Collaborative foundation aims to boost MIPS adoption

A collaborative, nonprofit foundation has been started by a group of technology companies to boost the adoption of the MIPS processor architecture.

Imagination Technologies, Broadcom, Cavium, Ikanos, Ineda Systems, Ingenic Semiconductor, Lantiq, Nevales Networks, PMC and Qualcomm have founded "prpl," an open-source, community-driven foundation,

Imagination Technologies said Thursday. The company also separately announced that it will collaborate with Oracle to enhance Java for embedded and Internet of Things applications, and to optimize Java for the MIPS CPU architecture.

MIPS implementations are mostly used in embedded systems such as routers and video game consoles, for instance, which could make them particularly useful for the burgeoning Internet of Things market.

Imagination has been pushing to expand the use of MIPS chips since it bought the financially struggling MIPS Technologies in 2012. Currently, more than 3 billion MIPS units have shipped, according to the company.

Each member company will provide its particular expertise to the foundation's engineering groups. For instance, Qualcomm will focus on networking and build a community around OpenWrt, an OS based on the Linux kernel that is often used to route network traffic.

"Instead of every company doing the work individually, they all come together in prpl. They do the work and every company benefits from that work," Imagination spokesman Alexandru Voica said.

Prpl will offer open-source OS distributions for MIPS, including Android, CentOS, Debian, Fedora and Ubuntu, essentially creating a repository for developers and others.

Working together in this way makes sense, said Richard Fichera, vice president and principal analyst of infrastructure and operations at Forrester Research. "As far as I can see, it is an intelligent strategy and program to boost MIPS, which has been under immense pressure from ARM for mobile device market share," he said.

Another focus of the foundation will be on enabling next-generation "data-center-to-device" portable software and virtualized architectures, Imagination said.

That strategy, however, is less to Fichera's liking. "MIPS lost its chance at the core data-center server market," he said, adding that he seriously doubts that anyone will invest in either silicon or systems to have another run at it.

"Any significant investment in a non-x86 server will be centered on ARM or possibly OpenPOWER rather than MIPS. However, MIPS is a perfectly good embedded compute resource, and is appearing in network-edge devices as programmable cores for both embedded network functions and as a user-programmable device," he added.

As for Imagination's collaboration with Oracle, the companies will work to bring broad Java support to 32-bit and 64-bit MIPS architectures for use in a broad range of applications including routers, other networking equipment, mobile devices and the Internet of Things, they said.

 

originally published at : news.techworld.com

Employers want Java skills more than anything else

Java development was the most sought-after software-building skill by employers searching Dice.com in the first quarter of 2014, the company said on Wednesday.

Employers searched Dice thousands of times to look for software developers, engineers, architects and leads, Dice President Shravan Goli said in a statement. "The number one request by a large margin: Java/J2EE," Goli said. "For a programming language that started to be commercialized about 20 years ago, its stranglehold on modern development is unshakable."

Following Java/J2EE as the most in-demand software development skills were .Net, C++, C#, senior development skills, SQL, HTML, C, Web and Linux. "Experience is clearly of value, with many hiring mangers seeking senior developers," Goli said. But new graduates should not fret, as hiring managers searching for "computer science" ranked number 33 on Dice's site -- a trend that should equate to demand for those with recent diplomas, he said. Dice's survey covered from January 1 to April 15.

For technologies specifically geared to Web development, JavaScript came in at 12th on Dice's list, followed by ASP.Net (17th), HTML5 (19th), PHP (20th), and CSS (32nd). (A recent report by WalletHub found Web application developer to be the best entry-level job.) Mobile platform skills were mostly ranked below Web skills in Dice's assessment, with Android ranking 31st and iOS coming in 35th place.

Looking into what the future holds, Dice anticipates increased demand for developers and designers with skills pertaining to wearable electronics, the Internet of Things, and drones and robots.

The job market in general is rosy for software developers, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a 2.8 percent unemployment rate for this sector in the first quarter, Dice said. This compares to 5 percent in the same quarter five years ago and 5.5 percent four years ago. Overall, Dice posted 80,784 available technology jobs on May 1, including 48,202 full-time positions.

originally published at InfoWorld.com

 

The Methodology Doesn't Matter, It's Having One That Counts

Methodologies can get very religious. Should we be doing TDD? Should we use Waterfall? Should we have stand-up meetings? What sort of continuous delivery should we use?

A few years back I was diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. At the time I was diagnosed I was not particularly overweight and my diet was not too unhealthy. But I was coming out of a time in my life where I had been overweight and I used to snack a lot. At one of the places where I had worked there had been a food table where you could help yourself to the food and my desk was right next to it. As I used to really enjoy my sweet food it and I didn’t do much exercise it was a health disaster waiting to happen. Now days I eat healthier, have fewer sugary foods and I also exercise regularly.

In my opinion not having a methodology is much like not having a healthy lifestyle. Your code becomes overweight with bug fixes, and getting the code out of the door, much like getting yourself out of bed when you are overweight, can be quite a chore.

I am a great believer in the idea that not only the way you write code, but also the process involved in the delivery of it are highly coupled to the quality of the code. So for me, having a methodology is like having an exercise regime. The methodology helps keep your code leaner and there is a greater chance of pushing the quality of your code higher.

With a healthy lifestyle it doesn’t matter what exercises you do as long as you do something, the same applies to your software development methodology.

It doesn’t matter which methodology you follow as long as you have one.

 

Preference : foxdellfolio.com. Link : http://foxdellfolio.com/the-methodology-doesnt-matter-its-having-one-that-counts/

Enhance Your Website Traffic with Oldstats.com

 

The website is the virtual face of your business. The well optimized website adds more value to your business. Are you business website in need of excellent web optimization tool? Then oldstats.com will be the ideal choice. It’s one of the popular web analyzer sites available online. The website is loaded with a wide range of optimization tools including page rank, information of domain, keyword analyzer, free Majestic SEO, Yandex CY, Quantcast rank and much more options... The tools will assist you to know web statics of business website. You can also check your business website ranking on oldstats.com by entering the domain name in the search box.

Features loaded in oldstats.com:

Eg : Analysis the digitalpoint.com

The oldstats.com is loaded with various free optimization tools to enhance your website rankings. You can know page ranking of your domain using free Goggle page rank checker online. You need to type your website domain name in the search box and click ok. It will show your website score out of 10 and strength. You can get free google pagerank, yandex cy, quantcast rank and alexa rank for your website at oldstats.com . You need to mention your domain name in given box, select resolution and then click ok. It analysis to  make your website unique and secured.

The reciprocal link checker in oldstats.com allows check mutual raking with your partner domain name. The mutual link exchange will increase your website traffic rankings in search engine results. The link is very important in search engine optimization techniques. The content and correct keyword selection is very important for every website. The keyword attracts more search engine spider scan and increases your website rankings. The keyword ranking tool will assist you select the best keyword for your content.

The website includes show IP feature to know your IP address. It includes Goggle Map and shows your location virtually. You can also check internet speed, location, bandwidth broadband speed test, waterfall charts and website speed optimization checks. The website includes free promo code for your website. You can copy the HTML link and paste in your website as an advertisement. The promo codes attract more web user to your website and automatically increase your website rankings.

 

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How to optimize your app’s layout on iOS 7

Whilst there is not necessarily a right way and a wrong way to design your app’s layout, there are some tricks you can use to make sure that the user experience is as optimal as possible.

Ample Space for Controls

We all know that smartphone screens are small, and iPhones are consistently on the lower end of the screen-size spectrum.

To optimize your app’s layout for iOS 7, try to make sure that your main, controllable elements are at least 44×44 points. This way, users will have no trouble performing basic tasks with one finger or one hand while they are on the go.

Draw User Focus to Main Elements

There are two simple ways to draw the user’s attention to the main elements of your app.

1) Place important items in the upper-left of the screen (i.e. the menu) , with less important items going in the bottom-right (i.e. terms & conditions, privacy policies)

2) Make important items larger than less-important items, since larger items tend to draw the eye more easily. Larger items are also easier to access on a touchscreen, so users can perform the most essential tasks quickly and easily

Communicate Groupings

Effectively communicating which elements of your app go together can a make-or-break factor of your app’s layout. This can also be done in two ways:

1) Use alignment and indentation to organize your content and make it easier for users to discern which groups of content are related. For example, align any images or graphics with the text that they compliment. This is a cue to the reader that the picture is meant to associated with that text.

2) Consistent UI elements will also help users understand which elements belong together. A general rule of thumb is that elements that perform similar functions should also look similar. Any design inconsistencies could confuse the user and make them waste unnecessary time trying to figure things out.

Text Size

On the iPhone, users have the option of changing their default text-size setting across their device. While this is sometimes done for aesthetic reasons, many users actually use this feature due to visual impairments that make small text hard to read. If a user changes their default settings, they will expect your app to adhere to those settings as well.

For iOS 7, developers should consider adopting Dynamic Type, which will automatically adjust line spacing, line height, delineate between text types (heading, body, footer, etc…), and resize any text-size changes requested by the user.

Developers should also consider using a single font type throughout their app. This way, it will be easier for you to ensure that the font will render correctly at all different text sizes.

You should also consider making your app responsive to changes in text-size. For example, if you have a two-column, text-based app, you can make your layout shift to one column for any text-size larger than the default 17 points.

For more iOS 7 layout tips, visit Apple’s Developer Library!

 

Preference : developer-tech.com

CakePHP Development Services

Cake PHP is a rapid application development framework that greatly simplifies the web application development process due to it’s easy configuration, rapid prototyping with code generation and scaffolding, clean MVC conventions and lots more. Being based on the MVC (Model, View, Controller) model, it provides logical separation of code from the user. PHP Cake Framework comes packed with rich features out-of-the-box.

Some of the striking features of Cake PHP that makes it a desirable web development platform are:

• CakePHP is easy to set up and requires minimal coding
• It has a built in database authentication
• It also uses built in features for validation
• Built in Object Relational Mapping Framework.
• It maintains a flexible caching system and ACL.

Brainvire specializes in cake PHP web development and can conjure up advanced technology websites to kick start your business with the right approach. With a legacy of 10+ years of experience in PHP and hundreds of successful projects delivered to a global clientele, we are well equipped to facilitate web solutions using PHP for all business verticles Hotels, Restaurants, Media and Entertainment, Gaming, IT services, Social Media Networking, real estate and lots more!

Our Expertise:

• Versions: CakePHP 2.5.X, CakePHP 2.4.X, CakePHP 2.2.X, CakePHP 2.1.X, CakePHP 2.0.X, CakePHP 1.3.X, CakePHP 1.2.X, CakePHP 1.1.X , PHP 4, PHP 5, MVC framework, ActiveRecord, Association Data Mapping, Front Controller
• Database: MySQL 5+, PostgreSQL
• Operating Systems: Linux, Mac OS, Mac OSX, BSD, UNIX variants, Microsoft Windows (2008)
• Tools: Cake PHP development Environment, Cake PHP tools , cake php ide

So, if you are looking for a generation next website with high standards in security, reliability and performance, Cake PHP development could be your answer. We provide a gamut of services using cake PHP to give that initial boost to your online business. Starting off the right way will definitely set the right direction for your business to grow!

Our CakePHP Development Services Include:

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You can even hire CakePhp programmers to suit your specific project requirements. Using powerful combinations of web technologies, our cake php developers give your business a right platform to start, grow and flourish. Our comprehensive services ensure that you get adequate support for all your queries at any time during or after project completion.

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Fresh Tools of The Week

From HTML5UP to Intubus, and Gridzzly; this weeks listicle of fresh tools, apps and websites for designers and developers include some really cool resources that are worth trying out for each comes loaded with cool features. These tools are handy resources that are worth using incase one gets stuck in between or else the smart way is to make optimum sue ensuring efficiency and ease.

Take a look at this week’s list of cool tools, apps and websites that have just been introduced to let you make your pick and try them out. Also, we have listed down previous three week’s list of tools incase you have missed out any.

Fresh Tools of The Week [3rd May-9th May]

Fresh Tools of The Week [26th-April-2nd May]

Fresh Tools of The Week [18th-April-25th April]

Fresh Tools of the Week for Designers and Developers

1. HTML5 UP

This is an online tool that offers up great HTML5 site templates which are fully responsive, incredibly customizable, built on intelligent CSS3 and HTML5, and are released completely free under a Creative Commons license.

2. Gridzzly

Gridzzly is an online service that comprises of custom printable grid paper for you all to choose from a variety of styles including dot grids and line grids. Users can easily choose their grid size using the slider and print a sheet that fits their specific needs.

3. Overlook.io

Overlook.io is the In-Browser Test Management that lets users test their web app live in the browser. Developers can make optimum use of Overlook.io to put structure around their in-browser testing.

4. Slowy

Slowy is a real-world connection simulator and bandwidth limiter. It is a tool that helps simulate custom connection’s conditions and limits the network traffic to a specified destination port or interface. It is created for web developers who want to test a website with a real-world connection.

5. Kaku

Kaku is an Adobe Photoshop plugin that lets user to translate their text layers to a different languages. Users can easily pick up a text layer, set the original language and the one to translate to and a new text layer will be added to their document with the translated text.

6. Intubus

Intubus is an online tool that lets users sell stuff on their site or social networks. Upload any type of file including graphic, video, music, photo, software or text file thereby setting the price you need, add a description and make a widget. The widget contains your content and other Intubus member’s content in addition. Its as simple as that.

7. Leaving Pixels Behind

Leaving Pixels Behind is a slideshow with a vector workflow for designers from Todd Parker. With 130+ slides, valuable tips for designers working with vector images or illustrations, this comes as a handy resource worth checking out.

We will be coming up with fresh tools, apps and websites for designers and developers in the upcoming weeks. So stay tuned and check out what handy tools are rolled out to ease your job.

Source : theneodesign.com