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EF has been evolving. Mixing data models created with different versions of EF may lead to strange compiling errors. Database first approach is usually far suprior to code first approach in terms of performance. When using the wizard to create a model, if connection string is…

If you love DataBinding, don't bother ViewBinding PopupWindow is rarely useful because what it can do usually can be done by making a layout visible/invisible, with customized Dialog (i.e. extending Dialog). Inflating a layout can be a problem for PopupWindow from a fragment. Spinner often has…

Android system apps are those such as Settings. Android SDK comes with a tool called aapt (Android Asset Packaging Tool). Each Android SDK comes with aapt located in its directory such as: C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\build-tools\23.0.1 To view a package, one needs to pull the package…

Reliable, reasonably thin and light. Fast whening running an application, but slow when switching between apps. It is a fine device for occasional use such as testing apps, using just one or two apps (e.g. browsing Google+ or Facebook), but not good as the primary…

Some old USB card readers limits the speeds of SD card reading and writing. USB 3.0 card reader should be the minimum requirement. SanDisk Extreme Plus SD cards have excellent performance, great for 4K video. CrystalDiskMark is used for the following tests. SanDisk Extreme Plus (V30)…

Nissan LEAF S 2019 Nissan Leaf purchased before 2019-07-07 enjoys free charging from EVgo which customer service is excellent thought their fast-charging stations are relatively sparse right now (2019). One can drive a Leaf from Boston to Montreal (500 km) with 0 charging cost by…

This is a story of getting lost in the wilderness of White Mountains and battling overnight to reach civilization on a weekend in late fall of 2007. Please refer to the maps of Figure 1 and 2 at the end of this page for various locations described in the…

Generating Jave code from WSDL sounds like a task that is so common that there must be a good tool for it. Yes, there are a few tools. Good tools, probably not. kSOAP2 J2ME Stub Generator seems to be an abandoned project. Though it can be…

Traditional Outlook add-ins work for both POP/IMAP and Microsoft Exchange accounts. Most email accounts are POP/IMA accounts. New Outlook add-ins that can be downloaded from Microsoft app store do not work with POP/IMAP accounts. New Outlook versions will no longer support traditional add-ins that can…

The installation of Microsoft Office developer tools for visual studio 2013 November 2014 update takes about 25 minutes.

Revamping Outlook.com emails (e.g. xxx@msn.com, xxx@hotmail.com like emails) requires reconnection. Follow the instructions to reconnect. You could delete the old outlook profile and create a new one. Deleting the profile does not delete outlook pst files corresponding to existing email accounts. You will be prompted…

If IIS has not been installed, Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off > check all the components under Internet Information Services that are needed (it may be easy to just check everyone if you are not…

The interest in China has been rising rapidly in the last decade or so. One cannot understand China by reading books published in China where there is heavy censorship. One may think that books by Western Sinologists are the best alternative. That was what I…

T-Mobile Sidekick II (Danger/Sharp) (2004) T-Mobile MDA by HTC (Windows Mobile 5.0, 2005) HTC Snap (Windows Mobile 6.1, 2009) HTC HD7S (Windows Phone 7, 2011) Nokia Lumia 520 (Windows Phone 8, 2013) Nokia Lumia 822 (Windows Phone 8.1, 2014)​ Nokia Lumia 830 (Windows 10 Mobile,…

If this happens and Device Manager shows: "Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. To fix this problem you can first try running a Troubleshooting Wizard. If that does not work, you should uninstall and…

ANC headphones such as Sonny MDR-10RDC are great in reducing ambient noise. It can enhance air travel comfort significantly, but it can induce motion sickness. This may be related to descending, so one should avoid wearing it during descent, or make its fiting loose. 

Nokia 3.1 Operating system Android Oreo 8.0 RAM 2 GB/3 GB CPU MT6750N Octa Core 1.5GHz Primary camera 13 MP AF f/2 with led flash Front-facing camera 8 MP FF f/2 84.6 FoV Unfortunately, the camera of this phone is so-so. Nokia 7.2 A great all-around phone. Pictures are great…

Part Model Country of Origin CPU Ryzen 9 9900X Granite Ridge AM5 4.40GHz 12-Core Boxed Processor Outside China Motherboard MSI MAG B650M MORTAR WIFI China Case Montech Air 100 ARGB Tempered Glass microATX Mini Tower Computer Case - White China Power supply MSI MAG A750BE…

Windows PC boot may fail especially after hardware change (motherboard change, storage drive migration...). "Repair Windows BCD - Windows 10/8.1/7/Vista" is a must-read article before attempting any repair. A typical BSOD screen is the following:

Tidbits: From Belarc Advisor ROG STRIX B350-F GAMING. Computer Profile Summary Computer Name: W10R7 (in WORKGROUP) Profile Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 07:46:47 Advisor Version: 9.0 Windows Logon: h Try BelManage, the Enterprise version of the Belarc Advisor Personal Home Use Only Operating System Windows 10…