Category Archives: Usability
Hi,
some thing i like when i work is to make checklists with the things that needed to be done. some time ago my boss give me some check lists in paper, and was fun to take notes there and check the items that was done, it seems to be faster for me for some reason. the thing is that the paper have run out and i didn’t find something similar. so my PM discovered The Big Picture . is a web app that let your create list of things with check boxes in something like a desktop, where you can move whatever you want the lists to use them. also you can group the lists in projects, so is more easy to handle. the app also have the feature to send invites, so the users can also work on the lists of the projects, and all is in real time (you can see when the user is writing or checking a list item). the system allows you also to convert that items list/elements into events, scheduled in a specific date.
is a useful (at least for me) software that let me keep record of the things i made and share it with my workgroup. the usability is very good and friendly, minimalistic. the only thing against is that is made in flash, and in linux you know, it stucks some times, but is manageable.
if you want, can see a video of his features here.
i encourage you to try it and let me know 
(the signup is free BTW)
Regards,
Shadow.
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Hi,
recently, i brought a android phone (a motorola backflip more exactly) so, i will be making some app reviews for my fellows developers and users .
today i’m bringing you an app to make ssh connection with the phone, called Connect Bot.
i know what you are thinking, that is a pain in the ass to use ssh in a phone, and you are probably right, but if you are in charge to have some servers up and running, you should be able to fix it from anywhere right? and a ssh connection is essential for the server admin work. the app is really simple. have a bookmark of connection, letting you specify the user@ip:port and connect. if you have a physical keyboard as me, is more easy to use, usually the virtual keyboard is a pain in the ass when you need to type fast. in overall is just a simply ssh console, with the add that have the control and alt keys as virtual keys on the screen, that popup when you tap on it. very useful when you need to edit documents with nano. also, it let you have several ssh sessions at the same time and switch from them.
even that the app works almost flawless, it have some annoying bugs that i think need to be solved as soon as possible:
* you can’t popup the symbols and the icon for the keyboard on the screen do not work. this could be a simple thing, but is a pain in the ass when you need to go back from the app, write a underscore somewhere, copy it and then paste it on the console why you can popup the symbol or the virtual keyboard.
*if the command takes too much time, the session hang up, anyway, i need to check if this is not a problem that can be solved from the server, enabling the keepAlive directive.
*you can’t copy text from the console.
if you want to try it, just scan with Barcode Scanner this qrCode below, will take you to the market to download the app 
Regards,
Shadow.
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Hi,
some months ago, working over a project and designing the architecture and technical spects, we got a moment where we needed to get or build a streaming platform. the problem was, that the streaming platform will needed to have a Q&A module, a way to share the desktop or ppt and other features. then searching in the web, i found Big Blue Button.
this open source project aims to build a free E-learning and Conference platform, from their web can be read as:
Our vision is that starting a web conference should be as easy as clicking a single metaphorical big blue button. As an open source project, we believe it should be easy for others to embrace and extend. And while web conferencing means many things to many people — our focus is to make the best web conferencing system for distance education.
the software is a conjunction of different technologies as java, flash, red5 etc.. to provide the streaming of the content to the users, is a big project, stable for now that really make the work. the only problem is that is not as-easy to install and configure than use it. for use it you just need a flash-compatible browser, but at the installation part, you need a dedicated server, linux-based, and follow a lot of configurations and installation process. i think is not for all the people but is a perfect project to customize /integrate in your own web application. also, the license of BBB is LGPL so can be integrated in any closed source project.
if you want, can try a live demo here
i hope it help you in some way
Regards,
Shadow.
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Hi,
the people who know me, see that my talent for the art is less than the normal, even than i tried to learn, my skills in drawing or modeling are very bad (i could improve if i have the time but is impossible right now).
some months ago seeing the tigsource.com blog, i discover this free program called Sculptris, a high poly model program created by Tomas Pettersson. basically make the same as zbrush, of course with a lot less of features but at the same time with a very easy to use UI. you can download/see the trailer or screenshots from here.
is not a big app where you can rely all your 3D work but is a nice tool for people like me that don’t know almost anything of the 3D world and want to draw some concept or idea from his head.
give it a try and let me know what do you think !
Regards,
Shadow.
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Hi,
recently in the net has been a lot of wars, adobe vs apple, html vs flash, etc.. i have seen many of them in the years, like C vs java but now i’m seeing (or maybe is just an illusion why now i’m using twitter and i can see more opinions than before) more fanatism in technology/trends/languages etc.. and i’m seeing in a extreme that going to be harmful, not only for the people but also for the technology in general.
why i’m saying this? c’mon, devs, IT manager, producer, whatever is your role in the IT industry, you should know and have like a maximum rule that the technology itself is not important, is just a tool that give you the power to create/change/make things. the fanatism don’t going to make you more smarter, more rich or anything, just going to aislate your possibilities to develop a good product, why you are focused in the tech and not in the product itself.
one if the first things i learned when i started in programming, is that there is no exist a ultimate language, tool or whatever for a project, the developments methods and tools need to be chosen and used it based in the requirements of the project. like that was how i learned in base of the necessity how to program in JS, php, and flash, and i’m willing to learn any other stuff if is necessary to complete any project.
in resume, i just wanted to say it loud: THE FANATICISM IS NOT GOOD, just be a cold minded guy/girl and choose the best tool/technology for your project
Regards,
Shadow.
