arcgis 10 ... 2011

Alamak ... so long since I updated this blog ... busy with work (and riding). happy new year old and new readers (hopefully still interested) ... wishing everyone healthy, prosperous and peaceful new year.

Before 9.3 (and turbo 9.3.1) settled in ... we have ArcGIS 10. I wasn't too impressed with the speed of this release (see how fast Arc10 service pack 1 released) ... its better ESRI really test and debug thoroughly ArcGIS software before actual release. Release should be in 3 year cycles ... not 2 releases in a year ... very disruptive and unproductive for technical ppl like us. A lot of precious man hours wasted updating service packs and re-installing ... job security for some consultants (and ESRI developers) I suppose. Also it really doesn't help if hardware, graphic card and RAM needs serious upgrading for Arc10 ... if the release was planned properly large agencies can budget and plan hardware refresh better (don't say I didn't warn about the hardware spec upgrade for Arc10).

Arc10 has new features long overdue ... mainly the new editing environment (templates, toolbar, mini-toolbar), selections and snapping. I really think all this should have been featured in Arc92 ... I was promoting these features from my earlier blogs too ... editing was really bad in comparison to AutoCAD and Microstation. ArcPy and Python in Arc10 looks promising ... especially since it can interact with ArcMap interface better now ... am not too sure how it will replace the popular VBA but its in the right step. Python still has to communicate with COM classes to make things run in ArcMap ... so am not too sure how much faster scripts will run. Map Navigation and the new display accelerator does a good job too ... not really that impressive because other software packages have it already ... its about time ArcGIS caught up ... the display refresh and white end-corners when panning / moving has always been a thorn for ArcGIS.

I've not really looked at other stuff yet. Will keep you folks updated ...

halo 2009 ... party like 1999

Here comes 2009! It’s been a whirlwind December … holiday in Phuket, mad shopping, Christmas binge and NY Eve party. It’s also an expensive month … money can just disappear so fast with no warning and ATM machines in KL can seriously break down this month. It was good to see so many good bargains tho … 50% to 70% off on quality stuff.

Anyway, we decided to hit MOS Euphoria in Sunway for New Year Eve … what a mistake! Its full of ah bengs and ah lians dancing dunno-what to techno, rap and hip hop blasting. Its over priced and very tacky. The place is crawling with wide-eyed school kids and college wannabes … acting cool and tough. So much different from Singapore MOS…. Euphoria is not cool at all.

Also so many weird people in Sunway Pyramid lah… just hanging around like zombies … with fake laughs and squeals… am wondering … are these people genuinely happy …. seriously mental cases. People just sit and do nothing … staring like dead brains … occasionally releasing fake "happy" laughs. Of coz u have the usual morons with spray cans and merajuk gfs making a huge scene and wanting so much attention. Amazing how dumb it all looked …

We had to make a quick exit from all this madness … ended up in the new HQNine in TTDI … what a relief… good music, great crowd and fantastic service. We reach in time .. the wine arrived and NY countdown began. It’s a cool and cozy club to party and … really … no qualms about the atmosphere. Its hip, cool and trendy … my kinda joint. The DJ needs a bit more experience when changing discs and it needs better international House selection … but am sure it will improve as nights go by.