|
A while ago, I was thinking about which programming language I wanted to learn next. At first I was doubting between Scala, Ruby or perhaps Clojure. But I couldn’t really make up my mind. So I decided to pick up Seven Languages in Seven Weeks. This way I was able to take a small bite from a couple different cakes in order to decide which flavor I liked the most. This one's too hard... This one's too dynamic... But this one's just right!
|
|
|
|
|
After reading the Edge article on the Making of Berzerk, you’ll learn from Mr. McNeil that the game went through 2 earlier phases before acquiring Mazes. "I figured I’d need barriers between the robots and the human. So I started looking at maze generators, and devised a super-simple scheme...." How Alan McNeil created the randomized mazes for the arcade classic, Berzerk.
|
|
|
|
|
Scientists often talk about creating artificial intelligence, but how "intelligent" are these systems really? Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago came up with an answer after giving one of the top artificial intelligence (AI) systems an IQ test. The system, ConceptNet 4, was built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was determined to be about as smart as the average 4-year-old. Its invisible friend says "Nya nya nya you don't compute either."
|
|
|
|
|
Apple’s developer site was accessed by “an intruder” last Thursday, the company has disclosed, and Apple has not ruled out the possibility that developers’ names, mailing addresses, and/or email addresses were compromised.... Before it reopens the developer site, Apple is “completely overhauling our developer systems, updating our server software, and rebuilding our entire database,” the email said. Amazingly, someone cared enough about WebObjects to find a vulnerability.
|
|
|
|
|
An otherwise healthy earnings statement from Microsoft was overshadowed by a substantial $900 million charge attributed to "Surface RT inventory adjustments." The ARM-powered tablet, Microsoft's first foray into selling computers, recently had its price cut by $150 to $349 amid long-standing reports of poor sales. With this $900 million charge, those poor sales and price cuts are hitting Microsoft's bottom line. Other than that, it wasn't such a bad quarter.
|
|
|
|
|
The Microsoft surprise... has infused the discussions of the company’s future, what Ballmer will do with his new organization now that the Redmond Giant (finally!) seems to be aware that it’s playing catch up in a Post-PC era. As luck would have it, I got a draft of Ballmer’s memo to a small group of Microsoft execs. I can’t vouch for its authenticity — it was “regifted” through a series of contacts, friends and foes of old OS wars — but I hope you’ll find it interesting. Windows Mobile 9 and Office everywhere - stroke of genius or the kiss of death?
|
|
|
|
|
Smartphones are susceptible to malware and carriers have enabled NSA snooping, but the prevailing wisdom has it there’s still one part of your mobile phone that remains safe and un-hackable: your SIM card. Yet after three years of research, German cryptographer Karsten Nohl claims to have finally found encryption and software flaws that could affect millions of SIM cards, and open up another route on mobile phones for surveillance and fraud. But wait! There's a second, bonus bug if you act now...
|
|
|
|
|
The NSA has admitted that the organization's use of Microsoft SharePoint allowed an unnamed sysadmin to leak information. In what can be perceived as either a ringing endorsement of SharePoint's "collaborative power", or a depressing admission that, yes, spooks use the same infuriating software as we do, NSA chief General Keith Alexander indicated recent leaks came from a sysadmin being given SharePoint privileges. New for SharePoint 2014: One-Click Backdoor Workflows.
|
|
|
|
|
Back in June of last year, Microsoft started teasing a "major announcement" that would soon be revealed as its first tablet: the Surface RT. There was an air of excitement, and the expectation that Microsoft might be able to tackle the iPad head-on with a slim and lightweight device that took advantage of a keyboard accessory. Fast-forward 12 months, and Microsoft is cutting the price of its Surface RT tablet by 30 percent worldwide because it's simply not selling. Where we don't hear about missed expectations: Microsoft's enterprise and dev products. Just sayin'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
According to Microsoft's latest quarterly earnings release it has written off $900 million worth of Surface RT tablets, which it can't sell.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/492120/20130718/microsoft-takes-900-million-charge-surface-tablets.htm[^]
Quote: According to IDC the company only shipped 900,000 of the tablets in the first three months of 2013. Earlier this week in an apparent bid to boost flagging sales the company announced a dramatic price cut of £100 off the basic Surface RT tablet.
Taking the £590m write-down into account, it would suggest that Microsoft has a store of six million unsold Surface tablets.
|
|
|
|
|
LFE.
It couldn't have happened to a nicer company.
If there is one thing more dangerous than getting between a bear and her cubs it's getting between my wife and her chocolate.
|
|
|
|
|
Despite the growth of "NoSQL" databases over the past few years, SQL isn't going anywhere. In fact, it seems Structured Query Language is in ascendance in a realm that once seemed bent on excluding it: "Big Data." Hadoop + SQL = an easier way to access Big Data?
|
|
|
|
|
For those new to Test Driven Development, understanding how to take small, incremental steps when writing your tests can be a confounding practice. Even the most basic of problems can lead a developer down a frustrating path. It is possible to write all of the "right" tests, but if they are in the wrong order, the benefits of TDD can decrease significantly. Test early. Test often. Test right.
|
|
|
|
|
I’ve taken something like a 3 year hiatus from web applications to work mostly on SOA/messaging systems using NServiceBus, and am recently back on an MVC project. Lots of things have changed, but a lot is still the same.... So, in no particular order, some items that stood the test of time. ...and some things that didn’t stand the test of time.
|
|
|
|
|
Looks like that website couldn't withstand the Code Project effect (won't load). Guess I'll have to come back to it later.
|
|
|
|
|
It's back! Hooray for hamsters!
Director of Content Development, The Code Project
|
|
|
|
|
Many consumer surveys point to an obvious conclusion: most people hate seeing ads on smartphones and tablets. But the truth is, contrary to the desire for an ad-free experience, when faced with the choice between free apps with ads, or paying even $.99 for apps without ads, consumers overwhelmingly choose the free apps and tolerate the ads. This app brought to you by...
|
|
|
|
|
In his role as a Business Systems Manager (BSMs), Scott had to make promises to various internal clients, but didn’t control the resources necessary to deliver those promises. In addition, he didn’t have his own “team”, but had to share the pool of IT resources with other BSMs. So what did he do that set him apart?... He spent most of his time fostering relationships with people on the Help Desk, Programmers who served his customers and the systems administrators that were responsible for the applications his customers relied upon. Be nice to people if you want their help. This shouldn't be news... but it often is.
|
|
|
|
|
It's truly a unique and interesting experience to watch someone transcend from one community to another with little to no issues. In this case, we're talking about Elijah Manor who successfully worked to build his reputation in the open source community while still maintaining his strong presence in the Microsoft world. He has the best of both communities at his disposal, now able to leverage his cross-platform expertise into a new life-changing role with Pluralsight. A update of sorts to our Coder Interview with Elijah last year.
|
|
|
|
|
Windows may be the software that helped gain Microsoft gain worldwide dominance, but if the company wants to thrive in the future, the Windows brand may need to die. Microsoft would still build Windows operating systems, but would emphasize the Microsoft brand instead, and cut prices drastically for Windows licenses. So conclude several analysts, and they may well be right. See also: The goose that laid the golden eggs.
|
|
|
|
|
In my years working in technology, I have learned a few things. These lessons have become oft-repeated refrains when speaking to people, so I thought I'd collect them so I have a link to send folks when needed. 1. Given enough time, any object which can generate musical notes will be used to play the Super Mario Brothers theme on YouTube.... What are your rules of the internet?
|
|
|
|
|
Today we have asked the Attorney General of the United States to personally take action to permit Microsoft and other companies to share publicly more complete information about how we handle national security requests for customer information. We believe the U.S. Constitution guarantees our freedom to share more information with the public, yet the Government is stopping us.... Until that happens, we want to share as much information as we currently can. We have top men working on it now. Top men.
|
|
|
|
|
With this quarter's mixed financial results, Nokia revealed that Lumia sales were up to a record high of 7.4 million. That means that the company sold more Windows Phones last quarter than BlackBerry sold phones. Just one year ago, BlackBerry was selling almost two phones for every one Lumia Nokia sold. It's a stark change of fortunes for the Canadian manufacturer, and appears to reaffirm Microsoft's statement that Windows Phone is now the third-place platform for smartphones. And there was much rejoicing.
|
|
|
|
|