DETOUR

**From Merriam-Webster Online

¹de·tour : a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure; especially : a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route

Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do, just to pay the bills.  I find myself in that very position right now.  I am taking a 40 hour a week job as a maintenance man at three downtown Portland buildings.  That is not what I went to school for, nor is it what I want to do for a career. But right now, paying my bills and supporting my wife (and our team), especially while they are going to school, is important to me.

My wife, myself and two friends from school started a multimedia company earlier this year and it has had some success.  But so far, it does not support my family. We are all still students and still have not found our niche’s yet.  Those of you that have tried to work for yourselves can appreciate my situation.  That’s just the way it is sometimes.  I knew when I chose to go back to school and try a new career, it would not be easy. But you know what?  My situation is not dire and in fact, I am going to make this work for me.

The company I am going to work for manages two new buildings in the South Waterfront development and one in the Pearl District.  They are in a pinch for maintenance personnel now, but I was told that a person with my skills could be hired as a concierge.  That would be closer to what I want to be doing.  I had a strange thought that I could combine a concierge position with social media and rock both. OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but it would not be such a bad gig.  One thing is for sure, the company that hired me made a good choice.  I appreciate the work and will give them my best. If the stars align just right, I will be able to work for this company and work in my chosen field.

Now, just because I’m going to have a “straight” job for a while, does not mean I will be going away. I will be taking a couple of classes this fall and otherwise studying my multimedia/tech/web/writing/film producing/social media/creative ass off. I am still going to be the President of the PCC Multimedia Club, where we have big plans.  I will still show my face at most of the geeky gatherings and I will still blog.  I am very excited about a XXXXXXXXXXX project that is about to happen (more on that later and no, it has nothing to do with iPhone development).  After all, my new job is only 40 hours a week, right?  That leaves another what, 30-40 more work hours?

iPhone DevCamp 2 PDX Wrap Up (NDA Compliant Post)

Note*** To establish proper context for this post, please read my original editor’s note. To be fair, I should point out that Apple’s NDA clearly did not stop collaboration between iPhone developers, as witnessed by thousands of attendees of iPhone DevCamp 2 from all over the world.

Portland iPhone DevCampers

DAY ONE:

It was a great first day at the iPhone DevCamp 2 satellite event being held in Portland.  Despite being under construction, Jive Software is a first-rate venue.  The setup at Jive includes a spacious main area, where a live satellite feed from the San Francisco main event could be viewed on a giant screen.  There were tables to work at, electricity and wi-fi internet access for camper’s laptops, comfortable seating and access to a well-stocked kitchen.  Separate meeting rooms provided a quiet place to work or chat.  The whole place has an energetic, hip urban vibe about it. Jim Goings and Jive Software are wonderful hosts.  Employees of this local software company should really appreciate these diggs.  When construction is complete on Jive’s downtown Portland headquarters, the renovated old Federal Reserve Building will be something to behold. I can’t wait to see it.

Ten first day attendees arrived shortly after 9:00 am, set up their laptops and introduced themselves.  Developers and coders are not known for being morning people, so fresh coffee and things to eat for breakfast were quite welcome. After some discussions went around the room about what people wanted to gain from this event, it was time for the opening keynote forum from San Francisco via Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro.  Merlin Mann led the forum, alongside Mike Lee and  Brian Fling.  I’m sure it was a fine keynote forum, but it was really hard to follow from a satellite feed with seven other cities and I lost track of what was going on.  That was alright because the Portland team was itching to get started on their entry in the Hackathon contest.  A basic team of four people began discussing how to build procedural wallpapers for the iPhone. Work went on into the late night and other than lunch, the rest of the day was uneventful.

DAY TWO:

A crack team of Portland iPhone geeks decended upon Jive Software, bright-eyed and ready to go for day two of iPhone Devcamp 2. From the night before, much of the XXXXXXXXXXXXX for the Hackathon entry had been built using XXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXX.  The team, led by Andrew Pouloit, assessed what had been done and what was still left to do.  XXXX XXXXXX had XXXXXXXX the XXXXXXXX by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  This was especially difficult because XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  A simple fix was to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. As you may know, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  This a common problem and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX is a real time saver.

So, with the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, there was still much work to do.  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX need to be adressed when dealing with any XXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  In order to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, you should always XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

So much was learned by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  A XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX should be in every coder’s vocabulary.  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXX are reliable fixes for a problem that is shared by many when trying to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

By now, the XXXXXXXX and XXXXXXX were XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  A basic work flow for  XXXXXXXXXXXX is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, according to this group’s experience.  So much was learned by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

HACKATHON:

Portland wins the Hackathon for best app among the cities attending the event via satellite!!! Details are still being discussed about what I can say about it.  Stay tuned.

SPECIAL THANKS:

When our original event venue became unavailable  shortly after we announced our event to the world, Rick Turoczy of Silicon Florist put the word out for us and the very next day, we had three offers.  Jive Software stepped in right away and said we could use their offices.  They not only offered their space, but made sure we felt welcome, even making event posters for us. We should feel fortunate to live where there is such support for the tech scene and give these people some love whenever we can.  Thanks to all of the attendees for making this a successful event.  Next year’s event should be even bigger and better.

Editors Note on Tomorrow’s iPhone DevCamp Post

**EDITOR’S NOTE**  I am very excited to be covering an event like this year’s iPhone DevCamp for my new blog.  But due to Apple’s iPhone SDK Non-Disclosure Agreement, not much can be said about what is (or is not) going on with applications being developed for the iPhone.

Developers and programmers who rely on a free exchange of information in order to learn to build new applications, are being asked to remain silent about the company’s iPhone Software Developers Kit.  That’s the word on the street and I’m sure they have their reasons.[Note to self;another post on those reasons]

I have been warned that the mandatory minimum sentence for violating Apple’s NDA is a thourough ass-beating from a couple of Steve Jobs’ thugs and if I live through that, they would excommunicate me from the Apple cult community and banish me from the internet. The rebel in me sees this as a challenge.  After all, I can take (or give) a good ass-beating.  Even the threat of getting the bejesus sued out of me doesn’t really scare me because, as Jim Goings (who is not my lawyer) pointed out; “you don’t need no stinking NDA”.  He’s right.  I haven’t yet signed up for the iPhone SDK, so I am under no obligation to abide by its non-disclosure agreement.  The fact is, any attention I might get from Apple, especially negative attention, could gain me lots of readers for my blog.

If I want to write for a living, I need that attention.  And while any gonzo journalist worth his notebook should jump at this perfect chance to stick it to the man, I have reasons for playing this one straight.  My main reason is that I do not want to jeopardize any person’s chance to make money on their applications.  These people work hard, often in obscurity, to get a chance to make some real money for themselves and their teams.  The other reasons also have to do with respect.  Respect for Jive Software, who provided the venue for this event.  Respect for those who organized and attended this event.  And above all, respect for a community that has nurtured and been very kind to me in my new career. For these reasons, I purposely choose to puss out and provide tomorrow’s content censored according to the iPhone SDK’s NDA .  DC**

Portland iPhone Developers Unite!

Thanks to the efforts of iPhone visionary Dean Martindale and Portland tech community supporter Jive Software, iPhone DevCamp 2 is holding a satellite event in Portland.  This event is open to the public and is free.

For those of you who are not familiar with iPhone DevCamp, here is a brief explanation from iPhone DevCamp.org:

iPhoneDevCamp 2 is an upcoming not-for-profit gathering to develop applications for iPhone and iPod touch using both the native SDK and web standards. This is a follow-on event to the first iPhoneDevCamp, held in early July 2007.

iPhone DevCamp Portland will take place August 2nd and August 3rd at Jive Software Map Link.  Here is what will be available at our satellite feed event:

• 2 projectors (more if we really need it) – each connected to a MacMini (or your own computer)
• Wi-Fi with fast, redundant Internet feeds
• Seating for 40 (but probably less once tables, etc are setup)
• Beverage cooler  with drinks
• Coffee
• Food is still being planned and people will not go hungry
  

Additionally, there will be a meet and greet on Friday evening August 1st, from 6pm to 8pm at the Living Room Theaters across the street from Jive and Powell’s Bookstore.

Participants will be able to participate in this year’s Hackathon!! Track up-to-the-minute updates from San Francisco at iphonedevcamp.org.

An agenda and further information can be found at: iPhoneDevCampPDX.pbwiki.org anyone interested in providing food sponsorship for this event please contact dougcoleman1@gmail.com or Dean Martindale.

IPhone DevCamp2 PDX: Being Held at JIVE

I am excited to announce that iPhone DevCamp 2 PDX has an new venue! Thanks to Jim Goings and the wonderful people at Jive Software, iPhone DevCamp 2 PDX will be held August 2nd and 3rd at Jive’s Stark St. offices in Downtown Portland.  Here is what the space has to offer:

• 2 projectors (more if we really need it) – each connected to a MacMini (or your own computer)
• Wi-Fi with fast, redundant Internet feeds
• Seating for 40 (but probably less once tables, etc are setup)
• Beverage cooler  with drinks
• Coffee
• Food is still being planned and people will not go hungry
  

Additionally, there will be a meet and greet on Friday evening August 1st, from 6pm to 8pm at the Living Room Theaters across the street from Jive and Powell’s Bookstore.

I would like to thank those people who responded quickly with venues and ideas for help when we were in crisis.  I would personally like to thank Rick Turoczy of Silicon Florist for spreading the word on his site and on Twitter when I lost all of my followers suddenly. Rick is a rockstar in this town, and a great supporter of the tech scene here.  You should follow him: @turoczy.

For more information, go to: iphonedevcamppdx.pbwiki.org.  Be sure to register early on Upcoming and look for updates on this site.