Home › Brendon Smith AKA SeaCloud9 Design

AMD RIP

http://i-create.org/2008/06/15/amd-rip/

My AMD Died… Not that it is a big deal just didn’t last but 3.5 years. That kind of sucks worse yet I know that it is the processor the power unit / fan everything else works fine. There is no question about it the processor fried. Oh well, I guess I will use this as an excuse to build my own computer. I will strip the graphic card / hard drive out and build one from scratch. I love Amazon you can find excellent deals like the Intel DX38BT for $229 that is a steal of a deal. I keep most of my files on external hard drives so I don’t need to access it for a prolonged period of time. It just bums me out it was my super fast Ubuntu box now I am stuck with my sluggish Vista memory hog. Bookmark and Share More »Powered by Bookmarkify™

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i-create

June 14 2008, 11:45pm | Comments »

I posted to i-create.org

Unity3d and Other Rants

http://i-create.org/2008/06/10/unity3d-and-other-rants/

Unity3d just came out with support for the Wii! Unity is also going to be working on the iPhone soon. Thats cool so what is Unity? Unity is a game engine that allows developers to rapidly create games on multiple platforms. Unity also has a $200 indie developer license (please note the WiiWare licensed content I think is still about 5,000 dollars or more could be off on those digits but it is in the ball park) available so people who don’t really want to shell out a ton of money can purchase it and play with it to create content. Because unity3d (oh and FYI it was created with Mono) is a game engine you obviously will need a 3d creative suite and Blender 3d is just the tool for you. Blender has been around now for awhile and has many features that will help you create your 3 dimensional worlds with relative ease. Blender has a great deal of support in the open source community and has been used to create some movies and games. So check it out. As you might have heard by now (hopefully) Flash also has 3d support Astro (Flash Player 10) is going to have more hardware support. Currently in ActionScript 3 you have the ability to create 3d environments but if you are a sloppy coder your 3d environment might render slowly due to lack of hardware acceleration. Flash has been used to create some wonderful projects and you can view these by looking into PaperVision 3d (AS3), Sandy(AS2-3), oh and wouldn’t it be nice to do something with your 3d models in flash look at WOW or APE for physics. I also have been chatting on facebook with Benoit Beausejour he is a papervision developer recently check out some of his examples they are pretty cool. Below is an example of Unity3d in action. This reel was created by Raimund Schumacher a Unity 3d Devloper

In other news I have also been pretty busy working on our wedding site which will be up shortly. I have also been plugging away at converting iHang10.com to the new version of CakePHP 1.2 which is currently in Release Candidate 1. The new version has ACL built in so I had to strip out the current Action Control List. Anyway it has lots of features that are well worth a look so check it out. I have also been working on making i-create work on all browsers it currently works perfectly on ie6, ie7, Opera, Firefox 2 - 3, and Safari. So that about covers it I am going to go and enjoy the rest of my evening. Bookmark and Share More »Powered by Bookmarkify™

June 10 2008, 6:25pm | Comments »

I posted to i-create.org

Google App Engine Takes Off

http://i-create.org/2008/06/09/google-app-engine-takes-off/

It is no secret that google has been working on a host of web services that will compete directly with Amazon Web Services. These web services are made for hosting applications that grow to very large sizes (if the application takes off that is). The users get 500mb of storage for free which is a decent start. When you combine app engine with Open Social you have the ability to use App Engine as a hosting service for applications that can be used in social networking sites. I would recommend you check out their App Engine Gallery to see some of the benefits of using the platform. One potential weakness is it’s lack of PHP support but I can’t imagine they won’t implement PHP support soon enough. Although that is not really a huge deal if anything it is an excuse to learn something new. If you haven’t looked at PureMVC now you have an opportunity to use it. You can go to their website read up on it and look at their examples here is a blog that uses PureMVC python on App Engine. If you do not wish to use PureMVC you could always go with Django. Both of these technologies utilize the Model View Control design pattern if you are not familiar with that design pattern I advise looking into it. Bookmark and Share More »Powered by Bookmarkify™

June 9 2008, 8:01pm | Comments »

I posted to i-create.org

Yahoo Pipes + AS3 = Some Issues

http://i-create.org/2008/06/09/yahoo-pipes-as3-some-issues/

Well I have been working with ActionScript3 and come across a few gotchas. Here is my conundrum. Yes it is the infamous TypeError: Error #1085: This error occurs when an html tag is not closed properly. I have been using Yahoo Pipes and combining it with flash for fun and most of the time with good results. Unfortunately when you run into error #1085 everything stops or if the html is not correctly formatted even if you wrap it in a CDATA tag nothing appears. So that kind of sucks. I will look into creating a class that analyzes the string and corrects the issue but it may not even be possible to fix this error. Any way the code below works for the most part (as long as your html is coded correctly). It would be easy to say well why don’t you just fix the html which would of course be easy assuming it is mine but in this situation it is not…. I do love actionscript3 it is definitely what adobe needed to do with actionscript it is nice because ActionScript three is not so different from C# and it is a full blown object oriented programming language. I have also attempted to get the information in JSON and render it but of course I run into the same issue. I will have you know you can do some cool stuff with the JSON class. I will be posting a new AIR application within the next 4-5 months.

?View Code ACTIONSCRIPTstage.scaleMode = StageScaleMode.NO_SCALE; var myXML:XML = new XML(); var XML_URL:String = "http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=f207a19ea9a846e4ca242c5239a0d0df&_render=rss"; var myXMLURL:URLRequest = new URLRequest(XML_URL); var myLoader:URLLoader = new URLLoader(myXMLURL); //myLoader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, onComplete); myLoader.addEventListener("complete", xmlLoaded); var outXML:XMLList = new XMLList(); var rssOutput:String; function xmlLoaded(event:Event):void { myXML = XML(myLoader.data); if (myXML.namespace("") != undefined) { default xml namespace = myXML.namespace(""); } myHead_txt.htmlText="Digg News"+"RIA News"+"MXNA News"+"MSDN News"; for each (var item:XML in myXML..item) { var itemTitle:String = item.title.toString(); var itemDescription:String = item.description.toString(); var itemLink:String = item.link.toString(); outXML += buildItemHTML(itemTitle, itemDescription, itemLink); } XML.prettyPrinting = false; rssOutput = outXML.toString(); myText_txt.htmlText=rssOutput; } function buildItemHTML(itemTitle:String, itemDescription:String, itemLink:String):XMLList { default xml namespace = new Namespace(); var body:XMLList = new XMLList(); body += new XML("<strong>" + itemTitle + "</strong>"); var p:XML = new XML(" "+ ""+" ");//remove the CDATA tag this was only an attempt to correct fubared html //var img:XML = <img alt="" /> var link:XML = <a></a>; link.@href = itemLink; link.font.@color = "#990000"; link.font = "More..."; p.appendChild( ); p.appendChild(link); body += p; return body; }

Managed to fix some of my issues. You will notice when you send a yahoo pipe through a feed validation some pipes absolutely explode. So of course their not going to work with flash. One work around is an attempt to cleanse the pipe so to speak I have had good results sending a dirty pipe through the Dapper to clean it. It is a round about process but it seems to work just fine. I have to give the people at yahoo credit yahoo pipes is truly amazing. I am also confident in the final release they will have no issues. While looking for ways to clean dirty html / xml I managed to teach myself a great deal! I also found this article that discusses how to use pipes to send a feed through a web page to append information creating the clean output of an rss feed combined with an html web page chunk sound weird I know. This displays an interesting use of the HTML tidy service. Any way check it out here. Bookmark and Share More »Powered by Bookmarkify™

June 9 2008, 10:57am | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

Random Photographs

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/RandomPhotographs

Date: Nov 13, 2006Number of Photos in Album: 20View Album

June 7 2008, 11:35am | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

Random Photographs

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/RandomPhotographs

Date: Nov 13, 2006Number of Photos in Album: 20View Album

June 7 2008, 11:35am | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

Family

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/Family

Date: Dec 25, 2006Number of Photos in Album: 16View Album

June 7 2008, 11:29am | Comments »

I posted to i-create.org

A.vairy interesting site

http://i-create.org/2008/06/01/avairy-interesting-site/

Well if you haven’t heard that RIA are eventually going to rule the web and the fact that your desktop computer applications are on the cusp of converging on the web than you must be living in hole somewhere without the interent (in that case don’t read this it doesn’t concern You). So what the hell does that mean well we all know that mobile devices are the next big thing they are all going to communicate with the web and the web will actually host all of your applications. Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to synch your application well thats all going to happen quickly. Everything will be done on the web. How is this possible?? Rich interent applilcation are going to take us there thats how. You can create RIA in a number of ways one might ask well what are these technologies? RIA Technologies: Flash/Flex SilverLight/MoonLight AJAX Ok so thats nifty. Which one of these technologies should I choose? Well wouldn’t it be nice if you could have a standarized way of comparing these technologies side by side. Guess what people are out their right now implmenting just that take a look here. Your next thought is ok what is all of the fps stuff well it simple frames per second. Do you ever notice how your desktop is not a static enviorment. It doesn’t just sit their you are constantly interacting with it. It’s animated to give it that Microsoft patened “WOW” effect (insert sarcasm where ever). If you are a good student than your next resonable deduction of this brief look at RIA benchmarks is hey that flex/flash is out performing it’s competitors. So can you give me some examples.. Here is one innovative new application A.vairy just sit back and contemplate what this is and what it is capable of.

In case you haven’t heard all of the big players in the game are all in a race to place their applications on the web qucikly. Adobe, Microsoft, etc.. are all locked in a race to place their applications on the web. With the help of Moores law you will have small devices everywhere that communicate with the web. Do you know where Apples next fronteir is going to be? Your Home. People also use Flash in particular to generate new and innovative art. For example study the use of flash in generative art:

more art from Eric Natzke Bookmark and Share More »Powered by Bookmarkify™

June 1 2008, 12:05am | Comments »

I posted to i-create.org

Erin Go Bragh

http://i-create.org/2008/05/21/erin-go-bragh/

Just an fyi that means Ireland forever. It’s official Lisa and I are going to spend 10 days in Ireland after our wedding. We are going to do some sailing in Cork. We are going to visit the dover cliffs and more. We look foward to sharing our wedding with you! We have been busy saving for it so we hope you will enjoy it with us. We are also looking forward to catching up with our german friends in Dublin. –Sincerely Brendon Smith

FYI we are not going to the Blarney Stone it is a tourist trap and evidently the natives piss on it (so don’t kiss it).

Kissing The Blarney Stone, Blarney Castle, Ireland - The funniest home videos are here Bookmark and Share More »Powered by Bookmarkify™

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i-create

May 21 2008, 3:44pm | Comments »

I posted to i-create.org

C/C++ to ActionScript

http://i-create.org/2008/05/21/cc-to-actionscript/

What if Microsoft is not the only company with a multiple programming language translation tool built into their rich internet application platform? Wouldn’t it be nice to simply have a layer for flash that interprets code and then translates it into ActionScript in the blink of an eye.. Hmm.. I think this could be the start of something beautiful! This technology is a long way off of the Dynamic Language Runtime but it needs to start somewhere:

Check out the new Flash Player Astro. It has numerous new features:

3D Effects Custom Filters and Effects Advanced Text Layout Enhanced Drawing API Visual Performance Improvements

Oh and MoonLight 1.0 has been release for Linux supporting silverlight 1.0 application just an FYI. Bookmark and Share More »Powered by Bookmarkify™

May 21 2008, 2:53pm | Comments »

I posted to i-create.org

i-create V2

http://i-create.org/2008/05/21/i-create-v2/

Well I have decided to migrate my blog to wordpress 2.5.1 and I am pretty happy with it. I have cleaned up the database fixed numerous UTF-8/Latin encoding issues (got rid of 99% of the weird squiggly characters). I have decided that in wordpress there is beauty in simplicity (Sometimes less is more). I still have my drupal site and it will still be converted to 6 (I have 6 running locally) who knows maybe the next version will be less bloated. I have 99.9 percent of our wedding site finished and will post a link soon. I plan on working more on iHang10 and integrating a key chain for users that allows them to blog to multiple locations with one click (that way I don’t have to choose wordpress or drupal I can do both with one click). The application is still a long way off might be finished 100 development hours from now.. Anyway I’m lovin’ my new wordpress blog! I will also be updating my outdated portfolio site so please keep comin’ back:) i-create V1 Bookmark and Share More »Powered by Bookmarkify™

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New Features

May 21 2008, 2:49pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

NewYears2006Denver

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/NewYears2006Denver

Lisa and I visited her family in DenverLocation: Denver, CODate: Dec 25, 2006Number of Photos in Album: 12View Album

May 10 2008, 12:59pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

NewYears2006Denver

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/NewYears2006Denver

Lisa and I visited her family in DenverLocation: Denver, CODate: Dec 25, 2006Number of Photos in Album: 12View Album

May 10 2008, 12:59pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

Paintings

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/Paintings

Some of my PaintingsDate: Aug 15, 2007Number of Photos in Album: 3View Album

May 10 2008, 12:54pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

Brendon_And_Lisa

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/Brendon_And_Lisa

Date: Dec 25, 2006Number of Photos in Album: 4View Album

May 10 2008, 12:39pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

Brendon_And_Lisa

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/Brendon_And_Lisa

Date: Dec 25, 2006Number of Photos in Album: 4View Album

May 10 2008, 12:39pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

California

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/California

Random Photographs of CaliforniaLocation: Carmel, Santa Cruz, Yosemite National ParkDate: Apr 3, 2007Number of Photos in Album: 9View Album

May 10 2008, 12:38pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

TheGermans

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/TheGermans

Steffi came to Omaha Nebraska with Carolin all the way from Germany to study at Creighton University Medical Center. Steffi stayed with us for about 2 months and we had the pleasure of showing the Germans around the midwest we loved having them over. You will also find a picture of Alfie the dinosaur on Taco Ride currently Alfie is in Germany with Steffi .Location: Omaha, NEDate: Aug 8, 2007Number of Photos in Album: 45View Album

May 10 2008, 12:34pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

TheGermans

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/TheGermans

Steffi came to Omaha Nebraska with Carolin all the way from Germany to study at Creighton University Medical Center. Steffi stayed with us for about 2 months and we had the pleasure of showing the Germans around the midwest we loved having them over. You will also find a picture of Alfie the dinosaur on Taco Ride currently Alfie is in Germany with Steffi .Location: Omaha, NEDate: Aug 8, 2007Number of Photos in Album: 45View Album

May 10 2008, 12:34pm | Comments »

I posted to picasaweb.google.com

SantaCruz2007_April

http://picasaweb.google.com/Brendon.Smith9/SantaCruz2007_April

Lisa and I went to visit Mary & Mark in Santa Cruz April 26 2007 Lisa also ran in the Big Sur Marathon.Location: Santa Cruz, CADate: Apr 27, 2007Number of Photos in Album: 24View Album

May 10 2008, 12:21pm | Comments »

AMD RIP

Unity3d and Other Rants

Google App Engine Takes Off

Yahoo Pipes + AS3 = Some Issues

Random Photographs

Random Photographs

Family

A.vairy interesting site

Erin Go Bragh

C/C++ to ActionScript

i-create V2

NewYears2006Denver

NewYears2006Denver

Paintings

Brendon_And_Lisa

Brendon_And_Lisa

California

TheGermans

TheGermans

SantaCruz2007_April

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