text: CodeGuru Update eNewsletter - January 11th, 2005
  ==========================================================
  CodeGuru Newsletter
  January -
  ... December book winners
  ... XBox Rumors, TiVos, and coding Yahoo!
  --> New Articles on CodeGuru:
  ==> Algorithms
  - Using Two Common 'Compression' Techniques
  ==> Beginning VB .NET
  - Discovering Visual Basic .NET: Making Decisions
  ==> Controls
  - Composite Custom Web Controls in Managed C++
  ==> Controls
  - Light-Weight, Multi-Column, Owner-Drawn ComboBox with AutoCompletion!
  ==> Debugging
  - Managed C++: Debugging with the StackTrace Class
  ==> Enterprise
  - Microsoft CRM Integration: Siebel E-Mail Attachments Import - C# and MS Transact SQL Example (not yet reviewed)
  ==> Forms
  - Visual Studio .NET Style Tear Off Panes - Part IV
  ==> Graphics
  - Polygon Clipping
  ==> Internet
  - HTTP Post Using C
  ==> Network Programming
  - Asynchronous Socket Programming in C#: Part II
  ==> System
  - [Updated] Determine Windows Version and Edition
  ==> Threading
  - Batched Execution Using the .NET Thread Pool
  --> Discussion Groups (including Hot threads)
  --> Highlighted new articles on
  Developer.com
  1. Fun with Java, Understanding the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Algorithm
  2. The MCDST: Certifying Your Desktop Support Skills (Exam 70-272)
  3. Understanding Java RMI Internals
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  ==========================================================
  ...Book winners...
  Once again we have drawn names to win a copy of either CodeGuru.com
  Visual C++ Goodies or Kate Gregory's Visual C++ .NET 2003 Kicks Start. The winners for December are
  - Ali Rafiee
  - Vinayak Raghuvamshi
  Additionally, the following person was selected to win a copy of Code Complete, Second Edition
  - Jon Person
  Congratulations to our newest winners and good luck to those who have an article published in January!
  ... In the News ...
  Rumors of XBox 2 and of small iMacs are abounding. With Apple chasing after a number of sites regarding comments on their yet-undisclosed system, I'll avoid that topic.
  Rumors, however, on the XBox 2 are worth mentioning. The coolest rumors are that there may be more than one version. The highest version would potentially come out later and would possibly have media center features. Rumor is that the hard drive of the standard unit will be gone. Instead will be a flash drive. When you consider that today's XBox only has an 8 gig drive, it wouldn't take much to replace this with a flash drive. Of course, all of this is rumor gleamed from the internet, so none of it may be true....
  Did you get a TiVo for Christmas? If so you should use me as a referrer so I can get the bonus points! It is no secret to people that know me that I am a TiVo fan. This week TiVo made an announcement that caught my attention. They are finally making changes to allow you to watch TV shows on your computer or on a Windows Media player.
  That, however, isn't the exciting news from TiVo! The exciting news is that they will be releasing an open platform, an SDK, that will allow developers to create applications and distribute content to TiVo subscribers! This could allow such features as music stores, interactive shopping, weather, stock quotes, interactive questionnaires and much more to be created. Instant voting on shows to using your TiVo in numerous other ways. The possibilities for what could be created are limitless.
  This announcement of the platform once again confirms my past comments that "computing platforms" continue to change and evolve. As a developer, you can't just think of a computing device as being a "box and a monitor" type system. Instead, when building applications, you need to think of what devices are feasible or even appropriate. To that growing list of potential devices to target, you can now add TiVos!
  Of course, just like many of the "non standard" devices, Java is the language that will be used for the TiVo platform.
  On a similar note, Yahoo has announced a developer program as well. Using XML, they are making several of their services as well as some content available. From the information that is available, it appears, however, that these services are being made available to developers who work with home media type devices rather than standard Web development. For more on their program you can go to.:
  --> Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21
  Days
  By Jesse Liberty and Bradley Jones for Sams Publishing
  1008 pages for $34.99
  What can I unbiasly say about this book? Nothing! This is the newest edition of the Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days book. This edition covers C++ based on today's standards.If you are looking for a book to learn the language, this is one that I would recommend -- but then I helped with this revision! A few of our CodeGuru members also helped with the Tech Editing on this edition!
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  New & Updated Articles on CodeGuru
  ==========================================================
  Following are short descriptions of new articles on CodeGuru. If you are interested in submitting your own article for inclusion on the site, then you will find guidelines located at
  This week's posted CodeGuru articles:
  ==> Algorithms
  - Using Two Common 'Compression'
  Techniques
  By GravyJones
  Here.
  ==> Beginning VB .NET
  - Discovering Visual Basic .NET: Making
  Decisions
  By Bill Hatfield
  Continue your learning of Visual Basic .NET by discovering the syntax for adding logical decisions into your programs.
  ==> Controls
  - Composite Custom Web Controls in Managed
  C++
  By Stephen Fraser
  Continuing his series on custom Web control development in Managed C++, Stephen Fraser takes it up a notch by examining the more advanced -- and far more powerful -- composite custom Web control.
  ==> Controls
  - Light-Weight, Multi-Column, Owner-Drawn
  ComboBox with AutoCompletion!
  By Ajay Vijayvargiya
  Yet another combo-box but with combined features of multicolumn, ownerdrawing, and autocolumn. Does not use any embedded control!
  ==> Debugging
  - Managed C++: Debugging with the StackTrace
  Class
  By Tom Archer
  Learn how the StackTrace class makes your debugging life a bit easier by enabling you to retrieve full call stack information.
  ==> Enterprise
  - Microsoft CRM Integration: Siebel E-Mail
  Attachments Import - C# and MS Transact SQL Example (not yet
  reviewed)
  By Boris Makushkin
  For those who need to migrate data from Siebel or another CRM to the Microsoft CRM, this article is for you. Discover how to use SQL to move the data.
  ==> Forms
  - Visual Studio .NET Style Tear Off Panes - Part
  IV
  By kirants
  Learn about a framework that can be used to implement Visual Studio.NET-style Tear Off panes. The framework uses the commonly used MFC classes to achieve the functionality. This article is the fourth in the series.
  ==> Graphics
  - Polygon Clipping
  By Sjaak Priester
  It's one of those humble tasks computers have done for ages, but the hunt for the perfect clipping algorithm is still open.
  ==> Internet
  - HTTP Post Using C
  By Uday Chitragar
  Learn to write a small routine or utility to make a post request to a Web server and retrieve the data. This article demonstrates such a technique, tested on Linux.
  ==> Network Programming
  - Asynchronous Socket Programming in C#: Part
  II
  By Jayan Nair
  Second part of the C# asynchronous socket example, showing more features in socket programming.
  ==> System
  - [Updated] Determine Windows Version and
  Edition
  By Marius Bancila
  Provides a comprehensive method of getting the Windows version and differentiate among the various editions.
  ==> Threading
  - Batched Execution Using the .NET Thread
  Pool
  By Nick Wienholt
  The .NET thread pool's functionality for executing multiple tasks sequentially in a wave or group is insufficient. Luckily, a Visual C++ .NET helper method that uses other types within the System.Threading namespace provides this batch-execution model.
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  Discussion Groups
  ==========================================================
  Forums include Visual C++, General C++, Visual Basic, Java, General Technology, C#, ASP.NET, XML, Help Wanted, and much, much, more!
  ... HOT THREADS ...
  Some of the current threads with the most activity are:
  ==> How to use GDI resources efficiently?
  ==> Dynamically changing ToolBar buttons
  ==> Data source name not found and no default driver
  specified (Java thread)
  ==========================================================
  New Articles on Developer.com
  ==========================================================
  Below are some of the new articles that have been posted to Developer.com ().
  1. Fun with Java, Understanding the Fast Fourier
  Transform (FFT) Algorithm
  By Richard G. Baldwin -
  Programming in Java doesn't have to be dull and boring. Explore the underlying signal processing concepts that make the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm possible.
  2. The MCDST: Certifying Your Desktop Support
  Skills (Exam 70-272)
  By Steve Rowe -
  Want to add more certification stripes to your resume? Gain certification that shows you can diagnose and troubleshoot productivity applications on the Windows XP operating system.
  3. Understanding Java RMI
  Internals
  By Ahamed Aslam.K -
  Gain an understanding of the low-level details about Java RMI and RMI Internals.
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