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iPad Apps I’m Missing Most
After a week of using the fabled iPad I’m still really impressed by how it has made so many things I do on a computer more fun. In fact, that’s my usual review when asked how I like it by passerby’s in my local Starbucks. It’s just fun.
Really fun, but it’s not without its quirks.
I wish file sharing system wide was easier, and I can’t wait for the multitasking features announced in iPhone OS 4.0. But I have all faith in the brilliant Apple software developers. I’m sure these quirks are but an update away from being fixed.
Many of the apps I’m using are beautifully done. Some of my favorites include: Evernote, Things, Sketchbook Pro, iBooks, NetNewsWire, ABC Entertainment, USA Today, The Elements, Popular Science and of course WordPress; to name a few.
But there are still some apps I’ve come to love on my iPhone that I’m hoping will quickly make iPad versions. Developers if you’re listening, or maybe wondering if you should make the jump to the iPad, the answer is a resounding YES, especially for these must haves:
Tweetie 2
Momento
PanelFly
FourSquare
GoWalla
Flickit Pro
Mint.com
Google Earth
iDisk
DropBox
I’m waiting…patiently. I know thoughtful development takes time.
Is it ready now?
2010-The Year Of The Tablet
As an Interactive Designer I can’t help but get all giddy about the possibilities that a tablet computer presents. Or to be more specific, a location-aware, video camera & accelerometer equipped, multitouch tablet computer on a high-speed network. And like many of you, I believe/hope Apple is close to launching such a device with all of Apple’s polish and panache.
Still, several people have asked me what all the hype is about. Why use a tablet? Isn’t it just a smaller laptop, or a bigger iPhone? Why do we need it? Well, that’s a little like going back a few years ago and asking “Why do we need a touch-screen on our cell-phones?” It was hard to imagine how people would use a screen that small at then-current network speeds.
It all comes down to how we interact with, share and create media (content). There’s the way we do it now, with current devices and web services, and the way we can imagine doing it in the very near future. And the future is very exciting as we are imminently approaching the type of media convergence predicted at the internet’s humble beginnings.
Several industries, like the dying magazine and newspaper industries could be completely reinvented with the success of a tablet device. How? By delivering content in new ways to the digital native generations who don’t read “dated” printed periodicals. While others industries, like Wacom & Bamboo input tablets stand to be rendered obsolete almost overnight.
Interactive Designers in almost every field have begun to consider how the tablet might effect their worlds. Time Magazine partnered with The Wonderfactory to create a demo video (below) showcasing what Sports Illustrated might look like on a tablet. Not only is it a preview of some potential U.I. options for the tablet, it’s also a great peak at converging media, and a wake up call for “old-school” content creators and publishers.
Sports Illustrated Tablet Demo from Jared Cocken on Vimeo.
Getting excited? Here’s a design study (video below) created by Bonnier R&D imagining how content might be best displayed and consumed on a tablet. I love some of the thinking showcased in this video, like the idea that people need a sense of success. We want to know that we’re done consuming the content, like reaching the end of a magazine. In the video the designers use little stacked bars to represent the pages and give users visual feedback of where they are in the content.
Even Microsoft is imagining life with the tablet. In this video demo of the “Courier”, they use the journal metaphor more literally in what they dub your “infinite journal”.
As a designer I like to work with my hands. The tactile nature of a multitouch tablet is much closer to the way I’ve always wanted to interact and create on a computer. I’m looking forward to creating content and applications that are more mobile and more social, accessed on devices like the much heralded tablet.
Come on Apple, ship it soon!
Microsoft’s Vision Of The Future
Despite the fact that Microsoft can’t get some things right with current products *cough*Internet Explorer*cough*, they’ve created this lovely video that explores some future possibilities with how we will interact with data, how the data might look, and devices we might use to get to the data.
Some of the U.I. and data visualizations have nice details. One of my favorites is this coffee cup that lets you know when it’s safe to, say, compose a coherent blog post.
Several tablet like devises are showcased for those of you who still don’t get the allure of the much hyped tablet, you can see a few examples of how people might use them.
VIDEO: Microsoft Sustainability from Hana Ken on Vimeo.
Obama’s iPhone App
Have you seen Obama’s website? Not only does it look great, but it’s a fascinating case study on how to use social media that I think any company could emulate. I’ve been impressed overall with Obama’s progressive use of technology, case in point- his new iPhone App.
The app stays true to Obama’s consistently great looking campaign and has some relevant features that take advantage of almost every iPhone capability.
My favorite feature is the “Issues” section, which has detailed overviews on where Obama stands on almost every issue, complete with video.
Here’s the feature list from the site:
- Call Friends: A great volunteering tool that lets you make a difference any time you want by talking to people you already know. Your contacts are prioritized by key battleground states, and you can make calls and organize results all in one place.
- Call Stats: See nationwide Obama ‘08 Call Friends totals and find out how your call totals compare to leading callers.
- Get Involved: Do more. Find and contact your local Obama for America HQ.
- Receive Updates: Receive the latest news and announcements via text messages or email.
- News: Browse complete coverage of national and local campaign news.
- Local Events: Find local events, share by email and get maps and directions.
- Media: Browse videos and photos from the campaign.
- Issues: Get clear facts about Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s plan for essential issues facing Americans.
If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you can download it now.
Wordle
Apparently I really just need to stop using the words “really” and “just” so often. My amazingly smart and beautiful wife showed me the Wordle for joeyinteractive, and it seems that I abuse those words a bit.
Wordle is a web app created by Jonathan Feinberg that will make a word cloud out of any sites content. Just type in the URL to the site or RSS feed you’d like to create a Wordle for and it automatically creates the tag cloud. Then you can change fonts and colors, and work on your vocabulary.
Have You Tried Cool Iris?
There are all sorts of plugins for Firefox, but I haven’t found any as handy for designers as Cool Iris (formely PicLens).
This sweet little plugin allows you to browse images or video from any Cool Iris enabled website in one continuous fullscreen 3D wall (see image above of latte art flickr search). The experience is so much better than viewing images page by page.
You can zoom in to view images or watch video, and click through to websites for more information. It works on Amazon, Flickr, Google, Yahoo, etc…
A must have.
Are Tabs A Dying Metaphor?
I begin to wonder about the longevity of a navigation metaphor like tabs (see my last post).
It’s origins are understandable enough–a once brilliant way to help the world understand how to use those newfangled web pages (or computers in general) by using a metaphor everyone understood, file folders. In the late 80’s/early 90’s most people could relate to using files and folders to store and find information. But is that still true today?
With more and more generations online that have never used a physical file folder, I wonder if we’re hanging on to that metaphor a bit too long?
Google Launches Web Browser
Adding to every web designers never ending struggle of browser compatibility, Google has launched their own Web browser called Google Chrome. The browsers foundation is based (at least in part) on Apple’s Webkit and Mozilla’s Firefox, so hopefully there won’t be too many surprises when you check to see how your pages render.
Right now it’s in beta and Windows only. But, Google says that a Mac version is forthcoming.
I won’t have a chance to try it out until they get to releasing the Mac version, but it doesn’t look too groundbreaking. In fact, the tabs seem a bit antiquated.
iPhone Users Get Free WiFi
I’ve heard some rumblings of AT&T giving away WiFi before, but apparently AT&T is making it official.
Hopefully this will replace the laborious process of getting 2 hours of free WiFi at Starbucks, where you had to get a Starbucks gift card and register it online first, then login for your 2 hours.
According to AT&T iPhone users will be able to surf for free at over 17,000 hotspots, including Starbucks, airports, hotels, usniversities, convention centers and sports complexes.
iPhone 3G Rant
Wow, I can’t believe my last post was way back when the iPhone 3G was announced. Time has flown by since then, I didn’t mean to abandon JoeyInteractive.
Well, I’m back from the cloud of too many creative endeavors, and now I have said iPhone 3G in my pocket. There have been tons of reviews online for you to check out, so I’ll skip the in depth look. Instead I’ll just rant about some of my favorite features, and some things that bug me.
Let’s start with the good stuff.
3G coverage in Orlando is pretty good. I’ve really noticed the speed difference in those few areas I’m not using WiFi. The GPS is really nice, and I love the geocoded pictures using the built in camera. And finally, the sound quality is noticeably better.
Now here’s whats bugging me.
I love the idea of the App Store. But I’ve only found a few truly useful apps, the rest are just a waist of a developers time. The few I like are Twitteriffic, Evernote, and NetNewsWire. I’ve downloaded a few games that are fun too, but where are all the great apps?
Then there’s copy & paste. Come on Apple, can’t you make this a priority. It’s pretty frustrating not being able to move data around.
Mobile Me is probably the most impressive thing about owning the iPhone 3G. But there are some big features missing in the iPhone Calendar app. For instance, why can’t I invite anyone to a meeting using the iPhone? Why can’t I set alarms using Mobile Me? The whole thing feels rushed to deliver to me. Apple needs to update soon with these critical features.
Finally, the most annoying feature is the battery. Most days I have to charge it TWICE!
