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21.7.12

Sword Art Online: Beautiful UI

A combination of Android and Metro?














17.7.12

Rushing & Pushing for updates

Recently, people are getting more and more impatient. On the Android scene, developers are always pressured to deliver the latest software after announcements or preview were released. I mean, naturally its normal for the consumer to crave for new software updates. But I think it is getting ridiculous. Like a child throwing tantrum.

I've seen so many consumers demanding for their new software updates the moment it has been announced. WHERE IS MY ICS? WHERE IS CM10? WHERE IS JELLY BEAN? I think developers are at a dilemma here. Of course, they would want to perfect their software before rolling out the updates, squashing bugs and tweaking performance. However, they also can't afford to be known for always being outdated and slow in their updates. For example, HTC was known for their fast (and relatively painless) updates. Recently, Samsung is gaining reputation for quickly rolling out ICS to their devices. Motorola on the other hand, seems backwards and takes forever to deliver their software updates.

This put alot of pressure on the developers. I've seen so many app updates & software updates broken and riddle with bugs. Both are on the losing end. Consumer gets broken product, while developer gets their reputation tarnish.

Should we as consumers be more patient? Or is it our right to push the developers? CM10 seems to be coming out soon. We shall see how good their software will be. It's a battle of Speed vs Reliability.

5.7.12

Thinking.. modules for next year

CS2105 Introduction to Computer Networks

CS2106 Introduction to Operating Systems

4MC / Examinable / 25% Lab

The module that I thought I would score very well due to my interest and confidence, but nope. :( This module is very very very content-heavy, with a LOT of information you must digest. The prof speaks like a lullaby, so be prepared to read the textbook (I read the pdf variant, sore eyes ><) The cheatsheet is gonna get spammed with a whole lot of information.
Lecture – As I’ve said, LULLABY. Read the textbook. The fact that each slide on the lecture notes consists of 1 word (I’m not kidding) doesn’t help at all – and he covers things at a different order than the textbook. Might want to watch the webcast.
Tutorial – My tutor was the lecturer, so naturally it was rather sleep-inducing; but he’s very knowledgeable and you can ask him for any clarifications/doubts. Need to pay attention to tutorial as the nifty details are important
Lab – There is almost no way you can get the absolute correct answers – unless your friend is a computer science expert, he will not get the perfect answers. Sometimes the lab assistant might be nice and give you the answers :D
The examination was a killer for me, I wasn’t sure of most of my answers. Plus, the lecturer is teaching this module for the first time for my year.
My grade: A-
My rating: Hard

From http://xianyou.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/nus-module-review-ay1011-semester-1/

 

23.6.12

Android Color Hex

screen_background_light                     #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
screen_background_dark                      #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
status_bar_closed_default_background        #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
status_bar_opened_default_background        #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
search_bar_default_color                    #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
safe_mode_background                        #60000000   RGBA(0,0,0,0.38)
screen_background_dark_transparent          #80000000   RGBA(0,0,0,0.5)
screen_background_light_transparent         #80FFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,0.5)
safe_mode_text                              #80FFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,0.5)
white                                       #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
black                                       #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
transparent                                 #00000000   RGBA(0,0,0,0)
background_dark                             #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
background_light                            #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
bright_foreground_dark                      #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
bright_foreground_light                     #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
bright_foreground_dark_disabled             #80FFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,0.5)
bright_foreground_light_disabled            #80000000   RGBA(0,0,0,0.5)
bright_foreground_dark_inverse              #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
bright_foreground_light_inverse             #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
dim_foreground_dark                         #BEBEBE     RGBA(190,190,190,1)
dim_foreground_dark_disabled                #80BEBEBE   RGBA(190,190,190,0.5)
dim_foreground_dark_inverse                 #323232     RGBA(50,50,50,1)
dim_foreground_dark_inverse_disabled        #80323232   RGBA(50,50,50,0.5)
hint_foreground_dark                        #808080     RGBA(128,128,128,1)
dim_foreground_light                        #323232     RGBA(50,50,50,1)
dim_foreground_light_disabled               #80323232   RGBA(50,50,50,0.5)
dim_foreground_light_inverse                #BEBEBE     RGBA(190,190,190,1)
dim_foreground_light_inverse_disabled       #80BEBEBE   RGBA(190,190,190,0.5)
hint_foreground_light                       #808080     RGBA(128,128,128,1)
highlighted_text_dark                       #9983CC39   RGBA(131,204,57,0.6)
highlighted_text_light                      #9983CC39   RGBA(131,204,57,0.6)
link_text_dark                              #5C5CFF     RGBA(92,92,255,1)
link_text_light                             #0000EE     RGBA(0,0,238,1)
suggestion_highlight_text                   #177BBD     RGBA(23,123,189,1)
input_method_fullscreen_background          #FFF9F9F9   RGBA(249,249,249,1)
input_method_fullscreen_background_holo     #80000000   RGBA(0,0,0,0.5)
selected_day_background                     #FF0092F4   RGBA(0,146,244,1)
lighter_gray                                #DDD        RGBA(221,221,221,1)
darker_gray                                 #AAA        RGBA(170,170,170,1)
perms_dangerous_grp_color                   #33B5E5     RGBA(51,181,229,1)
perms_dangerous_perm_color                  #33B5E5     RGBA(51,181,229,1)
shadow                                      #CC222222   RGBA(34,34,34,0.8)
search_url_text_normal                      #7FA87F     RGBA(127,168,127,1)
search_url_text_selected                    #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
search_url_text_pressed                     #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
search_widget_corpus_item_background        #DDD        RGBA(221,221,221,1)
sliding_tab_text_color_active               #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
sliding_tab_text_color_shadow               #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
keyguard_text_color_normal                  #FFFFFF     RGBA(255,255,255,1)
keyguard_text_color_unlock                  #A7D84C     RGBA(167,216,76,1)
keyguard_text_color_soundoff                #FFFFFF     RGBA(255,255,255,1)
keyguard_text_color_soundon                 #E69310     RGBA(230,147,16,1)
keyguard_text_color_decline                 #FE0A5A     RGBA(254,10,90,1)
lockscreen_clock_background                 #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
lockscreen_clock_foreground                 #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
lockscreen_clock_am_pm                      #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
lockscreen_owner_info                       #FF9A9A9A   RGBA(154,154,154,1)
facelock_color_background                   #000000     RGBA(0,0,0,1)
screen_background_holo_light                #FFF3F3F3   RGBA(243,243,243,1)
screen_background_holo_dark                 #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
background_holo_dark                        #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
background_holo_light                       #FFF3F3F3   RGBA(243,243,243,1)
bright_foreground_holo_dark                 #FFF3F3F3   RGBA(243,243,243,1)
bright_foreground_holo_light                #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
bright_foreground_disabled_holo_dark        #FF4C4C4C   RGBA(76,76,76,1)
bright_foreground_disabled_holo_light       #FFB2B2B2   RGBA(178,178,178,1)
bright_foreground_inverse_holo_dark         #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
bright_foreground_inverse_holo_light        #FF000000   RGBA(0,0,0,1)
dim_foreground_holo_dark                    #BEBEBE     RGBA(190,190,190,1)
dim_foreground_disabled_holo_dark           #80BEBEBE   RGBA(190,190,190,0.5)
dim_foreground_inverse_holo_dark            #323232     RGBA(50,50,50,1)
dim_foreground_inverse_disabled_holo_dark   #80323232   RGBA(50,50,50,0.5)
hint_foreground_holo_dark                   #808080     RGBA(128,128,128,1)
dim_foreground_holo_light                   #323232     RGBA(50,50,50,1)
dim_foreground_disabled_holo_light          #80323232   RGBA(50,50,50,0.5)
dim_foreground_inverse_holo_light           #BEBEBE     RGBA(190,190,190,1)
dim_foreground_inverse_disabled_holo_light  #80BEBEBE   RGBA(190,190,190,0.5)
hint_foreground_holo_light                  #808080     RGBA(128,128,128,1)
highlighted_text_holo_dark                  #6633B5E5   RGBA(51,181,229,0.4)
highlighted_text_holo_light                 #6633B5E5   RGBA(51,181,229,0.4)
link_text_holo_dark                         #5C5CFF     RGBA(92,92,255,1)
link_text_holo_light                        #0000EE     RGBA(0,0,238,1)
group_button_dialog_pressed_holo_dark       #46C5C1FF   RGBA(197,193,255,0.27)
group_button_dialog_focused_holo_dark       #2699CC00   RGBA(153,204,0,0.15)
group_button_dialog_pressed_holo_light      #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
group_button_dialog_focused_holo_light      #4699CC00   RGBA(153,204,0,0.27)
legacy_pressed_highlight                    #FFFEAA0C   RGBA(254,170,12,1)
legacy_selected_highlight                   #FFF17A0A   RGBA(241,122,10,1)
legacy_long_pressed_highlight               #FFFFFFFF   RGBA(255,255,255,1)
holo_blue_light                             #FF33B5E5   RGBA(51,181,229,1)
holo_green_light                            #FF99CC00   RGBA(153,204,0,1)
holo_red_light                              #FFFF4444   RGBA(255,68,68,1)
holo_blue_dark                              #FF0099CC   RGBA(0,153,204,1)
holo_green_dark                             #FF669900   RGBA(102,153,0,1)
holo_red_dark                               #FFCC0000   RGBA(204,0,0,1)
holo_purple                                 #FFAA66CC   RGBA(170,102,204,1)
holo_orange_light                           #FFFFBB33   RGBA(255,187,51,1)
holo_orange_dark                            #FFFF8800   RGBA(255,136,0,1)
holo_blue_bright                            #FF00DDFF   RGBA(0,221,255,1)

From http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1458666&page=2

Parse ftw

Manage to 'sync' Asynctasker with Parse's database. Next step, deriving data from Parse, and run background thread occasionally.

Note: Better save a copy of the code.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10976843/run-my-code-in-background-every-1-sec-effectively-in-android

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5774092/running-a-repeating-task-in-background-on-a-real-time-application

Success hampered by speed

Parsing Match Type
Good. Fast and no complications.

Parsing Tweet & News
Bad. Takes 2.5s to parse one tweet/news. 

Possible solutions
  1. Make use of Parse's platform. First, put data into Parse's database. Subsequently, listfragment will be built from Parse's database. Update database every 6 hours.
  2. Find a way to scrape data on a server, and publish it on a simple HTML website.
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