There is a lack of evidence that Facebook is a Monopoly, according to Federal judge. “legally insufficient” he said.

There is a lack of evidence that Facebook is a Monopoly, according to Federal judge. “legally insufficient” he said.

The FTC antitrust lawsuit has been dismissed.  They can re-file, but would require additional evidence.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/06/28/federal-court-dismisses-ftc-antitrust-complaint-against-facebook

NVIDIA’s AI program changes your bad doodles into photorealistic images.

NVIDIA’s AI program changes your bad doodles into photorealistic images.

Couple years back, I talked about AI program that would draw written descriptions of a scene, this goes beyond that.

https://nerdist.com/article/canvas-app-turns-bad-drawings-into-beautiful-photo-landscapes/

Arun Venkatesan has brought back memories of the G3 iMac with these wallpapers.

Arun Venkatesan has brought back memories of the G3 iMac with these wallpapers.

He based them on the Finder Icon that shipped with Mac OS 9. 

https://www.arun.is/blog/os9-wallpaper/

Wallpaper link: https://gumroad.com/l/WUORV

Related Link to old Finder Icons: https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/Mac

Start your Saturday with this list of most common Passwords.

Start your Saturday with this list of most common Passwords.

It is annoying to realize how many of these I have actually used.

https://www.rd.com/article/passwords-hackers-guess-first/

Saturday Tech Humor

Saturday Tech Humor

Remember, the “H’” in “Software Development” stands for “Happiness”.

One of the more interesting tools to come out of WWDC in DocC, a change (improvement?) on documenting your program.

One of the more interesting tools to come out of WWDC in DocC, a change (improvement?) on documenting your program.

Paul Hudson @twostraws gives us his thought on DocC, and what it is/is not.

https://www.hackingwithswift.com/articles/238/how-to-document-your-project-with-docc

From a few years back, Steve Wozniak remembers the early days of Apple (very little time in a garage).

From a few years back, Steve Wozniak remembers the early days of Apple (very little time in a garage).

Woz gave this interview for Bloomberg Businessweek 85th anniversary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJif4i9NRdI

Today the History Guy celebrates the 153rd Anniversary of the QWERTY keyboard.

Today the History Guy celebrates the 153rd Anniversary of the QWERTY keyboard.

Not the first typewriter, but this was the one that became our modern keyboard layout.

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

Xcode is not the only Development platform on the Mac.

Xcode is not the only Development platform on the Mac.

A quick review of other FREE IDEs you might consider downloading on your machine.

https://preettheman.medium.com/top-coding-ides-for-mac-in-2021-c47a76ad38dd

I mentioned “Ambient computing” yesterday because that is the name of the upcoming Alex conference.

I mentioned “Ambient computing” yesterday because that is the name of the upcoming Alex conference.

Alex Live will be the latest from Amazon regarding voice technology

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

“Ambient computing” means using the computer, without realizing you are using a computer. Often with simple spoken interfaces.

“Ambient computing” means using the computer, without realizing you are using a computer. Often with simple spoken interfaces.

How to Geek explores this latest buzz word from Silicon Valley.

https://www.howtogeek.com/547655/what-is-ambient-computing-and-how-will-it-change-our-lives/

Another article: https://www.uctoday.com/unified-communications/what-is-ambient-computing-anyway/

This is an example of pigment morphing due to the Munker-White illusion.

This is an example of pigment morphing due to the Munker-White illusion.

The skulls are the same color. Keep this in mind when creating your UI.

https://www.popsci.com/red-skulls-look-purple-and-orange/

“Programs must be written for people to read, and only incidentally for machines to execute” - Harold Abelson

 Saturday Tech Humor

“Programs must be written for people to read, and only incidentally for machines to execute” - Harold Abelson 

Such small addition, Double & CGFloat conversions for Swift 5.5, but it will have major effect in my code.

Such small addition, Double & CGFloat conversions for Swift 5.5, but it will have major effect in my code.

John Sundell gives examples of to use this Xcode 13 feature of Swift.

https://www.swiftbysundell.com/tips/double-cgfloat-auto-conversions/

On a scale no one can really mentally understand, now we find out Cosmic Filaments actually spin.

On a scale no one can really mentally understand, now we find out Cosmic Filaments actually spin.

Filaments are strings of cluster of universe, the absolutely largest structure scientist have ever observed.

https://www.space.com/largest-spinning-structures-universe-discovered?utm_source=notification

During last weeks WWDC, Apple announced their 2021 Design Award winners.

During last weeks WWDC, Apple announced their 2021 Design Award winners.

It is worth reviewing the apps, for their design, as well as seeing what Apple thinks is important.

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/06/apple-announces-winners-of-the-2021-apple-design-awards/

Some interesting new features for the newest version of C#. Thanks Matthew MacDonald!

Some interesting new features for the newest version of C#. Thanks Matthew MacDonald!

Due to Unity, a lot of game developers I know are working with C# on Apple platforms.  

https://medium.com/young-coder/a-closer-look-at-5-new-features-in-c-10-f99738b0158e

The future of Dungeons & Dragons will be video games.

The future of Dungeons & Dragons will be video games.

"Video games are by far the number one request for how we can extend the brand. We see them as core to the future of D&D", WOTC president Chris Cocks.  As someone who plays table top RPG, I am not happy with this emphasis.

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-06-15-video-games-are-core-to-the-future-of-dungeons-and-dragons

When asked what the Blinky lights on early computer were for, Ron Kolinie comes thru with the answer.

When asked what the Blinky lights on early computer were for, Ron Kolinie comes thru with the answer.

He also reminds us how far computers of come. His early AN/FSQ-32 weighed 60 metric tons!

https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-purpose-of-all-of-the-blinking-lights-on-the-early-computers-think-Univac-and-Eniac-of-the-1950s-1960s-What-information-did-they-convey/answer/Ron-Kolinie

It has been 10 years, but the Federal Gaming Guild is still going strong.

It has been 10 years, but the Federal Gaming Guild is still going strong.

“FGG is an informal community practice that brings federal entities together to share, learn, and grow around the potential and impact of games.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBPUu4BHiB0

For nostalgic home office, here is a non-functional Lego Typewriter. Oh, it is antique technology (mid 20th century).

For nostalgic home office, here is a non-functional Lego Typewriter. Oh, it is antique technology (mid 20th century).

This is plain silly, and I expect them to sell a lot. 

https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/typewriter-21327

Tech Crunch does good job showing the new Apple Map features.

Tech Crunch does good job showing the new Apple Map features.

Even if your app does handle Maps, developers should review the new type of UI.

https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/07/apple-maps-upgrade-brings-more-detailed-maps-transit-features-ar-view-and-more/

Paul Hudson of Hacking with Swift is already fast at working posting about WWDC announcements.

Paul Hudson of Hacking with Swift is already fast at working posting about WWDC announcements.

Paul gives us a great overview of what the new Xcode 13 gives us.

https://www.hackingwithswift.com/articles/236/whats-new-in-xcode-13

Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines Updated for WWDC, and it is a great read.

Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines Updated for WWDC, and it is a great read.

Inclusion, Right to Left, Extra Large Widgets, Spatial Interaction & Location buttons, are only a few of the changes that effect UI.

https://developer.apple.com/design/whats-new/

In 1968 film, "2001: A Space Odyssey", Hilton had locations on both a space station and the moon, apparently Hilton actually did research about having non-earth based hotels.

In 1968 film, "2001: A Space Odyssey", Hilton had locations on both a space station and the moon, apparently Hilton actually did research about having non-earth based hotels.

CNN Article talk about this earliest plans for Space Tourism.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/hilton-hotel-on-moon-scn-cmd/index.html

Saturday Tech Humor

Saturday Tech Humor

“Measuring programming progress by lines of code is like measuring aircraft building progress by weight”. ― Bill Gates

Apple’s API for HTTP/3 & QUIC were shown at WWDC, much to my surprise since I thought that was till in the future.

Apple’s API for HTTP/3 & QUIC were shown at WWDC, much to my surprise since I thought that was till in the future.

So here is an article by Javier Garza on these new technologies, and their place in the Internet future.

https://developer.akamai.com/blog/2020/04/14/quick-introduction-http3

DC iOS group is having a virtual meeting, covering WWDC 2021

DC iOS group is having a virtual meeting, covering WWDC 2021

Members are invited to create 5-8 min long speed talks, on topics they liked from the Conference.

https://www.meetup.com/DC-iOS/events/278687609/

CNET probably has the best round up of the software announcement at WWDC.

CNET probably has the best round up of the software announcement at WWDC.

I did find it strange that at a “World Wide Developer Conference”, the keynote and main announcements had little to do with Developers.

https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-most-exciting-wwdc-2021-announcements-for-iphone-mac-and-more/

Falling into the “because he can!” category, Chris Mention create a 1/10-scale, binary-compatible, cycle-accurate Cray-1!

Falling into the “because he can!” category, Chris Mention create a 1/10-scale, binary-compatible, cycle-accurate Cray-1!

In late 70s, the Cray-1 was the world best super computer (and most expensive at $7 million). It amazing he can emulate that with a FPGA.

Personal story:  This was the most famous of the first generation SuperComputers.  The Intelligence community purchased most of them, with a few going to academic & military use.  Apple even purchased one to run chip simulations.  A friend in Chicago had one of the best stories regarding the Cray-1.  He was an astronomer at the University of Chicago, and his simulation of star clusters made him one of the leading Cray users in the world. When his University received their new machine, they called him up to test it out. He ran over to the engineering building, with his Mac 512 under his arm. He plugged the Mac into the serial outlet of the Cray, and downloaded his programs into the supercomputer using MacTerminal (there was no other terminal program at that time).  As his Mac sent further commands to the Cray, he realized his now had the world most expensive, multi-million dollar Apple Peripheral.  He gave me a photo of him, his Mac, sitting new to the Cray. I kept it on my wall for years.

https://www.chrisfenton.com/homebrew-cray-1a/

Wiki on Cray-1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cray-1

Ethan Saadia (@ethansaadia) hosted a talk in ARKit & Reality kit tonight, based on WWDC so far.

Ethan Saadia (@ethansaadia) hosted a talk in ARKit & Reality kit tonight, based on WWDC so far.

I found his today’s posting on What’s New in RealityKit 2 to be great!

https://ethansaadia.medium.com/whats-new-in-realitykit-2-b2a7db4b57e2

Ethan Saadia site: https://www.ethansaadia.com

Articles about WWDC 2021 announcements are coming out!

Articles about WWDC 2021 announcements are coming out!

John Sundell @johnsundell gives us the first look at Swift AttributedString, FINALLY a first-class stylized text type.

https://wwdcbysundell.com/2021/a-first-look-at-attributed-string/

iOS 15 beta release is out now, with the final due in the fall. An interesting feature is ability to track iPhones, even when they are off.

iOS 15 beta release is out now, with the final due in the fall. An interesting feature is ability to track iPhones, even when they are off.

Unless the battery is dead, “off” iPhone still provide power to Bluetooth, so Find My can still locate the device.

https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/07/ios-15-find-my-network-can-find-your-iphone-when-it-is-powered-off/

One of the few new developer features out of WWDC is the Concurrency programming extensions, lncluding Async & Await.

One of the few new developer features out of WWDC is the Concurrency programming extensions, lncluding Async & Await.

Tibor Bödecs of Swift Dev explains the Swift 5.5 feature, which will be a great tools for all developers.

https://theswiftdev.com/introduction-to-asyncawait-in-swift/

Stepping out of Science Fiction story, Navy demos an aerial remote drone refueling station.

Stepping out of Science Fiction story, Navy demos an aerial remote drone refueling station.

A favorite of future tech movies, this unmanned craft can be deployed in unsafe locations, for long periods of time.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/06/07/mq-25-stingray-tanker-drone-orig-jm.cnn

WWDC will start later this afternoon, so now is perfect time to talk about Arena VR.

WWDC will start later this afternoon, so now is perfect time to talk about Arena VR.

Kevin William, entertainment expert, explore recent developments in VR at amusement parks & venues.

https://www.vrfocus.com/2020/12/mixed-reality-revolution-out-of-home/

Other articles from Kevin: https://www.vrfocus.com/author/kevinwilliams/

Let’s prepare for WWDC tomorrow, by enjoy more of James Dempsey and the Breakpoints.

Let’s prepare for WWDC tomorrow, by enjoy more of James Dempsey and the Breakpoints.

The playlist of Backtrace contains almost all of James original songs, performed at past WWDCs.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kO4wV8zFghC9Cgiy3TY6mNgH1dceqfVes

A truly inspiring use of tech, a virtual window between two locations, so people can socially connect.

A truly inspiring use of tech, a virtual window between two locations, so people can socially connect.

Yes, it does remind me of the Star Trek “Guardian of Forever” portal.

https://www.boredpanda.com/virtual-door-lublin-vilnius-portal/

Rev 2 will provide teleport.  Rev 3 will have time travel. Kickstarter will be starting shortly...

Saturday Tech Humor

“Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live” - John Woods

End the week with this video from the Center for Computer History, talking about the famous Colossus computer.

End the week with this video from the Center for Computer History, talking about the famous Colossus computer.

Colossus is “regarded as the world's first programmable, electronic, digital computer, although it was programmed by switches and plugs and not by a stored program.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2tMcMQqSbA

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_computer

 

Having Apple create their own Search engine, is not an automatic horror story for Apple or us.

Having Apple create their own Search engine, is not an automatic horror story for Apple or us.

Jean-Louis Gassée @gassee thoughts are always worth reading.

https://mondaynote.com/science-fiction-apple-builds-a-search-engine-c6a9bcba5a9b

Sometimes you come across an article, that just makes you want to spend a hour thinking about it.

Sometimes you come across an article, that just makes you want to spend a hour thinking about it.

Sonia P. Hashim tof he Expressive Computing Lab explains the thoughts that went into writing software for Artists.

https://uxdesign.cc/building-software-for-artists-554fcff5bb20

This creator loves making visualizations of data, he does an amazing job showing changes of time, in this case, size of military.

This creator loves making visualizations of data, he does an amazing job showing changes of time, in this case, size of military.

I love his subtle inclusion of data. Color indicates continent. 

Personal note: I wish he would post major historical events in lower right corner, so you can track how they effect the military build up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai2gC2Xw87w

Data is Beautiful Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkWbqlDAyJh2n8DN5X6NZyg

“HomeOS”? An job posting at Apple hints of possible new platform.

“HomeOS”?  An job posting at Apple hints of possible new platform.

Though this may have been a typo, since the Ad has changed to “HomePod”.

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/06/02/apple-homeos-mentioned-in-job-listing/

“The Joy of Batch Fortran Programming”, a short True story.

“The Joy of Batch Fortran Programming”, a short True story.

I hope everyone enjoys it, I wrote it awhile back.

https://magesteve.medium.com/the-joy-of-batch-fortran-programming-8689a4746e9b

Paul Hudson @twostraws provides a comprehensive tutorial on using Auto Layout from code.

Paul Hudson @twostraws provides a comprehensive tutorial on using Auto Layout from code.

Yes, I know everyone is talking about moving to SwiftUI, but some of us work with real world apps,

https://www.hackingwithswift.com/articles/140/the-auto-layout-cheat-sheet

Dustin Pfannenstiel @dmpfyi has some excellent ideas of things Apple should introduce at WWDC next week.

Dustin Pfannenstiel @dmpfyi has some excellent ideas of things Apple should introduce at WWDC next week.

Extensions to Xcode, Swift in Browser, I hope someone at Apple is reading this list.

https://gist.github.com/dpfannenstiel/70af75ddbc14110e56ab53337e30b482