Recent server config changes seem to have broken our already picky WordPress based e-commerce plugin, Shopp. After spending quite some time trying to get it to work with the new configuration it was time to move on — which I was cool with since Shopp had failed me on a few issues before.
So yesterday I was up until 6am putting together the sweet new HakShop based on Prestashop. I love how modern this package is. The back-end is really sweet too. Not too complicated but powerful enough to do what’s really important. Read: Make sure we don’t sell more than we have and charge the proper shipping rate for your country.
You can see what I’m talking about here, but don’t check out — you won’t receive your goodies.
Anyway, lesson learned here is this Read more
Spec out your ultimate $2000 white box server for an opportunity to win awesome swag from the hakshop including the last Hak5 shot-glass. Detail the parts and why you picked ‘em here and we’ll pick a winner based on performance, value and creativity!
Make your entries in the 5×19 release thread.
This week we’re doing a photoshop contest. The most creative caption or creation with this image wins cool swag from the hakshop.
Your creation should be submitted to the forums contest gallery.
Think you’ve got a hardcore LAN? Show us! Our latest contest is all about mapping your *home* network.
Map your network using an online diagram application like Gliffy, Dia on Linux or jNetMap — a cross-platform network mapping app developed by Hak5 fan Rakudave!
Then submit your entries as an image and description over in the new Hak5 forums Contest Submission gallery.
Entries will be judges on network creativity. Feel free to be as detailed as you’d like. No business or university networks please. If you have a site to site VPN between home and office that’s cool but no need to map past the initial link.
Entries are due by Friday May 29th. The winning network will be featured on episode 516. The winner will receive some cozy Hak5 gear from the HakShop.
HakHouse Network as mapped by jNetMap
As you all know I’ve been struggling with a few e-commerce platforms. Eventually I settled on the Shopp plugin for WordPress. I really like how simple the system is. It’s just what I need (inventory management, weight rate shipping) and not what I don’t. Once I got past the first bug or two I really warmed up to it.
A big thanks to everyone who has offered their help setting this up and making recommendations. I still have zen-cart and oscommerce in the back of my mind if this doesn’t work out — but for now I’m giving this a go.
I’ve spent a few days getting intimately familiar with the code and hacking together the templates. I really like how well it integrates with the site. It’s not finished by any stretch of the imagination but I believe the core functionality is there.
I’m looking for feedback on the store. If you can offer any comments on usability, features, or otherwise please sound off in the comments. I’ll be continuing to add new stuff (user gallery, specifications, more products) as time goes on.
If all goes well over the next few days I’ll be sure to make a much better announcement for our grand opening. In the mean time, consider the HakShop open for beta testing.
www.hak5.org/hakshop (Please report any bug to darren@hak5.org)
After a frustrating day fighting with e-commerce code I must forfeit. I really wanted to have this online today but it doesn’t look like it’ll happen. If you’re reading this post after watching episode 512, I’m sorry. Check back in a day or two. Maybe then this code and mysql will start to behave.
–Darren
The first Code Challenge for Hak5 Season 5 — the Gmail Procrastination Badge. What started as a tongue in cheek comment on twitter about needing to declare email bankruptcy lead to proof of concept Gmail Unread Badge code.
The code
<?php
$mbox = imap_open ("{imap.googlemail.com:993/imap/ssl}INBOX",
"gmailusername", "gmailpassword", OP_READONLY)
or die("can't connect: " . imap_last_error());
$check = imap_mailboxmsginfo($mbox);
?>
Step 1: Download Monkey Art
Step 2: Get Creative
Step 3: Publish Monkey Wallpaper
Step 4: ???
Step 5: Profit!
Winner will receive Hak5 swag as well as a do-it-yourself sock monkey kit curtesy of SockMonkey.net!
February is the month of Zombies here at Hak5. We’re playing Left4Dead (l4d.hak5.org) and Zombie Panic Source (zp.hak5.org) from now until the official show down on Saturday, February 28th.
We expect to start a Left4Dead campaign around 3:00 PM Eastern. Use the Tournament Signup form to enroll for this event and be sure to give us your Steam name so we can contact you. We’ll randomly choose four players to hack and slash with in a Left4Dead campaign. Depending on how things go we may do multiple campaigns so more players can rotate in.
If the Left4Dead server is full and you still want to get your Zombie bashing fun in join the Zombie Panic Source server. We’ve been hearing good things about this free mod so give it a download.
Overall best gamer for the party on Saturday, February 28th will be rewarded with a kickass Hak5 sticker pack including a cast signed stick of RAM. How Bad-ass!? So be sure to sign up so we can contact you if necessary.
And if you haven’t already go ahead and join the Hak5 Steam Group. See you in game.
The first day of CES was brought with many challenges. This being our first ever CES we’re a little baffled by Las Vegas architecture and geometry, which seems to have been developed on a higher plane of existence then ported to Earth in an attempt to bewilder mortals.
Regardless, we’re here in Vegas doing our thing. The five of us spent the day splitting up and covering approximately 7% of the conference floor. Things are big and things are shiny. There are never to be mass market pie-in-the-sky prototypes and there are really pretty gidgets far beyond our meager hacker budgets.
The highlight of the day, aside from finally meeting face-to-face with the Revision3 kr3w, was CES adjunct Showstoppers – a small (in comparison) press event featuring neato-new-technology peppered with the obligatory are-you-fraking-kidding-me.
We* ended the night with a Day One Pow Wow. I figured it would be fun to share with you our initial thoughts on the show, our expectations and lessons learned.
*Actually everyone else is asleep while I’m up editing down HD footage to an “uploadable” format. As it turns out bandwidth is hard to come by here. I’m paying $12 for 384k! (Don’t even start Aussies).
P.S. One more lesson learned: Turn on the LED lamp when shooting wide in front of a white table using auto exposure. Yeah, my fault. I’ll ride the Fail Bus home Sunday.
—Darren
Calling all pixel ninjas. Ever wish you could submit an Evil Server logo or action graphic to us and win cool Hak5 swag? Now you can, with our spiffy new Evil Server Logo (or action graphic) Contest! Clever, hu?
From now until Monday, December 15th we’ll be accepting submissions for this totally bad-ass contest — winner(s) of which will be judged based on style and evilness. The winning graphic(s) will become part of the new Hak5 sticker collection (and possibly other cool stuff). Read more for details. Read more
Don’t forget about tonight’s Hak5 Halloween LAN Parties! Join us in CS:S, TF2, BF2, and UT99 and add Hak5Halloween to your steam friends for a chance to randomly win cool Hak5 swag including stickers, shot glasses, buttons, and a few Pronobozo CDs. All the details are at hak5halloween.squarespace.com thanks to your LAN Party admin Joeeigel.
