Friday, December 31, 2021

End this year with a bit of insanity. I have never seen this show, but apparently, someone found a working Lisa computer and was trying to sell it.

End this year with a bit of insanity.  I have never seen this show, but apparently, someone found a working Lisa computer and was trying to sell it.

Are they crazy?!?! Maybe if they were one of the first 100, then a museum might want it (such a one sold for $50K), but not a normal production Lisa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KNlhN2CEVk

Thursday, December 30, 2021

CNN talks about the biggest tech failures for the year.

CNN talks about the biggest tech failures for the year.


I found it interesting they mostly listed about various big loss of services, rather than new tech that failed.


https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/23/tech/biggest-tech-fails-2021/index.html


Wednesday, December 29, 2021

I use Git daily (usually from the Command Line). Not surprisingly, I only use a few commands (80/20 rule). Everyone needs to learn more!

I use Git daily (usually from the Command Line). Not surprisingly, I only use a few commands (80/20 rule). Everyone needs to learn more!


Thank you, Tara Prasad Routray for this article. Please, could you make a Cheat List based on it?


https://levelup.gitconnected.com/top-30-git-commands-you-should-know-to-master-git-cli-f04e041779bc


Tuesday, December 28, 2021

More end-of-year reviews with Ariel of AppFigures showing the most downloaded apps for iOS & Google Play.

More end-of-year reviews with Ariel of AppFigures showing the most downloaded apps for iOS & Google Play.


Social Media and Communications are the big winners.


https://appfigures.com/resources/this-week-in-apps/20211224


Monday, December 27, 2021

PC Magazine reviews Apple’s choices of the top Apps/Game for the Mac, iPhone, iPad & Apple TV.

PC Magazine reviews Apple’s choices of the top Apps/Game for the Mac, iPhone, iPad & Apple TV.


It is not just who won, but what the winner means for trends. 


https://medium.com/pcmag-access/apple-selects-its-best-apps-of-2021-20856485f4a4


Sunday, December 26, 2021

Anyone’s system need 3,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes of storage? That is 3x10^21 bytes.

Anyone’s system need 3,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes of storage? That is 3x10^21 bytes.

Seagate total storage of disks it shipped has just hist that number. It took 36 years to reach 1 zettabyte, but only 4 years to hit 3 zettabytes.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/seagate-is-the-first-company-to-ship-3-zettabytes-of-hard-drive-storage


Saturday, December 25, 2021

I needed to understand SwiftUI MecOS Menus, and Sarah Reichelt of TrozWare came thru with this article.

I needed to understand SwiftUI MecOS Menus, and Sarah Reichelt of TrozWare came thru with this article.


I especially liked her section on adding to or overriding Standard Mac menus.  Thank you!


https://troz.net/post/2021/swiftui_mac_menus/


Christmas Tech Humor

Christmas Tech Humor

Remember for this Holiday Season, you can’t always get what you want. Especially if you are ordering online.

Friday, December 24, 2021

There has been a lot more mobile phones over the years than most people know, and some are just strange.

There has been a lot more mobile phones over the years than most people know, and some are just strange.


PC Magazine celebrates the strangeness by sharing with us the amazing Mobile Phone Museum, a virtual exhibition.


https://www.pcmag.com/news/virtual-mobile-phone-museum-launches-with-really-weird-phones


Verizon Cell Phone Museum: https://in.pcmag.com/mobile-phones/46000/can-you-find-your-first-phone-in-verizons-cell-phone-museum


Samsung’s Phone Museum: https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-weirdest-phones-in-samsungs-amazing-phone-museum


Thursday, December 23, 2021

Interesting view of why Python may be losing its popularity.

Interesting view of why Python may be losing its popularity.


I never realized Python was named after Monty Python.


https://medium.com/codex/why-python-is-not-the-programming-language-of-the-future-4b963eb30878


Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Fascinating work by machine learning powered company Latitude to deliver gaming with AI.

Fascinating work by machine learning powered company Latitude to deliver gaming with AI.


A more structured game than there first “AI Dungeon” project, Voyage uses GPT-3 text generation algorithms to generate the interplay.


https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/19/22836418/latitude-ai-dungeon-voyage-ai-powered-game-platform-launch


Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Paul Hudson of Hacking With Swift helps to explore the Swift Algorithms Package.

Paul Hudson of Hacking With Swift helps to explore the Swift Algorithms Package.


I found the this package to be less about Algorithms, and mostly contain especially useful language extensions to Swift. As one of the built in Swift Packages of the latest Xcode, I have started routinely including it for all new Swift projects.


https://www.hackingwithswift.com/articles/243/write-better-code-with-swift-algorithms


Monday, December 20, 2021

Pavlos Simas give us a nice list of ways to increase your Xcode compile time for iOS.

Pavlos Simas give us a nice list of ways to increase your Xcode compile time for iOS.


His comments on how to organize your code, and keep it clean, should be taken to heart.


https://blog.devgenius.io/reduce-xcode-build-time-for-ios-bf43d3ca4ab8


Sunday, December 19, 2021

Here is 2 part article on some of the most important design runs for User Interface & Experience.

Here is 2 part article on some of the most important design rules for User Interface & Experience.


Some of the rules go against “logic”, but they are still true.


https://uxplanet.org/laws-of-ux-every-designer-should-know-about-9cf25176d183


Part 2: https://uxplanet.org/laws-of-ux-part-ii-ed6e89778152


Saturday, December 18, 2021

Before the 6502, 68000, or even the 8080, there was the 4004, the first commercial microprocessor.

Before the 6502, 68000, or even the 8080, there was the 4004, the first commercial microprocessor.


When you realize it has been 50 years, you can think how much has changed due to this first chip.


https://www.pcmag.com/news/how-the-4004-changed-the-world


Saturday Tech Humor

Saturday Tech Humor


‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

Except, there was one person, sat at his desk

Asking “why won’t this compile, I’m getting depressed”;


Friday, December 17, 2021

Mirror, mirror…. Let’s use Swift’s Mirror API to support Code Reflection.

Mirror, mirror…. Let’s use Swift’s Mirror API to support Code Reflection.


John Sundell article shows how our runtime code can inspect properties of a class or structure. 


https://www.swiftbysundell.com/articles/reflection-in-swift/


Thursday, December 16, 2021

If you want to learn something, you really can’t go wrong with a Stanford Computer Science class.

If you want to learn something, you really can’t go wrong with a Stanford Computer Science class.


“the Spring 2021 version of Stanford University's course CS193p (Developing Applications for iOS using SwiftUI) were once again delivered to our students in an on-line fashion.” 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqu6BquVi2M&list=PLpGHT1n4-mAsxuRxVPv7kj4-dQYoC3VVu


Wednesday, December 15, 2021

I admit, I had a hard time understanding this technical blog by Noah Martin, regarding checking for Swift Protocol. Sharper minds will do better.

I admit, I had a hard time understanding this technical blog by Noah Martin, regarding checking for Swift Protocol. Sharper minds will do better.

Bottom line, the “as?” operation to check for protocol is expensive and should be used lightly.

https://www.emergetools.com/blog/posts/SwiftProtocolConformance


Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Today Youtube informed me that my Channel has had over 70,000 views this year, with 85,000 minutes in total.

Today Youtube informed me that my Channel has had over 70,000 views this year, with 85,000 minutes played in total.


The vast majority are my videos from various cosplay events and cons, along with bits and pieces.


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHhvNiyY4Xls9X_zmcEWmyQ


My most popular video is about one of my favorite movies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eP6bkialg8


Here is an interesting traditional puzzled move into 3D VR space.

Here is an interesting traditional puzzled move into 3D VR space.


“Puzzling Places brings a myriad of objects and places to life with the use of a photogrammetry, a technique that takes high-resolution photos and constructs them into a 3D model”


https://www.roadtovr.com/puzzling-places-coming-psvr-release/


Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqfvfr1dCS4


“A good science fiction story should be able to predict not the automobile but the traffic jam.” ― Frederik Pohl

“A good science fiction story should be able to predict not the automobile but the traffic jam.” ― Frederik Pohl


In 1923, someone predicted what cells phones would lead us to.


https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/i0wae0/when_we_all_have_pocket_telephones_daily_mirror/


Saturday, December 11, 2021

Thanks to Guilherme Rambo for this extensive article on using CoreData within your app.

Thanks to Guilherme Rambo for this extensive article on using CoreData within your app.

I admit that I have never been a fan of CoreData, but recent improvements, especially with SwiftUI, have me looking at it again.

https://rambo.codes/posts/2020-02-25-cloudkit-101


Tech Humor

 A buddy and I are in the same programming class.

My friend starts writing down a note.


I look at it


He says "Hey! That note is private"


I respond "But we are in the same class"


Friday, December 10, 2021

Today I gave a presentation on Augment Parser, easily one of the best tools when implementing Command Line apps for Mac or iOS.

Today I gave a presentation on Augment Parser, easily one of the best tools when implementing Command Line apps for Mac or iOS.


Here is the link to my Git repository with my presentations,  and other publications.


https://github.com/magesteve/publications


Direct link to keynote document: https://github.com/magesteve/publications/blob/master/presentations/Argument%20Parser%20Talk%20Steve%20Sheets%20Dec%202021.key

Chris Eidhof of Objc explains the difference between Implicit animations and Explicit animation under SwiftUI

Chris Eidhof of Objc explains the difference between Implicit animations and Explicit animation under SwiftUI


“objc.io publishes books, videos, and articles on advanced techniques for iOS and macOS development”


https://www.objc.io/blog/2021/11/25/transactions-and-animations/


Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Everyone’s talking about the Metaverse, it is good to see people pooling their ideas and thoughts.

Everyone’s talking about the Metaverse, it is good to see people pooling their ideas and thoughts.


VR/AR Association is hosting this one day free virtual summit on Dec 17.


https://hopin.com/events/metaverses-and-avatars/


Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Bloomberg reports a change in marketing strategy for Apple in regards to the unannounced products like the Headset and/or car.

Bloomberg reports a change in marketing strategy for Apple in regards to the unannounced products like the Headset and/or car.


Do I get tired of posting unconfirmed reports on the Apple AR/VR headset?  Fortunately, not yet!


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-11-28/apple-car-vr-headset-launch-plan-belkin-boost-charge-pro-review-kwjly0i1


Monday, December 6, 2021

Now that I have accepted SwiftUI into my heart, I find SwiftUI Lab to be a great resource.

Now that I have accepted SwiftUI into my heart, I find SwiftUI Lab to be a great resource.


Advanced animation, advanced Views, the Lab specializes in the little bits that make an App polished.


https://swiftui-lab.com/


Sunday, December 5, 2021

A detailed analysis of issues using SwiftUI’s EnvironmentObject keyword.

A detailed analysis of issues using SwiftUI’s EnvironmentObject keyword.


Thanks to Riccardo Cipolleschi for his explanation of the two common, if faulty, methods to deal with dependencies.


Comments: I understand Riccardo Cipolleschi points, but will have to spend time working with EnvironmentObject to decide. I like SwiftUI simplicity of using keywords.  That said, I am leaning towards Type Erasers. While I do not have a solution for better testing with SwiftUI, I dislike his solution of “explicitly defining the dependencies and to pass them in the View initializers”. For more than one or two dependencies, this becomes messy very quickly.


https://betterprogramming.pub/why-you-shouldnt-use-environmentobject-in-swiftui-a527d5c2bd


Liskov Subsitution Principle (mentioned in the article): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liskov_substitution_principle

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Now the Animations are battling classic Arcade characters. Who will win? Lose? Get their quarters back?

Now the Animations are battling classic Arcade characters. Who will win? Lose? Get their quarters back?


In 2006, Alan Becker did a short animation where the drawing took over the paint program.  17.4 subscribers later, he is still at it.


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


Alan’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/noogai89


Original Animator vs. Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npTC6b5-yvM


Saturday Tech Humor

He’s making a database.


He’s sorting it twice.


SELECT * FROM CONTACTS WHERE BEHAVIOR = “NICE”


SQL Claus is coming to town!


Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 3, 2021

Well used Callbacks, Combine or Swift’s Async/await, how should you implement your Apple network code?

Well used Callbacks, Combine or Swift’s Async/await, how should you implement your Apple network code?

Thanks to Riccardo Cipolleschi for this in depth article about using each approach.


https://betterprogramming.pub/how-to-convert-your-ios-network-layer-to-work-with-combine-or-async-await-869364313bd3


Thursday, December 2, 2021

Adam Rush starts his blog with a handful of posting, including this tidbit about new features of the future Swift 5.6.

Adam Rush starts his blog with a handful of posting, including this tidbit about new features of the future Swift 5.6.


Inferring the type of a collection and improved availability condition checking, both very useful.


https://www.swiftlyrush.com/whats-new-in-swift-5-6/


Wednesday, December 1, 2021

An IBM Ad from 1988, that show if you don’t want to explain your product, just throw celebrities at it.

An IBM Ad from 1988, that show if you don’t want to explain your product, just throw celebrities at it.


Yes, that is Hawkeye, Radar and Col. Potter from M.A.S.H. hawking the IBM Application Sysrtem/400.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKZ34h1sT24