Lok Tai Fung's blog

250,000 or a Quarter of a Million Tiles in World of Words. Woah =)

2011-06-06T17:17:00.000-04:00

Love movies?

2011-06-06T11:47:00.003-04:00

Here's a list from reddit of the top recommended movies to watch. I've been looking for a list like this for a very long time. So happy :-) I declare this the summer of movies. ;-)

100,000 tiles in World of Words. Holy crap :-)

2011-04-23T22:59:00.000-04:00

This is what the whole map looks like right now. Each dot is a tile. 100,000 tiles in almost 2 months of time. I'm amazed.

Ran 12 miles in 2hr 27min

2011-04-20T18:20:00.000-04:00

A bit slow, but I think I'm finally ready for the Long Island Half-athon. :-)

Ultimate Word Finder and Ultimate Word Finder Free released on App Store

2011-04-01T16:31:00.001-04:00

Here is a link to the free fully functional version.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ultimate-word-finder-free/id428276299?mt=8

Ultimate Word Finder will find the very best scoring word on any Words with Friends game. With this App, you can not possibly lose!

Unlike every other Word finding App that only generates mere anagrams with rack tiles, Ultimate Word Finder will actually find every single possible move on any Words with Friends game.

Ultimate Word Finder helps you quickly and easily find all the possible words from a given set of letters. It's great for finding all possible words in Words with Friends. Ultimate Word Finder helps you learn many great words, find high scoring words that you may have missed, and even generate anagrams using the new anagram generator.

To cheat and win in Words with Friends, all you have to do is load the Screenshot in Ultimate Word Finder and then press "Find Words". Ultimate Word Finder will automatically generate all possible words. You can see all the words, from the highest score to the lowest scores. You can even filter the list of words by points and by length.

Whether you want to better yourself in Words with Friends, or just want to win, Ultimate Word Finder will be the ultimate tool for devastating your opponents.

Features:

- Powerful OCR capability reads and transfer tiles from any screen shot.

- Get the highest scoring word possible from any board. Find every single possible word that can be played on the board.

- Three different modes of inputting letter into the rack and board. Tap to use On screen keyboard to type the letters in. Or you can drag the blank tile and select a letter. Or you can even use the OCR. The choice is up to you.

- Discover up to 100,000 unique plays for each board setup. No joke. If the move exists, Ultimate Word Finder will find it.

- Save multiple boards, up to 32 boards simultaneously.

- Official Words with Friends Word List used. Every word found in Ultimate Word Finder can be used.

- Zoom in and out of board for easy editing.

- Board saves automatically.

- Very Conveniently, Ultimate Word Finder does not require an active internet connection. You can use this App whenever you like. Great for iPod touch and places with little to no reception.

- Sort and Display the words however you like.

- Simple and intuitive interface.

- Fast Anagram finder. This anagram finder can generate anagrams that works with any popular word games like Lexulous, Bananagrams, and Text Twist Turbo.

10,000 tiles in World of Words

2011-03-14T16:13:00.000-04:00

That's a lot of tiles :-)

World of Words app is released

2011-03-04T02:30:00.004-05:00

World of Words is a word game that lets you play with thousands of other people at the same time. Imagine sharing a game board of infinite size and you are playing with everyone else who is connected. Anyone can see and build off your words, and so can you.

Race against the clock as you compete with people all over the world for the very best high score. Or play in the leisure game mode and build carefully crafted words without an rush. Play however you like. The fun is up to you.

After 5 months of development, I finally finished this game. It took a whole lot longer than expected. Who knew learning how to develop good UI and stable multiplayer code would take so long :-) Anyway, this game is hardly done. I have a lot of new ideas to make this game even better. So I'm going to continue developing this game for the near future. On my off time, I'll take some time to fix and improve my word finder apps. Thanks for the patience. Anyway, try this game out. Hope you like it.

App Submitted :-)

2011-02-25T16:42:00.000-05:00

I never thought I would see the day when I finished this App. *Crossing my fingers for App review* :-) Very excited to show you guys :-)

Coding in a cave somewhere...

2010-12-09T12:23:00.001-05:00

Between my new project (2 months so far) and Naruto Ninja Storm 2, I'm almost a programming hermit, or maybe a monk. I've been learning a bit more about Objective-C, Cocoa frameworks, and other "fun" stuff. Good thing about working in this new project is that I'm getting ideas on how to improve my other iPhone apps. When I'm done with my latest project, I'm definitely taking a trip somewhere. Preferably a place with good food and no computer :-)

6.12 miles, outdoors brrrrrrrrrr

2010-12-02T14:58:00.003-05:00

8.27 miles, Outdoors

2010-11-27T15:20:00.002-05:00

6.7 miles, outdoors

2010-11-24T18:04:00.001-05:00

5 miles, outdoors

2010-11-22T17:55:00.001-05:00

6 miles, outdoors

2010-11-19T17:51:00.001-05:00

Kinect Hacks

2010-11-19T14:47:00.000-05:00

Wow, Kinect is very hackable and coder friendly.

http://www.kinecthacks.net/

5 mile, threadmill

2010-11-17T15:27:00.001-05:00

4 mile, 41:00 Treadmill

2010-11-16T14:35:00.000-05:00

6.7 miles, 1:14

2010-11-11T13:50:00.000-05:00

4 mile, 45:35

2010-11-10T16:27:00.000-05:00

If Al Roker can finish a marathon, so can anyone :-)

2010-11-06T14:13:00.000-04:00

This is quite inspiring for anyone that say they can't do a marathon.

http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/11/05/al-roker-ing-new-york-city-marathon/

He's 50 something years old, isn't exactly in the best of shape, and he runs over an hour every day. Alright, next year I have to do this.

Trying to Cook

2010-10-20T21:54:00.000-04:00

No dinner today, so I decided to try out the recipe "Baked Chicken and Rice" from www.cookingforengineers.com

I modified the recipe a bit out of laziness, and now it's in the oven. Crossing my fingers it will come out somewhat edible :-)

Ingredients (Serves 4):

2 Zucchini
1 Yellow Squash
2 cans of Roasted Cream of Mushroom soup
5 Chicken Thighs
1 small pack of Italian sausage
1 16oz pack of mushroom
1/2 cup of coconut milk
1 onion
1 pack of diced parmesan & mozzarella cheese

1) Slice all the veggies.
2) Slice the Italian sausage.
3) Throw everything into a big aluminum baking pan.
4) Still baking, so we'll see how long it actually takes.
5) Put cheese on top and bake until cheese melts.
6) Eat.

Update:
Baking time was 2 1/2 hr at 350F. Food tasted horrible :-) so I decided to patch things up by putting Alfredo sauce, bread crumbs, egg whites and diced cheese and baked it for 20 minutes more. Now the food tastes good. Lesson today, if it tastes horrible, just add more ingredients until it tastes good.

Words with Friends Word Finder for iPhone 4 Fix Submitted to Apple.

2010-09-26T15:05:00.001-04:00

The latest fix is done for the iPhone 4 OCR feature of Words with Friends Word Finder. The fix has been submitted to Apple. It usually take from 3-7 days for Apple to approve it. Enjoy :-)

Idle Musings on Words with Friends Word Finder OCR feature

2010-09-18T18:09:00.001-04:00

Note to self -
I really need to get an iPhone 4 for app testing. *praying Apple releases the white iPhone 4 soon*

It was an awesome feeling seeing the OCR feature working for the first time on my iPhone. It was the feature that was requested the most. So finally getting the update out was a thrilling experience. So for everyone who bought the feature, thank you. I'll continue working on optimizing the speed and accuracy of the OCR engine.

As for you iPhone 4 users, I apologize for the unsightly bug in the OCR feature. I got overly excited about releasing this update quickly and the bug slipped in. I'll get an update out as soon as I can :-)

Anyway, with the update, I fixed the shaking sensitivity problem, oriented the screenshot to match the game board better, and speed optimized the switching of the game boards. Switching boards should be near instantaneous now. Also, it is IOS 4 compliant, which means this app can multitask and switch to other apps without closing.
Enjoy.

A fix for Words with Friends Word Finder OCR feature is coming soon.

2010-09-15T19:18:00.000-04:00

In introducing the new OCR feature, one thing that eluded me was testing it for the iPhone 4. Currently, the new OCR feature does not work for the iPhone 4. It works fine for all older iPhones and iPods. Please be patient. A fix is coming soon. Thank you.

Poker: Avoid calling in Coin-flip Situations when it is not profitable

2010-09-01T01:20:00.000-04:00

Let's say you are somewhat short-stacked and limped in with AK. A relatively tight player reraised all-in and got your stack covered. Most amateurs would call, but this is a mistake. With so little chips committed, there is no point in risking all of your chips for a ~50% chance to win.
It is better to look for situations that is advantageous to you. If you held KK with a short-stack, and someone reraised you all-in, obviously you should call. But the reason behind it is that you know the only other hand you are a dog is against AA. Against QQ,JJ,TT,99, you are ahead 80:20. Against AK, you are ahead 70:30. Against AQ, AJ, Ax, you are ahead 72:28. So you are most likely a 2:1 to 4:1 favorite against your opponent's hands.
Now if you think it over, if you call every single all-in with AK, you will lose money in the long run. Where as, if you call with KK every single time, you will make money. This concept is simple enough preflop, but people should understand that this applies to post-flop play as well.
Let's say you have top pair, and you know that your opponent has a mid pair and a flush draw. If you have very little money commited in the pot, and your opponent went all-in. Is it really worth it to call? The answer is a definite no. Half the time, you would be grumbling to yourself, thinking you made the right read of your opponent, but your luck was bad. Too bad it isn't that your luck is bad, but your play is not advantageous.
However, there is one caveat. The above only applies to heads-up situations. If it is a multi-way pot, your odds are significantly better. So calling could be worthwhile.

P.S. If you are looking for a leak in your otherwise *ahem* flawless game, this could be one of them.

Poker: Reckless Short-stacked playing

2010-07-16T12:35:00.000-04:00

Often times in cash games, I would see someone dropping to 1/3 of their buy-ins and then become desperate. Then the next time they get any pocket pair or Ax, they would go all-in. While any two cards are playable in deep-stacked situations, being short-stacked is another matter. In short-stacked situation, a person should be looking for an opportunity to double up. He/she must look for situations that helps himself/herself get an edge.
For example, if no one raised yet and you are near the dealer button, going all-in with AK,AQ,AJ,AA,KK,QQ,JJ,TT,99 should be fine. Going all-in with a pair of 5s or A8 is reckless, and desperate. If there is a raise, the only real cards that stand a chance is AK,AA,KK, or QQ. If you are the type of person who does not have the patience to wait for cards, then just buy back to your normal range. Whatever you do, don't just throw your money away. If you are trying to find leaks in your game, this could be one of them!

Idle Poker Musings

2010-06-23T15:48:00.000-04:00

Between hands, I sometimes try to think of different ways of playing a certain hand. One favorite play of mine is limp-checkraise with AK from early position. It's a fun maneuver to execute. You usually get credit for having a high pocket pair. And that's the best part about it. People sometimes fold (good). Other times, people with AK, AQ, AJ, QQ, JJ, and TT will call and won't know what to do if an Ace is on the flop. If you bet, AK, AQ, and AJ will probably call or reraise you. If they reraise or call, you have 2 out of 3 hands that you will win money from. Of course, if they reraise your preflop check-raise, then you can safely fold. But if you are 110% sure the guy is a very loose reraiser, going all in with a substancial raise might be worthwhile...but let's just say 99% of the time, it isn't a good idea :-)

Multiple Boards you say?

2010-05-24T16:34:00.000-04:00

New version of Words with Friends Word Finder out. Enjoy.

Whooping Nus in tennis

2010-05-16T14:18:00.001-04:00

The look of shame :-)

Words with Friends Word Finder iPhone App (UPDATED v1.3 Sept. 28, 2010)

2010-05-05T06:31:00.000-04:00

** If the App is crashing for you, your iPhone/iPad touch is low on memory. Please quit other applications or restart your iPhone/iPad.

Here is my latest iPhone App. Words with Friends Word Finder. This app will find every single possible words with your tiles on any board. If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments in regards to this app, feel free to post the question. I'll try to answer them as soon as I can :-)

Frequently Asked Questions:

If the App is crashing for you, your iPhone/iPad touch is low on memory. Please quit other applications or restart your iPhone/iPad
Why doesn't the tile land on where it is when dragging?

When you start dragging the tile, you will see a floating tile to the top left of your thumb. The tile lands at the center of where your thumb is pressing on the iPhone screen. It does not land on where the tile is shown floating. The reason behind this is because so that you can see the tile you are dragging around.
After the latest update, the tile now lands on where it is floating at. It should be less confusing now.
I can't seem to drag the tile from the bottom. All it does is scroll the tiles left and right?

Be sure to drag the tile from the bottom straight up, and not sideways. You can choose what tiles to get by sliding your thumbs left and right at the bottom of the screen. You can get a particular tile by pressing your thumbs on a particular tile, slide it straight up to the board or rack.
How do I clear the board?

Easy. Just SHAKE the iPhone. Shake it a bit harder if it doesn't work.
How do I get rid of a particular tile?

Just drag it to the bottom of the screen to where you choose a particular tile. The bottom of the screen is essentially the tile bag. So by dragging the tile back to the bag, you are putting away the tile.

Also, if you like this App and the new improvements, please feel free to help me with the ratings in the App Store. Thank you :-)

Karaoke Party for iPhone/iPad Technical Support

2010-04-26T17:10:00.001-04:00

We hear ya. After much deliberation with the CEO, production manager, and the head developer, we have decided to add this post to provide technical help for those who need support for Karaoke Party for the iPhone/iPad.

Frequently Asked Question:

1) Where do I find songs?

http://www.tricerasoft.com/cgi-bin/karaokedownloads/portal.asp?Portal=BPP (I get affiliate pay 5 cents per song for this one)

http://www.karaoke.com (I don't get anything :-( )

or google. You can find some free ones scattered around.

2) How do I transfer songs to Karaoke Party?

a) Very simply, you will need a computer with a File Transferring Protocol application or otherwise known as an FTP application. All you have to do is connect Karaoke Party at the IP address of your iPhone/iPad on port 40000, and transfer your CDG or ZIP karaoke files. FileZilla for Windows and Cyberduck for Macs have been tested to work correctly with Karaoke Party. If you have connection problems with your own FTP program, please use the tested FTP programs. Be sure that both your computer and your iPhone/iPad are connected to the same Wifi network, otherwise they can not communicate with each other.

b) If you need help with the FTP program. Here it is.

First, download and install either FileZilla for Windows or Cyberduck for Mac.
Now, make sure both your computer and iPhone/iPad are connected to the same Wifi network.
Please open the Karaoke Party now and go to the Transfer Songs tab. Remember the IP address. You will need this IP address for the FTP program to connect to the iPhone/iPad. If it saids you are not connected to a Wifi network. Please make sure your iPhone/iPad is connected to a Wifi network.
Make sure Karaoke Party is running on your iPhone/iPad and set at the Transfer Songs tab. Run the FTP application and use that application to connect to the IP address you obtained from step 3 at port 40000. You have to enter the port number, otherwise you will not be able to connect to your iPhone/iPad. If the connection fails and you made sure the settings are correct, try rebooting your computer and restart Karaoke Party. If Karaoke Party crashes (rarely) or the connection broke, just use the FTP application and resume the transfer. You do not have resend any sent karaoke songs.
Good, with the FTP application connected to your iPhone/iPad, you can now transfer your karaoke songs. Either drag and drop the ZIP or CDG+MP3 karaoke files into the FTP application. After the file transfer is done, you're all set. Good job getting this far with me.
If you have problems connecting to the iPhone/iPad, you can alternatively try other FTP applications, reboot your computer and restart Karaoke Party. If you still have problems, try posting the question here. Be sure to check to see if the answer has been posted already.

3) Song volume too low?

First, make sure you turn up your iPhone/iPad's hardware volume. Do this by using the volume buttons on the side of your iPhone/iPad. Turn it all the way up. Then turn up volume in Karaoke Party.

4) Song volume too low for built in speakers?

If you followed the above suggestions and it is still too low then I have to apologize. The short answer is that there is nothing I can do. The iPhone has two speakers. One is above the screen, and one is below the screen. Since Karaoke Party uses the Microphone, the iPhone must use the speaker above the screen, otherwise there would be feedback. The above speaker is not very loud. This is why I recommend using headphones when using Karaoke Party.

5) Why won't my uploaded songs show up?

If you are currently in the Song list, go to another tab, and then switch back. Also, remember that only (CDG+MP3) and ZIP files are supported.

6) I hear static or white noise while using an iPod Touch?
People using iPod Touch with no attached microphone might hear static when starting Karaoke Party. This is currently a bug. To get rid of it for now, just turn down the microphone volume all the way down.

I hope this helps you guys and gurls. If there is anything else I didn't cover, please feel free to ask away. Be sure to be as detailed as possible in your question. With time, I'll add any answered questions to this list.

Also, if you like Karaoke Party, please feel free to help me with the ratings in the App Store. Thank you :-)

Amazing cakes

2010-04-23T23:22:00.001-04:00

Quite a sensual hot chocolate ;-)

Location:Austin St,Forest Hills,United States

The other kind of bluffing

2010-04-22T17:31:00.001-04:00

Generally, when a person talks about bluffing in Poker, they mean putting a big bet with bad cards. There is actually another way to bluff, and it is bluffing that you have bad cards when you have a monster. It is very useful against suspicious players. I'm not talking about slow-playing. Here is my recent war story to illustrate my point.

I was at a 5/10 game in utg+3 with $1400. B was in the dealer position with $4500, and C was in BB with $2000. I recently won some money from him, so he was a bit off from his game.
I picked up JJ, and I limped $10. Co limped, B raised 5xbb to $50, C called. Seeing the opportunity I reraised to $200 to represent high pocket pair. B hesitated for a bit, and called (possibly: low pocket or AJ,AQ,AK). C folded. Now the flop came A,J,2 rainbow. I got middle set and I was first to act. I decided to go All-in with $1200 to represent high ace pair or stone cold bluff. B almost insta-called and the rest is history.

Against most suspicious, aggressive players, overbetting is seen as a sign of weakness. Plus my preflop check-raise represented high pocket, so his read is that I don't have an Ace. I probably have something less than an ace, like KK or QQ. B's read is right, I don't have an Ace. Plus most people don't go all-in with a monster set with no real draws.
Usually I don't feel particularly great winning a big pot from someone, since everyone works hard for their money. But for B, after he taunted me and showboating so much about how he bluffed me out of a $230 pot, I'm glad I took 10x back from his bankroll :-)
Poker ediquette is important after all, if not just because people will play softer against you.

After kickass

2010-04-17T01:12:00.001-04:00

Location:Mirabelle Ave,Westbury,United States

China Food Tour

2010-03-26T01:36:00.001-04:00

Location:Connaught Road C,,Hong Kong

Dessert at Lucky Dessert

2010-03-21T22:54:00.004-04:00

Location:Castle Peak Road (ting Kau),,Hong Kong

Famous Chan Kee Roast Goose

2010-03-21T22:54:00.002-04:00

Location:Sham Tseng To Tuen Mun Rd,,Hong Kong

Hong kong flower show

2010-03-21T22:54:00.000-04:00

Location:Gloucester Road Flyover,,Hong Kong

Hot pot

2010-03-21T22:53:00.000-04:00

Location:Carnarvon Rd,,Hong Kong

Congee and Rice Stick at Dai Pai Dong

2010-03-21T22:52:00.001-04:00

Location:Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Rd,,Hong Kong

More mango

2010-03-21T22:48:00.002-04:00

Location:Lock Rd,,Hong Kong

More Hui Lau Shan

2010-03-21T22:48:00.000-04:00

Sago and Mango in Coconut Juice

Location:Canton Rd,,Hong Kong

Win at Wynn

2010-03-17T02:14:00.001-04:00

Location:Tsz Wan Shan Rd,,Hong Kong

Going to Macau find some fish :)

2010-03-17T02:07:00.001-04:00

Location:Chung Kong Rd,,Hong Kong

Jenny's Wedding

2010-03-17T01:59:00.001-04:00

Location:Ho Pong St,,Hong Kong

Pineapple bun (bor lor yao)

2010-03-13T03:03:00.001-05:00

Location:Wo Ping Path,,Hong Kong

Yum cha

2010-03-13T00:40:00.001-05:00

I ate everything, these are leftovers.

Location:Kwai Yi Rd,,Hong Kong

Chocolate milk tea

2010-03-12T23:18:00.001-05:00

Location:Nathan Rd,,Hong Kong

Enjoying my 2nd hk cafe food

2010-03-12T00:05:00.001-05:00

Location:Pui To Road To Tuen Mun Rd,,Hong Kong

My trip to Hong Kong starts :)

2010-03-04T09:14:00.001-05:00

Here begins my trip. Here's Stanley, me and my Sis.

Word Games Cheater in Top #20 Word Games for App Store

2010-02-26T17:54:00.000-05:00

Thank you everyone for helping my app get to the top #20. I am very grateful.

Poker: Don't be a patterned player

2010-02-25T14:38:00.000-05:00

The other day, I was playing a 10 handed 5-10 NL game. I was in UTG + 3 with J7o. 5 players limped to the flop. The flop came out T 3 6 rainbow flop. Everyone checked. The turn came a J and a flush draw is now on the board. It was checked to me, and I bet $30. Dealer and UTG called. The river was a K and now a flush is on the board. UTG and I checked. The dealer bets $125 into a $150 pot. UTG folds. I thought for a little bit. I called him with a 2nd pair and he revealed he had blanks. I won a $400 pot.

To most people, this might be a borderline bad call. Here is why I was over 75% sure I was good. The villain in the dealer position is a loose raiser who c-bet and buys the pots somewhat more than usual. I do not usually power bet, so this may be seen as a weakness to him. My weak bet on the turn gave him an opportunity to bluff on the river if a club came out. When the club did come out, the villain's action was consistent with a value bet with a made flush. However, there are a few things that stuck out in my situation.

1) He is capable of making bluffs to buy pots, and his style of play is consistent with a person who likes to bully others with his chips.
2) My weak half pot bet on the turn is probably interpreted as a person either buying the pot or has a weak hand. It is a sign of weakness.
3) I usually do not bet often, and I rarely check raise, so I am not aggressive. Another sign of weakness.
4) He "merely" called my turn.
5) My checking on the river is a third sign of weakness.
6) Villain betting a $125 into a $150 pot on the river is a very strong bet. Too strong actually. Usually a person bets, at most, half the pot if they are value betting against a weak hand. There is no reason he would believe that I would have a strong hand. So if he was value betting with a flush, he would probably not have made such a big bet. Also no one would make such a big bet with a K either, so he probably does not have a K. If he rivered two pairs with Kings up, he would not bet such a big bet either because a flush is on the board.

So after considering all the information, and especially the river bet size, I came to the conclusion that his chances of having a flush is very little. So I called with my bluff catcher mid pair. Catching people bluffing is always a very costly experiment. Even if you're right, you still have a chance that you are wrong. And when you're wrong, you unnecessarily lose a big chunk of chips.

Poker is not a game of ego. Catching people on bluffs is fun, but remember what you are there for. You're there to make money. Seeing someone's face after you outplayed them is just a side benefit :-)

In conclusion, don't always play a certain way all the time. Switch up and be passive sometimes when you have an aggressive table image, and vice versa. Otherwise you'll find donkeys like me who "think" they can actually play poker and call you :-p

iPhone Scrabble Cheating App called "Word Chaser - Word Game Cheater"

2010-02-23T21:27:00.000-05:00

A long time ago, back in my college days, I took an algorithms class. After a few lessons, I was inspired to write a Scrabble Cheating program. With what I knew back then, I came up with a very rudimentary algorithm that didn't work all that well. It was terribly inefficient, and it couldn't handle blanks. That was around 2003. I gave up and finally picked up the project again 3 years later around 2006. I rewrote the algorithm and came up with something significantly faster, and simpler. With that algorithm, I ported it blindly from Java to C++ without testing the code. I intended to write a scrabble game for PSP.

Once again, laziness gave way to ingenuity, and I let the code sat for another few years...until the iPhone came out. I've toyed with the idea in my head since September 2009. I finally got around to writing the App around early January. When I first compiled and tried my untested C++ port, to my surprise, it worked without modifications. And work progressed significantly.

Who knew UI design and implementation takes so much time. I really took the time and thought out what the UI should look like. I have never really cared for making fancy UI, until I started writing Apps for the iPhone. So after a month of "fun" coding, I finally finished, and I am proud to say it is one of my finest projects yet. I'm quite proud of it :-) and I hope everyone will like it. So, enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions:

- Why doesn't the tile land on where it is when dragging?

When you start dragging the tile, you will see a floating tile to the top left of your thumb. The tile lands at the center of where your thumb is pressing on the iPhone screen. It does not land on where the tile is shown floating. The reason behind this is because so that you can see the tile you are dragging around.

- I can't seem to drag the tile from the bottom. All it does is scroll the tiles left and right?

Be sure to drag the tile from the bottom straight up, and not sideways. You can choose what tiles to get by sliding your thumbs left and right at the bottom of the screen. You can get a particular tile by pressing your thumbs on a particular tile, slide it straight up to the board or rack.

- How do I get rid of a particular tile?

Just drag it to the bottom of the screen to where you choose a particular tile. The bottom of the screen is essentially the tile bag. So by dragging the tile back to the bag, you are putting away the tile.

- The board does not save when exiting the App?

The App update with this feature and more is still being approved, after a month of back and forth with Apple. Sigh...

So very close

2010-02-12T04:26:00.001-05:00

I reworked and improved the algorithm of my next program. I'm so close... :-)

Finally...finished a new feature for Karaoke Party

2010-01-13T03:59:00.001-05:00

It's 3:59Am and I am happy to say that after a few days of intense and stubborn coding, I finally finished a new feature for Karaoke Party. What is it? Well, that's a surprise :-) The update will be up on the App Store probably within a week or so. Enjoy :-D You can thank Melinda for this feature, as she was requesting it for as long as I can remember. Constantly requesting it, over and over and ;-)

Train Ride and Train Ride 2 iPhone App Released

2010-01-11T22:36:00.000-05:00

Ever wanted to ride the train, and bask in the beautiful scenery. Now you can, in the comforts of your own iPhone/iPod Touch.

Train Ride lets you take a train across the scenic beauties of Europe. Enjoy the luscious green trees, and the mountains, as the gentle wind blows in your hair. Feel the powdery snow on your face, as you look on to the sights and sound of this one way ticket to paradise.

I am your conductor. Tickets please, and enjoy your Train Ride.

To the observant, here are two free coupon codes to redeem Train Ride 2. Enjoy.

6RTE443TKF7N

3ME6NRLKNWA4

AppGiveaway.com is featuring my app right now, and I provided them 40 coupons codes. Get em while their hot :-)

Free CPR Class at NYSC

2010-01-06T22:46:00.001-05:00

NYSC is offering free CPR classes. Very useful.

My Chumby One

2009-12-30T15:21:00.001-05:00

Melinda gave me a Chumby for X-mas. This thing is pure ecstasy. It shows Woot Offs, it does Pandora, it has like a bazillion widgets, it has over a 100 different types of clocks (all unique and fun), it streams videos, and is very hackable. Thank you Sweetie. I love you. I'm listening to Pandora as I type this.

iPhone Karaoke Player (Karaoke Party) - The newest full featured CDG MP3+G player for iPhone.

2009-11-21T03:35:00.000-05:00

Like Karaoke? Check out my latest app Karaoke Party. It is the best available CD+G/MP3+G player available for iPhone. Well...it is still being approved but I promise you, it will impress you. It has the most features out of any portable Karaoke app available. See the screen shots for yourself. Enjoy.

MP3+G™ is a trademark of TriceraSoft

Updated: AppGiveaway is featuring my app right now with free promo codes. Get them while they're hot.

Poker - Short Stacked considerations

2009-11-14T15:47:00.000-05:00

A lot of players love to play cards like suited connectors and small pocket pairs against a raise. This is all fine and good...if you have a lot of chips behind. The implied odds are only as high as your stack multiplied by the number of opponents. For example, if a deep stack ($300) from early position raises 3x-5x BB, and the only caller is you with 44 and a short stack ($70), you will be losing money in the long run every single time you make this call. Potentially, the only thing you're hoping for is to flop a set (1:9 odds). The most you can win from this is $70 (1:6 money). So for every 10 times you make this call, you lose $100 and make $70 for a net loss of $30. Keep this in mind next time you play.

Sexy Jewels reviewed in appbank.net

2009-10-30T12:18:00.000-04:00

I woke up to a nice surprise today. Someone from Japan reviewed my Sexy Jewels App.

http://www.appbank.net/2009/10/29/iphone-application/60145.php

So if you are from the AppBank site, I want to say thank you. Domo Arigato.

The Mystery of AudioUnit

2009-10-23T12:53:00.000-04:00

Finally got simultaneous record and playback working :-) I'm an App, and more Happy is coming!

And Today I...

2009-10-08T19:58:00.001-04:00

...ran 6 miles. Wooooah!

Yesterday I...

2009-09-24T12:18:00.001-04:00

...ran 3.75 miles for the very first time. *self pat on back*

-Edit 4 miles now :-)

Puzzle Gems, my new Game.

2009-09-18T11:16:00.000-04:00

After 3 weeks of grueling apple approval process, I'm proud to say that my new game "Puzzle Gems" is finally released. It's a match 3 gems game with fast paced gameplay, along with crisp graphics. Out of all the Apps, this one took the most effort and time. It's also the App I have the most fun writing. It took well over 100+ hours of development time.

Wearing the animator, programmer, and designer hat was interesting. Designing Puzzle Gems was the most fun of the three, but also the hardest. But enough about me :-), let's talk more about the game...and you can read all about it in the iTunes store :-D. Enjoy.

Poker - Conveying a message with a bet?

2009-08-12T23:39:00.000-04:00

While day dreaming during a hand, an interesting thought dawned on me. The actions available during a hand are just ways of communicating. For example, a bet says that you have a hand. Calling says you are unsure or is holding a weak hand. Folding says...well, you know :-). Whether you're telling the truth or not, that's another story.

In postflop play, weaker players tend to believe that a strong bet represents a hand. Then there are some regular players that believe a strong bet on the flop must mean a hand that is semi-decent and nowhere near the nuts. It's interesting how the very same action could be interpreted so radically different.

So, next time you want someone with two pairs to call your nut flush, figure out what his bets mean. Then do the same ;-)

Girl Chaser in Top Five. Thanks

2009-07-28T20:12:00.000-04:00

Wow, thanks guys for helping me out. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Girl Chaser in the top ten word game section. Anyway, so far I'm in the design phase for two projects. Either an iPhone DJ-ing App, or a puzzler similar to Bejeweled, but with deeper gameplay. Still deciding which one to pursue. Any ideas?

A Warm Thank you to my Customers

2009-07-21T14:22:00.000-04:00

Hey Thanks :-D
My current goal is to make enough to support every day living. Once that happens, I can start pursuing more ambitious projects. During my PSP development days, I have always wanted to create an elaborate DJ Mixing program...one that can replace the traditional turn tables for your every day DJ. I thank Armin Van Buuren for introducing me into the world of Trance and Dance music euphoria. Of course, the PSP did not have a touch screen, and I had to abandon the project. The iPhone's capablities are fantastic, given that it is already two years old, and many new innovative Apps are coming out every day. Look at games like Rolando, it uses the orientation of the iPhone for controls. Truly fun and uses the technology perfectly. I'm starting to get an idea of what my DJing app would be like. Ideas are popping in my head like popcorn...

... and thank you sweetie for all your support through all of this. I love you.

Poker - Deception cuts both ways

2009-07-17T11:41:00.000-04:00

I recalled a rather interesting article I read on cheating. I'm talking about cheating in relationships :-) The article mentioned that people in relationships are often paranoid about their partners cheating because they themselves are capable of doing it also.

At the tables, I once witnessed a person in the middle of deciding an all-in call in the river. There was a flush on the board. The all-in person A was in his elder years. The other was a guy B in his 30's, with an amateurish swagger. Judging on the way he played so far, A probably has a high pair, or two pairs. After A went all in, B paused for a while. Seeing B's hesitation, A said to him, save your money, I have the flush. Based on this information, B eventually called and lost to a flush. What they said later on, I will remember for a long time. A nonchalantly said "I told you I have a flush". B in a bewildered way said "But you're a Poker player, why would you tell the truth?" Why indeed ;-)

Wishful thinking

2009-07-16T21:52:00.001-04:00

When I earn enough from developing Apps, I would love to go around the world and try all the foods around the world. Mmmmmmmm...

New Poker App

2009-07-06T22:34:00.001-04:00

I'm working on a better Poker App. I'm very excited about this one, since no one has developed something even close to this.

Mage done

2009-06-30T03:19:00.000-04:00

Wow, I can't believe I actually finished porting a game I wrote back in High school to the iPhone. It plays just as well as I remembered it. Ah the good o' high school days, when everyone else was dating, I sat home for a month and wrote a game :-) Enjoy.

Oh yea, I'm thinking of writing a puzzle game where you try to capture a monster.

Word Chaser

2009-06-24T15:38:00.001-04:00

Huzzah, Word Chaser is finally done. I've always liked to write applications that I personally use. So enjoy. Any suggestions for future versions is welcome.

Also, I'm going to port an old game I've written called Mage. I'm glad iphone can compile C++ code easily. I am not glad, however, that I wrote this when I was 16. That was before design patterns, good practices, and my naive interpretation of what OOP is :-)

Let's see. Mage ran on an Intel 486dx 40, in MSDOS. Ah the days.

Game Almost done.

2009-06-22T12:11:00.000-04:00

Almost done with my iPhone word game. Should be done by tonight, and finished approval by next week. Enjoy.

New Project

2009-06-12T17:05:00.001-04:00

Working on an iPhone word game, and thinking of some sort of Poker Puzzle game.

Welcome to my Life development Blog

2009-06-03T13:46:00.001-04:00

Hi,
This is a blog page that pertains to my development efforts in life. It entails programming, poker, life, etc...