Creating A Downloader For YouTube with Air

Create a To-do List in Five Minutes

Building a Flash game on Adobe AIR

Creating an Image Viewer in AIR With Drag and Drop

Build A Web 2.0 Voting Widget With Flex - Part I

Build A Web 2.0 Voting Widget With Flex - Part II

Recreating MapCache on Adobe AIR

How to build a contact manager in AIR using XML

Create a Memory Game

]]> http://dinfotoliu.wordpress.com/?p=390 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:04:46 +0000 Alex Popescu http://dinfotoliu.wordpress.com/?p=390 Fie ca vrem fie ca nu vrem zi de zi avem de rezolvat o serie de sarcini. De cele mai multe ori lista problemelor de rezolvat exista doar in mintea noastra si la fiecare pas reprioritizam si alegem ce urmeaza sa facem. Insa conform studiilor acest tip de micro-management ne face sa fim neproductivi, petrecind prea mult timp incercind sa ne amintim ce avem de facut si reprioritizind. De aici si existenta multor aplicatii de management de taskuri atit in formatul aplicatiilor desktop sau web.

List.lu este o astfel de aplicatie de management al activitatilor zilnice, care spre deosebire de TaskWriter construit in jurul metodologiei Getting Things Done, propune o organizare foarte simpla a taskurilor, accentul fiind pus indeosebi pe simplitatea utilizarii si pe integrarea cu alte aplicatii. In cazul in care va intrebati de unde provine numele aplicatiei, mie mi se pare foarte ingenios, avind in vedere ca listele pot fi regasite la URL-uri gen http://lista.lu/Irina.

Desi crearea unei liste de taskuri cu lista.lu este foarte usoara -- nici macar nu este nevoie de crearea unui cont -- aceasta presupunind introducerea activitatilor separate printr-un enter intr-un textbox, exista posibilitatea de a crea si liste mai interesante/complexe care sa includa linkuri, video-uri sau chiar harti. O astfel de lista este pusa la dispozitie chiar de creatorii site-ului si ea poate fi utilizata ca exemplu pentru diferitele functionalitati oferite de aplicatie. Fiecare salvare a listei conduce la crearea unei noi versiuni, astfel fiind posibila vizualizarea evolutiei in timp a listei. O functionalitate pe care nu am gasit-o este existenta unei versiuni printabile a listei curente.

Asa cum spuneam mai sus, dezvoltatorii aplicatiei s-au concentrat pe integrarea cu alte aplicatii. Alaturi de posibilitatea includerii de harti (Yahoo sau Google Maps) si video-uri (Trilulilu, YouTube), o alta integrare care mi-a atras atentia este cea cu 2 dintre cele mai populare IM: Yahoo! Messenger si Google Talk, aceasta permitind actualizarea listei direct din aceste medii.

Pe blogul dezvoltatorilor am citit si citeva articole interesante despre cum a fost creat lista.lu si despre integrarile cu alte aplicatii. Mi-a placut si faptul ca aplicatia este foarte bine documentata si gasesti explicatii si exemple cam pentru toate actiunile, de altfel simple, pe care le presupune. Acum sunt doar curios cum va fi promovata lista.lu si daca exista planuri de monetizare.

1. Become ambidextrous.
2. Learn Esperanto.
3. Figure out my meaning in life.

All of these require explanation.

1. This was a goal I set for myself when I learned of all the benefits. It is simply and purely a leisure. Priority: Third. Interest: Second. Achievability: Second.
2. This goal was set immediately when I first heard of the language and all that it meant. I am now a part of the Esperanto movement and I would encourage you to learn the language, or at least learn of it. Priority: Second. Interest: First. Achievability: First.
3. I suppose this is the ultimate goal for everyone, but it came into light this year especially. I know nobody can truly solve it, but for me, I came close late June (I can tell you about it if you wish) Priority: First. Interest: Third. Achievability: Third.

Since the beginning of the summer (when I started, more or less) I have progressed to leciono ses of the full ten (though I recommend starting here), am currently eating with my nondominant hand, and have written two fairly long pieces on why I exist and how I feel about it.

I would rate my progress at six and one-third out of ten.

What are you guys doing? Please send a link over or just link me in the post so I can use the trackback. Thanks!

Andreas Achenbach - Morning In The Potinian Marches

Lucky room of the day: The kitchen
Special project: Simple Summer Fling

Laundry... as much as I can
Unpack from camping
menu plan
work on “room by room” checklists
work on homeschool plans
go to the library & park
garden
read
work on new blog roll
work on website project.

TaskWriter este construit in jurul celebrei metode "Getting the Things Done" (GTD) a lui David Allen. Este o intreaga teorie si exista multe articole pe aceasta tema daca doriti sa aflati cum puteti sa va organizati mai bine activitatea.

In multimea de aplicatii ce acopera acelasi domeniu al managementului de task-uri, mi-am pus intrebarea cum ar putea iesi in evidenta, mai ales ca vor sa concureze la nivel global. TaskWriter isi propune sa se diferentieza prin mularea cat mai bine pe GTD, sperind sa atraga astfel cat mai multi din adeptii sai. Spre exemplu ai preconfigurate "contextele" Next action, Someday, Waiting on si Reference. Bineinteles poti grupa task-urile si pe proiecte (contextele si proiectele sunt cele doua "dimensiuni" recomandate de GTD pentru o buna organizare).

Destul de ciudat mi se pare ca la un task nu poti asigna o data la care trebuie facut - este insa tot o "cutuma" a metodologiei. Teoria spune insa ca orice are o data/ora fixa merge intr-un calendar iar restul ramane pe lista.

Cei care au obiceiul de a folosi o astfel de aplicatie si pentru a nota in acelasi loc tot ce este important legat de respectiva activitate (schimburi de emailuri, rezumat discutii etc) vor gasi TaskWriter usor de folosit. Are posibilitatea de a avea notite lungi si o modalitate rapida de a le desparti prin data si ora curenta.

Functionalitatile de baza par sa mearga destul de bine, desi este o versiune "pre-beta". Bineinteles ca mai pot fi aduse imbunatatiri, mai ales pe partea de usability, din care doar doua puncte mentionez aici: as vrea sa pot folosi aplicatia fara mouse, doar cu tastatura; de asemenea sa vad mult mai multe taskuri pe o pagina - prefer sa scrollez decat sa ma plimb de pe o pagina pe alta.

Alte doua functionalitati esentiale pentru succesul aplicatiei sunt deja in planul lor de dezvoltare: integrarea cu Google calendar si mod de lucru offline pe baza Google Gears.

I'm fighting that feeling like summer is almost over and I am not going to accomplish all I've planned. It's not so much that it's almost over but more like our summer is booking up fast.

So here is my list of things to do. Hopefully it will hold me a little more accountable to put it in writing.

1. Clean and organize craft room. (Halfway there)

2. Put stuff up for sale on Ebay.

3. Start Etsy shop.

4. Have yard sale.

5. Make place mats for swap I foolishly signed on for. kinda

6. Sew new pillow case for my bedtime pillow (embarrassingly, it's my lovey and I can't sleep without it but it is BUSTED).

7. Make car organizer for trip. Oh so much easier. Never figured I'd find the lazy answer from Martha but thank you!

8. Make tri-corner hat prototype for birthday party. or just buy 'em

9. Switch playroom and boys' room.

10. Paint curbed desk with big guy for his "work".

This list is a work in progress. Hopefully most of the editing will be crossing off jobs well done not just adding more!

What are you working on this summer? And as usual, any tips or tricks are appreciated.

Now I'm going to stop writing about stuff to do and go try and do something...

• We're setting up a blog (The Dirt on DiRT, this very blog) to make our process as transparent as possible.  (Tyler--or was it Abe?--gets credit for the cool name.) On this blog we'll post: project plans, responses to user feedback, project tracking information, deadlines, new tools that are being posted to DiRT, and other information that will help folks--including the DiRT Team--see what we're up and provide feedback. Since pbwiki does not yet allow people to post comments without being registered on the wiki, we can use the blog as a temporary workaround until pbwiki is more full-featured.
• Overarching goal: to be a community-centered, flexible site where researchers can come to find out about tools that can help them work more productively and creatively, and to share their knowledge about research tools. In a way, DiRT is providing reference support for tools rather than library resources in a wiki environment.
• Users asked for information about the cost of tools and platforms that they work on. On our category level page, we will add $ to indicate that a tool is not free, a $ with a slash through it to indicate that it is free, or a $ with a slash plus a + sign to indicate that it is free but that upgrades are available. Once we get a better sense of price points, we will use a certain number of $ signs to indicate cost, e.g. $ for $1-50, $$ for $50-$200, etc. We will also write out what platform the tools work on (or just use headshots of the Mac and PC guys from the Apple commercials as icons).  We'll consider using icons like the SHSU folks used for their presentation on Web 2.0 research tools.
• So that users can get a quick glance of what distinguishes the tool from others on the category level page, we will provide brief (one sentence) descriptions of each tool.
• In the long term, we hope to develop tool comparison matrices that highlight key features and help users identify what tool is most appropriate given their needs. Of course, we need to acknowledge that we're not experts on every research tool out there and thus may need to recruit others to help us develop such matrices.
• We also want to indicate ease of use of different tools, although this can be complex to evaluate and represent.
• We don't want the category level page to get too crowded by icons-- we need a good balance.
• USER FEEDBACK: We want to encourage DiRT readers to make comments on their experiences with different tools so that expertise is truly community based. Currently pbwiki's commenting capabilities are limited--you have to be a registered user to comment. Tyler will investigate integrating a third party tool into pbwiki, perhaps via iframes. For now, we'll encourage folks to take our survey, to make comments on the blog, or email editors. Pbwiki is supposed to be improving its commenting.
• We also want pbwiki to improve its rss feeds--currently every revision is included in the feed. We'll look into options--or encourage folks to subscribe to RSS feeds for the blog
• Instead of sending e-reams of email to each other, we'll set up a Sakai collaboration site to use its message board/ email archive functions. (This may sort of contradict our overall aim to be transparent, but we're thinking that no one really wants to read all of our nitty gritty emails about when to hold our next conference call.)
• We've already done a "soft" launch (that seemed to have a pretty big impact.) We'll aim to do a full launch at the beginning of the fall semester. We'll post announcements about DiRT to listservs and invite bloggers to help spread the word.
• We'll each commit to writing at least one review a week and developing the sections we've signed up to edit.
• We're always looking for more collaborators, whether contributors or editors.
• A long term idea: to provide a chat service where people can ask questions about research tools or DiRT. We'd need to work out staffing issues, etc.
• For now, our main focus will be on creating a critical mass of content, figuring out the best way to present content (e.g. developing icons and the like), and writing more reviews.

June 4, 2008

Dear Mr. Rogers:

I noticed that you are partnering with Focus on the Family "SuperDad" promotion at family.org/fathersday.

What were you thinking? As a gay man, Focus on the Family is like the Ku Klux Clan to me. They are spending $11 million this year to block committed couples in California from making the commitment of marriage. They operate "ex-gay" programs, such as the one that just concluded in Orlando, that teach kids who think they might be gay that their only options are celibacy or suicide. They proclaim on their home page that "God created humans in His image, intentionally male and female, each bringing unique and complementary qualities to sexuality and relationships." And that kind of talk gets people like me beaten, harassed and killed just for who we are.

While I believe these positions and ministries are un-American and un-Christian, I can't fault Focus on the Family for believing them. However your sponsorship of these wicked activities gives them credibility. If TiVo believes what Focus on the Family is preaching, God help you. Otherwise, I wish you would reconsider the "SuperDad" promotion and the message that it is sending.

Sincerely,

For today that is different. I did not manage to cross out one thing yet. And as crossing out a lot of stuff gives you motivation, the opposite also gives you the opposite feeling - it's quite depressing, somehow.

So what was I doing all day? Oh yes, I remember, I worked on one project of mine, at a task that was not on the list yet.
Then I had two meetings, meetings that went quite good. We archived something and went out with a lot of motivation for the next tasks.
And last but not least I have two time critical tasks, I needed to do. They just came in, and had highest priority, so I really had to do them. Oh, and I managed to write and send a letter.

But all these things where not on any of my lists. They just appeared today, and needed to be done. But as there was nothing on the lists to cross out - it does not feel as something that I archived for today.

So one thing I still need to learn is not to feel bad if you have such days as today. Or maybe to write everything down, even if you need to do it asap.

Twitter via kwout

That note, an e-mail, is the perfect example of something I've never quite managed to find any tool, or trick about: how can this be useful when the time comes to move hence when it is precisely the occasion to do what's explained in that e-mail?

We all know how to manage time, we may fail at it but reminders of all sorts are here to help us, be they Rememberthemilk, Google Calendar, etc. But what if something is to be done not at a particular time or date but when something, some event, triggers it?

This may sounds stupid and geek and whatever else but it really bugs me that something this trivial remains unanswered.

Seriously, wouldn't it be neat to never have to bother about forgetting what to do, in this particular case to fill in a form when we move building or even office, and be reminded about it just as precisely and appropriately as it would be by setting up and agenda?

Ma Todo List:

- Dormir : avec une moyenne de 6 heures de sommeil par nuit,  contre une durée recommandée de 8 heures, et cela sur deux ans, le calcul est vite fait : 2 heures x 600 jours = 1200 heures = 50 jours de sommeil à rattraper !!!

- Faire du sport : vélo, natation, footing, sieste, randonné, ...

- Regarder la Télé : en effet, je suis resté à la fin de la saison 1 de Desperate Housewife, de même pour Dr House et Prison Break. Ou encore regarder à nouveau des émissions culturelles : Kaamelot ou le SAV des émissions .

- Faire un nettoyage de Printemps dans mon appartement.

- Prendre un petit dej' en terrasse avec l'Equipe.

- Louer un garde-meuble afin de stocker mes cours de deux de prépa. 

- Travailler énormément pour les oraux.

- Penser à retourner au lycée le 22 mai.

Sinon, quelle est votre Todo List ? Quelle est la première chose que vous allez faire ? Est-ce que j'ai oublier quelque chose d'essentielle ? 

1 site with PIDs, near production: Southern Changes

1 site awaiting PIDs: Lincoln

1 site awaiting input on OAI and PIDs: Belfast

34 novels in ready-to-build status

6 classes taught on XML; 41 students. Development website produced.

มีความเห็นอย่างไรตามไปคุยกันที่ http://groups.google.com/group/thai-linux-foss-devel/browse_thread/thread/1ae9194802a17f3f ได้เลยนะครับ. แน่นอนน่าจะเกี่ยวกับ Ubuntu ด้วย.

Scrub down the bathroom top to bottom [partially done 3/11]

Make appointment for car for major tune-up, road safety check Done

Take car for TuneUp Done 3/11

Pick up car from mechanics Done 3/11

Call Heavenly Days if no word by 3/12. Done 3/12
Pick up The Aged's cremains at the crematory Done 3/12

Have a good cry Done
Kick yourself in the ass again

PAY remaining MARCH BILLS Done & mailed 3/13

Donate cats' unused med. supplies (syringes, glucose monitor, etc.) to clinic or shelter Done 3/7; donated to WARL's medical clinic

Laundry:

Sheets Done 3/11
Blankets & throws Done 3/11 & 3/12
Comforter
Throw rugs Done 3/27
Handwash sweaters
Heating pad covers Done 3/11 & 3/12
His washcloths Done 3/11 & 3/13
Cat bedding Done 3/11 & 3/12

Dust the bedroom [partially done 3/15; Done 3/27]

Vacuum the bedroom Done 3/16
Move the "veranda" Done 3/15

Have a good cry
Clean out the car incl. trunk Done 3/19

Wash car inside/out.

Check trunk, glove for road trip necessities -- emerg. kit, . . .? what else?  Done 3/19 

Review/weed/organize maps Done 3/19

Set up writing corner next to bedroom window -- Maybe??

TAXES, followed by a good cry (if only vet bills were tax deductible)

Review unfinished knitting projects and prioritize

Wash & block scarves made last summer; hat & mittens made last year.

Review other unfinished craft projects and prioritize

Finish the freakin' lamp shade

Review writing projects and prioritize

Make a list of places to go to write in the a.m. -- diners, cafes, -- write it down & put in purse or in the car because you recall them when you need to -- bright sunny not Starbucks.

Go for a walk. A long one.

Figure out how (where?) to clean the LR & Bedroom rugs

Pack up unsent christmas and Jan/Feb birthday gifts to the California crowd -- Mail them.

Write a letter and make a drawing for D.C. in thanks for his of Jan.

Go for a walk. A long one.

Find/buy a case for the camera

Papers, sort, file, shred, recycle

Need a good cry again?

Move the violets into bedroom ?? for a.m. sun

Stay in touch with your blogging friends

Go for a walk. A long one.

Clean out kitchen cupboards, especially under the sink

Inventory spice cupboard

Inventory staples (flour, sugar, oils/vinegars,...)

Check for signs of mice; block possible entry points

Have a good cry

KYITA

Too rainy to walk? Dance fever in the LR (Sly, Bowie, Parliament, Cranberries, Blondie)

Make long-overdue visit to the Va. crowd Done 3/20-2/35

When is the Md. Sheep & Wool this year? . . . .is May 3 & 4

Volunteering again? 
Signing up for class or workshop?
Border collie adoption?

Find your expired passport;
Get passport photos taken
Apply for new passport

Make back-up copies of The Aged Cat

What! are you still crying?! KYITA

Start another blog? RE what?

Read up on Etsy

Talk to the volunteers and volunteer coordinator at WARL;

Make long-overdue visit to the NYC contingent

Make long-overdue visit to NJ-ites

Continue to add to this list as needed

I'm especially glad this happened coz this was the element that was long lacking in my curriculum vitae . The extra - academic element .( Not that I have much to brag about in my "Academic Achievements " section  ). But this is what I need ,something I really enjoy , I can get better at and most importantly I am in the midst of greats . What more conducive  conditions to develop this as a hobby  . Anyway adding this to my already full ToDo list may be a problem . Lets see as of today I've undertaken the following jobs :

1.) Learning a host of programming languages (ref. : Current Projects Page )

2.) Keeping up a decent C.G.P.A ( raising it from the current 7.5 to at least 8.0 )

3.) Developing the hostel website ( ie. learning a lot of Wordpress and CSS )

4.) Actively working on gaining a lot of General Knowledge for quizzes .

1. Read "The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt.
2. Become an expert in using MS Excel & MS Project.
3. Reread "The Exceptional Presenter" by Timothy J. Koegel.
4. Prepare for case interviews

I have decided that i will prepare a list of things to do every month and try to complete those by the same day of the next month. This list is to keep me focused and not just starting new things and then leaving them half way or in some cases not beginning them at all.

So of am going to read this new forum for my socs


Tak to mniej więcej będzie wygladało:

Co prawda nie wygląda to to jak coś na czym się wzorowałem ale jako dodatkowy element do kalendarza będzie w sam raz, być moze w przyszłości gdy bede rozwijał kalendarz we własnym zakresie a nie jako projekt na lekcje zwiększe mozliwości listy zadań, między innymi dodam synchronizacje z kalendarzem.

Porównanie mojej listy zadań z listą zadań na której się wzorowałem... należy pamiętać, że lista zadań, na której sie wzorowałem jest programem desktopowym:

Kolejna grafika pokazująca współprace w zespole:

Narazie działa to bez zapisu do bazy ale to tylko kwestia czasu.

Oto jak to mniej więcej wyglada:

[link]

• pid's for southern changes

Sites:

• iln in production
• belfast near production: question about metadata pending
• schanges near production: awaiting pids
• great war: awaiting start

I like the calendar application. I can create multiple calendars and have them all appear on the same template and colour code them.

Unfortunately it is not quite exactly what I want in an online calendar but it is certainly the closest so far.

What I like.

Unlimited calendars (different colours -- for eg. I have set up: personal (purple), work (red), desk shift (dark red), birthdays (green) and so on.

Can send myself email reminders

The colour scheme (on black) appeals to my work style.

What I don't like.

Weeks start on Sunday (I want my week to start on Monday)

User defined repeatable entries (at the moment its daily, weekly, monthly, yearly ). I want to be able to have tasks repeat at user defined intervals (fortnightly, four weekly etc.)

The task list feature - doesn't really do it for me. I want to be able to incorporate my 'todo list' into my calendar differently.

***

Overall though it is a very useful tool.