So I decided this weekend I’d take a really in depth look at the memory usage of my project on the iPad 1, and I found a number of very interesting facts.   The problem is that switching from one section of my project to another required swapping out sprite sheets, and I was hitting a memory limitation only on the iPad1.

So the app starts, and the main menu uses about 10 MB of allocations.   It’s very interactive, and has very pretty graphics.  Switching to the store front, however, would cause a crash.  The app would jump from 10 MB allocated to 28 MB allocated, and stabilizes at about 24 MB when the store shows up.  Loading the store took just under two seconds including a programmatic 0.75 second fade animation.  But what I found most interesting is how many memory flags were thrown just after the store appeared.  I assume that this is because of the Main Menu assets staying allocated, and needing to be released.  But the iPad 1 only appears to allocate 128 MB of Physical Memory Used portion shown above.

The first few times I tried running this, I couldn’t get my Physical Memory below 100 MB as a base for the amount used.  After restarting, and triggering some memory flags, the iPad 1 was able to get down to 85 MB including 24 MB from the active application.

What I learned today is that the iPad 1 can and will crash an app that uses more than 28 MB allocated memory.  I had previously assumed that it could handle up to 40 MB allocations (Bad practice, but if needed during a transition, or if you are too lazy, etc.)  So a reminder to devs:  Keep your allocations under 28 MB or so for iPad1.  And a reminder to users:  frequently restart your iPad 1 to get up to 60 MB of memory freed up for applications.

I learned a number of other things as well about the iPad 1 hardware, but these are probably more superflous to this post.   As a last note, be sure that you don’t load more than 3-4 1024×1024 sprite sheets at once for the iPad1.  Technically it’ll support a 2048×2048 atlas, but that just about fills the memory limit.

I’ve done a number of things in the SEO realm, but nothing to boast about, or be proud of.  I’ve dabbled.   But I’ve always been interested in how difficult it is to prove to Search Engines that a page is legitimate.  Engaging users, paying for sponsered listings, hiring SEO agents, modifying Meta Data… All of it seems like it comes down to luck of the draw, or who pays more.

Case and Point is The Johnson Company (http://www.tjclv.com/).   A friend of mine owns a landscaping company here in town, and they do great designs.  So if you are in the market, be aware of them (even though search engines refuse to become aware of them…).  In fact this company is the one who published Landscape Lighting Calculator, and Fertilizer Calcs.  I’ve tried helping him update Metadata, registering with search engines, and he’s now resorted to hiring an SEO magician to do some hocus pocus.  I wonder if all of this doesn’t boil down to a team of people who determine how much money they can get from a company to be listed properly… .

What is it that SEO magicians do other than register with search engines and alter metadata?

I’m really bad at typing up my thoughts.   Not sure if it’s concern of the permanency of words placed on the internet, or the fact that the things I have to say are truly inconsequential.  However, these concerns apply to all bloggers and yet many people still blog.  I’m confident that nobody ever reads any of the blogs, but I’ve decided to put more fodder out there for contextual search robots in determining who Jared Judd is.

I’ve gotten into Unity Development, and find it quite thrilling.  I was initially concerned that the cost of entry would be prohibitive to my enjoyment, but less than a month later I felt it had been worth the money.  I’m not one who believes in traditional educational experiences (College) and purchasing Unity has taught me more about Game Development then I had hoped.  Of course my life has become somewhat saturated by my obsession with Unity, and every video game I play I find myself now trying to decompile, and reconstruct a Unity Project in my mind as I play (despite the game being developed in Unity or not).  I’m a fan.

The third generation iPad comes out today, and I’m excited about acquiring one.  Each time Apple releases a product, I think it stands as a symbol of innovation waiting to happen.  When they announced the iPad, I instantly got the importance of it.  Pundits all stated that it was merely a big iPod, and who would pay for a 10″ device, when a 5″ device can do the same thing, and is more portable.  I knew it would be a huge new industry, and I’m sure the ‘nominal’ revisions in the third generation offer more potential innovation.  More importantly I think any improvement to the platform will increase household saturation, and bolster the supporters of the field in which I work.

So there are my ramblings, and mindless dronings on topics which I find to be relevant.  Hopefully next time I’ll pick a better topic, and develop some content, so that perhaps more will find interest.

I’ve been toying around with the idea of publishing an app which would allow the user some interaction with the City of North Las Vegas. So today, I finally wrote it up. It’s pretty neat concept, and nothing original. City of Pittsburgh was the first that I know of to get their own App. New York, Boston, etc. now have their own, and so I thought that the City of North Town should get their own. I talked with the IT department, and discussed what they would think should be in the app. I spoke with people in the City Manager’s Office about using Artwork, and sending data, etc.

Hopefully it’s found to be a useful tool by the citizens / commuters /travelers while in the City of North Las Vegas. I know that I intend on using it a few times to send in the nasty potholes that never get fixed, or a downed traffic sign, etc.

My old computer finally tanked.  I had used iWeb to setup my old site, and the files were all on the dead computer.  I was able to restore some of my files (Mission Critical), but my website was lost.  So, I gave up on hosting it through mobile me, and paid for some real hosting.  So here it is.  Hopefully I’ll update it a lot more frequently, and treat it better.

I realize that most of my products shortcomings are the support for them.  I really want to do better tutorials, and instructions.  In addition, I think the marketing material required for them would definitely improve sales.  I read through some of my descriptions on my apps, and looked over the support material, and realized I wouldn’t buy it.  Yet I have 4.5 stars on some of my apps, so once they are purchased, people like them… I need to put more effort forth towards getting people onboard.

I’ve got some really long term projects in the works.  I’m a bit tired of doing the conventional crap apps.  They sale well, and the offer a quick return, but I can do better.  My best app took over a year to write, and offers the best return rate on my effort.  Took me quite  while to realize it, but quality is held in higher regard than any other feature of all of the apps that are out there.

I still might do one or two, for the quick enjoyment… but my goals have changed.