Windows XP dialog default font changed automatically!

Recently, we had a customer running chinese on his machine have a problem with the way in which fonts were being choosen for the dialog. On all our machines the dialog would default to MS Sans Serif. But on this one machine it would switch to a serif based font. We tried changing fonts via the Appearance dialog under Display Properties, but that would not do it. We even tried changing the DPI to recreate the issue, tried installing foreign language packs, but we just could not recreate the proble. Then we found the following registry item : "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes" Under that key are two entries MS Shell Dlg and MS Shell Dlg 2. These are set to Microsoft Sans Serif and Tahoma respectively on my machine. If you change these, then, VOILA!, the font used in the dialog started to change. More info about this key is available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282187 Once we had a way to recreate the problem, we were able to provide a fix to the customer, as well as fix the code so that it would better scaled dialogs to handle different fonts. Lesson here: never resize dialogs by hard-coded values. Either use the automatic scaling functionality provided by .NET 2.0, or resize to a location that is offset from a control on the dialog. That way, when fonts change and the position of the controls change, your dialog will resize to the new location without a problem. This probably is my last post for 2006 - So HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Are ATMs safe

According to an article from MSNBC, ATMs could be hacked to divulge your account number and pin to a hacker. (Its not the ATM itself, but the method in which the information is sent to the bank, that makes the process insecure). Here is an illustration of the points of vulnerability. And read it in full at http://redtape.msnbc.com/2006/11/researchers_who.html#posts

Introduction to the Make Controller Kit in C#

From Coding for Fun: Introduction to the Make Controller Kit in C# The Make Controller Kit was developed by MakingThings in collaboration with Make Magazine to provide an open hardware platform that encourages experimentation, learning, and - most importantly - the creation of fun, interesting, and practical projects. This article talks about using C# to control this controller.

A GPS device that plugs into the SD memory slot!

This is the first time I have come across a device like this: A GPS that plugs into the SD memory slot. Gosh the possibilities are endless: from the immediate - frees up a slot, to the future - cameras, pocket pc's could become location aware. And it also contains memory: which means a map maker could release the maps and the GPS device on a single package - very cool! http://www.spectec.com.tw/sdg810.htm SDG-810 Special Features: SiRF Star III with low signal levels and high sensitivity acquisition Built-in GPS omni directional Antenna Supports 20-Channel GPS all-in-view tracking accuracy Real time navigation for location based services Colored LED shows GPS signal fixed or searching This company makes other devices that plug into the SD memory slot (like a camera). Physical Characteristics Dimension 62 mm * 24 mm * 2.1 mm Weight Approximately 30 grams Memory: Expansion Slot Micro SD card (TransFlash Card) memory Size : 512MB, up to 2GB