Tech Support

Another good one from the smart guys at xkcd, feels like me calling Telkom Tech Support: ""

Java Best Practices – Vector vs ArrayList vs HashSet

Java Best Practices – Vector vs ArrayList vs HashSet: "An in depth performance comparison between the three probably most utilized collection implementation classes"

Continuing our series of articles concerning proposed practices while working with the Java programming language, we are going to perform a performance comparison between the three probably most used Collection implementation classes. To make things more realistic we are going to test against a multi–threading environment so as to discuss and demonstrate how to utilize Vector, ArrayList and/or HashSet for high performance applications.

Read more: Java Code Geeks: Java Best Practices – Vector vs ArrayList vs HashSet

Google Buzz - My First Impressions

I've been using the latest innovation from the chocolate factory for 3 days now and my take so far? It's got legs. Besides the un-google like cold name, I love it and I see myself using it more and more. I primarily use Gmail for my email and chat. Everything there is just done right. A social networking feature like Buzz inside Gmail is heaven sent.

Buzz allows you to post items - links, images, videos etc to a wall within your gmail, that all contacts following you can see and comment on, much like the facebook wall. Buzz integrates well with Google Reader so that when I 'like' an item on Reader, it automatically appears in my Buzz like it does on my reading list feed. Of course Google Reader has to be added to my list of "connected sites" within Buzz. Connecting sites is easy and Google Buzz will offer to link your twitter and blogger accounts too - coool.

My biggest problem with Buzz is privacy - the default settings are just too slack that you can virtually follow anyone and easily find their email address. By default, you can view the profiles (Google Profiles) of people who follow you and those you follow. You can also see all their followers and those they follow and so on. What's worse their Buzz posts are also displayed on their profiles by default (I'm sure this can be turned off). I found this a bit disturbing. Of course when posting one can select to make posts private - only viewed by certain contacts but the tick will go unnoticed for most people.

I think the thinking behind Buzz posts is closer to tweeting than the facebook wall but it is definitely sitting somewhere between.

Comments on posts made by people we follow can also create unnecessary noise as they also increase the count on unread Buzz posts. What's worse, if you comment on someone's post, all comments made after yours will also appear in your inbox like ordinary direct email. To be fair though, there is an option to 'mute' a post - which makes it dissappear and stop subsequent comments from comming to you, much like Google Wave.

Another annoyance is that since my Reader account is "connected", anything I 'like' is by default shared public. I 'like' so many things in a day I can only feel sorry for the people who follow me. The Buzz inbox can soon be cluttered if one follows too many people. This is annoying because it is within email and unlike facebook feeds, we normally want to check on any new item in our email box.

It would be nicer if you could specify within Reader if with each 'liked' item, you wanted it also posted to Buzz. Linkedin does that well. When you link a twitter account, you can specify that it doesn't grab all tweets. If you want your tweet to appear on your linkedin profile, you prefix it with #in. I'm not sure if Buzz even supports the '#'.

Buzz is a great innovation but Google still needs to do some work there. I would like to see more twitter like features like "retweeting" and the ability to reply to a specific person with the @mashtales. This probaly needs Google to give us handles that do not reveal our email addresses.

Should Facebook and Twitter be afraid, maybe not very but this latest kid on the social networking block carries a brand with it and also rides on the millions that long fell in love with Gmail. No doubt Google has some more feature to roll out on Buzz, we will just wait and see.

5 Must Have Google Chrome Extensions

5 Must Have Google Chrome Extensions: "

While Google hasn’t officially released their own repository to download extensions yet (although you can officially submit them here), third-party sites such as Chrome Extensions have a large repository of extensions ready for you to download.

While many of these extensions are next to pointless, there are a few gems that can make your Chrome browsing experience a bit more useful.

Aviary Screen Capture

Aviary, a powerful online image based editor, has released a quick and easy way to capture screenshots within Chrome instantly and edit them within a streamlined version of the Aviary image editor. You also get quick links to other Aviary products, such as Aviary Audio Editor, which we covered here. (Download extension)

Chrowety

You just can’t have a list without a Twitter app of some sort included. Chrowety is a streamlined, convenient and surprisingly intuitive Twitter client. While it doesn’t have all the features more advanced Twitter clients such as Seesmic Web, if you’re looking for quick and dirty tweeting without all the wait, you got it with Chrowety. (Download Extension)

Feedly

One of the most popular Firefox extensions, and beloved by many RSS consumers is Feedly.

Feedly turns your Google Reader into a magazine like start page. While I am not an avid user of Feedly, I know of many who swear by it. Some of them are so rabid about Feedly that they refuse to move from Firefox until a Chrome extension is available. Talk about a dedicated user.

Well now they can see the light. Feedly has now officially released a Chrome extension that will give you all the greatness of the magazine style reader you have come to expect. Time to move to the faster side of browsing my Feedly friends. (Download Extension)

Chrome Reader

It has always puzzled me why Google does not integrate their own superior RSS reader, Google Reader, into Chrome. Until that day comes though, Chrome Reader will have to suffice.

When Chromes discovers an RSS feed, simply click on the RSS icon in the URL bar and that feed will automatically be subscribed to in Google Reader instead of opening a web page full of XML. Chrome Reader also allows you to add your new subscriptions into folders within the extension. (Download Extension).

Dotspots

Dotspots is an annotation service that we recently wrote about here. Using the Chrome extension, you can add annotations to any content based web page by simply highlighting a paragraph. You can also see and edit other users annotations (also known as Dots). While the extension requires you have an account through DotSpots, it is a powerful extension that can potentially add a lot of value. To download sign-up for an account.

While I am sure there are plenty of other extensions just as useful, if not more useful than the ones listed above, you can be sure that Chrome extensions will start seeing some serious advances in the near future. Keep in mind, these Chrome Extensions are not officially backed by Google and can break. While I have not personally ran into problems with any of the extensions listed above, I am sure some people have.

Make sure if you think there are any Chrome extensions worthy of a future “must have” list you leave them in the comments.

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YouTube to Live Stream Alicia Keys Concert Worldwide [VIDEO]

YouTube to Live Stream Alicia Keys Concert Worldwide [VIDEO]: "

In October, YouTube hosted one of the biggest live streaming events ever held: a U2 concert generating more than 10 million streams across 7 continents.

Now YouTube is looking to repeat that success, with an Alicia Keys concert being live streamed on December 1st at 8pm ET.

The concert, to be held at the Nokia Theatre in New York City, aims to draw attention to World AIDS Day; viewers will be encouraged to donate to Alicia’s chosen charity, Keep a Child Alive. You’ll be able to tune in at the Alicia Keys YouTube channel.

Will you watch Alicia Keys live? And will the concert be as big as U2 at the Rose Bowl? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: alicia keys, youtube

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Total security in a PostgreSQL database

Total security in a PostgreSQL database article on IBM DeveloperWorks: "Database security is the single biggest concern with today's Web-based applications. Without control, you risk exposing sensitive information about your company or, worse yet, your valuable customers. In this article, learn about security measures you can take to protect your PostgreSQL database. Be sure to download the sample code listings used in this article."

The coolest Linux commands.

I stumbled upon this very cooool "repository" of Linux commands. Harnessing most of them in ur day to day work will definitely make you look like a pro.
All commands sorted by votes | commandlinefu.com: "A repository for the most elegant and useful UNIX commands. Great commands can be shared, discussed and voted on to provide a comprehensive resource for working from the command-line"