MSc in Computer Game Engineering @ NCL

Hello Everyone!!

I know I've been far away from blogging in a long time, more precisely since September 9 2011, when today it's March 19, 2012. Before you get angrier with me, let me explain why I've been so faraway lately:

In late September I started master degree program in the United Kingdom, at the Newcastle University, then right now I'm studying MSc in Computer Game Engineering, where I've learnt so much about programming in C++, OpenGL, Maths for Graphics, Memory Management, even how to program for the PS3 using the Sony Official SDK, isn't it so exciting??

That's my main reason for being so distant from my blog, another was the overhear that was moving from México City to Newcastle Upon Tyne: baggages, computers, clothes and almost my entire life, however I forgot my tennis shoes back home.

iPad + Kinnect = Augmented Reality

According to Apple this is the year of the iPhone 2, for many of us there is no doubt about it. However, the tablet is not the only technological character of our time, because it must share the stage with other products that are making a breakthrough regarding interactions with electronic devices. Augmented reality, the three dimensions and Kinect are other geek device working to be kings of the universe today. What if they all join in a single experiment?

FastPost: Apple Airplay

I watched this video and I realized of the capabilities of Airplay technology coming for the iOS 5, simple amazing.

I totally suggest to keep watching it until the end, I know that 10 minutes is a long time, but it worth it.

iOS 5 for Developers

Many news came with the official announcement of the fifth iteration of one of the most advanced mobile operative systems: iOS (previously called iPhoneOS don't forget). Things like messaging, offline reading, cloud synchronization and notifications will be bundle along the september update, meanwhile, we, as developers must learn and relearn the APIs released, which Apple says are more than 1,500.

Of course, we will learn them by the time goes on, however, there is a list of the most noticeable to take note of:

Sphero or trading control ways

iOS SDK allows programmers explode their imagination with many technologies and tools that are provided just out of the box. Now, I want to show you a simple toy called Sphero.

Also, with smarphones, the gameplay possibilities are endless, especially when you add another physical object such as a helicopter or a remote controlled car. Let me add one more to the list, a ball that we can control from the iOS device, be it the iPad or iPhone. Check this out:

A5 Graphic Horsepower

Thanks to Anandtech, we can read some new features embebed with the new A5 ARM chip shipped with every iPad 2.

The GPU, which Apple is promising up to a 9x increase in performance, is an Imagination Technologies' PowerVR SGX 543MP2 with the following description from wikipedia:

PowerVR SGXMP chips are multi-core variants of the SGX series with some updates. It will be included in the Sony NGP (working title) portable gaming device with the MP4+ Model of the PowerVR SGX543, the only intended difference is the cores, where MP4+ denotes 4 cores with additional functionalities.

iPad 2

Today was "The Day". New iPad 2, it is here. So that's how we can call Apple's redesigned tablet, for many waiting more than a year (me included). Not so good news for those who bought the first version because the iPad 2 leaves it as something historical. By the software side, no great improvements on the operating system is something that will cripple this release.

The Apple's iPad 2 retains the essence of the first model and adds features that were already needed in the last year tablet, including a new design, that makes it thinner and more manageable in hand, cameras (rear and front), also a new dual-core processor to fight against Android's tablets recently shown in the MWC 2011.

Well, let's make our table for the characteristics:

iPad as a Printing Money Machine

Or PMM for the friends. Cases like this had been seen with the Nintendo DS or de Wii, where the ideas behind those devices placed their companies ahead economically speaking (along few other aspects).

Everyone knows that Apple is doing so well lately, between Mac, OSX, iPhone, iPods and the last add on to the list, the iPad. However is difficult to believe in words, much better let's read an infograph with the summary of the PMM statement:

iOS 4.3 with multitouch gestures

Apple continues with the development of iOS, as well as the improving of the User Interface with interactions that changes the way of managing all the resources inside the device. iOS 4.3 can come up with many innovations, especially given the features that were released a few days ago, specifically something is calling enough attention, that is multitouch gestures.

Of course, this 4.3 has not been public released, nonetheless developers can take hands on with private releases so that Apple can have feedback about the intention to publish those new features. The multitouch gestures are activated using four or five fingers down to return to the main screen, left or right to switch between applications and a move up to show open applications. These gestures have been in the beta of 4.3 for iPad iOS, so the question was whether the iPhone would have this capability.

Here is a video of those running on the iPad:

Objective C Valuable Links

Right now that I have been developing Suertudo for the iPhone/iPod, many doubts and circumstances have been solved with just little search over the greatest Google, however others have not, anyway I found many useful links that could help many others programmers:

Three Hot Tables To Come

Recently, I talked about the presentation of the Blackberry Playbook, now I will summarize the characteristics of those three tables that are going to lead the market and the must have for all others. Here we go:

App Store Functionality Rules

Few weeks ago, Apple released a guide to what we must or must not to do in order to ensure that any application submitted for the App Store become approved. This guide, simple and very close in wording, sets those parameters to be taken into account, and also to be aware of the latest changes in policies and restrictions that have happened in the App Store since the beginning of September.

Mittratter - Source Code

Ok, the Compilated App has been released here: Mittratter and its post related: http://mittrasw.blogspot.com/2010/09/mittratter-twitter-client-for-osx.html. What would help to other programmers trying to implement oAuth into their developments will be the source code used by Mittratter to sign into Twitter's Servers. Also I will give a brief explanation of how does this thing work.

As I explained here and here, now Twitter uses the oAuth Procedure, well the code behind is quite tricky and might confuse at first sight. Mittratter is an application developed in Objective-C, so the code is going to display here helps to implement those functions into iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad developments as well. Don't forget to do a quick review of the Twitter API where few libraries and implementations could be found. Well, let's get started.

iOS App Store(s)

Every one can develop native or Web iOS applications just using Mac OS and SDK provided by Apple. For the native applications developed with Objective C the main exit is the iPhone/iPad application store, although there are other ways of distribution (ex. Cydia). 

About the App Store, certain rules apply, wich must complain with the rules of design published by Apple, such no duplication of iPhone/iPod/iPad functions embebed (ex. iPod app).