I’ve just started work on a new project called Like Debate. It’s going to be a new type of debate web site, launching as soon as I can hammer out the first few features. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter or the Like Debate Blog.
I’ve just released Catfood Earth for Android. It’s my second app created with Xamarin’s excellent toolkit. Being able to develop in C# allowed me to reuse a lot of code from the Windows version of Catfood Earth. The Android version doesn’t include all the same layers (yet) but it’s got the main ones – daytime (twelve different satellite images included, based on NASA’s Blue Marble Next Generation but with some special processing to make them look better), nighttime (city lights, shaded to show nighttime and the terminator between day and night) and a clouds layer that is downloaded every three hours.
My main worry had been that this would suck the phone battery dry, but after a fair amount of optimization it doesn’t even register on the battery consumption list. Grab it now from Google Play ($3.99, Android 2.2 or better).
Updated 2021-09-18: it's been a mystery for over nine years but I can finally reveal that this is the semi-flooded headlight of a duck (DUKW), photographed by Union Square in San Francisco.
The photograph captures an intriguing close-up of a headlamp, which appears partially submerged in what seems to be water. The surface of the headlight is a mosaic of shallow, textured ridges that catch the light in a hazy, yet striking manner. Light diffuses through the glass, casting a warm golden hue punctuated by gleaming reflections that draw the viewer's eye. Below, the water rests quietly, distorting the underlying machinery in a dreamlike manner. This juxtaposition of elements - the sleek, industrial lines of the headlight and the unpredictable fluidity of the water - creates a visually rich landscape that feels both mysterious and tactile.
Artistically, the photograph leans into abstraction, focusing on texture and light rather than a clearly defined subject. The composition is tight, with the headlight taking up much of the frame, allowing the intricate patterns of light and reflections to become the focal point. This choice of composition evokes curiosity, inviting the viewer to ponder the implications of the "semi-flooded" state. Technically, the image benefits from its careful handling of light, which enhances the texture of the glass. However, the photograph could benefit from a sharper focus in certain areas to further accentuate the play of light and topography. Overall, the photo presents an intriguing study of form and light, but a little more clarity might enhance its impact.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Semi-flooded duck (DUKW) headlight #photo #duck Guess? It's the semi flooded headlight of a duck (DUKW) photographed in Union Square, San Francisco, California. )
5/5
Stonking police procedural set in the months leading up to a global catastrophe.
5/5
Excellent techno-thriller. A little more serious and focused than Daemon and Freedom (TM). It's about a worst case drone scenario, ants, extra-special forces and some smart birds. Very good.
Windows 8, Users 0? http://t.co/966Cuwjz
Bill Nye declares Todd Akin "fucking idiot"; issues debate challenge http://t.co/AZ3k55Y4 #fb
ITHCWY: Fight Facebook with Email: I was a little saddened to read today that Diaspora is transitioning over to… http://t.co/2G0pDdu0
Diaspora Founders To Move On, Handing Over Decentralized Social Network ‘To The Community’ http://t.co/KQGb2kpv -- sad, but not the future
RT @MargaretAtwood: Just used http://t.co/Nhna2CGO for gruesome printer problem: excellent, done in 10 mins! Tks to S H E F I N. Website ...
Check out Catfood Earth Live Wallpaper on Google Play! https://t.co/NTJQ1sYL
ITHCWY: Twenty-Four Hours with Twilio: I've wanted to play with Twilio's voice and SMS service for a while and… http://t.co/KOK0PG2M
Tuesdays http://t.co/BLNiCP3H
Twitter Cuts Off Tumblr's Ability to Find Friends http://t.co/1g3ZcClf
5 of 5 stars to The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters http://t.co/9NF2nviH
XML: http://t.co/VadVt321 #rofl
Windows 8 Is Now Available For Developers (And For Everybody Else, There’s A 90-Day Free Trial, Too) http://t.co/iu1li6BV
Gotye's YouTube orchestra remix of "Somebody That I Used to Know" http://t.co/OUEXXltQ
ITHCWY: City by the Bay: View from Bernal Hill this afternoon. http://t.co/11cI3ctk
Nice panorama! Curiosity rover: Martian solar day 2 #360pano http://t.co/w1H2ocUm via @360cities
ITHCWY: Share a picture in MonoDroid: Here’s how to share a picture to Facebook, Twitter and so forth from… http://t.co/pByzvjmx
5 of 5 stars to Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez http://t.co/TKgUMNW0
BBC News - Mars rover makes first colour panorama http://t.co/fZ7u8smZ
How Apple and Amazon Security Flaws Led to My Epic Hacking http://t.co/BDmRAbm3
Via KQED Guides: Guide to Bay Area Tidepools: Where to Explore Amazing Marine Life | http://t.co/TDBRDnTD #todo @myEN
ITHCWY: Catfood: WebCams for Android: I’ve just released a WebCam app for Android. It’s based on WebCamSaver but… http://t.co/azZUwkkz
Pay for a new social network with no ads? https://t.co/2tox3c2y Anyone I know going to be on there? #fb
Curiosity http://t.co/D2cyWE66
BBC News - Photo shows Mars rover descent http://t.co/KfOv1qOF
Catfood WebCams for Android - Catfood Software http://t.co/VzeySq90 via @CatfoodSoftware
Check out Catfood WebCams on Google Play! https://t.co/VTU8YiBd
ITHCWY: Not a Private Key: When jarsigner says "Key Associated with [alias] not a private key" it almost certainly… http://t.co/3sk89ENV
ITHCWY: Sending email via GMail in C#/.NET using SmtpClient: I’ve stubbed my toe on this a couple of times, so here… http://t.co/QJ7YjcjI
Help end patent litigation insanity and tell your congress person to back SHIELD. http://t.co/27anadBt
ITHCWY: Support SHIELD–a small measure of patent sanity: A friend pointed me at the SHIELD (PDF) act today. This… http://t.co/ArXHgZ0e
ITHCWY: Thank you for choosing HSA Bank!: No, thank you HSA Bank for not giving me a choice and then cheekily… http://t.co/9torSXCq
Bill would force patent trolls to pay defendants’ legal bills | Ars Technica http://t.co/poB3zzlX +1, via @sr00t
What a happy coincidence. As well as #IPAday it's also goof off at work day: http://t.co/7AItItWq
Apparently it's #IPADay - luckily there's some @21stAmendment in the fridge. http://t.co/jyYPSePC
I was a little saddened to read today that Diaspora is transitioning over to some form of community manged slow death. I joined a pod a while back and was pretty impressed with the design. It was very similar to Google+: clean, nice features, nobody home.
I've also joined app.net. The concept here is a social network that you pay for, so the owners are aligned with the interests of the users and developers rather than advertisers and lame brands. I wish app.net well, but it's not the future. Best case (and it's not a bad one) it could be the new WELL - a community that people care enough about to pay for (I was on the WELL in the early 90's, splitting the tab with a friend so our handle was abft, account built for two). If that is the direction it goes in then simply having a slightly longer post limit than Twitter isn't really going to cut it. And cool as it might be most people aren't going to pay for a social network.
Any attempt to displace Facebook has to solve the problem that anyone interested in sharing anything with anyone else is already using Facebook. The only platform that is in any sense comparable is email. So someone needs to make email into a social network.
This could be an interesting startup. Create some account - social@newco.com - anything you send directly to that address is a post. Anyone you copy is a mention. Reply to a thread with this email address included and you're replying on the social network as well. Anyone copied on such an email gets invited to the network if they're not already.
You've got a killer viral component and an instant social network that is supported on every platform with no investment needed. Everyone has email, and everyone is a member as soon as they claim their email address or get included in a post.
Maybe someone has tried this already and I just haven't seen it. I'm half tempted to have a crack at it myself.
What would be more interesting would be layering a social protocol over email, and implementing that protocol by proxy on top of email providers that don't or won't support it. This creates a core social service practically out of thin air. Facebook and Twitter are the new AOL and CompuServe. There has to be a way to leverage email into a free and open alternative.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Fight Facebook with Email #code #email #diaspora #google #app.net #twitter #facebook Could Facebook and Twitter be destroyed with a simple email address? )
I've wanted to play with Twilio's voice and SMS service for a while and finally got the chance at an all night hackathon.
Twilio is almost perfect. Very easy to use, well documented and generous with a self service free trial. They give you enough rope to fully build out a client before you need to think about paying them.
I gave up on AT&T's platform after navigating a bazillion forms before discovering they wanted $99 before I could even get a taste.
The one hitch with Twilio is that the voice transcription they offer is appalling. Just absolute gibberish. Unless it's just my accent, or the hackathon whisky. Seems to be a common complaint though and so to take my IVR app further I'd need to bolt in another solution. A pity given how much Twilio gets right.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Twenty-Four Hours with Twilio #code #ivr #twilio Using Twilio's SMS API in a hackathon - I got a full phone version of our product working in 24 hours. )
Photo (panorama) of the view from Bernal Hill in San Francisco, California.
The photograph "City by the Bay" captures an expansive, panoramic view of a bustling urban landscape nestled by a serene bay under a clear, cobalt sky. On the left, the city skyline punctuates the horizon with a variety of modern and historic buildings, their silhouettes glistening under the sun's gentle embrace. In the foreground, lush green trees add a sense of vitality and contrast with the geometric rigidity of the cityscape. As the eye moves to the right, the scene transforms into a tranquil, almost rural path, meandering along a sun-baked hillside. This path leads the viewer into the distant bay, inviting contemplation of the journey from urban complexity to nature's simplicity. A solitary figure walking on the path brings a human element, adding depth and scale to the vast landscape.
The composition of the photograph masterfully utilizes the panorama to convey the duality of urban and natural environments existing in harmony. The balance between city and nature is well executed, with the urban area occupying the left third and gradually transitioning to nature on the right. This creates a natural visual flow for the viewer. The horizon line is placed perfectly, allowing the sky to complement the landscape without overwhelming it. However, the human figure on the path, though adding interest, could have been positioned slightly more prominently to enhance the connection between city life and the individual experience. Despite this, the overall color palette is rich but not overpowering, lending a peaceful ambiance to the scene. The photograph brilliantly captures the essence of life by the bay, offering a beautifully composed narrative that is both dynamic and calming.
(Published to the Fediverse as: City by the Bay #photo #bernal Panorama from Bernal Hill in San Francisco, California on a beautiful August day. )
Here’s how to share a picture to Facebook, Twitter and so forth from MonoDroid:
A fun mix of Java and C#. The directory got me to start with so check to see if the ExternalCacheDir is available and if not fall back to the internal CacheDir. Frustratingly Facebook doesn’t pick up on the text associated with an image regardless of the intent ExtraWhatever specified.
I’ve just released a WebCam app for Android. It’s based on WebCamSaver but allows you to control the webcam – you tap the edges of the screen to pan, pinch to zoom in and out. A fun little time waster.
This is the first app I’ve released using Xamarin’s MonoDroid framework. This integrates nicely into Visual Studio and allows you to program an Android app in C#. This is fantastic for productivity and code reuse and I enjoyed the process a lot more than previous work I’ve done in Java / Eclipse. The main drawback is that the framework adds around 5MB (significant for mobile) and the documentation isn’t always the best, especially when you search for something and find out you’ve been dumped into iOS reference material. Digging around the sample code and cross-referencing the official Android documentation helps a lot. I’m going to take a stab at something a little more ambitious next…
When jarsigner says "Key Associated with [alias] not a private key" it almost certainly meant to say that you got your password wrong.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Not a Private Key #code #monodroid Check that you have the right password when jarsigner says Key Associated with alias not a private key. )
Download a Sharepoint File with GraphServiceClient (Microsoft Graph API)
Accessing Printer Press ESC to cancel
Export Google Fit Daily Steps, Weight and Distance to a Google Sheet
Which PG&E rate plan works best for EV charging?
Monitor page index status with Google Sheets, Apps Script and the Google Search Console API
Bringing Sanity to Window Replacement in San Francisco
Enable GZIP compression for Amazon S3 hosted website in CloudFront
