Why should bloggers have all the fun????

And, when I use the word bloggers here, it refers to people who are using http://blogger.com

After the launch of Google indic translator, now bloggers can easily type in Hindi but what about WordPress users? <wink>I perosnally love wordpress platform</wink>

So, now Im trying to create a plugin by integrating my project OpenKey with TinyMCE{ the editor which WP is using}

Yes, we already have one such thing, thats from Indic Joomla group. But that doesnt fill the gap. So Im trying to that

For now, you take a look at how it would look when we are using it.

The picture you are looking at is TinyMCE editor being hacked for indic purpose.

What do u think about it? Would it be useful for u? Drop in ur comments

Cheerz

Shri

Tutorial: How to store UTF8 (indian language) data in mysql?

Well, let me put it straight this tutorial also applies to any other native languages like latin, spanish etc. But, since I have tried for Indian languages I am writing exclusive for it.

Okay, so before we say code I must tell you this tutorial intends, a thought provoking stuff

Lately, we have seen enough number of Indic-translators, and you must have got your hands on with typing in ur mail/blog. Now, just think for a while, when u sent a mail, and try to read it back from “Sent Mail”, u still see the indian language or even in that case blog articles. For that case, even in Orkut.

How are they stored inside database? Was what I was trying.

Again, I am not sure for any other DB, I have tried with MySQL. But, I guess should be same.

Quick Explanation:

We assume we have a DB with table articles, and a column named posts, which will save the article written in your blog. Best part, we know that all major DB’s support UTF8. And we shall explore that feature.

Now we write a article in hindi, हेल्लो वर्ल्ड

If the UTF8 is not specified, you should see something like ?????? in ur DB else u shud see the hindi data. Clear? Koool lets see the code

Quick Code:

First check for UTF8 compatibility with this query. If it supports you should see the output as “Character_set_system”| “UTF8″

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE ‘character_set_system’;

Now that being checked, alter the table and just modify the column, Posts in our above example and specify it as UTF8

ALTER TABLE articles MODIFY Posts VARCHAR(20) CHARACTER SET UTF8;

Now, try to insert the hindi value and save it. Query it and u shud see the hindi text

We have go ahead and use many other options as well, like Collate etc. But this tutorial intends to keep it simple.

I hope you find this useful and interesting. If you have tried any hacks similar to this, pls drop in comments and share with us.

Cheerz
Sridhar

If you are reading article, you might also be interested in the PHP and Scriptaculous Book I have authored.

The book gives you insights about effects, drag-n-drop, slideshows, applications, auto-completion, in-place editing and more. Complete code snippets and explanations.

CHECK out and BUY the PHP and Script.aculo.us book at Packt official site

PHP and Script.aculo.us Book

http://www.packtpub.com/php-and-script-aculo-us-web-2-0-application-interface/book

D-Camp, Unconference About Beauty!!!!

Finally Im very much excited to tell you all about the D-Camp Bangalore which is been scheduled on 15th September 07 @Yahoo.

What is D-Camp?

Its an unconference about Design, UX & UI practices. Design can be on a hand-held device, mobile, web or for Enterprises.

I have honestly look forward for such event from long time where people can talk, share and discuss about the design principles and practices.

Why? coz, Most of the time, developers are the worst designers

Where to find more details?

http://www.socialtext.net/dcamp/index.cgi?dcampbangalore 

Date & Venue:

Its on 15th September 07 @ Yahoo, Airport Road Office. More details when organizers provide

Looking forward for the event

Cheerz
Sridhar

Project OpenKey: Update

Added Caps, Space and Enter keys functionality.

When we press Caps, Space and Enter button on the keyboard, we can see the result in our textarea and keyboard.

When u press “Caps” u can see the uppercase for the keyboard layout and again press it and u see lower case. Does it sound simillar to Our keyboard working?

Mouse events + Keyboard events, both mapped with the virtual Keyboard, so that user can either use mouse or type.

So, Shusha keyboard layout is almost done.

Now, from monday onwards, its phonetic and typewriter model.

Yes, I wanted to upload all the screenshots but time

Cheerz
Sridhar

Been reallllllly busy!!!!

Last few days, was really busy due to some personal work and above all with my “30-day project”

Finally, as it comes close to 15-days now, I thought of writing the update.

Well, today in Cognizant, inter-volleyball competitions are going on, I was passing by. stopped there. Drank 2 RedBulls, eat snacks and yeah ofcourse played volleyball too

Dont ask what happened!!! Yes, we lost, and proudly, NOT because of me

And, coming back to our mini-hack, its has grown beautifully getting its shape to some useful product.

More about it in next post, but for now, enjoy the snaps of the progress.

Look at this snaps, and u will get a peak idea that, we can have 4 different types of keyboard layouts.

Can u see the hindi keyboard out there? now, even if u dont know how to type, we have keyboard support for you.

You can actually type or choose from the keyboard as well.

Well, I know ur interested in knowing more about it, so I am in developing it. But wait for the next post tomorrow.

Cheerz
Sridhar

PS: when u take Cabs, u come late, but u have to leave at time

Alert: All Nokia Users, Check ur Mobile Battery!!!!

 

ALERT: 

Friends after bringing into notice that the mobile batteries of Nokia have some problem, Nokia company has given a test link.

Out of 300-million batteries only 46 million have problems, which can even cause short-circuit etc.

If you are a Nokia Mobile handset user, please make sure you check your battery details, if the serial number is in the ones which have problem, they wud offer you a replacement.

http://www.nokia.com/batteryreplacement/en/

Even, if you are NOT a nokia handset user, please blog about this, spread the word and create awareness.

Cheerz
Sridhar

A Small Step : PayBack-August 07

Wishing everyone belated Happy Independence Day!!! Proud to be an Indian

You must have never heard that a event happens first and then it gets a name <stuck>

Okay, so thats what we did yesterday, on the occasion of 60 years of freedom, we took a small step.

“In software industry, we are used to hear the word reusable stuff. Why not in real life?”

And, thats exactly what we did.

Goal: Collect all the old-reusable, not-so-bad condition clothes which are mostly redundant and distribute them among local people like coblers, fruit-sellers etc etc.

Why the name PayBack?

Its time for all of us to PayBack to Nation, be it in small steps.

Thanks a lot to Ram, Snigdha, Vinayak, Surpiy, Ayan, and Sudarshan for showing interest and willingness to make the difference.

It was great to see that young guns are interested in giving back to society in some or the other form.

We distributed the clothes in the CMH Road, Indiranagar area so if u happen to visit the place, and see a local guy wearing Arrow, Mango or Westside branded clothes, dont get shocked!!!! Instead Just say “PayBack Works”

Then the team went to blind school and distributed the ladies garments to the children there. I had to drop from there soon. So rest story may be Ram or Snigdha can narrate.

Local junta was following us for more stuff, guess last time I saw people following was only politicians

Cheerz
Sridhar

30 Day Project : Starts Today!!!

“Leave complex problems to BIG people, try to solve simple-small issues”

Yes, thats exactly what I am starting today. NO big deal. Just simple applications.

To start with today I got hooked with a small problem. So I got this idea.

I wont reveal much of what the app will be, what it shud be, or how I wud be wasting my time

The idea is to get something UP & Running,Quickly, very Quickly and then can keep on improving it!!!!

So write to u in detail on 15th September!!!

Keep guessing!!!!
Cheerz
Sridhar

<Hint>No Rocket Science, it has something to do with IndicComputing!!!!! </Hint>

37Signals vs TechCrunch : A Ridiculous debate!!!!!

Michael Arrington of TechCrunch has gone crazy to post such an article attacking 37signals, which has led to heavy debate over web.

The debate is about should software be given free or should be charged?

Michael says it should be free and I guess he probably mis-understood, the concept of 37signals. 37Signals has a array of web based simple applications some of which are free and some of which are paid services.

Yes, you cannot charge every software product, but if some products have extra features, value and above useful stuff. Why wudnt anyone pay?

Give free version of your product, if people like it and find it useful, they would surely want to have a Paid version of the same.

I mean if you cannot ask people to “Pay-N-Search’ but it is not applicable. But, project management suites need more security, features and simplicity. So they can be charged.

What do u think? Should software be free? or charged?

Drop in comments……

<span style=”color:#008080;”><em>If you are reading article, you might also be interested in the PHP and Scriptaculous Book I have authored. </em></span>

<span style=”color:#008080;”><em>The book gives you insights about effects, drag-n-drop, slideshows, applications, auto-completion, in-place editing and more. Complete code snippets and explanations.</em></span>

<span style=”color:#008080;”><strong>CHECK out and BUY the PHP and Script.aculo.us  book {My Book} at Packt official site</strong>
<a title=”PHP and Scriptaculous Book” href=”http://www.packtpub.com/php-and-script-aculo-us-web-2-0-application-interface/book”> http://www.packtpub.com/php-and-script-aculo-us-web-2-0-application-interface/book</a></span>

How to learn Programming????

Most of the time, I hear people saying I am NOT good at programming but at “XYZ”, yes this is completely okay, but if you have some inclination towards learning programming or be a good programmer, here are few simple tips, I follow them so I thought I would share with you pals.

1. Join some Developer Network.

With lot of developer network platforms, half-of the work of the developer is already done and distributed in the form of “Packages”.

Im hooked to Yahoo Developer Network, for many reasons. One, it supports all the languages be it .Net, Java, PHP, Python etc etc.

More reasons for using any Developer Network, I can feel are

1. Cross Browser compatibility, one doesnt have to worry about the small issues of browsers

2. Loads of tutorials, code and examples

3. Forums and discussion boards

You can even learn a lot by looking at the code, examples and tutorials.

Some of the developer networks available are

1. Yahoo Developer Network

2. Google Code

3. Facebook Developer Network

4. Script.aculo.us Network

If you have used or know of any other developer network, drop in comments.

Cheerz

Web Design Tip #4: Using ToolTips Helps a LOT!!!!

ToolTips are really useful. If you are considering of making a web start-up. This tip would surely come in handy.

According to wikiperdia:

” The tooltip is a common graphical user interface element. It is used in conjunction with a cursor, usually a mouse pointer. The user hovers the cursor over an item, without clicking it, and a small box appears with supplementary information regarding the item being hovered over “

Where can we use ToolTips?

Most of the time, designers are not sure when we should use ToolTips. Lets us imagine a scenario where in user has to fill details. It would be really nice to put down a form tooltip to guide user on do’s-n-dont’s.

UserName <input type=”text”>

Now, if we apply a form tooltip, at the right-hand side a tip would appear when the user clicks on the text box.

“Choose username as smart as ur”

This not only helps in guiding the user about the details but also helps in creating humor

Which are the free ToolTips we can use?

Im using YUI{Yahoo UI library} and it has some really powerful features for tooltips. Alternatively one can also use the below mentioned libraries which can surely help in grooving the UI.

1. ProtoTIP : Simple, sleak, beautiful, can add effects and AJAX support. Good for Prototype+ Scriptaculous libraries {Im using it as well}

2. Ask The CSS Guy : ONLY useful for forms

3. Nifty Corners Cube: Awesome library perfect for all rounded-corner needs

4. Last but not least, Google it

If you know of any other library, drop in comments, I shall update the post.

Related Posts:

Web Design Tip#1: Yellow Fade Technique

Web Design Tip#2: Alternative Row colors for Rowset

Web Design Tip#3: Epicentric Designing

If you are reading article, you might also be interested in the PHP and Scriptaculous Book I have authored.

The book gives you insights about effects, drag-n-drop, slideshows, applications, auto-completion, in-place editing and more. Complete code snippets and explanations.

CHECK out and BUY the PHP and Script.aculo.us book {My Book} at Packt official site
http://www.packtpub.com/php-and-script-aculo-us-web-2-0-application-interface/book

BRTFF : Bangalore Roof Top Film Festival@Sunday 5th Aug!!!

BRTFF : Bangalore Roof Top Film Festival

Yes it is also a kind of unconference, where pals gather down for day on roof of some house with a projector and bring into movies. Not that kind of “saas-bhau-stuff”. But some theme based.

Now, please stop asking any doubts u have. Coz I have never been to this. This is my first exprience with BRTFF.

If you want more details please visit: http://brtff.com 

I guess the registration for BRTFF 2 is over {Im NO organizer}, but still you could try by talking to organizers.

So if you happen to be there around. Drop me a comment. I shall catch u there.

Happy Weekend!!!!

Ciao
Sridhar

Nice Neighbors, Awesome Deal!!!

Yesterday I saw our neighbour from “2B” was shifting. I didnt meet him. I could make out from the truck-loaded with luggage.

I asked the watchman, if anyone was moving In? He said, nahi saahab. 2B is leaving. Oh okay. I saw a big box full of books and novels.

I asked him wheather it was “waste” for someone? He nooded. And complanied.

Saahab, no one buys the books, not even for weight. I was very happy to listen

I said, lets make deal, I pay u 100 bucks and I take the books? He was dumbstuck!!!

100rs? I said yes. He agreed.

So now I have stacked up my library with 10 new novels, 5 tech books. All for just 100 bucks.

Some of the novels included, Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, How Opal Got Kissed, Got wild and Got life -by Kavya Vishwanathan, Company of a woman -Khushwant Singh, Autobiography of Gandhi etc etc.

Cheerz
Sridhar