This blog post reminisces about Apple's promotion of web apps for iPhone before the App Store became dominant. It highlights the now-defunct /webapps/ directory on Apple's website, which showcased various web apps. While many of these web apps remain functional, the post acknowledges that the App Store addressed key challenges for developers and users, such as discoverability, search functionality, and streamlined payments. It also mentions how Apple started to redirect the /webapps/ directory to /iphone/ around 2013.
I gave my son a micro:bit for his birthday, hoping to introduce him to programming. While he preferred FIFA, I ended up having a blast exploring the device myself. I found it incredibly easy to use and a perfect starting point for hardware and software programming. I even coded a (buggy) Breakout clone to test its capabilities! While the web editor is excellent, I believe integrating WebUSB for direct deployment and improving debugging capabilities would greatly enhance the experience.
Introducing Topicala Desktop, a new application developed in partnership with Rosetta Software Ltd. This handy tool allows users to search Topicala.com directly from any Windows application by simply highlighting text and pressing CTRL+T. It's perfect for anyone who needs quick access to information, like journalists and students. Whether you're reading an email, a legal document in Microsoft Word, or anything else, Topicala Desktop provides instant search results in Internet Explorer. Download and install this free tool today!
I've decided to make the Topicala software distributable so anyone can run it. I'll release the code soon, after re-deploying it under kinaln.co.uk. It'll be maintainable and modifiable, allowing others to have a similar setup on their own sites. If you're interested, let me know!
Just tested the blogging feature from Microsoft Word 2007 and it's pretty cool if it works as expected. I'm loving the new interfaces for Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, especially the ribbon. Visio, however, seems a bit stale. Smart Art looks promising, like CSS taken to the next level. I might just switch to Word 2007 for good!
I'm excited to share (even though it's old news) that all Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions (Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual J#, Visual C++, and Visual Web Developer Express) are now permanently free! This is a game-changer for aspiring developers, opening up access to powerful tools for Windows and ASP.Net development. While there are some limitations (like only one project per solution), the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Check out the official announcement and some cool new tools!
In a follow-up to my previous post about the scarcity of Bluetooth libraries for desktop PCs, Mark Arteaga brought 32feet.net to my attention. This site offers a managed Bluetooth library which I plan to investigate further. Initial impressions from the sample code suggest it's straightforward to use, with device discovery appearing as simple as calling a function and communication happening via streams.
I uninstalled Google Desktop Search Beta 2 because it was slowing down my computer. I kept the search index, though, just in case I decide to reinstall it later. My computer's speed is back to normal now.
I've downloaded the Google Desktop Search 2.0 Beta and I'm liking it so far. My only complaint is not being able to force indexing when not idle. It seems to be lightweight, which is great for my computer. I've installed the Adsense plugin and the Gmail plugin is a plus. The feed detection is excellent, even better than IE7 Beta 1. I'll post more thoughts after I've used it longer.
