Blog

  • Flash Developers, Witness The Future

    What’s it like to be a “Flex Developer”? Check out Mike Chamber’s taping of Kevin Lynch showing the lucky attendees’ of Web 2.0 the 411 on Flex Builder 2 (running in Flash Player 8.5 utilizing the Flex Framework 2). Acknowledge those who have confirmed that Flex 0W|\|z jU (me, Ted, JD, Darron, Mike C), and develop RIA’s the fun way! If your so inclined, add Flash to spice it up, capitalize on exclusive features, get another opinion and contemplate your place in the future that is more power, bequeathed to the rich media masses.

    POWER UP!!!

  • Low Down on AS3, Flash Player 8.5, and the Flex Product Line

    Trolling the blogs & email lists. This is the best, non-marketing laced, and most straight forward description of everything involed dealing with ActionScript 3, Flash Player 8.5, Flex Builder 2, Flex Framework 2, and the Flex Enterprise Services 2. Cutting through the hype directly from the source, check out Mark Ander’s entry.

  • Pandora F’ing Rocks

    Caught this link from JD about Pandora, and read up about it at the Australian. Man, awesome RIA. It’s a song recommendation system. You type in an artist you like, and it recommends songs by other artists you’ll like, NOT based on sales patterns, but by actual song characteristics. A lot like Tivo, except for songs. Done in Flash, baby! I dig the interface too; compact, simple to learn, and good usability when asking you questions about an artist. Wizards are easy in Flex, hard in Flash, so they did a great job!

    So far, out of 8 songs, only 2 blew. I typed in Paul Oakenfold, Bad Boy Bill, and Deisel Boy; so far I’ve heard or own most of these songs already which is a good sign, but those that don’t, I’d love to buy. I can see why iTunes and Amazon are striking deals with them. Speaking of which, you can click and buy from iTunes or Amazon right from the interface; too bad iTunes doesn’t have as much dance music as I like.

    Try it out, it’s pretty cool! I’m tempted to subscribe.

  • Fixing a Company by Working There?

    My mom used to work for a Delta subsidary, and after 9/11, she took a voluntary serverence. It was for the better, for her, in hindsight.

    I worked for IBM in a 40 cube office that sat 3 contractors; the other 37 were layed off. After completing my contract early, I moved on.

    I’ve wondered if my mom made a quantifiable difference while working there? Did the company improve from her positive attitude when helping various people over the phone and on sales visits? Could she make an impact? Does it matter?

    I learned, when working for such a big company that actually consisted of many smaller companies that, there are so many facets and individuals, you cannot personify “IBM” onto everything you see while working there. Some of these inter-companies were run by a plethora of different individuals, from various backgrounds and on varying payscales. Some don’t really “represent” IBM, nor do all really know what IBM truly stands for.

    A brand that irks me causes me to dislike the brand, regardless if there are positive faces within (positive faces based on faith in me believing there probably are good people behind the evil brand).

    My tenure at IBM helps temper this since I can see beyond a brand’s many extensions, each with their own agendas. While I think some initiatives by Google are wrong, I think some are great as well. I put a face to Google, and judge it by it’s acts. I’m sure, like IBM, as I got to know people within it, my attitude and perceptions would change.

    Does that potentially affect wanting to affect change at a company by working there? Not really the wanting, but the possibility of doing so?

    There are companies I really don’t like, mainly because they are applicable to my needs and desires. Case in point, Real Media. I think their video codec is of low quality, their player is invasive, has been for years with no appearence of change, and overall bloated software with the intent to make them money, with that intent negatively affecting what the software is really supposed to do; allow you to watch video on the internet.

    I feel I have a positive attitude, dig change, and want to do damn good work. If I went to work at Real, could I affect positive change? Could I make their player better? Would I care after I got to know people there? Would this positively affect my outcome? I’m a Flex & Flash Developer, not a C++ coder versed in video architectures, so probably not. Could I improve their player? Yeah, I bet I could. I’d ask my wife the IA what’s wrong, research & survey customers/users about their current perceptions and expectations, and think about ways in which to expand RealPlayer’s usefulness.

    Is that what I really want to happen though? No. I want their video codec not to suck, and for their company not to portray themselves as an unethical, greedy company. I guess improving their player’s experience and usefulness is a start, but it doesn’t fix the core problem; bad codec and bad leadership. So, unless I learn C++ and/or get put in charge, could I really make a positive change, and if so, would it matter?

    I know it’s really about my goals, and if I accomplish them since that is one way to recognize personal accomplishment. For me, though, that’s small potatoes; I want the big stuff.

    Smaller companies are really a moot point for this entry, so I’m talking specifically about bigger companies.

    If there is a facet of a company I do not like, but I am not qualified to fix, could I still fix it by working there? How would that change as I got to know people there? Would those relationships help affect positive change?