Web
Jul 30 2008
This past weeks were hectic with work. (OMG, this has become my opening line for so many entries already. I have really turned into a workaholic.) Right after we got done with the new shelf view, we immediately started working on an iPhone web-app for the 2008 Hong Kong Book Fair. The deadline wouldn’t have been as tight as it was if we weren’t trying to get it out by the iPhone Hong Kong launch party on the 17th. aNobii was one of the few presenters to demo our web-app at the party. We had this whole Mac-vs-PC skit planned, but we got cut short since we went over our 8 mins allowed. Oh well, we were almost done anyway.
Then we were at the book fair on Monday for an interview with Next Magazine. That journalist certainly asked a lot of questions, but I doubt it will get published anytime soon. The same journalist has already come up to our office once a couple months ago to interview Greg (my boss + aNobii founder), and that ended up going nowhere.
I had worked for more than 2 weeks straight on the interface and interactions of the app. I was so proud of myself since I have always wanted to make a functional web-app for the iPhone since it first came out, so this was a great opportunity for me. All the interface effects were built with the Mootools framework, with AJAX for data retrieval. I know the book fair is over already, but you can still check out the app on your iPhone at hkbf.anobii.com/iphone. I guess you can also load it up on Safari if you don’t have an iPhone. For those who don’t have either, a video demo is available on our press kit page. :D
Jun 29 2008
I really wish I could be blogging more than I have been, but work has been hectic. I’m often pulling 10-11 hour days on a regular basis, and that’s not counting freelance projects that are keeping me up at night and taking over my weekends. I’m also trying to go home more often over weekends to see my family. My dad was telling me the other day that I have many more years of work ahead of me, and there is no need to take on so much now. He said I should really strive for a balanced life and enjoy it while I’m still young, which I took to heart dearly.
Anyway, after months of developing and fine-tuning, we have finally launched the updated shelf pages on aNobii. I’m really proud of the new look and interactions. Personally I think they are far more user-friendly and intuitive than the previous version. However, the increase use of AJAX in various spots has me worried about its impact on page-views and Alexa ranking. I guess we’ll let things play out and see how it goes.
I finally got my MacBook Pro fixed. That poor thing’s built-in keyboard and trackpad have been broken since the beginning of this year, but the geek in me couldn’t go for a day without a computer so I waited until after I bought my iMac before bringing it in to get it fixed. The service I got from the Apple authorized service center in Hong Kong was not as bad as I thought it would be. I got the baby back spotting a brand new keyboard and top panel a little under 2 weeks. I sure hope nothing else is ever going to happen to it as its Apple Care will be up in a month’s time or so.
Apr 29 2008
I started dabs back in 2001 right before I started college. All through college I had been pretty good at keeping it up. I have met some amazing fellow bloggers and made a few net-friends along the way. There were ups and downs but it was a great journey nonetheless. That’s why six and a half years later I am still holding on.
I stopped blogging almost two years ago due to a lack of time, shortly after I got my first full-time position at Veoh. After a year of work and knowing I would be coming back to Hong Kong, I thought what is a better time than this to resurrect my blog. But life has been busy and there is always something else to do. I figure I would never get around to it if I don’t make time for it, and being as sentimental as I am, just leaving it behind is never an option for me. So half a year later and with some determinaton, dabs is back again.
Leaving the states to come back to Hong Kong was a pretty tough change for me, leaving behind a group of great friends and a life I have gotten so accustomed to. But there was also a bit of excitement about starting over at a city so different than what I have remembered. With a new environment and meeting new people, there are also new opportunities. I suppose it’s all about your perspective and attitude. I guess it’s really time for me to look forward instead of dwelling on the past, even though it will always be in my memory and be a part of me. That is also a reason why I haven’t brought back the old entries. It’s really not starting over; it’s starting anew. Now I just have to believe in it.
