Devices in the same network...

Well, though you might not be doing this frequently, but there might be instance where you might need to scan through the whole network looking for the IP Address of a particular device.

I have tried entering the command 'arp -a' in command prompt, but the results ain't as good as the following...

(Logo taken from 'SoftPerfect Research' website.) 'SoftPerfect Network Scanner' As compared to the command 'arp -a', this produces a much more detail results and though there's the troublesome step that requires you to enter the range of ip that you are scanning, but the results are far more cleaner and better than the 'arp -a' command. :)

Screengrabs of the software 'SoftPerfect Network Scanner'

* Click here to download the software 'SoftPerfect Network Scanner'.
^ Click here to find out more about 'SoftPerfect'.

Windows: Create a automated action...

Not all software out there allows you to save a series of commands/actions and allows you to run them again without the need of opening the software. Even if it can allow you to do that using command prompt, not all the functionalities will not be provided to you. Luckily there are software like...

'AutoHotkey' You can script the actions that you would like to perform in a particular software. On top of that, you can generate the script into a normal windows executable(.exe) file that allows you to share it with normal Windows User. However, I knew that there are numerous software out there that can provide you with a GUI interface and record all the necessary steps that you would like to perform over and over again. Ex: winautomation, Do It Again, RoboTask, etc... But most of them requires a license, and since I'm performing a easy task, therefore I would rather spend a bit of time scripting the actions rather than paying for a license.

* Click here to find out more about 'AutoHotkey'.

Fun with a NFC Android Phone

So you have got yourself a new Android NFC phone, so what's so great about this NFC capability? Firstly, I am not going to explain in depth about the NFC technology and this is something that you can google about. As for what can do with it... introducing an Android Application known as...

'FareBot'.
(Image taken from Google Play, previously known as Android Market.)

If you own one of the supported cards, you can use 'FareBot' to take at your remaining balance, recent transactions and some other informations about your card.
(Note: I was trying this with my Samsung Galaxy Nexus and it works. :D
Starting from today, I can check my ezlink transactions using my phone. :D
Time to say bye bye to the machines found at the MRT stations. :D)

Here's the list of cards that 'FareBot' currently supports:

• ORCA - Seattle, WA, USA
• Clipper - San Francisco, CA, USA
• EZ-Link - Singapore
• Suica/ICOCA/PASMO - Japan
• MIFARE DESFire
• CEPAS
• FeliCa

And here's a simple step by step guide for 'FareBot'.

1. Place your card on a flat surface.
2. With your screen of your phone facing upwards, open the Android Application, 'FareBot'.
3. Place the phone on top of your card and wait for a while.

Note: If the steps in the above doesn't work, try removing the phone casing and give it a try again.

Here's a video to guide you through the use of the Android APp.

* Click here to find out more about the Android App 'FareBot'.
^ Click here to find out more about NFC technology.
~ Click here to grab the latest list of NFC phones.