MagicJack: pros and cons

MagicJack (MJ) is a USB Internet phone device using the processor chip from Tiger Jet acting as an adapter that allows you to plug in a regular phone and then use, or directly use the provided softphone via your computer with a speaker and a microphone ready. The device is Windows compliance so there is no driver needed. Any new driver update will be automatically detected and distributed via Windows update.

I purchased it because I was suddenly required 100% travel due to the department transfer and I began disliking my new task. I was thinking to leave the company by starting my job search journey. Since I had the company cell phone, I could simply forward all my personal calls to my cell because my home phone was a basic land line without any feature. Thus, I would like to have an economic solution. MagicJack is the solution I chose. If you have stable high-speed Internet connection, the phone quality will be as good as a regular land line. MJ works like other VoIPs like Vonage but with much lower cost. You can use it wherever you are including internationally, and unlimited calls are free to made within/to the US and Canada.

I am a MagicJack user and use it every day now. I would like to share some thought and experience here. You may find them useful to decide if MagicJack is right for you.

Pros

Cons

Driver Needed No, MagicJack is compatible on Windows and Windows compliance. Thus, there is no driver needed. Any new driver update will be automatically detected and distributed via Windows update. Easy Installation Unlike its advertisement on TV (i.e., no installation), MagicJack requires software download and installation. You must sign-up an account as soon as you have softphone installed and then activated it before you can make a call. This is based on my experience. I have 3 laptops and 1 desktop at home; they all required manually software download and installation. Cost and Features Low cost. The first year subscription including the device itself is $39.95 + shipping and handling ($9.95 for USA user). Up to this moment I am writing (April 25, 2009), each subsequent subscription per year is only $19.95 and $59.95 for 5 years. Unlike a landline or other VoIPs, the price here is final without additional tax or subcharge. The cost includes all the needy features: unlimited local and long distance call, 411 directory assistance, voice mail, call waiting, 3-way calling, call forwarding, 911 service, and Do-Not-Disturb. Total Call Minutes No limit on total call minutes. Unlimited calls can be made within the United State and Canada. But the duration of each call is limited to 2 hours. Quality of the Call and Connectivity The service provided by MagicJack is VoIP relying on Internet connection. Thus, your Internet connection stability is the key to your call quality and connectivity. I have a stable, high-speed Internet; I found the call quality is as good as a landland. I usually talk to my family about 2 hours during weekends (but there is time limit per call; 2 hours max). Within these 2 hours, my call is never interrupted nor dropped. I am happy with the call quality and I have no problem on the call connectivity. Phone Number Like other VoIP phone service providers (e.g., Vonage), MagicJack provides you a phone number. You can choose the number that you want including the area code.

Windows Only MagicJack cannot run on any other platforms but windows only. Computer-Dependent MagicJack goes offline when your computer is off. In addition, you have to log in onto the system and let the software (i.e., softphone) load before use. MagicJack provides you a call log (via softphone) but the missing call will not be captured when the computer is off unless the person leaves you a message. Any left message will be directly delivered to your email box via a WAV file. Software-Dependent You cannot make a call if your softphone is not ready. You have to wait until your softphone is completely loaded. Seeing "Ready to Call" on the softphone doesn't mean you can make a call. You may still have to wait a few seconds. Although you are able to use a regular phone to make calls, the softphone is the actual interface sitting between your phone and the device (i.e., MagicJack). Thus, if the softphone is not running, your phone will not work, and you will never know if there is a missing call unless the person leaves you a message. Only when the softphone is up and running, all calls timestamp will be kept in your call log. Any Hardware Conflict Yes, at least I found that MagicJack is conflict with my USB TV tuner. As soon as I plug the TV tuner in, the MagicJack softphone won't work without unplugging and re-plugging. The same problem occurs when you start or reboot the system with the TV tuner and MagicJack attached. If you make a call without hearing the phone dialing after you have keyed in all the numbers, it indicates either your softphone is not ready or you have hardware conflict issue. Consume More Drive Labels MagicJack is a USB device but it consumes 2 disk/drive labels. If you have a lot of external USB drives (e.g., USB thumb drives), some of them may not be recognized because MagicJack takes their original drive labels. To resolve this, you need to specifically change the drive labels either on MagicJack itself or the USB drives via Computer Management. Configurability No, there is not much you can configure MagicJack except for the call forwarding via their Web-based interface. You cannot configure the greeting message if you don't like it (sorry, I cannot find a way to do it). And you cannot change the time zone either. Thus, the time shown on the call log doesn't reflect your actual time. I have no idea which time zone is. Customer Service Unlikely you will speak to a live person over the phone but live-chat with their technical support 24/7 or via email query. Frankly, I don't find them much helpful on the issue I had. MagicJack will provide you a contact number when you have a billing issue but you need to chat with the technical support first. The attitude of the customer representative in the billing department is horrible. The one I talked to was impatient and unpleasant. The more I spoke to her, the more I got frustratetd. See my another comment on MagicJack. Time Limit Per Call Each call is limited to 2 hours. Otherwise, the call is automatically terminated and then what you can hear is the dial tone. You can continue with your conversation by placing the call again. Other Issues Dial Tone Problem: Having a dial tone doesn't mean you can make a call immediately! Sometimes you may need to unplug the MagicJack and plug it back in order to resolve the issues. Without a dial tone when you try to make a call happens daily. From my experience, it could occur once a day at least. Hanging up and then pressing the button again sometimes may resolve the problem. Otherwise, replugging Magicjack should work. Late Response: Don't immediately make a call when the softphone is first loaded and indicates "Ready to Call". Give more seconds before use; otherwise, most likely you need to hang up and call again. There is always a delay on the softphone. Popup Softphone: Owing to its software dependent, every time a call runs in or you try to make a call, the softphone will pop up even if you have minimized it to the system tray. It is very irritating. In addition, after having hung up the call, 2 or 3 seconds later, the softphone will pop up in front of every application. I find it very disturbing. Cannot Do System Standy or Hibernate: You cannot put your system to sleep by doing either standy or hibernate when you have MagicJack attached. MagicJack Won't Auto-Start after Logoff: If you log off your account and then log in later, you need to manually start MagicJack.

Updated on October 17, 2009
An additional note: since MagicJack is via VoIP protocol to send voice, your traditional fax machine may not work with VoIP line. I have recently run into this problem. For the detail of why faxing and modems don't work well over VoIP, see here.

Limitation highlight of SQL server editions

The following applies to SQL 2005 Editions.

Feature	Express	Developer or Enterprise	Workgroup or Standard
Is free?	Yes	No	No
Redistributable?	Yes	No	No
Work with Team Foundation Server?	No	No - Developer Yes - Enterprise	Yes
Concurrent Connection	5	No Limit - subject to @@MAX_Connections	No Limit - subject to @@MAX_Connections
Database size	4 GB	No Limit	No Limit
CPU supported	1	Maximum OS supported	2 - Workgroup 4 - Standard
RAM Supported	1 GB	Maximum OS supported	3GB - Workgroup Maximum OS supported for Standard

Others features comparison list can be found here.

Batch or VBScript cannot run as scheduled task on Windows 2008/Vista, why?

Have you ever experienced the following problem?

The script file runs fine as a scheduled task under Windows 2003/XP but it fails on Windows 2008/Vista. If you run the script manually on the command prompt on Windows 2008/Vista, it will work perfectly without a problem. It always fails when it runs as a scheduled task regardless of logon. Task Start Failed always occurs with the default error code 2147750687.

The problem spent me almost 2 months to figure out while I was busy with something else. It happened almost 8 months ago from now when everything was being moved from Windows 2003 to Windows 2008.

The followings were the scheduled task settings on Windows 2008/Vista:

• Run under the local Administrator account
• Run whether user is logged on or not
• Run with highest privileges - actually this one shouldn't be needed since it is run under the local Administrator.

Task Scheduler 2.0 took place on Windows 2008 as well as Windows Vista. There are a lot of differences from its predecessor on Windows 2003 or Windows XP. Here is one of them. When you run your script as a scheduled task, the scheduler (2.0) will create an account impersonating as the user you configure/specify for the task. The account is always resided in or runs from %systemroot%\system32\. Therefore, if your script internally uses relative path, it is going to fail 100% because of path/file not found or permission denied. For that reason, there are two options I would suggest:

• Modify all the relative paths to be fully qualified paths or absolute paths; e.g., c:\tasks\scheduled\output.txt
• Modify the script to take the directory as an argument when you run it; e.g., c:\tasks\scheduled\taskA.vbs c:\tasks\myappPath\.

In my case, as soon as I've fixed the relative path problems, all scripts with Task Scheduler 2.0 run like a charm.

In sum, checking if the problem is related to a relative path on your mystery task may save you from a million troubles.

How to attach MDF without LDF into SQL 2005 - Part 2

In my part 1, I mentioned to use VS.2008 to generate the data/schema script first and then import the data back to the database. Here is another way to attach MDF back to the SQL 2005 sever without LDF. In this approach, you don't need to install Visual Studio but you may need another tool for help depending on your result by running the following SQL statement.

In the following illustration, I will use AdventureWorks.mdf as an example.

Execute the following statement to attach your MDF on SQL Management Studio:

USE master
GO
CREATE DATABASE AdventureWorks
ON PRIMARY (FILENAME = N'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks.mdf')
FOR ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG
GO

If everything works fine, you may get the similar message below and have your database attached after execution:

File activation failure. The physical file name "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks_log.ldf" may be incorrect.
New log file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks_log.LDF' was created.

Otherwise, you may have the following similar error:

File activation failure. The physical file name "C:\Users\<SomeUserName>\Documents\MyCode\Test\App_Data\AdventureWorks_log.ldf" may be incorrect.
The log cannot be rebuilt when the primary file is read-only.
Msg 1813, Level 16, State 2, Line 3
Could not open new database 'AdventureWorks'. CREATE DATABASE is aborted.

Depending on how or where you get your MDF file (because your MDF may not be detached properly), your LDF rebuilt may fail and so may your database attach command. In this case, you need to download and use the free tool SQL Server Express Utility (SSEUtil) to interact with the server and create the LDF file for you. This tool also works well with the full version of SQL Server 2005. There are two (2) big steps you need to perform in order to make your MDF finally available on SQL Management Studio.

Step 1: Use SSEUtil to attach MDF into the database server

First, you can copy the MDF to the location where you usually store for your SQL server if you like, e.g., C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\, or keep wherever it is now.

Then at the command prompt, run sseutil's attach database command. Before doing it, please be sure to add your path to sseutil.exe. Otherwise, you need to use its absolute path name,., e.g., c:\util\sseutil.exe.

sseutil -s .\SQLExpress -a "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks.mdf" AdverureWorks

where

• -s to specify the instance of SQL server.
• -a to attach the database by specifying its MDF file path name.
• The last parameter is optional. It is the name of database you want to call (e.g., AdvantureWorks).

There are several options that you can use with sseutil, like -user and -pwd to specify the usr name and its password for connection. Please see the readme file of SSEUtil for details.

or

You can use sseutil console to interact with the server.

• To start a sseutil console, at the command prompt, type
  sseutil -c
  
• You will see
  Console mode. Type 'help' for more information.
  1>
• To attach a MDF, type
  !attach "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks.mdf" AdventureWorks
• Type quit when you're done. This step is necessary to enable you to add the database into the sysdabases in the next step by removing the lock on file.

Step 2: Add MDF into sysdatabases

Now you have MDF attached to the server and have LDF recreated. But the database will still remain hidden from SQL Server Management Studio. In order to make it visible in SQL Server Management Studio, you need to go through the database attach wizard to add the database back to sysdatabases; or in the management studio, run either one of the following SQL statements:

• USE master
  GO
  EXEC SP_ATTACH_DB
  @filename1=N'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks.mdf',
  @dbname=N'AdventureWorks
  
  or
  
  
• USE master
  GO
  CREATE DATABASE AdventureWorks
  ON PRIMARY (FILENAME = N'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\AdventureWorks.mdf')
  FOR ATTACH
  GO
  

I hope that you find this guide useful.

How to attach MDF without LDF into SQL 2005

SQL 2005 does not support DBCC REBUILD_LOG. Thus, you cannot use it to rebuild the LDF. Here is how I do to attach a database only using MDF without LDF present.

If you are only interested in attaching MDF to the SQL 2005 server without data extraction and replication, please see my part 2, which works without Visual Studio installed.

I use VS.2008 to do the trick. VS.2005 doesn't have this ability. This method probably may work in Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition.

Open VS.2008 and do the followings:

1. New a Web site or use the existing one.
2. Add the file to the project's App_Data folder.
3. Right click this folder in the Solution Explorer and select Add Existing Item...
4. Locate the MDF file you want to use.
5. Then click Add.
6. Double-click on the MDF file that you just added; it will open Server Explorer for you.
7. Locate and right-click the MDF file data connection on Server Explorer.
8. Select Publish to provider...
9. Go through the wizard; when the wizard asks you where to publish, I select Script to file. It will generate a SQL file that contains all the database schema and its data.

On the SQL 2005 Server (mine is Express version),

1. Create a database with the same name as your MDF.
2. Run the SQL file you just created by Server Explorer in VS.2008.

Your database should be revived now!

How to print PDF background as you see on file

Have you ever experienced the following problem when you print a PDF file? The background images appear like regular text. It is not what you see on file when you view it.

You may have a PDF look like this when you view it:



Whenever you try to print, you will get this:

There is nothing wrong with the PDF. To fix this, use Print as image at your printer option. You may find this option at your Advanced button or tab. Then you should print something as below:

Note that the printer used here is a black and white laser printer, not color print.

Favorite torrent sites

Good torrent sites	Bad torrent sites
isohunt.com torrentportal.com	fulldls.com If you go there, be careful of running out of CPU usage and you have to kill your browser in order to stop it

How to enable script debugging on Internet Explorer

If you are debugging your code with Internet Explorer, be sure to enable your setting of script debugging.

On Internet Explorer, at the menu bar,

• Choose Tools -> Internet Options
• Click Advanced
• Ensure to uncheck Disable script debugging (Internet Explorer) in the Browsing category.

Windows Firewall Settings and IIS for ASP.NET

If you are using the built-in internal development/test server in Visual Web Developer Express or VS.NET for development, testing and debugging, there is nothing you should worry about the Windows Firewall settings. However, if you would like to test your Web application over the network on a local IIS Web server, you need to have the following setting changed on Windows Firewall setting:

On Windows XP,

• Go Control Panel -> Windows Firewall
• Select Advanced tab
• On the Network Connection Services selection list, select one of the connection item, e.g., Local Area Connection, Wireless Network Connection, ... and etc.
• Then click Settings...
• Ensure that Web Server (HTTP) is checked.

On Windows Vista,

• Go Windows Control Panel
• Select the Exception tab
• Ensure that World Wide Web Services (HTTP) is checked.

Can you be that creative?

I wish I could make one of these for fun. When I saw them, I was stunned.

Quoted from the email text I received:

These egg shells were cut with a high intensity precision Laser Beam. This gives a very good idea of what can be achieved with a Laser Beam. This gives you an idea what laser surgery performed on one's eye is all about. Is it any wonder how one's vision can be improved in just a few moments? Science is sometimes wonderful, and it's still on the frontier of gaining new knowledge. Inc redible what can be done with an eggshell and a laser beam.

Can Your Brain Switch?

Please look at it for at least 30 seconds.

Someone has sent this picture to me recently and asked me what I saw.

Well, my colleague who is left-handed saw both ways after a few seconds. I have another colleague who primarily uses her right hand also saw her turning both ways. Mine is even more interesting. At first, I only saw her turning clock-wise. But after a while, I saw her turning the other way around and then in the half way, she was bouncing back. I saw her turning back and forth a few times. Then I saw her turning completely anti-clockwise. I cannot believe my eyes. It is neat. Now I even make her turn whichever way I want or make her bounce back left and right repeatedly. How about you? Can you make her turn? Which direction do you see?

The following is the explanation of seeing her turning different way quoted from the original text. I don't know how true it is. You're the judge then. To me, I am not sure if there is a trick on the picture. I believe everyone can see her turn both ways. Please give it some time to find your way to see her turn the other way

If you see this lady turning in clockwise you are using your right brain.

If you see it the other way, you are using left brain.

Some people do see both ways, but most people see it only one way.

If you try to see it the other way and if you do see, your IQ is above 160 which is almost a genius.
Then see if you can make her go one way and then the other by shifting the brain's current?

BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN
This was proved at Yale University, over a 5 year study on the human brain and it's functions. Only 14% of the US population can see her move both ways.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling "big picture" oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy & religion can "get it" (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking

Cheated by MagicJack

I ordered MagicJack (MJ) on Feb 22, 2009 Sunday when I saw their ad on TV. I am sure that I remember what the ad said because the ad was repeated several times. I wasn't making my decision right away to order it. I made it almost last minute.

What the TV ad said is: $39.95 for the device and one year free subscription. The ad sounds more attractive to say that making an order via the phone number advertised on the TV now would waive shipping and handling. The product provided money back guarantee for 30 days free trial. It also emphasized that within the trial period, the customer could send it back at their expense without paying the shipping cost. Thus, it was absolutely no risk.

Well, I was cheated. Besides $39.95, there is always $6.95 shipping and handling fee. Their representative claimed, the ad maybe said that I could get my money back including shipping cost. The S&H is not free. Okay, I listened incorrectly. The following is the page when I first activated MJ and logged in. It clearly said that S&H is free. Even now, the page is still there. But they said they don't know what I am talking about and claimed the page could be wrong. Gosh, unbelievable!

Their automatic ordering system is horrible and not easy to use. They cannot get my name right and they have my incorrect email address. There is no confirmation number when I placed an order so I wouldn't know if the order is done successfully. When I first received MJ, I called the customer service for installation. It is not as smooth as it is claimed on TV. At the same time, I inquired my account information and asked when I would receive my billing statement; the customer service replied that there is nothing to worry. When I activated MJ, I would sign up an account at the same time. The billing statement will be sent to my account later. Up to this moment, I haven't received my statement yet but my credit card was charged already on the 30th day from the date I placed an order.

I called their billing department for questions. Their real person attitude is horrible. She helped nothing but referred me back to the customer service (via live chat). My account was billed under different name and different email address. It was why I have never got my bill. Lucky them, they have my credit card right!

Chatting to their customer service twice about account data correction, they said they had informed the accounting department to have my file updated and may try re-send me the statement. An email for correction will reach me within 24-48 hours. 4 days already and I hear nothing from them. Their issue service is very bad!

Luckily their phone service is not bad - it is the only comfort.