BS Guru

Encoded a mp4 using OEDcoder For work Sometimes you may want to make your messages less obvious to be reviewed by others.  Exchanging images or 'not so friendly' messages can have deadly consequences.  They may accidentally show up on your screen or preview at the most inconvenience time such as someone is watching over your shoulder or when you are projecting your screen during meetings.   I always remember to turn on 'do not disturb' during meetings but email previews still get me from time to time when I need to dig through emails.  It is common for us exchanging emails and images with base64 encoding to prevent s* from happening.  It is not a password protected attachment but rather displaying a meaningless text string in preview without catching attention and discouraging any nosy people.  Would it be too obvious to know they are 'secret' messages?  Yes and No depends on your role.  My role is expected to send large files with base64 seg...

Most company email exchanges have file size limits and block sending or receiving zip files, media files or other 'unknown' file types within or outside the company network.  You may not necessarily realize any restrictions until you feel like a fool when you emailed your clients without the expected attachments.   Some companies may create file sharing with public endpoints allowing you to upload, download and share with your clients outside the company network.  However, this also assumes your recipients do not have the similar policies for uploading or downloading files outside their network given zip or unknown file types are always red-flagged.   Some may suggest changing the file extension to .txt or other known file extensions.  Does it work?  Sometimes but don't bet on it.   Even it may work the first couple times but will eventually get caught, it's just a matter of time.  Base64 encoding any file type to text is your best bet.  It i...

I got a chance to try the pre-release version of this base64 encoding/decoding macOS app, "OEDcoder" last week.  This company released 2 free mobile games last year.  I thought they were into mobile games and design but they surprised me with a high performance macOS app. Investigating production issues to decode those base64 encoded images from logs and databases manually was a pain.  We couldn't use online decoding services (obviously) while CLI was slow and clumsy.  Any decent developers could script it for simple decoding tasks but we ran into different problems when handling large file sizes or bulk processing.  I wish I could have this app when I used to get calls reviewing those damn base64 encoded production snapshots.  For $5, this app solves both image decoding and bulk processing for web development.   I would pay my entire team and PM, PdM, BA ... etc. a license out of my pocket so they could view any images themselves.  Using CLI is n...

It was just a few years ago when we were still debating the use of mobile games for cognitive and visual exercise especially among seniors.  It has now been very clear more seniors have access and have adapted to a relatively small mobile screen for the convenience of communication, accessing information, and for entertainment such as gaming.  I have been following this company, BumbleMeow (I like and have permission to use their CookieAMA images for my blog's illustration) and I am glad to see they posted a tech talk for this exact topic.  If you are interested in or have work related to cognitive and visual exercises, I highly recommend you spend a few minutes to check out this tech talk ( Alternative uses of BebeBoop beyond a mobile game ).  K nowing how to leverage this mobile game, users may use it for mind refreshing, stress relief, hand-eye coordination, pattern recognition, eye strain relief among other cognitive and visual trainings.   It is very hard t...

The holiday season is in full swing, so are scammers unfortunately.  I wish I could visit more community centers helping seniors and other more vulnerable groups.  It is shameful for scammers to target seniors (you will grow old one day too, dip s*).  It is frustrating seeing people, especially seniors, keep getting scammed compromising their identities, personal information, safety, and savings.   Old school scammers used to be easily identified and still spamming low effort scams through email accounts with hideous typos and low quality images.  However, we now have to deal with more sophisticated scammers with high quality images, realistic looking fake web-sites, spoofed email senders ... etc.   It is extremely challenging to help others avoid being the next victim. 1.   Too much time, too little things to do We know not to open or read spam emails.  Who has time for it anyway? Bingo!  No matter how many times you warn them not to open or...

 Image credit: CookieAMA mobile app IFC ("Independent Film Channel") used to joke about themselves that they present good 'artsy' movies that did not sell.  'IFC' mobile games/apps are those with good and original designs built by independent developers neither AAA companies nor funded by AAA companies, who often go against the trend (aka starving artists) providing unique designs and experiences.   How to define a good mobile game? I want to say a fun game with good design and story but let's be realistic, people jump into a mobile game not for fun but for a conversation, a bragging right and to feel superior in a digital world, the 'alternative' world they live in.  It is not about a game but 'I am in'.   While people continue to complain about micro-transactions and data privacy concerns, they continue to play those games and take a blind eye on how their personal data are being exploited everyday.  Some may consider it as a small 'p...