Shunjie's blog

Hi guys, I have moved my blog to http://expertria.com

The reason I moved it because I am blogging lesser on MS stuff nowadays and more towards Rich Internet Applications and Web 2.0 stuff. So yah, keep me in your RSS reader if you still wanna support me. 

I am proud to annouce that Foodlane.sg has launched its long awaited feature, Foodlane Groups. Foodlane Groups allow users  to create their own groups (like Flickr Groups) and post their food images as well as to discuss about food and new food hideout. The interface is simple and tuned to be intuitive and straight forward. Hope you you guys can give support by taking a look / create a group. Even if you are not Singaporean,you can still join and discuss about food!

 Foodlane Group: http://foodlane.sg/pages/group

I love this feature by velvetpuffin whereby you can search youtube, metacafe, google and velvetpuffin video from its main page. Very fast retrieval speed as they use AJAX. The interface is very clean too without any advertisements. Just search all you want! You can also sms/email the video directly to your friends handphone without any registration and for free. 

Try it here: http://velvetpuffin.com/

There is a  new extension for firefox which allows you to digg the page you are on! Now, we are digg even more!

Read more here.

http://neothoughts.com/2007/04/27/firefox-extension-smart-digg-button/

I will like to congrats 2 of my friends, Joe Gui and Sandy for winning awards for their works this month!

A designer friend of mine, Joe Gui, has his site www.greenimagination.com showcased at New Web Pick and Webdesign.org

Check it out here: http://www.webdesign.org/showcase/site-of-the-day

and also my Flash designer colleague, Sandy, for winning Flash Goddess Award

Check out her site here: http://www.sandeestar.com/# 

Keep the good work up!  

I have just uploaded a new video for Icicle to let users see what Icicle is capable of doing using Apollo. It is also a sneak preview of what the users will be expecting in the next v0.3 release. 

In the next release, users can do the following:

In-Icicle opening of images, mp3 and videos

Finally, I manage to find some time to churn out Icicle V0.2, Apollo Edition ;)

About Icicle: Icicle is a desktop application powered by Apollo and Actionscript 3.0. Its a pure actionscript project (no mxml) that utilizes box.net api to allow users to access their box.net online files from their desktop. Currently, Icicle is in version 0.2 and supports the following operation:

1) Uploading of files/multiple files

2) Downloading of files

3) Rename/Delete/Move of files

4) Searching (via tag)

5) Adding/Removing/Editing of tags

6) Creation/Delete/Move of folders

Using Icicle, you interact your files around by 'tossing' them  around.

With V0.2, I added the following functionality:

Transparency support using Apollo. 

 
You can close /drag the application using the upper right hand corner controls

Look ma, my files are the same as my desk!


minimized mode. When Icicle is minimize, you will see a little small 'mini icicle' button near your system tray. Double click this to maximize Icicle. When Apollo adds drag and drop support, I will allow users to drop files onto the 'mini icicle' to easily upload files. ;)

Thanks to Darukusan for being my QA tester until this version.

You can download Icicle V0.2 here:

http://expertria.com/icicle.air 

Please inform me if you find any bugs/ feature request. Contact me at: shinchi@[no.spam]gmail.com ,  remove away the [no.spam]

Enjoy. ;)

I have just published icicle v0.12 on http://expertria.com/icicle/

 It now supports file search

As well as tagging

I will not add any more features to it now until I release an Apollo version. ;) 

Icicle now supports the following 3 new functions:

1) Reloading of Icicle application 

    - Click and hold for pie menu on the stage(any blank space). Choose "reload icicle"

2) Move files/folders to desktop

   - Click and hold for pie menu for any files/folder that is not root folders and choose "move to desktop"

3) Move files/folders

    - Drag any files/folders to another folder to move them to the new folder

If nothing goes wrong, I will release v0.2 (apollo version) by weekend which  will have file tagging functionality too

Icicle: http://expertria.com/icicle/ 

Icicle demo video can now be found on YouTube.

 Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsfebpGN6M4

Icicle is a flash user interface to online storage provider box.net. Using icicle, you can access your files at box.net. At 0.1, you can upload files, delete, rename, create folders and download them. In the upcoming 0.2, I will add in tagging, moving of files/folders as well as sorting. I am release this version so that I can receive feedback as well as any comments and bugs notification. Heres some how to use:

Logon to http://expertria.com/icicle/ and you will be greeted by this: 

Click on Next! to be redirected to box.net website.

NOTE: You will need to allow popup from expertria.com.

Enter your login and password. For demo, you can use the following credentials:

username: demo@expertria.com
password:demo@expertria.com

Once done, return to  icicle and you will see the files created on the desktop. You can do the following :

1) Click on a file and throw it around (yes, throw it around)

2) Draw a marquee to select multiple files

3) Click and hold on a file for a context menu

4) Click and hold on an empty area for a context menu

The default files do not have any names display. You may press "CTRL" to toggle file name

If you click and hold on a file/folder/empty area, you will get the Pie Menu. Move your cursor to the desired option and release.

All feedback are welcome. I will port this to Apollo when I release v0.2.
Icicle: http://expertria.com/icicle/

Contribution/Feedback/Hate Mail/Bugs: shinchi@[no.spam]gmail.com

After a long long long wait, apollo alpha is finally available for download. I will place some experimental applications which I built upon it over the next few weeks. 

Get it here:

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/apollo/ 

VelvetPuffin, a desktop + mobile application that enables social networking + IM is now live! VelvetPuffin integrates MSN, Yahoo and AIM Client and has image and blog functionality built into it. Even though I only take part in the project at its very last stage, I am still proud to see it go live. 



See its demo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKtieQzq4vQ

or simply try it out here: http://www.velvetpuffin.com
more on techcrunch: http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/04/velvetpuffin-launches-alwayson-social-network

And one more thing, its not done in Apollo. 

After viewing a cultinary show yesterday, me and my dear decide to cook a crab on our own. The name of the dish is called "Egg Crab" (lousy translation from chinese). My task is simple: kill the crab, wash it and chop it to pieces. After running from the kitchen to the desktop a few times (to read the "how-to chop a crab" article), I finally able to cut the crab into neat pieces(with some help from my sister) and then delegating the rest to my dear to place the finishing touch: Here is the final look of the dish:

It taste better than RSS. ;)

I do understand why they need a internet-connected fridge now. haha

Last month had been a busy month for me managing Pixel Reloaded as well as changing my job from a Flash Instuctor into a full time Actionscript Developer. 

Right now I am working everyday looking at Actionscript and getting some RIA to work. Well that sure takes away my rss feeding time(getting hungry) to minimum as well as my blogging time. In return, I get to spend time with..well..Actionscript everyday. In the time to come,I hope that I can switch back to training and development on free lance basis so that I can spend more time with foodlane to concentrate on the website development, as well as flexing with AS3.

I will continue to blog more on Flash, RIA as well as Flash Application Development until then!