Seth Lilly

Donald Trump, citing snow, says Al Gore should lose Nobel Prize

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:06:00 -0500

Donald Trump, citing snow, says Al Gore should lose Nobel Prize:

According to this story in USATODAY, Donald Trump, citing snow, says Al Gore should lose his Nobel Prize. Trump, you might be famous, but you don’t understand the first thing about science. Global warming, as a phenomenon, can actually contribute to drastic changes in weather, including snow storms. Global warming melts ice caps, which introduces fresh water into the sea, which changes salinity and temperature, thereby altering current flow, which…oh, never mind. YOU’RE FIRED.

Despite the fact that we are faced with a gradual warming trend on Earth due to the rise of emissions in the 20th century and continuing today, it’s my opinion that the weather the eastern half of the US is experiencing this year is simply part of a cyclical pattern, and we’ll likely return to more normal winters, perhaps as soon as next year.

Snowmageddon 5: Return of the White Death

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:24:43 -0500

Snowmageddon 5: Return of the White Death

Wholesale Applications Community vs Apple: Standards, Guidelines and Wishful Thinking

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:47:00 -0500

The Wholesale Applications Community, as they’re calling it, thinks they’ll deal a blow to Apple. Here’s the thing: they’re not even competing. Apple will never allow third-party software outside of their control to run on an iPhone. They will always have control over how an application appears and functions on their device, with some functionality exclusive to that device. While I support the idea of community-based/open standards development, there is something strong to be said for Apple’s strict guidelines. It’s what makes the iPhone’s UI and its applications so striking. From a design and usability perspective, I seriously doubt that major success will result from this initiative.

UPDATE: In this article, CNN states that “Until now, Apple has had control of all apps that go on the iPhone.” Question: what on Earth makes them think that will change because of this alliance? Apple’s not going to bow to pressure from anyone to change anything about its platform or application structure.

Super Happy Power Go Worth the 12 seconds, I promise you.

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:47:00 -0500

Super Happy Power Go

Worth the 12 seconds, I promise you.

"The only thing more disconcerting than witnessing failure in progress is witnessing failure..."

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:42:09 -0500

“The only thing more disconcerting than witnessing failure in progress is witnessing failure disguised as progress.”

- Me

Little reminders make a big difference. This one’s from my...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:28:09 -0500

Little reminders make a big difference. This one’s from my second oldest, Gavin.

Arrivals | Development Status | Cultured Code

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:25:05 -0500

Arrivals | Development Status | Cultured Code:

Love this approach to status updates! Great job by the team that brings you Things for the Mac and iPhone.

Good People Day April 3rd: Refocusing on the Positive

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:35:51 -0500

Good People Day April 3rd: Refocusing on the Positive:

Check out this great post from Amber Naslund, inspired by Gary Vaynerchuk.

iPad: Initial Observations

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:26:36 -0500

I’ve gathered my thoughts on today’s iPad release and subsequent fallout/celebration into one post for your reading convenience.

To those who are saying “big deal” in regards to the iPad release, I would ask you to step back and take a look at the big picture. What’s really occurring here is a shift to a new type of device. Yes, it’s different. Yes, it will take some getting used to. What it’s beginning, I think, is a revolution in the way we interact with content in our home and in our office. Apple announced this week that they are now a $50B+ company. I think it’s safe to say they’ve given this some thought and that the public hasn’t yet been shown the entire picture.

Apple dubbed their new tablet product iPad, doubtless because of its resemblance to a notepad, and because this naming convention is in line with iPod and iPhone. If you’re complaining because it sounds like a feminine hygiene product, then you just need to grow up. Seriously. I don’t want to hear the “Don’t they have women in Marketing?” argument or the “iTampon” joke again. It’s pointless, and while you’re making juvenile jokes, you could instead be striving to expand your understanding of this class of media device and how the upcoming generation will use it as a primary point of connectivity. Is the iPad that device? Maybe not. But it’s certainly a good start. If Apple has proven one thing, it’s that they know how to start a revolution. (iPod? iMac? Bueller?)

Not powerful enough? Not a real computer, you say? It was never intended to be a replacement for a computer. That’s where tablets have gotten it wrong. They’re trying to be laptops without keyboards, and it’s not working. Stop whining about how your [brand name here] tablets have been so awesome (obviously they haven’t, since the consumer tablet market remains largely untapped) and consider for a moment that there might be a better solution. Apple has displayed the innovation to try something different instead of the status quo, so I say wait it out and see. I might be wrong, but I really think this is the beginning of a new class of devices.

I’m excited for this device to hit the market. Yes, I’m a developer, and yes, I downloaded the iPhone 3.2 SDK today like thousands of other developers. Is it a replacement for the iPhone or iPod touch? No way. Those devices and their successors will play a huge role in tech and society for some time to come. This is a new class of device, with new rules and fresh ways of looking at stale solutions. Give it time. Remember, the iPod didn’t catch on at first. Now it’s engrained in pop culture and is practically a household term synonymous with MP3 players.

Flashback: MP3?!? Music files on a computer instead of these high-tech compact discs? That’ll NEVER catch on!

Five years from now, people will be using “pads” to perform a variety of tasks, no doubt replacing conventional methods. This is the nature of technological progress. It’s happened before; it will undoubtedly happen again. The sooner we embrace it, the sooner we can begin to ready ourselves for the next wave of change.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:12:36 -0500

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Will Twitter Crumble Under the Apple Tablet’s Weight?

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:30:00 -0500

Will Twitter Crumble Under the Apple Tablet’s Weight?

Would you read a daily newspaper on the Apple tablet?

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:29:11 -0500

This morning, I was thinking about today’s imminent announcement of the Apple tablet and the content partnerships that are sure to come with it. Particularly, I was thinking about newspapers. A subscription-based service, even for the same price as home delivery, could be very appealing to some users. The New York Times is already taking steps toward a subscription model for online reading, and it makes sense that other newspapers would follow suit in order to abate their hemorrhaging print subscriptions.

Certainly, the tablet environment could provide interactive experiences such as ads and movie trailers. It’s also environmentally friendly as there’s no printing involved. Additionally, a tablet with a moderate storage capacity (or, say, the ability to sync to iTunes) could store many copies in very little space - keep the days you like, delete the ones you don’t.

It’s a technology curve. I get it. But if we don’t attempt as a society to find acceptable ways to evolve media, we’re going to reach an impasse that will find our ability to communicate being unnecessarily limited.

So, my question: if, for instance, USA Today decided to offer a tablet-capable subscription version (which would likely contain all sorts of bells and whistles, like interactive ads) for the same price as a home-delivery subscription, would you bite?

13 video player UIs in 24 hours by 37signals. Vimeo wins this...

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:36:39 -0500

13 video player UIs in 24 hours by 37signals. Vimeo wins this face-off hands down, in my opinion.

New! Recipe!

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:04:18 -0500

New! Recipe!

Limetastic

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:23:00 -0500

Limetastic

Indie+Relief

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:40:00 -0500

Indie+Relief:

I know I’ve already talked about this, but I wanted to remind you once again to support Indie+Relief. Indie+Relief is a collaboration featuring some of the top independent software developers for Mac and iPhone. These independent developers are donating profits from their sales today to benefit organizations assisting in disaster relief in the earthquake-stricken island of Haiti. If you’ve been thinking about buying some of the Mac’s hottest titles, like Tweetie, Things, Billings, MoneyWell, or Postbox, today’s the day to buy.

A truly brilliant and inspiring idea from Garrett Murray and the...

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:06:13 -0500

A truly brilliant and inspiring idea from Garrett Murray and the good people at Second Gear. All proceeds from over 120 indie Mac and iPhone apps sold on January 20 will go towards the work being done in Haiti. I strongly suggest you check out the list at IndieRelief.com and help those in need.

I just created some input field backgrounds with the hex color...

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:57:37 -0500

I just created some input field backgrounds with the hex color #efefef. Coincidentally, this is what I say when I have to deal with IE’s treatment of input fields.

Tablet or not?

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:24:45 -0500

As reported on a number of sites this morning, Apple has announced an invitation-only press event for Wednesday, January 27. So I ask - is this the launch of the fabled Apple tablet? If so, are you interested?

LEVERAGE by =Kweli on deviantART Nice touches on this print...

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:34:00 -0500

LEVERAGE by =Kweli on deviantART

Nice touches on this print featuring the cast of Leverage.