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Web Client Software Factory - Error under Visual Studio 2005 with install of Visual Studio 2008 (orcas) Beta 2

brad — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 09:49:57 +0000

After installing Visual Studio 2008 (Orcas) Beta 2 I received the following error when trying to run a Microsoft Web Client Software Factory (June 2007) based solution from Visual Studio 2005:

[ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null. Parameter name: item] Microsoft.Practices.ObjectBuilder.WCSFExtensions.WCSFBuilderBase`1.TearDown(IReadWriteLocator locator, TItem item) +132 Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.WebClientApplication.InnerPostRequestHandlerExecute(IHttpContext context) +152 Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.WebClientApplication.Application_PostRequestHandlerExecute(Object sender, EventArgs e) +99 System.Web.SyncEventExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +92 System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +64

I devised a pretty simple workaround for this problem so that I could keep on working.

1. Create a class that inherits from Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.WebClientApplication which overrides Application_PostRequestHandlerExecute and add it to the Web site in the App_Code folder.

using System;

using System.Web;

using Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.Interfaces;

using Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.Utility;

public class MyWebClientApplication : Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.WebClientApplication

{

public MyWebClientApplication()

{

}

protected override void Application_PostRequestHandlerExecute(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

HttpContext context = ((HttpApplication)sender).Context;

IHttpContext icontext = new Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.Web.HttpContext(context);

if (icontext.Handler != null)

{

this.InnerPostRequestHandlerExecute(icontext);

}

}

}

We override Application_PostRequestHandlerExecute as it is the only virtual method in the stack trace. In this method we check for a null IHttpContext.Hander before passing it on to InnerPostRequestHandlerExecute. This check prevents the error from occurring.

2. Next we have to tell the web application to run our new version of WebClientApplication instead of the default. Go to Global.asax and change it from:

<%@ Application Language="C#" Inherits="Microsoft.Practices.CompositeWeb.WebClientApplication" %>

<%@ Application Language="C#" Inherits="MyWebClientApplication" %>

After that your Web Client Software Factory application should again be functional. This method in minimally intrusive so you can easily remove your changes once this issue is addressed in a future version of the factory.

Corsair Flash Voyager GT

brad — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:45:57 +0000

I was recently in the market for a new flash drive. Having recently moved to Microsoft Windows Vista as my primary operating system I figured I may as well get a drive that supports Vista’s new ReadyBoost feature. For this reason I chose the Corsair Flash Voyager GT 8GB.

What is ReadyBoost?

ReadyBoost is a disk caching technology which is only available in Microsoft Windows Vista. ReadyBoost allows any attached memory device, USB stick, compact flash card etc. to be used as additional system memory. Although data throughput is always slower, the data seek times of these devices can be faster than a conventional hard disk drive. This is beneficial in certain use cases having many small random reads. Where the operating system needs to access data sequentially it will instead use the hard disk to make use of the greater data throughput.

My Experience

When I first inserted the Corsair Flash Voyager GT into my computer I elected to enable the drive for ReadyBoost. Before you can use ReadyBoost, Vista performs a speed test on the drive to ensure it meets a number of performance criteria. Most common (cheap) USB flash drives will never pass this test. Even my Voyager GT drive, which is specified as being ReadyBoost compatible, took a few attempts to pass this performance test. After Windows Vista passes the drive for ReadyBoost it then creates a hidden system file on the drive in a similar way to the conventional hard disk paging file. From this point forward Windows Vista sees this file and enables ReadyBoost whenever the drive is inserted into the computer.

So far I am happy with the performance of this drive and ReadyBoost. I find that Vista most actively uses the flash memory when I am web browsing. Particularly when I am viewing a site with many small pictures. The usual thrashing of my hard disk as the small files are written/read from disk has been replaced by the blue LED flicker of my flash drive.

Although ReadyBoost is an interesting “techie” feature, I am sure the performance benefit is minimal at best. Regardless of this fact, I am happy with the Voyager GT as it is by far the fastest USB flash drive I have ever used.

BENQ 24 inch widescreen LCD + Nintendo Wii

brad — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 14:38:01 +0000

I recently purchased a 24″ BENQ widescreen monitor and a Nintendo Wii. There has already been plenty of reviews of these items individually. What I intend to do is review them as a pair to give my reader an idea of how they work together.

BENQ FP241W 24 inch widescreen LCD

There are three main competitors in the 24 inch widescreen consumer LCD market.

Dell 2407WFP (around AU$1100)
BENQ FP241W (around AU$1300)
Samsung 244T (around AU$1500)

Of these I went with the BENQ FP241W due to the generally favourable reviews and the many mixed views on the Dell. The negative views centred mainly around colour banding and suspect build quality issues. That said, I am sure most people would be happy with any of these monitors.

The BENQ FP241W has a native resolution of 1920×1200 pixels. It has DVI-D, VGA, HDMI, component, s-video and composite inputs and is capable of displaying 1080p signals. The component inputs are what makes this monitor particularly interesting to prospective Nintendo Wii players.

Nintendo Wii

The interestingly named Nintendo Wii is the latest generation games console from Japan’s famous video games company. It features motion sensitive controllers and a unique pointer system which allows for innovative game play. What it does not feature is cutting edge graphics. The Wii can only output at a maximum of 480p. To view this signal you will need to get a component cable (not standard with the console) and a TV or monitor with component inputs.

Wii + BENQ FP241W in action

Getting the Wii visuals working with the BENQ FP241W is as simple as attaching the three component cables and selecting component as the input source on the monitor. What may be more of a problem is the audio. The official Nintendo component cable also includes two male RCA plugs for stereo audio. If your audio input jacks are more than about 30cm away from the monitor’s component input jacks then you will have to provide your own extender cable. In my case a 2 x Male to Female RCA extender cable did the trick for connecting the Wii audio to my sound card input (I am using my computer to mix all audio).

One problem with the BENQ FP241W and other current 24″ monitors is that none of them can do 1:1 pixel mapping. What does this mean you ask? 24″ computer monitors are actually 16:10, not 16:9. All of these monitors will stretch a 16:9 input signal to be full screen (16:10), distorting the image a little in the process. This is the case for the Wii signal, although I do not find the stretching to be a problem.

I am currently experiencing one problem with the Wii when using the component cable and playing older games (SEGA Megadrive/Genesis) on the virtual console. The video will not display after you enter and then exit the home menu. It appears that many people are getting this same issue on many kinds of televisions and monitors. I do not think this problem is caused by the BENQ FP241W. I imagine that Nintendo will rectify this issue through a patch. In the meantime you can revert back to the composite cable for these games.

Final Comments

The BENQ FP241W is a great monitor that works well with the Nintendo Wii. If you are in the market for a monitor for general PC use with the added ability to play console games then it is a fine choice. However, if you are after a screen solely for console gaming, I would choose one of the many high definition televisions that are on the market. Many of these televisions are available for less than the cost of a 24″ monitor.