Frustrating. I use the Sedo Domain Auctions regularly to find new domain names. I’ve bought several domain names from there down the years and the auction feed used to be real quick and easy to browse. Then they made it all whizzy and now it runs like a dog on my laptop and slooooow on my iMac. It can take a whole minute to load 50 domains and sometimes it crashes the browser. So I stopped using it and have probably missed some decent domain names. BUT…
…I have found a solution!
I created a Sedo “partner” account and set up some PHP in a subdirectory of my TV Smash website to grab the feed, do an hourly refresh and feed the re-formatted content out to Yahoo Pipes. It includes the domain name on auction, the time left to bid, the current high bid and by clicking the domain name, you get taken to the page to bid on the domain name!
I love Yahoo Pipes! I have created a load of them actually, mainly using gaming feeds but this domain auction pipe is now top of the pile in terms if usefulness (for me, anyway!).
One of the great things about Pipes is that you (or any user!) can filter the feed to only show what you want. So, if you only want to see domain names with a .com or .net extension that include the word “amazon” in the name, you can take my feed above and add filters.
In fact, you have several ways of viewing or using this domain name auction feed: you can either simply view the list on that page linked above, or it will let you take it as a RSS feed, a JSON feed or add it direct to homepages at MyYahoo etc. With RSS or JSON it’s pretty easy to incorporate this auction feed into a blog or website too if you are a webmaster and want some interesting and regularly updated data, hence why I used Pipes.
Now to go spend some money again 
Just installed the latest version of Flash (10) and started seeing a green line across Youtube videos and on other sites splitting the video in two. Did a bit of digging and found it was a hardware acceleration issue. here is the fix:
Go to a video
Right click on it and choose “Settings”
Choose the first little tab at the bottom of the popup panel
Untick “Enable Hardware Acceleration”
Worked for me – no more little green lines
Found these figures interesting from a recent post on Webmaster World recently relating to the percentage of clicks each position in Google search results receive on average. These results were calculated after Google Instant Previews were launched in September 2010: Read the rest of this entry »
Today saw the launch of Google Instant. For those of you who don’t know that term, it’s that feature where as you type into Google’s search box, the page refreshes with results that Google thinks you want.
It’s very clever, but some are saying it is distracting and it’s getting a very mixed reaction, although these things evolve over time so it’s worth sticking with it IMO. However, if you wish, you can turn it off. There is a small text link “Instant is on” next to the search box (I drew a red circle round it in the picture below). Just click it and select the “Off” option.
Normal Google service is resumed
Something that’s bugged me for a while, ever since installing vBulletin forum software, is the way that Polls work and the misleading nature of the term “anonymous”.
In the past I’d seen an Anonymous Poll on a forum and thought well OK that’s anonymous, I’m quite happy to chip in. Then recently I had to do a vBulletin forum software installation and noticed that in the Admin area, you could view Polls and the results. What’s more, you could see who voted for what.
What that basically means is that a Poll on vBulletin forum software might be anonymous to the general public, but the forum Admins and and Moderators with Admin access to the backend of the forum software can see who voted and how they voted!
Hmmm. That’s worth knowing before you vote don’tcha think?
Just installed a Buffalo Linkstation Pro Duo 1TB network drive (see pic below) which was relatively straightforward – took all of 10 minutes following the simple instructions provided and I’m not much of a PC techie – but just thought I’d jot down a couple of installation notes for those with issues.
Installed under Windows XP on two PC’s and Vista on a laptop.
#1. The first issue was mapping the network drives under XP. One PC recognised it straight away and mapped no issue. The other XP PC could see it (this was the PC with the NAS installation software on it) but wouldn’t map it. Kept getting an error saying that the Linkstation was inaccessible and I didn’t have permissions. The issue was with the Zonealarm firewall…you have to add the IP of the Linkstation to your Trusted Zones. Following this it was a breeze.
#2. The Linkstation powered off when I closed the PC with the NAS software on it making it inaccessible to the other PC’s. On the back of the unit is a Power switch with three settings: Off, On, Auto. The top one is Auto and if set to that, the Linkstation will power down when the last PC with the NAS software is shut down. Simply put it in the middle position and you’re good to go.
Just a footnote to this one: you only need to install the Buffalo NAS software on one PC to set it up on the network. You can see it from other PC’s and laptops without the need to put the NAS on them.
#3. Minor, but I couldn’t see how to map the Linkstation Pro drive on Windows Vista. It’s a crap O/S anyway, but turns out you go to START / Computer and the option is in there. Read the rest of this entry »
More talk, as this every August, of A level grades getting better (Source: BBC). And of course all the usual debate with the older generations saying it’s because they are getting easier, the Government saying it’s because standards are getting better, or whatever. Does it really matter? It seems to me the whole debate always seems to overlook the basic issue of employment prospects. Read the rest of this entry »
moreBlimey! Someone just alerted me to this new technology that MIT labs are working on and it’s quite sensational IMO. It’s essentially early days, but they have created a prototype of a device that can provide informtion on the move like nothing else. Not just information in fact, but any information. Right down to product recognition, Amazon user ratings for books as you peruse the bookstore and, well, anything!
I won’t spoil the fun any more, but if technology is your thing, then you have to watch this video of a presentation filmed at TED. You’ll be glad you did! It’s seriously impressive.
http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html
I know this is a couple of years old now, but I just saw it again and remembered how utterly brilliant this was. If you missed it the first time round, it’s the audition of Carphone Warehouse salesman Paul Potts on the TV show “Britain’s Got Talent”. Unmissable viewing.
Monday 20th April
Ah well – last chance to get my game together before the trip to Alcaidesa next weekend. Made the most of it too. Not. Lost 4&3 to Ads over 9 holes at Boars Head with not a memorable shot in sight. Told him he peaked too early. We’ll see next week. B*ll*cks.
Monday, 6th April
After a week off (conference in Amsterdam) and a bit of pigging out on rich food, it was time to avenge Ads over 9 holes at Boars Head on a bright and sunny Monday morning. Oh dear. What a disaster.
Skip to the chase – I lost 2&1. While I could argue that Ads sinking a 20 footer on the 2nd last was the difference (I won the 9th), the truth of the matter was he played well and I played like a donkey. In fact, the 9th was the only hole I parred all morning and was 3 down after 4. An uphill battle from there. I won #6 and #7 to reduce the deficit – mainly thanks to Ads skimming a 30 yarder on the 7th over the green and into a ditch though, not because I played it well, and then that putt on the 8th. Grrr.
Only 3 weeks to go until we visit Alcaidesa for the long weekend, and the way I’m playing at the moment, “long” will be the operative word.