USA Tour 2001

Back in 2001 just two weeks before the 911 event, I made a tour to USA along with four friends. That was my first time in USA and I had a fantastic experience touring the country in a four-wheel -drive car. It is something very nostalgic as it is a different kind of environment that is a stark contrast with Singapore. USA is indeed a very beautiful and wonderful country. The fact that I grew up in Singapore where politics are stymied and oppressive to the point that citizens are made believe that Singapore is the best in the world can offer with, and meritocracy and having stellar academic result are keys to flourish in the tiny small state, but only when I get to travel in a country of freedom and nature that I begin to see that there is more life than economic growth and materialistic possession, and change my perception of what I want to do in life. Should I squander my whole life worrying for my own rice bowl to survive in the pragmatic and harsh environment of Singapore, or should I  start doing the thing that I love to do irrespective of whatever outcome ? Okay, that’s another matter.

Anyway, this is my recollection of the tour in 2001. Our was a free-n-easy tour starting from the following route:

San Francisco => Monterey => Las Vegas => Los Angeles.

There were some popular places along the way that I could not recall. And we took the Ocean Road.

That day I remember waking up in early morning at 3am and taking a taxi to Changi Airport to await my flight to USA. I met the rest of my friends there and we waited for another hour or so before boarding the plane. It is around 19 hours of flight (If I recalled correctly( from Singapore to San Francisco with a transit in Japan through Narita Airport where we stay another hour intriguing and fascinated by what we seen in Japanese airport. The Japanese are busy and polite people and scurrying like ant from one place to another.

After arriving in San Francisco airport , we saw a bunch of China tourists that had problems communicating with custom officers and it took us about 45 mins before we successfully checked out. We took a bus to a city where we got our car that we booked online. We were asked to choose the car from a multi-storey-car-park warehouse. Every of one is stunned because most of the cars had their gear on the steering wheel which we were not accustomed to. We finally choose a 4WD (Yes, this was the car we used) Suzuki Vitara that suit us better with gear-change that resided beside the sit.  We placed our luggage at luggage compartment. The arrangement was three passengers at back seat and it really feel small. Eventually one of smaller one sit in the luggage compartment.

So off we set to find our hotel. The road was much wider and cars were travelling on average of 120km/hr. As we travelled, I admired the beautiful scenery of the place. It really look like Fairy Tales, so natural and gorgeous. After many round of detour, we finally found our hotel. We put our belonging and quickly off we went to explore the state. As we travelled, we exhaled the fresh cool air. The whole place was air-conditioned and we joked how much electricity bills we could save in a lifetime here. California was also a place where the dot.com fever start and end. Due to dot.com burst, there were a lot of vacant buildings on rent. One of few prominent I noticed was Excite or Lycos. Imagine the excitement of encountering those building that once so prominently featured in magazine. Very surreal indeed ! Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to see Oracle headquarter or any technological company due to lack of time, we did not explore vicinity of Silicon Valley. Much to my disappointment as I thought I could capture the vibrancy of Silicon Valley on camcorder.

We visited the Intel Museum   and found out a lot of interesting history and photo. A display shown a Pentium design and some multimedia on Intel’s technology. Cool stuff.

TO BE CONTINUED 

 

Photo captured during the tour

 

TO BE CONTINUED

Introducing gwtClassRun to aid GWT application development

Using GWT

Developers that use GWT application development know that GWT is amazing piece of tool to develop AJAXized web application using familiar Java language without dabbling with hard-to-debug JavaScript. I have personally used GWT to develop own project and I think it is god-send as it makes web development fun and enjoyable,  reminiscent of desktop development. Using the powerful and popular Java IDE to debug web-based application, one can easily set breakpoint and pinpoint bugs easily. Using static-typed Java language, potential compilation errors are immediately reflected in sophisticated IDE in real-time without needless and time-consuming compilation,  that increase in productivity (and perhaps sanity too). Developing in GWT does feels naturally for those developers who accustom to create cool and interactive desktop application using Swing GUI toolkit.

 

Contrast of  development of GWT and Desktop application

Despite the ease of GWT and its effort to make programming web-based application as seamless as desktop application, there is a salient difference in developing for GWT and desktop application.  A Java class can be run through its main method  in system console whereas GWT requires class to implement EntryPoint interface and to explicitly set in module descriptor file (EntryPoint tag in gwt.xml) prior to execute in GWT’s hosted mode browser. Although this is no fault of GWT as such capability requires explicit support in IDE, developers are likely to miss such time-saving feature. Thinking about how useful it is to able to switch EntryPoint class with ease to mock up user interface prior to testing the whole application. Currently, the work-around is often a repetitious and error-prone task of manually editing gwt.xml file and ensuring that the correct EntryPoint class name is added.

 

Unveiling gwtClassRun

So after much frustration incurring long waiting time (especially application becomes increasingly larger due to more features) during long Java-to-JavaScript compilation/translation and initialization for running GWT application (due to my indolence for not changing the EntryPoint class as depict previously), a feasible solution is been developed that works with any IDEs.

So after weeks of development and preparation, gwtClassRun is finally done along with its supporting WordPress.com site. Using this nifty application that works in tandem with GWT and IDE, one can easily switch EntryPoint class easily and productively. No more manual editing of gwt.xml file, just point-n-click interface enhanced with real-time search auto-completion capability.

Take a look at the video demonstration and watch how easy to setup and perform class switching

Find out more and download the beta application from

http://geekyware.wordpress.com/gwt-classrun/

Review<Web>: Expand the web through Surf Canyon

 

David Hardtke, Ph.D., Chief Scientist, worked for 13 years in experimental particle, nuclear and astrophysics.  David specializes in searches for very rare patterns hidden in enormous (many terabyte) data sets using advanced automated statistical data mining techniques.  Read more at http://www.surfcanyon.com/search/team.jsp So is it any wonder that Surf Canyon is so innovative ?

Once a while, there comes a simple utility that becomes so indispensable that one probably asks “Why didn’t I think of it >?”. It happens that while as usual piling through daily review of Web 2.0 startup and happenings by Techcrunch, I came across a very interesting post Search Startup Surf Canyon Raises a Seed Round that caught my attention. I have to admit what pique my interest initially is not what is, after all  there are abundant of daily news about startup, existing or new, that look likes the “Next Big Thing” but prove otherwise, but rather what’s in the world will any sane investors will want to throw US$850,000 dollars to fund such a ‘dubious’ simple idea especially it works primarily as a plug-in to browser ? Notwithstanding that name of Surf Canyon sounds anything but a serious startup.

Will JavaFX revolutionize RIA ?

Introduction

The RIA market is set to heat up starting from this year as the big three of RIA put their weight on the emerging web trend to put powerful and interactive application running on the web browser. Although Sun, Adobe and Microsoft are by no means the only player in the RIA arena, they are the prominent giants that have the necessary resources, infrastructures and capabilities to execute their vision. Despite other players such as Google’s GWT, Lasso, are gaining momentum  however these players are still  leveraging on ubiquitous AJAX technology which albeit readily supported by leading web browsers, it also ironically limit their potential severely due to impedance mismatch between JavaScript and interactive multimedia application. Moreover the AJAX-based solutions tend to suffer from complexity, performance and compatibility issues due to nature of web technology and indifference between various web browser. For example, versatile graphics and multimedia programming still remain the domain of true RIA solution.

JavaFX

Sun with its JavaFX branding of RIA is the new kid on the block to venture into this still growing untapped market. No doubt that Sun forays into this area aroused from competing giants like Microsoft and Adobe that invest heavily in RIA that may eventually threaten Sun’s valuable asset in Java. In fact, RIA is not new to Sun, and ironically, Sun put RIA into mainstream by introduce the applet back in 1995 which amaze the world how application running in the web browser could transform the user experience and bring the power of desktop application through ubiquitous web browser.  Unfortunately, due to Sun’s poor execution in Applet, applet has a tarnished reputation of being slow, bulky and unintuitive, notwithstanding that it is coupled with problems associated with different Java runtime in user’s system.

Work In Progress 

 

JavaFX finally unveiled to the public with excellent roadmap in JavaOne 2008. JavaFX is a major theme in the annual event. RIA is not new but the concept of able to install a Java application automatically by dragging out a applet and converting into a full desktop application from in a web browser is just fantastic and revolutionizing !

Vote for your best Olympic song

By now, everyone is excited by the coming event of Olympic where the world’s best athletes and sportsmen come together to compete for glory and pride not only for themselves, but most importantly for their nation. Although there are still three months to go, everyone begin to feel the heat that surround the majestic event that hold in Beijing, China . The mainstream media and the Internet begin disseminate news and updates to create the momentum and anticipation for the once-every-four-years sport event. Not only is the Olympic a grand and important event for the sport participants, it is also mark a significant event for the lucky singer who is the chosen one to sing the main Olympic song. This marks not only the important history of his singing career but also signify that he is the winning Olympic singer choose among the very best contestants in terms of popularity and talent. Best of all, the Olympic song will be a classic that remember forever by the generations to come, which is the ultimate dream of every singer. Despite that, every singer that participate in the Olympic is a winner because it is the result of sacrifice, effort and talent of everyone of them that make the forthcoming Olympic a cherish-able and memorable event.  Moreover, there’s unlikely to be just one song that popular in Olympic but many of them.

Professional icons for your software

Introduction

Software developers be it developing web application or desktop application will always end up in spending unproductive time searching for the right icon to jazz up the application. The icons display in a software often provide a important role in implanting a first good impression of the software in use. Hence, it is crucial that developer know where to source for high-quality icons in the first place.

License Type

However, sourcing for icons is not a straight forward activity if cost and flexibility are taken into consideration. Aside from looking out for beautifully-crafted icons, the developers have to decide whether to source the icon commercially or use the free open-source LGPL icon pack in their free or commercial software.

Purchasing icons give the developers the right not only to use but also create derivative work through modifying the original icon and distribute it royalty free in their application. On the other hand, LGPL gives the developer the freedom to use but with the need to re-contribute back the modified icon. Hence, it is astute for the developers to decide the type of license and flexibility they need before sourcing the icons in order to alleviate the cost of time and money involved.

One of the challenging tasks is to find professional-designed icon package that meet a board range of uses. That to say, searching for the icons is a time-consuming activity.

Ghostly footage captured in Singapore’s busiest district

We know that Singapore is famous for its food and cleanliness . Cleanliness in the sense that there is little litter to be found on the street. But there is another ‘cleanliness‘ that Singapore (or any other country) has no control, and helpless against it. Indeed, generally those evidence of ‘un-cleanliness’ could only be captured on camera and not seen/identified through naked eyes.

India Rojak is one tasteful dish foreigner should experience.

Mee Siam Mai Hum (Mee Siam without Cockle), a famous Malay noodle, ‘allegedly’ made famous by PM Lee

Apparently, a surveillance camera installed in a lift had managed to capture the most amazing and bizarre footage of ghostly apparition that I ever see in Singapore (if it is genuine). The clear and close-up footage were unlikely the work of sophisticated software like Photoshop as it was extremely tedious and difficult if not impossible to manipulate the effect. Judging from the footage, the exposure, brightness and contrast were just too perfect to be concocted and there are cases around the world where victim could not distinguish a entity between a real human and ghost because the it appear too real and solidify to be a ghost.

Still, until those ‘victims’ involved in the shot verify the encounter, it still remains to many that it is anything but real. Logical reason pervades that it is a fake footage as no management will ever allow such footage to be released and disseminated without denting its reputation (if it is real, it is a matter of time someone verified the location).

Still, it is hard to believe that anyone will be sane enough to play such trick (Footage taken in late Feb 2008, almost close to Seventh month) consider that the seventh month is imminent, even though now is a April Fool’s month. Why ? Because the forthcoming period of seventh month in Chinese tradition is where ghosts and spiritsare free to roamed the earth annually. A ghostly vacation and holiday for the netherworld, in other word.

Although the authenticity of the footage could not be identified, it is hard to be convinced that it is concocted after looking at the shot.

It is even more appalling that the footage is purported to be captured from one of the buildings in Raffles Place (top & left photo), Singapore’s busiest and famous business district. Yes, this will be the very same place where the long-awaited F1 Formula will take place (But worry not because the apparition will unable to join the human crowd as their holiday is over by then . Oppsss, better slap myself to even make such a joke. ) This should not deter anyone from visiting Raffles Place though because apparition do manifest around us all the time, all the place. It depends whether they have sufficient energy to manifest themselves (Really, why should they do that ? Aren’t they afraid of GhostBuster ? Western: Eastern: ).

The camera simply magnify the energy strong enough to be captured on firm. Hence don’t ever try taking photo during the night time with night-vision on, not on the seventh month unless one want to experience the thrill of lifetime and get some life-changing experience .

Improving the development experience of Google Web Toolkit

Please take note: 18/5/2008 Latest news ! gwtClassRun has been released in beta to facilitate GWT application development. Introduction Post Introducing gwtClassRun to aid GWT application development gwtClassRun Site http://geekyware.wordpress.com/gwt-classrun/ 5/5/2008 Since this proposal is written, I have a developed a useful utility that make it easy to switch and test any EntryPoint class effortlessly. Yes, the utility has been completed and now a supporting site is currently developed to support this software. This utility works with any IDE to perform the class switching and user just need to refresh the Host/Web  Mode GWT Browser to reload the desired class. No plug-in needed for IDE. Opps ! Did I say that this utility will be free too ? It costs you nothing but save you time and sweat . It will be coming your way very soon … . No, it’s not April’s Fool or May’s Fool. It’s real and very real .

 

Introduction

By now, every web developer will have heard of GWT and how fabulous it is in developing web application that works in popular web browser using modern development tools like Intellij, Netbean, Eclipse. GWT utilize a true tried-And-tested component programming and event model using Java which much simplifies the development of interactive GUI web application. This is made possible by dispensing with traditional web development of building web application basically using HTML tags and JavaScript crafted in a web editor, and instead replaced with a productive full-fledged development environment using Java language.

IMEEM’s playlist widget undergoes a facelift

Just recently, upgraded its embeddable playlist widget with more appealing look and welcoming features. The overall look is more presentable and the font is uniform and pleasing to the eyes. Finally this also includes the long-awaited support for Chinese language. Now the Chinese characters can be used to identify the song (In the past, Chinese character is not shown).

Take a look at the following URL under Chinese heading.

 http://geekycoder.byethost13.com/geezer.html

Meet the teams behind Adobe Flex & Flash

No man is a island especially when it comes to development of a strategic development platform for the web and desktop. Such undertakings require a massive amount of coordination and cooperation of passionate and dedicated talents working under immerse deadline and constraints. Such is the case for Adobe Flex and Flash, the key technologies that has changed the way software is been developed and experienced.