Hacker ...
A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. - Jargon File
“The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.” - Arnold Toynbee
I have been designing and developing computer software solutions for over 20 years. I am a Chartered IT Professional awarded by the British Computer Society and a Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers.
Currently I run my own Software Development and Computer Consultancy company. In addition I also run Arten Books which provides new and used discount books through the Amazon Marketplace.
I am a Motorcycle fan, an avid reader of sci-fi, fantasy, history, thrillers and technical books, a guitar player, a traveller and a father.
In addition I have a special interest in ancient cultures, their technologies and beliefs, such as the Egyptians, the Aztecs, the Greeks and the Romans.
In September 2009 one of my products R10Cipher: Email, Text and File Security, was shortlisted as a Finalist for the 2009 Information Security Product of the Year award.
Contact Details:
stevecholerton@mac.com
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
Dec 2009
Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
- 2010
- About
- Acceptance
- Access Control
- Accident
- Adventure
- Advertising
- Air Ambulance
- Amplification
- Andrew Deacon
- Andy Farrell
- AppleTV
- Arten Science
- Article
- Audi TT
- Avatar
- Award
- BCS
- Birthday
- Black Sabbath
- Blackstar
- Blu-Ray
- BMW
- BNI
- Bob Walsh
- Book Review
- Books
- Buggy
- Can-Am
- Caravan
- Charity Ride
- Children
- Chinese Quotation
- Cold Steel
- Come on England
- Common Sense Party
- Computer Consultancy
- Computing
- Concept
- Connor McCloud
- ContaX
- ContaXCRM
- Cornerstone
- Coupon
- Crash
- CrM
- Cross Platform
- CSP
- Custom Shop
- Customer
- Customer Service
- CuteCipher
- Dan Walsh
- Database
- Decluttering
- Derby
- Derby Royal
- Digital Filing
- Disabled Parking
- Disaster
- Discount
- Download Sites
- Downsizing
- Dreams
- eBook
- Embrace Danger
- EMG
- Encryption
- Enduro
- Experience Engineering
- Feedback Needed
- Finalist
- Financial Instiutions
- First Lesson
- First Post
- Fitness
- Flying V
- For Sale
- Ford Ranger
- Foundation Trilogy
- Freeware
- Function
- Galactic Empire
- General
- Good Eating
- Great Rock Bands
- Grumble
- Guest Post
- Guitar
- Guitar Tech
- Hagstrom
- Harley Fatbob
- Harley Night Rod Special
- Highlander
- Holiday
- Holly
- Home Entertainment
- Honda
- Horizons Unlimited
- HT-5
- HuBB
- Humbucker
- Humour
- Idol
- If
- Internet Scam
- Introduction
- IPad
- IPhone
- IPhone App
- Issac Asimov
- IT Consultancy
- James Cameron
- Jessica Cholerton
- Joke
- JustWrite
- K1300r
- KLX-250
- KLX250
- Larry Ellison
- Left Tibia
- Les Paul
- Linux
- Lou Carbone
- Mac
- MacVCR
- Madeleine
- Marketing
- Marshall
- Mayor
- MonitorMyMac
- Motorbikes
- Motorcross
- Movie
- Music
- Mystical
- Native
- New Bike
- New Car
- Nottingham
- Off-Road
- Online
- OoSooM
- Operation
- Orac
- Oracle
- Outlander ATV
- Phishing
- Phoenix Chapter
- Poem
- Police
- Police State GB
- Politics
- Poster
- Presentation
- Press Release
- Productivity
- Progress
- Promotion
- Protect
- PS3
- Pub
- Quarry
- R10
- R10 iPhone Application
- R10BatchMail
- R10Cipher
- R10Office
- Range Rover
- REALbasic
- Recommendations
- REplace
- REstoration Project
- REview
- Roadster
- Robots
- Rocket III
- Rudyard Kipling
- Scrambler
- Screen Recording
- Secure Vault
- Security
- SeO
- Small Crash
- Snow
- Social Business
- Social CRM
- Social Media
- Software Development
- Software Economics
- Software News
- Software Release
- SQLite
- Startup Success Guide
- Steve Cholerton
- Tailored Marine Supplies
- Tax Refund
- Technical
- Testimonials
- The Stig
- TMS
- Trail Riders Fellowship
- Triumph
- Triumph Scrambler
- Tutorial
- UK Election 2010
- Unforgiveable Stupidity
- V-Pick
- VCS
- Version Control
- VTX
- Walkabout
- Walking Stick
- Washburn
- Windows
- World Cup 2010
- Yacht Bedding
- Yacht Supplies
- Yamaha
- Youlgreave
Native Apps vs Web Apps, No Contest !
The last decade saw many people in my profession predicting the end of the desktop application. The web was the way forward they cried. Forget C and BASIC and embrace JavaScript ! It didn’t happen in the last decade and it won’t happen in this one either, the same as it didn’t happen in the 90’s with the ‘Network Computer’.
Some of us have instinctively known this and carried on developing native desktop applications regardless.
For me what finally proved the point beyond all doubt was the success of the
Apple App Store. Here we have a store full of thousands of native applications, written in a proprietary object oriented version of the C language using proprietary libraries, for the iPhone and the iPad. iOS has come from nowhere to become a major new platform.The app store gives extremely easy access to the purchase and installation of applications. This is one of the reasons for it’s success. I believe that ease of access and minimum installation hassles were the reason that web applications were, and in some cases are, so popular.
I believe people do not actually want to use a web application with all it’s inherent limitations; security, performance, interface, compatibility etc., but they are prepared to accept that rather than go through the tedious install and setup routines associated with so many native desktop applications.
My take on this simple. People like their computer with it’s speed and graphics, they would rather not run applications in a browser if it can be avoided. Give them powerful, Cross Platform, native desktop applications. Put the application locally and the data in ‘the cloud’.
Data belongs in the cloud, applications do not. The browser is not an attractive or appropriate environment in which to run software.
When I started
Arten Science I decided that none of my software would need an installer. None of my software would modify the registry or otherwise mess with the configuration or internals of the operating system. You would be able to ‘install’ my software using drag and drop and you would be able to ‘uninstall’ it just as easily, by dragging it to the Trash.There are many companies working on their own version of the app store, for example
Bodega, which is great, but ease of purchase is just one reason for the success of the Apple app store. Ease of installation is the other. How many companies are working on that ?My opinions are possibly controversial. However only through controversy and argument and discussion are barriers broken, standards changed and the future forged.
I welcome all feedback whether you support my argument or whether you think I’m nuts 
Next Generation CRM for Mac and Windows
New
ContaxCRM Release Here
1.9.9
- Further User Interface Tweaks. Attempting to balance Ease of User, Simplicity and High Functionality, without Clutter
- The Default Charts have changed
- Mac Only: iCal Calendar Entries are now visible in the Tasks List in ContaxCRM for the appropriate Contact.
- When adding a new Contact the Detail / Primary tabs are now selected and the cursor is put into the title field
- Expanded View window is now sensitive to the size of the calling window and displays appropriately
- Tab Name Change: Primary is now Main
- Tab Name Change: Address is now Addr
- Tab Name Change: Secondary is now More, also this tab is now positioned next to Main
- History record count now shown
- Assorted Tweaks and Fixes
CRM for Mac and Windows: Updated 1.9.8
New
ContaxCRM Release Here
Version 1.9.8 Includes Audio Output of Contact Information, Notes, Documents and History on Mac OSX.
RSS Feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Lonelyhacker
Come On England ! Show Your Support
New ContaxCRM Release
New Arten Science Article
Here’s a new article I have written on the Arten Science Blog:
RSS Feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Lonelyhacker
Embrace the Danger
I don’t know where I found this quotation but I liked it so much I made it into a desktop background. I find it very thought provoking.
RSS Feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Lonelyhacker
Latest Advert for IT Consultancy Services
This is the latest advert for my Computer Consultancy Services with
Arten Science. It focuses on the professionalism that’s a given when dealing with a Chartered IT Professional.Click the Image to View Full Size
RSS Feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Lonelyhacker
Cold Steel Walkabout XL Walking Stick
I’ve just ordered this
Cold Steel Walkabout Walking Stick. It’s unusual, tough, hard wearing and if you have to use a stick then you may as well have something a bit different
RSS Feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Lonelyhacker
What is Social CRM and Social Media ?
Today I found
this blog post by someone well respected in the industry. His new product, once it’s released, is a possible competitor for my own ContaxCRM solution. This doesn’t stop me respecting, or sharing, what he has to say. Have a read.RSS Feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Lonelyhacker