jhacks

My phone contract is up soon and getting a new phone. Along with that, I have been contemplating replacing my tablet (Nexus 10) or getting a phone that complements my tablet usage. I'm curious what others think and devices they themselves have and find useful.

I currently have the Galaxy Nexus which has a 4.65 inch screen. It's definitely the smallest I would go with a screen. To me, the size is great for a phone and borderline too small for web browsing and what not. It works but not ideal at all. For that reason, I have been considering the Note 3.

Although I love stock Android, the size and feel of Note 3 is great. However, having never really USED it, I wonder if not being able to utilize it one handed (small hands) would be detrimental. However, it's "phablet" size would make it more usable for web browsing, emails, media, and so on. Perhaps replacing the need for a smaller tablet?

If it does indeed replace the need for a smaller tablet, then maybe I keep my Nexus 10? However, I do find it cumbersome. I never really bring it anywhere since if I'm bring my bag I have my laptop anyway. It is bigger for watching movies and such, but is something the Nexus 7 so bad? I've used them for web browsing and the size is nice to hold one handed and two handed I can actually reach all over the screen with thumbs (need to move entire arm for Nexus 10).

If the Nexus 7 is in fact a more enjoyable experience... then I have to reconsider the phablet (Note 3) since do I really want to devices close in size (if only the leaked Nexus 8 was real and being sold... that might work!)? So, if I decide on a Nexus 7 then maybe I get a smaller phone like my Galaxy Nexus (i.e. Moto X, Nexus 4, or Nexus 5).

Anyway, I just don't know, lol. Curious as to what others think and what device combinations they currently have.

Thanks!

I am looking to get a laptop and am looking to spend as little as possible for something that can handle multiple internet tabs and code editor (once in a while I might use vector software Inkscape). What do you guys suggest? I prefer Intel (i3 probably fine) over AMD processor. I would also like a 13 - 14 inch screen with a nice (backlit perhaps) keyboard. I'm fine with refurbished / used but just don't wanna get screwed over that way. Any suggestions appreciated. If you live near NYC and wanna sell a laptop, then let me know!

I'm looking for a bit of guidance with frontend development.

I started out knowing very little... just a passion to learn and build my startup. I have been able to work through the frontend (I'm a competent designer) while my co-founder handled the backend.

I now consider myself comfortable with HTML, CSS and jQuery. However, while a mock frontend is getting there, it's obviously not enough. I started using jQuery to handle AJAX calls to load in JSON data. I quickly recognized it could get overwhelming, so I have decided to jump into Javascript MVC frameworks (specifically AngularJS). However, I feel like there are just a lot of basic fundamentals I'm missing.

After reading this http://blog.artlogic.com/2013/05/02/ive-been-doing-it-wrong-part-1-of-3/ and being directed to the ngBoilerplate build system (http://joshdmiller.github.io/ng-boilerplate/#/home) I realized that there were some things I'd never dealt with:

1. Testing. My "testing" consists of just reloading a browser page and reworking code until it works as intended. I know there are far more efficient methods. And I know that testing is essential (my co-founder writes tests in Rails before writing up functionality sometimes), but for frontend development when and where is it applicable? What framework (i.e. Jasmine?) to use? And I'm sure there questions I don't even know to ask.

2. Task Runner (ngBoilerplate uses Grunt) - a bunch of automation that I'm sure I'll want to use, but would love to know more about when and why.

3. Directory Structure - by file type or feature (ngBoilerplate suggests this)? Pros/cons? Best practice?

Obviously these are just the things included in ngBoilerplate I wasn't sure about. But I know there might be even more.

So, any help is greatly appreciated. It's a bit overwhelming as diving into the Javascript MVC stuff, but I want to make sure I have all the bases covered first. I think getting a stronger foundation will go a long way.

It has always been hard.

From time to time I get very invested and lost in my work (I work in finance) but I usually drift and think of my startup. I make sure to never actually work on anything at work but sometimes I'll read relevant news, Google to solve coding questions / issues I have and so on. Then some days it is just terrible. Literally just sit there staring at my computing in this sort mental pain and frustration.

My job is actually pretty good! illt really is ideal for what it is (accounting background and in corp finance). I certainly would be happy (presumably) if not for my newfound love of coding and creating spurred by my startup. But I can't help be so passionate for my startup that it remains on my mind all the time.

I just wish I could get a REAL month to work on it. Wake up and get to have nothing else in my way. The day job tires me out.

What do you do to get through it? I really can't afford to be without any income just yet unfortunately. At least the startup has monetization strategy baked in but with that isn't an option yet.

Any insight would be great. I'm going crazy.

I have a domain name currently that is similar to flickr.com, scribd.com, etc. in that with one letter excluded, it still sounds like the word.

After customer and market validation and with my co-founder and I coding, I realized it'd be important to trademark the name. That has gone through. Which is great since the name is a great fit, is a real word (less the letter), easy to say, and easy to remember.

The domain name with the correct spelling is available for purchase for $1.5k ("buy it now" so no negotiation). Honestly, similar or worse domain names are trying to be sold for more money and I would happily pay $500 - $1,000 without issue.

Should I just purchase it at this price? I doubt it goes lower and there isn't an option to negotiate. I guess the only thing holding me back is that it's a big sum (I have the money - since still working day job). I wonder if my incorrectly spelled domain is good enough?

But then I see that flickr has flicker.com. In terms of word of mouth, I'm sure there will be people who try spelling it correctly, in which case I would have potential to redirect them. It could help with SEO as well.

Any and all advice appreciated. Thanks!

It might be one of those questions where "if you have to ask, don't do it" but just curious. I'm looking to create an API that creates a platform for others to create their own apps within mine. For now, I am providing the basic functionality, but would be at some point in the future enable others to create within my platform.

Just curious as to how this is approached. I'm a frontend developer and only a beginner with Rails, so just providing basic functionality myself for now. However, it doesn't hurt to learn... even if it's too much work to bother with at this moment.

I realized something recently and curious what others think. We seem to design for the web, desktop applications, etc. based upon three specific things:

1. seated close 2. relatively large screen 3. precise mouse

If you take any of these things away... you can no longer cram functionality into screen space as we currently do.

It is the reason behind responsive design and the "mobile first" approach. You take away the precision mouse and the large screen and you have trouble. I'd actually say true screen size isn't even as much of an issue as is the precision (or lack of) of your finger. Especially considering you can put the mobile phone very close to your face.

In principle, mobile design is even similar to the other end of the spectrum, TV design. Although the screen is large, you sit far away, effectively reducing functional screen size. Throw in the use of a controller or even gesture control (i.e. Kinect) into the mix and the similarity between mobile and TV is even more striking.

It seems we've been designing for a very specific use case that is currently changing with phones, tablets, and even smart TVs. But do you think the "sit close, large screen, precise mouse" design paradigm going to fade away entirely? I suppose perhaps it can't because of productivity applications... but I wonder if there will be an upheaval there? Will see cluttered screens and toolbars give way to cleaner interfaces (everywhere)?

And would that even be beneficial? Or akin to trying to fit a square peg into a round hole?

So, a year ago I went to my friend with an idea for a live video startup and asked if he wanted to join. I would deal with design and frontend development. He would deal with backend development. We both have full time jobs and live over an hour from one another. So we worked remotely and as much as we could.

Recently, the design has finally come together and I'm getting close to finalizing the frontend code. I was hoping that soon we'd hook backend / frontend and launch. However, he has just quit.

He has seemed busy and I suppose I wasn't entirely surprised when he told me that he wasn't spending as much time as he would have liked or as the startup deserved. He said he'd be able to work on things for the next few weeks and help to transition things to me. He felt bad and didn't want any compensation for his work.

While I couldn't ask for him to leave in a better way, I'd be lying if I didn't say I wish he would stick around.

At the same time, the idea and startup passion was always mine. I don't think he has the startup passion (perhaps not even from the start). He just enjoyed creating something. So, I can't force him to work if he feels he doesn't have the time. Since even after launch, things won't get easier.

What do I do from here?

1. Take his code and try to finish what was started and launch by myself?

2. Find another co-founder?

3. Hire developer(s)?

4. Try to talk things out with co-founder and get him to continue?

Any other options?

Anyway, I'm sorry for so much writing. I just needed to get it out there. I truly believe in the startup and refuse to give up, but would love to get some advice from others. Thanks!

I have a fixed aspect ratio design that I will be keeping fixed (not standard website design, but useful for my case). I designed it in pixels to ease the burden while designing (not having to constantly calculate percentages for every single element). However, I don't think there will ever be a time that converting pixels to percentages will be anything less than torturous.

So, I'm looking for a jQuery solution to simply scale all my CSS up or down. As long as the script can properly scale everything just as it would if the CSS were all in percentages, then a lot of time and pain will be saved. Not just now, but for all future development as well. Hopefully the solution can be relatively lightweight as well (as comparable as possible to the speed of CSS in percentages).

I am crossing my fingers that the above is possible. I'd prefer to scale the website up against browser window size (100% height or width, depends on browser aspect ratio). It seems far simpler / cleaner than converting all my CSS to percentages and adjusting parent container to browser window size.

Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks!

I have a decision to make. Most standard navigation menus are simple. You click (or hover) and a menu appears with a list of links and each leads you directly to a new page. However, I was contemplating adding a bit of functionality to my navigation menu.

It must be mentioned that my web app is for video, although not quite the same, think youtube or even udemy as an example.

When my navigation displays, it does so without interfering with the video. What I was looking to do was just give each navigation item an extra layer. For instance, if "watch later" or "messages" are items in the navigation, you wouldn't be sent to a new page right away. You'd go down another layer where you could scan through a minimal list within the menu. You could still click to go through to the respective page, but you wouldn't be forced to as you would with a standard navigation menu.

I suppose Facebook does this with their notification icons. You can see your messages and friend requests without leaving the page. Or you can choose to "view all" and go to a new page.

I personally find this useful. But I wonder if others feel the same? I especially find it useful to have on a video site that then can't pull you away from what you are currently watching. The functionality could be enhanced further, enabling you to write a message or upload a video within the menu. I wonder if it's worthwhile implementing this for those that don't want to be forced to leave the page?

What are your guys thoughts / opinions? Anything helps. Thanks!