My personal blog on all things techhttp://www.jamesburrows.info/The new lucid digital website is finally finished!lucid_digital_media.phpI've been away a while but I've been working on some exciting new stuff!new_things_coming_soon.phpA quick thanks to everyone who helped with or attended my wedding as a guest at the weekend!thanks_all.phpA look at Amazon's EC2 and S3 cloud hosting servicesamazon_ec3_and_s3.phpIn this article I'll be taking a look at Google's entry to the Cloud Hosting arenagoogle_app_engine.phpYou may already have heard of Cloud Computing, Cloud Hosting is an exciting extension of this relatively new area.cloud_hosting.phpI'm now back online after an outage in America caused my Hosting Provider some downtime.back_online.phpRecently I had to convert a shed load on WMA's to work with iTunes on a Mac, heres how I did it at no cost.batch_wma_conversion_for_itunes.phpAs I work towards the 2.0 release of MicroCyte I wonder whether I should scrap XML/static files in favor of a database?microcyte_-_the_database_question.phpI've recently had the opportunity make extensive use of a 24" iMac 2.8Ghz, here's what I thought!review_-_imac_24_inch.phpRecently I went to see Nizlopi perform at the Norwich arts centre, here's what I thoughtgig_review_-_nizlopi.phpMicroCyte has been released! head on over to microcyte.co.uk to checkout the demo and download your copy!microcyte_released.phpVery soon Firefox 3 will be released. This update will mean support for Microcyte CMS.microcyte_gets_firefox_support.phpRegulars may have noticed that the site has been quiet for the last few days, click through to find out why!site_update_-_big_things_coming.phpIn the last couple of days I've implemented a comments plugin for my Microcyte CMSmicrocyte_gets_comments_engine.phpIn Part 3 of building a DAL in Classic ASP I look at how I implemented my Dynamic SQL module to fulfull my DAL requirementsimplementing_a_dynamic_sql_module.phpIn part 2 of building a DAL in Classic ASP I look at how to create a functional Dynamic SQL module.dynamic_sql_as_a_data_access_layer.phpClassic ASP is not known for its rich data access tools, so I look at how you can build a strong Data Access Layer.data_access_layers_in_classic_asp.phpAre there compelling reasons for an old school scripting house to move to a new fangled framework?choosing_a_web_development_technology.phpAfter 9 months of work, the W3C has published the first working draft of HTML 5.html_5_working_draft_announced.phpE-shots can help drive targeted traffic to your website, but how do you avoid making them look like SPAM?increasing_turnover_with_e-shots.phpA/B testing can be used to dramically increase conversions on your e-commerce site. Here is basic overview.introduction_to_a_-_b_testing.phpIn the final part of 'how websites get hacked' I'm going to look at Social Engineering, the non technical hack.security_-_social_engineering.phpIn part 2 of 'how sites get hacked' we look at XSS and SQL Injectionsecurity_-_xss_and_sql_injection.phpIn this brief primer we look at how websites get hacked and what to do to protect yourself (part 1)security_-_how_sites_get_hacked.phpAfter the hype has cooled down, what are the pro's and con's of the new Apple MacBook Airmacbook_air_-_the_morning_after.phpOpinion: why is the Macbook Air a full 300 pounds (600 dollars) more expensive than in the US?why_is_macbook_air_300_pounds_more_expensive.phpIn a geekier that normal post, I'm going to look at what was announced at the Apple keynote today (15/01/08)2008_apple_keynote_-_reaction.phpIE8 is scheduled for release sometime in the second half of 2008, what can we expect?what_can_we_expect_from_ie8.phpThe title says it all, we've all heard of it, but what is it and how can we achieve it?what_does_accessibility_actually_mean.phpHow do you prepare a tender for a website and what should you expect from the proposals you receive?tendering_for_a_website.phpSo you've decided you want a website and you've appointed a freelancer or agency, what happens now?the_website_build_process.phpWhat you should know and why you should care about CSS and table based layoutscss_layout_vs_tables.phpWhat exactly is a CMS and how can it help you?what_are_content_management_systems.phpWith recent government mishandling of personal information, how can private companies avoid the same mistakes?data_retention_-_how_to_get_it_right.phpUrges Microsoft to give consumers a genuine choice of standards compliant Web browsersopera_files_antitrust_complaint_against_microsoft.phpApple's iPhone finally makes mobile internet worthwhile, how can you make this work for you?iphone_puts_internet_in_the_pocket.php