Minecraft Server MC.REDspin.NET

It's running again.  MC.REDSPIN.NET is accepting players and I will be looking for staff as soon as the server repositories come back up.  My goal this time is to take a hands-off approach.  I will not be enforcing no-grief rules or any other rules for that matter.  This will be, in essence, a social experiment.  The server will host the same world as last time.

For any inquiries about promotions or creative mode or whatever, message me in game or email me at bdavis@redspin.net

Peace and happy crafting.

Outlook.com Competes with Gmail ( Quite Well )

Depending on the features you want, Outlook could be a considerable trade up from Gmail.com and their heavyweight webmail client.  I will organize this review into two main sections: features you gain and features you lose.  One of these lists will be longer than the other.

Ok, for the features you gain.

For starters, I use both clients with Google Chrome, as it provides the best experience in both.  Please note that I am staying clear of the best browser debate.  I use Firefox and Chrome and my preference changes daily.  The most noticeable trade-up is speed.  After some testing, I found that initial loading times were about the same, as determined by a fresh single instance of Chrome.  Afterward, Outlook outperforms Gmail in changing folders, opening messages, and loading the compose mail interface. By default, Outlook has folders that can locate messages with pictures and shipping confirmation and tracking numbers and sort them.  It has less overall folders than Gmail, and does not clutter your sidebar.  It's also just outright sexy.

Chat deserves a section in itself.  Without add-ins or any special tinkering, Outlook allows the user to merge their Google chat, Facebook chat, and Windows Messenger.  Available parties appear in a single list and it appears to the user as if you are actually using the service.  I would include a picture, but would rather not disclose my personal contact names.  Note that it does all of this in a much more seamless way than Gmail can even handle it's own chat.

Finally my favorite feature -- contacts.  Outlook.com sets a new standard for contact management.  It can, in one fatal swoop, combine Gmail, Facebook, and Outlook contact lists as well as any other CSV export from any other contact client.  Then, it can compare the full list and merge duplicates.  It can even grab all of your Facebook friend's email addresses with a couple of clicks.

For the features you lose.

There is one big one, for those who like desktop mail clients.  Microsoft has removed the IMAP feature from outlook.com and replaced it with AES (Exchange Active Sync).  What else is there?  Well, not much.  Naturally the Gmail add ins are going to be lost.  Settings in outlook are definitely sparse but I have yet to really miss anything.  I am assuming there is no one on the planet who actually uses Google+ as a social network so that won't be missed.  If you liked Gmail labels, then Outlook categories is a bit different.  You cannot drag labels to messages and then access them with one click.  The function is in the top toolbar now and you have to highlight the message first.

Overall, Outlook is a step up.  It's a pleasure to use and I even find myself looking forward to getting my new Windows 8 Lenovo this summer.  Woah, did I just say that?

Email or comment and I'll respond asap.  Peace.

Domain Name Change - REDspin.net

After much consideration, I have decided to change my domain name from spacecore.co to redspin.net and the reasons are twofold.

1)  I have my domain name primarily for email purposes and apparently not many people have heard of the .CO TLD.  I find that people add the extra "m" at the end thinking I misspoke or did not write it down right.  A .net is much less easily mistakable.
2)  The .CO TLD costs twice as much to renew than does .NET on Godaddy.com

Thus far, my name servers are set for the following services:
nix.redspin.net -- My cloud Ubuntu Server.
talk.redspin.net -- My mumble game server. Port is 5557

My new email address is bdavis@redspin.net

VEXD.TK - 10 Levels Complete

I have created 10 levels for the first set for VEXD.TK and they seem to be working well.  I will be devoting the next segment of time to working on the aesthetics and improving the current levels.  The entire site's source code is available as a .zip archive at the bottom of this post for anyone who wants it.  Note that while the site does not require a SQL database, most links and other aspects of the code refer to vexd.tk and would have to be changed, so it would not run on any other webserver without some modification.  I intend on writing spoilers for levels 1-10 when I get a chance.

Download Vexd 5.10 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/h4z0p6n37a01741/Vexd5.10.zip

VEXD.TK - My new web puzzle.

My newest project, and the largest of my undertaking thus far, is a puzzle site that involves interacting with the page, it's source code, your borwser settings, and other websites.  I envisioned it to be like an easier and more accessible alternative to notPr0n, which is far too ridiculously hard and vague.  In one level, you are supposed to make the connection between JAY PACK and the file extension .jpeg, then hunt through the page source to find an improperly written call to an audio file.

Anyway, I have begun writing the source code for vexd.tk.  It begins with extreemly simple word puzzles, then moves onward to more technically difficult elements.  I have only published the first three levels so far, but more will be coming very soon.  The entire site tracks your progress with cookies that have a life span of two weeks (simply, the site will forget your progress two weeks after your last visit).  As I work, I will post the source code for the index page, as that is where most of the code exists.  Each level has an answer checking page that redirects back to index with an updated cookie if the user passes and the same cookie if the user fails.

Alpha 5.7 Download ---> https://www.dropbox.com/s/0v30hcp5p2x175b/index.html

CO.NR - Free Domain redirection and masking

It seems I like to write about free things.  This stems from the fact that I don't like to pay for services on the internet.  It was especially hard for me to shell out $20 to buy my TLD, spacecore.co.  If you run a blog or site with an annoying subdomain like somebody.websitehost.com and want to look a little more professional or shorten your URL, you can get a free co.nr domain name.

There is often far more availability with a co.nr because not many people use it.  I was able to land davis.co.nr and redirect it to spacecore.co just to test out the service.  The good news is you can mask your other, longer address (somebody.websitehost.com) and your co.nr will show in the address bar.  The bad news is that only redirection is supported.  You cannot set A records or any other sort of DNS record. If you are listening, co.nr, other DNS features (or the ability add external nameservers) would be super cool.

Co.nr can be used to redirect to your .wordpress or .blogspot site without having to map your domain or pay wordpress's silly mapping fee.

Here's a little secret: you.co.nr is actually a subdomain just like somebody.websitehost.com, with the top level being co.nr.  Most people not familiar with the workings of DNS won't notice because of the shortness.  To be concise, somebody.co.nr is just better looking compared to having to advertise your host in your domain name.

Super Crate Box is Bangin!

Literally.  This game has the most ridiculous weapons.  The gameplay is incredibly simple: collect as many crates as you can without touching a single enemy.  Each crate gives you a random weapon; anything from revolver to bazooka to flamethrower.  You will need as much firepower as you can get because the enemies never stop coming.  Much like a lot of Vlambeer's games, there is no end.  The game is infinite and the goal is to keep increasing your crate number.  At goals like 10, 25 and so on, you unlock new stages and characters.  It feels like a classic arcade game with super low-res graphics and 2D stages - very similar to mario brothers with guns.  My first round, I actually tried jumping on the enemy's heads.  For further explanation, enjoy this screen shot.

...Followed directly by me dying because I had to take a screen shot...

Before you ask, yes - I suck at this game.  But it's just too much fun!  Download Super Crate Box and other free Vlambeer games on their websites.

http://supercratebox.com

http://vlambeer.com