An interesting view of Apple’s WWDC announcement from a UX perspective.

An interesting view of Apple’s WWDC announcement from a UX perspective.

Michal Malewicz believes the Apple’s User Interface is heading a Modern, Soft-UI approach.

https://uxdesign.cc/how-apple-makes-soft-ui-the-future-9f3ac69eea6f

CNN does a fair job describing the state of the Gaming industry for the Tech Giants (Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Amazon).

CNN does a fair job describing the state of the Gaming industry for the Tech Giants (Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Amazon).

I find it interesting that CNN, and other news services, make a big deal about reporting not just tech industry, but Gaming tech industry.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/28/tech/google-stadia-apple-arcade-mixer-gaming/

A 3 part video from MacVoices, a Super Panel of Experts talking about WWDC 2020.

A 3 part video from MacVoices, a Super Panel of Experts talking about WWDC 2020.

The host, Chuck Joiner, as compiled an impressive virtual conference of MacExperts, as they discuss the recent WWDC 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXSCD3mLvmw

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0y9TF9eTT0

Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6s48EU6Crw

Alexa Live 2020 conference is coming soon, all online and all free

Alexa Live 2020 conference is coming soon, all online and all free

July 22 will be Amazon’s half-day virtual event on the latest in Voice Tech.

https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/alexa/alexa-live

TGIF, and enjoy this peak from the past, the Light Cycle Battle from the original Tron movie (1982).

TGIF, and enjoy this peak from the past, the Light Cycle Battle from the original Tron movie (1982).

This is one of the very first uses of solid computer graphics in movies. It looks a lot like poor Saturday morning cartoons from today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok4iJZe5h6E

A well-written article by Owen Williams on the reason for Apple ARM switch, and the tools that will help this along.

A well-written article by Owen Williams on the reason for Apple ARM switch, and the tools that will help this along.

Besides the technical reasons for the change from Intel to ARM, there is the business side. Apple wants to control its own hardware releases.

https://onezero.medium.com/apples-brilliant-plan-to-dominate-without-intel-processors-d664a0babd3b

Danny Sapio has distilled his review of Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines into 10 useful general rules.

Danny Sapio has distilled his review of Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines into 10 useful general rules.

He was aiming at iOS design, but these could work for any platform.  Ps. This would make a great talk!

https://uxdesign.cc/10-insights-from-apples-human-interface-design-guidelines-176ab7d505ae

Facebook cancels the Oculus Go VR headset, to focus on 6DOF devices like Oculus Quest.

Facebook cancels the Oculus Go VR headset, to focus on 6DOF devices like Oculus Quest.

I understand their decision but think there was a place for a low-end 3DOF suitable for 360 video playback alone.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/23/21299311/oculus-go-headset-discontinued-quest-alternative-app-channel-launch

Oculus Posting: https://www.oculus.com/blog/an-update-on-the-evolution-of-the-oculus-platform-/

The End of Adobe Flash draws near. Adobe explains its End-Of-Life process for this web content player.

The End of Adobe Flash draws near.  Adobe explains its End-Of-Life process for this web content player.

Flash started in the 90s, so it was time to put it to bed. Adobe this announced this last year, so it is not unexpected.

https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2020/06/adobe-announced-that-flash-player-will-reach-its-end-of-life-by-the-end-of-2020.html

Adobes Page: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/flash-format-support-in-pdf.html

Steven Curtis gives a great article on Swift underused Defer statement.

Steven Curtis gives a great article on Swift underused Defer statement.

Defer is a perfect compliment for the heavily used Swift Guard statement, to control exiting a function.

https://medium.com/swlh/using-the-defer-keyword-in-swift-b7916fa40f26

College Humor once created a hilarious Youtube series on If Google Was a Guy, here is the animated Quarantine Edition (part 1).

College Humor once created a hilarious Youtube series on If Google Was a Guy, here is the animated Quarantine Edition (part 1).

A bit of humor for Father Day.  With a bit of heart too.  Watch both parts (and original live-action series)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aliY82008tk

If Google Was A Guy (Quarantine Edition) Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVS5BMH-Fu4

Original Live-Action Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxqca4RQd_M&list=RDCxqca4RQd_M&start_radio=1

For your Apple DYI-ers, modify your Apple TV to run the MacOS.

For your Apple DYI-ers, modify your Apple TV to run the MacOS.

This YouTube video how ripping out the Hard Drive, formatting it for MacOS, and replacing it back into the Apple TV. Ps. It works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTDnw-fXvEI

Parallels and Google are working on emulation software to allow MS Office to run on Chrome device

Parallels and Google are working on emulation software to allow MS Office to run on Chrome device

Parallels, creators of products to run Microsoft apps on the Mac, will use their technology on Google’s ChromeOS.

https://www.parallels.com/chrome/

Bhuman Soni shows how to create iOS app without Interface Builder, NIB files or Storyboards.

Bhuman Soni shows how to create iOS app without Interface Builder, NIB files or Storyboards.

I have been using similar techniques for years. I have found for larger projects, programmatically creating your UI can be a time saver.

https://mydaytodo.com/ios-app-no-storyboard-how-to/

This is pretty awesome, replacing Green screen filming with Virtual Sets technology for movies.

This is pretty awesome, replacing Green screen filming with Virtual Sets technology for movies. A circular LED-lit room project 3D image of background around the actors, so only nearby props are needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufp8weYYDE8 Only a couple old friends know that I almost didn’t go into Software Engineering as a life long career and instead thought about throwing myself into the tech side of Films/TV. I was very active in theater in HS, and love the energy of a production. No regrets, but always wondered what it would have been like being involved in that world. So I always keep an eye on the merge between computers and films.

"Artemis Fowl" AR

My family watched “Artemis Fowl” last night, and I understand why it had such bad reviews. I can’t disagree with that. However, I had read the original books, and I kind of liked the characters. What was very impressive was the visual effects, including the use of Augmented Reality & Holograms (Elves are tech-based, not just magical). The “Artemis Fowl” universe would make a great setting for a VR experience like The Void or standalone VR system.  I wonder if anyone is working on this.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3089630/

Kilo Loco's YouTube video exploring John Sundell’s Publish, a static site generator for Swift developers.

Kilo Loco's YouTube video exploring John Sundell’s Publish, a static site generator for Swift developers.

You can use Swift, not just for Mac & iOS development, but also for website creation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqdS-oi96Gk&feature=youtu.be

John Sundell’s Publish Repo: https://github.com/JohnSundell/Publish

Ray Wenderlich and company keeps coming out with great tutorials on some of the more interesting Apple APIS. In the case, Near Field Communication.

Ray Wenderlich and company keeps coming out with great tutorials on some of the more interesting Apple APIS. In the case, Near Field Communication.

Andy Pereira provides an example of how to use CoreNFC to connect wirelessly to other devices or NFC tags.

https://www.raywenderlich.com/9582458-getting-started-with-core-nfc

Cutthroat business practices are not unique to the software industry, but this tale of woe is a bit extreme.

Cutthroat business practices are not unique to the software industry, but this tale of woe is a bit extreme.

I had a similar experience once when bidding on a mobile app proposal for a hotel chain. We won the bid but then were told they were going to do it in house. Using our custom spec. Oh, and would you like to work for us?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-03/kerbal-space-program-2-release-disrupted-by-corporate-strife

I once said that new computer languages are not validated until someone writes Conway's Game of Life in it. Here is a Swift version of that Cellular Automata.

I once said that new computer languages are not validated until someone writes Conway's Game of Life in it. Here is a Swift version of that Cellular Automata.

My argument was if Excel spreadsheet macros were a computer language, answer Yes. I wrote a Life game using spreadsheet cells and formulas.

https://github.com/zntfdr/Life

Ahmed Bouzid talks about some fallacies when designing voice interfaces like Alexa.

Ahmed Bouzid talks about some fallacies when designing voice interfaces like Alexa.

Developers should think less about the information their App provides, and more about what the user is asking for.

https://glean.info/debunking-the-myth-of-feature-discovery-in-voice-interfaces/

Last April, a hack to log in with Apple’s “Sign in with Apple” feature was found (and patched). Here’s how it works.

Last April, a hack to log in with Apple’s “Sign in with Apple” feature was found (and patched). Here’s how it works.

Bhavuk Jain, the author of this article and the hack, was rewarded $100,000 by Apple for being a White Hat, and reporting this correctly.

https://bhavukjain.com/blog/2020/05/30/zeroday-signin-with-apple/

Christos Karaiskos explains the format of Apple Binary plists files.

Christos Karaiskos explains the format of Apple Binary plists files.

The other two plist formats are human-readable text, but the more compressed proprietary Binary format has always been undocumented.

https://medium.com/@karaiskc/understanding-apples-binary-property-list-format-281e6da00dbd

For the mechanical engineer in all of us, some of the strangest gears you have ever seen.

For the mechanical engineer in all of us, some of the strangest gears you have ever seen.

While most of these require a 3D printer, I have made a couple of these using the Laser at NovaLabs. All for fun.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gear/g2344/11-of-the-most-bizarre-non-circular-gears-you-will-ever-see/

Clayton Notestine provides a crash course on Game Theory (the study of strategic interaction).

Clayton Notestine provides a crash course on Game Theory (the study of strategic interaction).

“Game design is not game theory. Game theory, however, is a fundamental part of game design”.

https://uxdesign.cc/game-theory-board-games-7dd06e0ba28e

USB-C has not been the success that was anticipated.

USB-C has not been the success that was anticipated.

Conflicting proprietary standards and lack of consumer educations have left the situation a mess.

https://www.androidauthority.com/state-of-usb-c-870996/

Before CGI, we had the king of Stop Motion Animation, Ray Harryhausen.

Before CGI, we had the king of Stop Motion Animation, Ray Harryhausen.

The actual models he created have been restored, and will on display in Scotland soon (post virus).

https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/ray-harryhausen/

Wouldn't it be fantastic if someone were to 3D scan the original models for anyone to use?

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art details: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/exhibition/ray-harryhausen-titan-cinema

Nearly released Swift AWS Lambda Runtime is designed to help Swift developers build serverless functions.

Nearly released Swift AWS Lambda Runtime is designed to help Swift developers build serverless functions.

Working with Amazon Web Services, this new open-source swift library extends your applications into the cloud.

https://swift.org/blog/aws-lambda-runtime/

CES, the biggest US electronics show, is not canceled for 2021, but you can attend online or in person.

CES, the biggest US electronics show, is not canceled for 2021, but you can attend online or in person.

This may be the wave of the future, events that allow physical attendance, but designed for virtual also.

https://www.cnet.com/news/ces-2021-plans-to-be-live-in-las-vegas-physically-and-digitally/

Sean Allen gives a review of shape.so, with their 4300+ icons for iOS use.

Sean Allen gives a review of shape.so, with their 4300+ icons for iOS use.

Sean Allen puts up 3 videos a week on Swift/iOS development, including tutorials, VLOG, reviews & interviews. All are very professionally done. I especially like his code snippet section.

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

Sean Allen channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbTw29mcP12YlTt1EpUaVJw/

Sean Allen website: https://seanallen.co

Tom Scott admits to his personal worst programming mistake ever (hint: don’t edit non-backed up data).

Tom Scott admits to his personal worst programming mistake ever (hint: don’t edit non-backed up data).

In the process, he also gives a great back history of the Undo feature, and ways to implement it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6NJkWbM1xk

“Swift with Shani” is an ongoing YouTube VLog on everything from programming with Swift.

“Swift with Shani” is an ongoing YouTube VLog on everything from programming with Swift.

Shani River’s most recent videos deal with becoming an Indie App developer, both tech and business issues.

https://www.youtube.com/swiftwithshani

Her website: http://www.shanirivers.com/

And Twitter: https://twitter.com/shani_rivers