I wrote a shell script that can periodically check a URL for updates. It can download and run another script to apply those updates, potentially overwriting the first script if the update mechanism needs to change.  I needed  a way to install the update script initially, so I wrote a Python script to read and escape each line of the update script, then generate an install script which can write the update script if it is not installed.  Following me so far?  Good.

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At least that’s the way it seems when you look at most attempts to bring the media you want to watch and listen to into your living room. Nearly every company wants to be your sole provider of entertainment and lock you into the content they have available. However, the power of the Internet and the innovations of a few small businesses are in a position to continue to change we ways in which we consume our entertainment.

I think Boxee will be one company to keep an eye on in next couple of months, as their user base increases and they transition from an alpha version of the software into a full version of the product. Adding Windows support, as well as finding a business model to support the ongoing development, will be key.

As this NY Times article mentions today, Boxee is currently developed by a small team, and is building a passionate group of fans already. The open source and social networking aspects of the product will help it to grow from the bottom up, as well as continue to support new streaming content and hardware devices as they become available. While the Apple TV seems to be the most common platform to hack and install Boxee, the Sony PS3 or even Roku’s Netflix box would also be good candidates.

In trying it on my MacBook Pro, I’ve found the interface to be very slick, and mostly intuitive to use with the 6-button Apple remote. It lacks the minimal, clean look of Apple’s Front Row, but the flexibility and available content make up for it in an instant. I do wish they had support for PowerPC-based Macs, so I could leave it running on my trusty dual G5 and take advantage of it on my 23″ Cinema Display in my home office.

All that being said, I’m a huge fan. I’ll be following Boxee closely to see where they go, recommending it to all my friends, and wishing the company the best as they aim to shake up the industry just a little. It’s time that my media belonged to me, or at least put me in more control of when and where and how I can watch it.

To get the new Nine More Minutes site going, I’d considered various options, trying to find the simplest one that would give me a way of displaying a few pages about the company and the work I do. I’d looked at doing a simple static site (in strict XHTML, of course) or even using Python + Django to build a database-driven web site to display, well, plain old pages.  

In spite of my general disdain towards PHP, I realized that WordPress was exactly what I was looking for, and it would save me from having to write much code. Of course, it would also give me an excuse to write some posts and keep the site updated on a regular basis. But first, I needed to make a theme using my existing 9MM logo and colors.

I started by reading various articles on the topic, most of them describing the files required in the theme directory and how to build a theme from scratch. This one is a really good guide, if you’re into that sort of thing. Taking the even lazier simpler route, I just copied the default theme folder and renamed it to 9mm, and started hacking away there… Read the rest of this entry »

No, it’s not that time of year when I teach my cat new computer tricks. In this one, from over a year ago, she’s learning how to update Internet Explorer on a new install of Windows XP, running in a VM, of course. She’s since lost interest in operating systems, and moved on to more exciting hobbies, like destroying my Christmas tree.

It’s actually that time of year when my nocturnal productivity is at its best. The extra darkness and coldness just make me want to stay inside, and I end up on the computer most of the night. Instead of becoming lazy and turning into a couch potato, I’ve decided to work on some of my side and personal projects.

So here it is, the first post on the new ninemoreminutes.com! I’ve customized the default WordPress theme and turned this site into a blog and a few other pages of information about my little one-man company. This blog will be a place to write some technical articles related to the kinds of work I’m doing. Stay tuned!