The Objective Blog

Keep up with what we're thinking, reading, and doing.

Fusion Radar: November 20, 2013

November 20th, 2013 - by marissa - Salt Lake City, Utah

Keeping up with technology is a lot of work. Luckily, we enjoy wading through the noise just to find the gems of awesomeness sprinkled throughout. Fusion Radar is our gift to you, Current or Potential Client, so that you can enjoy all of the awesome without any of the drudgery. Unwrap it each week, and know that you’re loved by the geeks and pixel-pushers at Agency Fusion.

Better Errors

Better Errors is a tool that replaces the standard Rails error page with an “upgraded” version of error reporting. It gives developers more detailed debug information, and shows realtime responsive error pages. Better Errors also includes full stack trace, source code inspection for all stack frames, local/instance variable inspection, and live REPL on every stack frame.

Better Errors

InVision

InVision is a prototyping and collaboration tool that makes it easier to design and plan apps. Users can do anything from create simple mockups of apps to create interactive app demos that viewers can use to explore the app’s functionality. And because of the collaborative nature of the tool, anyone you grant access to has the ability to make changes or leave notes anywhere on the pages.

InVision

Signature Pad

Signature Pad is a jQuery plugin that makes it possible for developers to embed an HTML5 canvas that will record mouse- or touch-drawn signatures. What’s unique about this software is that it smooths the lines as you sign, which results in a much more accurate, less jerky, digital signature.

Signature Pad

Free Vector Maps

This is a site that offers downloadable vector maps that are free with attribution. Maps come in both color and grayscale, and you have the option of viewing maps of states, countries, and continents (or the entire world). There’s also a Premium option, which gives users access to more detailed vector maps that don’t require attribution when used.

Free Vector Maps

Knock

Knock is an iPhone app that enables you to simply knock on your phone to unlock your computer (as opposed to manually typing in a password). The app uses a Bluetooth connection between your phone and computer to operate, so you have to be nearby to use it. It’s available for all of the newer models of iMacs, MacBook Pros, and other Apple products.

Knock

HealthSherpa

The launch of HealthCare.gov was something of a letdown – apparently only 6 people in the country successfully signed up for health care within the first 24 hours of the site’s operation. In response, a trio of developers created an alternative called HealthSherpa. Although their site doesn’t integrate with multiple health care and government sites, it does offer a simpler way to search for health care plans available to you.

HealthSherpa

Postmortem of a Venture-backed Startup

In this Medium article, Brett Martin, the entrepreneur behind the Sonar app, shares his thoughts on why Sonar was a failure. His insightful article details mistakes he made and what lessons he ultimately learned from each one of them.

Postmortem of a Venture-backed Startup

Linky Dink

Linky Dink is a simple way for groups of people to share links with each other via Twitter. Users can subscribe to already-existing groups or create their own. They can also choose to receive link alerts, or the system will send out a daily email with a list of the links that were shared within their group.

Linky Dink

Peek Vision

Peek is a smartphone-based portable eye exam kit. Its utility is currently limited to use in countries where it would be difficult and expensive to offer typical eye exams. In addition to offering standard vision tests, Peek’s software has a variety of exams available to test for cataracts, contrast and color sensitivity, and other common eye problems.

Peek Vision

Hipster CEO

Hipster CEO is an iPhone app that lets you play as the CEO of your own startup company. You begin by choosing from a variety of products/services to sell, and then you use marketing and sales strategies, angel investments, and other tools to take your company to the top of the tech world.

Hipster CEO

Wasted Humanity

Wasted Humanity is a site that calculates how many years, collectively, people have spent watching any given YouTube video. The site also contrasts that number with the number of years it took to accomplish certain historical feats; for example, humanity wasted 14,636 years watching Gangnam Style, while it took only 10 years to build the Colosseum.

Wasted Humanity