timid Bear

iOS 7 and Apps With Personality — Shawn Blanc

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:24:05 -0500

iOS 7 and Apps With Personality — Shawn Blanc:

I’m so curios to see how developers take on the aesthetic changes in iOS 7. Tweetbot is at the top of that list.

The Layers Of Apple

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:20:51 -0500

The linen layers of iOS has driven me crazy for years. There always seemed to be dark linen under the main interface. Then the came out with notification center that pulls dark linen down over the top of the interface. Our iPhones were in a linen sandwich and I never understood it. Now iOS 7 is all about layers. Hopefully it is handled in a more consistent manner this time around.

“The old design of iOS 6 took advantage of that lack of limits, to its detriment. In iOS 6, you open a folder on the home screen, and linen is something you see underneath. You pull down Notification Center, and linen is something you see over. It’s both over and under. Hardware doesn’t work like that, but software can, because software can show you anything, conceptual logic be damned.”

➔ Daring Fireball: ‘This Is Our Signature’: iOS 7

Fertile Ground

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:40:49 -0500

Fertile Ground:

There is a transitionary period coming that could mix up the app hierarchy. I’m sure most devs will do all they can to get synced up to iOS 7. If adoption is as quick as iOS 6 it shouldn’t be much of a problem.

I don’t think most developers of mature, non-trivial apps are going to have an easy time migrating them well to iOS 7. Even if they overcome the technical barriers, the resulting apps just won’t look and feel right. They won’t fool anyone.

Viticci on iOS 7

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:20:54 -0500

Frederico has a thorough post over at Macstories on his impressions of iOS 7. Similarly, I was not sure how to react to the aesthetic changes in iOS 7. I am excited to use it, but I’m afraid it will be a little annoying to look at. But, like Viticci, I need to remember that the paint job is less important than what is under the hood.

And that is, I believe, why Apple said that iOS 7 isn’t simply change, it’s a new beginning. It’s not an understatement: iOS 7 is not about the icons, labels as buttons, translucency, questionable Lock screen gestures, or a new Spotlight as design choices taken individually – it’s about a single, precise idea: to make iOS simpler and more enjoyable, but at the same time more useful. Control Center, multitasking APIs and background refresh, the new Calendar and Safari, AirDrop and Siri, iBeacons and Sprite Kit for developers – these are all features aimed at making iOS simultaneously familiar and future-proof.

➔ iOS 7: Thoughts and Questions | MacStories » wwdc 2013

Frank Chimero × Blog × Generosity of Perspective

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:02:06 -0500

Frank Chimero × Blog × Generosity of Perspective:

Good point.

Luckily, things like icons, colors, and typography are easier to iterate than userflows, information architecture, and features. They’re also the elements that take more time than expected to craft, so I can see all of these refinements being the most likely to be cut from a tight deadline, and the first up to be revisited by the design team before the official release, or quickly thereafter. If that awful Safari icon bugs you, imagine how the designers at Apple must feel.

Fixing The iOS 7 Icons

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:40:43 -0500

Fixing The iOS 7 Icons:

The new iOS icons are ugly for sure. His are better, but I am still not sold. I’m sure Apple will release a few different icon packs. They are all about giving their customers options.

The icons in the new iOS 7 are just a mess. My first impression when seeing them before the keynote, was that this couldn’t possibly be what they looked like. But when they presented iOS7 on the stage, I was flabbergasted by … well, I’m sorry … but they are ugly.

Search for a Google Reader Replacement

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:31:01 -0500

A few days ago I found Newsblur and thought it would suffice as a Google Reader replacement if nothing else came along. Today I have moved onto feedly as the most likely candidate for my rss reading enjoyment.

Feedly announced they are working with third party apps, namely Reeder for iPhone and iPad. Reeder is an excellent RSS reading app and Feedly looks to be a competent back-end with a nice web interface.

When I heard Google Reader was shutting down I was pretty bummed. I figured I’d find something that was okay, but not as good. While it is way too early to evaluate what Feedly will deliver, I think for the first time that it might be an improvement.

Best part is they will have everything ready to go before July 1 when Google shuts down reader.

➔ feedly: your news. delivered.

Byword gets an update

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:13:07 -0500

My favorite “minimal iOS text editor” got an update this morning. They’ve updated the interface a little bit, added the ability to save offline, and even gave you the ability to change font and text size. I never thought I would see that last one. They are all welcome updates.

The biggest update for me is a premium feature that they’ve added as an in-app purchase. For $4.99 you can unlock the ability to post your text directly to Blogger, Wordpress, or Tumblr sites. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I am excited for a way to easily post to my blog using markdown from my iPhone and iPad.

The implementation looks very basic for now, but it also looks simple. If it works well it is going to be an excellent feature. It definitely further elevates Byword above the sea of text editors for iOS.

➔ Byword • Simple and efficient text editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad.

The Feed Reader Reviews: Newsblur

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 14:07:28 -0500

The Feed Reader Reviews: Newsblur:

Gabe Weatherhead has a thorough post on Newsblur over at Macdrifter. I found it enlightening.

The NewsBlur iPad & iPhone App

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:34:06 -0500

The NewsBlur iPad & iPhone App:

Since the death of Google Reader was announced a couple months ago I have been on the lookout for a replacement. I was hoping the Mr. Reader app would announce something soon, but I have t heard anything yet.

There was a lot of buzz last week about Newsblur, so I tried it out yesterday. Initially the format for reading was so different then what I was used to and I didn’t like it. After a while it started growing on me, but I really wish you could view the articles in a full screen mode instead of always having the split panes.

I’m glad I found something viable, but I am still hoping for something better.

merlin: 5by5 | Back to Work #85: Schrödinger’s Soap Holder If...

Wed, 29 May 2013 19:55:43 -0500

merlin:

5by5 | Back to Work #85: Schrödinger’s Soap Holder

If you liked today’s Back to Work, you’ll probably like this other Back to Work.

Although, honestly, Scarlett and Howard and Dan and I would each forgive you for not liking either.

Way of the future.

Every episode of Back To Work is my favorite episode.

Evernote adds todo's - and I give up

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:18:00 -0500

I have about ten todo list apps on my iPhone. I’m also a big Evernote user and have experimented with using that as a gtd system. It didn’t work very well.

This week Evernote added a reminders feature that allows you to se due dates for notes. Now I don’t know what to do.

I can’t get any system to work. I am constantly switching between several apps and pen and paper. Who knew remembering to do work would be so much work.

Mailbox, now on your iPad

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:31:07 -0500

I got in line early for the iPhone email app. I used it for about a month, but I couldn’t get used to the new email paradigm. It didn’t quite work with how I used my inbox. I might give it another shot at some point.

I’m happy to see an iPad app coming out. I’ve been using the gmail app, but I don’t like the iPad landscape-only view. I’m going to give Mailbox a shot and see if it is better for viewing email, but I probably won’t use the snooze functions.

Yahoo! Acquires Tumblr.

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:18:31 -0500

The news is a few days old now, but Tumblr. was purchased for 1.1 billion dollars by Yahoo!. My First reaction… how does Yahoo! have 1.1 billion dollars to throw around? My second reaction… well Tumblr. is dead now.

As a Tumblr. user the news definitely made me sad. I doubted there was anything good that could come of this. I assumed there would be a backlash from the tumblr. community and a lot of people would leave. Development would stagnate and a year from now it would be an empty wasteland.

That is how most social networks would fall apart, but Tumblr. isn’t like most social networks. I’m still very concerned about what is going to happen to Tumblr. over the next couple years, but as long as Yahoo! doesn’t outright kill it (which I have no clue why they would), everything should be okay.

Marco posted on his blog the other day about the early days at Tumblr. While he is just making assumptions about how things are going to be run under the Yahoo! umbrella, his post made me feel better about the whole deal.

➔ The One-Person Product – Marco.org

I was really tempted to buy the new Vintage Surf Retro 51 wood...

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:25:00 -0500

I was really tempted to buy the new Vintage Surf Retro 51 wood barrel Tornado but I was able to hold off. I don’t really need another Tornado. I am saving up for a Twsbi.

➔ Retro 51 Vintage Surf

4 Lessons From The Yahoo Weather App

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:33:00 -0500

4 Lessons From The Yahoo Weather App:

“Do we really need another weather app?” Actually, if it’s better, we do. Imagine if they’d stopped making new search engines after HotBot or new smartphones after the Samsung BlackJack.

I have a lot of weather apps already. I don’t need anymore. Initially I passed on the Yahoo app when it was released a couple weeks ago but it looks like I am going to go ahead and install it today.

Keep Brown Sugar Moist With an Orange Peel

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:31:03 -0500

Keep Brown Sugar Moist With an Orange Peel:

Boom. My quality of life is significantly improved.

Senate passes nationwide online sales tax bill | The Verge

Tue, 07 May 2013 08:58:56 -0500

Senate passes nationwide online sales tax bill | The Verge:

The days of tax-free purchases on Amazon are over. It was good while it lasted.

I’m sure I’ll still shop there… a lot. But it will be a much less attractive place to go, especially for big ticket items. The comfort of going to the brick and mortar store will win out a lot more often now.

nevver: Back to work

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:44:44 -0500

nevver:

Back to work

The Masters

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:43:32 -0500

The Masters:

It’s that time of year again. Time for a tradition unlike any other.

I’m really impressed by their iOS app this year. It has been a great way to keep up with the tournament.