Real Uses

Re: Your annoying Fwd:

2011-01-19T17:18:19Z

Do you get annoyed with people that just forward emails without asking themselves, why am I forwarding this? Well I don’t like getting emails that are a mile long, and the actual message 3/4 down buried in the message. Typically, if I see more than 3 or 4 lines down the left side of the email, I won’t even start to read it. If it’s not reworded, reformatted or explained, it’s obviously not important enough for me to read. It’s really a pet peeve of mine.

So you have an email that needs repeating. Before you go on and forward it half of the country, ask yourself what you’re sending. If it’s a part of the email, then let me know and quote it.

So here’s the email…

Ben the Bodyguard

2011-01-04T22:00:11Z

Another creative example in HTML5

This time a promo for an iPhone app.
Check it out. http://benthebodyguard.com

Source: Ben the Bodyguard (http://benthebodyguard.com/)

iOS 4.2

2010-11-23T06:36:39Z

New choices for SMS ring-tones are nice, but a bit overdue. I kinda like ‘Sherwood Forest’. But I gotta say, these are not exactly text-message tones IMHO ;). Way too long and obnoxious. Though I guess in a way it’s fitting considering how we’ve changed from the default of calling people to…

Mobile Safari Gmail redesign

2010-11-02T19:55:47Z

Google recently updated their Gmail web interface for the iPhone in Mobile Safari. The changes are subtle, but effective. They describe how the interface redesign makes Gmail act more like a native app, and they’re right. But there are some differences that make this new look work more intuitively than a web-app or a native app. A hybrid of the sort, allowing the unique qualities of native app with the full functionality of living within the browser. The first thing you’ll notice when logging into Gmail, the Safari navigation toolbar disappears. One thing about native applications…

Angry Birds Ringtone

2010-10-02T22:13:09Z

Damn that Parrot!!

Printing from your iOS-Device wirelessly

2010-10-02T21:19:24Z

I love this kind of tip. I have an app on my iPhone where I can print webpages or whatever I last copied to my clipboard, but this solution is much better.

iPhone YouTube upload comparison

2010-09-21T01:59:47Z

With the release of the iOS 4.1 update for the iPhone, users can now decide whether they would like to upload their videos in standard or high definition. This video…

iOS 4.1 update is now live

2010-09-08T18:43:39Z

My recommendation for updating:

Go to Settings ➜ Turn Airplane Mode ON
backup your phone in iTunes
- By turning Airplane mode on, this reduces the chance of getting interrupted by a phone call, text, or push notification
- It’s also is a lot faster

(Photo from www.cultofmac.com)

I'm a fan of the future

2010-09-07T23:07:53Z

What time is it? FaceTime! Here are a couple other good ones:

[Cooper sees me | Confused?]

Very cool example of HTML5 - Canvas

2010-08-27T05:34:47Z

Very cool example of what can be done using HTML5

And we're back

2010-08-24T00:50:13Z

We are back and better than ever! Ok, we’re right around at the same place we were two days ago. But we’re back and better than ever! Thanks to Squarespace support, they…

Downtime

2010-08-22T00:16:37Z

Things might look a bit different around here. I apologize but we had a little problem recently and a good portion of the backend information that creates the look and feel of this site was damaged and removed. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) are parts of the code of websites that are used to define how elements of a site looks to the user. Things like how this text will show up, the font, the size, whether links show up underlined or not, etc. We had a problem with the CSS for this site.

For the time being, until the problem has been fixed, I will be taking parts of this site down. Hopefully we’ll up and running soon.

Please subscribe to the RSS feed for updates, thanks again.

It has sunk in, I'm an uncle

2010-08-19T19:43:04Z

My nephew just peed on me and I couldn’t be happier. (It’s even cuter when set to 360p ☝).

This is a test, this is only a test

2010-08-12T19:13:27Z

Well here’s a quick update. This website is on the Squarespace platform. They have a great iPhone app which was just updated. I figured that I would test it out by writing a post with it.

Some new features

The main ones are as followed:

Editing modes - multiple markup language support
- I love this, I normally write posts like this one in Markdown, if not HTML.
Comment moderation with push notifications
Support for iOS 4 and fast app switching along with Retina Display support

Very nice update, though I would still like to see analytic s reports for more than a week out. A month would be nice.

You can read the full details on the Squarespace blog here.

Remember, don’t write blog posts driving your car. This was just a test.

Source: Squarespace for iPhone v1.1 (http://blog.squarespace.com/blog/2010/8/12/squarespace-for-iphone-v11.html) by M. Burstiner

The curious Google vs. Apple war continues

2010-07-11T07:00:49Z

Google continues to release updated mobile apps like Google Voice and YouTube while Apple’s released apps do sometimes get the cold shoulder. For instance one example is Apple’s Texas Hold’em which remains neglected at version 1.1. They have been very good with some of their other apps, i.e. Remote, but I hold them to a higher standard considering they created the platform. Apple should be concentrating more on being a better role model for iPhone and iPad developers. Paid apps written by Apple seem to be forgotten about quicker than their widespread free counterparts, which is one of the reasons I haven’t made the iMovie purchase yet.

What is that?

2010-07-07T21:51:09Z

There was some sort of pressure buildup in the sewers the other night in front of my place. Probably triggered somehow the storm earlier. So I figured what a better way to test out the new iPhone 4’s camera and video capabilities was to post this video. Keep in mind I am not a film maker, although I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

There’s been fantastic storms this year.

Source: Storms (http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelcrane/sets/72157624066206801/) by Michael A. Crane

Interview with the developer of GetPaid! for the iPhone

2010-06-13T19:19:36Z

The ability to work anytime, anywhere is often essential for mobile businesses, freelancers and anyone not always necessarily tied to a desk for a living. Being a freelance technology and user experience consultant I have always been interested in innovative tools that allows me to organize my business life.

In a previous interview, we looked at an excellent desktop time-tracking/invoicing application. Today we are talking to Henry of Runaway Apps. One of his applications is a full-featured invoicing app that can fit in your pocket. I personally love this application, it has a very nice interface allowing the user to have a record of past and future jobs, visual charts of earnings as well as outstanding payments. Henry has released several updates since I started using GetPaid! and is very responsive to user requests. I wanted to talk to him about his experience developing for the iPhone.

My thanks to Henry for taking the time.

Henry, what is GetPaid!?

GetPaid! Tracks time and generate instant invoice and timesheet in PDF format. (note: See app store description for additional app features.)

How did you get started developing the application?

With a Mac and a Passion. :)

Where did the idea of creating a mobile time-tracking & invoicing application come from?

I was an independent consultant often forgot to record my billable time.

What do you enjoy about being a developer in general?

Creativity freedom

Do you develop for any platforms other than iPhone OS?

No

What kind of advise would you give a starting developer looking to enter the App Store marketplace?

Be creative, be diligent, be patient, most importantly be passionate.

How do you go about promoting your products?

Best product always sells itself, with apple’s help, that is. :)

How do you go about ensuring your app will be found if searched for?

Keywords, keywords, keywords.

What are the some of the difficulties of developing an application that is so important for business?

iPad version has been frequently requested since the release of iPad.

User ratings are such a huge factor when it comes to the point of sale for applications, does that ever become an issue?

When Users write inaccurate reviews without fully understand the functionalities and there’s no way to communicate back and have the reviews corrected.

Are you working on any other projects besides GetPaid!?

The Prayer Network (PN) is a free “soul”cial network app in app store right now. We are working on other productivity apps as well.

Thanks again Henry, you can find GetPaid! [iTunes link] and The Prayer Network [iTunes link] at your local iTunes App Store.

Source: Interview with Stefan Fuerst (/blog/2010/2/10/interview-with-stefan-fuerst-author-of-grandtotal-and-timelo.html) by Michael A. Crane
Source: RunawayApps.com (http://www.runawayapps.com/getpaid/index.php)
Source: GetPaid! iPhone App on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/getpaid-pdf-invoice-time-sheet/id334324691?mt=8)
Source: The Prayer Network iPhone App on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-prayer-network-pn/id366872582?mt=8)

My ActionScript homework assignment

2010-05-31T07:47:19Z

{

looks like my keyboard threw up on my screen;

}

Wasted talent

2010-03-28T04:56:41Z

Scam apps like this one here irritate me to such an extent that I am actually writing about it, which in fact only helps the developer out. There is no bad promotion. But the fact remains there is too much crap in the App Store. Search is broken, unless a developer has fantastic marketing through word of mouth, they really have to choose smart creative keywords to be found. They would also be wise to enroll in app reviewer and promotion programs. But before I digress too much, let me state my point. Smart developers, please, apply yourself and your talents in a better way.

PayPal, Bump and mashups

2010-03-28T02:33:32Z

Although they do charge a small fee, something like 2.9% + $ .30 (don’t quote me, I’m just the messenger). With this new option, link your credit card and bank account with PayPal and pay your friends without needing cash.

Mashing-up with Bump, allows users to make paying people just a bit more entertaining. My buddy needed to pay me for a parking validation the other day so we “bumped” phones. Bumps app recently added Facebook integration, the list goes on.

App developers are starting to get very creative with collaboration mash-ups that shared the best technology with the best features and design. Another great example is Occipital, makers of Red Laser. From their site “Occipital, LLC is a technology startup focused on mobile visual search, founded by University of Michigan alumni Jeffrey Powers and Vikas Reddy.”

Apps such as Alice.com, Cor.kz, and many others are using Occipital’s Red Laser technology to make product search a lot quicker.

I think it’s great that although the iPhone OS is essentially a close system, developers are teaming up to share and license technology.

Interview with Stefan Fuerst, author of GrandTotal and TimeLog

2010-02-10T14:23:23Z

One of the toughest parts of being a freelancer or starting a small business is tracking time and billing. I spoke with Stefan Fürst of Media Atelier about two applications he developed, GrandTotal and TimeLog, that make billing and invoicing a lot easier.

Do just about anything on your Mac with your iPhone

2010-01-29T10:00:48Z

A quick tip: how to setup Air Mouse Pro to activate Google’s Quick Search Box, controlling your Mac with your iPhone

Talking with Ruben Bakker, author of Mailplane

2010-01-25T15:11:09Z

I love Gmail, I started using it many years ago and have never looked back. In my opinion, Gmail does the best job catching and filtering spam. I get just as much spam as anyone else, my spam folder is full of entertaining emails but none of messages (ok, very few messages) end up in my inbox. The features are endless. But one of my favorite parts of Gmail is the fact that it’s a web-app. None of messages are ever downloaded to my computer taking up space, yet the interface is as robust and intuitive as any mail client I have tried. But there are disadvantages to this kind of setup. Advanced features such as HTML signatures, managing multiple accounts and drag-and-drop file attachments are sometimes more difficult using a web-app.

I hate flying

2010-01-12T17:36:03Z

Traveling by air is the biggest pain in the ass, it’s not just my imagination. I’m a cynic, I admit that, but airports, airplanes and the airlines annoy me just as much as cellular and insurance companies. Actually more considering I have to go through the traveling “process” more often. Although I do believe that some of the reasons many flight attendants and airline employees are less than a joy to work with is aggravation from their companies making the rules of conduct. But in my opinion that excuse quickly runs out.

Sitting in Laguna Beach

2009-11-20T16:46:16Z

Waiting in a manicure parlour watching my friend and his family pamper their nails. Dave’s wedding is tomorrow and he seems relativly relaxed, as he should be. His future wife to be is a sweet, laid back girl. So the three of us hopped on a plane and flew down to John Wayne Airport in Orange County.

Interesting side note, I guess flights are schedualled in such a way as to make sure planes abide by quiet hours after 10.

What is making me want to report on the awkward hilarity of the situation, are the faces. I think the guys are liking the treatment. There is a dense feeling of nervousness when we walked in, but people are feeling right at home now.

Shady Practices in the App Store

2009-10-11T20:50:38Z

BNO News for the iPhone

I’m seeing a new trend in the App Store in iTunes that scares me a little. Charges and (sorta) hidden fees that come along with a paid app. I am limiting this to paid apps because I am under the system of belief that free apps have the right to charge for an added feature set. My first aggravation came along with an application my buddy recommended to me. BNO Breaking News. It was an app that he had found which solved the “I have an idea for an app” conundrum. I don’t why I call it a conundrum, but I’m keeping it. So continuing, he was ecstatic when he found his app for sale. BNO Breaking News is a real simple application that simply sends the user ‘push notifications’ to the user’s iPhone. I was pretty impressed with the idea and that he found an application that perfectly met his needs and expectations. He told me about it and without much hesitation I downloaded it while I was still on the phone with him.

The charges started with the application costing 1.99. Not a bug deal, but I see that number as a paid app that is viewed by the developer as semi-premium. Many of the applications that cost to download “paid applications” are .99. Little differences like a dollar make a big difference. I was not paying a close attention to the fine print in the description, but BNO’s plan was to offer the application at 1.99, with a trial period. To get more than one news update a day a subscription plan is required. For a year’s worth of news pushed to my iPhone it would cost a total of $13.97. In my opinion it’s just not that good of an application to call for a $14 price tag.

The part that really got me fired up enough to write a negative review for the app was that there was a change in the application in an update. Conveniently, BNO added an account button inside the application. There really is no real reason to enter the application otherwise. Just make sure push is enable in settings, and the app just sits there. I consider this bad design, and that’s being kind and rational. I look at this as a hidden charge which I refer to as an app store bait and switch. So, unfortunately there is an application on my phone which is useless. I am not willing to pay $13.97 to use this application, being under the impression that 1.99 was the real price. But with the faceless customer service and developer support that is the iTunes App Store, I think this kind of ethically challenged business practices will continue for sometime.

The combination of one-click, impulse buying together with faceless customer service, makes screwing customers easier developers. It’s just good business.