I have said it once, and I will continue to say it. I LOVE creative people.

I have said it once, and I will continue to say it. I LOVE creative people.

Happy Halloween to all!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TsyCVbdop4

Make article on this: https://makezine.com/2018/10/29/terrorize-the-skies-with-this-diy-r-c-flying-witch/

Come join us for the 2nd DCVR in VA Meetup to talk about Hololens

Come join us for the 2nd DCVR in VA Meetup to talk about Hololens

Jose Delacruz of Microsoft will present at the Tysons Corner Microsoft Store on Nov 19.

https://www.meetup.com/DCimmersive/events/255952512/

In one of largest tech deals ever, IBM is buying cloud software provider Red Hat for $34 billion.

In one of largest tech deals ever, IBM is buying cloud software provider Red Hat for $34 billion.

If you are in the tech industry, when giants move, you need to pay attention.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/28/tech/ibm-red-hat/index.html

5 Secrets of Game Design by Tiana Crump of Buildbox

5 Secrets of Game Design by Tiana Crump of Buildbox

Buildbox emphasis hyper casual games, but their game design ideas should not be taken lightly. 

https://www.buildbox.com/5-secrets-of-game-design/

Oculus Founder leave company after Rift 2 is canceled.

Oculus Founder leave company after Rift 2 is canceled.

Apparently he did not agree with Facebook interested in low end VR.

https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/279364-oculus-rift-2-canceled-co-founder-leaves-facebook

Another writeup: https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/22/oculus-co-founder-is-leaving-facebook-after-cancellation-of-rift-2-headset/

Just to be silly, here is Felik, an AI-based Pet Companion.

Just to be silly, here is Felik, an AI-based Pet Companion.

They claim it is more than a random laser pointer, it actually interacts with your pet. Or as I call it, Felik taunts!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UilCAyYfJbY

Last years Crowdfunding: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/angrylychee/felik-intelligent-pet-companion

Now a product: http://felik.net

YouTube video with Top 5 VR Tech in 2018 (from Real Spirit Dynamics)

YouTube video with Top 5 VR Tech in 2018 (from Real Spirit Dynamics)

Learn what Control VR, VR Gloves, 8K VR Headsets, VR Motion chairs & Omni-directional treadmills means.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj6tVqbp9bk

Game Industry is not unique in creating an “Unsustainable Lifestyle” with constant crunch mode, but they are the worst at it.

Game Industry is not unique in creating an “Unsustainable Lifestyle” with constant crunch mode, but they are the worst at it.

Not new information, but still being done!

https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-crunch-affects-game-developers/

Thanks for DC Virtual Reality in Virginia meetup

Special Announcement: Thank you to everyone who made this first gathering of DC Virtual Reality in Virginia a great event.  Thank you to John Nelson, who stepped forward to give us a talk on ARKit. Thank you to NovaLabs for allowing us to use their Space. Thank you to Joey Cathey for having the vision to lead the VR DC group for so many years. And thank you for the attendees who showed up.  We had an amazing turn out (24+ people for 30+ reservations).  Most importantly, I think we have an idea of the type of things we want to learn about, and what type of future presentations we will have.  See you all in November!

DCVR in VA: https://www.meetup.com/DCimmersive/

Not everyone is an artist, so us developers need more 3D art source!

Not everyone is an artist, so us developers need more 3D art source!

Buildbox list of 10 sites with free 3D art!

https://www.buildbox.com/top-10-sites-free-3d-game-art/

NY Times interview of author and futurist Yuval Noah Harari regarding AI.

NY Times interview of author and futurist Yuval Noah Harari regarding AI.

The fact that AI is important enough for NY Times to interview about it, shows how mainstream it has become.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/business/q-and-a-yuval-harari.html

Add on link, NY Primer on AI: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/business/an-ai-glossary.html

Why are telephones and calculators keyboards different?

Why are telephones and calculators keyboards different? 

UX Designer Francesco Bertelli explains it is a bit of Hstory and a lot UX Design,  He throws in a lot of alternative keyboards that I find interesting!

https://uxdesign.cc/a-brief-history-of-the-numeric-keypad-59112cbf4c49

Every developer should know, if not by name then by principle, what ever part of SOLID stands for.

Every developer should know, if not by name then by principle, what ever part of SOLID stands for.

Chidume Nnamdi gives an excellent breakdown of these important Objected Oriented programming concepts.

https://blog.bitsrc.io/solid-principles-every-developer-should-know-b3bfa96bb688

5 Quick rules from Budi Tanrim for icon design

5 Quick rules from Budi Tanrim for icon design 

Complexity, Proportion, Concreteness, Relevancy & Cultural sensitivity explained with examples.

https://yellowstroke.com/2018/09/17/five-icon-design-problems/

Github announces GitHub Actions and GitHub Connect, and other new APIs & Features.

Github announces GitHub Actions and GitHub Connect, and other new APIs & Features.

GitHub is using their position as leader in open source development to provide some needed tools.

https://blog.github.com/2018-10-16-future-of-software/

Spot, Boston Dymanic 4 legged robotic dog, has learned some new dance moves.

Spot, Boston Dymanic 4 legged robotic dog, has learned some new dance moves.

Yes, it is silly, but on serious note, this shows an astonish level of balance and stability for a legged robot platform!

https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2018/10/16/robot-dog-spot-dancing.cnn-business/video/playlists/business-upstarts/

Google stops bid for Military Contract for Ethical reasons

Google stops bid for Military Contract for Ethical reasons

The Pentagon’s $10 billion cloud-computing contract met resistance within Googles corporate culture.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-08/google-drops-out-of-pentagon-s-10-billion-cloud-competition

You need Royalty Free art for your software? I have a resource for you!

You need Royalty Free art for your software? I have a resource for you!

Martin Wilsey, noted SciFi author, compiled this extremely useful list of links to Copyright Free images.

https://amanwithbread.blogspot.com/2015/08/copyright-free-image-links.html

Apple Mac sales slip, most likely due to lack of updated machines.

Apple Mac sales slip, most likely due to lack of updated machines.

With no MacBook, MacBook Air, and Mac mini updates, Apple computer growth can only be called stagnant.

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/10/10/apple-mac-sales-down-q3-2018/

Redis Labs changed their license from open source to limited commercial use, caused a response they did not expect.

Redis Labs changed their license from open source to limited commercial use, caused a response they did not expect.

The open source community forked that last branch of the open version to a new branch, GoodFORM, which will continue to be open source.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/redis-labs-and-common-clause-attacked-where-it-hurts-with-open-source-code/

1Password use of Apple Watch to enhance their already existing App is exceptional.

1Password use of Apple Watch to enhance their already existing App is exceptional.

Quick and secure access to tidbit of information we need in our tech world. My vote for great design!

https://thesweetsetup.com/articles/1password-on-your-wrist/

Yesterday was Magic Leap’s Conference in LA, and here is the 3 hour Keynote.

Yesterday was Magic Leap’s Conference in LA, and here is the 3 hour Keynote.

They are putting themselves in the forefront in regards to Spatial Computing, AR & XR!

https://youtu.be/vV8oGahOSgc

Direct Link to conference: https://www.magicleap.com/leapcon

Recap of the talk - https://www.magicleap.com/stories/blog/leap-conference-keynote-recap

Special Announcement: DC VR Meetup will be having their first NoVA Chapter

Special Announcement: DC VR Meetup will be having their first NoVA Chapter meeting on Oct 22 in Reston. I am the co-organizer of this event, and will be planing monthly VR/AR discussions in the Northern Virginia area.  Please come by and get excited by the new technologies available to us!

https://www.meetup.com/DCimmersive/events/stsfjqyxnbdc/

The Open Web Application Security Project (OSASP) maintains an open source manual on how to write secure Android & iOS App.

The Open Web Application Security Project (OSASP) maintains an open source manual on how to write secure Android & iOS App.

Their GitHub repository should be required reading for all mobile developers.

https://github.com/OWASP/owasp-mstg

Remember: Security should be written into code from the beginning, not added at the end!

Google’s Tilt paint program is helping to create a new art form through VR.

Google’s Tilt paint program is helping to create a new art form through VR.

I am fascinated regarding creating impossible art. Think Esher images or figures that insides are bigger than the outside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVTagEEtbWQ&feature=youtu.be

Sketch2Code converters sketches of websites into actually HTML code.

Sketch2Code converters sketches of websites into actually HTML code.

Microsoft open source project uses AI translate the wireframe into a functional website.

http://www.alphr.com/microsoft/1009840/microsofts-ai-sketch2code-builds-websites

Michael Katz of RayWenderlich details new features of Apple’s ARKit 2

Michael Katz of RayWenderlich details new features of Apple’s ARKit 2

Using image/object detection/tracking,  Michael explains the nut and bolts on making a great Augmented Reality app.

https://www.raywenderlich.com/6957-building-a-museum-app-with-arkit-2

Right intent, wrong implementation. CA passes law to require harder passwords security.

Right intent, wrong implementation.  CA passes law to require harder passwords security.

A good portion of cyberattacks now days are social hacks, where details are a person life gives hints about passwords.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45757528

Related link: https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/28/17874768/california-iot-smart-device-cybersecurity-bill-sb-327-signed-law

Recently released Magic Leap first augmented reality game is a family title: Angry Birds!

Recently released Magic Leap first augmented reality game is a family title: Angry Birds!

As the article mentions, it is interesting that Magic Leap 1st title and Apple’s ARKit 1st demo are both slingshot games.

https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/19/magic-leap-ones-first-major-game-is-angry-birds-heres-what-its-like-to-play-it/

Direct video link: https://youtu.be/Lum4tTsqKbc

Massive sales may be hiding an unhealthy Game Development Issue

Massive sales may be hiding an unhealthy Game Development Issue

The Week points out several factors that indicate the pattern for most Game Design companies is not sustainable.

http://theweek.com/articles/798336/video-game-industry-headed-crash

Microsoft’s vision of what Mixed Reality could be with using HoloLens

Microsoft’s vision of what Mixed Reality could be with using HoloLens

Possibly the best vision I have seen showing the possibilities of Augmented Reality combined with expert knowledge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIJM9xNg9xs

Related video regarding HoloLens at Case Western Medical University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKpKlh1-en0

California wants Net Neutrality back, while the Feds do not.

California wants Net Neutrality back, while the Feds do not.

New law to require Net Neutrality signed in CA, Federal Government immediate moves to over turn it.

https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/30/technology/california-net-neutrality-law/index.html

Full disclosure here: I firmly believe that Net Neutrality is not only in ever ones best interest, but think it is a 1st Amendment issues, dealing with level access to all information on the Internet.  IP and large Data providers want to be able to sel//buy priority streaming. Obama was in favor, and not surprising, Trump reversed the policy, so CA is not a new requirement, but a return to the previous way it was. I do not understand Fed argument that CA law is unconstitutional, since in general, States can have stricter requirement than Federal laws in many areas. 

iOSDevCamp 2018 Videos are available for viewing on YouTube

iOSDevCamp 2018 Videos are available for viewing on YouTube

One of the best regional iOS conferences is one by one putting up their videos of various talks.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUh0bIfk24ka31a-Go3smA/videos