I think you'd be surprised at how many people would offer up their "wouldn't it be cool if...." ideas. I've submitted one already that probably won't win, but I have no knowledge of how to go about getting it implemented and wouldn't ever try, but if it were implemented, I could see how someone would benefit.
Any idea that people have that they would follow through with, sure, they'll keep it.....but if you aren't going to do anything with the idea, why not submit it and at least get credit for the idea.
My idea: glowing ceiling panels for businesses -- absorb the natural light during the day and use the glow panels a night. Someone will need to improve the glow so that the light is more akin to bulb light, but it should reduce the amount of energy used....which would be a good thing.
You could always learn [insert foreign language here] so that when your job goes off-shore, you get to be the on-shore "manager". Usually a bump in pay, some extra travel, and a little more job security than your neighbor.
Humans generally think "if x, than y, else z", not "var = (if x, than y, else z)".
Humans that have decent English skills usually think "if x, THEN y".....and I'll give you no slack because as a programmer, that should be drilled into you during your BASIC, PASCAL, PL/SQL, etc. days.
Great stuff. Find a mentor. Most technical classes focus on how to use the language, never how to use it right.....at least not until you get to the advanced classes, which as a new dev, you aren't ready for. The best place to learn these things quickly is to figure out who in the group knows what (and is friendly/helpful) and glom on to them. Become their friend (bribe them with caffeinated products) whatever it takes. And absorb everything you can from them. This will usually take more than one expert (best design guy, best coder, best db guy, best politics guy). Just don't be a pain about it....if they explain something once, write it down and don't ask them about it again except for further clarification.
I love taking people under my wing and helping them grow, but if they keep asking the same questions, I see that they aren't trying to learn anything and just trying to take advantage of my knowledge. I still help those people for the good of the team, but usually with "here's your answer, now go away" approach instead of the "here's your answer, oh, and here's a better way that will make you a better programmer" approach.
I've seen some pages that have issues under Chrome. They aren't on any exposed sites, so I can't send a link, but it's basically dynamic content that returns as XSLT formatted XML. Also, some pages with some unrecognized JavaScript. There were a couple of other pages that I've submitted back to Google, but I don't have the links handy, nor do I remember where they were.
for just $99 and the signing of an NDA, that person has purchased the right to have their application rejected
I assume that $99 gives you the right to submit MULTIPLE apps for publication. Rejecting one app does not mean that *ALL* of your apps were rejected. (Of course, if your first app is the one rejected, what are the chances that you'll publish another.) But still, the NDA would cover all of you work with the SDK, rejected or not.
Since money changes hands, I think a simple wording along the lines of "by paying $99 to register as an official iPhone developer, you agree to the NDA". It's more involved than a simple "click here to agree" because there is an actual paper trail that can be followed through your credit card. So, I would think that this is "more substatial" than a traditional EULA.
The suggestion was the reverse of that transaction.
1. Download SDK 2. Develop application 3. Transfer app to 3rd party who *IS* under the NDA.
My guess is that they would be the one rejected and they would be NDA'ed from telling you why your app was rejected. If you were told, then the 3rd party would be up the brown river with Apple.
I can see where if you work for a company that provides consulting services it would be directly competing against them (unfair to you, but understandable), so your options would be to change companies or try to provide a service that they don't provide. You could always moonlight in an area besides I/T, but that probably wouldn't be quite as lucrative.....
And keep in mind that above all else, we want "fun" projects. Usually fun means that it involves the traits you mention above, or it could mean that it was a very intricate puzzle that we feel a sense of accomplishment having figured out or we get to learn new technology.
I feel content with my job even when my project is a total mess if I'm getting to do "fun" stuff. However, even when my project is running extremely well, if it is mundane and repetetive and repetetive, then I'm miserable.
I like the option of moonlighting. Put yourself into a position where OT isn't required or where you don't care about cost-of-living raises but are good enough not to fire. Then spend nights and/or weekends supplementing your income. I worked about 20 hours this weekend and made $1,000. That's on top of my full-time salary. All told, I've probably made close to $10,000 this year in extra cash. Not enough to quit my day job, but enough to buy a few more toys or pay a few more bills or take a vacation or whatever your situation dictates.
It's hard to find the first clients, but once you get them, they seem extremely greatful to have any I/T resources at all. In my case, I lucked out, my wife was responding to a "data entry help wanted" position to fill her time between May and August (she's in education) and I tagged along because I type well enough to be usefull, too. I saw what they were doing and mentioned that I could automate the process. Wrote version 1 for $1,500. They liked it and this past weekend, I upgraded it to version 2. Now they are talking about all sorts of other projects they'd like to work with me on. I think I'll have enough side work to keep me as busy as I want to be for a couple of years.
There are plenty of moonlighting type ads for I/T help (programming and non-programming), so if you are open, you can have the security of base pay and the flexibility of supplemental pay. You'll find that you put up with more stress at your day job because your secondary work gives you more control over your projects and becomes your "fun" work.
I can't seem to figure out why some many people (usually MS haters) claim that Windows Mobile crashes consistently. I've had my phone for years and have only had to reset it about 12 times. Windows Mobile likes to keep apps open, but if you get MagicButton or any similar task manager, you can make programs actually close. This improves the performance and the stability quite a bit. And while I haven't done any heavy statistical analysis, I've found the built in Excel to be capable of meeting my needs (quick spreadsheet to track boxes of girl scout cookies sold for my daughter, a spreadsheet to help calculate loan costs of cars when shopping for a new one, etc.). Not a lot of need for Word and PowerPoint, so I can't speak to those.
Growing up with a C64 and then DOS of all flavors and even Windows 3.x, I'm used to limits of an operating system (and before you raise too many flames, how many programs can you run on an iPhone......). If those limits mean that I can't have 20 programs running at once, I'm ok with that. If you live within the limits, the OS is usually very stable and performant. Sure Windows Mobile isn't the worlds greatest OS, but I don't think it's as bad as the bashers like to claim. I think that it's smaller requirements would make it perfect for a NetBook because, let's face it, a NetBook isn't supposed to be your only computer. It's supposed to be something that is portable to be connected anywhere and allow for limited work. My phone (HTC Wizard) is already capable of meeting those basic needs and the newer versions (HTC Touch, HTC [next]) even more so.
No Flash support beyond v8 yet (http://download.macromedia.com/pub/flash/updates/8/flashlite2/fl8_flashlite2_1_update.exe), but I would expect it to be supported soon.
Basically, everything I would do with a NetBook works on my phone. Just without the larger screen and the laptop footprint (I've got a real keyboard). For that matter, it even already supports pen input (including OCR), so you could make a convertible NetBook fairly easily.
I use MagicButton. It turns the X into a real close button. Problem solved. I'm not sure who your vendor is/was, but it seems HTC has got a pretty good handle on making Windows Mobile devices. All of the ones I've seen work well.
3rd party apps I've installed and used: various games various golf score programs MagicButton Code I wrote myself Media players -- who needs a dedicated media player when your phone + an SD card will carry it all for you....even MP4's etc.
My Windows Mobile smart phone runs quite a few programs that you'd desire. It supports.Net (compact framework), so development isn't that different than desktop apps. I'm actually surprised that there aren't MORE Netbooks going the Windows Mobile route vs the XP route. I'm sure the license cost is similar or lower and the hardware footprint is significantly less (my HTC Wizard does fairly well with a 195MHz processor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Wizard imaging what it could do with a 1GHz Atom). I would also include Andriod in that line of thinking.....once it gets released in some other commercial form.
And that 2 hours of "thinking" is one of the reasons that languages such as Haskell will ever make it in the corporate world. If your boss comes by and you are just sitting there "thinking" you will seem unproductive. Project plans never have a "thinking" task. Languages where a developer can sit down and "just wing it" will always gain preference in the business world. But, that's also why half the code is pure crap...........too many developers just winging it (especially when they aren't really good at it).
Slashdot Mirror
Cantina Band: Mos Eisley
Dude, I'd *SOOOO* play that.
Do-do-Do-do-D-d-dooo-doooooo
Layne
I think you'd be surprised at how many people would offer up their "wouldn't it be cool if...." ideas. I've submitted one already that probably won't win, but I have no knowledge of how to go about getting it implemented and wouldn't ever try, but if it were implemented, I could see how someone would benefit.
Any idea that people have that they would follow through with, sure, they'll keep it.....but if you aren't going to do anything with the idea, why not submit it and at least get credit for the idea.
My idea: glowing ceiling panels for businesses -- absorb the natural light during the day and use the glow panels a night. Someone will need to improve the glow so that the light is more akin to bulb light, but it should reduce the amount of energy used....which would be a good thing.
Layne
So, would that be a Beowulf cluster of these?
Layne
You could always learn [insert foreign language here] so that when your job goes off-shore, you get to be the on-shore "manager". Usually a bump in pay, some extra travel, and a little more job security than your neighbor.
Layne
Humans generally think "if x, than y, else z", not "var = (if x, than y, else z)".
Humans that have decent English skills usually think "if x, THEN y".....and I'll give you no slack because as a programmer, that should be drilled into you during your BASIC, PASCAL, PL/SQL, etc. days.
Layne
Great stuff. Find a mentor. Most technical classes focus on how to use the language, never how to use it right.....at least not until you get to the advanced classes, which as a new dev, you aren't ready for. The best place to learn these things quickly is to figure out who in the group knows what (and is friendly/helpful) and glom on to them. Become their friend (bribe them with caffeinated products) whatever it takes. And absorb everything you can from them. This will usually take more than one expert (best design guy, best coder, best db guy, best politics guy). Just don't be a pain about it....if they explain something once, write it down and don't ask them about it again except for further clarification.
I love taking people under my wing and helping them grow, but if they keep asking the same questions, I see that they aren't trying to learn anything and just trying to take advantage of my knowledge. I still help those people for the good of the team, but usually with "here's your answer, now go away" approach instead of the "here's your answer, oh, and here's a better way that will make you a better programmer" approach.
Layne
Since you don't listen to U2, you'll get some slack, but it was actually joke referring to one of their album titles.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achtung_Baby
Layne
Al Gore should control it, after all, he invented it.
Layne
So, is that what you call e-mails you get advertising U2's latest album?
Layne
I've seen some pages that have issues under Chrome. They aren't on any exposed sites, so I can't send a link, but it's basically dynamic content that returns as XSLT formatted XML. Also, some pages with some unrecognized JavaScript. There were a couple of other pages that I've submitted back to Google, but I don't have the links handy, nor do I remember where they were.
Layne
I figured the single-tined fork (aka pointed stick) came first. Next was the knife (singled tined fork sharpened for cutting).
Layne
for just $99 and the signing of an NDA, that person has purchased the right to have their application rejected
I assume that $99 gives you the right to submit MULTIPLE apps for publication. Rejecting one app does not mean that *ALL* of your apps were rejected. (Of course, if your first app is the one rejected, what are the chances that you'll publish another.) But still, the NDA would cover all of you work with the SDK, rejected or not.
Layne
Since money changes hands, I think a simple wording along the lines of "by paying $99 to register as an official iPhone developer, you agree to the NDA". It's more involved than a simple "click here to agree" because there is an actual paper trail that can be followed through your credit card. So, I would think that this is "more substatial" than a traditional EULA.
Layne
My life has been filled with a Potato Famine.
Layne
The suggestion was the reverse of that transaction.
1. Download SDK
2. Develop application
3. Transfer app to 3rd party who *IS* under the NDA.
My guess is that they would be the one rejected and they would be NDA'ed from telling you why your app was rejected. If you were told, then the 3rd party would be up the brown river with Apple.
Layne
Might I suggest that they use the term Gamma? It seems obvious to me. It is more advanced than Beta but not officially "Gold Master".
Layne
I can see where if you work for a company that provides consulting services it would be directly competing against them (unfair to you, but understandable), so your options would be to change companies or try to provide a service that they don't provide. You could always moonlight in an area besides I/T, but that probably wouldn't be quite as lucrative.....
Layne
And keep in mind that above all else, we want "fun" projects. Usually fun means that it involves the traits you mention above, or it could mean that it was a very intricate puzzle that we feel a sense of accomplishment having figured out or we get to learn new technology.
I feel content with my job even when my project is a total mess if I'm getting to do "fun" stuff. However, even when my project is running extremely well, if it is mundane and repetetive and repetetive, then I'm miserable.
Layne
I like the option of moonlighting. Put yourself into a position where OT isn't required or where you don't care about cost-of-living raises but are good enough not to fire. Then spend nights and/or weekends supplementing your income. I worked about 20 hours this weekend and made $1,000. That's on top of my full-time salary. All told, I've probably made close to $10,000 this year in extra cash. Not enough to quit my day job, but enough to buy a few more toys or pay a few more bills or take a vacation or whatever your situation dictates.
It's hard to find the first clients, but once you get them, they seem extremely greatful to have any I/T resources at all. In my case, I lucked out, my wife was responding to a "data entry help wanted" position to fill her time between May and August (she's in education) and I tagged along because I type well enough to be usefull, too. I saw what they were doing and mentioned that I could automate the process. Wrote version 1 for $1,500. They liked it and this past weekend, I upgraded it to version 2. Now they are talking about all sorts of other projects they'd like to work with me on. I think I'll have enough side work to keep me as busy as I want to be for a couple of years.
There are plenty of moonlighting type ads for I/T help (programming and non-programming), so if you are open, you can have the security of base pay and the flexibility of supplemental pay. You'll find that you put up with more stress at your day job because your secondary work gives you more control over your projects and becomes your "fun" work.
Layne
I can't seem to figure out why some many people (usually MS haters) claim that Windows Mobile crashes consistently. I've had my phone for years and have only had to reset it about 12 times. Windows Mobile likes to keep apps open, but if you get MagicButton or any similar task manager, you can make programs actually close. This improves the performance and the stability quite a bit. And while I haven't done any heavy statistical analysis, I've found the built in Excel to be capable of meeting my needs (quick spreadsheet to track boxes of girl scout cookies sold for my daughter, a spreadsheet to help calculate loan costs of cars when shopping for a new one, etc.). Not a lot of need for Word and PowerPoint, so I can't speak to those.
Growing up with a C64 and then DOS of all flavors and even Windows 3.x, I'm used to limits of an operating system (and before you raise too many flames, how many programs can you run on an iPhone......). If those limits mean that I can't have 20 programs running at once, I'm ok with that. If you live within the limits, the OS is usually very stable and performant. Sure Windows Mobile isn't the worlds greatest OS, but I don't think it's as bad as the bashers like to claim. I think that it's smaller requirements would make it perfect for a NetBook because, let's face it, a NetBook isn't supposed to be your only computer. It's supposed to be something that is portable to be connected anywhere and allow for limited work. My phone (HTC Wizard) is already capable of meeting those basic needs and the newer versions (HTC Touch, HTC [next]) even more so.
Good uses of a Netbook:
Taking notes - Can do with Word Mobile
Surfing the web - Can do with IE (really needs a better browser, though it does technically work -- I've read Slashdot with my phone)
Playing music / video - TCPMP
Play games - yep.....Nethack, anyone: http://www.nethack.org/v343/ports/download-wince.html or maybe Doom http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/Games/Action/Doom-for-Pocket-PC-9834.shtml or Quake http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/Games/Action/Quake-3-Arena-CE-22440.shtml
No Flash support beyond v8 yet (http://download.macromedia.com/pub/flash/updates/8/flashlite2/fl8_flashlite2_1_update.exe), but I would expect it to be supported soon.
Basically, everything I would do with a NetBook works on my phone. Just without the larger screen and the laptop footprint (I've got a real keyboard). For that matter, it even already supports pen input (including OCR), so you could make a convertible NetBook fairly easily.
Layne
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ has some decent apps.
It isn't vim or emacs, but it might do for you: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-ppcedit-v1-4.html
Generally the best video player for Windows Mobile is this one: http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-tcpmp-v0-72rc1.html
And I use Visual Studio 2k5 with the .NET Compact Framework (and the emulator for debugging).
Layne
I use MagicButton. It turns the X into a real close button. Problem solved. I'm not sure who your vendor is/was, but it seems HTC has got a pretty good handle on making Windows Mobile devices. All of the ones I've seen work well.
3rd party apps I've installed and used:
various games
various golf score programs
MagicButton
Code I wrote myself
Media players -- who needs a dedicated media player when your phone + an SD card will carry it all for you....even MP4's
etc.
Layne
My Windows Mobile smart phone runs quite a few programs that you'd desire. It supports .Net (compact framework), so development isn't that different than desktop apps. I'm actually surprised that there aren't MORE Netbooks going the Windows Mobile route vs the XP route. I'm sure the license cost is similar or lower and the hardware footprint is significantly less (my HTC Wizard does fairly well with a 195MHz processor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Wizard imaging what it could do with a 1GHz Atom). I would also include Andriod in that line of thinking.....once it gets released in some other commercial form.
Layne
And that 2 hours of "thinking" is one of the reasons that languages such as Haskell will ever make it in the corporate world. If your boss comes by and you are just sitting there "thinking" you will seem unproductive. Project plans never have a "thinking" task. Languages where a developer can sit down and "just wing it" will always gain preference in the business world. But, that's also why half the code is pure crap...........too many developers just winging it (especially when they aren't really good at it).
Layne
How many football fields is that?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=330+astronomical+units+in+yards
330 Astronomical Units = 5.39887795 × 10^13 yards
I'd proceed further, but I don't know where you live.....is that American Football, Australian Rules Football, or Soccer?
120yd for American football
180yd for Australian football
100-130yd for Soccer (110-120yd for International matches)
Assuming American football: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=5.39887795+%C3%97+10%5E13+divided+by+120&btnG=Search
4.49906496 × 10^11 football fields
Layne