I cannot envisage to live without my smart phone. I have no regrets for swapping my Nokia in for the BlackBerry Curve 8520. Though the Curve 8520 is an entry-level smart phone, I love it.
Here is a list of the shortcut keys for when you browsing with the BlackBerry native browser:
In the goto dialogue box
Insert Slash / : Shift & Space
Insert Period . : Space
General
Add Bookmark: A
Bookmarks: K
Browser Options: S
Check/Clear a Checkbox or Select a Radio Button: Press the Scroll button
Connection Information: C
Hide Titlebar: U
History: T
Page Address: P
Refresh: R
Refreshing with Javascript Enabled: J
Search For: F or V
Stop Loading a Page: Escape key
Navigation:
Go to a specific page: G
Go to the Home Page: H or N
Go to the End of the Page: B
Go to the Top of the Page: T
Go a Screen Down: Space
Go a Screen Up: Shift + Space
Go to Previous Page: Escape key
Shortcut Keys that work in other screens too:
Go to Home Screen: End (Call) key
Switch Application: Alt + Escape
Zoom In : I
Zoom Out: O
How to select Browser Identification
Press the Menu Key, Select Options, Browser Configuration
You have 3 different options for this namely: BlackBerry, Firefox or Internet Explorer
With the BlackBerry option selected some pages will automatically render into a mobile format for easier reading.
With the FireFox option you will be able to view full web sites. Remember BlackBerry does not support Flash.
With the Internet Explorer option it will display you a warning: “WARNING! Internet Explorer identification may cause certain web pages not to function correctly!”
In this series I will also touch on some aspects of software project management since programming and software development are subjects close to my heart. Whether it is another project or a software project a lot of the objectives and principles of project management are the same
What is a project?
When you look the word up in a dictionary you will get across phrases like plans, efforts, and planned activity. From planning your next holiday, planning a birthday party, to complex ventures, projects are part of our lives.
Understanding Projects
The characteristics of SMART Goals apply in every project.
So what does SMART Goal stands for?
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Timed
The characteristics of a project:
A project has specific effective objectives that are concrete and well defined.
A project has measures of effectiveness to tell us how successful the project is.
A project is within the power of the individual or group to achieve its objective.
A project is relevant to the purpose of the project.
A project has a predetermined time frame by which the objectives should have been achieved.
A project consists of small steps called tasks.
A project use resources. From materials, money, machinery, people, etc., and resources are constrained.
Software projects vs. other types of projects
Many techniques used in general project management are applicable in software project management. There are a few characteristics that are unique in software project management, and it is properly true for other industries as well.
A software project is not visible at first. It is part of the process to make it visible.
Software projects are more complex in the sense of cost per unit or software effort estimations.
Software developers have to cater for organisational/human inconsistencies to conform to the requirements of human clients. There are no physical laws for this, decision making, communication, etc.
Software systems are subject to a high degree of change, you need more flexibility in a software project than any other projects.
The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
A project is a planned activity that has a beginning and an end. It also produces a predetermined objective (result or product).
The development of any new information system normally requires three major activities: Analysis, Design and Implementation.
In Information System terms each activity is called a phase.
In today’s world there are many variations of the basic five-phase SDLC. Once you understand the objectives of each phase and the various alternative activities, it is easy to adapt to any other approach or methodology. Herewith a brief description of each phase:
Project Planning Phase
The primary objective of this phase is to identify the project scope, its feasibility, and develop a plan, schedule, and budget for the project.
Analysis Phase
The objective is to understand the user needs and development requirements, as well as generate and evaluate alternatives.
Design Phase
The objective is to design the solution, from the hardware to software and database integration. Activities involved coding and testing, build prototypes, and integration of the different components into the final system solution.
Implementation Phase
This is the phase where all the previous activities come together. The final system is installed and put into operation. Includes setting up standing data, system parameters, user training. Also closing the project formally and acceptance of the project, it meets the objectives as expected.
Support Phase
Basically to maintain the system, enhance the system, and support the users after installation.
Summary:
Every project has three specific components:
Objectives – the requirements, quality specifications and deliverables (milestones)
Budget – costs and resources
Schedule – time line for different tasks and specific start and end dates
The Project Life Cycle
Initial Phase – Initiating processes recognises the beginning of the project.
Planning Phase– Planning processes identify all the requirements, and devise and maintain a workable plan.
Implementation Phase – Executing processes coordinate all resources, setting up deadlines, determine the sequence of activities.
Close out Phase– Closing processes formalises the acceptance of the project and ensure an orderly end.
Each phase is marked by the completion of one or more deliverables. This is a called a milestone.
The controlling process ensure that objects are met by monitoring and tracking the projects progress against the plan, and take corrective action when necessary.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TASKS
IN MICROSOFT PROJECT
PLANNING TASKS
MONITORING AND TRACKING TASKS
Build the plan
Set a project start date
Enter tasks name and duration
Link tasks
Assign resources and costs
Fine-tune the plan
Set a baseline
Enter actuals
Track variances
Adjust schedules
Print reports
Communicate with team
Microsoft Project has some main activities:
Setting the goal
Defining the scope
Planning
Monitoring
Revising
Tracking
Reviewing
Next time we will take a closer look at using Microsoft Project.
This is a quick tutorial that will show you how to install XAMPP software on Windows.
As a programmer and designer I always have a development environment. It is never a good idea to test a new programme, website, blog website and design on a production site (“life site”).
In this walkthrough you will see how easy it is install XAMPP It will be your playground to try things out, test it before publishing it. You will use your browser and the URL (website address): http://localhost. By default, “localhost” is the default domain name for your PC. It resolves to IP address 127.0.0.1.
Well what exactly is XAMPP?
WikiPedia defines XAMPP as follows:
XAMPP (pronounced zæmp or ɛks.æmp) is a free and open source cross-platform web server package, consisting mainly of the Apache HTTP Server, MySQL database, and interpreters for scripts written in the PHP and Perl programming languages.
And the price? It is GRATIS! I just love freebies, don’t you? License: GPL
Let’s go!
Go and hop over to Apache Friends – XAMPP for Windows to learn more. Since I’ve encountered problems with sending mail on XAMPP 1.7.3 (currently the latest version), I reverted back to version 1.7.2. At SourceForge you can browse all the versions and download the previous versions (I recommend that you download xampp-win32-1.7.2.exe for now).
Downloading and Installing XAMPP
Download XAMPP at SourceForge and run the executable file.
An installation wizard will appear.
Select the install button.
Wait for the program to extract. By default it will extract the entire package to C:\XAMPP folder.
Once XAMPP has extracted the file a command prompt window will appear that will ask you a few questions to complete the installation.
Type ‘y’ and press the Enter key to create Start Menu and Desktop shortcuts.
Type ‘y’ and press the Enter key to locate XAMPP paths correctly.
Type ‘y’ and press the Enter key if you install XAMPP on a hard disk including external hard disk drives. Type ‘n’ for USB Flash drives (USB Sticks).
Press the Enter key
Next you will see a notification about the time zone. You will see a bit later on how to change the time zone. Press the Enter key for now.
Type ‘x’ and press the Enter key to close the screen.
Open Windows Explorer and go to the directory C:\XAMPP\PHP and open the file php.ini with your favourite text editor.
Scroll down to line 1014 to enter the correct time zone. To get the correct value go to http://php.net/date.timezone and look up the time zone for your region. Remember to save the file.
Now go to the directory C:\xampp\mysql\bin and open the file my.ini.
Scroll down to line 43 and enter the correct time zone. Remember to save the file.
You can close the above files.
Start Services XAMPP via the XAMPP Control Panel
Now let’s go and check that XAMPP is functionally properly.
Start up the XAMPP Control Panel by double clicking on the desktop icon. Otherwise click on the Start menu -> All programs -> XAMPP for Windows -> XAMPP Control Panel
Select the Start button next to Apache.
Select the Start button next to MySQL
Now to check if XAMPP has installed successfully just select the Admin button on the same line as Apache.
Otherwise just open your favourite browser and type http://localhost/ in the address bar.
Now select the language of your choice.
You will see the XAMPP welcome screen.
In the left navigation bar click on the Status link to view what is running and working or not.
Click on the Security link in the navigation pane to get an overview of the security status of your XAMPP installation.
Scroll down and click on the link http://localhost/security/xamppsecurity.php
In this screen you can secure the XAMPP installation by providing a password for the MYSQL root user and choose a username and password for the XAMPP directory. Remember that you will have to enter this username and password every time you access http://localhost/
Now your developer environment is all set up and ready waiting for you.
Remember XAMPP is for a developer environment. You can read and learn more about at Apache Friends – XAMPP for Windows.
