How to use Webkit CEF in an MFC Project

It took sometime before i was able to figure this out myself.

The CEF download contains a sample on how it’s done in a Win32 Project, in Visual Studio. Unfortunately, that sample contains quite a lot of things that makes it difficult to grasp especially for those who have completely no prior knowledge of using webkit (which was my case).

Okay some might ask why use CEF in an MFC app in the first place. Well, i needed it for a project i was assigned at work. 



There are very little sources out there about using CEF in an MFC project. Actually, i've found just a single blog post regarding this – the rest were bits and pieces of info and forum replies. Well, i guess not many people are using CEF+MFC but it is the combination that was perfect to my current needs.

Note: MFC does not natively have HDPI support. On the other hand, i think, a Win32 Project has some bit of processing regarding this. I’m using Visual Studio 2010, btw.

Also, I’m making this post a bit of a spoon-fed tutorial. Just follow along the steps if you’ve never used webkit/CEF before. Or if you already have an idea on how to do it, just skip the steps here and download the sample project which you can probably use as a template or your reference project.

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How to use a cheap 2.5 drive as an Xbox 360 Slim drive

(Tips & tutorial on upgrading the Xbox 360 Slim 4G with a cheap 2.5 laptop drive – particularly to those who bought the 4G console in Singapore)
note: this is not for the faint of heart. it will get quite technical.
oh! and use at your own risk)

Out of a whim, i just got myself a new Xbox 360-Slim 4G Kinect bundle!
(And yes, that just killed what ever budget i have planned for my supposed small-form-factor PC gaming rig i have been daydreaming about)

Anyhow, i got the 4G version, not the 250G bundle. 4 Gigabytes (actually just around 3Gb) is fine for game saves and all but once you start downloading apps and game demos on the Xbox (like i did, the very day i got the console) – you’d know that it’s just not enough.

The official Xbox drive sells at around S$150~200. You can get it at 250 or 320Gb versions. That’s quite a hefty price for me. Thankfully, i found 2 alternatives: buy a cheaper ‘compatible’ Xbox drive (not the official Microsoft drive) or buy a much cheaper 2.5 (laptop) drive and set it up as an Xbox drive. We’ll we know which route i took.
(this post will probably be moot soon enough with the new Xbox coming out, but a friend ask me for details)

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Tools: Change Windows Live Writer Save Location (and sync it with Dropbox)

also: using mklink, symbolic links for Windows and OS X

I seem to be doing this a lot of times now: manually changing Windows Live Writer save location so it points to my Dropbox folder. I’m a huge fan of this two programs/services. I don’t know about the future of Live Writer but i’d probably be using it still for a long time. And, to those who have been using it for sometime now, would know that one of its biggest limitation is that it doesn’t allow you to change the location where it saves your local drafts/posts.

You can always go the slightly hard way (see link for the how to, in the next section). Set the links manually to Dropbox. i guess it’s the normal way, which isn’t really difficult, only a hassle.

So, to save myself of the same hassle every time – i’ve created a simple tool to automate it. I’m posting this app for anyone who might need it as well.

 

Here it is.
https://sites.google.com/site/mickeymicks/DropTo.Dropbox.zip?attredirects=0&d=1

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iPhone 5: The Good and The Bad

Here's my personal take on the latest iPhone (iPhone 5, which is actually the 6th iteration). For technical specifications and technical details, i should refer you to Apple:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

I don't want to drown you more with very detailed and unadulterated review and description. Cyberspace already contains a lot of those. So, let me just focus on practical usage from my point of view (who else. lol). Since my previous phone was iPhone 4 (not 4S) i would also add a few comparisons here and there.

Overview:
I got the black iPhone 5 16Gb. Yes, i actually prefer the 16Gb over the 32, 64Gb models. My previous iPhone 4 was also 16Gb - and i haven't been able to fill it up. So, it is a matter of preference and usage. I only put in specific songs (the rest stays on the desktop), and i don't usually watch movies (unless from youtube) on my phone.

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TIPS: 5 Easy Steps on how to organize your data on a Windows 7 PC

tags: Windows 7 tips, separate data and system files, organize libraries, save documents on another drive, preparation for SSD, Windows 7 Libraries

 

This is my attempt at telling people to STOP putting everything on their drive C. Of course, every one has their own way of organizing things – this is my way. Lol.
And, this is just one of the many ways to help you organize your Windows 7 PC.

It’s really good to separate your personal data files (documents, pictures, movies) from your system files (Windows OS files), especially these days when those files could easily grow to unmanageable amount.

In my case, i’ve always separated my system drive (where Windows resides, normally drive C) and my data drive/s (where all my personal files are saved). It’s a habit that i’ve developed since the early days of Windows 98SE. Can anyone still remember that OS?

It used to be quite a task to do that, but with Windows 7 (don’t know about Windows 8 though) – it’s just a breeze.

Why do it?

Here are some of the reasons i can think of right now: 

1. If you want to secure (a bit more) your personal files in-case your OS becomes troubled (i.e. virus, crash, corruption)

2. If you have a larger storage (a second drive, a second partition or even an external drive).

3. If you want to backup just your system files (or just your personal files)

4. If (like me) your planning to move your system to an SSD. woot woot.

5. If you want to make a better organization of your data (easier to find, manage and even share your files).

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Today is Stop SOPA Day

..haven't posted much for the last couple of months but i just need to post this one up real quick..


PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Today (Jan 18th) is Stop SOPA Day.
(thanks to http://richardneililagan.com for the vid link).

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EFI BIOS : A Pleasant Surprise

DEL DEL DEL.
I've nonchalantly pressed the key several times now, waiting for the screen to get filled up with simplified colors of mostly blue and white. The glorified BIOS is coming, i thought.
Then boom!

To my surprise a GUI, complete with mouse, graphics and tabs appears in front of me. I was struggling with a moment of confusion as i don't remember installing this OS or app during the course of my 'primordial' task of setting up a new PC at this new office.

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iPhone: Perk up your photos with 100 Cameras In 1

These days i’ve got really nothing else to do but laundry or kill time at a cafe. Of course, i prefer the latter! Thankfully, most cafes i stay at have free Wi-Fi. That also means i’ve got almost close to unlimited time surfing the net – which, for a big part of, i spent checking the latest free Apps for the iPhone.

In the top 25 or something apps, there is 100 Cameras in 1. This app lets you modify your photos, applying one or several filters that enhances their appearance. For the free version, you only get some of the filters but if your only killing time – then that should be enough.

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Powerloqic 2Go ZeroFlex USB Mouse (best with Netbooks)

note: I don’t really go reviewing hardware but due to boredom – i ended up starting this post about the mouse i bought yesterday.

Powerloqic 2Go Zero Flex USB mouse isn’t a gamer’s mouse nor is it even a high-end mouse. In fact, it is one of the cheapest – that’s why i got it in the first place. I was looking for a highly portable mouse that could accompany my netbook when i travel. Using a netbook, i intend accessories to be as lightweight, portable and as inexpensive. I didn’t want a mouse that was as heavy as the laptop it was connecting to or is half its price. Good thing i’ve found Powerloqic’s product on one of the stalls in the IT shop.

ZeroFlex is quite nicely designed, coming in almost all black with just simple colored lines. It is quite sleek – as with most of their other models. Their line up are consistent with that form factor and layout. Even the packaging is nicely done.

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How to Hard Reset an iPhone

My iPhone just blacked out on me.. again!
This has happened to me several times before. The last time, it went back on after while. This time it just went dead.

Since the iPhone doesn’t really have a battery that you can pull out (like the other smartphones) nor does it have a reset ‘hole’ that you can insert a pin or a pick – it isn’t obvious how you can hard-reset the unit. Well, not obvious if you haven’t read about it before.

How to: Hold down both the power button and the home button at the same time until it shuts down.

Of course, make sure it’s not connected to your computer (as that would give a different effect when connected to iTunes).

That’s it!

I just keep on forgetting this, almost all the time. I admit that my iPhone isn’t the only one whose got bugs. Haha.

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