October 2009
42 posts
LitCharts Study Guides →
Pretty typography and layout. Read online, PDF and iPhone apps.
I just don’t know how I feel about SparkNotes in general.
Readability Bookmarklet, Take 2 →
Save your eyes. Save the bookmarklet and click to improve the typography and strip all distractions from a Web page.
Norway consumer group irate over Kindle, e-book... →
In a critique published on its website, Council head Hans Marius Graasvold said that the fine print in the Kindle’s contract violated several provisions of Norwegian consumer protection law. For one thing, it establishes a bond between the content that a person buys and their Kindle—much as Apple used DRM for years to tie iTunes and the iPod.
Some would argue that this -like the iTunes...
Google Maps Navigation on your mobile phone →
Will be included in the new Motorola DROID
Google Maps Navigation is an internet-connected GPS navigation system with voice guidance. It is part of Google Maps for mobile and is available for phones with Android 2.0.
With search in plain English (“Best Buy next to Fenway”), voice search, traffic view, find along route, satellite view, street view and card dock mode, this is...
In defense of ebook readers →
Marco Arment, responds to some of the criticism towards eBook reader:
At one point in the middle, she read a book on paper (because it wasn’t available on the Kindle) and absolutely hated it. Her commentary was priceless: she couldn’t easily look up word definitions, she couldn’t change the font size, it was awkward and lopsided to hold near the beginning and end, and it would lose her place...
Android 2.0 Platform Highlights →
Bunch of new functionality for messaging, browsing and contacts. UI looks a little stale though.
E-books helping surge in library members →
It works by members of libraries logging onto a website, either at the library or at home, typing in their library membership number and downloading the books to their computer.
I find it fascinating that most people I know that don’t like eBook readers explain that their love “for holding a physical book” as their main argument. Not that there is something wrong with that,...
Memories of Friends Departed Endure on Facebook →
When someone leaves us, they don’t leave our memories or our social network. To reflect that reality, we created the idea of “memorialized” profiles as a place where people can save and share their memories of those who’ve passed.
Just like the relationship status is the new wedding ring, the wall after a friend passes away has become the gathering place for thoughts...
Settlers of Catan Comes to the iPhone →
Those who play the board game version, swear by it.
EventSync.app →
Event Sync is an application for OS X that allows you to sync your Facebook Events with iCal.
HTC Launches Multi-Million Dollar Ad Campaign... →
Lots of info on the campaign. Some snippets:
Regarding HTC’s marketing director:
As an advertising veteran of Starbucks and Barnes and Noble, Seto is entering his biggest campaign push of his career ever. To describe it, he uses words like “understated,” “quiet” and “very aspirational.” He gets teary-eyed just talking about the commercials.
On why the first wave doesn’t show...
HTC "You" ad campaign unveiled →
I find these ads surprisingly good.
I would have pushed for a little more product benefits and screenshots (they could be talking about any smartphone), but the emotional connections are there.
Candelair →
Clean, global fix for Apple® Remote issues many users are experiencing with third party applications under Snow Leopard releases 10.6 and 10.6.1.
Free pref pane from the developer of Remote Buddy.
I miss Boxee’s UI, but good ol’ Front Row is much less resource intensive on my 1st gen MacBook media center.
Windows 7 is a triumph in the operating system's... →
I’m a big fan of Andy Ihnatko. If he says it’s good, it is.
Like Mac OS X 10.6, Windows 7 is largely a collection of little touches that taken together, hugely improve your life, starting today.
Funny comparison of Windows 7 to an old girlfriend →
Funny comment on slashdot:
I get the impression that the Windows 7 launch is a lot like seeing an old girlfriend suddenly show up on your doorstep wanting to get back together. She’s had some work done, apparently: stomach stapling to take off some of the weight, breast augmentation, and a radical nosejob to make her look as much like your current girlfriend as medical science will...
Ninite Easy PC Setup and Multiple App Installer →
This tool lets you choose among a couple of dozen Windows applications and install them in one go. Useful if you’re clean installing Windows 7.
Although not quite the same, Mac users can try AppFresh.
Microsoft Windows 7 →
Lucky No. 7 Is Microsoft’s Best Windows Yet
I tried it at the office and indeed, it bothered me a heck of a lot less than Vista.
Lightroom 3 beta now available →
If you are into photography and feel you outgrown iPhoto, then Lightroom is the application to have.
Apple also makes Aperture, but Pro’s seem to prefer Lightroom.
Amazon lowers international Kindle price by $20 -... →
Due to strong customer demand for our newest Kindle with U.S. and international wireless, we are consolidating our family of 6” Kindles. As part of this consolidation, we are lowering the price of the Kindle you just purchased from $279 down to $259.
Cough, Nook, cough.
Nook eBook Reader from Barnes & Noble →
Great looking eBook reader. The E Ink and color touch screen dual approach seems specially useful if you want to quickly switch from book, to newspaper, to magazine.
Worth noting is the lending functionality and ability to read all eBooks within a B&N store. Both sound like smart digital solutions analog realities.
The Kindle has some very real competition here.
5 word reviews of Apple's updates
iMac: O so beautiful, but desktop.
MacBook: Practical and bang for the buck.
Mac mini: Unless media center, buy iMac.
Magic Mouse: Must try before you buy.
Motorola Droid hands on. →
Droid, even in its non-final form, is the most impressive phone we’ve used since the iPhone. It’s positively amazing
Impressive hardware both in specs and size. But you need to like straight lines to consider this phone good-looking.
Android 2.0 screenshot walkthrough →
Competition is great:
From native Exchange support to native Facebook support (it will sync with your contacts), browser improvements, a completely updated Maps application, unified email Inbox — there’s much, much more — and a brand new UI makeover, version 2.0 starts to make Android a really viable (and interesting) platform.
Deep down I enjoy when Apple falls behind with some...
What problems does Google Wave solve? →
On the other corner: It is awasome!.
I tend to agree with this crowd. Wave looks like it requires you to relearn some habits, but the end results will make your group exponentially more productive.
The Google Wave chatting tool is too complicated... →
From the I don’t get it camp.
Instapaper developer weights in on the In-App Purchase free apps
My guess is that this is a big response to the $0.99-app problem. (It’s also worth noting that, as far as I know, this is the first time Apple has acknowledged app piracy as a problem.)
With Apple allowing In App Purchases for free apps, the era of Shareware for the iPhone has begun.
I have seen somebody who has seen the future. The 10/GUI touch interface concept is nothing short of brilliant.
My thoughts on touch interfaces for the desktop from last year are quickly becoming obsolete but relevant.
Interview with Sir James Dyson:
it is quite a nice approach to minimalism, removing things—well, removing things that cause problems; that’s the point.
The new blade-less Dyson Fans looks like one of those products that makes a whole industry obsolete. Flash forward 10 years “Daddy, what do you mean? -when fans had blades-“
Nothing new in Time’s eBooks article. But good overview of the current state of the market.
While on the writing topic, two more resources: Roles and the writing process and nonlinear outlining.
How to Write More Clearly, Think More Clearly, and... →
I found the section on writing filled with great tips and ideas.
If you own an Android device, Aldiko looks like a very well designed eBook reader.
Update on the previous tip regarding suing your MacBook with the lid closed, I now recommend InsomniaX. It has an UI and video works perfectly with the lid closed.
Fix Apple remote issues with Snow Leopard
Thanks to some poking by other smarter people, I managed to make the Apple remote work again with 3rd party apps (Boxee, Plex, Hulu, etc) on Snow Leopard.
Quick instructions:
Go to System/Library/CoreServices
Move Front Row.app and rdc.app to another folder. (You may need to Quit them from Activity Monitor).
The Apple Remote will no longer launch Front Row or control the volume, which allows...
BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac is out. A whole new level of goodness over the previous solution.
I Love Stars lets you rate songs in iTunes right from the menu bar on the Mac. It also hides itself if nothing is playing.
Pollux is a free app that helps you organize your mislabeled songs in iTunes. I also use TidySongs. I also use TidySongs, which is farily good but $30. Both of them seem to fix around 80% of tracks.
If you want to use your MacBook with its lid closed, try InsomniaT. Be aware the you need to install a kernel extension and activate it trough the terminal.