plugin management
Ruby has RubyGems, which is amazing. CakePHP just released something to handle plugins, but I have a feeling it is not a full package manager (think apt!).

4. Other Little Differences
Several small differences make it a better choice. I found a recent presentation that quickly explains a few of them.

That being said, PHP with CakePHP and Ruby with Rails both have their pros and cons. Each framework will always have its place in my heart. Hopefully I will have time soon to setup a rails environment and start pushing through some personal projects! Until then, I will continue gaining experience at work whilst I triage the problems that I was hired to fix :)

]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2010/03/goodbye-cakephp/feed/ 3 CakePHP eCommerce Done Right: Mocha Shopping Cart http://techno-geeks.org/2009/09/cakephp-ecommerce-done-right-mocha-shopping-cart/ http://techno-geeks.org/2009/09/cakephp-ecommerce-done-right-mocha-shopping-cart/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:57:12 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=262
Mocha Shopping Cart

Mocha Shopping Cart

A few months back I posted on CakePHP eCommerce and the lack of good solutions. Well that is now no longer the case. I would like to be one of the first people to introduce you to Mocha Shopping Cart. We have been working day and night (literally) to come up with a solution for the small and medium sized business owners to sell their products online easily. We also have geared Mocha to be extend-able and easy for CakePHP designers and developers to add in their own twists for clients.

Mocha is written entirely in CakePHP and jQuery and is certainly the best CakePHP eCommerce app out there. Why do I say that?

Mocha Shopping Cart is…

  • Fully hosted, secure, pre-installed
  • Very easy to set up and configure
  • Themable and Modular (Plug ins docs in the works)
  • Works with most popular payment and shipping apis (UPS, USPS, Authorize.net, Paypal, etc.)
  • Charges no transaction fees and no setup fees

If you still don’t believe me, Mocha is offering a limited time only Pre-Launch coupon code that gives you the first month FREE. You can try it for yourself and see how you like it. I think you will agree that it beats CakeCart and BakeSale, HANDS DOWN! And no, Mocha is not free (after the first 30 days). The costs help to speed up development, pay for server and hosting fees, and pay for that cup of coffee that us developers need when its 8 AM and we are having to talk with <insert_API_name_here> first thing in the morning.

Official Website: Mocha Shopping Cart
Blog with coupon code: Get a free trial of Mocha Shopping Cart

]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2009/09/cakephp-ecommerce-done-right-mocha-shopping-cart/feed/ 0 Peep! A friendly GTD compliant productivity tool for you. http://techno-geeks.org/2009/05/peep/ http://techno-geeks.org/2009/05/peep/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 14:33:47 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=164
About a year ago Rick (http://www.rickguyer.com) had me read the book Getting Things Done by David Allen. In his book, Allen teaches you how to use his strategies and procedures on managing your tasks (or actions) in a very organized and well thought out fashion. His strategy is unique and calls for a very unique tool to accompany his GTD system. When I originally read his book, Rick and I spent several days searching for a different program, service, or web app that would allow us to incorporate Allen’s GTD system in an electronic fashion. After a solid week of effort I gave up after finding nothing that I felt was easy to use and completely GTD compliant.

Finally, after over a year, we decided to create this perfect GTD compliant web service that will help people, like us, be able to incorporate Allen’s system and become more productive. Peep! is “a simple and easy-to-use tool to help you focus and start getting things done.” I highly suggest you all try it and let me know what you think.

Head over to http://trypeep.com and get started today!

]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2009/05/peep/feed/ 0 Music Spotlight: ATB http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/music-spotlight-atb/ http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/music-spotlight-atb/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:24:25 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=152 Haven’t heard anything new from ATB in almost a couple years now. Apparently he has a new album coming out here in a few days (May 1). A friend sent me a link to the video below a little bit ago and I thought it was share worthy for sure. This track is available for mp3 purchase at Amazon and you can buy the hardcopy too.

“What About Us” by ATB

Makes me miss the old days :)

]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/music-spotlight-atb/feed/ 0 Coming Soon: Peep! http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/coming-soon-peep/ http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/coming-soon-peep/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:30:20 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=148 We’ve been working hard at the office lately in efforts to launch a new application that will be aimed towards increasing one’s productivity. The app will follow the principles in the book Getting Things Done by David Allen. Check out the sneak peek below!

peep

]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/coming-soon-peep/feed/ 0 Recent WoW Highlights http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/recent-wow-highlights/ http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/recent-wow-highlights/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:30:52 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=112 wowscrnshot_040209_205942

Leethacks got the Twilight drake! Won it with a 97 :)


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We found an alliance who was leveling an alt in the same place we were. We killed his alt and he had his main parked at the same location. We’d kill his alt and then id stealth and the wife would run away and I’d watch his main frantically search for us like 5 minutes, give up, and then switch back. What happens when he switched back to his alt? You guessed it: came out of stealth and owned his alt again. We did this back and forth for quite some time. Little did he know, I had my main on his way at this same time (thanks to multi accounts). As you can see in the pic above, there is his mains dead body, right next to his alts! EPIC


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Having fun on my level 60 sub rogue. Check out this combat text:

Gorgos has slain Smurpfy!
Gorgos’s Ambush hits Smurpfy for 27 Physical. (2664 Overkill) (Critical)
Smurpfy died.
Smurpfy’s Thorns reflects 3 Arcane damage to Gorgos.


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My lock finally got a couple of nice pieces of loot. She also got her Doom guard after putting it off for ever.

]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/recent-wow-highlights/feed/ 2 Google Friend Connect http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/google-friend-connect/ http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/google-friend-connect/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:41:20 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=103 Rick (from rickguyer.com) and I played around with Google Friend Connect today. It appears that Google is attempting to turn the entire internet into a single, gigantic Facebook or Myspace. I like where they are going with the idea but I think it needs quite a bit of polishing still. I have installed it for you to play with as well (see right side bar). Please leave comments and let me know what you think. For more information on Google Friend Connect check out Google’s site.

]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2009/04/google-friend-connect/feed/ 0 Notice: Source Code Snippets Broken http://techno-geeks.org/2009/03/notice-source-code-snippets-broken/ http://techno-geeks.org/2009/03/notice-source-code-snippets-broken/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:33:49 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=97 As im sure most of you are aware, I am having issues finding an elegant solution for displaying code snippets inside my WordPress posts. I have tried about 20 plugins for it and I should have something going soon. I will go through my old posts and beautify them once I am finished. Thanks for baring with me while I get this resolved.

If I dont figure out anything that I like I may try a CakePHP powered blog or write my own.

]]> http://techno-geeks.org/2009/03/notice-source-code-snippets-broken/feed/ 1 US Immigration: The final obstacle http://techno-geeks.org/2009/02/us-immigration-the-final-obstacle/ http://techno-geeks.org/2009/02/us-immigration-the-final-obstacle/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:18:49 +0000 jesse http://techno-geeks.org/?p=51 Well, here we are on the morning of. Within the next hour or so my wife and I have our immigration interview that will finalize the process for us. I really don’t know what to expect but I hope that everything goes well. As with anything related to US immigration though, I am prepared for the worst. Nothing has been easy (or cheap) during this process. If this interview goes well we will finally be able to move on with our lives and the quality of life will drastically improve.

Ironically, this situation reminds of one of the more popular WoW acheivements: What A Long, Strange Trip It’s Been.

Well… here goes nothing…

[UPDATE]
The interview went very well and the interviewing officer was very pleasant. My wife is now a conditional permanent resident.

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