Apple’s “Latest Creation” – the iPad
Jan 27th
After tons of speculation and unmet expectations from who-knows-how-many previous Apple Events, the masses seemed satisfied today as the company that brought us all those iThings added to its list of revolutionary products by unveiling it’s “latest creation” – the iPad.
Once you get over the name and look at what this thing is capable of, particularly it’s iPhone-like features and compatibility, it’s hard to argue against it’s potential for being the leading netbook out there (if you can even classify it as such). Before this event I was convinced there was absolutely no need for a netbook in my household – now I’m not so sure. I have had a lot of the Kool-Aid already, after all.
Just please – whatever you do – don’t sit on it…
jQuery Cookbook – A Must Read
Jan 17th
Firstly – it’s an ermine.
Secondly, this book is a hands-down essential part of your collection if you are at all interested in / develop with the jQuery library. Authored by no less than 19 “jQuery Community Experts” including heavy hitters like Cory Lindley, Remy Sharp, and Mike Hostetler, The jQuery Cookbook compliments nicely other jQuery staples, such as Learning jQuery 1.3 and jQuery in Action.
If you are a front-end developer and have yet to use jQuery at all, it’s well worth trying out – it’s powerful, intuitive, extremely stable and, as this book so skillfully helps to demonstrate, very useful.
“…you’ll learn patterns and practices from a dozen of the leading developers who use jQuery for everything from integrating simple components into websites and applications to developing complex, high performance user interfaces.” – back cover, jQuery Cookbook.
Companies Can’t Wait for Apple to Sell Card Swiping iPods…Really
Jan 6th
Ever since going into an Apple Store last week and seeing their new iPod Touch-based POS system first hand, I knew it would only be a matter of time before other retailers started to daydream about how such a system could work for them too. Though Apple hasn’t decided whether they’re going to sell an EasyPay-like app and hardware (which includes a barcode scanner and card swipe built slickly into what amounts to an iPod jacket or sleeve), rumors abound that they’re making moves to do so.
Now at least one company is tired of waiting.
Simply Swipe It now has an app that can process transactions through EPay and Authorize.net, and is also offering for pre-order an accessory card swiper called QuickSwipe that looks like it clamps onto the sides of a Touch. From the image on their site it looks to be aesthetically a far cry from what Apple Store employees are toting around, but it’s proof that Steve Jobs and Company don’t have the “use your finger to sign here, please” market cornered just yet.
