Ignoble How-To

Update (2015/01/01): An Ignoble Experiment: Ignoble How-To.

What you are looking at right now is a blog experiment I did from March through May of 2006.

Introduction

First, I should note that I blog personally for myself and am a web developer, using blogging tools quite often in addition to more traditional tools (Dreamweaver). I also work for the e-commerce division of Network Solutions, currently a separate company called MonsterCommerce. I have worked there for four years.

• Arconati Family
• Ferguson Christian Church
• Colorburst Video
• ...and many more.

</shameless self-promotion> And now that's out of the way, let me get back to the explanation. In my time of using Blogger since about 2003, I'd seen many an ad for automated blog-posting companies. Basically, these companies would write or rip from RSS feeds and automatically post content to their client's blogs in exchange for money. The point behind this is so that the search-engine friendly content would be auto-generated and would hopefully fill out or replace the content that the blog author actually wrote. What bothered me about this is that I never got into blogging for profit and still to this day do not blog for money. I'm basically a writer more than anything else (though not a great one) and I use my sites for journaling and sharing ideas. I believe that if you are not going to write your own stuff, then what is the point? It's cheating to my way of thinking. Sure, I guess I wouldn't mind making money, but only if it were by writing my own content.

Curiouser and Curiouser

However, the technology behind the automatic blogs intrigued my geeky side. So I decided to brainstorm ideas for how I might build something like it. I'd already stumbled onto the Blogger feature that allows posting via email. This feature works by allowing you to create an email address constructed as follows: username.______@blogger.com. For privacy, you control the suffix after the username, so that it's not guessable.

At the same time, I got lots of spam and email newsletters (who can really tell the difference?) in my inbox. The combo helped form the idea. I wanted to subscribe the Mail-to-Blogger address to a smattering of newsletters and the content of these would be added as posts. However, there is no way to SEND emails from this address nor any way to actually read them in an inbox, so this made it difficult. But then I remembered that I had my very own mail server with as much customization as I could want. I set up a throw-away address on my server and set it to forward to the Blogger address. I subscribed this address to as many internet newsletters from various topics like technology, microsoft, Google Alerts and other mundane things like Horoscopes and dating advice. The sites were all too happy to use my email address and when they sent out a newsletter, their content was posted to my blog. I added more subscriptions as time went on. It sounds simple, but in that short two-month span, I had over 1300 blog posts, none of which had I written (excluding this one). Wow.

Short Steps

In summary, here are the steps outlined.

1. Set up your Mail-to-Blogger Address. Make sure it is set to immediately publish.
2. Create an email address, perhaps through Gmail or your own mail server that allows forwarding. You will want the inbox to keep a copy as well for reference.
3. Find topical sites that send out regular newsletters or information and subscribe at will. You will want to make sure you get the first few manually, in cases where the sites want to verify subscription via a link.
4. Set your email address to forward onto the Blogger address. You will want to monitor this as it is likely that Blogger's spam filters may pick up the postings as unusual activity and save the posts as drafts instead of posts. Posting these manually with a captcha a few times and answering any other challenge questions got me past this.

That is all it took to the best of my knowledge and recollection. Keep in mind that all this worked over a year ago on an older version of Blogger, so I'm not sure that it would work today. Besides some contact to verify I wasn't a spamming bot, I never received any complaints or notices from Blogger. However, to my mind, there are probably still some invisible red flags on this site, which is fine by me. It was only an experiment. I do not suggest any one else try it as there are enough spam blogs out there as it is.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to add details of your own experiences, please use the comments feature. Thanks for visiting.

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Mobile PC Newsletter May 2006

Mobile PC News: ISV Edition May 2006

Announcements, tips, tricks, and techniques for mobile PC developers.

Fabrikam Fine Furniture Reference Components Released Component-based source code The Microsoft® sample Fabrikam Fine Furniture reference application <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880824> is a feature-rich, fully functional reference application. The source download includes separate components to assist you in learning to build mobile PC and Tablet PC solutions.

File synchronization The FileSync Sample <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880825> component exposes the features of the Microsoft Windows® Synchronization Manager so you can synchronize file folders between a server and a mobile PC.

Network and power awareness The SENSWrapper Sample <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880826> component exposes the use of the Windows System Event Notification Services to tell an application when a network connection exists and what the current power state is.

Ink-enabled data entry The InkListBox Sample <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880827> and the InkNumber Sample <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880828> expose the use of Ink <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880829> collectors and handwriting recognition to create custom pen input skins for accurate in-field data collection.

Electronic signatures The InkSecureSignature Sample <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880830> collects, encrypts, and serializes Ink signatures for transmission and storage.

Ink annotation The ScalableInkPicture Sample <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880831> exposes the use of Ink collectors to create custom annotations on photos and images, including those on the web.

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Events

May

· MEDC - Las Vegas, NV <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880777>

· WinHec - Seattle, WA <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880778>

MEDC Mobile PC Sessions: . APP208 Mobile PC and Tablet PC Development Basics Tues (5/9) 10:00 A.M.

. APP324 Ink and the Windows Presentation Foundation Wed (5/10) 9:30 A.M.

. APP322 Inside Windows SideShow Wed (5/10) 2:00 P.M.

. APP335 Tablet PCs and Smartphones Thurs (5/11) 11:15 A.M.

. APP323 Developing for the Ultra-Mobile PC Thurs (5/11) 1:30 P.M.

. APP412 Centralizing Data Synchronization Thurs (5/11) 3:00 P.M.

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June

· TechEd - Boston <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880779>

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July

Register for the Worldwide Partner Conferece on July 11 <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880780> This year's Worldwide Partner Conference will be held in Boston from July 11 through 13, with plenty of pre-conference activities on July 10, such as the Microsoft Small Business Symposium. Don't miss your chance to connect with Microsoft leaders, network with other partners, and experience the value of partnering with Microsoft.

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Updates and Opportunities

Developing Tablet PC Applications with WinFX, Tuesday, May 23, 12:00 P.M. PT <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880781> Windows Presentation Foundation (part of the Microsoft WinFX® Runtime Components) incorporates a number of features traditionally found only on Tablet PCs: digital ink and stylus input. This means WinFX applications will be able to collect, render, and edit digital ink on any system-not just Tablet PCs. It also means Tablet PC applications will be able to do things that weren't possible before, such as collect ink over video, or render ink in 3D! In this session, we'll learn about the InkCanvas element, Stylus input events, and other features that make Windows Presentation Foundation a compelling platform for developing Tablet PC applications.

Announcing the Availability of the Ultra-Mobile PC <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880782> The Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) is now available for purchase! The small, mobile, and full Windows computer goes anywhere and does anything your current computer does-and it can finally be with you anywhere and at anytime. This companion PC is available from major manufacturers.

Build Your Marketing Savvy: Download the Marketing Guide for Partners <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880784> Grow your business with the help of the Marketing Guide for Partners, a step-by-step guide that covers marketing tips from how to develop effective case studies to how to become a co-presenter with Microsoft at your next event.

Attending MEDC? Handango Would Enjoy Meeting with You! If you are planning on attending MEDC in May, please e-mail Handango. <mailto:tabletpc@handango.com> We would enjoy meeting with you, learning more about your product offering, and hearing your future Tablet PC plans. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.

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Recent Articles

Gaming on the Go with the Microsoft Tablet PC Game SDK <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880786> Games that use the unique characteristics of pen input, such as Arcs of Fire, are a great niche for game developers to target. Larry O'Brien explains why in this article.

Lights, Camera, Fabrikam-A Complete Smart Client Sample <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880787> Learn how to make a client application "smart" with the excellent new ink-based controls and other fine features of the Fabrikam Fine Furniture Reference Application for the Tablet PC. In this article, Larry O'Brien walks you through this terrific sample application.

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Partner Announcements

Samsung Electronics Unveils Q1 Ultra-Mobile PC at U.S. Launch Event <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880788> Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. announced the official U.S. launch of the company's new Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC), the Q1. The company made the announcement at a San Francisco press event, where it also announced that the Q1 will be available at Best Buy's e-tail outlet, www.bestbuy.com/ultramobilepc <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880832>, beginning May 7, and in select Best Buy stores later this summer as part of a collaboration between the two companies.

TabletKiosk Introduces Hard Plastic Screen Protector for Sahara Pen Touch-iT Tablet PCs <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880789> The hard plastic screen protector <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880833>is the simplest and most lightweight solution for protecting your Sahara Pen and Touch-iT Tablet from screen damage.

Motion Computing Leads Slate PC Market, Lowers Prices <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880790> According to a report from International Data Corporation (IDC) issued in April, Motion Computing is leading the industry in slate Tablet PC sales and grew 32% in 2005.

Emergency Management Data Collector Suite released by Lush Group, Inc. <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880791> The Emergency Management Data Collector Suite is rolling out this month at Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. Tablet PCs collect emergency information, which is then automatically aggregated for presentation to command control. Having accurate, consolidated information available immediately improves decision-making and appropriate emergency response.

Customer Case Studies in Health Care and Governmental Services Highlight Mi-Co User Days 2006 <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880792> Over 125 people gathered for the 4th annual Mi-Co User Days, held in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, in late April. A variety of Tablet PC-based Mi-Forms applications were presented by representatives of the Veteran's Administration Medical Centers, Sutter Health, Wilson County Home Health Agency, and other organizations.

Design Universe Releasing Pen-Friendly Lead Generation Tool <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880793> Now you can take detailed sales lead data at trade exhibitions using a Tablet PC or Ultra-Mobile PC. E-Pen&Expo lets you write naturally and freely at the exhibition, and then recognizes your notes, converting them to computer text and placing them in a spreadsheet or database

PhatWare, WebIS Announce Two Software Bundles for Top Windows Mobile Products <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880794> PhatWare and WebIS now offer some of their award-winning software in two different software bundles. Pocket Informant is bundled with either CalliGrapher or PhatNotes as one file at a discounted price for a limited time.

New Version Release from Aria: The Digital Order Form for Tablet PC <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880795> The Digital Order Form is a field sales automation solution that replaces the traditional paper order form. The application interface is identical to paper-based forms and incorporates handwriting recognition technology. Major features of version 1.22 include support for virtually any type of merchandise and an intuitive setup wizard.

Educational Pricing for PDF Annotator Available for a Limited Time <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880796> During their spring promotion, GRAHL software design offers PDF Annotator at very reasonable discounts. The single student license is now $34.90 instead of $49.95. With a Buddy Pack of 10 student licenses, the price goes down to $22.90 per license. Complete schools or universities may license PDF Annotator using the School Packs; for example for 1000 students the price is less than $2.00 per license

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Downloads Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

· Tablet PC SDK 1.7 <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880797>

· Power Management SDK <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880798>

· Game SDK (beta) <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880799>

· Mobile Ink To-Do Starter Kit <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880800>

· Recognizer Pack <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880801>

· Power Toys <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880802>

Windows Vista

· Mobile PC and Tablet PC SDK in Windows Vista and WinFX SDK (Beta) <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880803>

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Resources

· MSDN Developer Center <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880804>

· Mobile PC Partner Program <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880805>

· Application Testing <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880806>

· Webcasts <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880807>

· Presentations <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880808>

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ISV Software Downloads

· ISV Partner Software Showcase <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880809>

· Handango.com <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880810>

· TabletPCPost.com <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880811>

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Communities

· Newsgroups for developers <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880812>

· Newsgroups for users <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880813>

· Windows XP chats <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880814>

· Channel 9 Wiki <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880815>

· OrigamiProject.com <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880816>

· DevX Developer Center <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880817>

· GottaBeMobile.com <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880818>

· TabletPC2.com <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880819>

· TabletPCTalk <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880820>

· TheTabletPC.net <http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=4880821>

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