In a nutshell: no fold but use that space wisely.

In a nutshell: no fold.

As of writing, the mobile app is in beta and features only the event schedule and Twitter stream. This is due to time constraints however, we took advantage of the fact that regular websites function very well on the iPhone so we didn’t sweat too much on keeping features at a minimum. Further information about the event can always be found on the regular website.

My job was on the front end making things look pretty while adhereing to the functionality of the iPhone and the design scheme of the PodCamp Toronto 2010 website.

Another big thank you goes to the people behind the iWebKit iPhone framework. If you’re looking to design a web app with the exact ok and feel of the iPhone UI, this is a good framework to use.

Although the framework is made for the iPhone and iPod Touch (and now the iPad), I didn’t use any of the Apple specific code so that non-Apple users at PodCamp can use the mobile site as well (webkit css works on Android smartphones). Unfortunately, John and I didn’t have enough time to build a BlackBerry version.

Today is for Haiti. I’m volunteering my skills in usability testing and design for projects already in progress.

Teams worldwide are all connected over IRC so you can jump in at any moment to offer your help. So far, I’ve seen websites, apps for the iPhone and Android for people working on the ground in Haiti and the list of projects keeps growing.

Head on over to crisiscommons.org to find a CrisisCamp taking place in your area or to find information on how you can start one.

Unfortunately, the iPad is too easily being overlooked as simply a bigger iPhone (there are lots of other complaints but I’m only focusing on this aspect in this post). I think this is because we’re used to being blown away by Apple announcements. We’ve grown to expect the above and beyond. However, this time around, we were introduced to something we were already used to seeing – an iPhone. But bigger.

Of course from this perspective, the unveiling can be easily considered as interesting as Windows 7 (sorry, I still don’t see any significant difference between it and Vista other than running a little faster and the Mac-like taskbar).

It’s not your desktop, laptop or iPhone

Also, the general expectation of a tablet is being a full fledged computer. But a lot smaller. It’s a common misconception that netbooks fulfill this role and a tablet would be much cooler. Not exactly.

As we learned from netbooks (and the iphone for that matter), I firmly believe that a computer the size of a book just can’t be used for the same tasks as a desktop or laptop. That is, beyond writing Word documents, websurfing and checking e-mail. Heck, I’ve grown impatient with surfing websites not optimized for the iPhone and I’d rather not write e-mail on it. Tweet yes, e-mail no.

I haven’t seen nor held the iPad but from what I can tell, it seems the most obvious purpose of the iPad is the experience of using it in the palm of your hand. Just like you would hold a book or scratch on a clipboard. More on this later.

As an e-reader, the iPad experience is you can hold it in your hands just like a book (obviously) and physically touching the screen to flip the pages. From the keynote photos, this looks to be as close to experiencing a physical book as it could get without the clumsy simulations and distance created while using a mouse.

Interacting with what you are learning

This company is already announcing creating textbooks for the iPad. The student will be physically touching the data. The potential lies in the student being able to physically manipulate the data and see results right in the textbook.

No, really, it’s not your desktop or laptop

I lamented the lack of pressure sensitivity in my last post. However, would it really make sense for me to use the iPad to build commissioned art? Instead, I can see using it to sketch out ideas and colour schemes while out and about (I have a habit of drawing anywhere).

I don’t think the iPad (nor it’s upcoming competing devices of this size) was designed to be used for the same amount of time and workload as we would on a desktop or laptop. For example, I can’t imagine it being appropriate or ergonomic for editing serious video or composing music for release.

Cloud computing

Also, cloud computing is ubiquitous and is here to stay. This is exactly what Google’s Chrome OS is all about. The browser is the OS. Apple wants you to synch your apps with your iPhone. Work seamlessly between devices. I read ten years ago how we wouldn’t recognize the Internet today.

Further reading:

• A New Class of Content for a New Class of Device
• Why the iPad Matters

Then I started to think about all the times I needed access to a computer – smaller and even more portable than a laptop, a lot bigger than my iPhone. That’s the iPad.

And further, it’s about the usability. Not how much different it should be from the iPhone and Touch. This blog post explains it best.

The major disappointment for me though was no pressure sensitivity. For years I’ve been hoping for a Mac tablet that I can use for illustration. I draw anywhere and in any position in my sketchbooks and I am hoping for a computer equivalent that can provide the same experience. Yes, I’d use a stylus (just can’t do minute detail with my finger).

I’m still impressed with the amount of R&D and Ux goodness in my WACOM tablet. It’s just that I can’t draw without looking at my fingers. The Cintiq is too expensive and I don’t want to subject myself to Windows.

Maybe some major programming can be done in an app to simulate pressure sensitivity?