iPhone Plist Tutorial
Posted on
Update 03/03/12: Please don't listen to this. Using JSON is highly preferred over Plists these days since JSON parsers have come a long way in speed. They are actually faster than binary plists now (which is nuts). Anyway, please, please, please don't use plists for your API. Generating them is slow and unreliable. You should use JSON. Period.
Many people transfer data to and from web services to the iPhone via JSON. This is a much better way than using XML. Parsing XML on the iPhone just plain sucks. It's overly complicated and super confusing. Currently the YouVersion app, Bible, uses JSON to transfer everything back and forth from the server and it all works great.
Hello World Again
Posted on
So here I am rewriting my blog. It's great fun. I love that it uses Markdown. You can read all about Markdown at Daring Fireball.
Counting to Infinity
Posted on
Chuck Norris has counted to infinity, twice.
Eleven At Night
Posted on
At 11pm I usually get the urge to go work out, go to the grocery, get some Taco Bell, etc. Most people make fun of me for this, but it is really some you should try. For example, when I just went to the grocery at about 11:30. I got there and got the closest parking spot. There were like two other customers in the store. There was no line when I went to check out, and then I walked through the cold to my car in a couple of seconds because I was parked so close. Awesome.
Compare that to going at noon on a Saturday or after work on a weekday. You have to park far away, it's crowded, you have to wait in line, and then walk all the way back to your car. Why would you do that?
This concept applies to the gym as well. I usually go about 10:30pm or 11:00pm. There are usually less than 10 people there so I don't have to wait to use any machines and there aren't those really intimidating, ripped beyond belief guys (you know the guys I'm talking about) either. I much prefer going late versus when it's crowded.
Why A Mac App Store Would Suck
Posted on
So recently TUAW did a story about how cool a Mac App Store would be. On the surface, this sounds like a great idea. As a developer, this is the last thing I would want.
There are some pros. Easily allowing anyone with a Mac to be able to search for my apps easily would be awesome. Also, having the ability to update apps automatically is really great too. Probably the best pro for me would be Apple handling taking money with all of the weird currencies. (I hate dealing with money.)
All of that is great, but for an app to be in Apple's App Store, they are going to want to review it and put it through some sort of approval process. For any apps doing unusual stuff or stuff that Apple doesn't really want you doing for whatever reason, won't make it in the store. The developers that have apps that can't get in the App Store would be screwed. People would probably be scared to get non App Store apps.