Shows
DAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 117 – Global Illumination, Environment Lighting, IBL and HDRI explainedIn this episode I’ll tell you much of what I know about the Environment Lighting in DAZ Studio. This technique is also known as Global Illumination. I’ll explain the meanings of such cryptic abbreviations as IBL and HDRI, and how all these pieces fall together to make your scenes look handsome. This is a continuation … Continue reading DAZ Studio 117 – Global Illumination, Environment Lighting, IBL and HDRI explained →
2019-12-3000 min
SUPER SURVIVORBreast Cancer Update with Dr. Elisa Krill-Jackson
I’ve filmed this presentation at the Oncology Symposium 2019 in Hollywood, FL. It’s about advances in breast cancer treatments over the last year. Please excuse the audio quality, she was the first speaker of the day and we were still figuring things out so early in the morning.
Dr. Krill-Jackson is a practicing Hematologist & Oncologist in Miami Beach, FL. Dr. Krill-Jackson graduated from University of Michigan Medical School in 1990 and has been in practice for 28 years. She completed a residency at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Krill-Jackson also specializes in Internal Medicine and Oncology. She c...
2019-12-1655 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Super Survivor YouTube Channel and Podcast
Great news everyone: I’ve just started a band new YouTube channel dedicated to this project. Although my main channel is thriving, I felt that the cancer related content deserves a dedicated place because it’s unrelated to 3D tutorials or tech reviews.
The new channel will feature lectures I’ve recorded as well as coverage of Karen’s Oncology Symposiums, featuring a wealth of information that deserves to be shared.
But that’s not all: while YouTube has the largest audience out of all services out there, it’s sometimes beneficial to listen to the informat...
2019-12-1500 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 116: How to use Mesh LightsIn this episode I’ll explain the basics of using Mesh Lights. Those are surface properties that can make any object emit light. I’ll show you how to set this up, how to adjust it and how to make it invisible so you can shoot through it. I’ll also throw in some random anecdotes about surface … Continue reading DAZ Studio 116: How to use Mesh Lights →
2019-09-3000 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 115: Parametric Light Objects in IrayIn this episode I’ll give you an introduction to the various parametric light objects we can create from the menu, how to use them and how to tweak their respective parameters as they apply to the Iray render engine. Here’s the link about Colour Temperature I’ve mentioned: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature Here’s the one about Luminous Flux: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_flux
2019-07-1900 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 114: Introduction to LightingIn the following episodes I’ll tell you everything I know about lighting in DAZ Studio. It’s so much that I’ve decided to split this section into multiple smaller parts. In this part I’ll explain the different types of lighting we have at our disposal, touch on surface properties as they apply to Iray and 3Delight, … Continue reading DAZ Studio 114: Introduction to Lighting →
2019-06-3000 minSUPER SURVIVORDon’t Be Afraid To Suck
A reminder to all of us that making mistakes isn’t a bad thing at all, quite the opposite: it’s an opportunity for growth and to get better. Our endeavour to be “perfect” all the time and not make mistakes may well be the cause for limited growth.
Big shout out to Noobslice, check his Twitch channel here.
Join me for a live stream every Friday at 10am and Saturday at 4pm EST over on my other channel.
2019-02-1813 minSUPER SURVIVORHealth and Tech Update
I’ve met a new primary doctor to make sure my hand isn’t getting any worse. Turns out she had the same oncologist as I did, and she’s a cancer survivor! Meanwhile, the results of my latest blood work are back, and I’ve got some news on how the next instalment of DAZ Studio 101 is coming along, plus some news on future streaming plans I have.
The live stream I’m talking about is on my other channel: Using dForce and Denoiser in DAZ Studio.
2019-02-1318 minSUPER SURVIVORHand Pain
I’ve noticed some increasing discomfort in my left hand, which I believe is caused by my day job. I’ve been shopping one too many grocery items it appears. To make sure this discomfort doesn’t escalate into something more serious, I’m trying an experiment to change my own behaviour and notice what I’m doing that might be causing this issue.
2019-02-0706 minSUPER SURVIVORGoodbye, Google+
I’ve just heard that Google are “sunsetting” their Google+ services for all consumers. In this episode I reminisce about the ups and downs, and how important it is to let go of things that aren’t in-line with your own energy.
2019-02-0510 minSUPER SURVIVORTwitch Expansion
In this episode I’m talking about thoughts on expanding my audience reach to Twitch. The company have recently expanded their repertoire to more non-gaming content, they have a big user base, their service is integrated into many streaming services – and they offer free video storage. Why not utilise it?
I’m still testing it out, but if you’re eager to embrace new services, join me for a casual live stream over here: https://twitch.tv/wpguru
2019-02-0216 minSUPER SURVIVORSo Adobe bought Allegorithmic
This week’s tech news is that Adobe have bought Allegorithmic, which leads me to re-consider the Creative Cloud. In this episode I’m sharing my thoughts on perpetual software licenses vs. subscriptions, as well as voluntary contributions, and how it all makes me feel.
2019-01-2912 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 113: Using CamerasIn this episode I’ll tell you many interesting things about how to use cameras in DAZ Studio. It’s a rather complex topic, which is why this episode is a little longer than usual. We’ll create a simple scene together from the latest Platinum Club Freebie product, frame up a shot, and create a couple of … Continue reading DAZ Studio 113: Using Cameras →
2019-01-2900 minSUPER SURVIVORInternational Accounts and Postage
I’m on my way to the post office to buy some stamps, so that I can send a letter to Germany, cancelling one of my international bank accounts. First world traveller problems at their finest!
2019-01-2812 min
Jay's WordPress PodcastHow to remove the Jetpack Feedback Tab
In this episode I’ll explain how we can hide the Feedback Tab that the Jetpack plugin adds to the sidebar of the admin interface in WordPress.
This tab is part of the Contact Form feature, which sadly cannot be switched off with a single slider. We’ll have to delve into debug mode and do it “the hard way” – but fear not, there’s not code hacking involved, and I’ll be with you every step of the way.
2019-01-2806 minSUPER SURVIVORPain and Awareness
Over the last few days I’ve notched some annoying pain developing in my left shoulder, as well as my left hand. It was so bad that I couldn’t turn my head anymore. To avoid this from getting worse, I took a closer look at how I did things in my life
Meanwhile, I’ve received a large package with tiny content from Amazon.
2019-01-2708 minSUPER SURVIVORThe New Weekly Schedule for 2019
In an effort to streamline my day job and my creative efforts, I’ve devised a plan to set dedicated days aside for each venture. Here’s my plan, which – so far – is working wonders for my physical and emotional wellbeing.
2019-01-2509 minJay's WordPress PodcastHow to hide WordPress Update Notifications with ZEN DASH
In this episode I’ll show you how to hide and remove those (almost daily occurring) WordPress Update Notifications. I’ve built this functionality into a plugin I’ve written over 5 years ago called ZEN DASH. The plugin’s main purpose is to hide all kinds of clutter from the WordPress admin interface, such as unused tabs, dashboard widgets, footer attributions – and Update Notifications.
You can install the plugin by searching under Plugins – Add New, or download it from the official WordPress repository here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/zen-dash
The project is also on GitHub: https://gith...
2019-01-2109 min
The WP Guru PodcastHow to hide WordPress Update Notifications with ZEN DASH
In this episode I’ll show you how to hide and remove those (almost daily occurring) WordPress Update Notifications. I’ve built this functionality into a plugin I’ve written over 5 years ago called ZEN DASH. The plugin’s main purpose is to hide all kinds of clutter from the WordPress admin interface, such as unused tabs, dashboard widgets, footer attributions – and Update Notifications.
You can install the plugin by searching under Plugins – Add New, or download it from the official WordPress repository here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/zen-dash
The project is also on GitHub: https://gith...
2019-01-2109 minSUPER SURVIVORKate Bell’s 41st Birthday
Happy Birthday, sweety… even though I don’t quite know who you are
2019-01-2002 minSUPER SURVIVORThis is Your Year
My colleague Calvin told me not to forget him, because he has no doubt in his mind that 2019 will be “my year”. What a lovely thing to say that is!
2019-01-2005 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Streaming Setup
I’ve been busy restructuring my desk in preparation for some live streaming, both from my Windows system as well as from my Playstation consoles. I’m discussing my setup in this episode, together with some interesting findings I had along the way.
2019-01-1817 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 112: Content and Smart Content explainedIn this episode I’ll explain the differences between the Content Library Tab and the Smart Content Tab. I’ll also show how to bring content into your scenes, and touch on the different types of content (for example, a shirt fits on a figure, but a material preset fits on a specific shirt).
2019-01-1500 minSUPER SURVIVORGod wants you to start a YouTube Channel
Two years ago, somebody told me that I should start a YouTube channel and share some of my positive vibes with the world. I smiled, at the suggestion, not realising that I had already done so. Looking back at this incident, I’ve realised what a great idea that was.
2019-01-1411 minSUPER SURVIVORPlans for Live Streaming
In an effort to produce more quality content faster, I’ve been testing live streaming from my various devices. Here are some thoughts on how I’m planning to accomplish this for my audience in 2019.
2019-01-1115 minSUPER SURVIVORAmazon Influencer Update (hint: it sucks)
Here’s an update to my earlier video about the Amazon Influencer Programme. To re-cap, a month or two ago, I’ve signed up and was approved to be an Amazon Influencer in the US, based on the amount of YouTube subscribers on my other channel (just over 4000 when it happened).
Since then I’ve made a whopping $1 from the endeavour. In this episode I’ll explain more about the ridiculous complexity of joining the programme, Amazon’s mysterious system called One Link, and what happens when you don’t send 6 billion visitors per second to Mr. Bezos.
...
2019-01-0317 minSUPER SURVIVORPlans for 2019 (and a Happy New Year)
I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and in 2019 I want to make it a reality: Regular Live Streams!
My idea is to do two types of streams:
Creative live streams, much like what I’ve been doing as fully proudced videos on a regular schedule. I’m thinking perhaps FRIDAYS at 10AM EST (that’s 4PM in the UK, 5PM in Europe and 2AM in Sydney) – let me know what you think. These will cover creative softwares like DAZ Studio, Photoshop, Marvelous Designer, Blender, Carrara, along those lines. Those solitary computer tasks, with the b...
2018-12-3104 minSUPER SURVIVORHas Gutenberg made WordPress less relevant?
I’ve been using WordPress since 2006 for so many projects, and I can’t imagine a life without it. I often use it as a notebook, and Gutenberg doesn’t make that very easy. This means that I either have to find a different workflow and get used to Gutenberg, or find another way to manage my content.
Which begs the question, is WordPress still as relevant to me today as it was when I discovered it back in the day?
2018-12-2815 minSUPER SURVIVORVoice Mail Spam – Vol. 1
I don’t get phone calls anymore. All I get spam calls, mostly from automated systems. I’m not sure if it’s just the machines trying to connect with me, or if it’s a government ploy, or if my number is on some kind of “annoy to death” list. As a result, I don’t check my messages very often – but when I do, I’m happy to share what I receive with you (because sometimes it’s hilarious).
Enjoy!
2018-12-2606 minSUPER SURVIVORYou’re a Good Soul
It’s so easy to forget when people tell you nice things. It’s important to listen to the positive and emphasise it, and not get hung up about the negative things in our lives. I’ve just made such an experience, and I didn’t want to forget it.
2018-12-2404 minSUPER SURVIVORArticle 13 might not be so bad
Here’s my two cents about the whole Article 13 Debate. I cannot help but feel that it’s not a bad thing for those who create content before others remix it. I’ll touch on how copyright in television used to work before we all started running “channels” on YouTube, and what could perhaps be done for both content owners and remixers to share the benefits.
Article 13 is part of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_on_Copyright_in_the_Digital_Single_Market#Article_13
The concept of Fair Us...
2018-12-2218 minSUPER SURVIVORThe 100th Subscriber
Inspired by Amir’s recent comment, Jay is wondering if YouTube Premieres are a “thing” and if they may be beneficial for short videos like these, as well as beefier ones on his other channel.
Personally, I’m thinking that Premieres have their place, but they may only make sense if the creator is there for a live chat, and if enough viewers are there to interact. But then, maybe there are other benefits?
2018-12-2106 minThe WP Guru PodcastHow to hide WordPress Update Notifications with ZEN DASH
In this episode I’ll show you how to hide and remove those (almost daily occurring) WordPress Update Notifications. I’ve built this functionality into a plugin I’ve written over 5 years ago called ZEN DASH. The plugin’s main purpose is to hide all kinds of clutter from the WordPress admin interface, such as unused tabs, dashboard widgets, footer attributions – and Update Notifications.
You can install the plugin by searching under Plugins – Add New, or download it from the official WordPress repository here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/zen-dash
The project is also on GitHub: https://gith...
2018-12-2009 minSUPER SURVIVORFerrous Sulfate and Synthroid 1.5 Update
News of Jay’s latest blood work reveal that his Synthroid needs to be upgraded to 1.5 mcg, while he’s advised to take some iron supplements. As luck would have it, his wife has recently bought 4 pint size bottles of Ferrous Sulfate Elixir, which might come in handy on Jay’s mission to full recovery.
2018-12-1912 minJay's WordPress PodcastHow to bring back the Classic Editor in WordPress 5.x
In this episode I’ll show you how to install the Classic Editor plugin in WordPress 5.x. I’m also showing you how to upgrade to WordPress 5.0 and how to bring back the welcome screen that appears only once after the update.
From now on, Gutenberg will be the new post and page editing experience in WordPress by default. The Classic Editor is now a plugin that will be supported until 2021, so there’s ample time to get acquainted with Gutenberg in our own time.
If you have any questions, please let me know in the co...
2018-12-1813 minSUPER SURVIVORSurgeriversary
Nearly one year ago to this date I had my last surgery – in December 2017. Here’s a quick recap of how I felt that day, and a brief summary of how things have progressed over the last twelve months.
2018-12-1714 minSUPER SURVIVORBe More You
Jay discovered that by slowing down what he’s doing in his day job, he has a much more fulfilling experience with himself.
2018-12-1718 minSUPER SURVIVORAbout Green Bar SSL Certificates
Here’s some background information about Green Bar / EV SSL Certificates that I didn’t know, until I spoke to a super friendly support technician at ENOM. The topic just came up, and I’ve learnt why these things can be so pricey.
2018-12-1404 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Apple Podcast Story
Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at how things at Apple don’t always “just work”: When Jay tries to submit his latest SUPER SURVIVOR Podcast Feed, it takes the folks at Apple nearly a month to approve it.
2018-12-0818 minSUPER SURVIVORLook After Yourself
Jay has unintentionally inspired a co-worker, who was kind enough to let him know the positive impact his brief comment has had on her. Meanwhile, Jay feels he has no choice but to let one of his hosting customers go – for the benefit of his own wellbeing.
2018-12-0617 minSUPER SURVIVORDr. Mike Cusnir on Colon Cancer (March 2018)In this presentation, my oncologist Dr. Mike Cusnir talks about very recent scientific findings about colon cancer: how the disease works, how to prevent it, and how to ultimately cure it.
I found this a highly inspirational talk, full of very easy to understand information. Plus it’s a nice chance to meet him
Meet Dr. Cusnir
at the 2nd annual Oncology Symposium on April 6th, 2019 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Conference Centers in Hollywood, Florida. Julia and I will be there, my nutritionist Julie Rothenberg will be there, and Dr. K...
2018-12-0427 minSUPER SURVIVORI’m a Healer
At a routine post-treatment appointment with his dentist, Jay is told that his gums have healed incredibly well and above average after his recent wisdom teeth extraction. He also finds time to update his website while waiting for a blood test in preparation for a meeting with Dr. Keller next week, gets a flu shot while he’s at it, and celebrates with a coffee afterwards.
2018-11-2912 minSUPER SURVIVORGetting The YouTube Community Tab
Jay receives a surprise gift from the people at YouTube: the oft-fabled, ambitious yet misunderstood Community Tab. This tab is usually unlocked only for successful channels with 10.000 subscribers or more, however Jay’s WP Guru Project gets this feature much earlier.
Will Jay be able to figure out what to use it for in due course? Find out on his tech channel The WP Guru: https://youtube.com/wphosting
2018-11-2707 minSUPER SURVIVORArriving in Ohio
Jay and Julia land in Columbus, OH and experience what snow and cold weather is like – after living in the tropicals climes of Florida for six years. This is Jay’s first trip since his run-in with cancer by the way.
2018-11-2303 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Passport Story
Jay and Julia’s travel plans may be impacted by the casual discovery that Julia’s passport has expired last year. Will the team still be able to travel from Ohio to Canada, and if so at what cost?
2018-11-2107 minSUPER SURVIVORThere’s no place for Flickr anymore
Jay receives an email from Flickr, telling him that his free 1TB of photo storage space is being reduced to exactly one thousand pictures. It begs the question: do we still need #Flickr in 2018 and beyond, and if so, what for?
2018-11-1919 minSUPER SURVIVORExtraction Update
Jay explains more details about how his previous wisdom tooth extraction went. He also feels reminded that “getting old” is not as exciting as it’s made out to be.
2018-11-1607 minSUPER SURVIVORWisdom Teeth Extraction Time
One year after his other two wisdom teeth were removed, Jay meets Dr. Oliver again for the same procedure on the other side of his mouth, albeit in a different location.
2018-11-1406 minSUPER SURVIVORFinally Meeting Dr Cusnir
After much anticipation and insurance madness, Jay finally gets to meet his oncologist – albeit 11 months into the new year. Better late than never.
The lateness of this meeting is explained in the episode called “The Insurance Fiasco” (also available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/6i5BxYE7-U8)
2018-11-1206 minSUPER SURVIVORJive Talking
Jay talks about his recent bike maintenance in an effort to stay on the road without flat tyres. In doing so, he experienced an issue with his rear v-brakes that appeared to have been stuck to the rim. He shares his experiences in how to prevent this from happening and how to right the wrong.
2018-11-0926 minSUPER SURVIVORSummertime and Wintertime
Jay reminisces about his experiences with the two annual (and annoying) time changes, and the implications it has on trans-continental relationships.
2018-11-0716 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Halloween Story
On the evening of Halloween, Jay finds his back tire deflated after a busy shift at the supermarket. Thankfully, the friendly people from the Miami Beach Fire Department have a way to put some air back into it.
Eternal thanks to these people: https://fb.com/miamibeachfire
2018-10-3120 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Amazon Influencer Story
Jay finds a mysterious scheme called the Amazon Influencer Programme. After clicking one link, and to his own surprise, Jay is instantly approved based on the amount of subscribers on his YouTube channel (rather than based on qualifications to be an influencer). He has yet to find out the consequences of clicking on that link though.
Check out his exciting new shopfront here: https://amazon.com/shop/thewpguru
2018-10-3011 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Saddle Snatchers
After his saddle disappeared at the end of the previous episode, Jay shares with us how to not let such situations get the better of ourselves.
2018-10-2814 minSUPER SURVIVOR4k30 vs 1080p60
In this episode Jay wants to find out if it’s worth producing future videos on 4k, which would introduce better quality yet come with certain drawbacks, or if he should stay with the previous 1080p resolution and reap the benefits it has.
In other news, Jay’s saddle disappears without a trace.
2018-10-2720 minSUPER SURVIVORSharing a Moment with a Colada
Jay tells us about a Cuban coffee named Colada, a small sweet espresso that is shared in his neighbourhood amonst freinds, family and total strangers.
2018-10-2513 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 107: Manipulating Objects with ToolsIn this episode I’ll show you how to manipulate objects in the viewport using four tools: the translate, scale, rotate and universal manipulator tools. I’ll also explain the concept of world vs local/object coordinates and touch on screen coordinates. These are tough concepts to grasp, but with a bit of practice, you’ll be flying around … Continue reading DAZ Studio 107: Manipulating Objects with Tools →
2018-10-2300 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Dentist Story
Jay shares his worldwide dental experiences with us, adding some more Dental insurance Madness to the mix. He also tells us about his latest 3D prodct and his latest geeky YouTube discovery.
2018-10-2317 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Sudafed Incident
Jay highlights a few interesting differences between medication on both sides of the Altantic, while finding himself puzzled as to why his Green Card is not accepted as a valid ID in his local drug store.
2018-10-2010 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Product Review Incident
Jay finds himself approached by several Chinese manufacturers who offer him free gadgets in return for Amazon reviews.
2018-10-1808 minSUPER SURVIVORBook Feedback
Jay is excited about some recent feedback on his book BROKEN BOWELS, both on the written version as well as the audio version.
2018-10-1704 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 106: Viewport Draw StylesIn this episode I’ll talk you through the various Viewport Drawing Styles. The default we usually see is “texture shaded”, which is a nice compromise between displaying a good looking “live” picture, while keeping your computer responsive for navigating and posing. However, with larger scenes your system may become slower and less responsive. We can … Continue reading DAZ Studio 106: Viewport Draw Styles →
2018-10-1600 minSUPER SURVIVORGreen Slime and Red Bananas
Jay’s back tyre has paid the consequences of going over an obstacle recently, but thanks to green Tyre Slime, things weren’t as bad as they appeared. Meanhile, he’s been on a diet of Red Bananas.
2018-10-1609 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Synthroid Story
Jay’s new Primary Care Physician Dr. Keller has prescribed a higher dose of his thyroid hormones as of two days ago. He also manages to lose his wife (very briefly) and is inspired to create a new 3D lighting product for DAZ Studio called SOUL REFLECTIONS – Vol. 1. Patreons get a free copy!
2018-10-1410 minSUPER SURVIVORThe New Job
Let me tell you about my new part-time job with Instacart, a nationwide grocery delivery company here in the US. It’s a testament to how fit I am!
2018-10-1115 minSUPER SURVIVORThe Insurance Fiasco
Here’s the reason why I wasn’t able to see any of my specialist doctors this year (2018), thanks to bureaucratic red tape and a less than satisfactory insurance system.
2018-10-1019 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 105: Navigating in 3D SpaceIn this episode I’ll show you how to navigate your 3D world within the viewport. I’ll explain several ways to do this, and I’ll also show you how to customise the modifier keys for faster navigation using your mouse and keyboard. In addition, there’s also a fully immersive way to “walk” through your scene using … Continue reading DAZ Studio 105: Navigating in 3D Space →
2018-10-0900 minSUPER SURVIVORNobel Prize for Immunotherapy
Earlier this week, on the 1st of October 2018 to be exact, two wonderful people have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology: James Allison and Tasuku Honjo. CONGRATULATIONS!
These two men have more or less invented immunotherapy through their early experiments in the nineties, through which drugs like Keytruda, Opdivo and Yervoy and others are people like me survive cancer. How exciting is that?
This recognition in their lifetimes is the highest achievement any scientist could every hope for.
2018-10-0404 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 104: Updating ContentIn this episode I’l explain how we can utilise Install Manager to update both DAZ Studio as well as content if and when updates are available. I will also show you how to update Install Manager itself. This happened to me today and was not a planned part of the series, but I found it … Continue reading DAZ Studio 104: Updating Content →
2018-10-0200 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 103: Customising StylesIn this episode I’ll show you how you can customise the interface in DAZ Studio. I have previously shown you how to select Workspaces and Styles, and now we’ll see how to make the interface your own by changing the colours of the interface. In addition, I’ll elaborate more on the macOS intricacies on moving … Continue reading DAZ Studio 103: Customising Styles →
2018-09-2500 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 102: Workspaces, Tabs and StylesIn this episode we’re launching DAZ Studio for the first time after a fresh installation, we’ll fix the database manager, and we’ll learn how to customise the interface. I will also show you where those important context sensitive menus are hiding.
2018-09-2000 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 101: Using Install ManagerIn this episode I’ll show you how to get started with DAZ Studio, namely by installing it. To be able to install both DAZ Studio as well as content, and update both those things going forward, the easiest thing to do is use a helper application called Install Manager. I’ll show you how to get … Continue reading DAZ Studio 101: Using Install Manager →
2018-09-1700 minDAZ Studio 101DAZ Studio 100: Introduction to the courseIn this course I’ll explain how to use DAZ Studio, a free 3D content manipulation and rendering app. It’s aimed at beginners and medium casuals alike, it explains the foundations of how the software works, and also illustrates how 3D software works in general (sort of a “3D for Humans” approach). This episode is a … Continue reading DAZ Studio 100: Introduction to the course →
2018-09-1700 min
Jay's Commodore PodcastDiscovered: Commodore 64C used in an auto repair shop (2018)
I’ve recently discovered a tweet that showed a Commodore 64C complete with green monitor and 1541-II drive, heavily dust covered, but still working and being used in a Polish Auto Shop. The picture itself was fascinating enough, but I’ve also discovered that it was a screen grab from a video – which I’m including here as well (had to replace the music with something royalty free).
You can find the original article here: https://www.trojmiasto.pl/wiadomosci/Warszatat-samochodowy-zaslynal-dzieki-26-letniemu-komputerowi-Commodore-n106004.html
The tweet I found is here: https://twitter.com/HistoryToLearn/status/9...
2018-05-0912 minJay's Commodore PodcastHow to write a text input routine in Commodore BASIC
In this screencast I’ll show you how to write your own INPUT routine in Commodore BASIC. This comes in handy when you want to reject certain keys from being used when asking users for keyboard input. In my example I’m going to allow all alpha characters (A-Z), as well as SPACE, RETURN and the DELETE key.
Here’s the code:
.gist table { margin-bottom: 0; }
This file contains bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that r...
2018-05-0822 minJay's Commodore PodcastFlashing Border Colors on the Commodore 128 in Machine Language
In this episode I’ll show you how to create the iconic flashing borders on Commodore machines. Back in the day, when the system was loading, this was a nice way to indicate that the computer is busy doing something rather than being dead.
I’ll show you the principle both in BASIC and in Machine Language on the C128. The VIC-II chip is the same on the C64 though, so this will also work on the Commodore 64.
The same approach can be used on the Plus/4, however the addresses for the border and...
2018-04-1808 minJay's Commodore PodcastProgrammatic Loops in Commodore BASIC
In this episode I’ll demonstrate how to use programmatic loops in Commodore BASIC.
I’ll show you how to use the FOR/NEXT loop (available in all versions of Commodore BASIC), as well as the DO/WHILE loops (available on the Plus/4 and C128).
Enjoy!
2018-04-1711 minJay's Commodore PodcastFlow Control in Commodore BASIC
In this episode I’ll explain the concept of Flow Control in Commodore BASIC. It’s kind of a video update of a post I did a while ago.
In essence, it means that we can tell the programme to take a different route in the code depending on a condition that’s met. We’ll explore the IF/THEN and ON… GOTO/GOSUB statements (available on all versions of Commodore BASIC), as well as the expanded IF/THEN/ELSE version (available on the C128 and Plus/4 only).
In addition, I’ll also show you how...
2018-04-1614 minJay's Commodore PodcastHow to run Commodore BASIC as a Scripting Language on macOS
Did you know you can run Commodore BASIC v2 on your Mac and Linux systems as a scripting language? It’s true – thanks to the marvellous efforts of Michael Steil and James Abbatiello. They’ve adapted the original BASIC v2 as featured on the VIC-20 and C64 with additional routines so that it works natively on modern machines. It’s ingenious!
You can get the full source code on GitHub – it works a treat!
For those who don’t quite know what to do with it, here are some instructions that’ll help you get CBM BA...
2018-04-1618 minJay's Commodore PodcastWriting HELLO WORLD in Machine Language on the Commodore 128
The Commodore 128 has a built-in machine language monitor which makes it ideal for ML development. However, most (or pretty much all) documentation on this subject is geared towards the Commodore 64, making it slightly difficult to get a head start in writing ML code for the 128.
Before I forget how to do it, here are a few pointers – courtesy of Jim Butterfield’s book “Machine Language – Expanded Edition”.
Getting Started
Let’s begin by typing MONITOR in C128 mode. It’ll take us to the machine language monitor. We’ll start our progra...
2018-04-1421 min
The iOS Dev DiaryBuilding a Day Counter on iOS – Part 3
In this series I’ll show you how to create a simple Day Counter on iOS, using Objective-C and Xcode 9. The idea is to set a date in a settings screen, and then see how many days have elapsed on the main screen right after launching the app.
This is a 3-Part Mini-Series:
Part 1 is all about building the interface in Interface Builder
Part 2 is about coding the NSDate subtraction methods, using NSCalendar and loading/saving data using NSUserDefaults
Part 3 will introduce Key/Value Observing to update the first view controller as soon as th...
2018-04-1119 minJay's Commodore PodcastLottery Statistics in Commodore BASIC
In this episode I’m adding statistics support to my previous lottery generator on the Commodore 64.
I’ll add an array that is updated if my supplied numbers have been matched, and how many times over how many draws this has happened. I’ll also add an option to pause the programme and display the statistics before random draws can continue.
When this app is run continuously it will collect statistical data on how many lottery draws are necessary to match all supplied numbers.
PS: By the time the video had upload...
2018-04-1113 minJay's Commodore PodcastMatching Lottery Numbers on the Commodore 64
In this episode I’m amending my previous lottery number generator to take six lucky numbers from the user to match against the randomly drawn numbers from the Commodore 64.
This will allow us to compare what the computer has drawn to the user’s input, as well as keep drawing numbers until the user input comes up. It’ll be an interesting experiment to see how many draws that will take…
Enjoy!
2018-04-1016 minJay's Commodore PodcastWorking with Keyboard Input in Commodore BASIC
In this episode I’ll show you three ways to take user input from the keyboard in Commodore BASIC.
The INPUT and GET commands work on all systems, while the GETKEY command only works on the Plus/4 and C128. I’ll demonstrate how to use all of them.
This will come in handy for our little lottery programme we’ve been working on, so that we can prompt the user for some numbers to compare against later.
Enjoy!
2018-04-0909 minThe iOS Dev DiaryBuilding a Day Counter on iOS – Part 2
In this series I’ll show you how to create a simple Day Counter on iOS, using Objective-C and Xcode 9. The idea is to set a date in a settings screen, and then see how many days have elapsed on the main screen right after launching the app.
This is a 3-Part Mini-Series:
Part 1 is all about building the interface in Interface Builder
Part 2 is about coding the NSDate subtraction methods, using NSCalendar and loading/saving data using NSUserDefaults
Part 3 will introduce Key/Value Observing to update the first view controller as soon as th...
2018-04-0428 minJay's Commodore PodcastHow to print numbers as columns in Commodore BASIC
In this episode I’m demonstrating how to print numbers in evenly spaced columns in Commodore BASIC.
On the C128 and the Plus/4 we can use a nifty little function called PRINT USING for this, with which we can format the output of any printed text or variable.
On the C64 and VIC-20 that function doesn’t exist, so we’ll have to convert a numeric value into a string (using the STR$ function), and then determine how long our string is. Following that we’ll have to manually pad our string value with as...
2018-04-0208 minJay's Commodore PodcastSorting an Array on the Commodore 64
In this episode I’ll demonstrate how to sort a numeric array on the Commodore 64. The same principle works for string arrays, and of course on all other Commodore BASIC computers.
The technique I’m using here is called Bubble Sort: in effect we’re comparing the first two items in the array, and if the left one is larger than the right one, the values are swapped around. This loop continues until all items in the array have been compared and sorted (hence the smallest items “bubble” to the front of the array, much like the s...
2018-04-0106 minJay's Commodore PodcastHow to generate Lottery Numbers on the Commodore 64
In this episode I’ll demonstrate how to draw random lottery numbers on a Commodore 64. The secret sauce here is not only the RND function to generate random numbers, but also two loops inside each other that prevent the same number from coming up more than once.
Here’s the lottery generator code:
10 x=rnd(-ti)
20 for i=1 to 6
30 rn=int(rnd(1)*49)+1
40 for j=1 to i
50 if n(j)=rn then 30
60 next j
70 n(i)=rn
80 next i
100 print
110 for i=1 to 6
120 print n(i);
130 next
140 print
199 end
To adapt this listing to matc...
2018-03-3110 minJay's Commodore PodcastHow to build a Word Splitter on the C64 in Commodore BASIC
In this episode I’m demonstrating how to build a word splitter on the Commodore 64. We’ll use string functions to parse a sentence and split each word off into an array of words so that they can be analysed later (for example, as part of an adventure game).
Here’s the code I’m building:
20 input a$
30 gosub 100
40 print:print wd;" words:"
50 for i=1 to wd
60 print wd$(i)
70 next
99 end
100 rem word splitter
110 lt$="":wd=1
120 for i=1 to len(a$)
130 lt$=mid$(a$,i,1)
140 if lt$=" " then wd=wd+1:next
150 wd$(wd)=wd$(wd)+...
2018-03-2910 minThe iOS Dev DiaryBuilding a Day Counter on iOS – Part 1
In this series I’ll show you how to create a simple Day Counter on iOS, using Objective-C and Xcode 9. The idea is to set a date in a settings screen, and then see how many days have elapsed on the main screen right after launching the app.
This is a 3-Part Mini-Series:
Part 1 is all about building the interface in Interface Builder
Part 2 is about coding the NSDate subtraction methods, using NSCalendar and loading/saving data using NSUserDefaults
Part 3 will introduce Key/Value Observing to update the first view controller as soon as th...
2018-03-2919 minJay's Commodore PodcastHow to build a time of day clock on the Commodore 64
In this video I’ll demonstrate how to build a simple clock on the C64. We’ll go through this process step by step, including the built-in TI and TI$ variables, string formatting with LEFT$, RIGHT$ and MID$, as well as screen formatting.
Here’s the code I’m writing – works in Commodore BASIC v2 and above:
5 input "qwhat is the current time (hhmm
ss) ";ti$
10 print chr$(147):print chr$(5)
20 a$ = left$(ti$,2)
25 a$ = a$ +":"
30 a$ = a$ + mid$(ti$,3,2)
35 a$ = a$ +":"
40 a$ = a$ +right$(ti$,2)
50 gosub 200
60 print chr$(19)
70 print "qqqqqqqqqqq]]]]]]]]]]]]]]curre
nt time"
80 print "]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]";
90 print a$
1...
2018-03-2830 minJay's Commodore PodcastHow to create random YouTube URLs in Commodore BASIC v2
In this episode I’ll demonstrate how to create those seemingly random YouTube Video IDs using a Commodore 64.
Here’s the code I’m writing – works in BASIC v2 and above:
10 print chr$(14)
20 gosub 100:x=rnd(-ti):cn=1
30 a$="https://youtu.be/"
40 for i=1 to 11
50 rn=int(rnd(0)*62)+1
60 a$=a$+yt$(rn)
70 next
80 print:print cn;" : ";a$
85 cn=cn+1
90 goto 30
85 cn=cn+1
90 goto 30
100 rem populate array
110 dim yt$(62)
120 i=1
130 for j=65 to 90
140 yt$(i)=chr$(j)
150 i=i+1
160 next j
170 for j=193 to 218
180 yt$(i)=chr$(j)
190 i=i+1
200 next j
210 for j=48 to 57
220 yt$(i)=c...
2018-03-2716 minThe iOS Dev DiaryBuilding a searchable UITableView in iOS 9 – Part 1
In this 4 part course I’ll show you how to build a searchable UITableView using iOS 9.1 and Xcode 7.1.
Part 1 will talk you through how to build a UITableView with dummy data
In Part 2 I’ll show you how to use a UISearchController to display a second table view
In Part 3 we’ll discuss how to filter results using an NSPredicate
And in Part 4 we’ll see how to communicate those search results to the second table view via KVO.
The whole course is about 50 minutes long, and I’ll explain details step by step. All code is Objective-C...
2015-11-0623 minJay's WordPress PodcastWordPress 111: Users, Roles and Capabilities
In this video I’ll show you the multi-user capabilities of WordPress: how to create new users, and what capabilities the different user roles have over your WordPress site.
This feature comes in handy if you collaborate with other users: each user can create posts, but such users can be restricted from deleting other people’s posts, or change the layout and functionality of the website.
You can watch the full course on one convenient YouTube Playlist.
Enjoy!
2015-09-2814 minJay's WordPress PodcastWordPress 110: URLs and Permalinks
In this episode I’ll explain how you can change the URLs for your posts and pages, as they appear in your web browser. By default, WordPress uses numeric links (such as domain.com?p=123) but those are not so easy on the eye.
We can change this to something like domain.com/awesome-post instead, and I’ll explain how to do it, as well as the implications of changing URLs retrospectively.
You can watch the full course on one convenient YouTube Playlist.
Enjoy!
2015-09-2108 minThe iOS Dev DiaryCreating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 6: RestoringAnd finally in the last part I’ll show you how to restore purchases. Note that you must implement a restore option for non-consumable products or the review team will reject your app. Demo Project You can download the full source code of what I’m building in this screencast on GitHub: https://github.com/versluis/In-App-Purchases/ Further Reading I’m following … Continue reading Creating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 6: Restoring →
2014-06-1508 minThe iOS Dev DiaryCreating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 5: TestingIn this part we’ll see our hard work comes to life on a real device while we’re performing our purchase in the App Store Sandbox. Demo Project You can download the full source code of what I’m building in this screencast on GitHub: https://github.com/versluis/In-App-Purchases/ Further Reading I’m following my earlier two articles almost to the … Continue reading Creating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 5: Testing →
2014-06-1417 minThe iOS Dev DiaryCreating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 4: The PurchaseLearn how to make the purchase in this part of our series about in-app purchases. Demo Project You can download the full source code of what I’m building in this screencast on GitHub: https://github.com/versluis/In-App-Purchases/ Further Reading I’m following my earlier two articles almost to the letter, here they are for reference: http://pinkstone.co.uk/how-to-create-a-single-in-app-purchase-in-ios-7/ http://pinkstone.co.uk/how-to-restore-your-single-in-app-purchase-in-ios/ https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/technotes/tn2259/_index.html Watch … Continue reading Creating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 4: The Purchase →
2014-06-1303 minThe iOS Dev DiaryCreating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 3: StoreKit ObserverIn this part we’ll setup the observers needed to react to responses from the App Store. Demo Project You can download the full source code of what I’m building in this screencast on GitHub: https://github.com/versluis/In-App-Purchases/ Further Reading I’m following my earlier two articles almost to the letter, here they are for reference: http://pinkstone.co.uk/how-to-create-a-single-in-app-purchase-in-ios-7/ http://pinkstone.co.uk/how-to-restore-your-single-in-app-purchase-in-ios/ https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/technotes/tn2259/_index.html … Continue reading Creating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 3: StoreKit Observer →
2014-06-1207 minThe iOS Dev DiaryCreating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 2: Custom Shop ClassIn this part I’ll talk you through building a custom shop class and how to make “first contact” with the App Store. Demo Project You can download the full source code of what I’m building in this screencast on GitHub: https://github.com/versluis/In-App-Purchases/ Further Reading I’m following my earlier two articles almost to the letter, here they … Continue reading Creating an In-App Purchase in iOS 7 – Part 2: Custom Shop Class →
2014-06-1119 min