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Cocoa version of YAPT

By on July 12, 2006 in Science

As I said in a previous post I was switching the development of YAPT from REALbasic to Xcode. This was due to an overall slowness in the GUI in the REALbasic version. There was an irritating delay in activation and deactivating the buttons for each element when switching the application to and from the front on screen. Also the About… dialog box was sluggish in displaying. Add in the fact that REALbasic can’t create Universal Binaries for Intel based Macs yet.

The first development version of the Xcode Universal Binary version of YAPT is now available. It’s much snappier in use and uses the Cocoa framework and Applescript. Only Hydrogen and Helium do anything at present. I plan to finish the interface using these two elements and then add information for the other elements once I’m happy with the layout etc. I’d be interested in any comments. This switch to using Xcode and Cocoa means that YAPT will be Macintosh only. There will not me a Windows or Linux version. There are plenty of other Periodic Table applications for those platforms anyway. Actually there are several for Macintosh as well but I don’t like them 🙂

Cocoayapt Click Picture for larger view

Herman Miller Mirra chair

By on July 3, 2006 in Technology

I needed a new chair to use at my desk. After much research I settled for a Herman Miller Mirra. It’s good. Still tweaking the various settings but so far it’s very comfortable and should help prevent back issues due to spending a lot of time at the desk writing, typing and computing in general. Click picture for larger view.

YAPT update

By on June 10, 2006 in Science

It’s been a while since I posted about YAPT. I said I was going to release early and often. Not much has happened on the often front…

I’ve decided to develop this using Cocoa rather than REALbasic. This means that there will not be a Windows or a Linux version. I’m doing this for fun and recreation, and as such I want to use the Xcode and Cocoa so I learn how to use them.

New MacBook

By on May 20, 2006 in General

I’ve ordered a new black MacBook (or BlackBook as they are increasingly being referred to). I’m glad I returned my MacBook Pro now. The new BlackBook has everything I need in a portable and from what I’ve read so far the case on these doesn’t get as hot on the top as the MacBook Pro does. This is to be expected as the polycarbonate case is not as good a conductor or heat as the aluminium in the MacBook Pro case. I expect the fans to have to work a bit harder to pump the heat out of the case. I can live with this. The BlackBook is more or less the same size and has the same screen resolution as the titanium PowerBook I use at present. Except the BlackBook will be about 5 times faster. The only concern I have is the glossy screen. We’ll see how that performs. I like the black case with the white glowing Apple logo. I had a PowerBook G3 Pismo before the titanium PowerBook and really like the way it looked.

According to the TNT parcel tracking page my BlackBook left Suzhou in China about an hour ago 🙂

YAPT

By on May 7, 2006 in Science

I’m developing a MacOS X and Windows application to use in the chemistry courses I do with the Open University (OU). It shows the long form of the Periodic Table of the Elements and displays information about the elements that I need when doing the courses. It’s pretty rudimentary at present but it’ll get better. Working on the “release early, release often” principle I’m making it available for download for anyone who wants to use it and also shape the direction it goes in the future. Here is a screen shot from the Macintosh version.

The colours used in the application are taken from the periodic table used in several Open University chemistry courses, like S205. At present only Hydrogen, Helium and Lithium have any data for the few fields that are available. All the rest of the elements will just display their name when clicked. You can copy the fields that are populated and paste the data into other apps. This’ll be one of the main uses for the app for me. If I’m writing, in Word for example, I’ll be able to cut a needed piece of data from YAPT and paste it into Word. All of the elements have a tool tip that shows the Name, Symbol and Relative Atomic Mass when you hover the mouse over them.

BTW the name YAPT is an acronym for Yet Another Periodic Table. There are loads of periodic table applications out there after all. This one will be focused on providing the data I need when doing the OU chemistry courses in particular and other OU science courses in general.

MMS 2006 – San Diego

By on April 23, 2006 in General

I’m in San Diego for the Microsoft Management Summit 2006. My first impressions of San Diego are good. It’s a nice modern city. The Gaslamp Quarter is very nice, as is the hotel I’m in. Very Shinny! Here is a picture of the city taken from the floating museum, USS Midway.

Sandiego

Apple Hot plate

By on April 8, 2006 in Technology

I bought a MacBook Pro. I took it back a few days later. I already have a cooker in my kitchen. I didn’t need another one. Boy did that thing get hot. The serial number indicated it was manufactured in week 9. There is anecdotal evidence that those with week 12, 13 or later serial numbers run less hot. I’ll wait until later in the year and get one after a revision of the design I think.

Towards 2020 Science

By on March 24, 2006 in Science

This weeks Nature journal has a series of articles on the future impact of computers on science. The articles are all free for non-Nature subscribers. This access is sponsored by Microsoft Research who have a site on the Towards 2020 Science project.

You can download the 2020 report from the site or request a print copy. It’s a weird paper size so requesting a print copy might be a good idea. The Nature Podcast this week also includes info on ion channels and Towards 2020 Science. Available via the Apple iTMS (you need iTunes installed for this) or at the Nature site directly.

The 2020 stuff is really good if you are interested in the interface between computing and science.

Scientific American Podcast

By on February 13, 2006 in Science, Technology

Scientific American has started a podcast. The first one is available via links at their site. First impressions are good. It’s got subdued production values and gives you information without a lot of gee-whiz bells and whistles getting in the way.

The TV show CSI gets a mild ribbing as well at the end of the podcast 🙂

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