racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

I’ve recently switched to using Globe’s mobile broadband as my backup connection (through my Android smartphone tethered via WiFi). One thing Globe users would usually complain about is the fuzzy image quality when using Globe Tattoo or Globe 3G. This is because of the image compression that Globe implements in order to save on data use.

A quick source check would reveal that Globe replaces HTML on the fly to prefix images URLs with 64.19.142.10 such that an image with the URL

http://www.techwireasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/AP090721038249-w630-300x180.jpg

would become

http://64.19.142.10/www.techwireasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/AP090721038249-w630-300x180.jpg .

This would be fine for most users, and it also helps speed up access, especially for image-heavy websites. But, this results in ugly websites. Also, those of us who need to view images in full quality — such as people working in graphic design or publishing — would need an alternative.

An online search would come up with various means to go around this issue, such as using a local proxy to filter out the IP-address based proxy that converts image to a lossy format. Others would involve inserting a few lines in a website’s header in order to prevent images from being cached.

Basically, you would need to insert these headers:

<META HTTP-EQUIV="Pragma" CONTENT="no-cache">
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Cache-Control" CONTENT="no-cache">

Benvallack.com describes how to do this on Mozilla Firefox with an extension called Modify Headers. On Google Chrome, this is also possible with an extension called ModHeader. Given that Chrome has recently overtaken Internet Explorer in terms of popularity, I believe Globe broadband users on Google Chrome would benefit from this.

You will basically need to add the following strings of text to ModHeader:

• Name: Pragma / Value: no-cache
• Name: Cache-Control / Value: no-cache

A quick test of the before and after images would tell us that the trick worked.

Before:

After:

Notice the compression artifacts on the before image.

This may slow down web browsing for you, especially since Chrome is essentially loading all elements directly from the website and using up bandwidth to do so. Therefore, it might be a good idea to selectively activate the ModHeader functionality, to only prevent caching on certain websites.

If compression does not bother you, then you will notice connection speed to be faster if you just leave Globe’s proxy be. But, if you need to view images in better quality, then disabling cache might be the better option.

I’ve been using my Nokia E51′s browser extensively since I acquired the phone a few months back. It lets me check emails, post blog entries, and even read my feeds while mobile. I can do this both thru WiFi hotspots or even via 3G/GPRS. My old LG had a browser, too, but the phone was simply too, well, simple for my growing needs. I installed Opera Mini on the LG and it made a big difference in terms of functionality.

And so having grown quite bored of the same old Nokia browser I use everyday, I decided to install Opera Mini. The diminuitive browser is well-praised for its speed and ability to render pages nicely on small screens.

However, I do have issues with speed. I don’t know if it’s a limitation on the part of my phone, or the software itself. Frankly, I find that Nokia’s built-in browser is just faster in most cases. From startup, to loading pages, to the general responsiveness of the interface.

I guess this is how it is with built-in software vs. add-ons.

Am I alone here?

I’ve stuck it out with Bloglines even when there were other RSS readers touted to be more cool (okay, I also used Vienna when I used my Powerbook as my main work machine). Even though the interface was a bit dull, I found beauty in the simplicity (and the lack of snazzy AJAXy effects).

Now, Bloglines has redesigned and has released its new features and interface as a beta.

Why I like it:

* Drag and drop reorganization of feeds
* Feeds are marked as read when they are actually shown in the window, not when the whole page is loaded (meaning you might have missed those posts at the bottom of the page)
* Quick switch to quick and full views
* Less page refreshes
* Seems spiffier, overall. Not like Google reader which takes forever to load.

Bloglines plasn to release this new version in full before the year ends. You can try the beta yourself by logging in to beta.bloglines.com — use your existing Bloglines login!

[via 901am]

There are a few ways to effectively get people to notice and read your blog, and that includes being all snarky, downright funny, satirical, or truly informative, like some bloggers I know. These people have a way with words such that their writings can really drive deep into your soul or your sensibilities. Most of the time you’ll end up laughing your guts out. That’s unless you’re the unfortunate victim of snarkiness or if you end up the butt of all jokes. In this case you will probably get annoyed–unless it’s all written in good faith, that is.

Sometimes you’ll scratch your head, asking yourself why didn’t I think of that?

And I think this last one is good.

Discussion vs. Readership

I’d prefer to quantify and qualify attention better through the number and relevance of comments that blog posts get rather than just the raw number of pageviews for that entry. Why? Sure, you may get a lot of readers loading up your articles. But unless you can get a good discussion going from your post then there’s probably something wrong, which can be any one of the following.

* Your blog software or design is crappy and people are having a hard time submitting comments.
* Your post is worth the few seconds of reading, but that’s about it.

When readers talk back, it means they like what you’ve written and would like to contribute their two cents’ worth. This means your blog post is worth ranting or raving about or on. At the very least this would mean that your readers feel proud to tell the rest of the world that they read your blog!

Style and Substance

However, it’s usually not enough to be just funny, snarky, or satirical. Sometimes this kind of writing might be interpreted as being attention-seeking or bordering on despair, with the writing’s or the blog’s raison d’être being just that–to seek attention. Your writing should be backed with substance in order to be truly worth reading and writing about.

Here are a few tips I can offer from what I’ve learned in the course of my pro-blogging. Let’s not focus on picking themes or niches for your blogs for the meantime, and let’s narrow in on writing one single blog post. Pretty soon you might want to apply this to each and every blog post you write.

# Pick an interesting topic and learn all there is to know about it. This may be a current event or a hotly-contested issue. But I think it’s best to be unique and try to zero in on something no one else is noticing, but you know you can write effectively about. Be creative.
# Make a strong point and take a stand. If you will just echo what everyone else in the blogosphere is saying then your post is probably not worth the fuss. True, it may make for good reference, but that’s just about it. Express your opinion and express it clearly, concisely, and unequivocally. Speak up.
# Write with conviction and confidence. Readers love it when they see someone expressing their own opinion and doing so with passion. You are more likely inspire your readers to do the same. Move mountains.
# Invite discussion. Your readers would hate it when you shoot down each and every dissenting comment on your posts. Agree to disagree. Welcome even the people who don’t share your own opinions. Talk and talk back!

Controversy is good

I’m of the opinion that a blog is only half-complete without active discussion from its readers. This is why I’d rather allow commenting without moderation and clean up spam post-fact–those that slip through spam filters at least. I’m thankful for all of you who have been actively posting here. I’m actually also happy that the J Spot has had a higher comment-to-post ratio since I moved from i.PH to my own hosted WP installation. Somehow my old design, layout and blog software were just not comment-friendly. I’ve changed the format of my blog, too, since then. I’ve focused on writing more substantial material rather than just simple “read this, this is cool,” posts.

Here’s a case I’d like to highlight my point with. A few days ago, I wrote on FG about something I read up regarding Wikipedia (as pointed out to me by Corsarius). I made some strong assertions, and I drew some flak from commenters who thought otherwise. They had good points–some probably better or more valid than mine. But I chose to take a stand. True, I downplayed some points by responding with humor, but that’s to entertain the dissenters and not turn them off.

Controversy is good. And it’s even better when you have great arguments to back up each and every side. That’s how you can blog and get noticed!

Do check out the campaign site of a certain Eric J. Gunderson from Montana, who’s running for a seat in the US House of Representatives this year. <satire mode>I commend whoever developed and designed Mr. Gunerson’s site for the great concept and design</satire mode>. Remember, folks, this is 2006 we’re talking about here. According to the DIGG link, it’s the awesomest campaign site, ever!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you YOUR next congressman from Montana. All done with CSS positioning — but with vintage mid-90′s flavor and an authentic myspace aftertaste. Take note of the wicked LP-rip that loops on the homepage. I hope he wins!

Here’s a screencap:

It’s the 1990′s all over again. Heh!

I remember my old homepages (here and here, and old J Spot writeup here).

And who could forget my sister’s old homepage and high school class homepage?

Warning: looping MIDI alert!

Ah, the good old days!