Software
Java and Cell Phones Sep 15,2003
An article on J2ME development on OSX using the MIDP, courtesy of Mark Argo (for those allergic to acronyms: J2ME = Java 2, mobile edition, which is the reference implementation of Java for cell phones, PDA's and other limited mobile devices.... Java multimedia for J2ME is accomplished through the MM-API" New book: The MIDP 2.0 Style Guide for J2ME From Shawn Van Every, some details on 3GPP and Quicktime, a standard for cell phone video?
Java for the PIC Nov 20,2003
Muvium is a java VM for the PIC. The only problem is, you can't just buy the software, you have to buy PICs from them with the VM already loaded on. When they release the VM as software only, I'll try it.
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout software Nov 14,2004
ExpressPCB and their competitor, PCBExpress, don't generate industry-standard files, though, so if you design your boards using their software, you're stuck using only them to make your boards.... Once you're done,you run an error check which checks that you made all the connections in your schematic, and didn't cross any wires, and a Design Rule Check (DRC), which checks to see that you've left enough clearance between lines (called traces), vias (or pads), and so forth.
Smart Mobs Jul 9,2004
Howard Rheingold's Smart Mobs blog dedicated to subjects stemming from his book of the same name. He and other bloggers report on various social/technology items here.
USB, PICs, and Java Nov 3,2003
If someone had the time, I bet there'd be some interesting things that could come of combining the Java USB interface with USB-capable PIC chips.... Microengineering Labs makes it easy to use the latter with the USB commands for PicBasic Pro, and Josh Nimoy's notes on how to do it make it even easier.