Been awhile since my last post, simply because I haven't had much to blog about. Work is fairly slow at the moment, just been working on the myBU mini-projects. I've completely reworked the Placement area that I started on when I first started this job and everyone seems pretty happy with it so far. My time on the other, more interesting, projects has been cut down to one day a week which is a shame but at least it gives me time to ponder ideas to work on during that day the rest of the week. I have, however, moved office. It's now bigger but to be honest, I preferred my old office. I liked my little dark haven.
On a Uni note however, we have been sent through our options choices for the final year. I'm going to look at either Entertainment Systems or Internet Systems. Not sure which yet. Going to try and have a chat with a tutor or two to see what's going to be involved. Hopefully I can dodge as much programming as possible! Or at least try and focus on some internet orientated programming.
Finally, it seems that I will have to completely rebrand myself as a web designer. WindFall Designs can not go on! Every so often I Google it to see where I am and a new WindFall Design (no "s") has appeared! The copyright on the web site is from 2002 yet it's not even a full working website yet. So it looks like I shall I have to change my name. Going to try for a one worder, but coming up with a name is like trying to kick yourself in the balls. It's bloody hard. Still, we'll see. Maybe I can find the time to pull a couple of people together and make a proper go at it. Shawn is getting pretty good at coding now... so we'll see.
So for now, chill out and I'll post again soon.
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Of Driving and Driving (and Silverlight and Expression Studio)
A total of 6 hours driving were spent in total yesterday. Was a damn killer, I'm absolutely shattered today. The Microsoft conference I went to though was pretty interesting. It was about MS Silverlight and MS Expression Studio. In typical MS style however, nothing seemed to be "new". Silverlight is going head to head with Flash. However there are only two things that I can see that Silverlight has that will even let it be a contender. One is it's ability to manipulate video. That is pretty damn good. We saw demo's of 6 or 7 thumbnail video clips all running at the same time and you can click on one of them, it expands, sound fades in and plays. Everything was seemless and nothing hung up. However this way done on a local machine, so I'd like to see it across the internet. The other thing that I think is pretty good is that Silverlight can take in XAML code and just use it. There's nothing else to it. This is their biggest plus point. XAML is an extensible mark up language (the A is for application) and it does look great how it works straight into Silverlight.
My problem however, is why do we need another solution for web apps? We have Flash. It's an industry standard and it works. Adobe are making excellent advances with Flex and AIR towards better online apps than what Flash (the program) can produce and people love it. I was talking to a bloke there yesterday that was singing AIR and Flex's praises. He was only there so he could see if Silverlight had anything to offer. His opinion? Not really.
Silverlight also can't (yet...) do "real" 3D work. Flash can, if you don't believe me then check out a previous post about Papervision 3D. It can do "fake" 3D and granted, it does it nicely. All the effects and animations are all very nice.
However.
My problem I guess is that "A" in XAML. Application. My view of Flash is that it can, and does, everything from an annoying advert that draws your attention to it by showing you boobs, to fully working amazing websites with forms and shiny bells and noisy whistles. But Silverlight seems more directed at apps. In this sense I don't think it will be competing with Flash (app) rather Flex and AIR. These are the tools that seem to be aimed at Flash apps now. And they are doing it well. Silverlight might be easy with it's XAML -> Deployment thats all you need. But Flex and AIR seem to be the ones giving you better control in a language formate that makes sense to a developer.
Oh, I said on of the D words. Developer and Designer. Normally two separate things, you either have a head for code or you can make designs look just so. MS have other ideas, they feel that they can unite the Designer and Developer as one. By using their new Expression Studio. Designs are exported as XAML, coding is (shockingly enough) in XAML, thus allowing you to code and design everything yourself. Personally I feel that's a huge mistake. They are two completely separate jobs.
However, for a proper design and development team I can see that passing the XAML from one Studio program to the next without losing any information or having any conflicting issues is something that every D&D team would love. This showed at the conference when a talk was given by a man named Tricky. He, apparently, could not code in the slightest and only did design work. He designed something and then passed it straight on to the coders. And this set up works, its a proven set up.
But what does Expression look like? Think Dreamweaver and Illustrator. Then there is a media encoder/re-encoder (which actually looks pretty impressive but think something along the lines of Premiere just not as much functionality, but still good!), a media organiser and finally a program called Blend that brings everything together.
Oh and they are all in a black, shiny theme.
Finally I want to talk quickly about my day today. Had a meeting about sorting out the placement area, went pretty well. Got plenty to do over the next week or so. Which is defiantly good. This is such a long post I just can't type any more! I'll blog some more about Silverlight and Expression when I try them out.
Peace.
My problem however, is why do we need another solution for web apps? We have Flash. It's an industry standard and it works. Adobe are making excellent advances with Flex and AIR towards better online apps than what Flash (the program) can produce and people love it. I was talking to a bloke there yesterday that was singing AIR and Flex's praises. He was only there so he could see if Silverlight had anything to offer. His opinion? Not really.
Silverlight also can't (yet...) do "real" 3D work. Flash can, if you don't believe me then check out a previous post about Papervision 3D. It can do "fake" 3D and granted, it does it nicely. All the effects and animations are all very nice.
However.
My problem I guess is that "A" in XAML. Application. My view of Flash is that it can, and does, everything from an annoying advert that draws your attention to it by showing you boobs, to fully working amazing websites with forms and shiny bells and noisy whistles. But Silverlight seems more directed at apps. In this sense I don't think it will be competing with Flash (app) rather Flex and AIR. These are the tools that seem to be aimed at Flash apps now. And they are doing it well. Silverlight might be easy with it's XAML -> Deployment thats all you need. But Flex and AIR seem to be the ones giving you better control in a language formate that makes sense to a developer.
Oh, I said on of the D words. Developer and Designer. Normally two separate things, you either have a head for code or you can make designs look just so. MS have other ideas, they feel that they can unite the Designer and Developer as one. By using their new Expression Studio. Designs are exported as XAML, coding is (shockingly enough) in XAML, thus allowing you to code and design everything yourself. Personally I feel that's a huge mistake. They are two completely separate jobs.
However, for a proper design and development team I can see that passing the XAML from one Studio program to the next without losing any information or having any conflicting issues is something that every D&D team would love. This showed at the conference when a talk was given by a man named Tricky. He, apparently, could not code in the slightest and only did design work. He designed something and then passed it straight on to the coders. And this set up works, its a proven set up.
But what does Expression look like? Think Dreamweaver and Illustrator. Then there is a media encoder/re-encoder (which actually looks pretty impressive but think something along the lines of Premiere just not as much functionality, but still good!), a media organiser and finally a program called Blend that brings everything together.
Oh and they are all in a black, shiny theme.
Finally I want to talk quickly about my day today. Had a meeting about sorting out the placement area, went pretty well. Got plenty to do over the next week or so. Which is defiantly good. This is such a long post I just can't type any more! I'll blog some more about Silverlight and Expression when I try them out.
Peace.
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Of Slowness and Dexter
Well the past five days or so have been pretty slow. Waiting on some meetings and things at the moment so we can get some projects within myBU going. Once they start I think I'll be pretty busy, I can see it being a slow ball effect to be honest. It's gonna start slow but I definitly think it will get bigger and bigger till I'm flat out haha.
Good news though, after all the trouble with taking on extra work that I didn't want nor think I could handle properly. I've now found out that I don't have to worry about any of it. Which is excellent. I'm pretty pleased with how I handled it. Sorted it all out through my new line manager and hey presto I'm free and clear. To tell the truth I was getting pretty worried about it so this is a hell of a weight off my mind now.
On a final note. Dexter. Oh. My. God. What a hell of a show! If you haven't watched it yet then I suggest you do. It's utterly excellent. Some awesomely hot chicks in it as well. Ha... hahaha. And a shocking amount of blood as well haha. Anyways, watch it, it's awesome.
Good news though, after all the trouble with taking on extra work that I didn't want nor think I could handle properly. I've now found out that I don't have to worry about any of it. Which is excellent. I'm pretty pleased with how I handled it. Sorted it all out through my new line manager and hey presto I'm free and clear. To tell the truth I was getting pretty worried about it so this is a hell of a weight off my mind now.
On a final note. Dexter. Oh. My. God. What a hell of a show! If you haven't watched it yet then I suggest you do. It's utterly excellent. Some awesomely hot chicks in it as well. Ha... hahaha. And a shocking amount of blood as well haha. Anyways, watch it, it's awesome.
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Of Sketching and 3D
Not much has happened since my last post. Still waiting to find out the details of my new tasks. I have, however, found out the true extent of what it is I am supposed to be taking on from someone else. A lot more than I was originally told. A lot of stuff I am also pretty uncomfortable taking on. But you don't want to hear about that. You want to hear about what I've been sketching. In 3D.
Google Sketchup. Wow. I'd heard about it before and seen a few of the 3D models people have created using it and put onto Google Earth. But I didn't realise how simple it is to use. It really is fantastic. In one day I've learnt how to do a fair amount in it and also built (almost finished) a house as well. All the small things they have put in it to make it easy and quick to use is just outstanding. Some ideas can be a little odd to get used to, especially if you have used other 3D programs before. But it's got an extremely easy learning curve so you can pick it up in no time.
The amount of detail and what you can create with it is excellent. There are also plenty of ready build components (by the community) that you can download from the Google "3D Warehouse" such as sofa's and chairs and cars and all other manner of things.
If you haven't tried Sketchup then I highly recommend you do, even if you aren't into CAD or 3D modelling. Just try it. Make a 3D model of your monitor just to try the program, it's simple amazing!
By the way Google, you can pay me if you like for brown-nosing Sketchup so much.
Why am I trying it out though? Because you can map photos to the models you build and thus Andy is hoping we can build some 3D, photorealisticly textured models to use in our virtual projects. I just love playing with it!
Google Sketchup
Google Sketchup. Wow. I'd heard about it before and seen a few of the 3D models people have created using it and put onto Google Earth. But I didn't realise how simple it is to use. It really is fantastic. In one day I've learnt how to do a fair amount in it and also built (almost finished) a house as well. All the small things they have put in it to make it easy and quick to use is just outstanding. Some ideas can be a little odd to get used to, especially if you have used other 3D programs before. But it's got an extremely easy learning curve so you can pick it up in no time.
The amount of detail and what you can create with it is excellent. There are also plenty of ready build components (by the community) that you can download from the Google "3D Warehouse" such as sofa's and chairs and cars and all other manner of things.
If you haven't tried Sketchup then I highly recommend you do, even if you aren't into CAD or 3D modelling. Just try it. Make a 3D model of your monitor just to try the program, it's simple amazing!
By the way Google, you can pay me if you like for brown-nosing Sketchup so much.
Why am I trying it out though? Because you can map photos to the models you build and thus Andy is hoping we can build some 3D, photorealisticly textured models to use in our virtual projects. I just love playing with it!
Google Sketchup
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