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Comment on Android Application Development For Dummies by Emoore

Emoore — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:13:56 +0000

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Great book., December 15, 2010

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This review is from: Android Application Development For Dummies (Paperback)

I would buy Beginning Programming with Java for dummies first, unless you are already Ok with Java Programming. I bought both books at the same time, so when I was done with one I could continue into the other. For Dummies is a great bunch of books.

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Comment on Android Application Development For Dummies by Cicatrize

Cicatrize — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:48:26 +0000

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

A great starter book to Android development!, March 21, 2011

Cicatrize -

This review is from: Android Application Development For Dummies (Paperback)

I'm going to preface this review by saying that I have been programming for about 15 years, and have been working professionally as a developer for almost 3 years. My background is in VB, C#, Javascript, HTML, and even a little dabbling in C/C++. With that in mind, my Java knowledge was essentially everything I had learned from C# (which is very similar), and the tutorials on Google's Android development website. You could argue Javascript may help, but they're so different that I don't think it counts as experience.

I finished all of the tutorials on Google's site and still felt like I wasn't really grasping the concept of Android development. For those of you who have developed in C#/VB for Windows or Windows Mobile, you may understand what I mean when I say that going from something so straight-forward as using Visual Studio and .NET languages to something a little more complex and code-heavy like C++ or Java while using an unfamiliar IDE like Eclipse can be a little daunting at first. Google's tutorials, while full of great examples, don't really take the time to explain the "why" and then "what" of Android development, and instead have a more confusing approach of "Step 1: Type all this code in; Step 2: That code you just type does [this]; Step 3: Run your application".

The first half of this book is incredibly informative, and after reading only a couple short paragraphs on things I've already tried to learn and failed, I really understood it this time. The author's tone and descriptions make even the most complicated topics very easy to understand. The author also likes to commonly encourage the reader, writing that we are "experts", and making assumptions that we understand what we just read, even after it was some insanely complicated thing that was described in detail across four pages. It seems like this approach might be little odd, but I liked it. It kept my confidence up as I was reading.

The second half of the book, while also great, starts a little on the fast track. There are other reviews that mention this, and although I partially agree, it's also worth mentioning that a lot of the things that are flown through quickly come together a little later in the book. However, the pace does seem to go from a "one line at a time" methodology into a "type these 60 lines of code in and I'll explain it later" sort of teaching. While I don't prefer this, and I think it's a bit messy, the information IS there; it's just harder to soak it all in than it was in the first half of the book. The application you are building at the end is quite large, and I have tried to think of an easier way the author could have filled me with the knowledge instead of the approach taken, but I really couldn't think of a better way, mainly due to the way the code has to be written for the particular task at hand.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a great introduction to Android development, and is leaps and bounds above Google's documentation, at least for a beginner. I wish the book was a little longer, and I wish the author didn't frequently say things like "I could write an entire book on [subject], so I won't go into detail about this. If you want to learn more, read the documentation at [Google link]." For these reasons, I gave it four stars instead of five. The fundamentals do exist in this book, but I would have liked to have seen more.

I would recommend this book for anyone with any sort of programming background looking to get into Android development. I would probably not recommend it to someone who has no programming background whatsoever.

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Comment on Magnetic Screwdriver Set w/ 15 bits Great for Cellphones, Computers, Gaming Devices Includes: T6, TORX®, PHILIPS, SLOTTED, SPANNER, TRI-WING®, BENT PRY TOOL, ROUND AWL, RESET PIN for Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Wii, DS Lite, NDS by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:16:50 +0000

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

works in a bind, April 4, 2008

Allen McFarland "empallin" (Norman, OK USA) -

= Fun:

This review is from: Magnetic Screwdriver Set w/ 15 bits Great for Cellphones, Computers, Gaming Devices Includes: T6, TORX®, PHILIPS, SLOTTED, SPANNER, TRI-WING®, BENT PRY TOOL, ROUND AWL, RESET PIN for Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Wii, DS Lite, NDS (Video Game)

this is what it says it is and nothing more. it will work in a bind but not an item you want to trust. the bits are about half the size length and width of standard bits. the whole package thing is made out of cheap materials. if it is something you are going to use everyday look else where. if you need it for a quick repair on a single item them it should easily do you well. also be ready to repack it. the container that it ships is similar in quality to those used for the lower end laser pointers. the bits do not stay in their spots and the lid just sets into place. no locks or hinges of any sort. anything more than a few bucks and you are going to feel ripped of.

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Comment on Magnetic Screwdriver Set w/ 15 bits Great for Cellphones, Computers, Gaming Devices Includes: T6, TORX®, PHILIPS, SLOTTED, SPANNER, TRI-WING®, BENT PRY TOOL, ROUND AWL, RESET PIN for Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Wii, DS Lite, NDS by Allen McFarland "empallin"

Allen McFarland "empallin" — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:24:33 +0000

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

Complete Junk, November 16, 2007

John Smith "Sand Worm III" (Ratrace, VA) -

= Fun:

I bought this product for some of the smaller torx and the bits are worthless. The drive is made of cheap platic and looks as though it will break at any moment. A waste of money.

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Comment on Magnetic Screwdriver Set w/ 15 bits Great for Cellphones, Computers, Gaming Devices Includes: T6, TORX®, PHILIPS, SLOTTED, SPANNER, TRI-WING®, BENT PRY TOOL, ROUND AWL, RESET PIN for Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Wii, DS Lite, NDS by John Smith "Sand Worm III"

John Smith "Sand Worm III" — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:58:26 +0000

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

Not good for wii, nintendo, June 18, 2007

A Kid's Review

= Fun:

this product is about the only tri wing that will not work on wii or ds properly.

BEWARE of reviews below that look good since they are shill reviews from the vendor. this is dishonest of them. see "NYC R.W. "RW"" review. review only reviews products from this vendor and only gives five stare reviews -- including of such scams as cell phone antenna boosters.

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Comment on The Web Designer’s Idea Book, Vol. 2: More of the Best Themes, Trends and Styles in Website Design by m burwell

m burwell — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:56:36 +0000

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Where design is going ..., September 2, 2010

m burwell -

This review is from: The Web Designer's Idea Book, Vol. 2: More of the Best Themes, Trends and Styles in Website Design (Paperback)

This the second of two comprehensive, up to date books. Great for the talented wanna-be web designer or already-is web designer but needs inspiration to get to the next level and see patterns in beautiful web design. Organization of this book is beautifully laid out and easy to reference. The author really knows good web design. The pictures are rich with color. Absolutely love the spot varnish on the cover.
Anyone who wants to know where design is going should buy this book. I have ordered several for my friends who are thinking of getting into this field or already are...!

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Comment on The Web Designer’s Idea Book, Vol. 2: More of the Best Themes, Trends and Styles in Website Design by E. Lee "E. Lee"

E. Lee "E. Lee" — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:43:10 +0000

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

Very disappointing, pretty skimpy book, January 30, 2011

E. Lee "E. Lee" (Campbell, CA USA) -

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This review is from: The Web Designer's Idea Book, Vol. 2: More of the Best Themes, Trends and Styles in Website Design (Paperback)

I think this book has a brilliant and potentially terrifically useful idea -- lots of examples of great websites -- but unfortunately the book was mostly useless for me. The main problem is perhaps subjective -- the author seems most interested in the design principles from the 90s -- flipping through the book, about HALF the examples feature a white font with a black (or very dark) background. Those of us with high-converting websites know that most major sites (e-commerce, publishing, major blogs with lots of traffic, social sites, search sites -- basically, most companies that make money) eschew these aesthetics because they convert POORLY. Those kinds of pages might look great in a museum, but they make less money on the web. The author dedicates 5 pages to "ultra-clean" design -- those 5 pages were useful for the kind of information I am looking for. But, if you are making a graphics intensive website that prioritizes very interesting visuals over what many people have learned actually converts and succeeds (clean design, clarity, clear all to action, simplicity, etc.), this book could be 4 stars for you (it wouldn't be a 5 star for anyone, IMO, because it's too short and the analysis is way too skimpy).

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Comment on The Web Designer’s Idea Book, Vol. 2: More of the Best Themes, Trends and Styles in Website Design by TexasAggie

TexasAggie — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:24:50 +0000

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

INSANELY good compilation of styles and inspiration, September 2, 2010

TexasAggie (College Station, Texas) -

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This review is from: The Web Designer's Idea Book, Vol. 2: More of the Best Themes, Trends and Styles in Website Design (Paperback)

First, if you don't have the first one, you're missing out. They fit together perfectly... hopefully the start of a long series!

The Web Designer's Idea Book: The Ultimate Guide To Themes, Trends & Styles In Website Design

Like the first volume, this is full of carefully picked examples of the best in modern web design. It's organized into very clever topics making it the perfect reference book. It's loaded with screenshots, screenshots, and more screenshots... just as before, but all new, and more recent.

In this version, the screenshots are even larger and easier to pick up on detail and text. They've also included "Developer Notes" which I think are pretty insightful and in context.

If you are involved in web design in any way (even if you're hiring other people to do it), this book will be super handy. The two editions are the same size and style... they're intended to be on the bookshelf together. With the two combined, there must be a thousand organized designs to look through. The amount of work that went into collecting such quality work without "filler" junk is astounding.

I'm really impressed... if you can't tell!

On the negative side: I'd personally prefer these came in large hardback coffee-table books. While maybe not as handy, it certainly would be great to have around the agency. Maybe after the 3rd edition, they should release a combined volume!

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Comment on 1 GRAM SILVER BUFFALO BAR by William F. Sauerbier

William F. Sauerbier — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:31:36 +0000

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

Item Great. Shipping Costs Not, June 29, 2011

William F. Sauerbier (Mass) -

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This review is from: 1 GRAM SILVER BUFFALO BAR

The 1 gram bullion silver piece is nice... It is very small (as all one gram pieces are), but in wonderful condition. The buffalo is a nice addition to anyones collection. Watch the shipping prices though... $4.99 to ship and it only came in the envolope and 44 cent stamp... Thats where the profit lies.... Better getting it off ebay of something like that....

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Comment on 1 GRAM SILVER BUFFALO BAR by Kevin Braun "kb"

Kevin Braun "kb" — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:20:13 +0000

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

shipping scam, August 3, 2011

Kevin Braun "kb" (maryland) -

This review is from: 1 GRAM SILVER BUFFALO BAR

They charge nothing for the bar but charge per bar on shipping. Order 10 grams whick is no weight at all and they make you pay 50 dollars shipping. Total rip off. Invest in silver that is actually worth it this bar isnt worth near what you really end up paying. They profit off the shipping and rip off consumers that don't know any better

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