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How to make a subdomain point to a sub-folder on Dreamhost

Warll — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:04:00 +0000

By this I mean haveing the domain folder.example.com be hosted in the FTP folder example.com/folder.

You can do this in the “Add new domain” page by changing the “Web directory” field for the sub-domain “folder.example.com” from “/home/username/folder.example.com” to “/home/username/example.com/folder”

Example screenshot follows.

Changing Language Windows XP/Vista and Linux

Warll — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:45:05 +0000

Using an OS in Japanese is a very big part of creating an all encompassing environment, even more so if you spend most of your day on the computer in which case the transition is vital. Typically I would expect that you will have memorized how to do the things you commonly do. You should know by heart how to launch Firefox or whatever web browser you use without reading the icon’s label. There will be more complex things that do require your attention. For these it helps to be able to switch between English and Japanese, for instance while I may be able to expand a partition by memory that’s not necessary something I would want the average user to do by feel. Actually changing the language for many will be an obstacle even though the process itself is trivial.

Changing OS language – Linux

If you are a user of Linux then lady luck is on your side, provided there is an actual Japanese version of your distro, you will be able to get away without reinstalling in most cases. For instance Ubuntu user’s can follow these instructions to changing the primary language. You are on your own as to finding solutions for other distros.

Changing OS language – Windows

Microsoft loves segmenting the market as such changing languages on Windows is a lot more obstacle prone.

For Windows XP it is possible to change language but only if you have access to a Windows XP MUI(Multilingual User Interface). The problem you run into is that Microsoft only sells the MUI packs to OEM, companies such as HP, Dell and Gateway who build and sell computers. Chances that your computer maker bought a Japanese MUI and then bothered to bundle it with your English computer is so slim any reasonable person would round the odd down to zero. This leaves you with really only three options, buy a Japanese copy of Windows XP, commit civil violation of Microsoft’s copyright, or a third option I will cover later in this article.

Windows Vista changes this for the better, translations are not only much easier to come by but are also are more complete. If you are one of the few people who shelled out for Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business then your in luck, MUI packs can be gotten directly from Microsoft and switching between English and Japanese is a piece of cake. To switch languages on Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business all you have to do is go to Windows Update and select Japanese, boom your done. Don’t have Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business? Luckily there is a hack to get MUIs for other Windows Vista versions such as Home Premium, this article walks you through it. Prefer not to resort to a hack or violating copyright laws? Well in that case this should help you:

The Third Option

One of the most likely users of Linux are students, especially geeky students. Microsoft knows this and has not let this fact go unchecked. Microsoft’s Dreamspark program gives away copies of many otherwise expensive Microsoft program for free to anyone with a International Student ID card. One of these programs is Windows Server 2008, Server 2008 is much like Vista and is able to use drivers made for Vista as well as working with any Vista compatible program. This option is not without its downsides not least of which is that many programmers use checks in program installers and will refuse to install on an “unsupported” OS, it will also require a reinstalltion of your OS. I suggest that if you do plan to go this route that you do so first in a dual booting environment so that if it does turn out that one of your programs does not like Windows Server 2008 then you can always go back. For more information on Using Windows Server 2008 as a desktop operating system see this very helpful website .

How to download the Nico Nico iPhone application outside Japan for free

Warll — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:05:56 +0000

This is actually quite easy so I encourage any Nico nico fan with a iPod touch ior iPhone to download the Nico Nico Douga app. You will need a valid Nico nico account and Japanese iTunes account. If you do not have these just follow this guide to get a Nico Nico account and this post to get a Japanese iTunes account. Once you have that we can get going.

Step #1: Change your store location to Japan if it is not already set to that. This can be done by scrolling to the bottom of the Store page and selecting the location, Japan is at the very bottom.

Step #2: Then copy and paste “ニコニコ” into the search bar and hit enter.

Step #3: Download the app titled”ニコニコ動画”, to do this click “get app”.

Step #4: Sync your iPod Touch/iPhone so that the application shows up there. You can now safly change back to your local itunes location, the Nico nico app will not disappear.

Step #5: Start the application, this might take a few seconds. Then switch the far right tap labeled “設定”

Step #6: Enter the top menu, this one is labeled “アカウント設定”

Step #7: The top two feilds are for your Nico nico account infromation. “メールドレス” is where you input your email. “パスウーント” is for your password. Once you have these filled your done, you can now start viewing videos by going to the far left and selecting a catogory.

From left to right the Nico Nico Douga app taps are:

Categories – Featured – My Favorites – Search – Settings

Setting up a Japanese iTunes account

Warll — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:27:15 +0000

Searching for “setting up Japanese iTunes account” on Google will give you outdated information, you do not need a Japanese iTunes card in order to sign up. You do need credit on your account if you plan on buying something but there are a number of free things which make it still worthwhile. I have made this guide so that you can easily setup a Japanese iTunes account for free.

Step #1: Change your store location to Japan, this can be done by scrolling to the bottom of the Store page and selecting the location, Japan is at the very bottom.

Step #2: You then need to try and download app, it does not matter which one so just copy and paste this　”ニコニコ” into the search bar and hit enter.

Step #3: Try and download the app titled”ニコニコ動画”, to do this click “get app”.

Step #4: You should then get a pop-up like this one, press “Create New Account”:

Step #5: You should then see a screen like this, if yours is in Japanese just click where “Continue” is in screenshot.

Step #6: This is jsut the EULA, agree to it without reading as you would any other.

Step #7: Fill in the fields correctly, although you can use a random stuff for the password recovery section.

Step #8: First check the “none” option. You can skip adding a itunes card unless you want to spend money. Only the “Postal code” and “Prefecture” have to have valid information. Use 170-3293 and Tokyo as I have done, although you can just as easily go hunting for others it does not matter so long as they are valid.

Creating a Pixiv account.

Warll — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:41:43 +0000

*/It must be said that I did not write this guide. The reason why I am copying it here is because the site it was originally posted on is, unsavory. /*

Introduction to Pixiv

Pixiv is an image sharing site where artists upload their work. Images can be searched by tags, rated, and favourite’d.

Users can add friends to their own group like social networks, or bookmark people to “watch” their space. There are lots of nice works on Pixiv \, but to access them, you need to register for a free account.

Step 1 : Go to http://www.pixiv.net and click on the orange “Sign up now” button.

Step 2 : Fill in your email address, and click the button saying “入力完了”

Step 3 : A verification email will be sent. Open the email, and click the link in it to continue.

Step 4 : Now you’ll have to fill in your profile. This is the longest part.

pixiv ID: 3 to 32 characters long, alphanumeric characters, hyphens and underscores only. Uppercase characters will be converted to lowercase. You cannot begin or end the ID with hyphens or underscores.

パスワード (Password): 6 to 32 characters long. Fill in both with the same password.

ニックネーム (Nickname): The name others will see you as. 15 characters max.

HPアドレス (Homepage address)

For the next 5, there is a dropdown box on the right. First selection means “Everyone can see this information”, second means “Only people in MyPixiv can see this information” and third is “No one can see this information”

性別 (Gender): 男 (Male) or 女 (Female)

血液型 (Blood type): Straight forward.

住所 (Address): Last option, 海外 means Foreign (as in, not in Japan.)

誕生日 (Date of birth): Straight forward again.

職業 (Occupation): I’m not going to translate all of these, so you can choose the last one (Something else)

自己紹介 (Self introduction): Here you’ll HAVE to type in something to complete the registration.

Step 5 : Login with your pixiv ID and password.

*/More information you might be interested in but it is not necessary./*

Now when you go to http://www.pixiv.net/mypage.php you’ll see your home page. The first thing you’ll notice are some images in the middle of the page, under the heading “みんなの新着イラスト”. This is everyone’s newest artwork. Under these you’ll see もっと見る, which means “show more”, and you’ll be able to page through them.

On the right, you’ll see the top 3 images for the day, links to #4 to #10, and the same for the top 10 images of the week. Under each of these is the top #100 list. On the left, you’ll see your avatar, under this the list of people in your “MyPixiv”, and under this, a list of all the people you’ve bookmarked. If you click on your avatar, you’ll go to your profile, where you can change your avatar (画像の変更) and edit your profile.

On the search bar on the top right, you’ll be able to search for specific tags (in Japanese). If you change the option from タグ to タイトル・キャプション, it will search in image captions rather than tags. You can click on 人気のタグ for a list of tags. ランダム brings up a random selection of images, instead of most recent.

On the top left you’ll always see ホーム (Home), 友人を招待 (Invite a friend) and ログアウ (Logout).

When you click on an image, you’ll have a medium size version of the image in the middle, which you can click again to open the full size, the artist’s avatar on the left, with the following links under it:
プロフィールを見る – A link to their page/profile
お気に入りに追加 – Bookmark this user
マイピクに追加 – Add user to MyPixiv
When you try and bookmark a user, it will bring a dialog asking if you want everyone to be able to see this user in your bookmarked users list, and then a confirm button. If you try to add someone, you will have a box where you need to type a message to the person, followed by a confirm button.

Above the image will be the tags for it (blue links, with a red one to the right). Towards the top right, you can rate the image on a scale of 1 to 10. Pixiv keeps track of 閲覧数 (How many people viewed the image), 評価回数 (How many people voted), and 総合点 (Total score). To the left, you can see all the artist’s tags. If you click on them, it will bring images by the current artist with those tags.

The button right above the image to the right, このイラストをブックマークする, lets you bookmark an image. To view all the images you’ve bookmarked, when you’re on your home page, click on the button on top titled ブックマーク管理 (Usually the 4th one). Underneath the image theres a text box and button for adding comments.

Remember: You have to be logged in to see images or pages. You cannot hotlink them AFAIK. And don’t forget to add artist tags when you upload the images here.

And apologies for the wall of text :)

Windows Vista for free legally.

Warll — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:41:11 +0000

One thing that seems to have pasted a lot of people by is the fact that Microsoft gives copies of Vista away, for free. No I’m not talking about MSDN. Microsoft will give anyone how can provide a International Student Identity Card (ISIC) number a copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard and Windows Server 2003 under their DreamSpark program. Windows 2008 is with few exceptions everything like Windows Vista Ultimate. You can use Vista drivers, change the language and can use RDP without a hack. The only problem you might run into is the fact that a number of moronically programed installers will check to see if you are on a “supported” version of windows and will complain when they see Server 2008. Microsoft’s Zune software is included in this group although you can get around it by extracting the needed files from the installer. Windows 2003 on the other hand while being like XP does not share the same base which means you would be much better off with 2008.

Getting a ISIC isn’t even all that hard although it might cost a few bucks, in my case I was out $16CDN. The ISIC homepage has more information if you are interested.Microsoft also gives other programs away under the same program such as Visual Studio PRO although they do not give any of the office suite products away.

So why should you use this method vs just grabbing a torrent? After all its not like this supports the development of windows in any way. Well its simple really, no need to use your precious bandwidth since Microsoft provides a direct download. It is also faster, the Microsoft servers can saturate your connection. You also do not have to worry about WGA or its ilk.