Time to move on

Hello readers. I have decided to move to custom hosting for this blog. Many of you might have noticed that yesterday stubborn-fanatic.blogspot.com was redirecting to techblog.viveksanghi.com. This was to test whether things were working fine. Once my tests are completed, I have decided to move ahead with custom hosting.

Once I move to custom hosting, my blogspot blog will no longer be accessible to visitors. At techblog.viveksanghi.com I use a wordpress template and its all based on the wordpress platform. However, all my posts from this blog will be available there are well. Those of you who were looking at my blogspot template for design ideas will be unable to do so any more. However I can send you this entire template code for a nominal payment of $2 via paypal only. If you are interested, please contact me at stubb [dot] fanatic [at] gmail [dot] com

(Please leave a comment if you do not want me to redirect this blog to the new address)

In addition, I would also like to inform everybody that I will be shifting my focus on wordpress platform and will not post any new hacks for the blogger. However I will continue to support readers with their queries on the existing hacks (subject to availability of time).

Please feel free to comment/suggest and also have a look at techblog.viveksanghi.com.

Contest Suggestion: 31 Days of the Dragon

'lo. After a long time I am posting some thing here for you guys. I hope until now you have enjoyed the existing set of Blogger mods that I had published. While this is not related to blogger mods, I am sure those of you who were unaware, will definitely love it. The other day I came across a big contest while browsing some of sites I read regularly, and simply could not resist sharing it with you.

HP (in association with Buzz Corps)is promoting its latest 20.1" notebook i.e. The HP HDX Entertainment Notebook using a contest called "The 31 Days of Dragon". Before I proceed further note that this contest is open to everyone from any part of the world.

Contest Info: There are 31 participating web sites, with the sponsorship of HP where HP is working with them to offer 31 prize packages - one a day for 31 days during a period from 09 May through 08 June 2008. Here are the details of the price package (which btw is worth well over USD 5000 in retail value):

• Display: 20.1″ diagonal WUXGA High-Definition HP Ultra Brightview Widescreen (1920×1200)
• Operating system: Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core2 Extreme Processor X9000 (2.80GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• Memory: 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• Graphics Card: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
• Personalization: HP Imprint Finish (Dragon) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
• Networking: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
• Hard Drive: 500GB 5400RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (250GB x 2)
• Optical: Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
• TV & Entertainment Experience: Integrated HP HDTV Hybrid TV Tuner and 4 Altec Lansing speakers + the HP Triple Bass Reflex subwoofer
• Primary Battery: 9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• Productivity Applications: Microsoft Office 2007, Corel PaintShop Pro Photo X2, Corel Painter 4, Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus
• Games: Viva Pinata, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Microsoft Flight Simulator X Acceleration Expansion Pack, Gear of War
• Blu-Ray movies: The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy – The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest, At World's End.

And here is a list of websites that are running/will run a seven day contest between the following dates (begin - end):

13 May - 20 May www.geekstogo.com
14 May - 21 May bink.nu
15 May - 22 May www.mediablab.com
16 May - 23 May www.last100.com
17 May - 24 May www.labnol.org
18 May - 25 May www.notebooks.com
19 May - 26 May www.slashdotreview.com
20 May - 27 May www.neowin.net
21 May - 28 May www.geek.com
22 May - 29 Mau www.lockergnome.com
23 May - 30 May www.planetx64.com
24 May - 31 May www.thegreenbutton.com
25 May - 01 Jun www.istartedsomething.com
26 May - 02 Jun www.bleepingcomputer.com
27 May - 03 Jun www.hardwaregeeks.com
28 May - 04 Jun www.geeknewscentral.com
29 May - 05 Jun www.geekzone.co.nz
30 May - 06 Jun www.thetabletpc.net
31 May - 07 Jun www.gearlive.com
01 Jun - 08 Jun www.gottabemobile.com

Some of the website site where the winners have already been declared are:

02 May - 09 May www.absolutevista.com
03 May - 10 May www.arstechnica.com
04 May - 11 May www.osnn.net
05 May - 12 May www.jkontherun.com
06 May - 13 May digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
07 May - 14 May www.bostonpocketpc.com
08 May - 15 May www.the-gadgeteer.com
09 May - 16 May www.thedigitallifestyle.com
10 May - 17 May www.digitalhomethoughts.com
11 May - 18 May www.windows-now.com
12 May - 19 May www.windowsconnected.com

So I suggest you to head over to these website and track them to win the super prize package. For details about the contest please visit here. There is an RSS link and an OPML available so that you can track these sites conveniently.

In addition, most of these site have very good articles which techies and computer enthusiasts will definitely like. So go now and start participating, I am also competing :)

Poll result

I had conducted the following poll a couple of months ago on my blog, but forgot to post the poll results after ending the poll. Better late than never:

Translate your posts into 14 languages (Updates added)

Dear Friends,

This is my first add-on goody for the year 2007. Hope you will like it. Brainiac came up with a suggestion to add more languages to my Google translate for posts hack. As the number of languages provided by Google is limited, I decided to use the BabelFish code, offered in a language translation widget by Amit Agarwal of Digital Inspiration. I have been using this hack in the "Translate" section of my navigational bar (at the top of the page).

- This code offers 14 languages, to which your readers will be able to translate your posts.
- There is also some translation code that Spanish Bloggers can use to allow their readers to read their blogs in English, French, Russian, German and Italian.
(See comments for credits)

I have modified that code so that you can use it in your post footers and allow your readers to translate individual posts (if they like). To learn how to add some thing to your template's post footers, visit this page.

Update: Added code for English to Trukish courtesy emrex

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_nl"' title='Nederlands/Dutch'><img alt='Nederlands/Dutch' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3709/485/400/nl.gif' width='30'/> Nederlands</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_fr"' title='Français/French'><img alt='Français/French' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/43/1633/320/13539949_e76af75976.jpg' width='30'/> Français</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_ru"' title='Русский/Russian'><img alt='Русский/Russian' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3709/485/1600/ru.gif' width='30'/> Русский</a> |
    
<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_de"' title='Deutsch/German'><img alt='Deutsch/German' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/43/1633/320/13539933_041ca1eda2.jpg' width='30'/> Deutsch</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_it"' title='Italiano/Italian'><img alt='Italiano/Italian' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/43/1633/320/13539953_0384ccecf9.jpg' width='30'/> Italiano</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_pt"' title='Português/Portuguese'><img alt='Português/Portuguese' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/43/1633/320/13539966_0d09b410b5.jpg' width='30'/> Português</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_es"' title='Español/Spanish'><img alt='Español/Spanish' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/43/1633/320/13539946_2fabed0dbf.jpg' width='30'/>Español</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=ar&amp;ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&langpair=en|ar&u=" + data:post.url' title='العربية/Arabic'><img alt='العربية/Arabic' border='0' height='20' src='http://www.google.com/images/flags/sa_flag.gif' width='30'/> العربية</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_el"' title='Ελληνικά/Greek'><img alt='Ελληνικά/Greek' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3709/485/1600/el.gif' width='30'/> Ελληνικά</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_ja"' title='日本語/Japanese'><img alt='Japanese' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/43/1633/320/13539955_925e6683c8.jpg' width='30'/> 日本語</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_ko"' title='한국어/Korean'><img alt='Korean' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/43/1633/320/13539958_3c3b482c95.jpg' width='30'/> 한국어</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_zh"' title='汉语简化了/Chinese Simplified'><img alt='Chinese Simplified' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/43/1633/320/14324441_5ca5ce3423.jpg' width='30'/> 汉语简化了</a> |

<a expr:href='"http://66.94.231.168/babelfish/translate_url_content?trurl=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=en_zt"' title='中國傳統/Chinese Traditional'><img alt='Chinese Traditional' height='20' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3709/485/400/zh_tw.gif' width='30'/> 中國傳統</a>

Update: Added code for English to Trukish
<a expr:href='"http://babel.gts-translation.com/geturl?direction=50&amp;input_url=" + data:post.url' title='Türkçe/Turkish'><img src='[Image not available]' alt='Turkish' height='20' width='30'/>Türkçe</a>

Update: Some translate links for Spanish bloggers (based on a wordpress plugin pointed out by brainiac):

<a expr:href='"http://world.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?url=" + data:post.url + "&amp;lp=es_en"' title='Spanish to English'><img src='http://bp0.blogger.com/_XGtsagQTuUQ/RZk8DP2JNiI/AAAAAAAAADk/eRxHS5s1f10/s320/english.jpg' alt='Eng' /> English</a>

<a expr:href='"http://www1.worldlingo.com/SH0gfCf2o9dM33sw2faPEI,6sc5M9NFT0/translation?wl_url=" + data:post.url + "&amp;wl_srclang=ES&amp;wl_trglang=fr" title='Spanish to French'><img src='http://bp1.blogger.com/_XGtsagQTuUQ/RZk8Df2JNjI/AAAAAAAAADs/jL1jKBhgKFc/s320/france.gif' />Français</a>

<a expr:href='"http://www1.worldlingo.com/SH0gfCf2o9dM33sw2faPEI,6sc5M9NFT0/translation?wl_url=" + data:post.url + "&amp;wl_srclang=ES&amp;wl_trglang=de"' title='Spanish to German'><img src='http://bp1.blogger.com/_XGtsagQTuUQ/RZk8Df2JNkI/AAAAAAAAAD0/JubAGPyc5d4/s320/germany.gif' />Deutsch</a>

<a expr:href='"http://www1.worldlingo.com/SH0gfCf2o9dM33sw2faPEI,6sc5M9NFT0/translation?wl_url=" + data:post.url + "&amp;wl_srclang=ES&amp;wl_trglang=it"' title='Spanish to Italian'><img src='http://bp3.blogger.com/_XGtsagQTuUQ/RZk8Q_2JNmI/AAAAAAAAAEE/pJodrosGp8I/s320/italy.gif' />Italiano</a>

<a expr:href='"http://www1.worldlingo.com/SH0gfCf2o9dM33sw2faPEI,6sc5M9NFT0/translation?wl_url=" + data:post.url + "&amp;wl_srclang=ES&amp;wl_trglang=ru"' title='Spanish to Russian'><img src='http://bp0.blogger.com/_XGtsagQTuUQ/RZk8RP2JNpI/AAAAAAAAAEc/Tnq_uTX3WhY/s320/russia.gif' />Русский</a>

If you want to display only the flag images, simply delete the text between the img tag and the </a> tag. In case you want to have only the text, remove the img tag completely. As always, don't forget to make a backup of your template before applying this code.

Please drop a line here if you find some bug or if some thing doesn't work. I have not tested out most of the code.

Also, Deniz of imessengr is now offering a modded three-column Thisaway template loaded with popular hacks. Visit his page to learn more and download the template.

More hackers now on the 'new blogger' hacking scene

Hello Readers,

Life has been very busy for me in the last couple of weeks and therefore I have not been posting any new hacks or code. However, the the hacking scene has not gone cold. Lots of stuff has been happening in the blogger hacking space.

1. You might have looked at Ramani's lightining fast Neo template. If not check it out here.

2. Classic Blogger's favorite hacker, Aditya of last word has moved to the new blogger and is now making hack for the new platform. Check out his page here (looks great!).

3. Deepak of Blogger Hacked is spinning out quality Ajax based hacks also displaying strong coding skills. I highly recommend checking out his hacks.

That's what I have noticed recently. Hope this keeps you busy for sometime! Happy hacking and a very happy 2007.

Tamed rounders template now hacked and downloadable

Hello all,

Deniz of imessengr has taken the three column rounders template and hacked it to include most of the popular hacks currently available for the new Blogger. He has done this for all the variants of rounders that are available on Blogger.

Visit here to download this template and install it in your blog.

Blogger Feature or Bug: Edit link disappears and Blog unable to recognize its admin

For quite a while now I have been facing problems with my Blogger blogs and layout editor. Every time I edit a widget and save the changes the edit link for that widget disappears from the layout. To understand what I am referring to have a look at the two images below.




Once I update the "Subscribe | Syndicate | Bookmark" widget the edit link disappears. I actually have to click on the page elements link to reload the layout editor which is very irritating. I have not heard anyone else complain about this so I wonder if only I am facing this problem or if this is some cool new Blogger feature that I don't understand :)

Not just this, for some strange reason, my blogs don't identify me as the administrator even if I am logged into blogger. There is a possibility that the widget quickedit links are not shown as I might have messed up some code in the template. But that's not the case as I don't get to see those links even in any new blogs (where the HTML has not been touched) created by me. Anyone else facing this problem? Anyone has any suggestions?

Blogger News: Welcome the "New Blogger"

Hello Readers,

Just a quick update here. Blogger has announced that they are now out of beta. This is shown by the change of URLs. The sign-in link on beta blog navbars no longer points to the beta.blogger.com link. It now points to www2.blogger.com.

Classic Blogger users can learn more about Blogger Beta the New Blogger here.

Adsense inside your posts and only on post (item) pages

Loui$$ from Blogging Secret just asked me how I was displaying adsense ads only on post (item) pages and inside the post i.e. in the beginning and the end of each post. For this I use the same if statements from my hack Display widgets only on pages you prefer but widget are not involved in this one as widgets cannot go inside a post.

First let me acknowledge the sources from which I learnt some essential adsense tricks for Blogger Beta:

1. Using adsense code in beta template by Loui$$.
2. Using adsense in posts by Deniz.

I recommend checking those out before proceeding with this hack. As always, please back-up your template before proceeding with this hack as you will be modifying some important portions of your template. Now for the hack. Simply look for:

<p><data:post.body/></p>

in your template's <div class='post'> section and replace it with the code given in code boxes below:
([Your Adsense] in the each of codes given below must be replaced with the adsense code of your choice)

1. This code:
(if you are not using any hacks like peek-a-boo posts, selective expandable posts or peek-a-boo on label, archive and search pages)

      <b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == "item"'>
        <p><table align='center'><tr><td>
<center>[Your Adsense]</center></td></tr></table>
<data:post.body/><table align='center'><tr><td>
<center>[Your Adsense]</center></td></tr></table></p>
      <b:else/>
<p><data:post.body/></p>
      </b:if>

2. This code in bold-italic (If you are using Peek-a-boo posts hacks)
(If you are also using the peek-a-boo on label and search pages hack, then there may be some confusion regarding which <p><data:post.body/></p> must be replaced with the code given below. Therefore, I have included the peek-a-boo code as well so that you can easily locate the correct instance of data:post.body/ in your template.)

<div class='post-body' expr:id='"post-" + data:post.id'>
<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == "item"'>
        <p><table align='center'><tr><td>
<center>Your Adsense</center></td></tr></table>
<data:post.body/><table align='center'><tr><td>
<center>Your Adsense</center></td></tr></table></p>
<b:else/>
<style>#fullpost {display:none;}</style>
<p><data:post.body/></p>
<span id='showlink'>
<p><a expr:onclick='"javascript:showFull(\"post-" + data:post.id + "\");"' href='javascript:void(0);'>Continue reading...</a></p>
</span>
<span id='hidelink' style='display:none'>
<p><a expr:onclick='"javascript:hideFull(\"post-" + data:post.id + "\");"' href='javascript:void(0);'>Excerpts only...</a></p>
</span>
<script type='text/javascript'>checkFull(&quot;post-&quot; + &quot;<data:post.id/>&quot;)</script>
</b:if>
<div style='clear: both;'/> <!-- clear for photos floats -->
</div>

3. This code in bold-italic (If you are using selective expandable posts hack)

<div class='post-body' expr:id='"post-" + data:post.id'>

      <b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == "item"'>
         <style>#fullpost{display:inline;}</style>
   <p><table align='center'><tr><td>
<center>[Your Adsense]</center></td></tr></table>
<data:post.body/><br/>
<table align='center'><tr><td><center>
[Your Adsense]</center></td></tr></table></p>

      <b:else/>
         <style>#fullpost{display:none;}</style>

<p><data:post.body/></p>

        <span id='showlink'>
         <a expr:href='data:post.url'>Read More......</a>
        </span>
        <script type='text/javascript'>
          checkFull(&quot;post-&quot; + &quot;<data:post.id/>&quot;);
        </script>
      </b:if>
      <div style='clear: both;'/> <!-- clear for photos floats -->
    </div>

Hope this becomes the tipping point in your adsense revenues graph :D