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I spent sometime today trying to compile and then run Java using Notepad++ so I figured that I would write a guide explaining how to do it.

For those of you who don’t know Notepad++ is one of my favorite text editors.

Step 1) Download and install the Java JDK from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Step 2) Setup your path variables

Step 2.1) Go to your control panel and search for path

Step 2.2) Click on edit the system environment variables

Step 2.3) Click on environment variables

Step 2.4) Find your path setting

Step 2.5) Click on your path variable and then click on the edit button

Step 2.6) At the end of your path variable add the following: “;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk%JDK-VERSION%\bin” where %JDK-VERSION% is your JDK version number. (You can also find this by browsing to c:/program files/java and looking at the folders there)

Step 3) Log off your computer and then log back in. (You can also reboot if you want, but that is unnecessary)

Step 4) Somewhere on your computer make a new text file and add the following to it:

cd /d “%1″
javac %2 -Xlint:all
if errorlevel 1 goto finish
java %3
:finish
pause

Step 5) Rename this file to CompileJava.bat (if the file name does not end it .txt before you rename you will need to do this first)

Step 6) Copy this file to C:/Program Files/Notepad++

Step 7) Hit the “F5″ key and type the following into the text field $(NPP_DIRECTORY)\CompileJava.bat “$(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)” “$(FILE_NAME)” “$(NAME_PART)”

Step 8 ) Click on save and name the command something like “CompileJava”, you can also set up a key command if you like.

Step 9) You can now access your command from the “Run” menu

Thats it, your now ready to create and run Java code from Notepad++! One important note though, only Java programs with default package will compile and run.

Cried goes to Tech Travel Think for the .bat code.

So in 2008 I made a post about funny keyboard shortcuts. Here is an updated version of that post.

Like the old post these will only work on windows (windows 7 to be more specific).

1) “Windows Key” + “+” then “Windows Key” + “-” then “Ctrl” + “Alt” +”I” – This will invert the colors on the screen.

2) “Windows Key” + “+” then “Ctrl” + “Alt” + “F” – This will make it so the screen is magnified.

3) “Left Alt” + “Left Shift” + “Num Lock” – This will make it so the number pad can move the mouse around. It can be fun to enable this and then play around with the number pad when someone else is using the computer to confuse them.

4) “Windows Key” + “R” then type in “shutdown -f -t 0″ – This will enable you to shutdown the computer quickly. It will also make it so windows won’t wait for programs to close, it will shutdown right then and there.

5) “Shift” then “Shift” then “Shift” then “Shift” then “Shift- This will turn on “Sticky Keys” which will make it so when anyone presses the “Shift”, “Ctrl”, “Alt”, or “Windows Key” and then lets go of the key the computer will act as if they are still holding the key down.

Today Zune realised the new Zune 4.0 software. Here are my initial impressions…. (this is by no means a full review)

I like:

• The new Zune mini player (Zune 1.0 had one and it was one of the best things about the program, but for some reason they got rid of it in Zune 2.o, I am happy that its back)

• The new Zune mini bar. (If you mouse over it you get a display a lot a lot like the mini player)
• The Smart DJ feature. (Its a feature that’s really neat and is original to Zune)

What I do not like:

• Movie rental. (The fact that some movies can only be rented. The fact that you can not rent them and play them on your Xbox + PC and the fact that older Zunes cannot play them.)
• The new app store. (Not clear how individuals can submit stuff and only new Zunes are supported.)

My overall impression:

The software got some much needed improvements and took some of the best things about Zune 1.0 and put them back into the software. But something that I think that Zune got really wrong is the fact that they got rid a lot of the support for older Zunes. Even thought the Zune HD is dramatically different I am sure that old Zunes would be able to play movies and certain apps just fine. The fact that older Zunes were so well supported was something that separated Zune from Apple and made them way better.

Hal 9000(Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic Computer)…Microsoft’s Project Natal
They both track your body movements and use your voice. They both even can reconogise you… scary.

During the past few days you may have been thinking, “Why has Nate not made any new posts”. Well dear readers, I recently made the mistake of buying an Xbox 360 have spend much of my free time on it. Below is my gamer card.