twitterapi Meetup at Twitter HQ

March 3rd, 2010 No comments

A couple nights ago, I attended a @twitterapi meetup at the Twitter HQ in downtown San Francisco. It was pretty cool just being there, and great to get updated on the Twitter API while also doing a little networking. It was pretty informal as expected which was good. The Twitter guys basically opened up the floor for questions and comments on the Twitter API. They said “in order for us to succeed, you [the 3rd party developers] need to succeed”. Beer and pizza was served which was cool, and not surprising since there were about 3 women scattered in a sea of 25- to 40 year-old men! There was approximately 150 people in attendance.

Here are some takeaways from the discussion:

  • Basic Authentication to be deprecated as soon as June 2010, just a few months away! In favor of Open Auth.
  • For non-web clients, xauth is suggested for authentication. You may email “api AT twitter DOT com” to request access.
  • A few asked, but they didn’t respond to questions about advertising.
  • An address book API is coming soon.
  • They plan on using the HTML5 Geolocation feature.
  • Enhancing functionality for Favorites in the API is on the list, but not a priority.
  • The word “Tweet” is OK to use in an application name as long as the app is solely a Twitter app (does not include other social networking functionality).
  • Follow the Twitter API at @twitterapi

candid shot of numerous male developers sitting in large open room

Bookmark and Share
Categories: Twitter, Web Development Tags: , ,

Recent Web Stuff

February 27th, 2010 No comments

I’ve been busy as ever with my side projects and freelance work, especially with Accessible Twitter. In case you missed it from my tweets, here some good links with what I’ve been doing lately:

Bookmark and Share
Categories: Twitter, Web Development Tags:

5 Great Ways to Download YouTube Videos

January 11th, 2010 No comments

Here are five excellent ways to download YouTube videos to your computer. The services work with other streaming video web sites, too, and offer multiple formats to download  such as FLV, AVI, MOV, MPG, MP4, WMV, etc.

  1. Zamzar - free online file conversion. Also provides conversion of images, music, and documents! Offers 3 levels of upgraded service for a fee.
  2. SaveVid – provides daily and all-time top 10 lists.
  3. KeepVid – download streaming videos. Simple and easy web site service. Also offers a bookmarklet.
  4. KickYouTube – Download videos from youtube.
  5. Flash Video Resources Downloader – a great Firefox add-on.

PS: Here’s a video to MP3 (audio only) service: VidToMP3

two lizards (from Zamzar)

two lizards (from Zamzar)

Bookmark and Share
Categories: Computers Tags: , , ,

DEVO Rules (with video)

December 2nd, 2009 No comments

Yes, I’m an ’80s child. And I like a lot of ’80s music. One of the most unique, fun, profound, and geeky bands is, of course, DEVO. Their hit “Whip It” is their most well know song, but they have many others such as “That’s Good” and “Freedom of Choice”. They’re also known for their funny hats. Here’s a rocking YouTube video of DEVO playing “Gates of Steel” live.

Bookmark and Share
Categories: Music Tags: ,

Open Full-Time Tech Jobs in California

November 29th, 2009 No comments

Current job openings in California in the tech industry.

  • MySQL DBA in San Diego, CA. In the online gaming field.
  • Network Programmer in Foster City. Works closely with many game development studios on items like integrating middleware, services, and APIs. The team is largely C/XML based.
  • Mobile application programmer for top mobile company, Redwood City. Java, mobile, API experience.

Leave a comment or email me for more info.

Bookmark and Share
Categories: Computers, Jobs Tags: , ,

Disappointed in Google WAVE

November 23rd, 2009 4 comments
Google WAVE logo

Google WAVE logo

What can I say besides I’m just plain disappointed in Google WAVE. There was so much hype, so much excitement about it, and now it’s evaporated.

No HTML5

I understood that WAVE was to be done in HTML5, but it has a doc type of HTML 4.01. And actually, I found that it has a very serious case of “Divitis” (too many DIV tags). Can’t find any type of HTML5 tag at all, not even a section tag, header tag, nuthin’. Just a ton of DIVs and SPANs.

If you’re curious, here’s a look at the top of the source:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
<html><head><meta name="gwt:property" content="locale=en">

And the generated source:

<html><head><meta name="gwt:property" content="locale=en">

Not Accessible

Google WAVE is not web accessible. Period. Simplistically, this means that people with disabilities cannot use it, or it’s very difficult. For more on this, check out my Web Axe entry Podcast #75: Jeremy Keith Interview, Google Wave and Google Wave Preview Accessibility Review by WebAIM’s Jared Smith.

To further frustrate us web accessibility professionals, Google has stolen the name of WebAIM’s free tool WAVE (web accessibility evaluation tool).

No Usage

No one’s using Google WAVE. Most people I know now who want a WAVE invite (and that’s a lot of folks), has received one by now. And I haven’t seen much activity at all. As a matter of fact, I haven’t seen any new messages for a month now.

If you’re on WAVE, please send me a message; that may help me feel better! (smiley) My address is dlembree [AT] googlewave [DOT] NOSPAM com

Addendum

How ironic. I just noticed that I received some WAVE invites, so if you don’t have an account and still want one after reading this (smiley), please feel free to leave a comment.

I overheard something that made me think of this funny line:

Today’s Google WAVE invites are becoming yesterday’s AOL invite CD ROM disks.

Bookmark and Share

“Twitter and Web Accessibility” Presentation at AHG

November 16th, 2009 No comments

I just returned from the Accessing Higher Ground (AHG) 2009 conference in Westminster, Colorado (just outside Denver). Subtitled “Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference.” The event has a slant in higher education; making college and university information accessible.

I missed the workshops, but attended the 2 1/2 days of the main conference and also presented one session. The slides are posted on SlideShare.net and briefly made the “” list on the home page. You may view and DIGG the “Twitter and Web Accessibility” presentation here. It’s also embedded below.

Highlights of the conference include:

  • Finally meeting Jared Smith of WebAIM.  We’ve known each other for several years online; since he was a guest in the early days of the Web Axe podcast and blog. Great guy.
  • I also met other great people, and several from Europe – UK, Netherlands, and Spain. And how could I forget, John Foliot of Stanford was there, too!
  • Great venue. The conference was held at a new hotel this year, the Westin Westminster, which was very nice. Much more spacious and elegant than previous years. (I attended the AHG 2008 event.) Some great restaurants, including Rock Bottom Brewery, were just across the street.
  • The day before I left, it started snowing. The streets were slushy, but the snow was pretty. I was a bit nervous about my flight home, but the Denver airport did a great job and there were virtually no delays.
Bookmark and Share