Tuesday 15 October 2013

Delayed Screen layout after upgrading to iOS 7

iPhone 4s:
Original Passcode Screen

Incomplete Layout Screen

Although the device  remains responsive and can validate my Passcode and unlock successfully!

iPad 3rd Generation:
Another delayed screen during unlocking:

Tip: Prevent iOS 7 annoying Control Center from displaying while scrolling

This has been an issue since I upgraded to iOS 7.0; whenever I scroll, especially in full screen within the browser, the Control Center is annoyingly displayed without my intention to do. This is really a concern especially on small iPhone screens.

Workaround: Disable Control Center access within the applications.


Tuesday 8 October 2013

Sure way to failure: Activating iMessage or FaceTime while roaming!

Unfortunately, iOS7 was released while I was abroad, so without any bad intentions I backed up my data and upgraded exactly on 20th September. Everything was OK and iMessage\FaceTime had no problems since they were already functioning in my home country.


Things started to happen when I noticed that iMessage was not activated for my phone number and it was only working for my e-mail, so I turned it off\on, which actually was not the case. I only turned it off, and when trying to turn it on, a message appeared confirming a message to be sent for Apple for activation and kept waiting for activation, hours passed and no reply.


A visit to Apple store advised me to approach Apple support on the Internet
http://www.apple.com/support !!!which I have followed and created two cases, where I was informed that they won't be able to help me unless I spend a day waiting for confirmation for my activation request!!! And directed me to a troubleshooting page: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4268 which included steps that require at least one more day.

Fed up, I dropped again by Apple store which changed my device!!! Voila, still not functioning!!

Finally, with no more time to waste on this, I returned home with my issue and trying to activate, and the next time I checked my phone, they were both activated!

It is worth adding that, as per my monthly invoice, the activation message was never sent from my iPhone while I was abroad!



Thursday 3 October 2013

Understanding Microsoft SQL Server permissions

Below is a very good article about the permissions check order. Also explains chaining; when an object accesses another object.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd283095(v=sql.100).aspx
Although the article was for SQL Server 2008, most concepts are still valid for 2012 version.

MS SQL Server: Changing database diagram ownership

- Current user to be removed from the DB to be able to transfer object ownership!!
- Ownership can now be transferred to members of the db_owbner role.


For me, I just cannot get the rational behind this restriction!


For actually changing the object ownership:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/275312/en-gb


Tip (MS Excel): To skip empty cells

To skip empty cells and to get directly to the next non-empty cell:

Keyboard Shortcut:
Ctrl + one of the 4 arrow keys (in the direction required) 

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Tip: Syncing Internet Explorer Favorites (Windows 7) across different machines using Dropbox

1) Goto IE Favorites folder.
2) Change Folder Location to Dropbox "Favorites" folder.
Note: Don't forget to create the new folder  "Favorites", so that the bookmark files are not moved to the root Dropbox folder.

 3) Select the just created "Favorites" folder within Dropbox.

 4) Move all files and subfolders.


Note: In case you want to sync your bookmarks with Apple Safari bookmarks, you can still use iCloud, and selecting Internet Explorer Bookmarks for syncing.

--Update 02/10/2013----
iCloud 3.0 caused the return of my deleted files.
When I uninstalled it, everything went smooth! Of course, your bookmarks are now no longer synchronized by Safari :(
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Applied on :
Windows 7 Professional SP1
Internet Explorer 10.0.9
Dropbox 2.0.22
iCloud 3.0