Defy Creative

About That Media Pad

JM — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:06:31 +0000

Apple fans are a funny bunch. No sooner does a new toy show up and they start asking questions and prognosticating about the next one. I suppose that’s a testament to Apple’s ability make drool-worthy devices and their supernatural powers of persuasion.

For years, it was dreams of a PDA that filled our heads, nevermind a phone. In 2007, the iPhone was released and those dreams were realized and then some. Ever since, it has been talk of a tablet that would do who knows what. A couple of posts ago, I outlined the rumors before WWDC about this possibility and what might be wrong with it.

However, there has been something else that bothers me about an addition to the lineup. Whether it was another iPhone that might be smaller or a tablet, (I don’t think Apple will make a netbook) the thing that didn’t add up was which OS would it use. A smaller iPhone just couldn’t use the same OS as the current phone OS. The Human Interface Guidelines of the iPhone OS are such as to maximize the screen real estate of the phone. For instance, buttons are to be a certain size so your finger can accurately select it. A physically smaller phone would have to account for a smaller screen therefore limiting what can be on screen at one time. I suppose it could happen but it would be quite limited and would not run the crop of applications in the App Store.

Alternatively, a tablet would allow for precise touch input but you still have a problem with the difference in size. So if not the Touch OS then the current desktop OS or the upcoming Snow Leopard OS? It might make sense if it were to use a mouse and keyboard for input but that seems like an awkward setup for a tablet. Finger input might work but it doesn’t seem like the sweet spot and depending on the resolution could be a nightmare. The most likely and yet somewhat un-Apple like solution would be a third OS optimized for touch input on a device sized somewhere between an iPhone and the MacBook. Un-Apple-like because it flies in the face of their philosophy of simplicity.

There are many possibilities as to what this new toy can be and if it comes to fruition, will be innovative. As before, the rumor may linger long enough to become reality.

The Century Mark

JM — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:39:22 +0000

It’s been far too long since my last dispatch and this particular post happens to be the 100th here on the old blog. We’re also approaching the 2 year anniversary of my first post. Since this was the hundredth post I thought it would be a good time for a little reflection. This may hurt a bit.

I set out to post stories about things that interest me in technology, entertainment, design and similar interests. I have enjoyed, most of the time, sharing these things. Admittedly there have also been times when writing has been a chore and if I did it at all, it was begrudgingly (as is evidenced by averaging about a post per week). I’m not the best writer but I know enough to say that most of us have to work at it diligently. Becoming a better communicator is a worthy goal anytime but most of all now. In our texting, Twittering, and Facebook updating world, good communication practices have taken a hit in the name of brevity.

I’ve been a very lazy blogger. Just like I mentioned recently, I sometimes feel the need to reach for something to say. Most of the time I choose to remain silent figuring if it’s too hard to write about something then it’s best not to. Though blogging and Twittering about yourself seem like narcissism to some, doing these things aren’t very natural for me. I just realize it helps when you’re marketing to have a digital presence…that’s a big part of what it’s all about.

We use the start of a new year for resolutions on how we are going to improve ourselves. I have made statements on how I intend to post more regularly and have fallen way short of that. Looking back on some of my early posts, they seem better than many of the latter ones. If that is true to the objective viewer it’s probably because I was trying harder then. As a new blogger trying harder to be good at something I had little experience in. I won’t promise to post more regularly but I will promise to work harder at being better when I do.

Mystery Media Pad

JM — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:15:42 +0000

News began buzzing over the weekend about Apple being in talks with Verizon about carrying the iPhone in the 2010-2011 time frame. A MacRumors story speaks of an “iPhone Lite” and the fabled “other device” that may or may not be a tablet. Specifically it’s referred to as a “Media Pad” that is overall smaller than a Kindle but with a larger screen.

The first question that comes to my mind is, “Why would Apple need to talk to Verizon about a tablet/media pad?” The answer is to have a device with a constant data connection for surfing the web and maybe downloading music and apps like the iPhone. That’s great, but who is going to have another device for which they have to pay a monthly fee especially when the iPhone does such an admirable job at doing the previously listed tasks. If Apple were to make such a device, they would of course want to sell them to iPhone owners. The answer to that may be an arrangement like the Kindle, where the access to the wireless network is subsidized in the purchase price of the device. There are problems with that scenario too, but it’s difficult to see another solution unless access was at a greatly reduced rate. Am I wrong here? Would you as an iPhone owner want a device like this, essentially an overgrown iPhone and then pay another monthly wireless fee? While I would like the device no doubt, I can’t see the justification in paying a monthly fee for wireless service.

One thing’s for sure. This is still just a rumor. If this device even exists, the possibilities are many. It may be just that, a media pad that only has wi-fi and controls other devices like your Apple TV or an extension of your computer screen. Maybe more like an overgrown iPod Touch than an iPhone.

The other thing we know… Apple is the best at making a device you’ve got to have and never knew you needed.

Buy the above illustration from the Defy Creative Store for $0.99.

SOHO Illustration Pack

JM — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:33 +0000

Small Office-Home Office Illustration Pack

A new item has been added to the Defy Creative Store. The SOHO IlloPack1 is a collection of illustrations for use in print, video, and interactive that offer quirky character with a touch of flair. The collection includes 5 fully editable illustrations in Adobe Illustrator format and also each individual illustration in a high resolution JPEG version. The illustrations include a printer, business card, laptop, stickies, and phone. The collection is available as a download now for $4.99.

New DC Store

JM — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:26:56 +0000

I wanted to let everyone know that the Defy Creative Store has been revamped to provide a more simple shopping experience. Previously the store had been built using Zen Cart shopping cart software. Zen Cart is a great tool that is absolutely packed full of useful features. However, it has always been more than I needed in terms of its complexity.

Recently I became aware of a plugin for WordPress called WP Shopping Cart that allows shopping cart functionality right in a WordPress installation. Now customers can shop without ever leaving the pages of the main Defy Creative site. This plugin, while rich with features, offers a more seamless and simplified shopping and checkout process. Enjoy!

Selling Yourself

JM — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:26:34 +0000

One of my favorite things is when the various graphic design magazines come out with their design annuals and showcases of promotional designs. The self-promotion annuals are particularly good because there are a lot of supporting articles dealing with the issue of promotion. As most any designer knows, self-promotion is the “red-headed step child” of your body of work and we need all the insight and inspiration we can get. If you’re like most, you either can’t reach a point at which you’re satisfied with what you’ve done or you flat out don’t take the time to do the project at all.

As good as some of these articles are, the thing that really irks me about others is how cynical the authors or those they interview are about the efforts of some promotions. These art directors and marketing managers say they are so inundated with such things that they usually end up in the trash. The disdain is palpable.

What I would like to say to fellow designers and creatives everywhere is, don’t listen to the negativity and do that which you are able to do and do it well. Established firms and individuals probably don’t need my encouragement but instead it’s for those striking out on their own for the first time. In tough times, you do what you can to promote yourself. If that means sending out postcards, then that’s what you do. If you don’t have money for that, get out and go to local professional events and other networking opportunities. If none exist, start one.

Promotion is not so much a mystery as it is a call for us to stretch ourselves professionally beyond what we thought we could do. A friend recently wrote a note on her Facebook wall that was apparently a quote from Jennifer Aniston, “Everything you want in the world is just right outside your comfort zone.” That totally hit home for me. Much of what I have to share with you is usually also a call to action for myself. It’s my hope that as I work through these things, they can benefit anyone who reads what I have to say.

Outposts

JM — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:05:15 +0000

Everywhere I look there is consternation surrounding social networks. Recently Facebook made changes to the user interface of the site and those changes have been met with a resounding “say what?”. Twitter is hitting the mainstream and the newbs or the uninitiated don’t seem to get it. It got me thinking again about what these social networking sites mean to those who have or should have a broader identity online. For some, Facebook, MySpace and others are the sole place they reside online. They may have no desire to express themselves beyond the confines of their profile page, and that’s OK.

However, entrepreneurs, creatives, and others typically make use of personal sites to exercise greater control over their content and have a place online that is truly theirs. That makes Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn outposts (as Chris Brogan put it) on the web that ultimately drive traffic back to your own site. Each of these places can be extremely important to your brand but they are there to attract the eyes of those that may never have seen you otherwise or to engage in conversations that might have never happened.

Remember that you get out of these outposts what you put into them. For those serious about building a brand or expressing their creativity, they are just tools, not the be-all end-all.

Kindle 2 and the Revolution

JM — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:26:54 +0000

Over a year ago I wrote my thoughts on the first Kindle and now Amazon has its successor. From all the reviews it sounds as though it’s an improvement, although slight, over the original. My first “review” was pretty critical and admittedly made without ever actually having held a Kindle. Not much has changed in that regard especially since you can’t jump in your car and head over to Best Buy to check one out and I don’t personally know anyone who owns one.

I REALLY want to like the Kindle. However, my criticisms remain. On the other hand the Kindle does a lot of things right. I won’t rehash the specs here but instead I want to focus on what I think this means for books in general.

What’s Next

I said in my original article that the Kindle 1 wouldn’t be a runaway hit or even a modest success. So far, I think I’m right on the first and maybe not so much on the second. Amazon doesn’t release figures on Kindle sales but estimates put the number around half a million for the first model. This number seems high to me but even if it’s relatively close, I suppose you could call it a success. When you read the tech press as I do it’s hard to know when something has penetrated the tech echo chamber. I believe e-book readers will become more and more popular as time goes by, but they have a tough road ahead.

Perhaps selfishly, as a graphic designer I want to see more control over what’s possible in terms of design. The reason for not having that control comes down to smaller file sizes no doubt. It’s virtual portability is one of it’s greatest strengths and perhaps among it’s greatest weaknesses when it comes to graphics. It’s absolutely convenient but potentially closes a segment of the book market where designers are needed.

The Revolution

For publishers, the Kindle and even other e-book readers are an opportunity to stay current in the ever-changing digital landscape. Where the Kindle bests others lies in the Amazon infrastructure. They made an Apple-like move in creating the hardware and developing the format of the content. It’s not a win for open standards but the best solution doesn’t always rest there. For now, they have the best solution out there.

As I write this, Amazon has released Kindle for iPhone. This is an interesting move (a move they mentioned was coming when the Kindle 2 was announced) and one that I’m going to have to think on. I have downloaded and tested it and my gut reaction is that it doesn’t increase the chances of me buying a Kindle for the time being. Perhaps the device itself isn’t the revolution they’re after.

Everything’s Amazing, Nobody’s Happy

JM — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:50:21 +0000

This video has been making the rounds and rightly so. It’s the comedian Louis CK on Late Night with Conan O’Brien discussing how spoiled we are as a society. Even though the lack of wonder we have with all our technological advancement will likely only get worse, it’s nice to see someone point out how everything IS amazing.

The Pressure of Being Interesting

JM — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:52:31 +0000

Something has been on my mind the last few days and that something is all about being interesting. I have been on Twitter for over a year now and have enjoyed it more and more as time goes by.

I initially joined Twitter to follow people in the tech industry whose content I enjoy and I suspect a lot of people do this. Since my Unfortunate Unemployment I have sought to do more networking with those in my local area. I have had others somehow find me on Twitter and decide to follow me. Some are people merely looking for followers of their own and have no interest in my content. They are the spam of Twitter, often times unfollowing in a few days or less when it’s evident you won’t follow them back. (Twitter etiquette is another subject that would be wise to ponder.)

Others may follow you a while and decide you’re not their “cup of tea”, and that’s OK. But there is a bit of a sting when that happens, at least for me. When someone discovers your profile, presumably after a tweet they found interesting, you kind of hope that will continue. If your tweets become too mundane, you risk losing followers. Although tweeting about lunch is acceptable some of the time, it’s not the pinnacle of fascination.

Do you as a Twitter user feel compelled to have something to say? In trying to build a brand (and let’s face it, that’s what it’s mostly about) do you feel like you should tweet regularly? Perhaps the answer is to not say anything at all. I definitely believe in quality over quantity. On the other hand, when blogging or podcasting we’re told to be consistent. If Twitter is micro-blogging does the same not hold true?

To those who have unfollowed me, my apologies. To those who stick around, let me say thanks. I’m working on it.