Jon Chui

Hey there. I'm Jon.

Welcome to my home on the web. (Wow, that sounds so 90's)

I like to build things & am lucky enough to get paid to do it.

My personal life: Married to the woman of my dreams & my junior high sweetheart; Father of the cutest boy in the world; My best friend is a Jewish Carpenter.

I speak English & Objective C fluently & am passionate about technology, startups, & people.

Oh yeah, I've also been known to make some pretty mean french press coffee.

Feel free to reach me @ jon [at] jonchui.com - (unless you're a recruiter, in which case, if you don't even tell me what company you're working for I probably won't reply).

If you have anonymous construtive feedback for me, I'd really let me know @ Admonymous

My Blog
My Twitter Stream
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Posts

Posts

Profile
- How to use Dropbox with two or more accounts (aka. running two or more instances of dropbox)
  
  Nov 05, 12
  
  I love dropbox. I think i wrote about that in a previous post already. Recently, I had to access two dropbox accounts simultaneously (it’s a long story). However, Dropbox doesn’t officially allow you to run two instances of dropbox. After searching on the web, I found a solution but it was really time consuming. However, in that […]
- Please Rogers. Stop being Evil
  
  Oct 30, 12
  
  I’ve been a Rogers customer for the last 12 years. no Joke. Almost half my life. I’ve been loyal to them through the ups & downs, and through broken promises, one person saying one thing & seeing on my bill another. So, I got a new iPhone 5 on sep 21. The best part, is […]
- Good job Google+ and YouTube integration!
  
  Sep 27, 12
  
  For the longest time, I’ve always felt the collaboration between Google products was a bit, let’s say rough. So you can imagine how I was super impressed this morning w/ Google, when i logged into my YouTube account, was met with this: (EDIT: the original image i copied into wordpress, but wordpress did not upload […]
- How I got 3GB of Free Lifetime Dropbox space for hosting your photos
  
  May 26, 12
  
  I love Dropbox. I remember back in the day I was always looking for the perfect sync solution. Microsoft’s Live Mesh was just starting out when I was an intern there & I was able to test out the Mac Beta’s at the time. Before that, I was using FolderShare & a slew of other […]
- How to view Wikipedia during the 24 hour SOPA Blackout (FYI – i still don’t support SOPA)
  
  Jan 18, 12
  
  So in my attempt to research “dependency injection” tonight, I was met with this wikipedia page: Don’t get me wrong – I totally support Wikipedia in raising awareness as so many of my friends had no idea WHAT SOPA was, and why it was harmful to the internet as we know it (ironically, check out […]
- My take on the iPhone 4S and how to turn on Siri in Canada
  
  Oct 14, 11
  
  So to my surprise, our family was interrupted w/ a loud “Package for Jonathan Chui!” through our front door @ 9:30 AM this morning. I had been following the UPS delivery status of my iPhone4 since Wed, when it left China, then hit Hong Kong & landed in Anchorage, Alaska. The nice UPS delivery […]
- I hate email. A note to my readers..
  
  Aug 19, 11
  
  I know the title is terrible. And after a year of not writing any blog posts to come back with such a hate-filled title is not very nice… i probably just did it to get your attention. Or maybe just because, I thought this blog was getting 0 readers but I just found out today […]
- The Facebook World Map with Countries Overlaid
  
  Dec 15, 10
  
  I saw an awesome map visualizing the friendships on facebook across their locations - However, I wanted to see the countries... so I did it.
- eyePong: controlling Pong with your eyes
  
  Nov 22, 10
  
  For Vancouver's Barcamp 2010, we made a pong game for the iPad that people could control using their eyes.
- BeatMyRide: My First IPhone App
  
  Apr 22, 10
  
  Friday, Oct 22, 2010 – This was an old post from last April. I now drive mobile strategy (read: I’m the only iPhone Developer ) @ Invoke Media, creators of Hootsuite, where I’ve launched apps for the Onion that got mashable & lifehacker love, as well as video contesting apps for large, US insurance agencies […]
Tweets

Tweets

Profile
- Want. One. So. Bad.... "http://t.co/oQp1oqEd92" http://t.co/tiFqzr3Gya
  
  May 24, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @TysonKallberg thanks! The team had been working pretty hard. Whats new at atimi?
  
  May 24, 13 from Twitter for Android in reply to TysonKallberg Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @Dropbox just gave me 48GB of storage for 2 years for installing on a galaxy s4. Iphones never had this!!
  
  May 24, 13 from Twitter for Android Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Airport security is exponentially harder w a whiny 1 year old clinging to you. It's going to be a long 3 hours http://t.co/wqylgbWcls
  
  May 17, 13 from foursquare Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Every time I call @aircanada I have to wait more than 30 minutes. *sigh...*
  
  May 17, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- My boss is presenting the next generation of Google Maps for Mobile @ Google I/O 2013 http://t.co/ixGLRkksXY
  
  May 15, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- holy cow - just found `git log -p --author=jonchui`. #mindblowningupsoundfx cc/ @dmitrym @maxparm @mayfer @andreliem
  
  May 14, 13 from web in reply to jonchui Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Loving git. Just found out you can checkout previous branches in one command: `git checkout @{-1}` = last branch. cc/ @dmitrym @maxparm
  
  May 14, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Happy Mother's Day to 3 mothers covering 10 children! (Wow) (@ So Gong Dong Tofu House) on #Yelp http://t.co/DOyr3mIyE3
  
  May 11, 13 from Yelp Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @paveldusatko I wish I could take credit but i think you meant @brian_wong?
  
  May 02, 13 from Mobile Web (M5) in reply to paveldusatko Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @timtchan haha thinking of bringing Jordan in a little Canucks jersey. ;) (though I don't think you can buy Canucks jerseys here)
  
  Apr 29, 13 from Tweet Button in reply to timtchan Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Well, this could get awkward: Sharks playing Canucks in the NHL playoffs. Good news: Sharks tickets are way cheaper: http://t.co/0Do7bDjhEL
  
  Apr 29, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- This is not spam (haha). Found out how to get 2 free redbox rentals: http://t.co/ktqZGRRtIJ & use DT54JRKH to reserve. Then get +1 free! ;)
  
  Apr 28, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- How have i *never* heard of @ZocDoc before?!?! AMAZING. Find/book/cancel/review doctors. Google calendar + text reminders! #lovingUSA
  
  Apr 26, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Just got my @StickNFind's & love them! Any chance for a web/mac app sometime, or at least an API so devs can build cool stuff?
  
  Apr 26, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @hootsuite - When will personal google+ accounts get added? http://t.co/4k0spFkMnj lmk if you need me to connect you w/ anyone cc/ @invoker
  
  Apr 26, 13 from HootSuite Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @davidweiss @philippe_sab @mhunter007 @hasanihunter Relieved you all see this too. ;) Have contacted apple - see what they say #wwdc
  
  Apr 25, 13 from web in reply to davidweiss Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Just returned to #wwdc site 5 min after buying my ticket & they're sold out. Wow. That's got to be a record. http://t.co/Xp1lfmDPi1
  
  Apr 25, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Wow, long time coming: After 4 years I finally managed to buy a #wwdc ticket. I hope I haven't built it up too much in my mind. ;)
  
  Apr 25, 13 from Buffer Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @yvonno you wish I was your little cousin! you mean the other way around! DM'd you my new number
  
  Apr 24, 13 from Tweet Button in reply to yvonno Reply, Retweet, Favorite
Info

Info

Profile
- Jon Chui
  
  iOS Software Engineer at Google
  
  Internet | San Francisco Bay Area, US
  
  Summary
  
  I'm Jon Chui.
  
  I live & breath iOS & mobile.
  
  I currently work on making Google Maps iPhone app awesome. It recently launched in December 2012 & was downloaded more than 10 million times in the first 48 hours - something I'm both humbled & amazed at.
  
  Before this, I had built 15+ iOS Apps, w/ now more than 1,000,000 downloads, more than 60% of apps being featured by Apple, & multiple features in the front page of iTunes under New & Noteworthy & What's Hot.
  
  My apps have also been featured by Apple on full-page New York Times advertisements.
  
  I'm experienced in the full lifecycle of iOS development: from gathering requirements, meeting Apple Human Interface Guidelines, meeting App Store guidelines - which means you'll be saving time & money when compared to outsourcing to India.
  
  I'm extremely passionate & experienced @ both talking to clients & customers & making them feel heard & appreciated. I also enjoyed leading teams of iOS developers.
  
  I have a knack for building products both AT and FOR fortune 50 companies.
  
  Specialties: iOS, iphone, iPad, development, user experience, HCI, location-based apps, mobile space, public speaking, project vision, business development, buisness strategies, entrepreneur
  
  Experience
  - Jan 2013 - Present
    iOS Software Engineer / Google
    
    o iOS Engineer on Google Maps iPhone team focused on continuing to make it awesome.
    
    Some stats:
    o Downloaded over 10 million times in the first 48 hours.
    o Still Top Free App in Navigation Category in App Store (as of Mar 11, 2013, ~ 3 months after release)
    o Stayed in Top 10 Free App overall since release (as of Mar 11, 2013 it is 8th)
    
    Some quotes:
    o "In the wake of Apple's Maps problems, Google finally delivers what might be the best option on any smartphone — Android included" - The Verge
    o "Google Maps is back on the iPhone and will fix everything that is wrong with your life" - Washington Post
    o "With Google Maps for iPhone Finally Out, It's Now Safe to Upgrade" - The Wall Street Journal
    o "Google vs. Apple Maps: Total Domination" - Gizmodo
  - 2009 - Present
    Vancouver Curator / The Startup Digest
    
    The vancouver startup digest goes out every week to 2000+ subscribers curated w/ the best startup events in Vancouver! The startup digest started in the valley by Chris & Brendan & is now in over 60+ cities around the world
  - Mar 2012 - Nov 2012
    Team Lead / Senior IOS Developer / Atimi Software
    
    Lead a team of 8 devs (5 ios and 3 android) on a multi-million dollar companion app for one of the world's most popular game franchises. To give you an idea of the scale, the title released on xbox & PS3 & sold over 500 million in it's first 24 hours.
    - Tasks included: architecting app from ground up, coding, mentoring junior devs, task breakdown, estimations, talking w/ clients
  - May 2010 - Mar 2012
    Senior iPhone Developer / Invoke Media
    
    o Drove the vision, development & strategy of Invoke’s world-class mobile products, provided customer-facing consultation & estimates for top-tiered clients, lead & hired first mobile team
    o In first 8 months, re-built mobile department from ground up, driving launch of 5 iPhone Apps representing over $220,000 in added revenue, managed new iOS hires & trained them
    o Engineered internal reusable framework: 1) An iCloud-esque framework a year before iCloud launched that cut updates by weeks & allowed for server-driven apps; 2) a Core Data to REST API synchronizer that allowed persistence offline data; 3) A Wireless Testing Framework for clients that shaved testing times from days to hours, speeding up testing times by >2200%!
  - May 2008 - Jul 2008
    Program Manager Intern / Microsoft
    
    o Researched, designed & spearheaded a next-generation evaluation engine, decreasing Microsoft Web Service deployment times by over 200%.
    o Guided a team of over 5 seasoned developers to 100% project completion.
    o Rewarded by managers & team for delivering a visually stunning final presentations & demo
    o Revitalized the interns’ social life by creating the 1st Microsoft Interns Soccer League
  - Aug 2007 - Feb 2008
    Research & Development Engineer Intern / Dolby Laboratories
    
    o Recaptured 3 multi-million dollar accounts with Sony, Sharp, & Toshiba by spearheading the release of a critical Marketing Application. Caught the attention of CEO Bill Jasper.
    o Completed advanced LED research in less than 1 month, which previously took 4 months
  - Jan 2006 - Apr 2006
    Software Engineer / Visiphor Corporation
    
    o Implemented nightly automated builds, saving the company over $10,000 per annum
    o Accelerated software testing 400% by developing the company’s first Software Testing Core
  Education
  - 2004 - 2009
    
    The University of British Columbia
    
    Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Physics, Computer Science
    Activities: 80% GPA, Top 4% Finalist in Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation, Top 12 in Canada for John Motley Citation, Awarded Entrance Scholarship, Elected 2nd Year Engineering Physics Representative, Finalist in TEC UBC’s “Bright Ideas Competition,” Winner of “Student’s Choice Award” for CS 344 HCI Competition,
  Additional Information
  - Websites:
    
    Personal Website, Blog
  - Honors:
    
    Top 4% Finalist in Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation Top 12 in Canada for John Motley Citation Awarded Entrance Scholarship Elected 2nd Year Engineering Physics Representative Finalist in TEC UBC’s “Bright Ideas Competition” Winner of “Student’s Choice Award” for CS 344 HCI Competition
  - Interests:
    
    technology, startups, entrepreneurship, elegant user design, soccer, tennis, snowboarding