Categories
iOS Work Note

Work Note: UIButton and UITableViewCell contentView

I am not sure why I see this behavior but I am sure someone smarter than I am can explain it. I am creating a custom table view cell derived from UITableViewCell. In the viewDidLoad method I’m adding, amongst other things, a UIButton to the cell.

All of the UILabels I added to the cell were added to the contentView and display just fine, but the UIButton’s I added to it don’t work properly, you can see them, but no events fire.

Here’s how I’m doing it:

[self.contentView addSubview:self.fancyButton];

That doesn’t work. However, adding the button to the view, does work:

[self.view addSubView:self.fancyButton];

According Apple’s documentation for UITableViewCell contentView:

The content view of a UITableViewCell object is the default superview for content displayed by the cell. If you want to customize cells by simply adding additional views, you should add them to the content view so they will be positioned appropriately as the cell transitions into and out of editing mode.

If I add the button using Interface Builder, it works as expected, but in this case I’m building the cell in code. At some point I need to dissect a prototype Interface Builder based UITableViewCell to see what it does. I would imagine it places all subviews in the view, not the contentView.

Categories
Microsoft

Cut Quickly

Microsoft Cash Cow.Mini-Microsoft: “That’s why I hope that Cut Quickly happens. Without it, we’re back to our first layoff experience. If anything broke the back of this blog, it was the first big Microsoft layoff back in 2009. How? How could the realization of a step towards Mini-Microsoft do that? Because it was implemented so poorly, with constant worries and concerns and doubts about engaging in new ideas due to expectations those would be the easiest to trim during ongoing cut-backs. When was it over? When was the “all clear” signal given?”

Hey, welcome back, Mini! I used to love reading this weblog many years back. Can you believe it’s been around for 10 years? 10 years of begging Microsoft to focus and trim the fat. Anywho…

This is a pretty big deal. I have friends there and I hope they can stay, if that’s what they want to do. Now could be a great time for someone that wants to take some time off to smell the roses, or take a chance on a startup. Take the money and run, so to speak.

I wonder why they’re taking a year to implement this? It seems like a great way to absolutely kill a year of productivity in a business that changes day to day. Microsoft is just beginning to steer their large ship in a different direction, what if the target has moved by the time this RIF is complete? How do groups plan to ship product over the next year with the fog of a layoff hanging over their heads? Guess we’ll see.

Categories
Life

Larger Phones

Jerry Fahrni: “The size. I’m not a fan of large smartphones. The Moto X has a 4.7-inch screen while the S5 has a 5.1-inch screen. This is more personal preference than anything else. It’s all about how well it fits in the left front pocket of my jeans.”

My brother recently had to replace his Moto X. He chose a Samsung S5 because, apparently, the Moto X is no longer available. It’s a really nice device, but like him I’m not a fan of larger devices. It really comes down to fitting in my pocket and how it feels in one hand.

I’m happy with the 4-inch screen on my iPhone 5C, and I could see going as large as 4.7-inch, Jay’s Moto X felt great in hand, but over 5-inches? Now we are approaching tablet size.

If you pay attention to Apple rumors, which I don’t, you’d hear talk of Apple releasing a 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch device. This definitely doesn’t sound like something Apple would do, but Apple has been doing very un-Apple like stuff recently.

My hope? I hope they don’t go to a 5.5-inch device. That is extremely large. If you want something that big, buy an iPad Mini, it’s only 7.9-inches.

Categories
Development iOS Mobile Uncategorized

Mobile Apps are Real Applications

RibbitMartian Craft: “Do you want a one bedroom shack for $50,000 or a mega mansion for $2M+ similar to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram? As with homes, many clients opt for a starter size for their first app. This allows them to build a solid foundation that will be setup to grow with them for years to come.”

This is another great article on the true cost of mobile app development. No, it’s not the first and probably won’t be the last. As a freelance app developer I have to share this kind of news with folks all the time. I’m sure other developers have these conversations, they go something like this…

Potential Client: “I’d like to build this application.”
Developer: “Ok, let’s talk about your application.”
Potential Client: “I would like this and this and this.” (Of course I’m paraphrasing, the client is obviously excited about their product, as they should be.)
Developer: “Great, what kind of budget do you have?”
Potential Client: “I don’t have a lot to spend, how much would you charge for everything I’ve outlined?”
Developer: “It will take X dollars to develop your app, just a ballpark figure. It could be more, it could be less.”
Potential Client: [Silence. Never heard from again.]

I don’t say this to embarrass anyone. I’m only sharing it because it is true. For every 10 people I speak with about developing an application I may only get one of them to talk to me past this point.

I’m not sure if there is some sort of psychological barrier because these are mobile applications and not taken seriously, or what? In the end this is serious software that takes time, and a lot of effort, to develop.

When you have an idea for a mobile application and need a developer, remember this: Mobile Applications are real software. Think of them as your web site, or that accounting software you use every day, or maybe a word processing package from your favorite software company. Maybe that will help with the sticker shock?

If you need an iOS Application for your business or need a developer to bring that app you’ve always wanted to life. Get in touch, I can help.

Categories
Development Uncategorized

Regarding Swift

ZDNet: “In essence, Apple had one job — create a new baseline tooling for iOS and show a sympatico approach with how the rest of the industry actually operates — and they blew it.”

I don’t know anything about the author, but based on his statements I have to conclude he’s never written a line of production quality code in his life.

The last thing we need is a lowest common denominator language to allow iOS developers to make code that runs on other platforms. Ridiculous. We have the web for that. If you want a lowest common denominator experience, create a “responsive” website with JavaScript and be done with it. If you want the best experience, go native, with native tools.

Would C# be great on the platform? Yes, but there is no need for the .Net runtime because Cocoa gives us everything we need and it’s not garbage collected. No need for the additional overhead.

If you’re ok with the Xamarin approach, which is very nice, then you should, by all means use it. There may come a day when I’ll have to create an app that works for both iOS and Android and that may be the best approach, until then I’ll focus on learning the native platform tools so I can provide the best experience for my users.

Categories
Life

Traveling Companions

While on our cross country trip I was alone in a moving van. It wasn’t bad, I was able to think about a lot of things, but more on that later, maybe.

I use my old iPhone 4 as an iPod. It doesn’t have an always on connection, but the WiFi is fine and I have a nice collection of music to help pass the time, if I feel like listening to music.

This trip was a prime time to listen to Podcasts, so that’s what I did for a majority of it. Here are the Podcasts that kept me company.

A cute little monkey.Yes, I listened to a lot of podcasts.

I hope to write a summary post about our trip. It was very tiring, but a complete blast, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. After I recover from this one.

Categories
Development Uncategorized

Super Marius

I have the pleasure of working with some great folks every day. These great folks just so happen to be great developers.

Here’s a classic quote from one of them. I just had to record it.

It may be elegant and encapsulated, but it also has to work.” – Marius Matioc, May 20, 2014

Categories
Life

Home Sweet Home

The final leg of the trip went a lot faster than I expected. We’re all in good health, extremely tired, but in good health.

Couple days of relaxation and back to the grind we go.

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Categories
Life

The Push Home

We’re on the final leg home.

Kingman, Arizona to Visalia, California. It’s been a lot of fun, but I’m ready to be home.

We found a nice little coffee roaster here in Kingman.

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Categories
Life

Arrived Kingman, Arizona

The drive out of Albuquerque was really beautiful. Red sands and lots of tabletop mesas. The American Southwest is really amazing, but you have to appreciate deserts to understand what I’m saying. Color me impressed.

Tomorrow, the push home, Visalia, California. Then, rest for a couple days. I’m exhausted.

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