Finally was able to figure out the right WAP proxy settings for Globe so that I can test our WAP apps on my Treo, instead of annoying someone elses phone. The one mentioned on the Globe site configuration guide has the wrong port for WAP.
Use instead this:
Proxy Address: 203.177.43.214
Port: 8080
Yes, you can browse wap sites using the Globe Internet settings on the treo but has two issues:
1. You are charged via the regular GPRS rates of 0.25/kb. Unlike WAP over GPRS which is currently at 0.15/kb.
2. Your application on the other end would not get the phone number of the user accessing your WAP app. Not an issue if you are just displaying content, but really handy if you are doing customized apps (you want to store user preferences for this type of apps).
Oh the things you can do with WAP. It might not be suitable for "masa" type apps where SMS is still the medium of choice. But rockingly awesome for mobile to machine (M2M) applications. Added bonus, most mobile phones of late (even the inexpensive ones) are GPRS and WAP enabled at the very least.
Another bonus, WAP is capable of displaying images like a barcode that can be read by other machines. Independently mobile ideas for the mobile indie in you. :D
treonox
- am WAP'ed and am happy...
Friday, May 19, 2006
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Google Web Toolkit - Build AJAX apps in the Java language
Way to go Google! Shiny!
That's love, developer love... :D
Update:
I spoke too soon. Windows and Linux only. Nothing for Steve Job's fanboys. Not happy.
That's love, developer love... :D
Update:
I spoke too soon. Windows and Linux only. Nothing for Steve Job's fanboys. Not happy.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Java Now Redistributable by Distros; Sun to Open Source Java - OSNews.com
This is good news! F/OSS distros can now bundle the JDK!
It just keeps getting better. :D
It just keeps getting better. :D
Apple - MacBook
WOW! Just one word. WOW!
Dual core, glossy wide screen, mag safe, iSight, remote, to name a few. This is digital mobile nirvana. And finally a black version is available!
Price is not bad either. PC laptops on that range doesn't even compare. OS X and that kind of hardware at that price is unbeatable.
Anyone wants to buy a less than a year old 12" iBook G4 1.33ghz?
Shame on you Apple for creating such a thing of beauty and tormenting previous model owners.
Monday, May 15, 2006
screen - The Terminal Multiplexer
Spoiled by the Gnome Terminal application's tabbed shells, I was looking for a similar terminal with support for tabs on OS X. The default Terminal.app doesn't support tabs. A friend adviced using iTerm, but found it rather slow and unresponsive.
So back to tab-less Terminal.app. Then I remembered this command line gem called "screen" which I used a while back before being addicted to Gnome Term. It lets you multiplex your terminal, giving you the same tab functionality within a single terminal session.
Happy screen multiplexing. Because in the age of enevitable multitasking, life needs more than one active terminal session. :D
So back to tab-less Terminal.app. Then I remembered this command line gem called "screen" which I used a while back before being addicted to Gnome Term. It lets you multiplex your terminal, giving you the same tab functionality within a single terminal session.
Happy screen multiplexing. Because in the age of enevitable multitasking, life needs more than one active terminal session. :D
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Monday Blues
Frack! I feel light headed. I should remind myself not to drink green tea at 12am . Else be subjected to that weird feeling when your body is dead tired, your eyes shut but your mind still trying to map out meatspace problems to their domain model counterpart. Worse, its automatically refactoring the damn domain model to manageable design patterns.treonox
- mobloggin' on a southbound train. exquisite headeache seeping thru my sleep deprived brain.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Sticker Happy!
The iBook's surface makes it rather conducive to put stickers. It can be easily removed when needed and doesn't require much effort to clean up the adhesive residue. What sucks tho, is printer ran out of ink. Well... we live to stick another day :D
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Persistent Domain Objects Pattern.
PDO vs DAO.
I think the DAO method is much more closer to meatspace scenarios. Assuming we have a robot factory.
Pseudo in PDO:
Robot find/get Robot123 and be that robot.
Pseudo in DAO.
RobotManager find/get Robot123 .
I think the machines responsible for finding and extracting Robots from the factory be a different entity. Its more simpler that way.
RobotManager can be an interface and might have varying implementations. This answers the need to decouple the database specific implementation.
I think the DAO method is much more closer to meatspace scenarios. Assuming we have a robot factory.
Pseudo in PDO:
Robot find/get Robot123 and be that robot.
Pseudo in DAO.
RobotManager find/get Robot123 .
I think the machines responsible for finding and extracting Robots from the factory be a different entity. Its more simpler that way.
RobotManager can be an interface and might have varying implementations. This answers the need to decouple the database specific implementation.
Rapleaf -- Portable Ratings for Buyers and Sellers
Shiny!
Reputation server. Hmmmnnnn.
Credibility of the reputation would be rather be the hard part.
Reputation server. Hmmmnnnn.
Credibility of the reputation would be rather be the hard part.
Friday, May 05, 2006
iPod-ish whirpool washing machine
Since the family is still enjoying the mildly cooler weather of Bicol, I'm left to take care of myself here in Manila. For the past few days am really appreciating the simplicity of this washing machine. Unlike most automatic washing machines which tend to have a number of variable settings for speed, time, etc., complete with LCD's and ability to program your own washing routine, this whirpool model only consist of three big buttons and four led indicators. The three buttons are bred for a simple purpose: power, fast forward, and water level (full or half, default is full). For the most part you just toss your laundry inside, connect the water hose, add some detergents, put ample amounts of liquid softener and press the power button. The machine, soaks, wash, rinse and dries (you can fast forward to a phase using the other button mentioned above) your laundry without any fuss. I do the this before I go to bed at night and collect the clothes the following morning, sweetly ready for ironing.
And yet, behind the simple interface, make no mistake, its a damn effective machine. Its innovative design gracefully mimics washing the laundry by hand. Using a counter rotor pole at the middle, it emulates the technique of using friction to clean your clothes, just like manual handwash.
The point is, as nerdy as I maybe, loving the complexity of the enevitable tech driven lifestyle in the office, at the end of the day, I just want my washing machine to work effectively without me reading the user manual from time to time. Shift that perspective to the majority of computer users (obviously the non-techie outnumber the geeks greatly), they just want their computers to work and would love if they can simply do it without much fuss. After all, for most of them computers are just tools to help with their jobs. They would rather spend more time focusing on their primary job functions, than the complexity of the technology.
Tech shouldn't get in the way. Specially on laundry days. :-D
- treonox
And yet, behind the simple interface, make no mistake, its a damn effective machine. Its innovative design gracefully mimics washing the laundry by hand. Using a counter rotor pole at the middle, it emulates the technique of using friction to clean your clothes, just like manual handwash.
The point is, as nerdy as I maybe, loving the complexity of the enevitable tech driven lifestyle in the office, at the end of the day, I just want my washing machine to work effectively without me reading the user manual from time to time. Shift that perspective to the majority of computer users (obviously the non-techie outnumber the geeks greatly), they just want their computers to work and would love if they can simply do it without much fuss. After all, for most of them computers are just tools to help with their jobs. They would rather spend more time focusing on their primary job functions, than the complexity of the technology.
Tech shouldn't get in the way. Specially on laundry days. :-D
- treonox
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
village idiot savant: Unexpected conversation with Mom
Way to go. Pretty shiny! I like the "kid tested, mother approved part". :D
This is the opportunity for FOSS to really accelerate adoption. We now have the means to conquer the newbie walls. Unlike uhm, my floppy based encounters during the tender years.
As long as we don't have much of arrogant, out-of-sync-with-reality FOSS advocates to ruin the momentum, were in pretty good shape.
This is the opportunity for FOSS to really accelerate adoption. We now have the means to conquer the newbie walls. Unlike uhm, my floppy based encounters during the tender years.
As long as we don't have much of arrogant, out-of-sync-with-reality FOSS advocates to ruin the momentum, were in pretty good shape.
lawnormscode ? Blog Archive ? Freedom to Run Means Freedom from Complexity: An Argument for Running FOSS on Windows
This is highly relevant to the Simplicity vs Complexity approach in FOSS advocacy I had been talking about for the past few weeks.
Found it via slashdot. And as the poster commented, What good is good if it cannot be used? Without "simplicity" in mind by a FOSS advocate, it could easily be construed as a hard sell by the non-technical audience.
How can you effectively advocate FOSS as freedom to run a program, if the exercise of such right excludes people who do not possess high technical knowledge or advanced skills sets?
It still boggles the mind why some people really want to start an advocacy with complexity, when there is an option to use simplicity. At the extreme, its like saying that FOSS is heaven, but to the newbies mind you are showing the gates of hell. Sigh... They don't just fracking get it.
Found it via slashdot. And as the poster commented, What good is good if it cannot be used? Without "simplicity" in mind by a FOSS advocate, it could easily be construed as a hard sell by the non-technical audience.
How can you effectively advocate FOSS as freedom to run a program, if the exercise of such right excludes people who do not possess high technical knowledge or advanced skills sets?
It still boggles the mind why some people really want to start an advocacy with complexity, when there is an option to use simplicity. At the extreme, its like saying that FOSS is heaven, but to the newbies mind you are showing the gates of hell. Sigh... They don't just fracking get it.
Apple - Get a Mac - Watch The TV Ads
Frackingly hilarious Mac Ads!
Check it all out, from Viruses to WSJ!
Check it all out, from Viruses to WSJ!
Monday, May 01, 2006
ArticleS.UncleBob.TheNextBigThing
Picked this up from the PinoyJUG ML. This really drives the point home. Any developer who thinks otherwise is downright arrogant.
The best thing one can do is accept the fact, and do something about it.
The best thing one can do is accept the fact, and do something about it.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
SCIFI.COM | Battlestar Galactica
Frackin' season 2 finale. This aaaaaaa fracking awesome mini-series.
Oh yeah, I guess its inherently human that most of us learn our lessons the hard way. The politics in the story reflects exactly the complexity that any government must be facing. The complexity too of human relationships is vividly depicted. Not the typical good vs. evil stereotypes we often see. The philosophical arguments are difinitely relevant, and would likely be still be true in the near future. I also think this movie would make good ol' Freud proud. :D
We are all after all still human. Or aren't we all?
Oh yeah, I guess its inherently human that most of us learn our lessons the hard way. The politics in the story reflects exactly the complexity that any government must be facing. The complexity too of human relationships is vividly depicted. Not the typical good vs. evil stereotypes we often see. The philosophical arguments are difinitely relevant, and would likely be still be true in the near future. I also think this movie would make good ol' Freud proud. :D
We are all after all still human. Or aren't we all?
Saturday, April 29, 2006
FOSS Advocacy: Idealistic vs Realistic
Nice its finally Saturday and have some time to spare to summarize my thoughts of the past days events which I haven't had the decent time to tend to. After reviewing what has transpired and was written, I think it would be best to shed some light to the matter. Not to mention a bunch of emails that I have gotten due to the write up, which goes as far as saying my views falls under "false advocacy". Good thing a good number of them was enlightened enough to see my point.
To begin with, I wouldn't go into great lengths to quote some people here. Aside from a thing called respect, I think doing that can easily be mis-construed as a personal attack. Much more name specific individuals or groups, as the aim is to constructively critique an alarmingly growing local perception or attitude in advocating FOSS. Besides, the sporadic number of white hair instances on my head reminds me that the basic principle: "Your freedom ends where my nose begins" applies very much in situations like blogs, where you are presenting your article to a public audience. In contrast to mailling lists where you are addressing the group or replying to an individual directly. While its fair to say you have the freedom to say what you want because its your blog, I guess it fairly applies when you talk about yourself. It's a different scenario when you quote other people.
Actually, its all about my ongoing observation on one of the major obstacles in widespread FOSS adoption (especially on the local scene), which is the need to enlighten the FOSS advocates themselves, that approaches/pedagogies MATTERS A LOT.
Lets brainstorm this a little. :)
The background:
Somebody communicated that there is an urgent need for a resource person for a 2 day Linux crash course. There was a suggestion that of that 2 day crash training, 1 day be spent introducing the unix shell and toolset on the premise that GNU/Linux core system is Unix. The audience/participants: selected officials from selected municipalities on a relatively agricultural region. For short, obviously the not so technically savvy. But perhaps have enough interest and willing to spend their precious time to know more about Linux.
And since from the start I had expressed my opinions to the group regarding the Simplicity vs Complexity approach in FOSS advocacy and implementation, that suggestion triggered the simpleton in me. I asked if the 1 day intro to shells or toolset would still be relevant. And explained that, would the case be that the audience are CS geeks, they might find CLI's (shells) naturally sexy. But in this case, the intended audience might find that a bit unattractive, get traumatized and probably get the wrong impression that FOSS is complicated and not meant for the non-techie specie. More so, spending a day for that, when probably just a sweep would do. And rather just spend more time on other FOSS components that would serve the audience's needs, probably currently served by commercial alternatives.
I also mentioned that this is a common mistake that I seem to observe. And that FOSS is on a state that it can be possibly used by the average user (like the target audience mentioned above). Also that it might best to show them its as easy to use as commercial alternatives.
Of course, I was just pitching in my thoughts as the event was obviously over, with the aim to have it as a suggestion to the group to take into consideration on similar events.
The rebuttal:
Not surprisingly, some did not agree on this common mistake. And pointed out that the mistake is advocating FOSS as a mere alternative. I agree on not advocating it as a "mere" alternative. I however do not agree on ignoring the fact that it is an alternative (a damn good alternative I might add). Arrogantly dismissing that the number of users whose current needs is served by commercial alternatives greatly outnumber those who are already on the FOSS pool (swimming or chillin'), greatly needs "A Grip On Reality (TM)".
Things to ponder:
WE must not forget the reason why there is a need to advocate something: We want to publicly recommend and inform other people of this thing we genuinely believe in. With that in mind you need effective strategies for your message to get thru. Yes, thats right, for greater impact and long term success the goal should be to lean on the side of effectivity rather than efficiency. And I think that focusing and taking into consideration simplicity as an advocacy strategy would be more effective than unnecessarily bringing complexity too early in the process.
Lets look at the difference between the two (effective vs efficient) thru some examples in reference to the target users mentioned above.
It would be EFFICIENT to cover just a little bit of everything of FOSS to this group of users. You discuss the plethora of available OS options, how CLI's can titillate the wet corners of the mind, the different ways applications are packaged and installed, different desktop shells (GNOME, KDE, XFCE, Enlightenment etc), the sheer power to have your own web server running on your desktop and the things you can do with it, awesome selection of programming tools etc., etc,. After all, choice is good. This is the FOSS pool, made of technically superior high tech components than your previous commercial pool, entirely different. Efficient, because you covered a lot in a relatively short period of time.
It would be EFFECTIVE on the other hand to focus more on the things that the user would care about or would serve his current needs. Capitalizing on their existing knowledge of commercial alternatives and showing them what they can do on it can also be done with FOSS components. Hopefully, in an easier more better way than the user is accustomed to. This is the FOSS pool, you can still do what you were accustomed to on your previous commercial pool, an added bonus, if you take time to learn its features (the choice is yours) you will soon discover there's a lot more you can do with this pool without your pocket screaming for pain.
In summary:
There is nothing wrong with enticing users by showing them that FOSS has its simple side too, that is not a deception. Unless the advocate feels otherwise, or deep inside he really thinks FOSS has nothing to offer. The world is complicated as it is, you cannot accelerate adoption if at the entry point, what you are showing screams of complexity. Its by no means denying the user the freedom and potential of looking within FOSS. Its about bringing FOSS to the user in the first place so that he has the opportunity to see the potential within.
Neither it is wrong to show them that FOSS is an alternative. That is accepting reality. That is being humble. FOSS was made possible by standing on the shoulders of giants, which like it or not, some of this giants are powered by the commercial sector. Zealotry and bigotry should go to /dev/null as it poses the biggest obstacle in bridging the gap between FOSS loving techies and the non-techie crowd. Hence greatly hindering adoption.
I think FOSS advocacy can be more effective if we take these things into consideration. The learning curve doesn't have to be so steep. It wouldn't hurt FOSS to make himself presentable when introducing them to newbies either. Simplicity is the key.
To begin with, I wouldn't go into great lengths to quote some people here. Aside from a thing called respect, I think doing that can easily be mis-construed as a personal attack. Much more name specific individuals or groups, as the aim is to constructively critique an alarmingly growing local perception or attitude in advocating FOSS. Besides, the sporadic number of white hair instances on my head reminds me that the basic principle: "Your freedom ends where my nose begins" applies very much in situations like blogs, where you are presenting your article to a public audience. In contrast to mailling lists where you are addressing the group or replying to an individual directly. While its fair to say you have the freedom to say what you want because its your blog, I guess it fairly applies when you talk about yourself. It's a different scenario when you quote other people.
Actually, its all about my ongoing observation on one of the major obstacles in widespread FOSS adoption (especially on the local scene), which is the need to enlighten the FOSS advocates themselves, that approaches/pedagogies MATTERS A LOT.
Lets brainstorm this a little. :)
The background:
Somebody communicated that there is an urgent need for a resource person for a 2 day Linux crash course. There was a suggestion that of that 2 day crash training, 1 day be spent introducing the unix shell and toolset on the premise that GNU/Linux core system is Unix. The audience/participants: selected officials from selected municipalities on a relatively agricultural region. For short, obviously the not so technically savvy. But perhaps have enough interest and willing to spend their precious time to know more about Linux.
And since from the start I had expressed my opinions to the group regarding the Simplicity vs Complexity approach in FOSS advocacy and implementation, that suggestion triggered the simpleton in me. I asked if the 1 day intro to shells or toolset would still be relevant. And explained that, would the case be that the audience are CS geeks, they might find CLI's (shells) naturally sexy. But in this case, the intended audience might find that a bit unattractive, get traumatized and probably get the wrong impression that FOSS is complicated and not meant for the non-techie specie. More so, spending a day for that, when probably just a sweep would do. And rather just spend more time on other FOSS components that would serve the audience's needs, probably currently served by commercial alternatives.
I also mentioned that this is a common mistake that I seem to observe. And that FOSS is on a state that it can be possibly used by the average user (like the target audience mentioned above). Also that it might best to show them its as easy to use as commercial alternatives.
Of course, I was just pitching in my thoughts as the event was obviously over, with the aim to have it as a suggestion to the group to take into consideration on similar events.
The rebuttal:
Not surprisingly, some did not agree on this common mistake. And pointed out that the mistake is advocating FOSS as a mere alternative. I agree on not advocating it as a "mere" alternative. I however do not agree on ignoring the fact that it is an alternative (a damn good alternative I might add). Arrogantly dismissing that the number of users whose current needs is served by commercial alternatives greatly outnumber those who are already on the FOSS pool (swimming or chillin'), greatly needs "A Grip On Reality (TM)".
Things to ponder:
WE must not forget the reason why there is a need to advocate something: We want to publicly recommend and inform other people of this thing we genuinely believe in. With that in mind you need effective strategies for your message to get thru. Yes, thats right, for greater impact and long term success the goal should be to lean on the side of effectivity rather than efficiency. And I think that focusing and taking into consideration simplicity as an advocacy strategy would be more effective than unnecessarily bringing complexity too early in the process.
Lets look at the difference between the two (effective vs efficient) thru some examples in reference to the target users mentioned above.
It would be EFFICIENT to cover just a little bit of everything of FOSS to this group of users. You discuss the plethora of available OS options, how CLI's can titillate the wet corners of the mind, the different ways applications are packaged and installed, different desktop shells (GNOME, KDE, XFCE, Enlightenment etc), the sheer power to have your own web server running on your desktop and the things you can do with it, awesome selection of programming tools etc., etc,. After all, choice is good. This is the FOSS pool, made of technically superior high tech components than your previous commercial pool, entirely different. Efficient, because you covered a lot in a relatively short period of time.
It would be EFFECTIVE on the other hand to focus more on the things that the user would care about or would serve his current needs. Capitalizing on their existing knowledge of commercial alternatives and showing them what they can do on it can also be done with FOSS components. Hopefully, in an easier more better way than the user is accustomed to. This is the FOSS pool, you can still do what you were accustomed to on your previous commercial pool, an added bonus, if you take time to learn its features (the choice is yours) you will soon discover there's a lot more you can do with this pool without your pocket screaming for pain.
In summary:
There is nothing wrong with enticing users by showing them that FOSS has its simple side too, that is not a deception. Unless the advocate feels otherwise, or deep inside he really thinks FOSS has nothing to offer. The world is complicated as it is, you cannot accelerate adoption if at the entry point, what you are showing screams of complexity. Its by no means denying the user the freedom and potential of looking within FOSS. Its about bringing FOSS to the user in the first place so that he has the opportunity to see the potential within.
Neither it is wrong to show them that FOSS is an alternative. That is accepting reality. That is being humble. FOSS was made possible by standing on the shoulders of giants, which like it or not, some of this giants are powered by the commercial sector. Zealotry and bigotry should go to /dev/null as it poses the biggest obstacle in bridging the gap between FOSS loving techies and the non-techie crowd. Hence greatly hindering adoption.
I think FOSS advocacy can be more effective if we take these things into consideration. The learning curve doesn't have to be so steep. It wouldn't hurt FOSS to make himself presentable when introducing them to newbies either. Simplicity is the key.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Enlightenment
One of the things I realized this past few days:
Enlightening other people is really hard. Simply because some people can not tolerate the light.
Well that's reality I guess. No choice but to deal with it.
Enlightening other people is really hard. Simply because some people can not tolerate the light.
Well that's reality I guess. No choice but to deal with it.
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