Ehab Yosry Amer of RayWenderlich gives everyone a great tutorial on Exporting App Data.

Ehab Yosry Amer of RayWenderlich gives everyone a great tutorial on Exporting App Data.

It is one of the better explanations of creating custom file types and extensions, which often trips developers.

https://www.raywenderlich.com/8413525-universal-type-identifiers-tutorial-for-ios-importing-and-exporting-app-data

A good article on how, and why, game developers are switching to in-game advertising.

A good article on how, and why, game developers are switching to in-game advertising.

Mobile gamers prefer free-to-play games, and 2/3 don’t spend money on in-app purchases, leaving advertisement as the best revenue source.

https://www.adcolony.com/blog/2019/10/31/the-shift-toward-mobile-in-game-advertising/

Two Minute Video on creating Computer Animation to match Real World Sounds.

Two Minute Video on creating Computer Animation to match Real World Sounds.

Traditionally we tried to make computer-germinated sounds for real video, it turns out, the reversed problem may be easier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMo7pkkaZ9o

Gryphon is a Swift to Kotlin translator, useful in moving shared iOS code to Android.

Gryphon is a Swift to Kotlin translator, useful in moving shared iOS code to Android.

The tool was written to play well with Xcode & Android Studio, allowing debugging of shared code. 

https://vinivendra.github.io/Gryphon

Github repository: https://github.com/vinivendra/Gryphon

A Gamasutra Article by Natalie Mikkelson on creating disconnected dialogue, i.e. Barks, for gameplay.

A Gamasutra Article by Natalie Mikkelson on creating disconnected dialogue, i.e. Barks, for gameplay.

This type of interaction is common for NPC with RPGs, but I think it would also work for VR backgrounds.

https://gamasutra.com/blogs/NatalieMikkelson/20200518/363089/Adding_Life_To_Worlds_With_Dialogue_Barks.php

Facebook/Oculus has been creating a VR/AR interface to completely replace your desktop computer.

Facebook/Oculus has been creating a VR/AR interface to completely replace your desktop computer.

Andrew ‘Boz’ Bosworth, Facebook’s VP of AR/VR, posted a video showing this new vision.

https://www.roadtovr.com/facebook-prototype-vr-interface-replace-your-laptop/

Link to twitter video: https://twitter.com/boztank/status/1263573832889073664

Swift 5.3 is coming, so it is back to the books, err, blogs for us

Swift 5.3 is coming, so it is back to the books, err, blogs for us

Package Manager updates, Multiple Trailing Closures, Enum improvements, for a minor update, there is a lot to learn.

https://theswiftdev.com/whats-new-in-swift-5-3/

Combine touch-sensitive threads with optical lighting, gives you an interesting interface with a wide range of uses.

Combine touch-sensitive threads with optical lighting, gives you an interesting interface with a wide range of uses.

Google AI article on E-Texture shows it is not just turning things on and off, but using different types of touch gestures.

https://ai.googleblog.com/2020/05/enabling-e-textile-microinteractions.html

Watch the videos!

E-Textile Microinteractions video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbAvY6bwZD8

I/O Braid video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-_QCI8ntDM

Celebrate 40 years of running away from Ghost and eating the Dots!

Celebrate 40 years of running away from Ghost and eating the Dots!

CNN reminds us when video gaming all got started. Yes, we had Space Wars and Pong first, but this is the franchise that made the biggest impact. And it is still going strong.

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/pac-man-40-anniversary-history/index.html

You are programming a mobile device. Face it, your available memory is small, deal with it.

You are programming a mobile device. Face it, your available memory is small, deal with it.

Leandro Pérez provides real-world things to keep your memory small, and hints on what to do when you run out.

https://medium.com/flawless-app-stories/techniques-to-reduce-memory-footprint-and-oom-terminations-in-ios-a0f6bef38217

My favorite part of this entire article is the recommendation for when you hit low memory state, you save the users' data. Low memory, and occasional crashes from it, happen. You want your users not to be upset when it does, so saving the data, and restarting cleanly, will go a long way to keeping your customers happy.

For me, Generics are still the most difficult thing for me to write well. Using is easy, designing them, not!

For me, Generics are still the most difficult thing for me to write well.  Using is easy, designing them, not!

Navdeep Singh provides a good starting explanation of Generics in Swift

https://medium.com/@navdeepsingh_2336/generics-in-swift-13e792249cad

After your game is complete is not the time to start gaining your fans, according to Simon Carless in this Gamasutra Blog.

After your game is complete is not the time to start gaining your fans, according to Simon Carless in this Gamasutra Blog.

You can start by adding fans during the development phase of your work if you follow his plan.

https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/SimonCarless/20200511/362780/Gaining_fans_for_your_game_A_marathon_not_a_sprint.php

NextVR, VR broadcaster for sports & music, has been purchased by Apple for a possible $100 Million.

NextVR, VR broadcaster for sports & music, has been purchased by Apple for a possible $100 Million.

NextVR had been having problems securing additional Funding, so this was a surprise move.

https://www.roadtovr.com/report-apple-nextvr-acqusition/

Original Bloomberg article: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-14/apple-acquires-startup-nextvr-to-gain-virtual-reality-content

Anton Marunko explains the building blocks of Clean Swift, an architectural pattern similar to VIPER.

Anton Marunko explains the building blocks of Clean Swift, an architectural pattern similar to VIPER.

He explains the major components, gives examples, and finally lists the pros/cons of this design. Good job!

https://medium.com/@anton.marunko/clean-swift-4891a5e3ace9

Youtube’s “Unofficial AppleKeynotes channel “ gives us Apple Events clear back to 1984.

Youtube’s “Unofficial AppleKeynotes channel “ gives us Apple Events clear back to 1984.

We have come a long way. Some of these are worth reviewing.

https://www.youtube.com/user/justinhu5

Beat Saber is a smash hit, that is not news, but this small miniature version is interesting.

Beat Saber is a smash hit, that is not news, but this small miniature version is interesting.

Oculus Quest hand gestures have yet to make a big impact, this might change that.

https://www.roadtovr.com/miniature-beat-saber-concept-ar-daniel-beauchamp/

Tech is appearing everywhere. How about your bathroom mirror?

Tech is appearing everywhere. How about your bathroom mirror?

Forbes shows Smart Mirror that supports Alexa speech, as well as ones that display graphics and sound. Anyone want to read the news as they shave?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sherikoones/2020/05/04/mirror-mirror-on-the-wallthe-new-age-of-smart-mirrors/

The scourge of VR is motion sickness from fast motion games. Researchers may have a solution.

The scourge of VR is motion sickness from fast motion games.  Researchers may have a solution.

We already know different tricks to help prevent nausea, which mostly involves distracting the player or limiting their range of view. It makes sense that haptic distraction might also solve this problem. 

https://www.roadtovr.com/researchers-head-mounted-haptics-combat-vr-discomfort-walkingvibe/

Tess Gadd comes through with another cheat sheet for UI, this time on Checkbox, Radio Boxes & more.

Tess Gadd comes through with another cheat sheet for UI, this time on Checkbox, Radio Boxes & more.

By breaking down the functionality, she comes up with ways to describe and expand their uses. Good job!

https://uxdesign.cc/ui-cheat-sheet-radio-buttons-checkboxes-and-other-selectors-bf56777ad59e

It is short, and not very informative, but it was a blast to see the evolution of the Mac desktop in this video.

It is short, and not very informative, but it was a blast to see the evolution of the Mac desktop in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAjoPow15V8

RoadToVR talks about a VR project that generates content for the popular Beat Saber game.

RoadToVR talks about a VR project that generates content for the popular Beat Saber game.

One of the problems with VR & Virtual Worlds is feeling the massive empty space with content. Human-made content is the best but it takes time and people to make it.  Imagine if good content that could be created by an AI.

https://www.roadtovr.com/beat-saber-project-uses-ai-generate-custom-beat-maps-song/

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-v7Qr0J9aY

Due to the ongoing crisis, the VivePort 2020 conference was done in an online-only format.

Due to the ongoing crisis, the VivePort 2020 conference was done in an online-only format. 

Adhar Walia, Director of Product for Viveport, provides the Roadmap for future HTC Vive Products, which emphasis on making it easier for a developer to create VR Apps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8G9EX9EiT0

MacVoices with Chuck Joiner celebrates TidBITS 30th Anniversary with founder Adam Engst

MacVoices with Chuck Joiner celebrates TidBITS 30th Anniversary with founder Adam Engst

TidBITS has been providing “Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple” for 3 decades now.

http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20131-tidbits-30th-anniversary-with-adam-engst-part-1/

Part 2 of talk: http://www.macvoices.com/macvoices-20132-tidbits-30th-anniversary-with-adam-engst-part-2/

Tidbit website: https://tidbits.com

You identified a Pirate, how do you handle them? Usually with a lot of shame!

You identified a Pirate, how do you handle them? Usually with a lot of shame!

This Youtube video on different Anti-piracy measures for games through the years. It shows that there are better solutions than simply quitting when you identified a Pirate. If done well, you can entice them into spending money.

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

It was not anti-piracy exactly, but my all-time favorite story regarding how to annoy your customers for not registering.  Ambrosia Software’s “Escape Velocity” for the Mac was a popular game, that you could play for free, for a while.  After a given amount of time, if you did not register it, when you left a space station to head into deep space, an indestructible space pirate would pop up, and remind you to pay for the game.  At first, it would just send radio messages. If you ignored it, it would start shooting at you for minor damage. If you ignored that, the shots became more deadly. I once left the game for a year, came back to play, and the pesky pirate blew me away with one shot.  Definitely the most humorous I had ever been told to not be cheap!

Writing for another country is more than just localization of language changes, as explained by Sebastian Mueller.

Writing for another country is more than just localization of language changes, as explained by Sebastian Mueller.

You have to be aware of the culture in regards to the style of App to sell well in China.

https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-adapt-your-ux-for-china-73f2ab789570

Luca Angelettie uses Generics and Swift Codable protocol to make User Defaults a snap.

Luca Angelettie uses Generics and Swift Codable protocol to make User Defaults a snap.

I have been using Codable to convert into a Data object, then storing them into User Defaults. This method is better!

https://itnext.io/adding-codable-support-to-userdefaults-with-swift-26a799bf00e1

Paul Hudson of Hacking with Swift explores NavigationViews with SwiftUI

Paul Hudson of Hacking with Swift explores NavigationViews with SwiftUI

NavigationViews are the most popular form of container view, and needs to be understood for any iOS development.

https://www.hackingwithswift.com/articles/216/complete-guide-to-navigationview-in-swiftui

Link to video: https://youtu.be/nA6Jo6YnL9g

An interesting article, with both the tech and the history, of the changes that iOS 7 brought.

An interesting article, with both the tech and the history, of the changes that iOS 7 brought.

The change in the use of Skeuomorphism is still with us today, so it is worth noting.

https://uxdesign.cc/apples-ios-7-controversy-explained-b171ceb5a2ba

CNN reports the use of Virtual Reality use during the current COVID-19 crisis.

CNN reports the use of Virtual Reality use during the current COVID-19 crisis.

Social Distancing during training is a perfect use for VR.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/21/tech/vr-training-coronavirus/index.html

Has it only been 5 years since the introduction of the Apple Watch?

Has it only been 5 years since the introduction of the Apple Watch?

CNN reviews what these 5 years have brought us. What worked, what didn't.

https://www.cnet.com/news/remember-when-apple-watch-was-luxury-item-we-look-back-5-year-evolution/

John Conway, the creator of Conway’s Game of Life, explains how he got the idea.

John Conway, the creator of Conway’s Game of Life, explains how he got the idea.

You get the definite impression he was surprised about the massive interest in his little “no player game”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Plq-D1gEk

I knew Dr. Conway died this month, but was not aware it was due to the COVID-19 virus.

Follow up video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8kUJL04ELA

Daniel Birch gives us 18 skill requirements for a UX designer.

Daniel Birch gives us 18 skill requirements for a UX designer.

User Interface is only one of them, the majority of the skills deal with communicating your ideas to others.

https://uxdesign.cc/what-are-the-key-skills-a-great-ux-designer-needs-a1ae20685396