Hello.

I'm puzzled why Microsoft's new Feed Manager API is COM-based instead of a managed API. Given their push for managed code in Vista and .NET's excellent XML handling, a managed API for RSS (which is XML-based) seems logical. It's frustrating to need interop to use this new feature. Read More

I gave out a bit of duff information in my last post. Thanks Rasmus!The code should have been:string css = @".class1{color:pink;}.class2{color:blue;}";string patt = @".[-]?[_a-zA-Z][_a-zA-Z0-9-]|[^\0-\177]\[0-9a-f]{1,6}(\r\n[ \n\r\t\f])?|\[^\n\r\f0-9a-f]*";MatchCollection arr = Regex.Matches(css, patt);}The "arr" Collection will contain all the class names found in the input string. arr.Count will be the number of matches, and it can be indexed like so: arr[0].Value etc. etc.Sorry about that :) Read More

I'm exploring Microsoft's Simple List Extensions for RSS and looking for real-world examples of their implementation. I'm particularly interested in seeing how these extensions can be effectively utilized and would appreciate any insights or examples. Read More

I've previously blogged about IE7 Beta releases, and now it's time for another update! Beta 2 of Internet Explorer 7 is now available for download. Check out the IEBlog post for more details, and stay tuned for my upcoming impressions. Read More

As part of my ongoing project to build a CSS 2.0 parser in C#, I've developed a regular expression based on the CSS 2.0 specification to extract class names from CSS files. This regex is a step towards creating a complete CSS 2.0 parser, and I plan to develop more regular expressions for other CSS elements in the coming days. Check out my related side project about creating a CSS 2.0 parser in C# for more context. Read More

I'm diving into the official CSS 2.1 specification to build a C# based token reader for CSS parsing. The document itself is quite dense, but it lays out the syntax and provides regular expressions to guide the implementation. This is going to be a challenging but interesting project. Read More

A visitor searched Google for a "c# css parser" and landed on my site. Intrigued, I explored existing C# CSS parsers but found nothing. This sparked an idea for a personal project: creating my own parser. I envision distinct classes for each CSS type, managing their rules and attributes. A "Finder Class" would locate CSS classes and instantiate corresponding C# objects. Read More

This post addresses the Google search query "create a dsl connection in c#". It clarifies that C# doesn't create DSL-specific connections. Instead, you use standard TCP connections via System.Net.Sockets and System.Net, relying on Windows to manage the network interface. Read More

I've started a new blog dedicated to book reviews using WordPress! Check it out at http://books.kinlan.co.uk. I'm quite impressed with WordPress's flexibility and plugin options, a definite upgrade from Blogger. I'm still working on some features, like automatically directing users to the correct Amazon site based on their location, but feedback is welcome! Read More

I've added Amazon affiliate links to relevant books on my blog posts, hoping to provide useful recommendations and earn a small commission. So far, I've had one referral. I'd love to hear your feedback: Do you find these book recommendations helpful? Would you consider purchasing a recommended book? What factors influence your book-buying decisions? Is it clear which links go to the UK Amazon site versus the US site? Recent stats suggest a low conversion rate for affiliate links (around 0.24%), so I'm evaluating whether the effort is worthwhile given the advertising benefit to Amazon. Read More

Robert Scoble's new book on business blogging emphasizes building meaningful customer relationships through online dialogue. It argues that blogs humanize corporate communication, leading to improved brand image and profitability. The book includes case studies and interviews with business leaders like Mark Cuban, Bob Lutz, and Jonathan Schwartz, demonstrating blogging's impact on communication and competition. It also provides tools and strategies for businesses to effectively connect with customers by leveraging blogs' rapid information dissemination and encouraging active reader participation. Read More

I've updated the Ajax Tagger to Version 2.0! This update fixes a bug that's been present since Christmas. I've also added a Google Ad to the site. Read More

My site hasn't been updated because I just moved and haven't had internet access. That's changing today with the installation of Telewest Broadband 4Mbs! I'm excited to get back online. Read More

This excerpt from my final year project explores different types of telecom fraud, which I'll use as a basis for a C# neural network. Telecom fraud can be categorized into subscription fraud (false identities or payment evasion), call surfing (unauthorized network access through methods like call forwarding or cloning), ghosting (manipulating systems to avoid billing), accounting fraud (internal manipulation of billing systems), and information abuse (misuse of client or system data). I discuss the financial impact of these methods, such as bad debt from subscription fraud and costs incurred from call surfing via PABX manipulation. I also touch upon the vulnerabilities of older analogue mobile phones to cloning and the methods used in ghosting, like tone generating hardware. The project aims to address these fraud types through a neural network approach. Read More

I've fixed the download link for the Call Detail Record (CDR) Generator tool I created for my final year project. It's an MS Access 2003 application. Read More

I've shared my Call Detail Record (CDR) Generator, a Microsoft Access 2003 application I developed for my final year project. This tool creates thousands of simulated phone calls, mimicking various customer profiles (e.g., high/low usage, fraudulent, national rate). It offers extensive customization options for call cost, duration, and user behavior patterns (e.g. business vs. home user calling time). The generated call data is designed for training neural networks. Feel free to download and experiment – it's easy to use. Read More

I've finally uploaded my final year project, even amidst a house move and lack of internet! It explores how neural networks can detect telecom fraud. I've also built a related application, but I'll share more details later. Stay tuned for more insights from the project. Read More

I'm revisiting my final year university project on telecoms fraud detection. I built a system that generated call records and used a MATLAB neural network to analyze them for fraud. It worked surprisingly well! Now, I'm planning to rebuild the neural network in C# as a learning exercise to understand the underlying algorithms better. I'll be blogging about the project, neural networks, and the C# development process. Read More

Quick update: Things have been hectic with my house move, so blogging has taken a backseat. Not sure when I'll be back on a regular schedule. Read More

I recently discussed the lack of retail web service APIs for major companies like Tesco, Dixon's, and HMV. I've since discovered an ASDA Soap API on maskell.uk.com. I'm impressed by this development, though I'm uncertain how it's implemented (possibly screen scraping). Check it out! Read More