Category Archives: Thoughts

Logitech Performance MX Review

Got a Logitech Performance MX on “special” at Best Buy this weekend (80$ for a mouse… what a slaughter) because I just have a laptop mouse and am tired of not having anything to rest my palm on. At first, it’s great. Looks like a race car, good performance, nice receiver, rechargeable on the fly etc. Then, something feels off… something uncomfortable. I turn the mouse over and the fatal flaw. The sensor isn’t placed at the center of the mouse but almost under your thumb… Continue reading


Python Challenge Level 14: Italy – Code

Used a NumPy array. Doesn’t work if the diagonal+1s are white of course.

import Image
from numpy import array, zeros, uint8
 
line = Image.open('wire.png')
# third dimension is for colours
a = zeros((100, 100, 3), dtype=uint8)
 
step = array([0, 1])
position = array([0, 0])
count = 0
 
# continue until when the next spot expected to be unfilled is filled
while not max(a[tuple(position)]):
	# paint colour
	a[tuple(position)] = array(line.getpixel((count, 0)))
 
	# if reached a wall
	if max(position + step) > 99 or min(position + step) < 0 or max(a[tuple(position + step)]):
		# change direction
		step = (abs(step) ^ 1) * (-step[0] if step[0] else step[1])
 
	# advance
	position += step
	count += 1
 
# convert to image
Image.fromarray(a).save('swirl.jpeg')

Google Android T-Mobile G1 1.6 Phone Review

T-Mobile G1As a gadget enthousiast and as a mobile developer, here’s some thoughts on the Google Android HTC Dream / T-Mobile G1 phone at the time of Android 1.6 ‘Donut’

Physically, the phone can be said to be bordering normal phone size, creeping towards smartphone size. In the pocket, it takes less volume than your typical blackberry.

The trackball is a nice alternative input choice for those who prefer not using big hand gestures on the touchscreen. But its reliability can leave a bit to be desired. Scrolling fast is a bit of a trouble. The G1 tend to not be able to track as fast and sometimes the action of taking your thumb off or the action of clicking the trackball can cause undesired movements. Continue reading


Garmin Nüvi 250W – Review/Criticism

Nüvi 250W home screenThis is a criticism of the Garmin GPS product Nüvi and most importantly its software.

While in the fields of physical design and graphical interface, Garmin has outperformed TomTom, it seems that Garmin hasn’t bothered to pay any attention to the human-computer interaction aspects of its product. As consequence, that simple but powerful omission made the Nüvi overall THE worst commercial electronic gadget I have ever used. Continue reading


New Aluminium Macbook Isn’t Rock Solid! Be Gentle!

Unlike what the intuitive impression might reassure, the new Unibody Macbook is just as fragile as the old white Macbook as discovered rather violently today only 2 weeks after my purchase.

I have dropped my old vanilla white Macbooks non-severely a few times in the past from table height and nothing too permanent in terms of cosmetic damage. Continue reading