tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36785952721420252702024-02-19T06:15:40.167+02:00Apps That MatterAll about carefully crafted appsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-9716703591655789932013-03-27T16:13:00.000+02:002013-03-27T16:13:00.796+02:00Visceral apps<a href="http://dribbble.s3.amazonaws.com/users/6075/screenshots/116333/shot_1297915823.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://dribbble.s3.amazonaws.com/users/6075/screenshots/116333/shot_1297915823.png" /></a>
<br/>
<a href="http://dribbble.com/shots/116333-Where-is-Quality" style="text-decoration:none; border:0">© Michael Faber</a>
<br/>
<br/>
This is something new. I never thought about apps that way. Visceral apps.
<blockquote>
It has the build up and release of pressure, the interplay between potential and kinetic energy and wanton destruction.
</blockquote>
Do you know what app is about? <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/angry-birds/id343200656?mt=8">Angry Birds</a>.
<blockquote>
Man, if that isn't just a visceral app at its finest. It’s got build-up and release. It’s got destruction. It’s got the kinetic and the potential.</blockquote>
Did you guessed it? Me neither, is <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clear/id493136154?mt=8">Clear</a>.
I'm not sure I feel it<i> in my guts</i>.
You can read the whole story at the <a href="http://mysterioustrousers.com/news/2013/3/25/visceral-apps-and-you">Mysterious Trousers</a>.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-2159036689413472742012-10-08T13:13:00.000+03:002012-10-08T13:13:22.239+03:00Nice quote<blockquote>Keep calm and don't forget to be awesome!</blockquote>
Don't know who remixed the original quote but he or she must be a genius.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-62040272681275787552012-10-03T16:23:00.001+03:002012-10-03T16:24:13.009+03:00Minimum minimorum<p>
So you create a new class, doesn't matter the language.<br/>
What are the things you always forget to add? The things that make you change profession?
</p>
<p>
There is no<b> toString()</b> method, so you never know what is the bloody state of the damn object.
</p>
<p>
There is no <b>clone()</b> method, so you always have this ridiculous strange behavior that blows your mind.
</p>
<p>
There is no <b>equals()</b> method, so you never know if that the object you need or not.
</p>
<p>
So sad.
</p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-76803998310956955632012-09-03T13:27:00.000+03:002012-09-03T13:28:01.497+03:00Creativity: Everything is a remixKirby Ferguson thinks creativity comes from <b>without</b>, not from within:
<p>
<iframe width="500" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zd-dqUuvLk4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</p>
<p>
I find this very similar with the Steve Job's speech on connecting the dots. The idea is the same: collect bits and pieces from various sources and used them to create something new and different.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-39580126378060570532012-08-19T22:48:00.001+03:002012-08-19T22:49:07.321+03:00Top priority : Speed<p>
I wonder if somewhere out there is a project, something that has speed as top feature. I mean something that is designed to be fast first and anything else after that.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-82055782503238841022012-07-09T23:15:00.000+03:002012-07-09T23:16:43.736+03:0010 Golden Principles For Successful Web Apps<p>
Fred Wilson, 2010. Presentation name: <blockquote><a href="http://app.arcticfoxtv.com/d/onbxr">10 Golden Principles For Successful Web Apps</a></blockquote>
</p>
<p>
What amazed me in this presentation was the first slide, the first golden principles of the successful web app. You know what is it? I bet you don't.
</p>
<p>
Is speed. As Fred Wilson says:
<blockquote>Speed is more then a feature. Speed is the most important feature.</blockquote>
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-91421032628854319162012-06-26T09:43:00.001+03:002012-06-26T09:44:09.575+03:00How to improve you development skills<a style="border:0" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvehkqM-FnQNydVsOOUUBzfY88xPXeq8oEwuWXeR8fcp8Me7dIT5hrB3EUN-zda0gXcU9i1qiEOdd4a_HhSbmvy8lbEHkHPtpdYtqoZ_ZZlSZvYCngYDY7VhdWFlMKHZc47CWQKo58avk3/s1600/javascript-the-good-parts-the-definitive-guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvehkqM-FnQNydVsOOUUBzfY88xPXeq8oEwuWXeR8fcp8Me7dIT5hrB3EUN-zda0gXcU9i1qiEOdd4a_HhSbmvy8lbEHkHPtpdYtqoZ_ZZlSZvYCngYDY7VhdWFlMKHZc47CWQKo58avk3/s400/javascript-the-good-parts-the-definitive-guide.jpg" /></a>
<p>
Sometimes you feel that your code is not good enough, that something is not right and you can do better. What can you do? How can you improve that?
</p>
<p>
So assuming you have created an app and you want to improve the code, you should start asking some simple questions:
</p>
<h4>Multiple GUIs</h4>
<p>
Imagine that you would need to have a web,a desktop and a mobile UI for your app. How should you split your code to support multiple GUIs?
</p>
<h4>API</h4>
<p>
The big guys provide APIs (e.g you can use Twitter, Facebook, Google+ APIs, etc to integrate those services in your app). What you have to do if somebody needs to integrate functionality from your app in his app?
</p>
<p>
Asking the right question is very important. Is a clear sign of skill level. Try to think outside the box to understand what should be in the box.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-1735941957445644272012-06-20T16:59:00.000+03:002012-06-21T09:30:30.145+03:00Nikon D3100<p>
My point-and-shoot camera became unusable a couple of weeks ago. Don't know exactly what is wrong but the pictures are very overexposed, 80% white always.
</p>
<p>
So I needed a new camera and this time I bought a DSLR, the <a href="http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d3100/">Nikon D3100</a> 18-55mm Kit. Everything was good until, one day later, I used the DSLR to shoot my kid and his friends while singing, dancing and reciting on a stage.
</p>
<p>
I tried all the possible combinations: auto modes, aperture priority, shutter speed priority, manual. Sadly almost all pictures were failures: wrong focus, blurry/gostly subjects, noise, everything you can think of. Anticipating issues with the poor light I shot RAW + JPEG so I managed to fix some photos later.
</p>
<p>
Here are some lesson I learned last night:
<ol>
<li>Shoot RAW. Always. </li>
<li>Use a good lens. While the kit lenses are OK, there are far better (and expensive) choices.</li>
<li>Buy a good flash. First priority for me if I ever want to shoot indoors again.</li>
<li>Auto mode focuses on the subject that is closest to the camera. You cannot make it focus on other subjects. Why I didn't knew that? Set focus to single autofocus (non-moving subjects) or continuous autofocus (moving subjects). Never let focus on auto mode.</li>
<li>Low light means high ISO. 1600 or 3200 minimum. Low light also means slow shutter speeds. Try to use a tripod when there's no light (whishful thinking, yes).</li>
<li>If no tripod in low light use shutter speed priority. Set a safe shutter speed: <a href="http://101photography.wordpress.com/photo-lessons/a-short-guide-to-find-the-shutter-speed/">1/(focal lenght * sensor crop factor)</a> e.g. 1/150 for 100mm and 1.5 crop factor for Nikon. And with the shutter speed fixed try to find an aperture and ISO.</li>
</ol>
</p>
<p>
While the situation can be considered an extreme one because of the hard conditions - low light and moving subjects - I'm still not very sure I've made the right choice buying the DLSR.
</p>
<p>
I have to learn. "Master Your DSLR Camera", an iPad app, looks interesting.
</p>
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33740962?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=8cc63f" width="500" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-67585374008633372512012-06-12T10:20:00.000+03:002012-06-12T10:21:52.717+03:00Why I love Dropbox<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPX0PGIwCMzPWqSIwFVyfOUpsBU3F9QnRsje4DVE_9dpCMl6hHXc3xPuLAIk6Ydjn6qh9mLemJZRJIlH8zvfiqaS6a8Ka0nmDg19iZvptcRz6yPD8Fq6jSzgBVWcSEQO-VvPoTbi7PtKc/s1600/syncbox_transparent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em;border:0">
<img border="0" height="314" width="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPX0PGIwCMzPWqSIwFVyfOUpsBU3F9QnRsje4DVE_9dpCMl6hHXc3xPuLAIk6Ydjn6qh9mLemJZRJIlH8zvfiqaS6a8Ka0nmDg19iZvptcRz6yPD8Fq6jSzgBVWcSEQO-VvPoTbi7PtKc/s400/syncbox_transparent.png" />
</a>
<br/><br/>
<i>Time's up. I need to run but the code doesn't compile yet. I close the ebook even if I didn't find the solution yet. Five seconds later I'm out.
</i>
<p>
I love Dropbox. It's great. Not very often I have seen a software running so great. Is flawless. Honestly is one of the best software ever written and best advertised. Many people should learn from the Dropbox team.
</p>
<p>
I keep all my work in my Dropbox folder. I keep my ebooks in my Dropbox folder.
Is not an archive with everything I own, but rather with what I might need today.
</p>
<h4>
What is Dropbox?
</h4>
<i>I read the mail. A small icon on the screen is telling me that all the files are up to date. I know I can resume my work.
</i>
<p>
Dropbox is a simple app that syncs a folder with files between all your devices. All you need to do is to install Dropbox app on all your devices and to select the folder to sync.
</p>
<p>
When you put a file in the Dropbox folder on one gadget, the file is uploaded to the cloud and automatically downloaded on the other gadgets.
</p>
<p>
<h5>Selective sync</h5>
A nice touch is that if you want to skip the synchronization of some subfolders on some devices you can do that very easily. For example I don't want to download all the family pictures and movies on my old laptop because I don't have enough space on disk there.
</p>
<p>
<h5>Versions</h5>
I even edit my files while they are on Dropbox because all the versions of the file are kept so I can revert to a previous version anytime.
For code I use better solutions but for my "writings", simply keeping my files there helps me a lot.
<p>
<p>
<h5>Sharing</h5>
Who needs to share stuff with Megaupload or Co. when we have Dropbox? Using Dropbox you can share a file with everybody or a folder with a single friend.
</p>
<h4>
Best things in life are free
</h4>
<p>
I started with the free 2Gb account. Still use the free account but guess what, now I have almost 10Gb!
These guys are smart, they make you spread the word for them and reward you with what they have: bonus free space.
</p>
<p>
I earned the extra 8Gb in a few ways:
<ol>
<li>Referrals - I recommended Dropbox to my friends. Dropbox referrals are unlike anything else: When your friend uses your referral link instead of going directly to dropbox.com, both you and your friend earn an extra 500Mb of free space. How about that?</li>
<li>DropQuest - more about it later.</li>
<li>Uploading pictures from the camera to Dropbox. This gave me a whole 3Gb of free space. So easy.</li>
<li>Just because you use it. Sometimes out of the blue a message informs me that an earn another 500Mb. </li>
</ol>
</p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vr5FmT5qsWFL4ZegpW3MBXq5GPN0pLy6mE-YbXxK53aczIzSgL9-2eHG66e02_IxSDrTLeuksJyAyaT_SY5kS4R2nMSLRENy-OeHr_su-2GgjkZ3cHU6xwfMvM_XkMVNNdFBf0jlxz9t/s1600/rainbowbox_transparent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em;border:0"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vr5FmT5qsWFL4ZegpW3MBXq5GPN0pLy6mE-YbXxK53aczIzSgL9-2eHG66e02_IxSDrTLeuksJyAyaT_SY5kS4R2nMSLRENy-OeHr_su-2GgjkZ3cHU6xwfMvM_XkMVNNdFBf0jlxz9t/s400/rainbowbox_transparent.png" /></a>
<h4>
The new treasure quest
</h4>
<p>
Once a year, on a certain Saturday, the entire net is in frenzy : people start gathering online to solve the tricky problems of DropQuest. The prize : huge free space on Dropbox for first places and a smaller amount for all those who dare to accept the challenge.
</p>
<p>
Again, the genius of the people behind Dropbox is reflected by the way DropQuest was conceived:
<ul>
<li>You earn free space when you answer a single question, not only if you finish the contest. So you win something even if you just start it.</li>
<li>There is no deadline for the content. You can go and start the quest even now (when you can easily find the answers online) and still get the free space.</li>
<li>Some of the questions teach you about the Dropbox features or makes you see the Dropbox team @ https://www.dropbox.com/about. </li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
This is one of the best marketing stunts ever.
</p>
<h4>
The Alternatives
</h4>
<p>
Today there are so many alternative options, you know them: Box.net, Apple iCloud, Microsoft SkyDrive, Google Drive and many others.
</p>
<p>
I tried many of them. Most offer more free space but none of them is better.
</p>
<p>
A recent example.
Several days ago I installed Google Drive: files don't have the correct icon so you are not sure if they are uploaded or not yet, and sometimes changing the same file over an over again (e.g an image processed in Gimp) has no effect - Google Drive will not upload it so it won't be available in the cloud and on the other systems.
</p>
<p>
Yes, Google Drive is new and I assume people work on those issues and we could live with that if we wouldn't have an alternative. But once you notice those little annoying issues you have no choice but to go back to Dropbox. Why worry when you can do better?
</p>
<h4>The End</h4>
<p>
<i>I'm out in the park with the kids. I sit on a bench and watch them while Dropbox is synchronizing on the phone from my hand. A couple of minutes later I finish the ebook. I think that life is great while the phone slips back in the pocket. Who wants to play football?
</i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-16180507635727502082012-05-30T17:53:00.000+03:002012-05-30T18:04:00.023+03:00Focus is key<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/29/apple-ceo-tim-cook-interview-at-d10-the-liveblog/">Tim Cook about Steve Jobs @ D10:</a>
<blockquote>What did I learn from him? We could be here all month.... I learned that focus is key; not just in running a company, but in your personal life. You can only do so much great, and the rest you should cast aside.</blockquote>
<br/>
<blockquote>The joy is in the journey, and he taught me that life is fragile, and since we aren't promised tomorrow... you know, give it all you've got.</blockquote>
<br/>
<blockquote>It was a very interesting meeting. Steve had hired an executive search firm to find someone to run operations. They kept calling, and eventually I said 'Okay, I'll talk.' I flew out Friday on a redeye for a Saturday morning meeting with Steve. The honest-to-God truth, five minutes into the conversation I wanted to join Apple. I was shocked. Why did I want to do it? He painted a story and a strategy that he was taking Apple deep into consumer when I knew others were doing the exact opposite. I never thought following the herd was brilliant. He told me a bit about what would late be named the iMac, and I saw brilliance in that. I saw someone unaffected with money, and that has always impressed me when people do indeed have it. Those three things to me to throw caution to the wind and do it. I went back, and resigned immediately. Did I see the iPad and iPhone? No. What I saw was this: Apple was the only technology company that I knew of, including the one I was currently at, that when a customer got mad at a company, they'd continue to buy. If people got mad at Compaq, they'd buy Dell. If you were mad at Dell, you'd buy IBM. But an Apple customer was a unique breed; there's this emotion that you just don't see in technology in general. You could see it and feel it at Apple. When I looked at the balance sheet of the company, I thought I could do something in turning around a great American company.
</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-29789189837214441712012-05-25T08:33:00.000+03:002012-05-25T08:33:59.116+03:00Getting Real for free<a href="http://gettingreal.37signals.com/toc.php" style="border:0">
<b>Getting real</b> by 37signals<br/>
<img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfa3CmiDrIRO0MRf0wDPctPZebXDla3GZTb2FKpwPIurTqjHBEyjEvGS4aiCHddNl57ssQ6L3Ovw0S8MGBkgFyjCD2pChy16PgGQEl1PxYFojWRoALidhLCL44X-gITMJagJSYgoy84qp/s400/product_thumbnail.php.jpeg" />
</a>
<br/>
Looks like 37 signals has decided to give their "Getting Real" for free.
As a free PDF.
I highly recommend the book as you can see <a href="http://appsthatmatter.blogspot.com/2012/04/5-books-every-app-developer-should-read.html">here</a>:
<blockquote>
If I could recommend a single book, Getting Real would be my choice.
This was the book that helped me understand that software development can be done so much better.
It is a revelation.
</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-23650063226263205892012-05-18T14:12:00.000+03:002012-05-18T14:38:12.662+03:00How to improve your knowledge about something you think you know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a style="border:none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu633nkLOPze3BiawsrdduSJIxeG5IXGTZZQGdYeZ-9OPe2NdWvBXT6L2uJFrHuG5sqQwfWahjjCxHF46iCjZ8IOpLuxtAkezfTGQbJccfOuzj12AseU0T6y7M_z5FpAY6OOxSfsCauhw/s1600/jj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu633nkLOPze3BiawsrdduSJIxeG5IXGTZZQGdYeZ-9OPe2NdWvBXT6L2uJFrHuG5sqQwfWahjjCxHF46iCjZ8IOpLuxtAkezfTGQbJccfOuzj12AseU0T6y7M_z5FpAY6OOxSfsCauhw/s400/jj.jpg" />
</a>
<br/>
<span style="font-size:0.8em">© WIRED Creative Commons</span>
</div>
<p style="clear: both;">
How many times you had an argument on a subject you think you knew?
It happens so often. You think you know all about a subject - like a programming language, sales, soap opera, raising children - and boom! you suddenly realize you don't. In fact you realize some of the things you know are plain wrong.
</p>
<p>
So before you jump and say "You wanna bet?" you can improve your odds and knowledge on a subject quite easily.
</p>
<h4>Make a presentation</h4>
<p>
Presentation, slides? Isn't that for managers and wasting time? No, is not. Everybody should make some slides even if they will never present them.
Putting together several slides on a subject may not sound like a big deal until you actually have to do it. Is like bringing order to chaos, like polishing something blurry until it shines.
</p>
<p>
I made several slides at some point because I was supposed to talk about those topics. The talk never happened but the experience helped me very much. Is not the same thing to know deep inside that you know about something and to prove that to a room full of people. People ask questions, comment, spot all the errors in a split second so you must know very good what are you talking about.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Example:</strong>
<br/><br/>
HTML5 is a collection of browser technologies, is not a single simple thing.
So you can improve your knowledge of HTML5 in quite a few ways, by doing more than one presentation.
<ul>
<li> The parts of HTML5</li>
<li> New styles in CSS3</li>
<li> New JavaScript APIs</li>
<li> Basic JavaScript</li>
<li> Advanced JavaScript</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
You can do lots of great presentation only on HTML5 related topics.
</p>
<p>
The great thing about a presentation is that it can be used later as the basis of a book, a report, an essay, a blog post series.
Plus you can share your presentation with other people on sites like slideshare.net.
</p>
<p>
There's nothing wrong with knowing things at let the world know it.
</p>
<h4>Make a test</h4>
<p>
Just a series of 10-20 questions. Give 0 (bad), 1 (incomplete) or 2 (good) for the answer.
</p>
<p>
This is very useful when you need to know how much somebody knows about the subject.
Of course how you make the test, what questions you ask, depends on you skill level. You shouldn't ask questions you don't know the answer for. You should not ask vague questions that can lead to arguments and contradictory discussions.
</p>
<p>
When you creating a good test, with clear questions and answers, it stays with you forever. Years later you still remember exactly each question and each answer.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Example:</strong>
<br/><br/>
In Java programming language, the first thing you learn is to print something on the screen using the following line of code:
<blockquote>System.out.println("Hello world!");</blockquote>
It might sound unbelievable, but most of the Java programmers don't know what 'System', 'out' and 'println' are.
Just by asking them this simple question will tell you a lot about a Java programmer. Imagine what 20 question can do.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-81082121543689536422012-05-07T15:32:00.000+03:002012-05-07T15:32:09.818+03:00Share With People<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a style="border:none" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761169253/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=appthamat-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0761169253" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kv13XO8lKnL7_NXFu33OlhCOdVkvFXcV3LTvYbRv6iTFXlUWwKl4qutb-FlR2Kvjq4FWyU2cjES4zqirHjCEAfGenGQQL3PMyHwbf9DFSvB1kDEusDSaVPsiLkTkeMTv696K6aVUOv-o/s1600/doGoodWorkAndShareIt.jpg" /></a>
</div>
<p>
It's so obvious, how didn't I see it before?
</p>
<p>
Recently I stumbled on a great post by <a href="http://sivers.org/sharing">Derek Sivers</a> about sharing.
Five minutes later I knew that:
<ol>
<li>
I already have something that people want.
</li>
<li>
I need to find a way to share it with everyone who needs it.
</li>
<li>
If it takes some effort for you to share it, I can charge a little something for it, to ensure that this giving can continue.
</li>
</ol>
</p>
<p>
What I have and people may want?
<ul>
<li>
I can code apps so I can show others how to code apps.
</li>
<li>
I can design apps so I can show others how to design apps.
</li>
<li>
I read lots of books so I can review those books and post those reviews.
</li>
<li>
I have a regular job and a family, two kids, so I have very little spare time. I could share my experience about time
management.
</li>
<li>
I have a regular job and a family, two kids, so I have very little spare time. I could share my experience about time
management.
</li>
<li>
I love my iPad and my iMac and me and my kids are using lots of apps, especially games. Maybe I can share the apps I love? (Or really hate?)
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
Maybe I'll find some more. I'm sure I left out something obvious.
</p>
<p>
Definitely this is something I should do. Definitely this is what everybody should do.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-64273236092764195852012-05-02T22:59:00.000+03:002012-05-02T22:59:02.200+03:005 Ways to Make the World Notice Your App from Balsamiq<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ari/4733176117/" imageanchor="1" style="border:0"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXG-sVzs-csqupMJ3iHa3t_cYUM1nQjn96PL0J8AZiohe6T9hO-QAV8hSdpXBdmJWytWXpF3w-UmT5Nd2wA_H2_ejwUy349KFFQrnAOlWATZgLTXaUJhQ_I0JxWWfV2V3sBb4h2OL7l5C/s400/launchline.jpg" /></a>
<br/>
<span style="font-size:0.8em">© Steve Rhodes</span>
</div>
<p>
You know the story : somebody creates a product and need the world to notice it.
</p>
<p>
Happens every day. But every day is harder to be noticed. Still, a few suceceed : the few that don't give up until they are noticed. Sometimes they are nice enough to share the experience with the rest of us.
</p>
<p>
In one of their <a href="http://blogs.balsamiq.com/product/2008/08/05/startup-marketing-advice-from-balsamiq-studios/"> blog posts</a>, Balsamiq team outlined what they did to get 100 product reviews in the first six weeks after they launched <a target="_blank" href="http://www.balsamiq.com/products/mockups">Mockups</a>:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
1. Major blog coverage
Try various techniques to be covered by major blogs.
</li>
<li>
2. Direct Emails
Compile a list of emails. Send emails to those people. (Email template is included in the post.)
</li>
<li>
3. Conversations
Find relevant post or articles and add comments with links to your product.
</li>
<li>
4. Give stuff away
Give the product for free to reviewers.
Give a demo version for free to everyone.
Don't spend money on marketing, instead preffer to attract people with free licenses.
</li>
<li>
5. Blog
Only 3 words: blog, blog, blog!
</li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-76134631931050576152012-04-26T00:03:00.000+03:002012-04-26T00:05:21.752+03:00Relics of the browser wars : All browsers are Mozilla<p>
A web developers life is like this:
<ul>
<li>
The beginning : I'll do the coolest site on the Internet, I feel so lucky.
</li>
<li>
Also in the beginning : What? Is not working in Internet Explorer? OK, let's fork the code for it.
</li>
<li>
After a couple of days : WTF?! Am I seeing things? Is not working in IE6, IE7, IE8, IE9 but the problem is different?! Stack Overflow.. Stack Overflow..
</li>
<li>
The end : Find some work on the server-side or move on.
</li>
</ul>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lniNX13kNrxuVnufcfN63DrnGcm_nJ7onkKxU58lNacZA5-p898VbZP5q3lHuypVuW3nfeX6-vVsChRY-A7S334SHi1HuvP6H0x75kZCWUS3VT2_AiwsDcl6ZxDMSEww-q4Gva-2XGnP/s1600/scream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="border:0"><img border="0" height="371" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lniNX13kNrxuVnufcfN63DrnGcm_nJ7onkKxU58lNacZA5-p898VbZP5q3lHuypVuW3nfeX6-vVsChRY-A7S334SHi1HuvP6H0x75kZCWUS3VT2_AiwsDcl6ZxDMSEww-q4Gva-2XGnP/s400/scream.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>
People freak out when they suppose to do web development and we wonder why. After a couple of days of work on the best site ever everyone realizes that the site is not working well in all the browsers (i.e. IE.) We need to know what browser we are dealing with so we can do something (e.g serve a minimal version of the site.)
</p>
<p>
How this madness started?
</p>
<p>
<blockquote>And behold, then came a new web browser known as “Mozilla”, being short for “Mosaic Killer,” but Mosaic was not amused, so the public name was changed to Netscape, and Netscape called itself Mozilla/1.0 (Win3.1), and there was more rejoicing. And Netscape supported frames, and frames became popular among the people, but Mosaic did not support frames, and so came “user agent sniffing” and to “Mozilla” webmasters sent frames, but to other browsers they sent not frames.
</blockquote>
In that moment, when none of today's browsers even existed, the "user agent sniffing" was born. Whow, is so old.
</p>
<h4>Internet Explorer</h4>
<p>
<blockquote>And Internet Explorer supported frames, and yet was not Mozilla, and so was not given frames. And Microsoft grew impatient, and did not wish to wait for webmasters to learn of IE and begin to send it frames, and so Internet Explorer declared that it was “Mozilla compatible” and began to impersonate Netscape, and called itself Mozilla/1.22 (compatible; MSIE 2.0; Windows 95), and Internet Explorer received frames, and all of Microsoft was happy, but webmasters were confused.</blockquote>
IE wanted to be Mozilla. Funny that it didn't matched many other features of Mozilla or next generation's Gecko/Firefox.
</p>
<h4>KHTML</h4>
<p>
<blockquote>And the followers of Linux were much sorrowed, because they had built Konqueror, whose engine was KHTML, which they thought was as good as Gecko, but it was not Gecko, and so was not given the good pages, and so Konquerer began to pretend to be “like Gecko” to get the good pages, and called itself Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Konqueror/3.2; FreeBSD) (KHTML, like Gecko) and there was much confusion.</blockquote>
KHTML wanted to be Gecko, so was some kind of Mozilla.
</p>
<h4>Webkit</h4>
<p>
<blockquote>And Apple built Safari, and used KHTML, but added many features, and forked the project, and called it WebKit, but wanted pages written for KHTML, and so Safari called itself Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X; de-de) AppleWebKit/85.7 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/85.5, and it got worse.
</blockquote>
Safari wanted to be KHTML, so was some kind of Gecko which means was so kind of Mozilla
</p>
<h4>Chrome</h4>
<p>
<blockquote>And then Google built Chrome, and Chrome used Webkit, and it was like Safari, and wanted pages built for Safari, and so pretended to be Safari. And thus Chrome used WebKit, and pretended to be Safari, and WebKit pretended to be KHTML, and KHTML pretended to be Gecko, and all browsers pretended to be Mozilla, and Chrome called itself Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US) AppleWebKit/525.13 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/0.2.149.27 Safari/525.13, and the user agent string was a complete mess, and near useless, and everyone pretended to be everyone else, and confusion abounded.</blockquote>
You know the drill..<br/>
Here is the full article, <a target="_blank" href="http://webaim.org/blog/user-agent-string-history/">History of the browser user-agent string</a>
</p>
<h4>Post Mortem</h4>
Today the madness continues but is not useful anymore. <br/>
A fine web developer knows this days that he should not sniff for the browser but instead check if features are available.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-58153783540182335122012-04-23T19:47:00.001+03:002012-04-23T19:47:16.843+03:005 books every app developer should readI can tell what kind of developer you are if you tell me what are your favorite development books. What can you tell about me? Here are my favorites:
<ol>
<li>
<a href="http://gettingreal.37signals.com/toc.php" style="border:0">
<b>Getting real</b> by 37signals<br/>
<img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfa3CmiDrIRO0MRf0wDPctPZebXDla3GZTb2FKpwPIurTqjHBEyjEvGS4aiCHddNl57ssQ6L3Ovw0S8MGBkgFyjCD2pChy16PgGQEl1PxYFojWRoALidhLCL44X-gITMJagJSYgoy84qp/s400/product_thumbnail.php.jpeg" />
</a>
<p>
If I could recommend a single book, Getting Real would be my choice. <br/>
This was the book that helped me understand that software development can be done so much better.<br/>
It is a revelation.
<p>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://amzn.to/I3zJYb" style="border:0">
<b>Universal principles of design</b> by William Lidwell<br/>
<img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJVV0adoUlPOAoK0zKjK4NHUQ7dGRGiCfWdCqYvfEx6Y93j2a5-m9FaMrc3mYztoAlyvJm7v3AWXBGIugnrKM4jRXEPRJAu7i54YgbOw1rFgyZS77LthbmkPkpIXCThc_9E9JCYoeXWrv/s400/images.jpeg" />
</a>
<p>
If you want to understand why some designs are great and why some suck you need to read this book. Not only once, but again and again.
<br/>
This book should be kept on your desk. <br/>
It is the times table for designers.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<a href="http://amzn.to/JkISdZ" style="border:0"><b>Design patterns</b> by Erich Gamma & Co <br/>
<img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGOHYaXQQ4lJD5Rljfhn-vyDp4C8jTY-wfDiTJxInIjiPvfl0FhAfyn8dWJ7Cx6Ob_uQvE1UG13NMhpcRNbvZr1vA0pRo2FPp8hBgMNAdn2GISqOWA4sor-D2QXjlIMlirhPjrPEWLyW8/s400/ShowCover-1.aspx.jpeg" />
</a>
<p>
This book is one of the Object oriented programming cornerstones. It is invaluable if you need to design relations between objects in code. Unless you have one or two object types in your apps, you need to read this book.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<b><a style="border:0" href="http://amzn.to/JkIXOT">
Envisioning information</b> by Edward R. Tufte<br/>
<img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm48H1FSVbvs6KsZPkArRhypG6p1KrXEQ8a9SADoYHNyDjlhV-bs-V5Z3aUD4LJ-wn2FMC8c5yHSBGAPSCpKQNoD5Wyag8jHSn4QwoOTXk3SkD6ZrdaORwFfrRf1YSHBzs7atHXyrhrbE/s400/images-1.jpeg" />
</a>
<p>
After you read this book you have the feeling that whatever you chosen to display information in your app, you could have done better, that you can use something more simple and elegant.<br/>
It can be shocking how many alternatives are out there.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<b><a href="https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/Intro/Intro.html">Mac OS X Human Interface Guidelines</a></b> by Apple<br/>
<p>
If you ever need to create an app for the Mac, read the HIG.<br/>
If you ever need to create an app for iPhone or iPad read the iOS HIG.<br/>
Yep, Apple tells you how to create great apps for their great hardware.
</p>
</li>
</ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-49101924725844739032012-04-21T21:12:00.001+03:002012-04-21T21:12:37.293+03:00How a simple rule can make your code bulletproofNo matter what programming language you use, if it has objects, you likely make the same mistake as I used to do. And is not even your fault because that was the way you learned to code, because the teachers, books or tutorials don't like to talk about murdane things even if they are vital.
<h4>Null pointers</h4>
What am I talking about? I'm talking about the number one cause of bugs : null pointers.
Suppose we have a function that draws a circle. The function needs a Circle object parameter to know how to draw the circle.
<pre class="brush:java" >
public drawCircle(Circle circle){
int radius=circle.getRadius();
//draw circle here
}
</pre>
Sooner rather then later, somebody will call the function with null:
<pre class="brush:java">
drawCircle(null);
</pre>
Since circle is null, the circle.getRadius() call will throw null pointer exception. That will stop the execution thread, no code after that line will be executed.
A simple mistake like this in only one method in only one source file can crash an app with thousand of methods and source files. One mistake is enough.
<h4>A simple rule</h4>
There is a simple and effective way for the above problem, ALWAYS check any object you get from outside for null:
<pre class="brush:java">
public drawCircle(Circle circle){
int radius= null!=circle ? circle.getRadius() : 0;
//draw circle here
}
</pre>
I wish some day teachers, books and tutorials will talk about simple things like this over and over again. I wish they will teach code that doesn't crash.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-67382166887875172692012-04-17T18:43:00.000+03:002012-04-17T18:43:39.656+03:00I Have no Fame and I Must Launch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ari/4733176117/" imageanchor="1" style="border:0"><img border="0" height="266" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXG-sVzs-csqupMJ3iHa3t_cYUM1nQjn96PL0J8AZiohe6T9hO-QAV8hSdpXBdmJWytWXpF3w-UmT5Nd2wA_H2_ejwUy349KFFQrnAOlWATZgLTXaUJhQ_I0JxWWfV2V3sBb4h2OL7l5C/s400/launchline.jpg" /></a>
<br/>
<span style="font-size:0.8em">© Steve Rhodes</span>
</div>
<p>
People used to believe that building a great app is enough for success. This ”just launch and hope for the best” approach is not working anymore. The cruel reality is that nobody cares about your app, it's just one of many others like it.
</p>
<p>
The App Store has more then 500000 apps. And the flood continues with many new apps launched every day. Countless apps, great or bad, linger in total anonymity. It is virtually impossible for new developers and their apps to be noticed.
</p>
<p>
The question is then : what can we do to make our apps stand out?
</p>
<h4>1. Make a great app</h4>
Do whatever you can to make your app great. <br/>
It must be
<ul>
<li>fast</li>
<li>useful</li>
<li>beautiful</li>
<li>fun</li>
</ul>
<br/>
If is just another crappy app than it deserve to die deep down in the darkest corners of the App Store.
<h4>2. Make the app/launch newsworthy</h4>
With a little luck, this might be the most accessible way. It can become newsworthy in multiple ways:
<ul>
<li>Associate the app/launch with a celebrity, a famous product, something newsworthy</li>
<li>Sync the app launch with an important event</li>
<li>Create a viral video, photo, infographic, or anything else that can spread like fire.</li>
</ul>
<h4>3. Have a great community</h4>
This is in my opinion the most fair and honest way but also the slowest :
<ul>
<li>Create a community around your blog or site</li>
<li>Give valuable contributions to other communities, help those communities rise and evolve. You will rise and evolve with them.</li>
<li>Contribute with valuables to popular communities like guest posts on popular blogs, artwork on creative sites, code or bug fixes or documentation on open source projects you use.</li>
<li>Share freebies, byproducts, even open source parts of your code.</li>
</ul>
<h4>4. Spend lots of money</h4>
If you have the money, the quickest way to fame (besides doing incredible <i>stoopid</i> things) is to buy stuff :
<ul>
<li>Buy ads, banners, radio, TV commercials</li>
<li>Marketing campaigns on Google and/or Facebook, Twitter, etc.</li>
<li>Interviews, coverage, etc in popular magazines and sites or blogs.</li>
</ul>
<h4>5. Launch the app on multiple platforms</h4>
Most prefer to create multiple native apps instead of a single app that runs on multiple platforms.
<p>
In practice this means they will first create the iOS app then either the Mac app or Android app. And only then, if the app is successful enough, is ported on other platforms.
</p>
<p>
A few prefer to go the way of a single application, the ”One app to rule them all” way. This means HTML5. This means the same app (the same code) runs on all smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops.
</p>
<p>
Launching the app on multiple platforms can be extremely helpful even if your main target is iOS. Even if you give the entire app for free or make lite versions on the other platforms, more people will know about your app and will use the iOS app.
</p>
<p>
An anonymous app does not matter so make sure make the world knows about it.
</p>
<h4>6. Wait for the right day</h4>
There are developers that finish their apps but don't launch them. They wait for a better day. Instead of launching they try to find a way to change the situation.
<p>
Launching an app with success is very hard today, almost impossible. Crafting the app is only part of the story. Don't let your app die before is even born.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-84519213525378196502012-04-14T22:16:00.000+03:002012-04-14T22:16:56.506+03:00App development : Quo vadis?<p>
January 9, 2007.<br/>
Nobody had the vaguest idea how important that day will be. The way the world thinks about software and the way the world does software will be changed forever.
</p>
<p>
<h4>iPhone</h4>
From day one iPhone became a magnet for many programmers, but until mid-2008, when the App Store was launched, the only way to create apps for it was the web apps : special sites optimized to run in Mobile Safari.
<br/><br/>
This, and the fact that Flash was not running on the iPhone, had a decisive impact on the spread and the adoption of HTML5.
</p>
<p>
<h4>AppStore</h4>
Almost instantly after the App Store went live, most of the developers switched their apps from web to native: being in the App Store was equivalent with fame and fortune for many lucky developers.
<br/><br/>
However at that point the evolution of HTML5 was unstoppable. It continued to be adopted on all platforms and all browser makers.
<br/><br/>
It’s 2012. These are the hey-days. It feels like the whole world is making apps. Whatever you can think of, there is an app for that.
</p>
<p>
<h4>Status Quo</h4>
Today the trend is to create native apps. But this trend might change once the HTML5 support and performance reaches a certain trash hold.
<br/><br/>
I am suppose to start a app today, to invest time and money in it, what should I do? Should I go the iOS way or the HTML5 way?
<br/><br/>
The main difference is this:
<br/>
<ul>
<li>iOS offers superior performance.
No need to design and test on an infinity of device types.
<br/>
</li>
<li>HTML5 offers access to all the internet enabled gadgets in the world.<br/>
We can use the skills we already have: HTML, CSS, JavaScript.
No need to buy Macs for development, can do HTML5 development on any OS.
</li>
</ul>
Tough choice.
<br/>
I can see people arguing on this forever. I tend to bet on HTML5 because is cheaper but I can see problems with it already. Nothing is ever perfect.(The app must be present in the AppStore, no doubt about it, but web apps have PhoneGap for that.)
</p>
<p>
<h4>App not application</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtlin/352810677/" imageanchor="1" style="border:0"><img border="0" height="265" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczFLOy0f2PkV9wxDR2T13AoDJP3WFsimIsNREVJrUtG01cBdCup592n9koO9QXuns69ROhJEBmcYy4BQ7u5-KxyTAjWb8Zk5Ak_LhdZpWYNnHTnYOs_m8A2Nl8xDJBMwIJElmYXrl48-a/s400/stevejobsiphone.jpg" /></a>
<br/>
<span style="font-size:0.8em">©Morton Lin(Creative Commons)</span>
</br>
</div>
<br/>
When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone on January 9, 2007 nobody had the vaguest idea of how important that day will be. Whatever we chose, native or web, I know we’ll create an app not an application. It will be something simple and easy to use, fast, light and beautiful.
<br/><br/>
An app people will have fun with, an app that matters.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-4824030356330369582012-04-10T22:47:00.000+03:002012-04-10T22:47:03.818+03:00Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geolobo/5072960860/" imageanchor="1" style="border:0"><img border="0" width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijiHFUTvaQxN6BCDxX5JRQlr1gLFMF4toL7KbTezUABu4krurFbaOf0avRuSjBNEV93aRfcGSo2q0sueW6LZ4qtz8fzb9fOx9pwHinSiQgSSA5pY6E7-PKIHJ6kWNWDF29JMKGX81_8_E/s400/typewritter.jpg" /></a>
<span style="font-size:0.8em">©Van Sutherland(Creative Commons)</span>
</br>
</div>
<p>
I'm just starting to write this blog, I'm looking for various ways to improve my "technique". Clean and concise writing is a nice skill to have, no matter what
you do.
</p>
<p>
I found this little story about how Stephen King met an editor named John Gould and how that changed his life.
</p>
<blockquote>[Gould] started in on the feature piece with a large black pen and taught me all I ever needed to know about my craft. I wish I still had the piece – it deserves to be framed, editorial corrections and all – but I can remember pretty well how it looked when he had finished with it. Here’s an example:
<br/><br/>
(note: this is before the edit marks indicated on King’s original copy)
<br/><br/>
Last night, in the well-loved gymnasium of Lisbon High School, partisans and Jay Hills fans alike were stunned by an athletic performance unequaled in school history: Bob Ransom, known as “Bullet” Bob for both his size and accuracy, scored thirty-seven points. He did it with grace and speed … and he did it with an odd courtesy as well, committing only two personal fouls in his knight-like quest for a record which has eluded Lisbon thinclads since 1953….
<br/><br/>
(after edit marks)
<br/><br/>
Last night, in the Lisbon High School gymnasium, partisans and Jay Hills fans alike were stunned by an athletic performance unequaled in school history: Bob Ransom scored thirty-seven points. He did it with grace and speed … and he did it with an odd courtesy as well, committing only two personal fouls in his quest for a record which has eluded Lisbon’s basketball team since 1953….
When Gould finished marking up my copy in the manner I have indicated above, he looked up and must have seen something on my face. I think he must have thought it was horror, but it was not: it was revelation.
<br/><br/>
“I only took out the bad parts, you know,” he said. “Most of it’s pretty good.”
<br/><br/>
“I know,” I said, meaning both things: yes, most of it was good, and yes, he had only taken out the bad parts. “I won’t do it again.”
<br/><br/>
“If that’s true,” he said, “you’ll never have to work again. You can do this for a living.” Then he threw back his head and laughed.
<br/><br/>
And he was right; I am doing this for a living, and as long as I can keep on, I don’t expect ever to have to work again.</blockquote>
How I found this? Google lead me to a 2006 article on <a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-writing-successfully/">Copyblogger</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-35908137438519632742012-04-08T22:36:00.001+03:002012-04-08T23:00:18.978+03:0010 Commandments of App Development<p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24481894@N08/3345457414/" imageanchor="1" style="border:0"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HDeCWC_e0BrWwTy2cBNp27JuoHD4sLEyW13kllgFHj27YC3bsBXD5_uw92_9f68KadVf6cXpxxFXIrr_Pej-NzSnA7i6Yj-cTHJOzFq2l4ngvrCQWON3pm1VAxVAKKLfARNH3IPuig2g/s400/moses.jpg" /></a>
<br/>
<span style="font-size:0.8em">© Sue Hasker (Creative Commons)</span>
</p>
<ol>
<li>App must be <b>fast</b> : should start quickly and should not lag.</li>
<li>App must be <b>polished</b> : it should look very professional, beautiful, or both.</li>
<li>App must be <b>intuitive</b> : most if not all should learn to use the app in two minutes.</li>
<li>App must be <b>simple</b> not complex : remove unnecessary features, merge the rest, use progressive disclosure.</li>
<li>App must <b>offer</b> free or lite version if is not free: people should know what the get for the money.</li>
<li>App must <b>not crash</b> : should handle with grace all kinds of expected and unexpected events.</li>
<li>App must <b>not waste</b> device resources : respect the fact that memory, network speed and battery juice are finite.</li>
<li>App must <b>not trick</b> : people, especially kids should not be tricked to purchase things.</li>
<li>App must <b>not use</b> user information without approval: private things like location, contacts, history, purchases.</li>
<li>App must be <b>launched</b> when the time is right : the app must under no circumstances be launched in total anonymity, enough people should know and care about it.</li>
</ol>
<p>
So what is a app that matters in my opinion? It is an app that respects all the above ten commandments.
That's all.
</p>
<p>
It is not required to be downloaded by thousands, it is not required to gross in millions or be the latest meme on the net.
</p>
<p>
But it must be great and people should know about it.
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-39262984773384038672012-04-06T14:17:00.000+03:002012-04-08T22:59:53.440+03:00Why we loose a bit of humanity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAZ7JW2sMhcjxenPJorBwn1lNPUTysx8_WrAH6I60a4rWUuoq38TwPStfvsZ7VDsjvxQEei09jlkOmA5KJ8dJSzqLZcPGaZ0nXMjj_bbeeJe_I3vrEyyPIbuRJN3nasKKrQw5VkTpRMkc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-08+at+10.56.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="border:0"><img border="0" height="222" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAZ7JW2sMhcjxenPJorBwn1lNPUTysx8_WrAH6I60a4rWUuoq38TwPStfvsZ7VDsjvxQEei09jlkOmA5KJ8dJSzqLZcPGaZ0nXMjj_bbeeJe_I3vrEyyPIbuRJN3nasKKrQw5VkTpRMkc/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-04-08+at+10.56.37+PM.png" title="2012 AD, Chip Kidd explains what a book is" /></a></div>
<p>
Yesterday I found another brilliant TED talk: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ted.com/talks/chip_kidd_designing_books_is_no_laughing_matter_ok_it_is.html">
Chip Kidd: Designing books is no laughing matter. OK, it is.</a>
</p>
<p>
Yesterday I didn't knew who Chip Kidd is. Today I'm grateful that I heard him, that he shared his love and passion for his trade, for the design of <i>printed</i> book covers.
</p>
<p>
Wikipedia says:
<br/>
<blockquote>Chip Kidd (born September 12, 1964) is an American author, editor, and graphic designer, best known for his book covers.</blockquote>
I would at least say he is a brilliant and passionate book cover designer. Look at him, look at the way he talks about his covers and tell me you don't feel the urge to touch those books, to smell them, to feel them.
</p>
<p>
When you listen to him you suddenly feel that you wake up from a dream, like a new dimension of reality is regained.
</p>
<p>
He is more a priest than a geek, his word is more an incantation than a statement. Maybe that's way I keep hearing his words over and
over again:
</p>
<p>
<blockquote>Much is to be gained by eBooks: ease, convenience, portability. But something is definitely lost: tradition,
a sensual experience, the comfort of thingy-ness -- a little bit of humanity.</blockquote>
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-73373047955990049722012-04-02T13:36:00.000+03:002012-04-02T13:42:34.663+03:00Navigation in Apps for Kids<p>
<a href="http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2012/03/12/dads-plea-developers-ipad-apps-children/" target="_blank">Smashing Magazine</a> has published an article called "
<a href="http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2012/03/12/dads-plea-developers-ipad-apps-children/" target="_blank">A Dad’s Plea To Developers Of iPad Apps For Children</a>." It was a real eye opener for me. Having two kids that love the iPad all I can do is confirm what 'Dad' is suggesting: a standard, recognizable navigation in apps, at least in those for kids.
</p>
<p>
Indeed some of the apps have that terrible tab based navigation at the bottom, and those tabs are frequently touched by mistake.
</p>
<p>
Not only the article but some of the comments are great too, here is what one of the best is suggesting:
<br/>
<ul>
<li>Support multi-touch and then ignore the touches that don’t matter. The most frustrating thing for my 2-yo is putting one hand (or palm) on part of the screen and trying to touch something else that doesn’t work.
</li>
<li>
Undo. Unintended actions should be easily reversible.
</li>
<li>
Timers. Allow parents to specify how much time can be spent in the app. Our kids get 20-min a day of iPad time.
</li>
<li>
Ads in kids apps are EVIL! Especially banner ones. Charge extra if you have to. If the app is good I’ll happily pay.
</li>
<li>
Same with in-app purchasing. I totally agree with the author. Any app targeted at small kids with in-app purchasing better have it buried somewhere hard to reach and even then double and triple password protected so only parents can authorize them.
</li>
<li>
Variance: an app gets old really fast unless each time the child touches something, it does something slightly different.
</li>
<li>
Please, no splash screens or startup menus. Small kids do not have the patience to sit through a 15-second promo video for the software publisher. Having to start something via a startup menu means a parent has to be involved each and every time the app is launched.
</li>
<li>
Support app backgrounding. Can’t tell you how many times my kids accidentally hit the ‘home’ button and exit the app, then come running over. It’s really not that hard to support backgrounding so the app maintains state and when brought back to the foreground just picks up where it left off.
</li>
<li>
Volume control: please have mercy on the rest of us. Let us set a maximum volume for music and sound-FX.
</li>
<li>
Finally: if you put device rotation or shake input in an app targeted at small children, be prepared to get a bill for the smashed iPad screen :-)
</li>
</ul>
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3678595272142025270.post-12394434979546397872012-03-30T14:13:00.001+03:002012-04-02T17:11:01.152+03:00Hello app lovers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Yes, I know - yet another app blog.<br />
<br />
Well, what can I say? I love making apps, I love using apps, I love to talk about apps, so that's what I'm going to do on this blog: talk about apps, especially web (HTML5) apps. <br />
<br />
On "Apps That Matter" you'll find:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Fresh HOWTO articles about making apps</li>
<li>Second hand app development news</li>
<li>Original rants about apps and app related stuff that sucks</li>
<li>Reviews of technical (and maybe non-technical) books I've read </li>
<li>App ideas </li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1