New inflection trends

I've noticed some growing inflection trends - perhaps you have, too:

1. Rich Internet Application (RIA) websites - Popping up all over the web. Many new services are offering more content, context search and interfaces, more appealing and flexible presentations, etc. See My Yahoo, Yelp, Scribd, and RedBubble as examples - there are many more out there, too.


2. New object oriented languages that offer comprehensive web and OS integrations. For example, Ruby on Rails, Ramaze, etc., Visual Studio .NET, Java, and C++.


3. New simple but comprehensive configuration management tools: Atlassian, Git, SVN, etc.
   
4. New web development and testing tools. Far too many to list here - it's tough to keep up with everything that's appearing they're coming out so fast!


5. New interface APIs: Android, Yahoo! BluePrint, Palm Mojo, iPhone SDK, etc.


6. New cloud computing virtual servers and storage, making it easier to stage and test on the open Internet: Aptana Cloud, Amazon EC2, Amazon S3, and Zetta.

Despite the economy, it's a great time to be a developer or a tester :)

Interesting article on "The best smartphone OS"

Heads up: Highly subjective! Make sure to read some of the feedback comments, too. Nevertheless, entertaining and enlightening.

http://mobilitysite.com/2009/01/palmpre-vs-iphone-vs-winmo-vs-android-vs-blackberry-fight/

Fascinating websites

In the course of researching various topics, I came across the following websites, which are really cool:

• CafePress - Find that special T-shirt or (better yet) make your own.


• Git and GitHub - A new version control system and on-line open source repository.


• Google Code - Google's on-line, svn-based open source repository.


• RedBubble - Sort of like CafePress, but for graphic artists and photographers.


• Scribd - An on-line publication site, for free and "for fee" docs.


• Yahoo! Mobile - Yahoo! services for your mobile phone.

Enjoy!

How design completes the picture

For a fresh look at how design completes the picture, I suggest visiting the Michael Graves Design Group website. Here are examples of rethinking familiar everyday items in new and innovative ways. As you look at the items ask yourself, "Which would I rather buy? The design I'm familiar with or this one?" I think the answer will reinforce just how appealing and even compelling good design is.

Web paradigm shift

I reconnected with a friend (Rick) from a past job this week and enjoyed reading some interesting musings on his blog.

I think he raises a good question: Is the web is reaching an inflection point, where a fundamentally new direction will appear? Intuitively, the Web 2.0 stuff sure feels like one flag flapping in the wind.

For example, take the evolution from text-based tools in the late '80s to today's browsers. How many people even remember Archie or Gopher anymore?

Twitter

I tried it, but I came away less than impressed.

In particular, I found the "all or nothing" tweet privacy model unworkable. I also ran into a fair number of modality holes in the UI, where I couldn't return gracefully to previous areas, without resorting to clicking the browser's "Back" button, which felt unfinished or didn't work well.

I also gotta wonder how they're going to make on-going revenue from it?

I think Twitter is most useful to make others aware of breaking news, articles, books, links, insights, and stuff like that. But with regards to the trivia, nobody cares.

Quality time

OK, this isn't computing related. But as a father I found it inspiring, insightful, and worth sharing.

From Time's April 20 interview, with the champion swimmer Dana Torres:

Q: How did you juggle the demands of new parenthood with the intense training required to prepare for the Olympics?

DT: When I got back into swimming, I can't say it wasn't hard, because it was. I felt guilty. I would call the nanny every 10 minutes. What I do now is, I get my daughter involved in what I do. And that really helps out a lot.

Cloud Computing arrives

I first heard about Cloud Computing at the beginning of the year. At that time, CC was as nebulous as .NET when it first appeared on the scene. Sort of a technological mumbo-jumbo that was touted to become the next computing industry singularity.

After that, I saw how HP was packaging server blades in high-density, portable trailers to allow companies to expand services on demand.

Now, there are multiple cloud computing players, too. VMware has declared virtualization is the way, there are storage players, Cisco is selling computing solutions, and Oracle has snapped up Sun to position itself in the game.

Hmm. I'd say Cloud Computing is no longer just marketing; it's here and it's happening!

Testing Priorities for the new Web

In case it isn't already obvious, the future is Now. Web 2.0 is running in production at many sites; it's no longer sequestered just in research labs and academia.

Because of the increasing collaboration, social, and mash-up (uh, "syndication") features of Web 2.0, I think the following testing categories will gain in importance:

+ Performance (particularly scaling)
+ Security
+ Privacy

These categories will probably remain "about the same":

= Functionality
= Ease of Use
= Test automation

And finally, my intuition tells me that these categories will be "less emphasized":

- Cross-platform
- Multi-browser support
- Exhaustive test coverage

Netbooks: Really worth all the fuss?

They're trendy. Compact and able to surpass PDAs in a single bound. But some questions:

1. Do you have one?

2. Has it been a worthwhile investment?

3. How are you using it?

My assumption: If you're a frequent wireless Cafe visitor, then it's cool and probably indispensible. But personally, I'd rather have a five function PDA that will fit neatly in my pocket :)