Apple Announces iOS SDK 4.3 For Developers

Developers are getting iOS 4.3 a little early I guess, to make sure there apps run on the new OS. Fun times. http://bit.ly/g3Aimw

Get your apps ready for iOS 4.3 which features faster Safari mobile browsing performance with the Nitro JavaScript engine, iTunes Home Sharing, enhancements to AirPlay, and Personal Hotspot. Be sure to update your iPad apps so they take advantage of iPad 2 features including the powerful Apple A5 chip, built-in front and rear cameras, and gyroscope.

Cool feature of 4.3 - AirPlay: Stream video from your app to a widescreen TV using new Media Player APIs that support AirPlay video. You can also update your web content to support AirPlay.

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Popup Video On Page Load

First let me say, there are probably a million ways to do this, and probably 99% of them are the right way, including my way.

Site: WordPress. The need: Pop up a video using Lighbox for a registered user. Record the video was shown to the user. Record in usermeta table. Don't show it again on subsequent visits. And lastly, make sure the video only plays on the Home page.

Works like a charm. The video pops up in a Lightbox window. Meets our needs.

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picplz for iPhone 1.5 released

via picplz:

We have just pushed a new update to the picplz iPhone app.

Changes:

• Speed improvements when browsing photos


• “Pull to refresh” support to update photo views


• Added contact search, it’s now easy to find people you already know on picplz


• New setting to disable GPS Data sharing


• High quality image setting now respects all image sizes


• Proper rotation support even when a user has Portrait Orientation Lock turned on.


• Bug fixes

Screenshots:

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Discussions On Software Development Newsletter

While looking at several ways to improve the reach of my Blog, and to try my hand at some new marketing, I've added a newsletter subscription widget to the sidebar. It's powered by MailChimp, and the goal is send something out on development at least once a month. Subscribe, an help me build the list. Thanks.

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Book Review: Be Our Guest

Sometimes small books carry big punches, and that's just what Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service (Amazon affiliate link) does. The funny thing is, Disney doesn't do anything small. If you want to get an insiders view of how Disney makes the world a happy place, this is the book for you.

When ever I read a book about a global brand, I try and find some small nugget I can use or pass along. Here are three things I took away:

• Employees are Cast Members
• Customers are Guests
• It's all about the Magic

The number one goal is for every Guest to have a magical time. First impressions make all the difference. An exceptional experience keeps guests coming back generation after generation.

Because employees are cast members, they are part of the experience. All the characters are accessible. A photo with Cinderella, Goofy or Micky lasts a life time, and is filled with a thousand memories. From everyone in the ticket booth, ride operators and characters are tasked with making everyones experience at a Disney property magical. There's no other outcome.

There's no mistaking that an over the top experience is the bottom line for Disney. They server millions of customers a year, so I consider them a leading expert in the field. You can't go wrong by giving your customers the same level of service.

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