iPhone experimentation continues - [9:12 AM]

I've been exploring the iPhone SDK lately, it's been fun. I've finally figured some stuff out so it's really starting to get exciting. My "big" hurdle had been understanding how to take advantage of Interface Builder. I finally figured out how to hookup events now that seems pretty obvious, I knew that would happen, light bulb on, bing!

Here's a question for any Mac developers. Do people actually use the Interface Builder to design visually and hookup events, or do they draw the interface and hookup events in code, or do they build the UI all in code? I know, it's a strange question, and I'm sure I'll get a strange mix of answers, if any at all, but I had to ask. I'd love for Daniel Jalkut, or Brent Simmons to chime in.

Doing Windows C/C++ stuff for years had led to a certain expectation with Mac tools. In Windows I only used the graphical tools to create dialogs (at Visio we didn't even do that), then I'd go hook up event handlers in code. It was very straight forward and after using Interface Builder once I can see how easy it would be to hookup events in code instead of letting Interface Builder generate code for me.

I was very happy to discover a hunk of old C++ code compiled and worked like a charm when mixed with Objective-C. It was a pharmacokinetics library my brother and I created a long time back, and it just built and worked. That is a HUGE leg up for me. I can use my bad habit of writing C++ and slowly move into Objective-C. Very nice.

Next hurdle, gaining a better understanding of Objective-C.

It sure would be nice to build a Cocoa version of the Endura WS5000 software, hint, hint.

Labels: Apple, C++, Cocoa, Development, iPhone, Mac, Objective-C

Sorry, you can't record that - [8:34 AM]

ars technica: "Handfuls of Windows Vista Media Center users found themselves blocked from making recordings of their favorite TV shows this week when a broadcast flag triggered the software's built-in copy protection measures." - Microsoft's bad karma continues. Will they ever stop the bad press? With each new article I think to myself "It can't get any worse than this", and then it does.

By the way, can't you record shows on a TiVo without restrictions? That's an honest question, I don't own a recorder.

Labels: Microsoft

Low cost Mac vector apps - [8:28 AM]

The Unofficial Apple Weblog: "Today, I'm going to review four leaner, lower-cost (or free) options from four high-powered indie Mac developers: DrawBerry, EazyDraw, Lineform, and VectorDesigner." - I like reviews like this. They used a "real world" example to evaluate each application. Nice.

Labels: Applications, Mac, Vector

Movie line of the week - [7:35 AM]

Good morning movie liners. I couldn't help myself, I had to drop this line this morning, good luck!

Labels: MLOTW

True - [10:58 PM]

People are hampered by money.
It does not free them.
It does not encourage them to go on and try new things.
It makes them more conservative.

— Francis Coppola

Labels: Life

Refurb iPhones? - [4:36 PM]

The Unofficial Apple Weblog: "I bought one of these up last time round. This time, you can pick up a 16 GB iPhone for just $349 or an 8GB for only $249. Free shipping and a full one year warranty" - This is a nice way to get a phone, not only for personal use, but for development purposes! Don't want to brick your main phone, do you?

Labels: Apple, Development, iPhone

No, no, no, not like that! - [4:13 PM]

Macworld: "Sure, why not? Open iCal to the month you want and then press Shift-Command-4, press the Space Bar, and then click on the calendar. The Mac will take a shot of the calendar in .png format. If that’s not compatible with the digital picture frame, open the image in Preview, choose Save As, and in the sheet that appears, choose a format such as JPEG that makes your picture frame happy. Once you’ve done that, it’s simply a matter of placing the image in the frame, using whatever transfer scheme the frame supports." - I want the real thing, with a touch screen, that can display an interactive calendar. One that will allow me to add and remove things, and then, synchronize with my Google Calendar, and with my Mac.

That would be pretty sweet.

Labels: Cross Platform, Development, Dreaming

Can you say BBQ? - [8:43 AM]

Here's a query on Food Network that'll get you some nice grilling, and BBQ, tricks and tips.

Here's one for Ribs, yum!

Labels: BBQ

X-Files like mystery, or hoax? - [8:11 AM]

wjz-tv [via NerdyNews]: "Cameras have videotaped the event on two other occasions. Police have used the shadows cast by the light flash to determine an approximate area where they think the light source may be coming from--30 to 40 feet in the air in the parking lot between the Beth Tfiloh Community School and the Stevenson Commons condominiums building." - Weird.

Labels: Life

Gas prices to peak in June? - [7:49 AM]

NY Times: "Oil prices have nearly doubled in a year. Gasoline is selling for a national average of about $3.61 a gallon, according to AAA, the automobile club, a penny less than the record set on May 1 but 58 cents higher than a year ago." - It's hit that point here at the Fahrni residence. Kim and I have finally started planning our trips. Black gold indeed.

The price of gas in our little corner of the world ranges from $3.85 to $4.05, depending on station. Chevron and Shell are the worst, with prices consistently above $4.

Labels: Life

Vatican buys Palm - [7:38 AM]

Gizmodo: "ROME (Agencies) - The Vatican has bought Palm Inc. in an $800-million cash, stock, and souls deal, a move that analysts are calling a bold bid to reconvert the Catholic Church into the number one mobile operator for communication with God."

Labels: Fun

Worst workspaces in tech - [9:46 PM]

Slashdot: "What makes them so bad? Some offend with exposed fluorescent lights, gray cubicles and a dystopian corporate sheen."

Labels: Life

New Jackson Fish Digs - [9:34 PM]

Jackson Fish Market: "The new space is not only much bigger, it also comes with wonderful floor-to-ceiling windows! We get lots of natural light, and a nice urban view of the Seattle Steam Factory across Western Ave."
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Movie line of the week answer - [10:14 AM]

I've been very busy this morning, so I need to get this done before I forget!

Our big winner this week was Mr. Steven Vore, congratulations Steven!

The correct answer was...

Labels: MLOTW

New C++ performance weblog - [6:48 AM]

Chris Cox [via John Nack]: "A few weeks ago, I sent the initial release out to select compiler vendors for review. I received responses from 3 of the major compiler vendors, and 2 compiler teams have already found and fixed a couple of bugs based on my code (Yea!)." - Nice new find, thanks John. Subscribed.

Labels: Algorithms, C++, Development

Living without Google? - [6:45 AM]

Chris Pirillo: "Do you use Google? Could you get along without it for a week? I tried it, and dubbed it Google Fasting. There’s no way I could do that again. It was really tough, believe it or not. I got an email from Mike recently, that raised a thought-provoking question about Google’s power." - I'll do you one better Chris, I could live without the internet. How's that for fasting! Believe it or not there was a time without it, a time when we had a network, or we'd sneaker-net stuff around, a simpler time. Everything worked out because we didn't know any better.

That was probably before you were born.

Labels: Life

Movie line of the week - [6:26 AM]

Good morning movie liners, are you ready to get started?

Here we go...

Labels: MLOTW