Littlevale's Occasional Stuff

Site Optimisation 1 - CSS Inline images with the data: URI

2010-03-15T13:24:00.002+13:00

Introduction There is much research to show that the response time of a site is the key factor in maintaining a user's interest. A slow site leads to a bored visitor, and one more failed visit. This series of articles aims to highlight simple techniques that can reduce page load times dramatically, whilst maintaining the rich graphical environment we have all become used to. Performance factors

Manipulating CSS classes in Javascript

2010-03-02T15:46:00.002+13:00

.source { display:block; font-family:courier; font-size:10pt; padding-left:30px; What started with a requirement to populate printed output from form input, all in Javascript developed into a more general approach to handling classes within Javascript. The original problem started out like this: ... What's your first answer? ... Put the first answer here:, and then some more text... ...

Canonical names using mod_rewrite with Apache

2010-02-12T16:03:00.000+13:00

Canonical Names I got stuck for a while this week. I had a problem with a PHP script, and coding it for different URLs that might reach it. Specifically, both http://www.example.com and http://example.com would reach the same copy of /index.php, and cookies and other variables changed according to which as used. Worse, other entry points to the site suffered the same problems. I wanted to force

Site changes, February 2010

2010-02-04T14:47:00.001+13:00

The Business Site www.littlevale.com is now being rebuilt actively. New tutorial content is being developed, and the hosting and services pages are under construction. Expect to see a SOHO mini-site package for including site development, domain and hosting for under NZ$300, and small business packages for less than NZ$1000. The Games Room I have finally managed to hive off the Games Room

A simple Javascript clock

2010-01-27T13:35:00.004+13:00

I needed to get a real time clock onto a page I was working on recently. More, I needed two, to display local time and time elsewhere in the world. I could have taken a simplistic view, and simply coded the clocks independently, but I couldn't then port the solution to another site quickly and easily. Instead, I coded the clock as a Javascript object, and applied it twice. Encapsulating the

Requiem 1.8.17 released

2010-01-17T03:26:00.002+13:00

[AnotherEdit] iTunes 9.0.3 breaks Requiem 1.8.17. No word from Brahms on a solution to this, nor a Windows version. [/AnotherEdit] [Edit] Requiem 1.8.17 supercedes 1.8.16. It fixes a problem with file sizes larger than 4Gb. It's still only for Mac/x86. I have no news on a Windows version[/edit] A lengthy wait for this, but Brahms has released Requiem 1.8.16 for iTunes 9.0.2, Mac/x86. No sign

New Games!

2010-01-08T15:24:00.000+13:00

As promised, a flurry of new games this week. You can get a complete list of the new additions direct from the Games Room. Particular highlights are Kingdoms: Nobility, a single city builder from Blue Omega: prepare to spend hours playing this! If you're in the mood for a really addictive but simple game try Point of Isolation 2. That should fill your afternoon nicely. Enjoy!

This site, and the future

2010-01-03T12:37:00.000+13:00

After a lengthy hiatus occasioned by a relocation overseas I can now return to the original purpose of this site - a vehicle for posting (hopefully) useful notes and discoveries, and a place to develop and publicise my business. First up, a fresh new look to match Littlevale's new web site. There have also been some updates to the Games Room, with new games and a general rationalisation of the

Requiem 1.8.13

2010-01-03T12:24:00.000+13:00

It's been a while since I updated this blog. This is mostly because I've run out of anything useful to say on the topic of DRM and decryption. Even the occasional updates from Brahms seem to have petered out, with Requiem having reached version 1.8.13 for iTunes 9.0.1 Mac/86 only, and no signs of a Windows version or an update for 9.0.2. As it stands I don't know if new versions are under

Requiem, iTunes updated

2009-09-13T12:11:00.004+12:00

What fun!Requiem 1.8.12 has been released for Mac/x86. As I write this it's been out about a week, and thanks to 'anonymous' for the heads up below. I'll post a download link when (if) I have one. It scarcely matters anyway, since iTunes 9 came out just a couple of days later with the 'wonderful' new LP feature, and Requiem is, of course, broken again.Now I love album notes, and I miss the 12"

No Requiem for iTunes 8.2...yet.

2009-08-20T03:38:00.003+12:00

I'm asked frequently about a version of Requiem that works with iTunes 8.2.x. There's been no update from Brahms until this appeared on his site:2009/08/17: No Requiem for 8.2 or 8.2.1 yet. No ETA either, I keep digging up issues with the DRM and/or my spare time. Still working on it... Given the relentless march of technology that drives iTunes development, and the fact that Apple's development

Requiem 1.8.10 for Windows and Mac/x86

2009-05-08T13:42:00.002+12:00

I've been off this for a few weeks. Other Real World issues rather took over. In the meantime Apple have released iTunes 8.1.1, which does what one would expect to Requiem. The caching features introduced recently have mitigated against the worst effects of Apple's antics, but it's a nuisance nonetheless.Fortunately, Brahms is on the case. requiem 1.8.9 for Mac/x86 came out in April. Now, however

Requiem 1.8.8 released

2009-03-17T17:56:00.004+13:00

What goes around, comes around. It's been a busy week for Apple and Brahms. Requiem 1.8.5 was broken by iTunes 8.1, leading to Requiem 1.8.6, 1.8.7 and now Requiem 1.8.8. Meanwhile, iTunes 8.1 has become iTunes 8.1.0.52, which breaks Requiem. Again.(But see edit below)You can get Requiem 1.8.8 here. No Torrent, just a download.It works with iTunes 8.1.051 (you may have to Deauthorise and

iTunes 8.1 released, breaks Requiem 1.8.5

2009-03-12T19:52:00.005+13:00

Inevitably, Apple have released a new version of iTunes and, of course, it breaks Requiem. Given the lead time for Requiem 1.8.5 to appear it seems highly likely that Apple now has several versions of the encryption algorithm sitting ready, and whenever it is cracked, by Requiem or otherwise, they can put out a new version in a few days. Last time (from 8.0.1 to 8.0.2) they took about a week.

Requiem 1.8.5 released for Mac & Windows

2009-03-06T11:24:00.006+13:00

Brahms seems to have been busy this last day or two. He's just released Requiem 1.8.5 onto his Freenet page which includes binaries for both Mac and Windows. It's now on the TorrentReactor site, but it's by no means clear the the torrents listed are the correct files. PirateBay is proving unreliable from my location today so I can't verify that. I'll post a location as soon as I have one.[Edit]

Requiem 1.8.4 update

2009-03-05T00:19:00.003+13:00

After a bit of digging, and an email from a contact of mine, here's the latest I have on Requiem 1.8.4:CHANGES:1.8.2 -> 1.8.4:- upgrade to handle 8.0.2.- key caching- implemented fixed-size samples (bad stsz bug)- fix for >2GB files- mac/x86 only.There have been some early reports of difficulties with ths release, but the problems are patchy and may not occur in all circumstances. The fix seems

Requiem 1.8.4 released

2009-03-04T14:51:00.002+13:00

3rd March 2009: Requiem 1.8.4 released for Macintosh/86. It apparently includes a fix for the AC3 constant-sized bug. I say apparently because as a Windows user I can't test the Mac version. It looks promising for the Windows version, but of course, Apple will release iTunes 8.0.3 shortly which will break Requiem again, no doubt.It's available from the usual torrent sources. Search

Game site Beta now live

2009-03-02T15:52:00.004+13:00

After a shaky Alpha test phase the Beta version of the games site is now live at littlevale.com/games. New features include search and by-category listings together with Top 50 and Recent Games. testing is being done with Firefox, with occasional forays into the IE world.Known problems:Secondary indexes can be slow to displaySome difficulties with rogue characters appearing in the feed.Secondary

Sticky footer in CSS

2009-02-21T11:44:00.003+13:00

I was struggling to improve the Fortune Cookie widget this week. It worked, after a fashion, but the flexibility of the formatting was limited, and significant work was required to reuse the item anywhere but it's original place.Reformatting the quote without using a resolved most of the troubles, but I was still left with the 'Get New Quote' link moving up and down the window when really

Games room Alpha now open

2009-02-11T21:31:00.003+13:00

A new widget has appeared to the right today. Finally, the Games Room is coming together. Play a game & enjoy. There's a library of around 2000 games to bring online, and it's still a work in progress, so please forgive an odd idiosyncracy here and there.The full games room is at http://www.littlevale.com/games, where more of the library is accessible.Oh, and if you like the games please tell

Logging in as 'root' in Fedora 10

2009-01-28T10:35:00.003+13:00

My Fedora 10 setup is coming along nicely now - some of the early teething troubles have been overcome. I was left with a niggle until recently: I couldn't log in as root with the Gnome desktop. Now I know that I can su from the terminal, and the system tools that need root access will authenticate, but it's tiresome having to re-enter the root password every couple of minutes.The solution turned

New Requiem? Not yet.

2009-01-13T13:42:00.003+13:00

Back at the end of November, just after iTunes 8.0.2 was released Brahms posted this on his Freenet site:"2008/11/29: iTunes 8.0.2 breaks Requiem. Working on it..."I checked out Brahms Freenet page today (13th January 2009) and noticed this line has been removed. In the light of the recent MacWorld announcement the value of Requiem is much reduced now, even if it is still useful for video.I just

The future's bright! The future's...probably not Fedora 10.

2009-01-11T21:45:00.005+13:00

There's a significant amount of web development going on here right now. I'm not going to say too much more about it right now, except that it involves migrating from a UK based Microsoft hosting company to a US based Linux house. This in turn involves overhauling the company web site (Littlevale) and rewriting various tickers and other gadgets there for the new environment. My testbed server

Apple to ditch DRM!

2009-01-07T22:00:00.004+13:00

The MacWorld show in California seems to have left most unimpressed. What on show largely meets expectations, with little new Apple innovation to lift the tone. What's perhaps more significant is the announcement made by Phil Schiller during the keynote speech. Following agreements with Sony BMG, Universal and Warner Music all DRM will be stripped from all 10 million iTunes songs by the end of

DRM, iTunes, QTFairuse and Requiem

2008-12-29T03:02:00.003+13:00

In response to a number of hits looking for info on QTFairuse and iTunes 8.x, here's the best information I have.QTFairUseQTFairuse is no longer being developed. The last available release is 6.2.5, with configuration data for iTunes 7.5.0.20. Configuration data for earlier releases is included. This release is available from the usual sources - search Google for 'QTFairuse 6.2.5' and have a copy

Mail, mail, mail

2008-12-26T09:46:00.006+13:00

In New Zealand it's painful to watch the amount of paper printed, distributed, and discarded unread. The supermarkets, DIY stores, electrical shops, and almost everyone else seem to promote themselves in print, almost on a weekly basis. We salve our ecological conscience by recycling as much as we can, but that's not the real answer.In an effort to reduce the amount of unwanted material delivered

Marketing - a modern iniquity

2008-12-21T04:31:00.004+13:00

I pondered long and hard over the addition of advertising to this site. On the one hand, my various projects underway on the web were costing money, and some contribution would be welcome. On the other hand, I have come to resent the continual intrusion upon my life by big companies seeking to separate me from my money. It is a sad fact of life in the 21st century developed world that the

Adverts - sorry!

2008-12-18T12:07:00.004+13:00

Well, today I have been absolutely self-serving. I have added the ubiquitous Google ads to the blog. It's a consequence of too much time on my hands, and efforts to realise at least enough income to pay for my web presence. Please click on an ad or two. It'll make me happy - I promise!Also on the right is a banner ad for Siteground. I was casting about looking for a new hosting company (Fasthosts

Christmas is coming!

2008-12-11T13:53:00.000+13:00

Well, there's still stuff to come back to, but today's gem relates to that upcoming festival held in the middle of the Northern Hemisphere winter. Nominally a Christian festival, it's well known that the expanding Christian faith hijacked whatever local culture it could find to help integrate itself. It's a bit like HIV for believers. Christmas is, in fact, a much older festival celebrating the

New country, new post

2008-12-08T16:44:00.000+13:00

Well, dear reader, another post, but it's been a long time coming. In the last year the family have relocated to New Zealand. Just 12000 miles, and everything remains the same. I could try and detail all the fun and games we've had negotiating the perils of Immigration New Zealand, not to mention the costs, but we've done it - we're here. And now, I suppose, I can get to documenting all those

CLI dumping scam strikes again

2007-10-10T21:47:00.001+13:00

CLI-dumping - yet another criminally motivated way to part the trusting from their money. Did you ever get a call on your mobile, terminated before you could answer it, from a number starting 070? Did you call back? Let me guess: you got a recorded message about how the person you were calling was being sought, and would you please hold. This is CLI dumping, and you'll never get through to the

iTunes update again, again.

2007-09-24T06:03:00.001+12:00

The gurus at Apple have released iTunes 7.4.2.4. Just a heads-up for anyone who picked up on my post about QTFairuse - get the new config file here.Happy ripping!

BPI's digital sense

2007-09-20T03:43:00.001+12:00

I couldn't just leave my rant on the iniquities of DRM with an unresolved link. The BPI have indeed said that they will not sue consumers for personal copying. See this extract from this article on their web site: BPI reassures consumers: “We will not sue you for filling your iPod with music you have bought yourself" BPI Chairman Peter Jamieson was quizzed on the fact that the “all rights

Digital Rights Management - a digital wrong.

2007-09-19T04:57:00.001+12:00

You guessed it - here's the DRM horror. Enter Virgin's on line store a couple of years ago. Exit a significant amount of money in their direction buying downloaded music. Their service was, at that time, actually provided by OD2, aka On Demand Distribution using Microsoft's DRM offering. I buy a load of tracks and pay. So far, so good, until I upgrade the operating system from XP Home to XP Pro.

iTunes updates, again.

2007-09-15T23:43:00.001+12:00

So Apple have revamped their iPod range this week. Inevitably, the new clutch of iPods brings yet another update to iTunes (Version 7.4.1.2) and another round of updates on my various computers beckons!This brings me nicely to one of my favourite rants. I hate Digital Rights Management (DRM) with a vengeance. For those of you who find this entire subject too tedious for words, stop right here.

What is this for?

2007-09-15T23:17:00.000+12:00

Good question - what is this for? I have no particular desire to splatter my personal details over the web for others to puzzle/gloat/stare/(fill in your own verb here) at. I don't spend my precious hours trawling the blogsphere, so why do it? Simple - I seem to spend my life (or a good portion of it) trawling the web for innumerable snippets of technical and other stuff. Sometimes, maybe often,