Getting Started with the Internet of Things by Cuno Pfister

This book's subtitle says it all; 'Connecting Sensors and Microcontrollers to the Cloud'. If you ever wanted to be able to remotely monitor or record sensor data via the internet, then 'Getting Started with the Internet of Things' published by O’Reilly Media proves that the age of microcontrollers is upon us.

This well-written book introduces us to the 'Netduino Plus' microcontroller board, which is fully programmable using the .NET Framework. The information contained in this book is will be of great benefit to anyone getting started in the rapidly growing arena of embedded devices. 

Cuno keeps us on the right path with a generous amount of sample code and a walkthrough of the .NET development environment.  Separate chapters cover Writing to Actuators and Reading from Sensors. We then move on to how to connect the Netduino to the internet via HTTP. Pachube is introduced as an example of using one of the many available cloud services to store and share data in the 'cloud'. 

The final chapter covers where to go from here, offering suggestions and inspiration on the unlimited possibilities that the world of microcontrollers introduces. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in embedded devices and how to connect them to the internet.

Click here to learn more about or to purchase this book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this ebook as part of the O’Reilly Blogger Review Program.

Learning the iOS 4 SDK for JavaScript Programmers by Danny Goodman

The first book I ever read by Danny Goodman was "The Complete Hypercard Handbook" which was published in 1987 and was the best selling Macintosh book at that time. Fast forward to 2011 and "Learning the iOS 4 SDK for JavaScript Programmers" published by O’Reilly Media. See how far we have come.

This well-written book introduces newcomers to the world of iOS programming. While it is intended to be a guide for those currently familiar with JavaScript programming concepts, the book is general enough to benefit anyone hoping to learn how to use Apple’s Xcode application and the iOS 4 SDK.

Xcode comes with lots of reference documentation, but Danny keeps us on the right path with a generous amount of sample code and even includes the code for a test workbench that the reader can use to experiment with various code snippets. After examining the differences between an interpreted language like JavaScript and code compiled to run natively, he dives right into a quick tour of the Xcode environment and by the end of Chapter 2 will have you running your first app on the iPhone simulator. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in iOS programming.

Click here to learn more about or to purchase this book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this ebook as part of the O’Reilly Blogger Review Program.

O'Reilly School of Technology

I have just signed up for the PHP/SQL programming certificate program at the O'Reilly School of Technology. The certificate will be issued by The University of Illinois, who have been offering online IT courses and certificates since 1998.


The four courses in the PHP/SQL programming certificate program are:

• Introduction to PHP
• PHP/SQL 1: Introduction to Database Programming
• PHP/SQL 2: Relational Theory and Logical Design
• PHP/SQL 3: Seamless Web 2.0 Integration

Check it out. I'm looking forward to earning my certificate.


O'Reilly currently offers a total of 10 different certificate programs, and many more individual courses if you're not interested in a complete program.

The Future of Publishing

I am really excited about the bloom of eReaders and eBooks that are finally appearing. Having been a fan of eBooks since the days of the Rocket eBook, I can tell you that there has never been so many choices available on the market. It is also great to see some publishers going with the idea of DRM-free eBooks. O'Reilly Media being a prime example.

Which brings me to my favorite eBook format: ePUB

It is great to see so many vendors adopting the open ePUB standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). This standard consists of three specifications:

• Open Publishing Structure (OPS)
• Open Packaging Format (OPF)
• OEBPS Container Format (OCF)

Combined they form a single .epub file which internally uses XHTML files to build the structure of the eBook. The open format, flowable text, image support, CSS styles, and embedded font support combine to form a winning package.

Click here for more information on the ePUB standard.

The Hermit

After a long and busy lifetime, building, creating, loving, hating, fighting, compromising, failing, succeeding, the Fool feels a profound need to retreat. In a small, rustic home deep in the woods, he hides, reading, cleaning, organizing, resting or just thinking. But every night at dusk he heads out, traveling across the bare, autumnal landscape. He carries only a staff and a lantern.

It is during these restless walks from dusk till dawn, peering at and examining whatever takes his fancy, that he sees and realizes things he's missed, about himself and the world. It is as if the secret corners in his head were being slowly illuminated, corners he never knew existed. In a way, he has become the Fool again; as in the beginning, he goes wherever inspiration leads him.

But as the Fool, his staff rested on his shoulder, carrying unseen his pack. The Fool was like the pack, whatever it was he could be was wrapped up, unknown. The Hermit's staff leans out before him, not behind. And it carries a lantern, not a pack. The Hermit is like the lantern, illuminated from within by all he is.

Click here to learn more about Tarot cards.

Welcome!

Is technology the greatest invention of mankind, or is it really a boondoggle that consumes more of our time and effort than it professes to save us? Has our technology brought us to new heights of understanding, or merely turned us into uncaring consumers who are continuously looking for the next "new" thing?