AutoCAD awesomeness now for mac

Finally after 18 years of waiting Autodesk returns to mac and launches their flagship software autocad for mac. Autodesk is also coming to iPad and the iPhone. What more could I ask for.

via: http://hightechhistory.com/2010/08/31/autodesk-reintroduces-autocad-for-the-mac/

Evon: Easy video converting tool

Converting video from one format to another has always been a thing for the geeks. Even the tools were intimidating for day to day users. Mac and iphone users have to convert videos every now and them to put them in their itunes library or sync them to the phone. Evon is a nifty little app with a drag and drop interface for converting video formats. Get it from:

http://thelittleappfactory.com/evom/

Its completely free.

Jugnu featured in India Today

Jugnu, the IIT Kanpur nano satellite has been featured in India Today. It is one of the most innovative projects in Science and Technology happening in India. Work on Jugnu started last year and is a very ambitious project. Jugnu is a satellite which would orbit the earth like other satellites, but what makes it special is that it weighs slightly over 3.5kgs and leverages on the latest technologies. Conventional satellites weigh over 100kgs and the cost of putting them into space is high because of the added weight. Jugnu will be India's first Nano Satellite.

The India Today article:

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93167/Cover%20Story/Small+wonder.html

Designing great iPhone apps

Xcode

Hi

Some nice videos related to iPhone application design development can be downloaded from the link

http://www.torrentroom.com/torrent/2560593-WWDC-2009-iPhone-Session-Videos-100-132.html

check out these videos:

Session 128 - Prototyping iPhone User Interfaces

Session 100 - iPhone User Interface Design

These are videos from the World Wide Developer Conference 09, San Francisco. The videos give an insight into internal design processes of Apple Software Devision

Some more videos on designing apps for the iPhone (mobile platform)

How to build apps that don't suck (Stanford iTunesU)

http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/FeedEnclosure/itunes.stanford.edu.2024353965.02024353968.2117035884/enclosure.mp4

Lessons learnt in the first year of an iPhone company (Stanford iTunesU)

http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/FeedEnclosure/itunes.stanford.edu.2024353965.02024353968.2134836854/enclosure.mp4

I'll share more resources as I come accross them. Write to me if you are looking from something more specific.

Cheers

Shubham

Android... Maps 4.1

Android home screen

When I read about the new version of maps (4.1) on android I got really excited cause it has integrated features like live wallpapers and including google latitude. The really wanted to try it out so I got the emulator running and here are some screen shots.

Live wallpaper with maps as background

The emulator does not come with the maps app and the market app by default so they have to be installed separately. I was able to install the maps app by pointing my browser to the required .apk file I still han't been able to get the market running.

Live wallpaper setting screen

Link to Google Maps 4.1 apk file: http://upblog.org/google-maps-4-1-apk/

Augmented Reality: Image Markers

Today I have been playing with image markers for creating virtual 3d objects in the augmented space and its the coolest technology ever. Its a exciting new technology and the best way to understand it is to play with it. So head over to http://ge.ecomagination.com/smartgrid/#/augmented_reality for a demo. You'll need to take a print out and a computer with a webcam. If you dont happen to have all that check out the video below and get a feel of the technology.

Another great site which has a software for virtualizing famous monuments on the face of the planet is: http://www.arsights.com/

Follow the instructions on their site and view the Taj Mahal to the Eiffel Tower in 3d.

The Taj Mahal on my desk.

Another cool implementation is on Toyota's site.

http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/frame_start.jsp?id=iQ_reality

BMW also made a small little game where you can create life size BMWs to miniature ones and race them along like toy cars.

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/augmented_reality/homepage?bcsource=vanity

A BMW in my hands

That all for now..

I'll be posting more examples and sample code as I go along.

iPad Camera?

iPad

Apple iPad was launched today and its an awesome device. Now, some of the questions on my mind are.. can I actually use it as a desktop and phone replacement. i.e PenDrive support? Camera?

After playing around with the SDK I saw an option to click and add photographs to contacts. Hidden hints from Apple may be??

Screen shots of the iPad Simulator

For USB Pen drive support the iPad Camera Connection Kit seems to be very promising.

Chao

Check out the new Mac app Chao

It activates the screen saver and announces it. It feels very cool when I log off my comp. I use it in conduction with spark, which allows me to launch it with a keyboard shortcut. You can download Chao vr 1.0 from

http://files.me.com/shubhamgoel/kn0s55

and I would be happy to hear your feedback and suggestions.

Ubiquity

Ubiquity is the coolest firefox plugin yet. It allows you to give commands to firefox in normal english to look for directions, update twitter, insert maps in mails and much much more.

I also wrote a small plugin for ubiquity which allows you to look up words at Definr.com, my favorite dictionary site. You can get it here: http://gist.github.com/217297

The New iMac and other new apple hardware look look like computer renderings

I just looked at the new products from Apple and they are terrific. The iMac now has edge to edge glass and comes in 27 inchs!!!. Its a real power house with quard core processors and support for 16gb ram. When I first heard that it came with a multi touch mouse I knew we finally had a absolutely fantastic pointing device, which takes the best from both the worlds. As the story goes, first came the keyboard, then the mouse and then the iPhone, in my opinion the touch mouse is definitely a critical member of this chain of evolution. Though I would love to see the Sixth Sense device by Pranav Mistry as the successor.

The macbook, most affordable mac ever is now very slick. With a unibody and 7 hr battery back up it is definitely the best mac for college students. And one more thing.. the mac remote has also been updated :)

upgraded and jailbroken.... my iPhone

Blackra1n

Jailbreaked iPhone 3.1.2 with blackra1n. Geohot is great.

the iPhone

Next generation of interface

The biggest break through after the introduction of the Graphical User Interface and Mouse in 1984. This new interface comes from oblong Industries and is called the g-speak spatial operating environment.

g-speak overview 1828121108 from john underkoffler on Vimeo.