Heading to a meeting the other day I was listening to business talk radio (what can I say, I am addicted to knowledge) and hear the announcement that Microsoft is releasing Windows 8 Preview version.

Being the early adapter that I am, I download the install and stick it on my laptop as soon as I can get my curious techno-geek hands on it.

To my surprise the install (upgrade from windows 7) is very easy and completes without a glitch.
Wow! One for Microsoft and Windows 8!

Once I get it installed and the new "start Screen" loads it looks very cool! A full screen with a bunch of blank widgets.
Ok... what next? Click, click click... Nothing! I, The Techno-Geek, am lost!
Where is my start button? Oh, It's replaced with this screen (The "Start" Screen) I get it now. There needs to be an intro video after install. I am hoping they provide one in the final release.

So let's dig deeper and customize it... Again, no help anywhere in the system! (It appears)
Finally I decide I am going to just type what I'm looking for since there is nowhere to type on the screen it would make sense that if I started to type it would know what I was trying to do and bring me to a search field or something.... And holy cow! It did!
After digging around a bit I have to admit, I kind of like it. For business, I'm not so sure; too much personal stuff shows up on the Start Screen (once you set it all up).
I will, of course, continue to play with Windows 8 and see where it takes me. I will say this, "Microsoft, Your still not Apple but it looks as though you're heading in the right direction."

This entry was posted on March 2, 2012 at 1:31 PM and has received 444 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

I have been a ColdFusion developer for many years and have created some really cool technologies for some really cool companies for some really great pay.

Today's discussion is about trying to collect from companies that don't like to pay and what happens when they don't.

During the Dot Com days we never had to worry about getting "the check" and most of the time we would get payments in advance. That is no more. Today companies are very leery about deposits as there are so many "developers" that "take the money and run"

I am going to tell a little story about a company that we will call ABC Corporation. I started developing an application for ABC Corp and all was well, I would send them an invoice every month and they would send out checks regularly without delay. The problem came once the application was complete. I sent the final invoice for $xx,xxx.00 and to my surprise I started getting the run around. Was there a problem with the code? Did I let them down in some way? Do they not like my name? What could the problem be?

With contract in hand, my attorney took them to court. They didn't show... I win! They get the order and still no check! Back to court goes my lawyer (Ringing up that bill). Now I'm no lawyer but from what I understand my lawyer asked for ABC to be in contempt of a court order. The judge says, "We will give them another chance and send another notification" Hmmm... what if I ignored a court order???

Ok.. Another 3 months pass and NOTHING! Back to court again. This time it is brought to my attention, via my very expensive attorney, that as a corporation there really isn't anyone individual to hold liable for the court order.... Not even the person that signed the contract.

I guess I would like to know what some of you would suggest and any successful ways you have collected money (Legally).

This entry was posted on February 18, 2011 at 10:01 AM and has received 1006 views. There are currently 5 comments. Print this entry.

Twitter with the help of Ray Camden got my panties in a bunch about the Apple restrictions situation. Thanks Ray for getting me thinking :)

My initial thought about Apple controlling what we can/can't install on OUR hardware was this... "Are you kidding? I OWN this piece of hardware you are calling YOURS!" Then I started developing for iOS and really hated Apple for rejecting my apps for not including enough functionality of the iPad. But my app doesn't require it to be viewed sideways OR upside down. I guess "my app" would make the commercial that states you can use the iPad "ANY way you want" incorrect.. I think they really meant "any way WE want".

So... I dumped my iPhone, switched to Sprint and got me a Google phone. Now I can build ANYTHING I want. So like any kid with a new toy I downloaded all kinds of cool apps. Here's the problem... When an app says it needs access to your phonebook you do not know WHAT the developer is doing with it. That's right... I built an app that says it will use the Internet and it will use the phonebook and I could transfer YOUR data to MY servers. WHAT?? Try it!

So I built the same app for iOS and got denied. Well that's a good thing.

Being a ColdFusion developer since the beta days I was dragged into being a lover of anything Adobe. (I can assure you that I was NOT kicking and screaming) When I heard about the battle between Adobe and Apple I was less than happy with Apple yet again. Being a PC guy for my WHOLE life and newly involved with Apple products I was not sure it would be a good decision to go Mac. I went to RIA Unleashed last year and all the developers I have known since the Allaire days were all on Macs while Ernie Breau and I were on our Dells. Ok... they must know something I don't... I'll give it a go. I fell in love with my iMac and found I was using it as my main machine. Was it the fact that it NEVER crashed? Was it the fact that no matter my surfing habits my computer remained spyware free? I don't know. I think it was the fact that the hardware really is better than any other PC I have ever used.

So what is the point of my ramble? Although most do NOT agree with the fact that Apple prevents you from installing apps that they do not approve, I kind of like it. Being a developer I have family and friends calling me all the time about their phones and can I help them fix it. What I see is this... If Apple allowed BAD code to be put on their phones, people (end users) would blame the phone... Not the app. We, as developers, have seen this many times I am sure. Especially those of us that build web based apps.

This blog is open for discussion as long as it remains objective and not just uneducated bashing.

This entry was posted on February 2, 2011 at 4:37 PM and has received 1081 views. There are currently 8 comments. Print this entry.

I am preparing to launch KitchenAttendant (www.kitchenattendant.com), one of my applications I have been working on for 10 years. KitchenAttendant is the first of its kind, in home bar coding system that allows users to monitor and maintain their grocery inventory from any web enabled device.

Some of the features are:
Recipes:
You can search recipes by category.
You have the option to search recipes that are healthy. (KitchenAttendant can keep you and your family on the right track to healthy eating)
KitchenAttendant will show you what the nutritional value is of a recipe (No estimating because KitchenAttendant knows exactly what brand ingredients will be used in your recipe)
You can search recipes that are required for a special diet (lactose intolerant, Diabetic, etc.)
KitchenAttendant will show you appropriate recipe yielding for your family. (You made a 4 Lb. meat loaf and threw away ¼ of it. KitchenAttendant will suggest a 3 Lb. meat loaf for your family from now on)
Remember, KitchenAttendant can show you recipes that can be made with ingredients that are currently in your kitchen. (No need to even see recipes you cannot make right now)

The application also notifies the client of recalls on anything in their house or possible allergies.

The way KitchenAttendant makes money is by couponing. This will be explained once I feel we have a connection.
KitchenAttendant has been self funded up to this point and now I am looking for the right partner to bring it to market.
I am NOT looking for a money company. I am looking for a partner than can bring business sense as well as funding to this project. I am an executive level application developer and have consulted for many large companies and universities as their CIO. A good launch requires a good CEO and I recognize that it is not my strong point.
This position will require an investment so please do NOT contact me if you are looking for a sweat equity deal.
Feel free to contact me at 866-488-3622 x 705

David Vaccaro

This entry was posted on January 25, 2011 at 6:01 PM and has received 657 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Ok, so the last few days I have been playing with Ray Camden's BlogCFC and I realized that I am a stubborn old coder.

First of I have to say I am guilty of using tables more than I should. CSS is still a dirty word to me when it comes to anything other than fonts and colors. I am sure there are plenty of you older coders out there that are guilty of the same.

I also am still stuck in the CF studio error. I know, I know, CF Builder does great things and EVERY event that I go to that shows all of it's greatness I swear (THAT DAY) I'm switching.

So here is my dilemma... I have been self-employed as an application developer for 15 years and have been coding for a few years prior. "So what?", you say? So this! Time is money... The faster I work the more money I make. In other words If I am doing a contract worth $20 and I finish it in 10 hours I make $2 an hour. But if I use tools I know like the back of my hand I could finish that same job in 5 hours now making my hourly rate double to $4 per hour and giving me more time for other contracts. (Same quality code)

So why am I blogging about this you ask? Not really sure. It could be a cry for help. Ok... it IS a cry for help. I would LOVE to know how some of you more experienced coders (By that I mean OLDER) have made the transition and I would love some advise on the pains and profits on switching to the newest tools.

I am mainly talking about CSS and CF builder. But comments on anything or motivational stories would be great.

Convince Me!!

This entry was posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:42 PM and has received 777 views. There are currently 2 comments. Print this entry.

Ok, So here is my RANT of the moment.
I just moved to the north shore of Mass from the south shore to open a new office for KitchenAttendant (www.kitchenattendant.com).
I gained occupancy to the new house on January 1, 2011 and have NOT received one single piece of mail as of January 6th.
As a business owner I tend to rely on the postal service to receive checks and am expecting.

Contacting the local post office to share my concern and maybe get an explanation was the step of the day. Was it that I didn't clear the post lady's path properly? Or maybe it had something to do with the fact that I have a mail slot instead of a mailbox. Either way I was looking for an answer as to why I have not received anything... not even junk mail.

My first call to the East Lynn post office was not too bad and rather pleasant. The gentleman that I spoke to said he would contact my mail carrier, find out if there was a problem and call me back the next day.
Needless to say, the next day (1/7) came but still no mail and much to my surprise, no call back. Hmm. He must be working on it right?

At this point it's 10 days later (1/17) so I decide to call again. This conversation was a little annoying to say the least. I explained to this woman that I had not received one single piece of mail and was wondering why and where my mail would be so I could just pick it up. The woman I spoke to was not so educated (in my opinion of course). She asked if I had done an address change. I said, "Yes, on December 30th." She then asked if I received the confirmation letter in the mail. WHAT??? I think that would have fallen into the "NOT ONE PIECE OF MAIL" statement. Needless to say I was NOT getting my mail issue squared away with this one. I had too much work to do that day so I ended the call and got back to my ColdFusion Coding. Much more reliable and friendly. :)

Now January 17th, I call the Postmasters' office and get a person that says that if I didn't get my change of address confirmation at my new address that I would have to contact Canton post office (where I moved from). I had to question why my mail would be going to Canton when the address on the mail would be my new one. The answer was, "If you are listed at a specific address you can NOT get mail at another address until the change of address has been completed." OK? Another one. So I asked, as politely as my slightly aggravated, sarcastic, Boston ways would allow, "So you're telling me that if I own two houses in Massachusetts, I can only get mail at one of them? I'm pretty sure you are incorrect about that and I would like to speak with someone that can actually help me and not just make up stuff to get off the call!" A little rude maybe, but I want my mail. Another day of postmasters and another day of NON-answers.

So here it is January, 18th.
I called the Boston Postmaster the King of all and explain my issue AND the new issue I have found, No one at the post office knows what they are talking about. He took my new address, put me on hold, came back and said he notified my mail carrier that I was there and mail should be delivered.

About an hour later I heard the mail flap ping...
Could it be? "MAIL!!" Just residential mail (ValPak) but nonetheless my mail lady delivered SOMETHING and now knows I'm there and mail delivery should be normal from this point on.

Jeez!

This entry was posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:46 AM and has received 699 views. There are currently 2 comments. Print this entry.

Just wanted to make my first post a quick one and thank Ray Camden for such a great blog.
I will be making posts on my opinions, new findings and new developments in this crazy world of technology.
My area of intrests are ColdFusion (of course), Flex, IOS, Android, jQuery and most new technologies.

This entry was posted on January 18, 2011 at 4:48 PM and has received 511 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.