iPhone Apps Design Mistakes: Disregard Of Context
My Clippings November 15th, 2009 by System
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The iPhone will always be part of a much bigger picture. How well you address human and environmental factors will greatly determine the success of your product. All too often, iPhone developers create products in isolation from their customers. In order to create really appealing applications, developers must stop focusing only on the mechanisms of the apps. Zoom out: understand the person using the application, as well as the complex environmental factors surrounding that person.
To better understand the context of these design challenges, we’ll highlight several levels of human and environmental factors.
Also consider our related articles:
- iPhone design mistakes: Over-Design
- iPhone App Design Trends
- How to Create Your First iPhone Application
Level 1: You Are Here. To Create An App That Customers Love, Zoom Out
Level 1: The app itself.
This is how many developers view their apps. As a developer, you have a vision of what your product should look like and why customers will turn their attention to it. However, if you observe your product so closely, you may put it in the wrong context and design it for the wrong purposes and for the wrong users. This is why you need to zoom out.
Level 2: A person is using this app.
That person has specific goals and challenges. In the section below we’ll start by exploring some of the most prominent — and most ignored — human factors pertaining to the iPhone. We’ll discuss basic physical ergonomics, visual limitations and common design mistakes.
Level 3: That person is using this app in a specific environment.
Step back and you’ll see that the app is a part of a complex social environment. It plays but a relatively small role in communication between people and helping people accomplish bigger goals. This is where the social components comes into play: networking, community, social-driven websites and applications and many other things create the environment — or the context — in which the application will be used.
Level 4: The environment is part of a greater culture.
Your ability to address the unique needs of different cultures will affect the success of your product. Ignoring them is too expensive, especially if your app sells worldwide. Here it is important to understand that the environment is a part of global networking. You need to be aware of cultural differences, traditions and metaphors in order to create an application that will not only gain popularity in certain local circles, but will also have a global success.
Tags: Apple, blockquote, cli, Extract, Google, Information, IO, ISO, ma, Mac, man, Photo, php, script, video, way, XP
Programmer 101: Teach Yourself How to Code [Programming]
My Clippings November 12th, 2009 by System
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You've always wanted to learn how to build software yourself—or just whip up an occasional script—but never knew where to start. Luckily, the web is full of free resources that can turn you into a programmer in no time.
Since the invention of the internet, programmers have been using it to discuss software development techniques, publish tutorials, and share code samples for others to learn from and use online. If you’re curious about how to become a programmer, you can get off to a running start using tons of great free web-based tutorials and resources.
First Things First: Don’t Get Hung Up on Choosing a Language
A common pitfall for beginners is getting stuck figuring out which programming language is best to learn first. There are a lot of opinions out there, but there's no one "best" language. Here's the thing: In the end, language doesn't matter THAT much. Understanding data and control structures and design patterns does matter very much. Every language—even a simple scripting language—will have elements that you'll use in other languages as well and will help you learn. In classes I took to get my degree in Computer Science, I programmed in Pascal, Assembly, and C—languages I never actually got paid to program in professionally. I taught myself every language I've used in my career, reusing concepts I already knew, and referring to documentation and books to learn its syntax. So, don't get hung up on what language to learn first. Pick the kind of development you want to do, and just get started using one that works.
There are several different kinds of software development you can do for various platforms, from the web to your desktop to your smartphone to a command line. In this article, we’ll outline some of our favorite starter tutorials and resources for teaching yourself how to program for each major platform. We’re going to assume you’re a savvy user, but a newb when it comes to wrangling code snippets, so we’ll keep things at the beginner level. Even just following through a beginner programming tutorial, you’ll be happy to see how far you can get.
Related posts:Tags: Apple, backup, Bookmarklet, Bookmarklets, Build, cli, command line, css, email, flash, Google, Information, IO, Javascript, Linux, ma, Mac, man, Monkey, OSX, php, quick, script, video, way, wind, WordPress, XP
Secrets preference panel updated for Snow Leopard
My Clippings November 12th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
Filed under: OS, Software, Odds and ends
From time to time we have shared hidden settings in applications which can be used to “tweak” an app’s behavior, such as forcing Snow Leopard’s dictionary to reuse the same window or make the print dialog expanded by default. These settings are normally changed using the Terminal.app which can be daunting to some.
Secrets is a (free!) preference panel which has collected a bunch of these settings and made changing them as simple as checking a box or choosing from a drop-down panel of possible choices. It includes settings for about 40 different applications, from Apple applications such as Mail, iCal, iChat, Finder, Front Row, Keynote, DVD Player (and more) to third-party applications including Adium, Audio Hijack Pro, BBedit, EyeTV, VMware Fusion, and TextMate (just to name a few). Some applications have a lot of hidden settings, and some have only one or two.
If you see a setting but don’t know what it does, click it and Secrets will show a brief explanation (these are also available on the Secrets website, but they are easier to read in the preference panel). If you change a setting which requires you to restart the application, Secrets will tell you, and even give you a “Quit This” button. (It’s usually best to make these changes when the app isn’t running.)
Unfortunately at least one of the secret settings from 10.5 doesn’t seem to work in 10.6. That is, the setting to turn HelpViewer into a regular (instead of floating) window. There may be others.
I’m off to explore and see what new goodies Alcor (the developer of Secrets, who you may also know as the creator of Quicksilver) has uncovered.
Thanks to the recently-revived Hawk Wings site for bringing this to my attention. If you use Apple’s Mail.app, Hawk Wings is a great site for tips and information.
Update: We seem to have taken down the Secrets website (oops!) but you can download the preference panel from a mirror (zip) (166kb).
TUAWSecrets preference panel updated for Snow Leopard originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Related posts:Tags: Apple, cli, email, Google, Inc., Information, IO, Leopard, ma, Mac, man, quick, Snow Leopard, terminal, wind, XP
Psystar Violates Open Source APSL Licensing Agreement
My Clippings November 12th, 2009 by System
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To defend its position against Apple, Psystar claims that terms of use in Mac OS X licensing are restrictive and block competitors by preventing anyone to install Mac OS X on a non-Apple hardware. So, as a consequence, Psystar is not violating any law by selling PC running pre-installed and legally purchased Mac OS X. The company received support from many users who would be interested in running the famous Mac OS X on their own hardware without requiring to by a Apple-branded model. In other words, Psystar was playing the white knight fighting against the giant to help poor customers. Well, this picture might dramatically changed and could even be fully reversed by a recent discovery.
On its website, Netkas, one of the most active members of the Hackintosh community accuses Psystar of violating the APSL (open Source) licensing agreement. He discovered that Psystar DUBL/RebelEFI is based on Open Source boot-132. RebelEFI is sold by Psystar and allow users to install Mac OS X on many PC hardware. Netkas contacted Psystar as according to the APSL licensing agreement, Psystar should have uploaded its code. No official answer yet.
In summary, Psystar is selling for 50 USD a code they did not even developed, without respecting the licensing agreement linked to its usage. So, as if the current legal action against Apple would not be enough, Psystar has now opened a second front against the Open Source community (maybe their worst decision), and for sure they will sue Psystar as they are currently suing the company who claimed to have developed the EFI-X USB key.
This could well be a perfect proof for Apple and it could help its lawyers to demonstrate that Psystar is not the white knight that they pretend to be, and might even be the black sheep that no one would like to see…
Getting Started With Content Management Systems
My Clippings November 8th, 2009 by System
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The need to update websites faster to keep content fresh has been ever growing. Ever since the first business owner wanted their Web designer to update their website faster, content management systems have played an important role on the Web. Why does this matter to you? How do you know if your company is ready?
In this article, we will look at how to tell if your organization needs a content management system. We will also give you information on the abilities of content management systems to help you better understand what they can do. While content management systems may seem complex, their entire purpose is to streamline your workflow and make your life easier.
A content management system allows you to create, manage, store and edit massive amounts of content without any HTML programming skill. Because you are able to edit your content from any computer with an Internet connection, you no longer have to rely on third-party developers or companies to keep your website up to date. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Every company would like to reduce costs and increase productivity.
Also consider our previous articles:
- 10 Things To Consider When Choosing The Perfect CMS
Goes over what features to look for when choosing a content management system. - 10 Harsh Truths About Corporate Websites
Explains the mistakes we all make when running our websites. The nature of those mistakes varies depending on the size of your company. As your organization grows, the mistakes change. This post addresses common mistakes of large organizations. - Developers Toolbox
Offers tools and resources to help you achieve your goals at a more hands-on level.
1. What Is A Content Management System?
If you have never heard the term before, a content management system (CMS) is a Web-based solution that makes it easy for a company to manage website updates internally. For many companies, updating a website is not something to look forward to because it can be a lengthy and, over time, expensive process. Most companies search for easier means of accomplishing their goals. The solution that many large and small companies have found is a CMS. The easy-to-use application allows your company to control its online identity with little to no knowledge of Web design.
Related posts:Tags: Apple, Build, cli, CURL, Google, Information, IO, ma, man, Microsoft, module, Photo, php, quick, script, security, ssl, video, way, WordPress, XP
Gokivo updates navigation app for iPhone, lowers the price
My Clippings November 7th, 2009 by System
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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Review
Several readers have urged me to try the Gokivo Navigator for the iPhone [iTunes link], so today is the day. The app is U.S. $4.99, but that only provides you with GPS navigation for 30 days. After that, the app costs $4.99 monthly or you can purchase a year of service for $39.99. That's quite a bit less that the AT&T nav solution [iTunes link], and makes the Gokivo app quite competitive. The app includes a Traffic Tracking Center, text to speech so street names are announced as you drive, and it has iPod controls so you don’t have to leave the app to change your music.
Like the AT&T app, if you are out of range of the data network, you won't get maps. And like most of the competition, Gokivo gives you an estimated time of arrival, distance to your destination, and your current speed.
The map doesn’t work in landscape view, which I consider a strong negative. It’s easy to navigate to your addresses in your Contacts app, and the feature is nicely integrated.
Continue reading Gokivo updates navigation app for iPhone, lowers the price
TUAWGokivo updates navigation app for iPhone, lowers the price originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Related posts:Apple breaks Atom Hackintoshes with upcoming OS X 10.6.2 update
My Clippings November 5th, 2009 by System
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Filed under: OS Updates, Hardware, Apple
According to OSXDaily, Apple’s next scheduled update to Snow Leopard, OS X 10.6.2, doesn’t support Intel Atom processors. This is no problem for anyone on Apple hardware, because no Mac product runs an Atom. If you’re on a hacked netbook, though, it looks like this is the end of the line for your OS X updates.
Although it’s not confirmed, rumor has it that next update to Apple’s previous Leopard OS (10.5.9) will also knock out Atom support. Until a workaround pops up from netbook hacker circles, Atom machines running 10.6.1 and 10.5.8 should probably avoid upgrading. Is Apple sending a message to users running its software on third-party machines? It seems likely, but it also doesn’t seem like it will do much to stop determined netbook enthusiasts.
Apple breaks Atom Hackintoshes with upcoming OS X 10.6.2 update originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple – Operating system – Mac OS X – Intel Atom – Download Squad
Tags: Apple, cli, email, Google, Hackintosh, Inc., IO, Leopard, ma, Mac, man, OSX, Photo, php, Snow Leopard, workaround, XP
Your “***” installation has been identified as illegal
My Clippings October 31st, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
Look at this:
What do you think? Apple can detect cracked ipa! hah!?
Today I got this message while using IM+. I didn’t see any kind of limitation in IM+ after that message but I think jailbreakers have to find a way to resolve this issue. I think it’s time to update the cracking process, Installous, etc.
[iPhone 2G - OS 3.1.2]
A Vista theme for iPhone? Yes, really
Uncategorized October 26th, 2009 by Shai Perednik
Does this logo look familiar?
(Credit: ModMyiFone)
The latest third-party iPhone app to draw blogosphere buzz this morning is most definitely not Apple-approved.
The object of hilarity and defamation is VistaPerfection 2.0, a theme by developer Spec-Works that plops the Windows Vista GUI onto the iPhone. To run it, …
Related posts:StreetFlow 0.8
Uncategorized October 26th, 2009 by Shai Perednik
I already know this is going to be one of my favorite apps and I have only been using it for a little while! StreetFlow is an app that locates dinning establishments based on your location. It also includes a rating of the restaurant and comments from others who have been to the restaurant. When you open the app, it will take a few seconds to find your location. It will then display a list of restaurants starting with the one closest to you. From the list, you can tap on a restaurant to get more information like; the name of the restaurant, the address of the restaurant, it’s rating (based on a five star rating system), a list of comments and the ability to add a comment. If you would like to add a comment, … [visit site to read more]
Tags: Apple, Information, IO, ma
