True but everyone in the whole exchange came off like a childish douchbag, not just that one PR guy
Right, but the customer is almost expected to be childish. The PR rep is expected to be professional. It's actually part of the job description: "professional interaction with customers".
I second this. Used it for years (ironically enough right up UNTIL yoyogames bought it out). It is rediculously simple to make basic games using drag and drop stuff, and the basic engine takes care of all the window creation, image loading/drawing, ect, and there's also a C-like language (I think it's loosely based on Python actually, but doesn't really look like it) that is quite powerful. It's an amazing beginners tool, and was actually created by a professor to teach game design.
Say the user has a piece of information somewhere in the device's file system (or whatever Apple calls it instead of a file system; I'm not an iOS programmer), and the user wants to use that information in a program. How does that user get the information into a place where the program can manipulate it?
I don't believe that's possible, unless the HTML5 app wrote that piece of information in the first place. It's still heavily sandboxed.
But if a user, say, wants a program to read one text document, do something to it, and write another text document, how do the files get into and out of local storage?
I'm not sure what you're asking. Are you asking the API calls, or are you asking how the browser implementation should be? Or something entirely different?
Actually I don't think local storage can actually store FILES. From what I can tell in the API calls its possible to store key-value pairs. With a little imagination that could be used to store program code.
Out of curiosity, where did you find that little tidbit on the "beyond five megabytes"? I didn't know that was even a possibility.
Before I do so, how well does iOS support downloading a web page permanently to a phone? Google shows me a couple paid apps to do this, implying that it doesn't come standard as part of Safari for iOS.
I don't think standard Safari has that option, but I imagine one of the third party browsers might. I think I remember seeing it in another app but I can't remember which one (then again I'm pretty sure I'm still running iOS 3 on my iTouch so my information is obviously a little out of date as to what Safari can do).
How much local storage, and how does the data that a program reads and writes get in and out of the local storage?
According to the e-book I have on HTML5: “The specification recommends that browsers allow five megabytes per origin"
As for HOW the data gets written, there's a javascript API that web apps can use. The actual system calls are meant to be implemented in the browser itself. So it is possible that Safari Mobile doesn't even support it (though Safari on the desktop does)
JavaScript is client-side through a browser. So as long as you could download the webpage to your phone then they should run when the device is disconnected. And with HTML5's ability to utilize local storage, it is possible for them to store user created programs.
One of the much-touted strengths of Android is its ability to side-load apps. And side-loading is not THAT complicated. It may be out of the range of a typical user, but for someone who is trying to learn programming via BASIC it could be a useful procedure to have to work out.
It wasn't until I read this that I realized GP was talking about IQ. At first glance I thought they were talking about line numbers in a BASIC program. It all makes so much more sense now...
First, they're BEGINNERS. Generally beginners don't code well selling apps regardless of language (Unless they already had a brilliant idea and just are learning programming so they don't have to rely on others to develop it). And second, its BASIC. People start with BASIC to learn the basic structure of programming in a very simple form. It's a stepping stone, not a destination. Then again, there were some pretty cool things developed for BASIC systems back in the day.
You can get the Android SDK for free and start writing what ever you want.
This is also true of the iOS SDK (though you do have to have a Mac, so I guess that could be considered a "cost"). I don't know if you intentionally left that out or not, so I'm pointing it out just in case it was an accidental mistake.
Should we hand kids 20 dollar bills and pretend we are teaching them a work ethic?
My parents did that for me. They called it an "allowance". Then again I actually had to work for it (and I grew up on a farm so it wasn't just 'clean up your room'). I have seen many parents that just give their kids money, which doesn't really give a strong work ethic at all...
Giving your kids money will teach them a strong work ethic if you make it clear that they only get the money when they are doing something (usually basic household chores like filling the dishwasher and watering the planters, ect). If you just give them money, it will teach them the opposite ethic: that they shouldn't have to work and will get things for free.
A friend and I were looking at Metro PCS (I assume that's where you get your unlimited for $40 deal, since that's the only place I know of that has that low of a price). He got a phone through them for a few months and eventually returned it since the call quaility and signal strength was unacceptable. So you get what you pay for. Then again we are surrounded by mountains so maybe that had something to do with it. I imagine it's probably better on completely flat ground. I pay $104 a month to Verizon because in 8 years I've only had to deal with a few dead spots. I'm willing to pay for that kind of coverage. Then again that also may vary due to location.
I'm sure PETA would tell you just that. Personally I think the fact that whales are intelligent is a moot point. AFAIK they're endangered, which is enough reason to stop hunting them. And you'd think the whaling industry would figure this out too. If they kill all the whales then they're out of a job.
Well also bear in mind that a lot of those cultures didn't go whaling all year long. They had to deal with weather conditions and a vastly decreased range as well (since if they planned to fill their cargo hold with whale they couldn't carry many provisions).
Slashdot Mirror
True but everyone in the whole exchange came off like a childish douchbag, not just that one PR guy
Right, but the customer is almost expected to be childish. The PR rep is expected to be professional. It's actually part of the job description: "professional interaction with customers".
You're right, I should have said "I don't believe that's possible using the HTML5 local storage".
I second this. Used it for years (ironically enough right up UNTIL yoyogames bought it out). It is rediculously simple to make basic games using drag and drop stuff, and the basic engine takes care of all the window creation, image loading/drawing, ect, and there's also a C-like language (I think it's loosely based on Python actually, but doesn't really look like it) that is quite powerful. It's an amazing beginners tool, and was actually created by a professor to teach game design.
Say the user has a piece of information somewhere in the device's file system (or whatever Apple calls it instead of a file system; I'm not an iOS programmer), and the user wants to use that information in a program. How does that user get the information into a place where the program can manipulate it?
I don't believe that's possible, unless the HTML5 app wrote that piece of information in the first place. It's still heavily sandboxed.
That's true, but you were talking about downloading the SDK, not the actual deployment of the apps..
Interesting... I hadn't actually considered that the "right to bear arms" means the right to bear them in public as well...
But if a user, say, wants a program to read one text document, do something to it, and write another text document, how do the files get into and out of local storage?
I'm not sure what you're asking. Are you asking the API calls, or are you asking how the browser implementation should be? Or something entirely different?
Actually I don't think local storage can actually store FILES. From what I can tell in the API calls its possible to store key-value pairs. With a little imagination that could be used to store program code.
Out of curiosity, where did you find that little tidbit on the "beyond five megabytes"? I didn't know that was even a possibility.
Before I do so, how well does iOS support downloading a web page permanently to a phone? Google shows me a couple paid apps to do this, implying that it doesn't come standard as part of Safari for iOS.
I don't think standard Safari has that option, but I imagine one of the third party browsers might. I think I remember seeing it in another app but I can't remember which one (then again I'm pretty sure I'm still running iOS 3 on my iTouch so my information is obviously a little out of date as to what Safari can do).
How much local storage, and how does the data that a program reads and writes get in and out of the local storage?
According to the e-book I have on HTML5: “The specification recommends that browsers allow five megabytes per origin"
As for HOW the data gets written, there's a javascript API that web apps can use. The actual system calls are meant to be implemented in the browser itself. So it is possible that Safari Mobile doesn't even support it (though Safari on the desktop does)
Sorry, it's been a long day for me. The blindingly obvious becomes the not so obvious after 8 hours sitting in front of a screen.
But you have to pay for it.
No... no you don't.
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/visual-basic-express
AFAIK most of the Visual Studio tools have had free versions for over 5 years. Obviously the professional versions have more features, ect, but they are editor features. The compiler/linker shouldn't be limited at all.
JavaScript is client-side through a browser. So as long as you could download the webpage to your phone then they should run when the device is disconnected. And with HTML5's ability to utilize local storage, it is possible for them to store user created programs.
and thus rejected from app stores
One of the much-touted strengths of Android is its ability to side-load apps. And side-loading is not THAT complicated. It may be out of the range of a typical user, but for someone who is trying to learn programming via BASIC it could be a useful procedure to have to work out.
It wasn't until I read this that I realized GP was talking about IQ. At first glance I thought they were talking about line numbers in a BASIC program. It all makes so much more sense now...
s/retards/the uninformed/
FTFY
First, they're BEGINNERS. Generally beginners don't code well selling apps regardless of language (Unless they already had a brilliant idea and just are learning programming so they don't have to rely on others to develop it). And second, its BASIC. People start with BASIC to learn the basic structure of programming in a very simple form. It's a stepping stone, not a destination. Then again, there were some pretty cool things developed for BASIC systems back in the day.
You can get the Android SDK for free and start writing what ever you want.
This is also true of the iOS SDK (though you do have to have a Mac, so I guess that could be considered a "cost"). I don't know if you intentionally left that out or not, so I'm pointing it out just in case it was an accidental mistake.
Should we hand kids 20 dollar bills and pretend we are teaching them a work ethic?
My parents did that for me. They called it an "allowance". Then again I actually had to work for it (and I grew up on a farm so it wasn't just 'clean up your room'). I have seen many parents that just give their kids money, which doesn't really give a strong work ethic at all...
Giving your kids money will teach them a strong work ethic if you make it clear that they only get the money when they are doing something (usually basic household chores like filling the dishwasher and watering the planters, ect). If you just give them money, it will teach them the opposite ethic: that they shouldn't have to work and will get things for free.
How's their service then? I've never heard of Simple Mobile (they don't offer service in my area).
A friend and I were looking at Metro PCS (I assume that's where you get your unlimited for $40 deal, since that's the only place I know of that has that low of a price). He got a phone through them for a few months and eventually returned it since the call quaility and signal strength was unacceptable. So you get what you pay for. Then again we are surrounded by mountains so maybe that had something to do with it. I imagine it's probably better on completely flat ground. I pay $104 a month to Verizon because in 8 years I've only had to deal with a few dead spots. I'm willing to pay for that kind of coverage. Then again that also may vary due to location.
Maybe competition hasn't been wiped out yet?
Get a sense of humor, then come back, k? GP is joking.
that 3 video card computer drawing 1500 watts just isn't needed
How else am I going to play Crysis on max graphics? (Seriously, who uses three graphics cards?)
I'm sure PETA would tell you just that. Personally I think the fact that whales are intelligent is a moot point. AFAIK they're endangered, which is enough reason to stop hunting them. And you'd think the whaling industry would figure this out too. If they kill all the whales then they're out of a job.
Well also bear in mind that a lot of those cultures didn't go whaling all year long. They had to deal with weather conditions and a vastly decreased range as well (since if they planned to fill their cargo hold with whale they couldn't carry many provisions).
But the drone is looking for THEM, so wouldn't it get a lot closer, at least at some point, in order to find them? What's the radar range on drones?