How to resolve W3 Total Cache WordPress Plugin update issues

May 26, 2012

W3 Total Cache WordPress Plugin

WordPress W3 Total Cache (W3TC) is one of the best cache plugins out there to make your WordPress installation super fast.

However, upgrading W3TC to its new releases is quite a pain sometimes. Many users have reported W3TC upgrades crash WordPress, generation various errors.

After doing some research on the issues faced during upgrade of W3TC (W3 Total Cache) plugin, here is a step by step guide to perform the update without it crashing your wordpress installation.

1. CHMOD 777 wp-config, htaccess, wp-content

2. Delete from wp-content folder (4 files) [Make sure you have a backup first]

Automatic Programming: Write Code That Writes Code

May 12, 2012

Automatic programming write code that writes code

Can you write code that writes code? Is this what is known as Automatic Programming?

According to Wikipedia: Automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level.

Using Ruby to write code that writes code:

What Is CISPA And How It Can Affect You

April 28, 2012

CISPA BillThe Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) is a United States law that would allow the voluntary sharing of attack and threat information between the U.S. government and security cleared technology and manufacturing companies in an attempt to ensure the security of networks against patterns of attack.

Several commentators have distinguished CISPA from the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill.

Using Google Calendar to automate household devices

April 27, 2012

Google Calendar is not only useful for managing your schedule and Getting-Things-Done lists, you can also use it to automate your household devices.

Home Automation Control Heater with Google Calendar

Home Automation: Control Heater with Google Calendar

As reported at hack a day, Google Calendar was used to automate home heating by a DIY hacktivist.

The home heating automation project is built around an mbed microcontroller that connects to the Internet via an Ethernet connection. The mbed has a temperature controller and a solid state relay to turn the heater on an off. It is then connected to Google Calendar.

Google SketchUp goes to Trimble

April 26, 2012

As mentioned earlier, Google has decided to part ways with SketchUp in its recent spring cleaning activities.

Now it is announced that Trimble Navigation Ltd has agreed to buy SketchUp 3D modeling platform from Google for an undisclosed price.

SketchUp is a free 3D modeling platform that helps in designing 3D models within Google Earth — a virtual map of most of the planet’s surface. The platform enables users to create collections of models, including 3D buildings, and share them with fellow modelers around the world.

SketchUp was a tiny startup when it was acquired by Google in 2006. It now boasts of millions of active users.

3D Photo Tour with Google Maps and Google MapsGL

April 26, 2012

Google Maps has announced Photo Tour feature that presents 3D Photos of selected landmark.

According to Google Lat Long Blog, photo tours are available for more than 15,000 popular sites around the world, from famous landmarks such as St. Mark’s Basilica in Italy to scenic treasures like Half Dome in Yosemite.

How Google produces the 3D Photo Tours:

Google use advanced computer vision techniques to create a 3D experience from public, user-contributed Picasa and Panaromio photos. Initially, clusters of overlapping photos around major landmarks are identified. The their system derives the 3D shape of each landmark and computes the location and orientation of each photo. Google Maps then selects a path through the best images, and adds 3D transitions to seamlessly guide from photo to photo as if the user is literally flying around the landmark and viewing it from different perspectives

Google Algorithm Update To Target Webspam In Search Results

April 25, 2012

Google Web SpamGoogle has shown serious intentions against web spam in past few months. The roll out of Panda algorithm and delisting content farms were steps from the search giant that indicated the direction Google is heading, in terms of keeping its search results clean by focusing only on web properties with quality content.

Now, Google is ready to launch an algorithm update that will be targeted at webspam.

This new algorithm update will decrease search engine rankings for sites that Google believe are violating its quality guidelines.

NOFWD offers a system to stop unauthorized email forwarding

April 25, 2012

Consider a situation where you sent email to a colleague or acquaintance, intended for her eyes only. However, your friend finds it interesting, or otherwise, and decides to share it with her address book. Lo and Behold! You are a news now.

Consider another situation, where you sent a business quote to potential client, confidential and intended for their use only. However, the client forwards it to another party – without your consent. What can you do to avoid this? No, putting a DO NOT FORWARD footer won’t work.

Google Affiliate Network expands, offer Affiliate Ads for Blogger

April 24, 2012

Google Affiliate Network (GAN) is built over the technology of DoubleClick, a company acquired by Google in 2007 for $3.1 billion in cash.

Google Affiliate Ad Network

Google Affiliate Ad Network

Google Affiliate Network Advertisers and Publishers

Google Affiliate Network for Advertisers and Publishers

Google Affilate Ad Network Publishers Dashboard

Google Affiliate Network - Publisher Dashboard

What edge Google Affiliate Network has on competitors like Commission Junction or ClickBank? One is the technology that is backed by Google, and second is the user base – as GAN is offered to existing Google Adsense publishers.

Just few days back, Google Affiliate Network has been integrated with Blogger, Google owned blogging platform.