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Suggestions for Parallax Semiconductor — Parallax Forums

Suggestions for Parallax Semiconductor

Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
edited 2011-05-16 23:00 in General Discussion
Hello All,

A brief introduction. Today Parallax launches Parallax Semiconductor, our division exclusively designed for our chip R&D, support and sales. Below I'm sharing a few pictures to give you an idea of our purpose. We've all experienced extensive slide shows and nothing compares to the actual result, so take a look at www.parallaxsemiconductor.com. We appreciate the support our customers, contractors and friends have provided as we developed this business. From this point, Parallax Semiconductor shall evolve and grow into a significant business.

Sincerely,

Ken Gracey

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Comments

  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-05-02 13:28
    Do we need a new account for this site or can we use our existing Parallax.com or forum login?
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2011-05-02 13:35
    The site looks great Ken.
    Just sent the URL to some friends at Rafael, I'm sure
    they will want some QuickStart boards to tinker with :-)
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-05-02 13:36
    Separate registration is required.

    I tried to order a couple of (paid for) Quickstart boards, but it isn't on the Parallax web site.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-05-02 13:38
    Leon wrote: »
    Separate registration is required.

    I tried to order a couple of (paid for) Quickstart boards, but it isn't on the Parallax web site.

    That's right - it'll follow shortly. Thanks for the reminder!

    Ken Gracey
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2011-05-02 13:39
    Nice job on the web site!
    I'm glad you went with a distinct look and feel.

    Best of luck on the launch!!

    Rick
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-05-02 13:48
    Just took a look at the App Note AN011 for the Program template. Do you think you should mention the DAT section and that it normally goes at the end of the code?

    Robert
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-05-02 13:51
    RobotWorkshop wrote: »
    Just took a look at the App Note AN011 for the Program template. Do you think you should mention the DAT section and that it normally goes at the end of the code?

    Robert

    Thanks Robert - will see that the author reviews this comment, and all just like it. Thanks, Ken
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 14:20
    Please check the appearance of the website in Safari. The fonts look inappropriate for a serious web presence.

    attachment.php?attachmentid=80834&d=1304371228

    Rich H
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-05-02 14:24
    It looks very nice on my Dell Streak Android tablet.
  • Tony B.Tony B. Posts: 356
    edited 2011-05-02 14:26
    Ken,

    The site looks great!

    Got my account and have downloaded the appnotes for some reading tonight and in the days ahead. Wonder if one large archive file for code and appnotes might be a nice offering instead of having to download each file?

    I'll help support it the best I can.

    Tony
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2011-05-02 14:28
    Tony B. wrote: »
    Got my account and have downloaded the appnotes for some reading tonight and in the days ahead.
    That's odd. I signed up for an account but never received the confirmation email.
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-05-02 14:37
    David Betz wrote: »
    That's odd. I signed up for an account but never received the confirmation email.

    Did you check your spam filter (if you have one) in case it was flagged and is sitting in there? My e-mail came right away....
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2011-05-02 14:39
    RobotWorkshop wrote: »
    Did you check your spam filter (if you have one) in case it was flagged and is sitting in there? My e-mail came right away....
    Yes, I checked my spam filter. However, apparently someone saw my post because a minute or so later I got my email confirming my account. I'm chosing to assume that the delay was due to the thousands of people registering for the new site! Anyway, it looks great and I hope it is immensely successful!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-05-02 14:53
    Ken,

    There are a couple of missing words on the Customer Success page:

    I came in and completely redesigned the machine using a pair of Propeller chips (in) just three weeks.

    I know what to expect going into a design and that I can count on (the) Propeller to get the job done.

    On the Propeller Chips page you have some typos:

    LCDs, sensors and sensors your application is a matter of high-level integration with Propeller chips

    . the Propeller is available in three package types:
  • KyeKye Posts: 2,200
    edited 2011-05-02 15:02
    The website looks good! Content will need a bit of polishing. Prepare for a wave of grammer fixing request.

    Additionally, the youtube videos should be cut out. They do not look ultra professional. My 2 cents.

    EDIT: I also found the use of " Parallax Inc. dba Parallax Semiconductor " everywhere to be akward. The time selection box for new users should also be updated. It took a non trival amount of time to locate an east cost time zone. There were alot of time zones for other countries however... target market?
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-05-02 15:25
    @Leon and Kye - thank you for the comments. The team is working through these details now.
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,245
    edited 2011-05-02 15:35
    Ken,

    The website is clean and very professional. Looks great!

    Paul
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 16:08
    There is an inconsistency in the last paragraph of these two pages.

    http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/multicoreconcept
    http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/corporate/newsandevents

    Rich H
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-05-02 16:23
    @Ken and Parallax.

    The new division web site looks great. I'm sure things will get even better.

    Best of Luck.
    --Steve
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-05-02 16:31
    W9GFO wrote: »
    There is an inconsistency in the last paragraph of these two pages.

    http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/multicoreconcept
    http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/corporate/newsandevents

    Rich H

    Thank you, Rich. Excellent attention to detail - I had to hunt a bit to find the inconsistency. Maybe you could verify that I found what you expected me to address.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-05-02 16:33
    jazzed wrote: »
    @Ken and Parallax.

    The new division web site looks great. I'm sure things will get even better.

    Best of Luck.
    --Steve

    Thank you, Steve. Means a lot coming from you. We have no illusions about our new venture and the work it will take in a fairly crowded market. We'll be at ESC Thursday - if you're there we'll keep an open eye.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 17:12
    Yes it is fixed now.

    There is still the font issue though...

    Rich H
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 17:33
    Awkward wording on this page.

    One important editing feature unique to the Propeller Tool is the Block Group Indicators. These light grey connectors show at a glance which lines of Spin code are grouped together functionally, such (as) with if or repeat statements.

    Rich H
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 17:42
    From http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/quickstart2;

    The repeat command begins a loop in which everything indented below it will be repeated over and over again. Indention in Spin is important, so the programming tool draws connecting lines showing which commands below will be (affected) effected by the command.

    In reality, repeating the last line over and over again does not change the state of the output, it simply prevents the program from stopping.

    Rich H
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 17:47
    From http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/quickstart3;

    Because Propeller object(s) are simply software,

    Rich H
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 18:08
    From http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/quickstart4;

    I am including this example not because of grammar or spelling but because I'm having trouble making sense of why it is the only one that has the dot(.) in front of it. And I find the last sentence confusing.

    OUT (or TX)
    The .out (sometimes called, .tx) method can be found in various display and communication objects. It is commonly used for displaying the variable. In the case of a video driver, the display will act on the contents of the variable instead of displaying the character itself. For example: .out($08) would display a backspace, instead of displaying the bevel right corners character..

    Rich H
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 18:16
    More Quick Start comments;

    Navigation - there is no forward or back buttons to navigate the Quick Starts nor a link to return to the list of Quick Starts.

    Quick Start 3 mentions the multi-cog design of the Propeller but does not make it clear that each core is called a cog until Quick Start 5.

    Rich H
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 18:29
    From http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/quickstart5;

    Think of these cores, called cogs, as eight tiny engines running independently, each starting and stopping as the demand for power changes.

    In the Quick Start lesson (")Introduction to (Spin) Objects("), a simple LED flasher...
    The resulting three repeat loops operate independently of each other, in a separate cog.
    This is confusing because the Twinkle method has three repeat loops in it and there are three instances of the Twinkle method running.

    Suggested wording change;

    The resulting three instances of the Twinkle method operate independently of each other, each in a separate cog.
    Simply calling “cognew(Twinkle(16)...” would have created an error, as the Twinkle method is looking for two pieces of information.

    This would be clearer in my opinion;

    Simply calling “cognew(Twinkle(16))” would have created an error, as the Twinkle method is looking for two pieces of information.

    Okay, I guess that's enough for now. : )

    Rich H
  • kuronekokuroneko Posts: 3,623
    edited 2011-05-02 19:31
    The Sample Gold Standard Object doesn't work with anything except pin 0. While you can pass in a different pin parameter it's never assigned to led_pin.

    Also, the first public method should be one which can't do any harm. It was even suggested in the forum to list stop first followed by start(...).
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2011-05-02 20:40
    Ahhh, that's better. If you have no idea what I'm talking about then that's a good thing.

    Hint: it was an issue mostly caused by my meddling.

    Rich H
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