Confidence boost from Linksys

I recently upgraded the firmware on my Linksys WRT54G router to this version. I include the preview because I love this icon. So sleek and mysterious.


Well actually, first I downloaded the prominently displayed firmware upgrade. It turned out to be for a later version of the router, so I got this excellent message. It's more than an error message. It's a slap in the face. It's a raging, hopeless slogan for scrawling above the door of a bombed out hospital, perhaps. Continue.


No problem, really. It isn't as dire as it sounds. "Please check the bottom of your router to make sure you have the correct version," says the guide. Just dig a little bit on the Cisco site and find the firmware for your router version. It's in Home >> Support >> Technical Support >> Downloads.

Ah, that's better! Your reward is this sunny fanfare for the credulous.

Sleep soundly. Cisco is looking after the details.

Using "Create Event" action in Gmail

I am a fan of the integration of Gmail and Google Calendar, but one thing that isn't clearly explained is that you need to put event details in the subject line of your email. Even then the results can be unexpected. I did some light testing of various date strings. Here are some results.

Today is Sunday the 16th of November 2008. You have just learned of a screening of the film "Foo" in the evening and want to forward it to Eddy. Here are a few Subject: lines and their results.

Success
Subject: Foo Screening at 7pm
Subject: Foo Screening: Sunday Nov. 16 - 7pm
A Week Late
Foo Screening: Sunday at 7pm

Month Long Event
Foo Screening - Sunday, November 16 - 7:00pm
Watch out for hyphens in your date. In this case they indicate a date range. Google Calendar appears to have a default of one month for an unfinished date range. The end date is set to December 15 2008.


No Event Detected
Subject: Foo Screening - Sunday, November 16 - 7:00