Pixels and Widgets

A blog by Tai Toh

Category: Uncategorized

  • pfSense OpenVPN, VLAN and DNS Resolver guide

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    This is a great tutorial on setting up AirVPN (can easily be applied to any VPN provider) on pfSense 2.3.x and VLANs.  I had always meant to update my guide for this.  I had written: NOTE: FWIW, I think you could accomplish this through VLANs [rather than static IP addresses] The author goes through the…

  • The behavioural psychology of engagement

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    Working in design and UX, my team and I are often challenged with making things more “engaging”.  In other words, how do you make the user come back for more? Ian Leslie writes in, “The Scientists who Makes Apps Addictive“: Fogg called for a new field, sitting at the intersection of computer science and psychology,…

  • Comcast has a dream(works)

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    The USA Today reports: Comcast is in talks to buy DreamWorks Animation in a multi-billion-dollar deal, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg are reporting. The cost of the deal would be more than $3 billion, according to both news organizations, citing unnamed sources. Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, has been searching for a buyer…

  • HP T610 Plus and pfSense

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    When I had set up my Watchguard Firebox x550e, I replaced the two 40mm fans with silent models.  I also swapped the PSU with a 90W pico PSU to make a nearly silent system. One of the replacement fans gave out and starting grinding a few weeks ago, so last week I replaced it with an…

  • Happy Anniversary

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    Jen and I celebrated our 8-year anniversary this past Tuesday at a wonderful dinner at L’Avenue, a neighborhood restaurant. My wife wrote a very heart felt post about the love that we share between each other and the relative value of that love to our two kids.  Given that I was involved in the conversation,…

  • Ars Technica: Review of iOS 8

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    As expected, Ars Technica presents their usual deep analysis of iOS 8:  iOS 7 and iOS 8 feel like two halves of the same update, two equally necessary steps in the journey from Old iOS to Modern iOS. iOS 7 was a facelift, a new release that added some nice user- and developer- facing features…

  • “Kobo’s offering is the peak in terms of e-reader hardware right now…

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    Techcrunch reviews the Kobo H2O:  “Kobo’s offering is the peak in terms of e-reader hardware right now – Amazon’s device is slightly smaller and lighter, but you get a far superior screen from the Aura H2O, as well as the built-in water resistance and superior reading light. The only thing you don’t get access to…

  • Old blog posts added

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    [UPDATE 09/20/2014] I have completed Drupal migration. [UPDATE 09/28/2014] I’ve added my old Movable Type posts.  Still a lot of cleansing that has to happen and relinking of images. [UPDATE 09/30/2014] I have cleansed and reformatted posts to Jan 2003. Still trying to figure out if I should bring in the comments. I have finally begun the arduous process…

  • I don’t know how this sells Cup Noodle ramen

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    I don’t know how this sells ramen, but I’m not complaining.

  • USB Sound Cards: Omni Surround Pro 5.1 vs. Recon 3D USB vs. X-Fi 5.1 Pro

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    Update [2014-05-16]: I updated some thoughts below on sound quality. [Update 2014-09-14]: Added a pretty big caveat to the Omni Surround. I am a bit nuts about external USB sound card / DAC /AMP combos.  I’ve bought 3 from the same manufacturer.  They are all part of the Sound Blaster line of sound cards from Creative.…