Steven is a designer, developer, startup and technology evangelist who has developed desktop, web, and mobile applications for business systems in various industries. He is excited about emerging technologies, cross platform development, and innovative business models and strategies. In his free time, he likes to write about tech, startups, business trends, and event happenings.
Konnichiwa! It has been a while since my last post in Spiffy due to my hectic schedule for my Tokyo MBA program. Fortunately, I was able to take a short break from my studies when I was kindly invited to attend the Tokyo product launch for Microsoft Office 365. Here’s a brief account of my adventure at the product launch. It was a sunny Friday afternoon and I was so excited about the product launch that I arrived an hour early at the event venue, ????????. The event was held at the 3rd floor of the building. The tone of the event was noticeably more solemn than the ones that I have attended in Singapore. Everyone was quietly waiting outside the room for the event. When the doors opened, everyone lined up neatly and quietly, and slowly registered their names before taking a seat. At 5pm sharp, the event started and the presenter took to the stage to introduce the topics that will be covered for the presentation. The speaker highlighted the main new features of Office 365, and how it will benefit small and medium enterprises. Some of the features in Office 365 that was covered in the event included Excel ...
Konnichiwa! I am currently based in Japan and I was kindly invited to attend Pycon Japan 2012 that is held from 15th September to 17th September at Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology located at Shinagawa, Tokyo. Here’s a brief account of my adventure at my 1st developer conference in Japan. It was a great Saturday morning at 9am in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology is the host venue for Pycon Japan 2012. After walking for 5 minutes from the Shinagawa Seaside Train Station, I finally reached the venue. It was an exciting sight to see the sheer amount of Pycon passes available for collection by the eager participants from all over Asia. I was so excited about the event that I arrived at the main event hall 30 minutes before the start of Pycon Japan 2012. Here’s a closer look at my press invite for the event. At 9:30am, Pycon Japan 2012 is officially opened. The main theme of the convention is to connect and communicate with fellow developers and to share our ideas freely. Everyone embraced the idea of communicating ideas freely during the convention and proceeded to introduce ourselves to each other. The keynote of Pycon Japan 2012 is “Happiness Through Ignorance” by Armin Ronacher. I felt that the keynote was inspiring as it encourages everyone to have the courage to try our ideas. The most important part of developing an idea is the journey and what we can learn from it. We should not be too concerned with failing or else we would never develop or create anything. And of course, Armin also highlighted our love for Python, which is easy to learn and fun to use. After the end of the keynote, everyone dispersed to their respective Japanese and English sessions for the day. A big thank you to the Pycon Japan committee and Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology for a successful convention. I had a great time at the convention and I will be returning for Pycon Japan 2013. Here’s the Youtube video for Pycon Japan 2012 keynote speech by Armin Ronacher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EDlFk1hc8kc Other Pycon Japan 2012 Youtube videos are located at: http://www.youtube.com/user/PyConJP Pycon Japan 2012 information are located at: http://2012.pycon.jp/en/index.html Here’s also a quick python trick for setting up on Windows Azure! All you need to do is go to this link http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/develop/python/and you can start implementing a simple Hello World application written in the Django Python web framework and deploy the application to Windows Azure! Have fun! What do you think of Pycon Japan 2012? Do you have other great tech events to recommend for us to participate? Do share with us your recommendations in the comments below and we might just do a special report based on your recommendations!
One of the main benefits of writing for Spiffy is the huge amount of awesome people that I can meet. And one of the great local groups that I met recently was Singapore Geek Girls. It is a local initiative that serves as a platform for females to connect, share, contribute, mentor and learn from each other. I found out about their latest knowledge sharing session called An Introduction to HTML and CSS, and I volunteered my services as an assistant coach. [caption id=“attachment_11055” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] SG Geek Girls’ HTML and CSS Study Group[/caption] It’s a fantastic Saturday morning at the Microsoft Office and everyone is geared up to learn web development. Some of the participants came as early as 9:30am to queue up for the class. [caption id=“attachment_11058” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Geek Squad Drills HTML & CSS[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11052” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] The SG Geek Girls banner at the Microsoft office[/caption] In total, there are around 50 participants for the session. The ladies come from all walks of life, ranging from students and working professionals, to web enthusiasts. This awesome gentleman is Andrew Ching, our lead head coach for the session. [caption id=“attachment_11056” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Andrew is the lead coach for the SG Geek Girls HTML and CSS Study Group[/caption] First agenda of the day: Basics of HTML. I still remember my own HTML learning experience. I was initially confused with why there is a need for a head and body in a webpage and how the various tags and notations work in a webpage. But I eventually learnt through extensive trial and errors. It all boils down to Practice, Practice, and more Practice. [caption id=“attachment_11053” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Talking about the different HTML Tags[/caption] Everyone paid close attention to Andrew and tried their best to keep up with the class. [caption id=“attachment_11054” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] 50 Participants in the HTML and CSS Study Group[/caption] Second agenda of the day: Using CSS to beautify the webpages. The usage of CSS Class and ID proved to be the most challenging topic of the day, with several coaches taking their turns to try and clarify this tricky topic. To keep it simple, we strongly recommend that the participants only use CSS Class for their web development. [caption id=“attachment_11057” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Creating their first style sheet[/caption] I found that most participants had issues trying to follow the class as this is one of their first web design class. All of the coaches were amazing and tried to help out in whatever they can. We actively encouraged the participants to continue with their journey and to try out the code till it works for them. [caption id=“attachment_11059” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] A very serious participant![/caption] Final agenda of the day: Putting HTML and CSS together. It was very satisfying to see the sense of achievement on the faces of the participants who made it through the class. Many of them were able to create their first webpage and beautify it with images and CSS styling. It was an important first step on their journey to creating their very own websites. [caption id=“attachment_11060” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Creating a simple layout using HTML and CSS[/caption] It’s a wrap for the day! Andrew summarized the materials that were covered for the day and issued some homework for everyone to try out before next week’s class. Its lunch time with the Geek Squad at Chopsticks by the Asian Kitchen. [caption id=“attachment_11061” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] The Geek Squad, having lunch together at Asian Kitchen![/caption] I had a fantastic time with the Geek Squad. It reminded me of all of the small things that we take for granted in web development and I was able to reinforce my foundations for HTML and CSS. The best reward for the day was having the participants walking up to you and saying “Thank You” for your help. Ready to start your own journey into web development? Start your own 30 day challenge to learn and build your very own website today! What do you think of the event? Do you have other great tech events to recommend for us to participate? Do share with us your recommendations in the comments below and we might just do a special report based on your recommendations!
Our writer, Steven Neo, brings us on the journey of a software developer in the media industry. [caption id=“attachment_10956” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Lucasfilm Singapore is definitely one of the most exciting media companies to work for as a software developer.[/caption] The local media industry has seen some exciting developments in 2012 such as Lucasfilm Singapore’s new ‘Sandcrawler’ building in Fusionopolis and the infusion of an additional $20 million in training grant schemes by Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) to raise the skills of media professionals in Singapore. [caption id=“attachment_10961” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Lucasfilm’s Sandcrawler Building will be completed by 2013 and is located at Fusionopolis.[/caption] Looking to break into this exciting industry and join the ranks of international media companies such as Double Negative, Ubisoft, and Lucasfilm? Let me share my experience of how I became a software developer with one of the leading media companies in the world, Lucasfilm Singapore. [caption id=“attachment_10935” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] My journey to becoming a Software Developer at Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] A New Beginning I graduated from National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2006 with a Bachelor Degree (Honours) in Information Systems. I was full of hope and aspiration, and I interviewed with Lucasfilm Singapore. Unfortunately, I was not successful as I did not have sufficient engineering experience in the industry. I eventually joined ST Electronics (Info-Systems) where I helped to develop a Java-based framework for their military tank management system. It was an eye opening experience as I worked with seasoned developers who readily shared their experiences and engineering expertise with me. And then one fine day in June 2008, my opportunity with Lucasfilm Singapore came knocking on my doors. [caption id=“attachment_10957” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Steven at the entrance of the current Lucasfilm Singapore office[/caption] The Developer Strikes Back [caption id=“attachment_10936” align=“alignnone” width=“566”] The ad that got my attention to apply for Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB) partnered with Lucasfilm to introduce the Strategic Attachment and Training Program (STRAT). Its an internship program that allows interns to live and work in Lucasfilm San Francisco for a year. It was my second chance at entering my dream childhood company and I grabbed it. [caption id=“attachment_10968” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Darth Vader guards the doors to the executive toilets at Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] With my engineering experience at ST Electronics, I was well prepared and I aced the various interviews to gain a coveted spot in the internship program. Soon after I was shipped to San Francisco in October 2008 and I had an exciting time working with some of the best minds in the industry. Besides gaining engineering expertise, I also learnt design, figure drawing, and sculpting from talented colleagues. Unfortunately, good times never last, and I was sent packing back to Lucasfilm Singapore in October 2009. [caption id=“attachment_10958” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Star Wars figurines don the reception area at Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] Return of the Developer During my tenure as Information Systems (IS) Developer at Lucasfilm Singapore, I was able to work on a variety of technologies to develop applications for desktop, web, and mobile devices. Due to the short development timeframes and the vast amount of issues encountered daily, I had to learn to be a “benevolent cheater” – someone who can think out-of-the-box for creative solutions to unique issues that are within the acceptable project and technology constraints. While working at Lucasfilm Singapore, I also developed a passion for mobile technologies and to create solutions to help people to solve daily issues. This has spurned me to develop mobile applications for a variety of platforms and I achieved minor success with my mobile app, Tusker, by winning 3rd place in a mobile application competition organized by Straits Times Digital Life in 2011. Lessons Learnt [caption id=“attachment_10962” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Run fast you will - a shirt for the marathon-ers in Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] Here are some lessons that I learnt along the way: ...
GeekcampSG - A gathering of developers who are passionate about their craft, coming together to share ideas and learn new technologies. [caption id=“attachment_10849” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] geekcampsg was sold out within weeks![/caption] When I first heard about the camp, I immediately signed-up for the event and waited eagerly for its arrival. The event was well-received by the developer community and it was sold out weeks in advance. I was impressed by the camp which was organized by developers, for developers. It was a Saturday morning but there are already tons of people waiting in line as early as 8:30am to get a chance at receiving one of the 100 limited edition GeekcampSG 2012 t-shirts. [caption id=“attachment_10851” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] More than 150 people came early to register for geekcampsg this year[/caption] Here’s shot of the awesome Geekcamp.SG 2012 t-shirt that is coveted by the camp attendees. [caption id=“attachment_10852” align=“alignnone” width=“439”] The geekcampsg tshirt was given to first 100 attendees and was snapped up in the first couple of minutes. Credit: GeekcampSG[/caption] For attendees that are not fortunate to receive one of the 100 coveted limited edition t-shirts, they are able to grab one of the awesome stickers for GeekcampSG 2012. [caption id=“attachment_10853” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] GeekcampSG Stickers were up for grabs as well[/caption] In total, more than 400 developers and enthusiasts attended the camp. The auditorium was filled to the brim, with eager attendees occupying all of the available floor space in the room. Here’s the opening address from the event’s Platinum Sponsor, Windows Azure. [caption id=“attachment_10855” align=“alignnone” width=“457”] Windows Azure[/caption] And off we go! The keynote was presented by U-Zyn Chua on Cryptography: Why Bitcoin is safer than your bank. It was a controversial currency concept and U-Zyn had a challenging and engaging session during Q&A. [caption id=“attachment_10856” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] The talk on Bitcoin was well received by developers[/caption] After a series of morning talks, it was lunch time! Everyone had a great lunch and it was simply awesome to see developers engaging each other in sharing sessions and lighting talks during the break. In my opinion, one of the most engaging and interesting speakers of the day was Yap Neng Ginn, who presented on Windows Azure. Here’s the best analogy that I’ve heard for the main categories of cloud offerings: On Premises – Your Car Infrastructure as a Service – Rented Car Platform as a Service – Taxi Software as a Service – SMRT I ended my day with an interesting talk by Michael Cheng on Continuous integration for PHP with Jenkins and Sonar. Thanks for all the great work put in by the Geekcamp.SG committee. I had a fantastic time mingling with fellow developers who are passionate about their craft. It was also great to see many student developers attending the event and eager to chip in to help for future events. I will definitely be back next year and hopefully I will have an interesting topic to present to all my fellow developers. Did you attend GeekCamp.SG? What do you think of the event? Do you have other great tech events to recommend for us to attend? Do share with us your recommendations in the comments below and we might just do a special report based on your recommendations!
Who could ever forget Tom Cruise’s cool futuristic augmented reality computer in “Minority Report” where he effortlessly navigates the computer user interface using a series of natural gestures. I never thought that it was practical till I saw Piano Reality: an app where a user can use the camera feed to recognize the piano keys that are drew on an ordinary piece of paper, and then lets you play that piano. [caption id=“attachment_10828” align=“alignnone” width=“384”] Piano Reality - Click to watch the video[/caption] When Transformers 3 – Dark Side of the Moon was released in July 2011, Paramount Pictures introduced an augmented reality app for iOS called Defend the Earth. Movie fans can download the app, locate a Transformers 3 poster, and scan the poster code to unlock an augmented reality, first-person shooter game. [caption id=“attachment_10829” align=“alignnone” width=“350”] App - Transformers Defend the Earth Poster - Click to watch video[/caption] And the excitement does not stop there. The market has started to recognize the importance of augmented reality with the introduction of devices such as LEAP Motion, Asus Xtion Pro, and Google Glasses. Leading this technological trend is the Kinect. Introduced in November 2010, Kinect still holds the Guinness Book of Record for being the fastest selling consumer electronic device of all time. To support the developer community, Microsoft has released its Kinect SDK in June 2011 where developers can develop Kinect apps using C++, C#, and Visual Basic.NET. In addition to Windows Kinect SDK, you can also develop Kinect apps using these two open source APIs: 1. Open Kinect ...
So you’ve decided to leverage on open source web frameworks to build your mobile apps to take advantage of the exciting opportunities in the emerging mobile app environment. But there are so many data storage options to choose from, how do you know which works best for you? Here’s a list of HTML5 data storage APIs and their browser support: Adapted from http://www.html5rocks.com/en/features/storage Let’s take a closer look at some data storage APIs that you can use to build your mobile app: SQLite ...
App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! This week, our contributing writer, Steven Neo explores cooking with a few Windows Phone applications. I love good food. I love it more when I can cook great food at home to share with my loved ones. Here’s a simple recipe for the perfect roasted potatoes which I adapted from Chef Heston Blumenthal’s recipe . Step 1 Pre-heat the oven at around 200 *C. Step 2 Boil a pot of water for cooking the potatoes. Add a pinch of salt in the water. When the water is boiling, add around 1kg of potatoes into the boiling water. You can leave the skin on the potatoes if you don’t mind it. Cook the potatoes till they are soft. When a potato is cooked, its edges will start to break up. [caption id=“attachment_10699” align=“alignnone” width=“240”] Download My Unit - Converting units of measurement in recipes.[/caption] You can use MyUnit Windows Phone App to easily convert units of measurement in cooking recipes. After cooking the potatoes, drain out the water and we are ready to fry the potatoes. Frying the potatoes will help to coat each potato with a thin layer of oil which will help the potatoes to become crispy during the roasting process. Step 3 When the frying pan is hot, add olive oil with lots of chopped garlic and chili (optional). When the garlic is golden brown, add the potatoes. Fry the potatoes for a couple of minutes till each potato is coated with a thin layer of oil. You can use the Cooking Timer Windows App to time the cooking process and ensure that the potatoes are not overcooked. After the potatoes are ready, place them in a baking pan. Ensure that the potatoes are evenly spread out in the baking pan so that each potato can be roasted to perfection. Step 4 Place the potatoes into the oven for around 45 min to 60 min, at around 200 *C. Now it’s time to sit back and relax while the potatoes are roasting. [caption id=“attachment_10707” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Recipe planning fun for the whole family.[/caption] While waiting for the potatoes to be roasted, you can plan your next culinary cooking adventure with your little ones using the fun Sesame Street Big Block Party Windows App. Step 5 When the potatoes are roasted to a nice, golden crisp, take the potatoes out of the oven. Add chopped herbs, spices, and salt for bags of flavors. [caption id=“attachment_10709” align=“alignnone” width=“240”] Taking great pictures of your culinary creations.[/caption] You can use the Fhotoroom Windows App to take a series of beautiful photos of your culinary masterpiece and share it with your friends and family. Now it’s time for you to try this simple recipe at home! Here is a recap of the Windows App that you can use to make cooking fun and simple: ...
PayPal’s recent study revealed that Australian retailers with an online presence have experienced a 5 percent increase in sales as of July 2012. On the other hand, brick-and-mortar stores have experienced a 4 percent decrease in sales for the same period. This development is representative of the global trend and highlights the importance of having an online presence for continued business growth. However, having an online presence is only half the story. User-friendliness has been cited as one of the major barriers in the growth of mobile commerce in Singapore. As such, having an interactive and attractive website will definitely help to contribute directly to your bottom line. Here is a list of open source JQuery plugins that can help to improve the look and feel of your website: JQuery TOOLS http://jquerytools.org/ ...
[caption id=“attachment_10529” align=“alignnone” width=“315”] The top ten strategic trends for 2012[/caption] Gartner’s 2012 article on the “Top 10 Technology Trends for 2012" shows an increasing importance placed on mobile-centric applications and interfaces and on development for media tablets and beyond. Source: Gartner (February 2012) With a forecasted worldwide media tablet sales of 118.9 million units in 2012, developers are leveraging on the various open source, cross platform web frameworks to rapidly develop and deploy mobile applications to cater to the market demand. [caption id=“attachment_10530” align=“alignnone” width=“307”] Worldwide sales of media tablets[/caption] Source: Gartner (April 2012) Let’s take a look at some of these frameworks and what they can offer: 1. Apache Cordova ...