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Emoji keyboard shortcut for Windows

Emoji-Keyboard

I’ve written before about emojis and keyboard shortcuts in google hangouts. But what if you want to enter emojis while using your windows PC?

You can, and it’s super easy…

As long as you’re running an up to date version Windows 10 you can bring up the windows emoji keyboard with a simple keyboard shortcut:

Windows Key + . (Full-stop/Period)
or
Windows Key + ; (Semicolon)

Annoyingly you can only select one emoji at a time.
Once you’ve selected an emoji, the keyboard disappears.
So if you wanted multiple thumbs up, for example you’ll have to copy+paste or bring up the keyboard again.

There’s also a skin colour selector…
Windows-Emoji-Keyboard-Skin-Colour-Selector

If this helps you out please feel free to say thanks by clicking “Buy Me a Coffee” PayPal button in the sidebar (here) or via:https://www.paypal.me/AlanHart

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Google Meet Emoji Shortcuts

I was hoping to find an option for emojis in google meet for GSuite as when running larger meetings in Google Meet, it can be difficult to gauge real-time feedback as you are speaking.

A while ago I posted about all the emoji keyboard shortcuts for google hangouts chat. Unfortunately it turns out that Google Meet does not currently support emojis in text chat*

However… i have found a handy chrome extension which allows team members to send real-time emoji reactions, such as thumbs up, to presenters and speakers during meetings on Google Meet. (Similar to reactions in Zoom)

It’s called “Nod – Reactions for Google Meet

You can find it here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/nod-reactions-for-google/oikgofeboedgfkaacpfepbfmgdalabej or search the chrome webstore for it.

Hopefully this helps anyone also using GSuite and trying to get the most out of Google Meet.

If this helps you out please feel free to say thanks by clicking “Buy Me a Coffee” PayPal button in the sidebar (here) or via:https://www.paypal.me/AlanHart

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*at time of writing (24/04/2020)

I’m in a book!

This book in fact…

Fuck Yeah Video Games by Daniel Hardcastle

OK, well technically I had very little to do with the book in question.
I just backed it waaaay back in time (June 2018 to be precise) along with 9364 other geeks, gamers and fans of NerdCubed on Unbound (a crowdsourcing platform for books)

I’ve yet to read it, as it just arrived this morning, but as a supporter of the book i got to have my name or whatever else I wanted immortalised in the book forever! So naturally ,being the geek that I am, I chose this blog/website.


It’s a real, 100% bonefide book… available from waterstones which is kinda cool.

If you came here from seeing my website in the book please comment below, It will be interesting (for me, at least) to see how many people were bored/dumb enough to come here.

WordPress xml sitemap noindex errors – Google Search Console (aka Webmaster Tools)

If you notice Google Webmaster tools console flagging up the following…
Error – Submitted URL marked ‘noindex’ for http://site.com/sitemap.html

You can easily prevent these HTML files being created by the “XML Sitemap Generator for WordPress” plugin.

This is NOT in your site’s robots.txt file but instead it’s a meta tag in all html sitemap pages generated by the plugin.
The only page Google needs is the sitemap.xml file these extra html files aren’t needed.

  1. Login to wordpress (ofc)
  2. Go to settings > XML-sitemap
  3. Find and un-tick “Include sitemap in HTML format”
  4. Make sure to apply the change by scrolling to the bottom of page and click [Update options]

This article is specific to “XML Sitemap Generator for WordPress” https://www.arnebrachhold.de/projects/wordpress-plugins/google-xml-sitemaps-generator/

If this helps you out please feel free to say thanks by clicking “Buy Me a Coffee” PayPal button in the sidebar (here) or via:https://www.paypal.me/AlanHart

Thank You

Outlook imap send/receive – folder sync taking ages?

Is outlook taking forever when doing imap send/receive or synchronizing subscribed imap folders?

I had the same problem when trying to connect to imap using gmail accounts.
Here’s how I resolved the issue..

In outlook…

  1. Navigate to File >> Options >> Advanced
  2. Scroll down to the “Send and receive” heading
  3. Click on the “Send/Receive…” button on the right.
  4. On the right hand side of the send/receive groups window that opens click on the “Edit…” button.
  5. Un-check “Get folder unread count for subscribed folders”
  6. Under “Receive mail items”, select the option “Use the custom behavior defined below”
  7. In the “Folder Options” list below that displays your imap folders just select inbox and leave the others unchecked.
  8. Click “OK” and then exit out of options.

Now do a send/receive to test if it is now working a bit quicker. Hopefully it is and your imap speed issues are sorted!

If this helps you out please feel free to say thanks by clicking “Buy Me a Coffee” PayPal button in the sidebar (here) or via:https://www.paypal.me/AlanHart

Thank You

Hostgator GDPR Compliance

I couldn’t find anything on the hostgator website about GDPR, so emailed privacy(at)hostgator.com

Update: Hostgator have since added some gdpr compliance information:
https://support.hostgator.com/articles/pre-sales-policies/general-data-protection-regulation

Here is the email we sent to hostgator:

“We currently use Hostgator to host our websites.
Please can you let me know your status with becoming compliant with the new EU data privacy law (GDPR) which comes into effect on 25th May? https://gdpr-info.eu/
The law states that all our data processors (suppliers) must adhere to the law even if they are not based in the EU.”

Got a response and figured this might be useful for some people (UK & EU customers of hostgator) to know…

[27/04/2018] Currently, HostGator is not compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation. However, we are committed to achieving compliance with the GDPR by May 25, 2018. This will include work that will be “behind the scenes” such as the reviewing and revision of our agreements, internal processes, features, templates, and policies as necessary to assure our compliance.

With becoming GDPR complaint, both HostGator and our clients have obligations. Our Terms of Service requires that clients lawfully obtain and process all personal data appropriately which is something that must continue with becoming GDPR compliant. If you collect EU residents’ personal data, you are likely to be classified as a data controller under the General Data Protection Regulation. To clarify, this means you will have some additional obligations around such things as data subject rights.

We urge you to understand this and seek legal advice where you think necessary. HostGator is reviewing providing our customers with additional features, such as updated consent tools and the ability to respond to a customer data subject request. Moving forward, this email has now established a direct line of communication with our Management Team and will remain assigned to our Department. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any additional questions or concerns that we have yet to address.

This is a well written and reassuring response :)
I hope this info is useful to you.

Google Hangouts Emoji Keyboard Shortcuts

Follow this link if you’re looking for the Windows Emoji Keyboard Shortcut.

I’ve been annoyed that i couldn’t find emoji keyboard shortcuts on Google Hangouts (on mobile or gmail in web browser), i was specifically looking for the thinking face emoji.

You can copy and paste from this list but keyboard shortcuts are so much easier

Naturally i did the geeky thing and tried to find it.

Here’s the geeky stuff…
The code for keyboard shortcuts is buried in a javascript variable “J7a”
To see the javascript yourself: make sure you have a hangouts chat open in gmail then…
right-click  > inspect > sources

Here’s a snippet of the javascript…
(more geeky stuff)
J7a={“!:)”:128579,”!:-)”:128579,”(=^..^=)”:128568,”(=^.^=)”:128568,”(N)”:128078,”(Y)”:128077, …
[REMOVED A CHUNK – THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM!]
…u_u:128532,x_x:128565,”}:)”:128520,”}:-)”:128520,”}=)”:128520,”~@~”:128169}

What you’re seeing there is each keyboard shortcut “:)” and the corresponding Unicode character in decimal.
e.g. 128053 is decimal for the hexidecimal value 0x1F435 (monkey face U+1F435) .

Here are the emoji shortcuts…
Without further delay, here’s the full list of all currently available Google Hangouts emoji keyboard shortcuts…

:C frowning/sad face 
(U+2639)
:) or :-) smiley 
(U+263A)
<3 heart 
(U+2764)
-<@% honeybee 
(U+1F41D)
:(|) monkey face 
(U+1F435)
:(:) pig face 
(U+1F437)
(Y) or (y) thumb up 
(U+1F44D)
(N) or (n) thumb down 
(U+1F44E)
(]:{ man with turban 
(U+1F473)
</3 or <\\3 broken heart 
(U+1F494)
~@~ pile of poo 
(U+1F4A9)
:D or :-D grinning face 
(U+1F600)
^_^ grinning face with closed eyes 
(U+1F601)
:”D laughing face with tears 
(U+1F602)
=D laughing face open mouth with happy eyes 
(U+1F604)
^_^;; laughing face open mouth with tear 
(U+1F605)
O:) or O=) O:-) angel face (smiley with halo) 
(U+1F607)
}:) or }=) or }:-) devil face 
(U+1F608)
;) or ;-) winking face 
(U+1F609)
=) blushing smile 
(U+1F60A)
B-) smiley with sunglasses 
(U+1F60E)
:, or :-, smirking face 
(U+1F60F)
:| or =| or :-| neutral face 
(U+1F610)
-_- expressionless face 
(U+1F611)
o_o; downcast with sweat 
(U+1F613)
u_u pensive face 
(U+1F614)
:/ or :\\ or =/
or =\\ or :-/ or :-\\
confused face 
(U+1F615)
:s or :S
or :-s or :-S
confounded face 
(U+1F616)
:* or :-* kissing face 
(U+1F617)
;* or ;-* face blowing a kiss 
(U+1F618)
=* blushing kissing face 
(U+1F61A)
:p or :P
or :-p or :-P
or =p or =P
face with tongue 
(U+1F61B)
;p or ;P
or ;-p or ;-P
winking face with tongue 
(U+1F61C)
:( or :-( or =( dissappointed face 
(U+1F61E)
>:( or >=( or >:-( pouting / angry face 
(U+1F621)
:'( or ='(
or T_T or ;_;
crying face 
(U+1F622)
>.< or >_< persevering face 
(U+1F623)
D: frowning with open mouth / worried 
(U+1F626)
:”( loudly crying face 
(U+1F62D)
:o or :O
or =o or =O or :-o or :-O
or o.o
face with open mouth / shocked 
(U+1F62E)
O.O astonished face / gasping with shock 
(U+1F632)
X( or X-( or
X-o or X-O
or x_x
dizzy face 
(U+1F635)
:3 or :X)
or =^_^=
or (=^..^=)
or (=^.^=)
grinning cat with smiling eyes 
(U+1F638)
!:) or !:-) upside-down face 
(U+1F643)
>:(X person gesturing no / crossed arms 
(U+1F645)
\o or o/ person raising hand 
(U+1F64B)
:)X or :-)X
or >:D<
hugging face / open hands 
(U+1F917)
\m/ hand horn sign / ‘rock-on’ 
(U+1F918)
V.v.V crab 
(U+1F980)

Annoyingly, as you can see in the list, my original search for a keyboard shortcut for the thinking face emoji proved fruitless…
There isn’t one  … yet

For reference here’s the current Unicode full emoji list.

I hope this helps you and saves you from diving into the javascript source!

If this helps you out please feel free to say thanks by clicking “Buy Me a Coffee” PayPal button in the sidebar (here) or via:https://www.paypal.me/AlanHart

Thank You

B4508 Road Closure near Watchfield- 6th Nov 2017

[19/12/2017] UPDATE:
The road has now re-opened. So the road is back to how it should be with no traffic calming and lovely new two lane bridge!


The B4508 Highworth Road, Watchfield, Oxfordshire, my usual route to and from work is closed.
Google yielded no answers so here’s why and when it’s closed…

Map of roadworks on B4508 at Westmill bridge / watchfield

B4508 Highworth Road, Watchfield, Oxfordshire roadworks at Westmill Bridge from 6th November 2017

Highway Authority: Oxfordshire County Council
Location: B4508 Watchfield. From east side of Westmill Bridge westwards to end of road.
Description of works:
GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic) bridge deck repair.
Resurfacing.
Removal of traffic islands. (Yay! about time to)
Closure:
From 6th Nov to 15th Dec
24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Works ref: KE400999998777

Current status: Work in progress

Work info last updated: 00:00 on 06/11/2017

Latest up-to-date info on interactive map: https://roadworks.org/

Data source: Oxfordshire County Council

Connect Tablet Front/Back Camera Not Working – Intel AVStream Camera – Error code: 0xA00F4243(0xC00D3704)

I bought a cheap (£39.99) Connect 8″ Tablet with Windows 10 from eBuyer. It’s pretty good considering the price.
One problem i have had, when switching between front and back cameras, is getting the following message…

Close other apps
It looks as though another app is already using the camera.
If you need it, heres the error code: 0xA00F4243(0xC00D3704)

After much searching online and reinstalling the camera/driver not solving the issue, there are two ways to get this to work:

windows-10-anniversary-update-download
Method 1: Install Windows 10 Anniversary Update…
(Recommended)

Visit this URL on the device:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

Click [Update Now]

Method 2: A basic workaround…

  1. Hold down the windows button and tap the power button (This is the same as holding Ctrl + Alt + Delete) (home button on other devices)
  2. Tap the [Cancel] button.
  3. BOOM! camera works!

Note: You will have to do this each time you switch…Annoying but at least it works without updating!

I believe it does this because the camera app itself is the “other app” mentioned in the error message. As the camera is already in use it fails to switch.

Performing Win + PWR (ctrl+alt+del) stops the current camera and allows it to switch.

Updating to the latest version of Windows 10 fixes the camera app issue.

If you had this problem and it helped you out please tweet or comment below stating the Tablet/Phone model you had the issue with hopefully it will help someone else.

If this helps you out please feel free to say thanks by clicking “Buy Me a Coffee” PayPal button in the sidebar (here) or via:https://www.paypal.me/AlanHart

Thank You

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