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GWT2.1 M3: How to upgrade from gwt2.1 m2

2010-08-26T08:41:00.000+02:00

All,

yesterday Chris Ramsdale posted a new article on http://googlewebtoolkit.blogspot.com/2010/08/gwt-21-milestone-3-is-now-available.html

The link provided for this new build references to a zipfile. I yesterday tried
and I had to make some code changes (I have a project build with GWT2.1 m2).

Unfortunately, there was no more documentation provided, so after my code changes I ran into some problems. I posted my question on the Google Web Toolkit Groups and thankfully I got an answer.

See this link for more information: http://groups.google.com/group/google-web-toolkit/browse_thread/thread/5573595ccbd63ef8#

The link provided in this post, can be used in eclipse to "Install new software".
I still have to give it a try, but I'll keep you posted.

Google CL: Just cool!

2010-07-30T18:06:00.000+02:00

So I was not at home and I could remotely log in at my home-computer (mac mini) through SSH. I wanted some people to show some photos that were on my home-computer. Downloading them through SSH/SFTP was too cumbersome.

Luckily I remembered the announcement on Google Command Line Interface.

Huh ?

Yes, Google on the commandline on your unix/Linux machine (requires that you have Python).

I could easily create a Picasa WebAlbum from the commandline and then through a browser see it (and hosting by Google is lightning fast).

Just a similar line like this and my problem was solved.

google picasa create --title "Cat Photos" ~/photos/cats/*.jpg

Note that you'll need to provide a username when this line is executed. A browser will start and ask you to grant permission to this Google Service (OAuth stuff).

Anyway, when this was done, I could do whatever I want on the commandline.

I'm really looking forward to some new features of the GoogleCL.

The GoogleCL is a really cool tool....lots of interesting things to do....

Twanslate! Twitter On the Fly Translate

2010-07-07T16:58:00.000+02:00

So the worldcup is going on for a while and in this internet age, twitter is the first place to search for information and reactions worldwide!

This is one of the coolest parts of twitter. Unfortunately, I don't get all the languages (since the "world" is reacting)

So that got me thinking: As a developer I know some cool technologies from Google and I like twitter.

The result is: Twanslate. which can we found at http://twiggered.appspot.com

What I used for creating such an app:

Google Webtoolkit 2.1 m2 (at this moment the latest greatest. I was wondering how the data representation widgets were working. This was the perfect opportunity for that!)
Google Ajax API, especially Google Language API
Google Font API for the nice new modern fonts!
Google AppEngine (nice for hosting...deployment was really easy! Thanks Google!)
Last but not least, Twitter API.

The result is the application you see. Just search, the data is queried from twitter, processed in put in of the new data representation widgets of the Google WebToolkit! It works perfectly together.

I'm now pondering about some other cool features. If you have ideas, let me know. I might be able to put it in this solution.

This was just for showcasing the possibilities of the new GWT 2.1 and it looks promising!

BTW, it works on my Nexus One :)

Finally Froyo (FRF91) on my nexus One

2010-07-02T20:17:00.000+02:00

So finally there seems to be the final version of Nexus one. I found the note on Engadget.com.

Now there was a bit of a problem. Since I already installed an early version of Froyo (FRF50) upgrading to FRF91 was kind of a hassle. You have to perform an update on all the intermediate version before you can go to the latest Froyo.

Luckily the update was possible thanks to this link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=7032281

There are some attachments on the middle of the page. You'll need to download them and install them in the correct order (Your Nexus One will abort the installation).

To install the updates perform the following per update.

1. Download the Froyo Android 2.2 image and radio files (see xda link above)

2. Put the whole zip file in the root directory of your Nexus One’s SD card. Call it "update.zip"

3. Reboot the phone while holding down the trackball button.

4. Go to Fastboot then Recovery.

5. Install the new zip file.

6. Enjoy the new Froyo Android 2.2! Hurray!

If needed, I have the files also (if you don't want to register @xda-developers). Just sent me an email.

Have fun, you'll notice that your phone lasts longer on the battery and is faster!

Froyo on Nexus One

2010-06-23T12:17:00.003+02:00

Although Android 2.2 (aka Froyo) is not available for everyone over the air (OTA), one can still manually install the new Android on the Nexus one (assuming the Nexus One/N1) is running Android 2.1.

Check out this link

http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/05/22/breaking-nexus-one-users-download-your-froyo-here/

It's true, there are two links. The download of almost 45Mb is the one you'll need.

Just follow the instructions on this page and enjoy a snappier Nexus One.

So far no problems. I tried the tethering stuff, turning my Nexus One into a Wifi-Hotspot using the 3G connection. Works like a charm!

Give it a try.

GWT Data Representation Widget

2010-06-18T14:57:00.004+02:00

So at GoogleIO we could see how Bruce showed some cool demos using the new GWT 2.1 features. The most interesting part for me was the GWT Data Representation Widgets, especially since we are using data aware components/widgets in QAFE.

I tried to find some information about the usage of the "Datagrid" that Bruce showed. Finally when I downloaded the Eclipse Plugin (with GWT 2.1 m1 SDK) I could not find a sample with the new DataGrid.

Through the Hierachy (F4) in Eclipse I found the Widget super class for all widgets and there I saw CellList. Apparently this is the class with which the demo was done.

Searching on this I found that several other developers were looking for the same information. Unfortunately there is no complete demo/ code samples.

Until I hit this : the SVN browser for GWT.

http://code.google.com/p/google-web-toolkit/source/browse/branches/2.1/bikeshed/?r=7995

This is the place to be!!! Here are some code samples, although not much comments, but with a little analysis and trying it yourself, this is a good place to start using the Data Represenation Widgets!

Happy developing!

Google TV is happening

2010-06-17T07:19:00.004+02:00

Yesterday Google TV Companion Box was revealed by Logitech: Logitech Revue. Sony is also providing a product "Sony Internet TV" These developments are very promising.

If you didn't know what the effect would be of GoogleTV for you, check this video:

Be sure to follow these developments, it feels like exciting applications are coming up.

Did you know, Android applications will work on the GoogleTV ? Well, they will according to the announcements made @GoogleIO.

Keep you posted.

Decade of the platforms

2010-06-08T21:47:00.003+02:00

So yesterday was the Keynote from Apple @ WWDC. Apple has the AppStore, ITunes and iBookstore. Even the iAd platform makes incredible advertising apps. The AppStore is definitely a platform for developers to create applications for more than 100 million iOS devices (iPad, iPod, iPhone). Developers can monetize by charging customers and/or monetize by using ads.

From a developer point of view Google and Apple are readying developers for platform development. Google is providing Android Marketplace, Apple the AppStore. The same goes for ads.

Parties like Microsoft are not progressing like this. Even other mobile companies (like Nokia) are not is this field (yet).

The developers of the future are platform developers, using the possibilities that are provided by these platform providers. These platforms can be based proprietary or open standards.

This is huge. This brings us in another era of application development.

The possibilities seem unlimited!

Thanks Apple & Google!

Pics du Google I/O 2010

2010-06-02T00:47:00.003+02:00

Check it out: The official pictures are out from the Google I/O conference!

Check out this link. It provides links to the overview, all the official pictures, an impression of other Google offices watching the keynotes live and the Bootcamp.

Enjoy :)

Google's next 10 years

2010-06-01T07:32:00.004+02:00

The last decade Google proved that "Searching" is quite important in the massive load of data that is created each day. The amount of data is growing rapidly each day actually.

See this video from Eric Schmid at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit (below): (note how he compares the amount of data of a couple of years ago and the the current day).

Now, 2010, Google is full force in Android (besides improving search continuously) and App Engine.

Google is providing tools and platforms so that everybody/developers can benefit from their infrastructure, availability, scalability etc.

Google AppEngine for Business was announced a week ago at Google I/O 2010. Very interesting development. Cloud computing is hot for the last couple of years now. At Google I/O a specification for Cloud Computing was suggested so that it won't matter for which platform you are developing (VMWare, Amazon,etc).

The next decade Google seems to be the provider for webdevelopment platforms, for an interactive TV platform, for a mobile platform (with Android) and of course the search functionality.

Of course, I'm really looking forward to future announcements and developments and using those platforms of course :)

Google I/O Keynote was mindblowing

2010-05-20T20:12:00.005+02:00

Google TV was announced!

This is going to change the way we watch TV: Powered by Android, Google Chrome and Intel!

Here are the partners for Google TV: CEO's from (L2R) Google, Adobe, BestBuy, Dish, Logitech, Sony, Intel

No we don't get cold feet, but this is what we got: Google Socks!

Google Yesterday announced Google Apps for Business

2010-05-20T17:25:00.003+02:00

Here you'll see the slides!

Today is about to be on Android (at least the keynotes, with some awesome house music!)

Google I/O 2010 Keynote, pt. 1

2010-05-19T22:21:00.000+02:00

Google App Engine for Business [Live from Google IO 2010]

2010-05-19T20:22:00.003+02:00

Google just announced that it's provide Google App Engine for Businesses and most important of all, in a later stage it will support SQL Databases. The pricing seemed reasonable.

More on this soon...

It's started...Google IO 2010 (pre-registration)

2010-05-19T07:04:00.003+02:00

Today at Moscone West the pre-registration started for Google I/O 2010.
The registration was quite fast and everybody got a t-shirt and of course pre- Google I/O everybody got their Nexus One Googlephone or Motorola Droid.

Here a picture of the registration area:

For everybody there will be an internet connection, so that liveblogging and updates are possible.

Stay tuned

The power of HTML5 showcased by Spiderman

2010-05-05T10:28:00.003+02:00

No Flash, just the correct browser (that means Google Chrome and/or Safari) and this site http://www.optimum7.com/internet-marketing/web-development/pure-css3-spiderman-ipad-cartoon-jquery-html5-no-flash.html

This site explains how it's done...if you want to Spiderman in action, go to this link

If you

It's really cool, animation and no flash. No heavy load on your browser.

Welcome HTML5!

Join HTML5 Professionals LinkedIn Group

2010-05-05T09:49:00.004+02:00

If you have a LinkedIn account and you are into development of Webapplications, then you should definitely join the HTML5 Professionals Group on LinkedIn.

There is a lot happening at this moment. Apple is bashing Adobe, Microsoft is following Apple, Google bets bigtime on HTML5, what is Oracle to do (since it acquired Sun this year) ?

Interesting stuff, news items, informations and discussions will be there.

Spread the word and feel free to join.

Writing an entire application engine in GWT

2010-04-16T07:13:00.002+02:00

Hi,

it's been a while since I posted last time, but the more I think of what the possibilities are of GWT, the more I see what a great product it in fact is (I knew it already, but it's getting better and better).

Currently we have created a Render Engine in GWT (www.qafe.com), which allows you to create applications in a declarative way (not only the UI but also the backend interaction).
This render engine is totally written in GWT and because it's an engine, the size of the application stays the same!!!

Let me explain this: In GWT you program in Java. This Java (in the client package) is compiled to Javascript. You can imagine: The bigger the application gets, the more Javascript is generated. Although optimizing, compression and obfuscating the Javascript code, the code will be bigger with big applications. This will result in more download time of the Javascript code (javascript needs to be downloaded before it can be executed in the browser). Although the new GWT2.0 has a "download on demand" feature in it, the size of the Javascript code remains big.

Now with QAFE we were able to create an engine. This engine is of constant size. It doesn't matter how big the applications will be, the engine stays the same, size-wise. This results in an incredible good performing system.

GWT made it possible to write a highly abstract, yet powerful engine in Java (with design patterns, factories, etc) which is translated to javascript (which on its turn is optimized for each big browser!)

GWT is the best thing out there for future webapps! Thanks Google team!

The power of GWT

2010-02-17T11:54:00.002+01:00

Today I'm quite happy to announce that you can try out the latest demo of the QAFE (http://www.qafe.com).

QAFE is a product that I've been working on for at least 3 years and the choice of technology was definitely a good one: Google WebToolkit.

Mainly because of this technology such a solution was possible. If you want to see a demo, just go to http://demo.qafe.com

Thanks GWT team for GWT!

Google Chrome Extensions

2010-01-29T08:55:00.005+01:00

Oke, I've been using the Chrome for a while now (and of course using the devchannel builds). The thing is that I'm getting more and more familiar with and used to the Extension.

In Google Chrome you can add extension (the current stable version also supports that).

The ones I like so far are

- Google Translate (really cool live translations without messing up the layout!)

- Chromed Bird (nice and fast extension for twitter!

- goo.gl URL Shortner (service from google to shorten large URL's, compare it with bit.ly)

- Google Mail Checker (nice one!)

- Google Similar Pages (great functionality, still in beta though!)

- Google PageRank (very interesting!)

- Drop.IO (a very cool online service for easily sharing files..very promising)

My advice....use extensions...they're fast, cool and very useful!

Wave to Google Headquarters

2010-01-28T21:58:00.002+01:00

As you know, for Google Streetview, Google is making pictures. This one is really funny!
Google Streetview in front of Google Headquarters. Apparently they were expecting you :) http://goo.gl/YkzL

Google does it again

2010-01-26T10:00:00.001+01:00

Check out this article http://googlereader.blogspot.com/2010/01/follow-changes-to-any-website.html

It's really cool! Each page can provide an RSS feed. If it doesn't Google takes care of this and checks page changes!

Thank you Google! (this long awaited feature is finally there!)

Download Youtube Movies in Chrome with a Bookmark!

2010-01-13T09:41:00.002+01:00

Hi,

here is a piece of code which allows you to download any youtube movie to MP4 format (so you can put it on your ipod/ipod touch or iphones).

What to do ?

- Create a bookmark in Chrome
- Call it "Youtubue Download to MP4"
- The location is the following (just copy and paste it)

javascript:window.location.href = 'http://youtube.com/get_video?video_id=' + yt.getConfig("SWF_ARGS")['video_id'] + "&fmt=18" + "&sk=" + yt.getConfig("SWF_ARGS")['sk'] + '&t=' + yt.getConfig("SWF_ARGS")['t'];

The next time you go to YouTube and you find a movie you want to download, just go to that page and click on this bookmark. The download will automatically start...

Cool stuff right ?!

Seems to work with every browser (tested it with Chrome, FireFox and IE6(!!))

Enterprise on Mobile with GWT

2009-10-21T08:29:00.001+02:00

Today i found this article
http://googlewebtoolkit.blogspot.com/2009/10/enterprise-apps-in-your-pocket.html

It's really cool to see how web-kit provides you possibility that used to be a lot of javascript. For example, Safari (and Chrome) are built on top of the WebKit engine. Check what is possible from a visual perspective on these browsers.

http://developer.apple.com/safari/library/documentation/InternetWeb/Conceptual/SafariVisualEffectsProgGuide/Introduction/Introduction.html

Gradients, masking, reflection, all are possible with CSS.

Together with the power of GWT (mobile) enterprise applications can become very interesting.

It''s been a while!

2009-10-13T09:09:00.003+02:00

Hi,

I'm back to blog. Lately I've been very busy with QAFE. We redesigned the qafe site. Check it out on http://www.qafe.com

Let us know what you think of it.

Yesterday I had a conference call with a Google GWT Advocate. This was really cool. It gives you lots of information and energy. I am very happy that 3 years ago I decided that we were going to use GWT (Google Webtoolkit) for QAFE.

So I'll be posting soon on more (like Google Wave, yes I have an account). If you want to follow me, Twitter.com/rjankie is another possibility.