NodeJS, SailsJS, ReactJS, EJS - JS all the way down

Started a new GitHub project with a generic random name.

Say hello to creepy-squeegee.

There really isn't much to see there yet, and what is there will be changing dramatically.  I needed a place to put some training material and thought it would be good to share it.

The purpose of this app is to consolidate several code samples related to Client and Server web technologies.  Focusing mainly on Node.js, Sails.js, and React.

Feedback welcome.

Apple Watch Cont.

How are you liking it?

I'm enjoying wearing a watch again, way more than I thought I would. I have spent a bunch of time tweaking notifications to reduce distractions. I'm currently seeing:

Apple Watch

Well, I got the Apple Watch. So far I'm very impressed with it.

The Tattoo Issue

First read this article at iMore for more info on the issue.

In summary tattoos can interfere with the green light used for heart rate and security. My watch shipped the day this information started being discussed. I was worried that the issue would be bad enough for me to have to return the watch. I probably would have just turned off several features and kept it.  But, I really did not want to have to make that choice.

For me, the tattoo issue seems to be no big deal. It could be because of the inks my artist used, or more likely because of where the watch sits on my arm. There is a patch of yellow right where the watch naturally sits on my arm.

I have had no issues that I think were caused by my tattoos.  It is possible that it is detecting my heart rate incorrectly.  But, it seems consistent with values I have gotten from other sources.

I have had my watch lock while on my wrist twice. The first time was while using the lawn mower. Sweat was involved and I think the watch may have been too loose.  The second time was while sitting idle on the couch, but I had my arm in a weird position and the watch was being pushed away from my arm.

Setup

Pairing was easy, I chose to activate all my apps, and this may have been a mistake.  The first 20 min with the watch were slow and irritating. I think the phone was copying info to the watch, but there was no clear indication that this was happening. I got frustrated with things not working and left it alone for about an hour. The next time I tried to use it everything worked great. The setup process needs some work.

Everyday use

I have only had the watch for one weekend, so this can't really be a full review.  However I have found the following things to be true:

It is a great fitness tracker.

I need to calibrate it better for my stride. But so far the way it tracks 'Active Calories' and reminds me to be more active is really helpful.

It is really good at notifications.

It is going to take some time to configure the correct set of notifications I want to go to the watch. I only want 'Important' items to show up there. I only want sound in some rare cases. etc... I will be tweaking these things until I find the right balance. Letting everything through would be awful.

It is good at being a watch.

I like having a watch on.  At a glance information without pulling out my phone.  I wish it had a mode where the time was always visible without the battery cost.  Perhaps a future version will do a better job of detecting the wrist turn.

Apps

Some are pretty slow. Some don't really seem that helpful. For instance, there is a Yelp app on the watch, but It doesn't seem to support checking in, which is pretty much the only reason I would use Yelp on my watch. There are other instances of this. I've already removed several apps.

Being Creative

I've been sick with a sore throat the last 4 days. I haven't felt quite this bad in over 20 years. I was in college with strep and mono at the same time. My girlfriend took good care of me then. We will have been married for 21 years this June. She is still taking care good care of me.

While i have been Sick the new HBO Now service became available. The first show i binge watched was Sonic Highways. It was a great show that was entertaining and informative. But, more than anything it underscored just how amazingly creative people can be. Not just Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters, but all of the amazing muscians that were featured on each episode. They are all driven to create.

I have been thinking about creativity lately. I dabble in art from time to time. I also create software for a living. Lately I have been doing little to no art. I also have not been creating software for myself. I have always viewed software as more of an art than a science. I get the same feelng of acomplishment when i finish something.

I work hard to maintain a good balance between work and my personal life. But, lately I havent been using that time in a productive way. I need to work on that. I also need to try and sleep tonight, stupid sore throat.

Spring Forward

Looking forward to getting more details about the Apple Watch today.  I'll be purchasing a watch for myself and one for my wife.  Which watches?  That depends on the pricing.  I was initially planning on getting the cheapest version for my self. But, as I review the current information on the Apple site, I can't help but be drawn to the Steel version of the watch with the Milanese Loop. I love the way the watch looks.  However, it will all depend on pricing, which will hopefully be announced during Apples "Spring Forward" event later today.

"What are you going to use it for?"

Well there are plenty of examples of how version one of the watch may be used here.  Notifications, quick interactions, telling the time. Things that only require a quick interaction with my phone.  I really just want to see what its like to use a smart watch.  Who knows I might even develop some software to take advantage of this new platform.

I've also used fitness trackers before. I hope the Apple Watch will help me be more conscious of my lack of physical activity. Any help I can get there will be good.

The one year plan

I normally upgrade my phone every year. And, I'm completely embedded in the Apple ecosystem. So, I always get the latest phone from Apple. This year I decided to get the insanely huge iPhone 6 plus instead of the slightly bigger iPhone 6. I was worried that the big change in size would be difficult to deal with.

While I waited for my new phone to ship I used my 3d printer to print a mockup of the new phone.  I carried it in my pocket a few days to see how it felt. Not bad, but not the same as the real thing.

After almost two weeks with the new device and I'm not sure I ever want to go back. I really love this new computer.

Pros

• Amazing screen
• Great camera
• Better battery
• I have big hands and big pockets

Cons

• Felt slippery to me at first - I'm using the Apple leather case now
• If you have small hands I wouldn't get it

iOS8

• Bugs Bugs Bugs There are several annoying bugs, that I'm sure they will fix - but till then ARRG
• Extensions are great except for Bugs

If you like big phones and you like Apple phones then this one is for you. Oh, and if one more person asks me if it Bends...

Potter wasp

While working in the yard this weekend we noticed a strange looking thing in the Shrubs.

A quick search on the net revealed the creator of this amazing structure. The Potter Wasp. More info on Wikipedia.

A solitary wasp that create little pots for their offspring.  Seriously kind of amazing. They fill the pot with paralyzed caterpillars, spiders, and other bugs. Then they lay an egg and cap the pot.

A little venting - Work Process or lack of

No details here - but in my opinion, one of the worst ways to start development for a new web site:

• Unclear requirements - make your best guess on major functionality
• No idea how the site will be marketed
• Intentionally tight, guaranteed to miss, deadline
• Other teams that will almost certainly want to have some say in the design left out of planning. They will want major functionality changed later
• Not focusing on User experience first

Stress levels are high. Confidence levels are low. Trying to stay positive. Just keep swimming.

The Apple Watch, the iPhone 6, and the iPhone 6 Plus

On Tuesday, while we were having a blast in the Magic Kingdom, Apple announced the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Like everyone else that was following along with the rumors and leaks, I knew what to expect with the new phones. They look like great upgrades especially when combined with iOS 8. I watched the keynote sitting in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge and I ordered an iPhone 6 Plus Friday morning as we were leaving Disney World.

Apple also announced the long rumored Apple Watch. For me, the watch is more interesting than the new phones. I like the idea of glancing at my wrist to see if something requires more attention.  I'm curious about the health tracking abilities and how they will enhance what I'm already getting from the motion co-processor in the iPhone 5S.  I'm even intrigued by the tap based 'intimate' communication interface that was shown.  Looking forward to trying the watch out and seeing how it evolves in future iterations.

Chromebook First Impressions

On a whim, I bought an ASUS Chromebook C300MA-DB01. I wanted to see if it could work as a secondary work computer. I don't have a laptop at work, and I'm not comfortable with leaving my Macbook Air there all the time.

I fully expected to be a little disappointed with the performance and screen quality. I also expected to be annoyed by the simplistic browser based OS. Wow! was I wrong. If you are ok with storing things in the cloud, and using Google services, then this might be a perfect second device. While on my work network, I can ssh into my main computer, I can remotely edit code, and I can test websites with chromes developer tools. All of my Chrome bookmarks and extensions were there the moment I logged in, and there's a good selection of apps on the app store.

The only problem I have had so far, is with getting my work VPN connection setup correct. The Chrome OS needs to provide easier setup for VPN configuration. However, based on information other Chromebook users have compiled, I should be able to get VPN working correctly. It's just not a simple configuration. If I use it mainly at work, I won't really need the VPN to work.

I could easily suggest this as a secondary cheap alternative to a table or laptop for my Developer friends. Some of the newer models even have better screens. But, don't expect something this cheap to blow you away with build quality.

I can easily suggest a Chromebook as a primary device for family members or normal people that do not require special software or graphics heavy games. Most people do not need more than this. And it's more secure and easier to use than Windows or Mac OSX.