Cool links for the week of June 2nd 2013
Application Developer Magazine
New magazine just published covering all aspects of mobile application development. They are providing the first issues free and provide a pdf to put on your tablet device. Looks like a great magazine so far.
https://appdevelopermagazine.com
Building SAP mobile applications with Sencha Touch
Luc Stakenborg on Sencha's Blog shows Sencha Touch's OData connecter which will show how you can use Sencha Touch to create mobile apps that connect to SAP business data.
5 HTML5 Javascript APIs to keep on eye on
Battery status, gamepad, device orientation, geolocation and page visibility APIs, not all of them cover the webkit browser spectrum but there are some cool concepts here.
http://daker.me/2013/06/5-html5-javascript-apis-to-keep-an-eye-on.html
5 HTML5 Features you need to know
DNS Prefetching, link prefetching, download attribute, regular expressions and datalist elements
http://daker.me/2013/05/5-html5-features-you-need-to-know.html
Install MongoDB on MAC
http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/tutorial/install-mongodb-on-os-x/
Appfog getting started
Get started with Appfog, a platform-as-a-service provider of PHP, Ruby, Node.js, and Java. With over 100,000 applications and counting, AppFog delivers a reliable, scalable and fast platform for deploying apps in the cloud.
The History of Programming Languages (Infographic)
Infographic by Veracode Application Security
Cool links for the week of May 26th, 2013
Sencha Architect and Sencha Build
Phil Strong from the Sencha Architect Dev team provides a great forum post on using Sencha Architect along with the Sencha Cmd.
http://www.sencha.com/forum/showthread.php?246508-Architect-Sencha-Cmd-v3
Sencha Touch 2 Local Storage Example
RobK on GitHub provides a Sencha Touch 2.1 LocalStorage example which shows how to use localstorage to provide a fallback / offline mode for mobile apps.
https://github.com/RobK/SenchaTouch2-LocalStorageExample
Sencha Touch 2 example of syncing localStorage store with remote JSONP proxy store
On Alex Graham's wordpress blog he provides a Sencha Touch 2 example of syncing localStorage store with remote JSONP proxy store.
Sencha Touch Custom Layout Manager
On Katarina Golbang's WordPress blog she posts about a Sencha Touch Custom Layout Manager.
http://softwarechaos.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/sencha-touch-custom-layout-manager/
Bitbucket
An alternative to GitHub that provides private Git repositories for up to 5 team members. I have tried it with the Git command line and the Mac app SourceTree and it works great!
https://bitbucket.org/dashboard/overview
Newly Launched JavaScript Libraries
Can I use…
Compatibility tables for support of HTML5, CSS3, SVG and more in desktop and mobile browsers.
Desktop Vinyl Cutter Feed Stand
If you own a small desktop vinyl cutter that use rolls of vinyl like any of the Roland SX/SV series of cutters. You know that cutting long items can get tricky due to feeding the roll back and forth. Basically, it needs to move freely. I have built a cheap solution out of PVC pipe and it works very well for all my cutting jobs and lets the rolls feed with ease.
This is what we are building:
Some PVC, some cutting and you have a PVC vinyl roll holder for your desktop vinyl cutter.
Materials Required:
- 4 : PVC T-Joints (1/2")
- 1 : 4' section of PVC Pipe (1/2")
- 4: PVC End Caps (1/2")
Tools Required:
- Measuring Tape
- Sharpie
- Saw that will cut PVC
Instructions:
DO NOT GLUE YOUR STAND'S PIECES!!! If you glue the whole together you will not be able to pull the support from the T-Joint and put rolls of vinyl on it.
Cut 4 pieces 3.5" long
Cut 2 pieces 6.5" long
Cut 1 piece 20" long
Assembly:
Very basic and very easy to use. You could glue the joints except for the support bar but I did not and have been using one stand for years just on forcing the pieces together.
Thanks for reading and happy vinyl cutting!
Sketchup and Plugins
"Fringe Fries" Created with Sketchup and some plugins
One of the things I really like about Sketchup is the ability to create plugins. This has led to a large amount of plugins being developed by the user community. Sketchup plugins are written with a programming language called Ruby and there are sites dedicated to providing lists of the available plugins like SketchUcation (see the plugins link). I use a few plugins in my day to day Sketchup work:
- Random Painter: Select faces, run plugin, then enter any number of RGB numbers. Once you have you have finished entering your colors the plugin will take those colors and randomly assign them to the faces.
- Random - pushpull.rb: Select faces, run plugin, then enter a maximum and a minimum. This will randomly assign sizes to the selected interfaces.
- Woodworx Board Maker Plugin : Enter in your board specs and Sketchup will create the board as a component.
- 3d Shapes: Quickly create a sphere, pyramid or a cone.
- Round Corner: Add rounded or beveled edges to your 3d objects.
- Make Fur : This plugin will let you create blades of grass, fur or just about anything you want to populate as a multitude of items. I have just started playing with this one.
Rendering Sketchup with Indigo
Indigo has released a new version 3 (3.0.14) of their excellent rendering software that can be used along with Google Sketchup 8. This combination of software the rendering somewhat realistic 3d graphics. Indigo provides a Sketchup Exporter which enables quick access to the rendering interface loading your Sketchup file as an .igs render file.
Cubes created in Sketchup 8.0 and rendered in Indigo 3
Indigo also provides the capability to setup other machines on your network as rendering slaves. I did discover that you cannot mix Windows and Apple machines together for network rendering. But, I did setup two Macbook Pros to render the above image in almost half the time. Rendering the cube file at that level took one hour but once I implemented the rendering slave it took about 35 minutes to achieve the same level of quality. I could have let it render longer but wanted to make a quick comparison. Indigo will actually keep rendering until you tell it to stop.
Indigo provides a 30 day demo that will render large files. After the 30 days, it only allows a certain maximum file size of around 720K. Great for playing around but if you are going to do commercial work you will need to plunk down the $835.00 plus $270.00 for each slave rendering node. It is the only rendering application that I have found that runs well on Mac while integrating with Sketchup.
More of my renders to appear on this blog.
Sign, sign everywhere a “NO” sign
The city of Huntsville has passed a ban on texting while driving. Which does not really bother me except, once again we can be punished by law for making poor decisions. What bothers me is that the city has spent quite a bit of tax money in posting "NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING" signs all over the road ways. Along with that law, they passed a loud stereo ordinance and that was also accompanied by numerous matching signs. While driving through Huntsville you will be visually assaulted by rules that you should follow while in our city (maybe should take notes on each of the rules but please pull over to do so). I thought that maybe they should consider adding some real crimes to the sign postings since they feel these are an effective deterrent to stop me from texting and playing my radio too loud.
Maybe these will keep someone from shooting or stabbing someone...
New street signs for Huntsville © 2011 Jeffthurston.com
Google Sketchup…now I can use it! (Sketchup 8.0 that is.)
Through the years I have downloaded Google Sketchup only to get frustrated with it and eventually uninstall it. Lately, I had been reading about wood working techniques to design furniture and found out that many craftsmen are using Sketchup. I decided to try the new version of Google Sketchup 8.0. Either I was not intuitive enough to use this software in the past or they have greatly tweaked it's usability (My geek pride says go with the later). Don't get me wrong, Sketchup is not for the neophyte, you should have some understanding of graphics programs like Photoshop and Fireworks along with some understanding of CAD and 3D before attempting detailed Sketchups.
The good thing is that the community for this product is strong and many plugins have been created and supported. I have found some great plugins which help creating Sketchup drawings. I have a list of the ones that I use at the end of this post. I have also contributed the checkerboard drawing to the Google 3d Warehouse.
Base drawing in Sketchup 8.0:
Checkerboard with default style
Above is a base drawing in that I created in Sketchup 8.0 in 10 minutes. The drawing is created with only 2 components,the checkerboard square and the checker itself. Since these are created as components, you only have to edit the component to change all of duplicates. Sketchup does allow application of materials to each duplicated component separately. Copying and pasting are done with using the array method so you can duplicate one component and then type 6x to create 6 more spaced the same amount as the first initial pasted component.
Sketchup also has styles which let you acheive some really awesome effects to your drawings.
Checkerboard with Sketchy edges style
Checkerboard with scribble on masonite style
There are also some plugins (free and paid for), that will render your Google Sketch.
Google Sketchup drawing rendered with SKindigo renderer plugin.
Not bad for a open source product. Sketchup is going to allow me to create some 3d graphics that can be rendered or styled to whatever look that I want to achieve.
Links:
Google Sketchup
Indigo 3d Render for Sketchup
Lumberjocks Sketchup wood material library
Some other drawings I have been working with:
Our Sponsors
Gadgetdecal.com
Custom vinyl stickers and decals for your Gadgets.
Subscribe
Thurston Blogs
Categories
- 3D
- Beneficial LInks
- Design A Day
- Graphics
- iPad Applications
- Mobile App Development
- Music Equipment
- Screen Printing
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- Useful Websites
Archives
- June 2013
- September 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- December 2011
- July 2011
- May 2011
- March 2011
- January 2011
- October 2010
- September 2010
- July 2010
- March 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
Huntsville Local News
- Have you seen this truck? Troopers want help finding driver involved in fatal hit-and-run near Ardmore June 19, 2013
- Man faces murder charge for 2012 deadly wreck in Toney June 19, 2013
- Grand jury finds no basis to indict former teacher on molestation charges or man facing Madison sex charges June 19, 2013
- Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle's campaign to speed up Parkway overpass construction gains support (updated) June 19, 2013
- Accused Huntsville rapist wants bond reduced after 3 years waiting in jail June 19, 2013
Lifehacker
- "A Smooth Sea Never Made a Skillful Sailor" June 19, 2013
- Ad-Blocker Ghostery Actually Helps Advertisers, If You "Support" It June 19, 2013
- How do you keep track of your reading list? June 19, 2013
- Kotaku Microsoft Is Removing Xbox One DRM | Gawker Paula Deen Says 'Of Course' She Uses the N-Word | June 19, 2013
- Why You're Not a Morning Person (and How to Become One) June 19, 2013
- Take Your Desktop on a Road Trip with These Wallpapers June 19, 2013
- Microsoft Is Removing Xbox One DRM June 19, 2013
- Leave Your Keyboard Feet Folded In for Better Ergonomics June 19, 2013
- Hacker Challenge: Share Your Best DIY Car Hack June 19, 2013
- Looking for an extra boost of creativity? Try dimming the lights. June 19, 2013
Psdtuts+ Photoshop Tuturials
- Submit Your Art To This Month’s Movie Poster Challenge June 19, 2013
- 10 Ways to Modify a Selection in Photoshop June 19, 2013
- Create a Soil Cake for Pie Charts and Infographics June 18, 2013
- Our Complete Walkthrough of What’s New in Photoshop CC June 17, 2013
- Tuts+ Jobs is now free! June 15, 2013