Palmnet news? Shock horror!
Well, not much news.
Currently doing some slow work to update the shout box code for the next version. Decided to ditch using JSON for posts and settings data as it would require PHP5+ hosting only, which although is a good thing and would boost the need for PHP5 even more, it might also restrict my user base.
Instead I'm using the var_export(); function to dump an array into a .php file along with some PHP tags and other formatting.
This means I can just include the file and the variable is done with all the data in it! Nifty!
Some slight security issues though, but it's still early days, so yet to test out everything.
Job hunting!
Palmnet has started to pimp himself out to the highest bidder.
Slight issue in his CV which was pointed out, much to my embarrassment! I said I was born in 1891 instead of 1981...whoops!
Only 98 years off, slight typo, easy mistake to make!
Anyway, hoping to hear back off a few other companies, most seem unsure as I decided to openly admit I want to go to university instead of telling them a lie and saying I'd love to work full time for them and then screw them over later by buggering off to uni. Because I'm nice like that
Anyway, if any random companies happen upon this post and fancy hiring a web developer with experience in PHP, MySQL and a little bit of everything else then give me a shout.
New content?
Yup, I'm considering a big tool-drive and random content push to plump out Palmnet.
It just seems a bit bare nowadays. I remember when Palmnet had Flash games programmed by me and others, image galleries, forums...Course, it were all grass and fields then...
I might just write a forum after I finish the new blog. Or perhaps some other stuff to keep the Palmnet-love levels up!
Router News
Remember my futile router hacking?
Well, after much confusion with a few things I decided to be cheeky and actually email Belkin tech support asking for their source or some help.
First reply went as follows:
Hi Nick, Thank you for contacting Belkin Technical Support. We understand that you have issues while using the Linux commands. We are sorry to let you know that Belkin routers won’t support LINUX operating system. We do not have drivers to get this work. Nick, if you need further assistance please feel free to write to us or call us on 08456077787. You can also contact us through our online chat support at: http://www.belkin.com/support/networkingsupport.asp Regards, Suzane Taylor Belkin Technical SupportI hate it when tech support people completely miss the point!
So I sent them an angry email back. Not only did she misinterpret the question completely, but she gave rubbish help!
How a router needs drivers on my PC is beyond me. Let alone the fact I told her I used windows XP Pro, I even gave her a screenshot of me using windows!
Anyway, here's the reply:
Dear mr Palmer, The F5D7633 router does indeed have a GPL based OS. As such, to comply with the terms of the GPL license the source code has been made available here: http://web.belkin.com/support/gpl.asp If you wish to look around at the router`s filesystem and alter files then you are very welcome to try and do so. However, we can offer no support, nor any information other than that found at the location above. best regards Daniel Powis Technical Support Escalations Coordinator Belkin LtdAside from some bad grammar skills with his capitalisation, he was great!
I now have the full source to all the Belkin tools, and the custom version of BusyBox they run!
Grab it HERE if you too want it, though I doubt you would!
If all goes well I may end up making a project page about hacking Belkin routers, depends if I can fiddle with the FS yet.
Wim News
Wim, of previous Palmnet blog script 'NanoBlog' fame, has written a sweet article on his blog, Fixnum.org
Anyway, the article is about a script he wrote, ProxyBASH.
Basically it lets you get round a proxy that some institutions might have in place to limit your webernet access.
Wims article is great for tech heads but it seemed to me earlier in a conversation that he might have some issues trying to get across his ideas to the average Joe.
So here is how I explained it back to him:
So that thing wraps up the data from, say, IRC. Shoots it to your home PC via your works proxy server on port 443. Then your home pc unwraps it and sends it on it's merry way to the real server.Anyway, if you're having issues trying to avoid the blocks at school or work and need to download torrents, chat on IRC or surf nawty websites, then Wim has the solution!
Phil News
Phil always wants a mention, so here it is.
He's on holiday at the moment, hasn't done any interesting projects and has given me little to talk about here.
But here's his requested link to his site: http://www.pwnet.org.uk/
