Category: Computer and IT

This shows the latest computer and information technologies news, and also some related information or development by me.

First See on Imgshow Platform Version 2 Integration in Windows Live Writer

At this time of writing, I had just completed the program code for Imgshow Platform Version 2 Integration in Windows Live Writer. It is amazing and fantastic when I am using this product to post multimedia content to my blog. Let’s see a list of pictures that I will describe how it works.
 
First, I had to click Insert –> Imgshow Plugin to open the dialog.
 
Secondly, at the left side, I had chose “youtube”. Recently, there are another Imgshow service, such as fbvideo (Facebook Video), gdoc (Google Docs), gmap (Google Map) and even more. The list is automatically updated each week, however you are able to manually update it. I will show you how to do this later on. OK, back to here, you will see the right side, as Imgshow youtube service there are a lot of parameters for us to fill in, but only “Keyword” is the one that is a MUST to fill in. I had keyed in “In the end”, an awesome song from Linkin Park. And the other parameters are optional.

And then, now, I want to set Border Color 1, and I clicked Get Color Button at the right. It will show the color dialog as shown below.

Once I have selected any colors, the hexidecimal form of the color will be shown as below. Now, it noticed that if I need fill in Border Color 1 I have checked Border before I proceed. This is the validation done by checking with predefined rules. And another validation applied is the MUST filled in fields, such as keyword, if not filled in when you click OK button, it will prompt you “you are required to fill in xxx”. Another validation applied will be number. For example, if you write alphabecs in Width or Height, it will prompt the message where you only can input integer.

OK, now, let us click OK. The Imgshow API will be automatically called, and get the related Youtube to us.

Lastly, before we proceed to Imgshow Platform above, we need to update our Imgshow service list first. You have to manually update yourself at the first time. However, it will automatically updated weekly when you use Imgshow Plugin.

 

Why we need update Imgshow service list?

It is because sometimes Imgshow platform will have added some new features and new functionalities, and it is very good for the user to get the latest update in order to enjoy the best service delivered to them.

Last word, as you can see the user interface design stills look simple and needs more decoration. I will try my best even I have no design and color feeling in my brain.

Now, I am able to post Youtube, post PDF files online rendering, and even more, easily.

Imgshow Platform Next Development Path

I would like to plan the next development path for Imgshow Platform.

I would like to make more easier for normal user to use it. That is the tight integration of Imgshow Platform with the popular CMS system, forum, such as Discuz!, WordPress, and even Windows Live Writer Imgshow Plugin.

Currently, for normal user need to use Imgshow Platform service, it needs cumber Imgshow Query, such as q:name=youtube,k=waka waka, but somehow they are not expert user and will not always understand how to use it. Therefore, next plan is to develop more specific service to be delivered to them. You may wonder what I am saying.

Let me explain more. For example, in Discuz!, in the posting editor, the user is able to select Imgshow Service (like Youtube Button, Gmap Button), and then provide user friendly parameter and click embed. It is easy to do. But technically challenging is that the webmaster is able to retrieve the latest Imgshow Service anytime and upgraded to support latest Imgshow service without any burden. And at local, it should have a cache file in order to cache the current retrieve Imgshow service list, for not always call Imgshow Platform that costs performance problem. Additionally, the architecture of the system should be able to support open integration, not only for Discuz!, but for other CMS system or desktop client system. There is a lot of research to be carried out, both technically and user feasibility study.

Updated:

20101228 – Imgshow Platform Discuz! Integration with forum editor had created, but for DIY block part still in research and planning.

Tutorial on how to use Windows Live Writer Imgshow Plugin

Had created my first Windows Live Writer plugin, Imgshow Plugin. By using Imgshow plugin, the user is able to use Imgshow Query to embed any multimedia content such as Youtube, Facebook Video, PDF, and any other Imgshow supported service.

I am using C#.net with Visual Studio 2008 environment to develop Windows Live Writer Plugin. I had learnt to embed the picture inside C#.net project and generate DLL file which is the plugin file, and just copied it into Windows Live Writer Plugin Folder and the plugin will automatically installed when you restarted your Windows Live Writer. I had learnt also C#.net windows asynchronous worker task in order to load external Imgshow API which sometimes a long process (to avoid my system lagging).

By watching the below video, you can learn more whats my works. I would make it better before releasing the plugin.

Search Music by Notations, Rhythms at Musipedia.org

At my last post, Search Music By Notations, I stated that I would like to find a way to enable user to search music based on notations or rhythms. The reasons I do this is because sometimes the user may remember the music’s notations and rhythms but forgot its music’s name or music’s author, therefore I had came for this idea.

Recently, I found an organization that really realized this idea, that is Musipedia.org. It is an open music encyclopedia with lots of contributor had involved in this project. They provides searchable, editable database. That means they provides several methods for community to contribute their music’s notation and its information that will be stored in their database. For example, the user can enter music’s notation by input from Flash based piano, Javascript based piano, by computer keyboard, piano keyboard or microphone. The system will does automatically the complex matching at the background and return the results to user, with the music ‘s information and equivalent music mp3 link & youtube video. It does show Amazon Buy MP3 Link.

It uses Lilypond (by Hanwen) to engrave the music notes. It is devoted to producing the highest quality sheet music possible. It is free software and part of the GNU Project. At the time of writing the latest version is 2.14 which released at Dec 14, 2010. It you are interested on how they doing this, please read this Lilypond online documentation with me. The author is trying to provide get in-depth knowledge of music engraving techniques and how Lilypond provides a higher quality of music sheet prints results other than traditional lousy way. It is worth to study this.