Going Full Circle
Friday, 6 January 2012 Permalink
Ars reports on an Android UI enhancement that clearly doesn’t get it.
The user experience module includes an implementation of an Android windowing system, which offers a more desktop-like approach to multitasking with overlapping windows.
Moderat
Tuesday, 27 December 2011 Permalink
It’s a little old now, but Moderat’s eponymous album may still be my favourite of all time. Put on this album, and stare out your window at the cold winter weather for an hour. That shit’s cathartic.
You’re welcome.
Texture and Soul
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Justin Williams:
It was certainly extra work for their millions of designers and the engineering team to craft experiences that felt unique on both platforms, but the end result is something that delights both Android and iOS users alike. With these apps that offer a completely platform-agnostic user experience and color palette, the bean counters may win by keeping a project under budget, but the users ultimately are offered a much less enjoyable experience.
Phenomenal article about use of Texture in UI design. Needless to say, I completely agree. I’ve been mentally drafting an article about how some of my preference for iOS comes from the design conventions relating a certain soul that other platforms lack (which Windows Phone actively discourages with its cold modernism; and which Android doesn’t seem to even have an opinion about, further to it’s detriment).
Some say shoe-horning concepts from the real world into software is misguided (for example, the tabular layout calendar applications maintain from their paper counterparts or the faux-leather style that’s creeping into OS X and iOS), and there’s some truth to that. Though, there’s no denying that it’s a great way to engage your users. The value of the emotional attachment is underestimated.
(No, I don’t even stop thinking about this shit for Christmas.)
Thursday, 3 November 2011 Permalink
Surprisingly awesome cover.
Steve Jobs
Thursday, 6 October 2011
I am in no position to eulogise. As much as I feel like I understood Steve, as close as I feel to his passion, genius and enthusiasm when I use his products, I didn’t know the man. Still, I feel like I need to say goodbye in my own way.
It’s the combined impact of many people that has inspired me to get into the fields of technology and design. There are lots who have informed my views on philosophy, politics and religion. As shallow as they may be, my tastes in music, literature and art have been shaped by generations of individuals.
But, no-one has impacted my life, my ambition to be insanely great at everything I set out to do, as much as Steve Jobs. In my eyes, the most important product he has sold to me is not an iPod or Mac, it’s not a piece of software, it doesn’t even cost money. It’s the drive to create things that are fucking out-of-this-world awesome, and that’s timeless.
Thank you, Steve. And goodbye.
Mac OS X 10.7 Lion: the Ars Technica review
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Apple appears tired of dragging people kicking and screaming into the future; with Lion, it has simply decided to leave without us.
Right on cue, John Siracusa’s epic 27,000-word review of Mac OS X Lion at Ars — premium subscription recommended.
