IE rendering mode

If you want to know whether you're in quirks or standards mode, enter this into the address bar:

javascript:alert(document.compatMode)

CSS1Compat = standards
BackCompat = quirks

Setting the time on Windows XP with NTP

I finally got around to installing ntp on our servers to help keep the times in the logs in sync with each other. It occurred to me that you might be able to do the same in Windows XP, and it happens to be trivial:

1. Double click the clock on the task bar.


2. Select the internet time tab


3. Enter an ntp server near you, e.g. ie.pool.ntp.org for Ireland. Read http://www.pool.ntp.org/use.html for other locations.

XP will update the time every week as long as you're on the net.

Chrome and Gustav

Today the BBC reported that although hurricane Gustav thankfully turned out a good bit tamer than Katrina, some areas of the Gulf Coast have been left underwater.
Also today, Google released their new web browser, and posted a video titled "The Story Behind Google Chrome". As I watched the various nerds sell the new product, I notice one chooses an, errr, interesting metaphor. Coincidence?!

KoolMoves says "One or more ActiveX controls could not be displayed"

It's a bit of a no brainer, but if you get that error in KoolMoves you need to allow ActiveX controls to run in the Internet zone in Internet Explorer (I got it trying to preview a Motion Script effect).

In IE7 you either double-click the globe in the status bar , or go to Tools -> Internet Options and select the security tab.

Make sure the Internet zone is selected and click "Custom level..."

Scroll down to the ActiveX settings (there's a good few) and under "Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins" select "Enable".

Say yes to make the change, and Ok twice. You don't have to restart IE or KoolMoves, just reselect an effect and it should work. If it doesn't, make sure you have the Flash plug-in and check your other ActiveX security settings in the same place.

Colour (color) picker pipette tool

Yeah, some serious keyword stuffing in the title there. I can't believe I've only just found this little tool. It lets you select the RGB colour values for any pixel on screen by dragging from the system tray. It can automatically copy to the clipboard and has multiple formats including HTML/CSS, VB hex, HSB.

http://instant-eyedropper.com/

That's the PC version. For real designers there's this one for the Mac (check out the page in a decent browser to see the nice, scrolling app icons at the top):

http://www.freemacware.com/pipette/

Javascript framework feature comparison

This is a useful slide show, although be warned it's by the lead developer of jQuery, so most probably less than impartial:

http://www.slideshare.net/jeresig/javascript-library-overview/

This guy makes me laugh

Again and again! http://xkcd.com/74/