ChiCon 7 App Update

So, we're hammering away at this, with a goal of having something to Beta testers over the weekend.  Due to challenges with getting test data and traction with parts of the Con, we've dropped some features but we're planning to have the following bugs from Renovation fixed.

- Offline access - the app will have a copy of the database integrated.  Due to the limitations of the multi-platform framework we've used, the integrated version will be prone to be wrong - as it will be pretty much the same database as the Pocket Guide will use.  Nothing we can do about that... IF we have time, we'll integrate a version of SQLite and put a proper database in.  This means the app will work fine offline for those that are roaming or struggling to get a signal
- Custom Events - you'll be able to add custom items to your program i.e. the London 2014 room parties
- "Back Button" on Android will work as a back button
- Search - this might be a bit shit, but we're planning to have a version enabled so you can search for a keyword and then get a list of matching panels
- Maps will be enabled with pinch/zoom - actually we thought they were last time but it just didn't f'king work
- Navigation - The bottom nav bar will be easier to use

It will come with integrated sharing to Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr and also the convention Twitter feeds will be integrated.

Device limitations:
After the confusion last year, and looking at the performance we're going to be setting boundaries on what we support.  

iPhone - 3GS and above - if you have an iPhone 3, performance will suck badly, sorry
Android - 2.3 and above...  our 'minimum' Android test device is a Galaxy S - I think I can safely say that any Android device of that spec and age will also struggle badly

All iPads will be fine.

Blackberry and Windows Phone are not supported this time around.

Apropos of the conversation with an idiot yesterday...

I see things aren't going too well for the Syrian Rebels.  Sadly.

If only they had guns, they'd have been able to protect themselves from aerial attacks by fighter jets and heavy artillery.

And those government forces would have been too afraid of being shot back at by AK-47 fire to attempt to stop them.

Words to fear in the Pacific North West

"We don't have an IPA but we do have an ISA..."
"A what?"
"An India Special Ale."
"And what is that?"
"Well it's like an IPA but with more hops."
"And this is meant to make me feel better or does it just melt my face?"

Creeping v. Pick Ups

There's a conversation going on over at Scalzi's about 'how not to be a creeper'.

One of the unspoken but there undertones is that there isn't much difference between being creepy and being into 'picking up women'. It's the opposite to the 'oh but Aspie people are awkward' position.

It's about as accurate.

I will be very clear I am not a pick up artist.  I do, however, have some friends who are.  The thing is, for the most part, they remain friends with and in contact with the women who they picked up.  It is not something they do because they are magically doing something clever and manipulative, they are doing something because of who they are.  I'll also be clear that what these guys do probably wouldn't work in a Fanish population verses the general population.

Fred and Step have a few things in common.

They're both conventionally good looking, Step less so than Fred.  Fred was a professional sportsman.  The other thing they have in common is that when they engage in conversation, the person they are speaking to is left with the impression that all that matters in the world is their opinion.  They'll sit there listening and letting the person spill their heart out and they're very good at it.  Mostly because they're not faking.  

I've had married female friends astounded at the reaction they've had to the pair of them, because they wanted to go home with them.  From what I've read, Bill Clinton was pretty much the same way.

They always start the same way.  They make eye contact.  They smile.  If the eye contact is returned.  They will approach and chat.  If the conversation is not returned, they will back off and walk away.  If it is, they have some weird skill (weird to me anyway) of standing there and having people talk.)  Things will progress.

This is not being creepy.  

It's not necessarily moral, and I'll take options on the pair of them never forming a meaningful lasting relationship.  But they're not creepy and generally speaking they don't come across as weird.

I can't help but feel that the creepy ones have heard that you make eye contact.  You then have conversation.

What they just haven't grasped is that there is more to it than that, and if the eye contact is not returned then it's game over dude.  Walk away.

Not walking away at that point?  Now THAT is creepy.