So sad and so true:
No app built for reading starts with the premise that the publisher has done an acceptable job.
Brent Simmons – The Readable Future.
The Readable Future
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Tag Archives: software
“Phone” is to the iPhone as “RSS reader” is to ?
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A reader is for engaging with information; it’s a tool for consuming, managing, and using knowledge. In addition to presenting new information to consume, I also want it to pay attention to, infer insights from, and make accessible in an evergreen matter what I’ve already read. For me, this presents the pinnacle of personal information management — an intelligent tool that can reinforce what I already know and help guide me towards what I need to know.
Daniel Bachhuber – “Phone” is to the iPhone as “RSS reader” is to ?.
Google+: We Have a Bigger Problem
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There are a set of tools we can use. But we don’t have to jump onto every new network that comes out, exclaiming “No No NO! THIS ONE changes everything!”
Daniel Agee – “Google+: Should I Give a Shit?” — We Have A Bigger Problem.
I’ve solved my podcast problem
Since I started using Rdio I’ve run into a problem: I never open iTunes. This is mostly okay as Rdio replaced my local iTunes library. The downside is that my podcasts live in iTunes. By not opening the app the podcasts never update and I forget they exist.
A few days ago someone, I have no idea who to credit because Twitter search is a clusterfuck, who I follow on Twitter mentioned Instacast. It’s fantastic.
Instacast gives you a native iOS app that is built around one thing: subscribing and listening to podcasts. It’s a great example of a focused app that does one thing and does it really damn well. Best of all it’s not connected to my iTunes library. My podcasts now update every time I open Instacast. No need to be chained to iTunes.
The player is also tuned specifically for podcasts. The built-in Music app places a volume slider at the bottom, Instacast has a time slider. It still has all the necessary things like AirPlay and local caching.
Overall it’s just a really well-polished app. I’m excited to get back into podcasts now that they’re more easily updated right on my iPhone.
Don’t give your users shit work
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Some people still like shit work. They can spend an hour moving Twitter accounts to special Lists, and then at the end of it look back and say “Boy, I spent an hour doing this. I really accomplished a lot today!” You didn’t. You did shit work…
The same is true in any product. We need to get out of this idea that the act of spending time on a project means that you spent your time wisely. Sometimes you’re just wasting your time.
Zach Holman – Don’t give your users shit work
The Hit List sync
It’s no secret that I love The Hit List. The app serves as my carefully organized digital brain. Sometimes it’s the really little things that make an app fantastic.
This morning I opened it up for the first time since Friday. I had already left my apartment so I was out of WiFi range. To pull data, many other apps, including Mail and Tweetbot, prompt if you’d like to connect to WiFi.
This is a pain because it makes syncing my data a two-step process. The Hit List does it right. It recognizes that I’m on 3G with data and just syncs. No prompting. Let me figure out WiFi later.
I love this because it shows that the developer considered the fastest way to let people get their data synced and get working. When I open an app it’s because I want to do something. The sooner you let me do that the happier I’ll be with your software.
Treehouse
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Treehouse. A fascinating new startup from Ryan Carson. It seeks to teach the basics of web design, development, or iOS programming to anyone. The videos look really well done and there’s quizzes at the end of each session. I plan on signing up this weekend and seeing how things go.
Raven for Mac
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Raven for Mac. Interesting concept for a new browser on Mac OS X. It’ll be interesting to see how the software develops. Browsers definitely still have room for improvement and it’s refreshing to see someone thinking in new directions. Sidenote, it’s ridiculous how many apps Loren Brichter’s original Tweetie design has inspired.
Improve software by using it
Daniel recently moved his site to WordPress.com and had this to say in the comments of his announcement post:
I want WP.com to be good enough that I can sincerely recommend it to my friends and family, but in some cases WP.org has better features, flexibility, etc. There’s still work to be done; actually using our software is the best way to discover what needs to be done.
This is why every developer of a publishing tool must be a consistent and active user of the software. The best way to learn how to improve something is by using it regularly.
My site will be moving back over there hopefully next week. I just need to carve out an hour or two to customize a theme a bit and get all the content moved over properly.
The Future of Work
The Future of Work: What happens when talent trumps capital? It will be interesting to watch as large incumbent businesses come to rely upon software more heavily. This short post considers how they’ll maintain a high level when “who” matters more than “how much.”
