₦airaland Forum

I know some people will always change the argument. The man did not say 'northern muslims'. He said power hungry politicians from the muslim north.

Secondly, it doesn't matter where their base is or where it is located or how good their strategy is. What matters is they should stop their senseless killings and opt for peaceful resolution.

And for those attacking Soyinka: At least he is doing something. Revealing his knowledge, thoughts and suspicions. What are you doing about the situation? Have you set up a watch group in your area? Have you publicly condemned the senseless killing of humans or are u busy enjoying the boko haram jokes circulating?

@chucky2354: Apple is currently the most valuable company in the world. Iphone and Ipad sales gave them this position. Also note that it is more expensive to maintain an i-product than any other phone. Plus engagement with products extend beyond accessories.

Rim ousted its CEO due to poor growth and poor sales of its entry into the tablet market. Blackberry sales are going down. Rim wasn't a leader for long. In fact, its prime position was in the business segment of the consumer market. Engagement with blackberry products are poor except when it comes to communication. I rarely use mine. Its almost like having a pager alone cuz the apps are poor and the processing power is also poor.

Yes, the blackberry is a fad in Africa mostly. The only reason its still being used in most western countries is because businesses prefer it to other phones. These businesses also prefer IE 6 and some use windows 98, 2000, xp.

Hello guys, I guess some of you might be wondering how some popular games work. I came across a blog that uses real games as teaching examples.

Note: The aim is not to help you clone games. Rather, the aim is to teach you various techniques used in other to build your knowledge and confidence.

Here are the links:

Site: http://www.emanueleferonato.com/

Angry birds: http://www.emanueleferonato.com/2011/10/10/develop-a-flash-game-like-angry-birds-using-box2d/ search the site for the other parts

Plants vs Zombies: http://www.emanueleferonato.com/2010/12/29/making-a-flash-game-like-plants-vs-zombies/ also search for other parts.

The site has lots of useful tutorials. Be sure to look around.

@Kaygeminix: I get you. But nowadays, we tend to think of an innovation as something of an improvement or new and better approach in general. The design might be different from most popular phones but that doesn't really make it 'innovative'. Unless its aim is to introduce new and better ways to create bad products.

If they want to innovate, they should work on the designs of their next line of phones. The current images available look like ipod and samsung clones. Lets hope they improve the internals especially.

Okay, thanks. How do I contact you?

@kaygeminix: What is innovative about the design? I think a wood encased ipad is more innovative than this.

@mekaboy: I used flat as an adjective to describe lack of aesthetics. I wasn't talking about the form factor.

@immanuelle: if you want to buy a phone because of interiors ( cpu, graphics, etc) then blackberry isn't an option. We all know why we own blackberries. Cheap, easy communication given the poor network services we are rendered in Africa plus the fact that its a fad here.

I meant sending using the device by using 'sms://number/port' in j2me.

So What do you suggest regarding the gateway? Do I buy from third parties or providers. Note that the app is not strictly for bulk sms.

I don't understand yet. Can I set parameters on the users mobile phone that'll allow their credit to be avoided and the app's credit used instead when they're sending from the app? If not, I'm guessing I'll have to use a website as backend to send the messages. Either case, how do I contact the service providers for this?

Do mtn and co have any sms gateway API for this?

Is it better to go through third party sms gateway providers?

@raghubodi: There's no best language, library or game engine to create games unless you have specific needs in terms of platform, quality, performance etc. Maybe if you clarify your question, I'll be able to give a better answer.

Hello guys,

How do sms sending apps work? I know how to code normal ones but how do I give the user free sms and stuff.

Do I have to make a deal with the service provider? If so, how does one contact them?

Thanks.

The phone looks so flat and unappealing. It's even clear that its ugly from the way they advertise it. Just visit the porsche design page to see their advertising concept. The phone itself is relegated to the background, the eye catcher happens to be the female model holding the phone.
The model is holding the phone away from the cam and you're subjected to watching her beautiful face rather than the phone you came to see. If they had a better design, they would have used the phone as the central feature or at least give it a prominent position in the advert.

What do you guys think about the design?

[img]http://1.bp..com/-UrFXcWyPmOs/TqxZswAA_II/AAAAAAAAA18/c3r6ESZALgk/s1600/BlackBerry.jpg[/img]

I keep wondering if the 'democracy' practiced in the world is actually in line with the values and standard we attribute to to actual democracy. I find the democracy in its current form a fallacy and a tool for those who know how to manipulate it.

It is even appalling when you consider the power given to the elected and how the supposed safeguards have failed countless times in cases of abuse of power.  Sometimes, the elected propose/make laws to govern something they don't even understand in terms of scope and effect as in the case of PIPA, SOPA, PCIPA, and the devil in prada, ACTA.

Isn't it time we the people reconsider what we are doing?

Just watch this video for a simple proof of a fallacy in democratic elections and why we may need sub-elections.

[flash=600,600]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFpZOQS0KFc[/flash]

@kobojunkie: thanks for that wikipedia link on academic usage. Maybe now, some people can actually read and know what they are doing wrong.
They can also choose to ignore because their professors think everything on wikipedia is unreliable.

@jmaine: throwing phrases like 'google is the information capital' and saying' information on google are inaccurate' make you sound stupid. Maybe you should learn about the internet and google before you post nonsensical comments.

Google and other search engines neither give you correct information nor 'know' it(although this is changing as technology advances).In simple terms, they are aimed at helping you find the info you need by supplying accurate links to sites that have content and context that best match your search phrase.

I'll refer you to wikipedia as a starting point for finding out how search engines work and how they try to 'link' you to the best info rather than 'giving' you the info.

Can't u people read? The problem with citing wikipedia academically is that wikipedia is not usually a source. People's work are referenced by wikipedia and these people and their works are what should be referenced. Referencing is partly about giving correct credit.
Read my last post and think b4 u post abeg. You people seem like you have TLDNR syndrome.

@shy_one: Funny, so if a student puts wikipedia as a source, u'll fail him because of your opinions of it rather than the fact that the student has failed to reference the original or root source. Very very funny. I'll also fail you as a marker then.
People who quote wikipedia should not fail because wikipedia is wrong but because wikipedia doesn't own ideas. Ideas with correct attribution given is what should be used and built upon by students rather than plain copying and pasting.
I use wikipedia not only as a lecture note supplement but also as a resource for new ideas and information amongst other things.
I believe it is lack of knowledge about wikipedia and plain bias or fear that misleads certain people as to its usefulness and validity. Learn what it can do, what it can't, use it wisely and you'll come to appreciate it.

@shy_one: Your comments continually depict you as an old fashioned learner.

First, your professor does not know everything. Professors can be as ignorant as the rest of us when it comes to certain things. In fact, millions can be wrong. Just read your history. Even Newton was wrong sometimes, not to talk of the religious hypocritic scientist killing masses of ancient times.

Secondly, I've edited certain articles here and there on wikipedia. A single team cannot do it all, that is one of the beauty and complexity of knowledge gathering and updating. It requires worldwide effort.

Thirdly, the more you say 'wikipedia doesn't know' and things like that, the more I find you amusing. Maybe you should wait till wolfram alpha gets smarter or skynet unleashes something on mankind.  

Fourthly, when one is told he/she is ignorant and still refuses to learn, such can also be classified as stupidity. Using wikipedia does not make you stupid. Using google does not make you stupid. These are tools that when used in the right way, can actually enhance productivity and improve knowledge.

Maybe if you take time to understand the world around you, you'll see a little bit clearer.

@shy_one: Yes, anyone who does not understand what wikipedia entails and hence doesn't know how to use it but who still goes ahead to bash it has archaic knowledge and should endeavor to improve his or her learning process.

Do books write themselves? No, The 'internet' doesn't write its content too and neither does wikipedia.

By listing the items missing from wikipedia rather than going there to update it, you have just shown your ignorance. Please go and update it now. If you find any errors, please inform someone so it can be updated.

As a student, wikipedia has served and continues to serve as a very valuable resource for my mates and I. I love it, I respect it, I understand it and I will serve it. Wikipedia is not just a website or an encyclopedia. Its almost before its time. Better things will come but Man will learn from this and progress with a clearer path into the future.

@uddukes: We give leaders support, so many privileges, so much power, what else could they need? for what is not given, we have given them the power to take, to create, to alter. Why are African leaders still so greedy and selfish.

@kobojunkie: These people don't know what they are saying, ignore them.

@all those challenging wikipedia as a valid resource: I bet most of you don't know what makes a resource valid. I can also bet that most of you only use the internet for silly, time wasting activities.
Whether you like it or not, wikipedia is more important and far better than most encyclopedias out there, paper or digital. It is part of what makes the internet the 'INTERNET'. That it allows content to be edited by users is no reason to challenge its usefulness. Those who make that mistake just prove that their knowledge is archaic and their learning process needs improvement. Learn to use WIKIPEDIA before you bash it.

If u ask me, na who I go ask?

Wetin concern am? I see those threads too but I'm not worried. By every man's deeds aka 'fruit', we shall know him.

@N-Soul: My last statement did not imply that indie companies are all made up of experts. As a matter of fact, I spend most of my time online playing games made by individuals rather than companies. My previous comment was partially about the team who made Bastion.

I also agree with your point on features that make a game. Concentrating on 'gameplay and fun' is more important than having certain features and cool graphics but don't forget that it all depends on your idea and intent. Sometimes, wrong execution can result from weak expression of what your game entails. Darkness and shadows can express danger and build suspense, Blue skies and flowers can express bliss. A happy person covered in blood is strange. Don't just create any environment or character and expect everything to be ok. Express your intent as best as you can.

Lastly, I'd say the best thing about your previous post is that you made mention of people worrying about money. I think too many people worry about it and this is one of the greatest stumbling blocks when it comes to ideas and execution.

@N-Soul: The fact that a company is an indie company doesn't mean the team isn't made up of experts. Some of them have worked for EA and other big companies. Also, its not a mater of Nigerians can do better. Its about enjoying what you do and doing the best you can.

Nevertheless, I understand your view and support it. We should constantly challenge ourselves and strive to achieve the best we can.

@djsholi: I started learning programming late 2009 or so cuz I'm very much interested in gamedev. Right now, I can create simple 2d and 3d games as well as simple graphics to accompany them but I want to improve on my maths, AI and physics. Most of my recent work was aimed at teaching myself general techniques on game programming, graphics and game design. Maybe after my exams, I can try another project but I'm concentrating on learning maths and co right now. Perhaps by july, I'll be ready to do something large.

PS: I made a multiplayer fps demo/base with unity last year. It was supposed to serve as a framework for two games but I lost it when my HDD crashed. I've attached an image of a character in the first demo. My 3d modeling and texturing knowledge isn't strong hence my decision to use cel shading (that plus I love cel shading). Hopefully, I'll have time to improve b4 july.

The second game will be african themed. Can't work on it yet though,  perhaps I'll start with the framework after exams.

@djsholi: Cool!! Checked out your page. I used to skool in minna too. FGC Minna. Great place, harsh weather.

Abeg make them continue o! I never wan go skool.

The comments are not stored in the PARTICIPANTS FIELD. only the IDs are. All I have to do is check if the user has other comments relating to the status. If he doesn't, I retrieve the participants, explode the data, join all in a new string 'x1 |'.'x2 |' etc except the ID of the friend who deletes a comment and replace the old field conent.  This looks like it will take time depending on the number of IDs though 

I also have a NO_FOLLOW table for activities for users who do not want to be notified. This is useful First or Second way.

@*dhtml: lolz! Nice idea, I'll have to add dummy data though and I might not get it right pus I don't know much about mysql's internals.

@yawa-ti-de: Search/retrieve seems good but I keep wondering about an extreme scenario where there are about a million comment entries and only 5 related to the activity of interest. How does mysql fare in such a case? I'm guessing it might not be a problem since mysql's search algorithm seems very very fast.

@bakenda: You're right about the second way.

Regarding the first way: maybe you're right but I think it does save time. Exploding x1 | x2 | , xn, where n = 1000 or more doesn't seem like it'd take too much time, will test though.