2009 December | WTFisWrong

Archive for December, 2009

Setting Up ActiveSync – Exchange 2003

For those of you who don’t know what ActiveSync is, it is a data synchronization program developed by Microsoft for use with its Microsoft Windows line of operating systems.

This will enable our iPhone and other smart phone users to be able to get their email just like our people that have blackberries can.

So, I started off by doing what anyone else would do, turn it on and test.

I did the following from Microsoft Technet

On the Exchange front-end server that is running Exchange ActiveSync, log on with the Exchange administrator account, and then start Exchange System Manager.
Expand Global Settings, right-click Mobile Services, and then click Properties.
On the Mobile Services Properties page, in the Exchange ActiveSync pane, select or clear the check box next to Enable user initiated synchronization.
Click OK

Easy enough, so let’s try and test this out. Well, it didn’t work and I had a error message to work with which was this:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: MSExchangeOMA
Event Category: (1000)
Event ID: 1503
Date: 9/4/2008
Time: 9:54:44 AM
User: N/A
Computer: Exchange Server Name
Description:

An unknown error occurred while processing the current request:
Message: The remote server returned an error: (403) Forbidden.
Source: Microsoft.Exchange.OMA.ExchangeDataProvider

Stack trace:
at Microsoft.Exchange.OMA.ExchangeDataProvider.OmaWebRequest.GetRequestStream()
at Microsoft.Exchange.OMA.ExchangeDataProvider.ExchangeServices.GetSpecialFolders()
at Microsoft.Exchange.OMA.ExchangeDataProvider.ExchangeServices..ctor(UserInfo user)

Forbidden – … ok?! Well, after some googling, I came across this workaround for this issue. I guess if you have SSL and forms based authentication in place, this just doesn’t work. So, what you need to do is following method 2 of this article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817379/

I would highly suggest you do this workaround during a downtime. I did mine in the middle of the day, and my SMTP Virtual Server didn’t exactly want to start back up automatically and I didn’t catch it right away causing a few people to get messages stuck in their outbox. Yes n00b move on my part, but oh well.

So – we tested the phone again. Still isn’t working. Ok… time to go back to the event viewer. Yup – something there.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Server ActiveSync
Event Category: None
Event ID: 3005
Date: 9/8/2008
Time: 3:31:14 PM
User: Username
Computer: Exchange Server

Description:

Unexpected Exchange mailbox Server error: Server: [Server Name] User: [E-Mail Address] HTTP status code: [400]. Verify that the Exchange mailbox Server is working correctly.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

hmmm – yup, the server is running. What else could it be. *scratches head*

After not finding much on google, I decided to dig into Microsoft’s forums a bit. There was one solution that I found here. And it links to another forums here.

A person by the username twisty168 has figured out a very simple solution to this issue, which is the following:

Open IIS Manager
Navigate to Websites -> right click on “Default web site” and click on properties.
On the web site tab click on advanced
Under “Multiple identities for this website” click on the default entry and click on edit
I made the following changes – IP address: (All Unssigned), TCP port:80, Host Header Value: “Blank”
Click ok and restart IIS Admin Service (warning will disconnect clients) to be sure!

We tested the phone, and it works!

A couple things to watch out for is this error message. After doing some reading on it, it means nothing and you can ignore it.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Server ActiveSync
Event Category: None
Event ID: 3005
Date: 9/9/2008
Time: 9:45:26 AM
User: Username
Computer: Exchange Server
Description:

Unexpected Exchange mailbox Server error: Server: [Server Name] User: [E-Mail Address] HTTP status code: [409]. Verify that the Exchange mailbox Server is working correctly.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

I hope this helps out everyone else that may be needing help with this issue!

SaumZ

2009: 12/30
CATEGORY: Technology
TAGS: ActiveSync
Exchange
iPhone
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Elements – A Free Online CCG

Elements is a fresh new look of the world of collectible card games online and is created by Zanzarino Webdesign. Many people expect that there is something that involves spending money for special content, or to gain a quick advantage over your competition, but not in this case. This game is 100% funded by ad revenue and player donations, which is a refreshing concept for many players.

The game is logically more simplistic than Magic The Gathering, but has the potential to have vastly more challenging deck designs in it’s maturity due to there being 12 different “colors”.

The turn structure is a simplified version of what you would expect from Magic.

Draw
Main Phase
End of Turn
1. Creatures deal damage and Gain Life
2. Draw quantum from pillars/towers
3. Draw quantum from your Mark
4. Weapon deals damage
5. Pass the turn

To win the game, there are two simple ways. You can either deck your opponent or reduce them to 0 damage. With a limit on deck sizes of 30-60 cards, it can be tough to stall and deck your opponent, so the main method of kill is to reduce your opponent to 0 life. This sometimes can be a tedious task seeing as each player starts with 100 life.

At the end of turn, you cannot interrupt the process, and there is no blocking. The only time you can play spells or use creature or weapons abilities is during your Main phase. You also cannot play at all during your opponents turn. Just assume that there is a “Teferi” type global effect.

One thing that Magic players are used to is having your mana pool empty at the end of your turn. In Elements, this is not the case. Your Quantum pool never empties at the end of a turn or phase, so you can save up to cast that big dragon on turn 4 or 5.

Also, taking a page out of World of Warcraft CCG, creature’s hit points do not come back at the end of turn or phase. So you can slowly chop down a creature using a weapon like Eagle Eye, and then devouring it using your Otyugh or Scarab.

The game has increasing difficulties for playing against the AI. There are levels 1-6, where level 6 are labeled the False Gods which do not like to play by the rules. They get to draw 2 cards a turn, have 200 hit points, and their marks provide them with 3 quantum of their color each turn. As you go up in the difficulties, the more you bet per game, and the greater the reward. When you beat the opponent, you get a chance to spin the wheel to gain cards without spending gold on them in the Bazaar.

In reality, each card is two cards. With 1500 gold in the game, you can upgrade each card into an improved version. For example, a Horned Frog is a 3/3 for 2 Life quantum, and the upgraded version, Giant Frog, is a 5/3 for 2 Life quantum. You gain 2 more damage a turn for the one time cost of 1500 gold for one card.

Now.. wtf is wrong with the game.

Well, not too much. The game is balanced, clean layout, no lag, easy to navigate, and a lot of fun to play.

However, pvp could use more work. In previous versions, the pvp has been plagued with desync issues where if you desync’d, the game would continue in a bugged fashion and in the end, both players were recorded with a victory. Once the pvp is tweaked and optimized, pvp can be the core of the game, and it can provide and promote a healthy pvp community where a ladder and tournaments could be held. Right now, the core of the game is battling the False Gods and trying to create a deck to optimize the win % against the false gods.

The game could use more cards. This is being taken care of as we speak with the most recent versions. The developer has created 8 new cards which are currently being deployed. But, like with all CCG’s, the more cards in the card pool, the better.

Another item that should be addressed is implementing a competitive marketplace for selling rare or upgraded cards to other players. Right now, you can only buy non-upgraded, non-rare cards from the server. A competitive marketplace or trading post could open up the game to more user interaction.

This game has a bright future, so please keep your eye on it. Feel free to try it out.

I give the game a solid 4 out of 5. One the pvp community is strengthened by reducing desyncs and implementing tournaments or a ladder, it will get a solid 5 out of 5.

If you want to play a pvp game, let me know. My in-game name is SaumZ, and I also frequent the Elements chat room.

SaumZ

2009: 12/28
CATEGORY: Reviews
TAGS: CCG
Elements
flash game
2 comments

Facebook Ad Fail

Here is yet another Facebook ad fail.

*shakes head* Kirk Skywalker would be disappointed.

2009: 12/27
CATEGORY: Fail
TAGS: facebook
Fail
star trek
star wars
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Facebook Dislike Button = Bad Idea?

Chances are that you have probably seen someone join a group on Facebook or are even in a group on Facebook that has to do with getting the “Dislike Button”. Right now, there are 3,204,192 people that are fans of the main page for the dislike button. There are millions more in other groups as well, and of course there are people that have joined every group they have found that has to do with the dislike button.

I have not joined any of those groups, and for a very simple reason. I do not think that the dislike button will be a good thing for Facebook. Here’s why:

Non-Interpersonal Conflict – When someone posts a status update or a link, a user could simply click dislike the item. Without the dislike button, someone would have to comment with a rebuttal or some type of argument which would take some time to be thought out which would result in a lot less negative feedback or debate. The dislike button would give access to a lot more trolling and would initiate a lot more heated debate than there would be in the first place.
More Confusion – Just as there is with the like button now, people would be more confused with both buttons available. Did you like the post? Did you like the fact that I posted it? Did you not like that I posted it? Do you not like the topic? Do you not like the website? Do you not like me? Do you like the topic it is about? All of these questions could arise from simple button clicks of like or dislike to what someone says or what someone posts.
Atmosphere – Facebook was a big sigh of relief for many people who went to Facebook from Myspace. It has a positive atmosphere, clean interface, and you interact with your friends. The dislike button will change that atmosphere. It will create a darker, more negative atmosphere between you and your friends. Why would you want that? Making the atmosphere of Facebook into a more of a negative place will only cause friction, drama, and people’s feelings to get hurt.
Learn From Myspace – I think that Facebook needs to learn from Myspace. The darker, more negative tone of the site as people were arguing and begging for a top 8 spot, asking why they are out of your top 8, etc. is what made Facebook the new leader in social networking. If Facebook implemented the dislike button, it will turn into Myspace 2.0 and another site will be created and eventually overtake Facebook sooner rather than later.

I think that Facebook will not implement the feature due to some of these reasons. These reasons are what made the site into the successful site it is today.

If you are absolutely set in wanting a dislike button, there is an add-on for that in Firefox. But then again, why add to the drama?

SaumZ

2009: 12/14
CATEGORY: Technology
TAGS: dislike
facebook
media
social
2 comments

Google Public DNS – But Why?

Today, Google announced that they are launching their Google Public DNS service.

According to Google, the new Public DNS service will do the following for a user,

Speed up your browsing experience.
Improve your security.
Get the results you expect with absolutely no redirection.

They go into more detail on their site on how this will make it better for everyone based on those three statements.

As a technology purist, I love that they 100% follow the DNS standards. Not even OpenDNS can offer that, but I also wonder why Google is coming out with such a service.

Here are some ideas:

Stepping Stone for Google OS: One thing they could be doing is provide a controlled and secured base for their Google OS, which Google has said it going to be mainly internet based. This will cut out the middle-man when they are supporting or troubleshooting issues or improvements to their OS.
To improve their Adwords program: They could use the permanent data that they are keeping in their logs to help out with providing a system for targeted advertising. Targeted advertising would help increase the cost per ad, due to advertisers having more confidence in reaching their intended target. I can see this being an additional service on top of their general Adwords program that they currently have so they do not disrupt their current client base, but provide organic growth with their more sophisticated clients.
Public Relations: One thing you can count on with Google Public DNS is getting a clean result without redirection. I know with my ISP, Qwest, I get hijacked returns. But, with Qwest, I have an option to opt out of their “Qwest Web Help” service that was giving me back a hijacked DNS redirection. Now that I opted out, it still shows me a Qwest site, but saying that there is a DNS issue, no more ads. There are also reports of other large ISP’s like Comcast doing the same thing, but without any way to opt out. Google also has a highly visible privacy policy so you know that they will be doing with your data. A lot of ISP’s do not provide such a easy to find policy, so it makes you wonder what they do with your information. All of the pure technology and improved security with the Google Public DNS will cause people to trust Google over their own ISP, which says a lot.
Combination of all of above: Providing such a basic internet protocol in it’s pure and secure form will probably enable all 3 of my speculations to come true. If that was the case, Google would have killed many birds with one stone by providing something so fundamental.

Time will tell, and I know a lot of people will be testing their new service. I know I will be.

SaumZ

2009: 12/03
CATEGORY: Technology
TAGS: DNS
Google
internet
Public
5 comments

Binary Probability

In mathematics there is a whole theory of probability. Some examples of probability are like, what is the probability of rolling two 6′s on two 6 sided dice? The answer would be $\frac{1}{36}$ . You have a $\frac{1}{6}$ chance to roll a 6 on each dice, so $\frac{1}{6} \times \frac{1}{6} = \frac{1}{36}$ . Now… what if I were to tell you that this is wrong…

The concept I have thought of is binary probability. The name because of the answer being either a yes or a no, a 1 or a 0, etc.

Think about it, everything either happens or it doesn’t. “Hmm, am I going to win the lottery today?” Well, that question could be a yes or a no, meaning you have a 50/50 shot at winning it. Sounds simple right? Well it is…

Now we will go into some definitions and the main theorem of the idea.

Definition: Binary Question – A logical query that has two possible outcomes.

Some examples are as such: Do I need gas in my car? Can I do a backflip? Can I splice the genes from a chihuahua into a kumquat? Each one of these questions have a simple yes or no answer.

Theorem 1: In every Binary Question, the probability of each event happening is .5.

Proof:
Assume we are not in a quantum space.
Assume you have a Binary Question, $a \in A$ , where $A$ is the set of all Binary Questions.
$a$ can have two outcomes by definition, $a_1$ and $a_2$ .
Only one of the outcomes in the Binary Question can happen seeing as we are not in a quantum space.
so, $\frac{1}{2} = .5$ which is 50%.
$Q.E.D.$

Now, you may ask the question, what about a multiple choice question? Simple. Theorem 1 can be expanded to a n-choice question without even thinking twice.

Definition: $n$ -choice question: A $n$ -choice question is a question that could have $n$ answers to it, where $n \ge 2$ and $n \le \infty$ .

Example: How many fish are in the fish tank?

Well… Are there 3 fish in the tank? Either yes or no, 50% chance. 4 fish? Yes or no, 50% chance. 5 fish? Yes or no, 50% chance, etc.

By definition, a Binary Question is a special case of a $n$ -choice question, where $n = 2$ .

Now, we’ll expand out Theorem 1 into another theorem, a more generalized version of the theorem to show the true power of Binary Probability.

The Main Theorem of Binary Probability
Each event of a $n$ -choice question has a .5 probability of happening.

Proof:
Assume you have a $n$ -choice question, $b \in B$ where $B$ is the set of all $n$ -choice questions.
$\forall b \in B,$ $b$ has $n$ Binary Questions, $c_1, c_2,\ldots , c_n$
By Theorem 1, we know that every choice of a Binary Question has a .5 probability of happening.
So, $\forall c_1, c_2,\ldots , c_n$ , $c_n$ has a .5 probability of happening.
$Q.E.D$