Christmas is coming!

I was looking at the Uber API, and thought about comparing prices between Uber and Lyft... then I read this blog post on Pricenoia and it changed my mind.

It does seem like a gamble to work with a company's API. It also seems like free work, but perhaps with donations you could make it work.

If you understand it to be a temporary venture and plan for the next step, you can still use API's etc. and create unique web apps that will attract users and give you either publicity or short term revenue.

My primary goal when starting any business is to create a sustainable, reliable income.

Also, I like to focus on businesses that, once I set my vision in place for satisfying customers, I can guarantee that the service will be there for my customers.

That's fine... my point was that temporary businesses/platforms can provide you the assets (exposure/cash/partnerships) needed to launch your sustainable, reliable income.

I'm not sure why you are arguing with me. I have stated what I am interested in when in comes to building a new business.

I am not looking for exposure, cash or partnerships -- those aren't the problem at all -- but I am looking for sustainable, trustworthy, long-term business ideas.

I have no problem building a business on another business' API's, but based on the track record of doing so, and your comments about them being temporary by nature, I think I will stay away from them.

I think we're in agreement there.

Locations: Des Moines, IA. Also will consider Omaha, NE, and Denver or Boulder, CO with relocation.

Remote: Yes

Technology: Passionate developer, working in Cocoa and Objective-C. Also Windows, classic VB, VBScript, VB.NET and ASP.NET, C#, SharePoint, Office, MSSQL, Android SDK/Java. PHP4/5, Apache 2.x, Linux, X/Windows, MySQL. HTML, XHTML, XML, Javascript, CSS. Lightwave, Adobe Flash, AS2/AS3, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere, and Fireworks. Comfortable in Visual Studio for MS and PHP development, and XCode for Mac and iOS development. Web and native apps and games.

Resume: Click 'View Resume' on my Mobile App Showcase at: http://bensapps.neocities.org or e-mail me for a DOC/PDF version.

Email: [email protected]

Front-end, middleware, and back-end development. Sysadmin, documentation, project management, security, e-commerce and R.A.D. are my specialties. Also open to a sponsorship if you are looking for a top-notch developer to pursue your ideas on developing unique software solutions or graphical user interfaces. Started in the 80's creating ANSI animations and system menus, 3D 30fps animations with POVray/PolyRay, and hex-editing commercial software like DeskMate, DesqView and QEMM for fun.

I don't agree, some of the people that use emoticons all the time are actually older than 40.

In conversation in Facebook, Skype, et al, they usually have a number of smiley faces.

Some people use them all the time. And they don't have to be graphics, they can be done in text too. :]

As the article states, this is incorrect.

It could have been converted to 64-bit, but they didn't have the time.

Pinball was more popular with everyone I knew because you could see the whole table. It was fantastic on my friend's giant 21" CRT!

Android wasn't as fun because it scrolled, and you couldn't see anything except a tiny slice where the ball was.

I use Turbosquid for free 3D models, and then customize them in Lightwave or Blender. I work on my own textures.

For audio I rely on Looperman for free music and sound fx.

Wow. Thanks to the link. Would this be a good way to go for beginner (hobbiest) oculus rift development?

Are there any tutorials out there that explain your process a bit?

I use Cocos3D for iOS and Android 3D apps and games. It's also free. :)

Best bet is to load up the project "Cocos3D Mashup". Then you can adjust things, try loading new models and taking programmatic control of the scene.

As the developer, ask me anything. I worked with Mark Crowe's 3D creations and Scott Murphy's story to create a fun classic-style arcade game. We're all looking forward to the new SpaceVenture game coming up!

Interesting trivia: The game requires 90MB of RAM to run.

Location: Des Moines, IA

Remote: Yes

Willing to relocate: No

Technologies: Cocoa and Objective-C, Windows applications, VB6, VB.NET and ASP.NET, C#, SharePoint, Office, MSSQL, Android SDK/Java. PHP4/5, Apache 2.x, Linux, X/Windows, MySQL. HTML, XHTML, XML, Javascript, CSS. Lightwave, Adobe Flash, AS2/AS3, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere, and Fireworks.

Resume: Click 'View Resume' on my portfolio at: http://bensapps.neocities.org

Email: [email protected]