Ronan’s Blog

Finally got around to breaking the seal on GTA IV last night and sat
down to play it for a good few hours.

First Impression: I don’t like it !

Firstly the new controls were terrible, I’d only ever played it on the PS2 &
PSP before and never on the XBox 360, so that could be different, but
switching the options to Classic controls soon fixed that.

Some of the new effects are great, and I love the new way of avoiding
the cops, but one function that I used to use almost every minute on the
PS2, was pressing L2 & R2 at the same time to fix the in-car view to be
straight ahead, pressing the right analog stick to do this not is a
pain!

The cell phone is good, and I like the way it has built in “trip-skip”
as introduced in Vice City Stories on the PSP.

I just found all the game to be far too dark, almost impossible to see
anything at all, its too polished, they are trying to make it look more
real, but its loosing the feel of a game, with the lack of bright
colours and obvious targets and certain simplicity.

I found myself yearning (first time I’ve ever used that word i think) for
the bright lights of Vice City with its smaller buildings and more
obvious roads, turns and directions.

Also, any time that the on-screen instructions appears, I simply could
not see which button the instruction was indicating that I should press,
it seems that you really must have a large HD TV in order to watch it -
My standard 28″ widescreen TV is obviously just not good enough.

Disappointed.

(Will I have to pay €1200+ on a new TV to be impressed - I wonder)

We’ve been doing a huge amount of JavaScript-Centric Online spatial data editing recently and so any browser comparison that compares JavaScript performance is always of interest.

So, I saw this link yesterday and gave it a read, which was extremely interesting reading - It seems to indicate that Firefox 3 runs JavaScript ten times faster than IE7!
Firefox 3 Performance Gets a Boost
1) Firefox 3 Nightly (PGO Optimized): 7263.8ms
2) Firefox 3 Nightly (02/25/2008 build): 8219.4ms
3) Opera 9.5.9807 Beta: 10824.0ms
4) Firefox 3 Beta 3: 16080.6ms
5) Safari 3.0.4 Beta: 18012.6ms
6) Firefox 2.0.0.12: 29376.4ms
7) Internet Explorer 7: 72375.0ms

So, naturally after seeing this I downloaded a copy of Firefox 3 (Beta 3), but I downloaded the Portable Version so that I could run it without uninstalling Firefox 2. When I then ran it I was truly amazed at the performance of JavaScript. We have major intensive code for performing vertex editing and point snapping, which ran amazingly quickly on Firefox 3 and had no issues with scalability compared to Firefox 2. I’m looking forward to the official release now.

I’m an avid reader and once I get my teeth into a good book, that’s me set off on a reading splurge that lasts books after book until I encounter something awful that puts me off reading and sits idle beside my bed for a few months. This summer however (helped by a two week holiday in Portugal) I’ve read a lot of books and hear in a very quick format are some reviews:

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen
Now I absolutely detest all period drama or anything set during the 1800’s, but Tess’s books are so well written that they really suck you in. I enjoyed this as I have all her books.
8/10

Gravity by Tess Gerritsen
An interesting departure here for Tess, bordering on Sci-Fi with so much of the book set in the International Space Station. I was hooked, but the girlfriend found it a tougher read. Its the first Gerritsen book that really jumps out at me as a movie possibility.
9/10

The Accident Man by Tom McCain
A fast paced thriller following the events occurring in the aftermath of a car crash in a tunnel in Paris. Everything a thriller novel should have. Reminded me a lot of Jason Bourne. Possibly the best book I’ve read all summer
9.5/10

The Killing Ground by Jack Higgins
Picked this one up in the hotel lobby for reading by the pool. I thought it was terrible. Lacking in development and suspense as the story jumped place to place. I was looking forward to the end from the half way point.
4/10

The boy in the striped Pyjamas by John Boyle
Really short book this one, I got through it in about 2 hours. Good little story, if a little obvious. Dressing up parts of the Holocaust in a sort of children’s story will not be for everyone The writing from the child’s point of view is interesting, but only for about the first 3 chapters.  I’ve just noticed that its being made into a Movie
5.5/10

I, Lucifer by Glen Dunard
For me this was a high concept novel and once it had been put out there it got stale quickly and I found myself losing interest. I was quite bored nearing the end and can’t say that I’ll be queueing up for the Movie when its released next year.
5/10

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
Harlan is probably my favourite author right now. This is another stand-alone novel, so not part of the Myron Bolitar series. I re-uses some characters from his previous (and far superior book) “The Woods”. Not strictly a page turner as the suspense was getting a little out of control throughout and once it all came together at the end it felt somewhat unsatisfying.
6.5/10

The Richard Hammond Autobiography
I got two copies of this for Excess-mas last year. After returning one the otehr had been gathering dust, so it found its way into the holiday bag. It starts off well, charting his early life and charting his career as it varied from place to place until he got to Top Gear. Then once reached the famous crash (just before half way) the rest is mainly told by his wife and almost a minute-by-minute account of his struggle for life, recovery and rehabilitation. This one got left in the hotel lobby for someone else.
5/10

A short History of nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
I love this, full of interesting anecdotes and explanations for how things have come to be what they are today. Its a book that everyone who thinks that they would be interested in, should read. Most of it is very interesting and enjoyable; however, at times it does meander a little and you may find yourself counting the pages to the next chapter. I enjoyed it immensely, although I did find it a little weird to be reading about Quantum Physics when lying on a sun bed on the beach… I had to put it down and go jump in the sea at that point.
8/10

The Third Policeman by Flan O’Brien
Oh dear. I bought this after hearing a review on Today FM. If it wasn’t so short it definitely would be the one sitting beside my bed for a few months. Its extremely painful. And once finished the book the “Publishers Note” that was added at the end, in efforts make things clearer (although being kinda obvious the whole time) just annoyed me even further. It was like a publishers admittance that “Yes, this book is shite, but think of it again in THIS light”. This was painful. I’ve bought two other books based on review by the same person which I’m about to start, I pray they are not 1/2 as bad!
1.5/10

Never has a hardware device been more talked or blogged about than the iPhone. Frequently these articles talk about forthcoming firmware versions and feature wish-lists. Invariably, top of these is the elusive “Copy & Paste” feature. Understandably so, given any web enabled device and the nature of many URL’s, typing them on the on-screen keyboard can be very difficult.

The solution I imagine for Apple to provide such a copy and paste feature, would be a re-designed on-screen keyboard with an extra tab containing the past few pieces of text copied, perhaps with some templates. Then selection of text in the many different areas (SMS messages, e-mails, browser text, app store, etc), would be the main challenge, and lets face it, not a trivial one. So lets give this one a break…. iPhone Copy & Paste is not gonna come any time real soon. I’ll look out for it in firmware 3.0

Now on to my point for posting….. One feature that all iPhone users really should have at the top of their Wish-Lists… Text Forwarding!

Its extremely annoying when you get a text containing info that you need to pass on to someone else. Simple text forwarding would resolve this. Yes, I know that copy & paste would also allow for it and yes there may be a 3rd party app via Cydia that allows for it, but you really want the official software to have the capability.

Surely adding this capability, would not be too hard …. Press your finger on a text for 3-5 seconds, get a popup with options, incliding a forward, clicking forward opens a new message for you, with the text pre-populated. Simple. Fingers cross that we see this from Apple sooner rather than later!

So, 12 days ago (16-Feb) I bought an (unlocked) iPhone on eBay. The total price was €355 including delivery.

3 days later eBay informed me that the seller had had their account suspended and that I was to put a claim into PayPal to re-claim my losses. The seller gave me a tracking id and assurance that the iPhone was on its way.

I’ve not yet received the iPhone, but (I’m pretty sure) this is due to postage. The cheaper postage on the item means that it will take 2-3 weeks to get the phone.

However, today O2 Ireland in the Irish market on March 14th for €399, plus a minimum contract of €45 per month. Which is slightly cheaper than what I paid for my phone, but this has the added benefit of having guaranteed support and working functions, although the price plans are pretty bad, especially compared to UK rates, as covered elsewhere.

Since the iPhone hasn’t arrived yet and I’m off to Austria Skiing/Snowboarding (Not yet decided which) on Saturday morning by the time I get back there will be little difference between activating my phone (presuming it has arrived) and getting one off O2. So, right now, I’m kinda hoping that my iPhone doesn’t show up at all and that I can re-claim all €355 through Paypal. Then just get one directly from O2 without any hassle.

This has long been coming. I’m sick of being told to turn off my MP3 player or PSP on planes, dispite already having the Wireless capability turned off.

My new iPhone ans an “Airplane Mode” which turns off phone operation, bluetooth and WiFi functionality, but airlines in Europe still demand that they are turned off. Airlines in America usually say that laptops can be used but request that Wireless capability is turned off during take off and landing.

Technically there is no reason for these devices to be turned off on a plane… Irritation wise though, it looks as if we are about to get a new kind of airplane nuisance; coming in just behind the screaming baby, but ahead of the constant seat recliner will be the loud business call dealer, who is just so important that they can’t stay off their phone for just a few minutes.
BBC NEWS | Technology | Approval for mobiles on aircraft

My brother has launched his Artwork Website advertising his excellent paintings, and since I helped out on the website I feel it only appropriate to mention it here.

I currently have the “Laurel & Hardy” picture hanging in my Spare room and it looks great!
Give the website a look, at: http://www.iconartwork.com/

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I got this today, one of the only times that I have ever got SPAM through our filters in the office, right into my Inbox, I couldn’t stop laughing reading it, so here it is copied exactly………

I am very sorry XXXXXXX, is a pity that this is how your life is going to end as soon as you don’t comply. As you can see there is no need of introducing myself to you because I don’t have any business with you, my duty as I am mailing you now is just to KILL you and I have to do it as I have already been paid for that.

Someone you call a friend wants you Dead by all means, and the person have spent a lot of money on this, the person also came to us and told me that he wanted you dead and he provided us with your name ,picture and other necessary information’s we needed about you. So I sent my boys to track you down and they have carried out the necessary investigation needed for the operation on you, and they have done that but I told them not to kill you that I will like to contact you and see if your life is Important to you or not since their findings shows that you are innocent.

I called my client back and ask him of your email address which I didn’t tell him what I wanted to do with it and he gave it to me and I am using it to contact you now. As I am writing to you now my men are monitoring you and they are telling me everything about you. Now do you want to LIVE OR DIE? As someone has paid us to kill you. Get back to me now if you are ready to pay some fees to spare your life, $15,000 is all you need to spend You will first of all pay $8,000 then I will send a tape to you which i recorded every discusion i had with the person who wanted you dead and as soon as you get the tape, you will pay the remaining $7,000. If you are not ready for my help, then I will carry on with my job straight-up.

WARNING: DO NOT THINK OF CONTACTING THE POLICE OR EVEN TELLING ANYONE BECAUSE I WILL KNOW.REMEMBER, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS YOU VERY WELL WANT YOU DEAD! I WILL EXTEND IT TO YOUR FAMILY, INCASE I NOTICE SOMETHING FUNNY. DO NOT COME OUT ONCE IT IS 7:PM UNTIL I MAKE OUT TIME TO SEE YOU AND GIVE YOU THE TAPE OF MY DISCUSSION WITH THE PERSON WHO WANT YOU DEAD THEN YOU CAN USE IT TO TAKE ANY LEGAL ACTION. GOOD LUCK AS I AWAIT YOUR REPLY THROUGH killersquad10@gmail.com

I’m seeing a lot lately about Global Warming and minimizing your own personal carbon footprint and it really makes my blood boil. this Irish government has launched a service on the website www.change.ie where you can calculate your own carbon footprint and get hints as how to lower it.

The world at large seems to think that switching to hybrid engine and lower emissions cars and making other small changes to how you live can have a major impact on global warming.

Pure bullshit !

Allow me to present exhibit A: The Baijigou Coal Mine in China

This Coal Mine has been on fire since 1865!!!
Each and every month it emits almost the same amount of CO2 as the entire country of Ireland.
It has not been put out let, as its too difficult to do, and China can’t really be bothered.

So, do you really think that you personally can make a difference in the world ?

Today I read an Article about the use of Regular Expressions.
It could be boiled down to saying: “Regular Expression are cool & useful, but be careful and use sparingly“.
This made me wonder about Regular Expressions in my own code, and sure enough one popped to mind.
I wrote some regular expression code to anaylse String to see if they contain MAC Addresses in Java.
(Still useful code for those that have not yet moved to Java 6).

The difficult in recognising MAC addresses is that on different Operating Systems they are represented differently, with either a : or a - character in between each tuple or sometimes only having one HEX character in one or both of the first two tuples.

So, to avoiding writing complex code for each possible eventuality, this is the perfect opportunity to use Regular Expressions. At the core of this example is the following pattern:

Pattern macPattern = Pattern.compile( “(([0-9a-fA-F]){1,2}[-:]){5}([0-9a-fA-F]){1,2}” );

This pattern allows for 5 occurances of 1 or 2 HEX Characters followed by a : or - character then another occurance of 1 or 2 HEX Characters.

Once this is in place, the rest of the Java code is simply to read in the text containing the MAC address (either from file or via a Runtime Process) and look for instances of the MAC Address pattern in the line:
String[] macs = macPattern.split( theLine );