Archive for category: Commentary

Apple is missing one killer option with OS X’s Full Screen feature

Apple is missing one killer option with OS X’s Full Screen feature

Full Screen iconWhen Apple announced the Full Screen feature in Lion I was quite skeptical of it. I really didn’t see the value of it from what I read. Of course, once Lion shipped and I gave Full Screen a try, I love it. It’s not just that it provides a distraction-free workspace, but when I use gestures to swipe between apps, I just feel more productive; much more so than using the application switcher, Mission Control or switching apps with the Dock icons.

Unfortunately the one feature that would make Full Screen much more valuable to me, and one that should be painfully obvious to Apple, is missing. The ability to set Full Screen as the preferred viewing method in the preferences would be a killer option.

Apple being Apple, if they were to implement this feature, they would probably put it in the System Settings and it would be an “all-or-nothing” option. But to me, that option would be a different devil in the same hell.

Putting the option in an individual application’s preferences won’t work, because we would be reliant upon the individual app developer to actually code this feature into their apps; and we simply can’t expect every developer to support this feature, at least not yet. But here’s an idea…

05/01/2012 Read More
Seattle Rex vs. Apple – not everything about Apple is roses

Seattle Rex vs. Apple – not everything about Apple is roses

So, there we were. Not more than 2 minutes into the trial, and Apple conceded to trying to hoodwink the judge.

This situation is typical of any corporation, but it’s sad to see our beloved Apple sinking to these legal tactics. Thankfully, this user prevailed. It’s really sad commentary on the state of our legal system, but also a black eye to Apple.

04/25/2012
Are we biting the hand that feeds us?

Are we biting the hand that feeds us?

Newspaper revenueMost graphic designers (and computer users in general) are tech-savvy enough that they’ve long-since passed on reading newspapers and magazines in favor of reading digital versions on their phones, tablets and computer screens. I’m guilty, I’ll admit it. But are we, as designers, biting the hand that has feed us for so many years?

The newspaper industry has kept graphic designers thriving for many, many years. And while you can make the argument that the web is responsible for many tech-savvy designers keeping busy, it’s nowhere near the glory years of ad agencies employing dozens of designers and art directors to produce the ads required to fill a daily newspaper – not to mention the staff of graphic artists to handle the layout of all the ads and text.

04/04/2012
How NOT to use a QR Code

How NOT to use a QR Code

I recently wrote fantastic QR Code generator website that offers free analytics to go with the downloadable vector QR Code itself.

WTF QR Code

The biggest waste of money ever used in advertising... QR Code on an outdoor board

What the site does not tell you is how to use QR Codes that brings the most success. This is a fairly deep subject to discuss, so I thought I would share WTF QR CODES instead. The site features numerous visual examples of how NOT to use QR Codes… unless you really WANT it to fail. It wasn’t long before I came across my QR Code pet peeve, putting them on outdoor boards. What a waste!

03/21/2012
16 reasons NOT to buy a new iPad: As written by a complete douchenozzle at ZDNet

16 reasons NOT to buy a new iPad: As written by a complete douchenozzle at ZDNet

Everyone in the blogosphere knows that simply putting the word iPad in your headline will get your article a dumptruck full of pageviews, but the latest article from some douchebag at ZDNet just takes the cake. I apologize in advance for the language.

I’m not even going to link to the article, because quite frankly it doesn’t deserve even a single pageview this site might send it. Instead, I’ll offer some quick commentary on this dipshit’s list of reasons not to buy a new iPad. It should also be noted that at the end of this stupid piece of crap article the author admits he has never seen the new iPad, but has ordered one so as to ensure his journalistic integrity.

Reason 1: You already have an iPad

Well no shit, Sherlock. I don’t buy a new house or car when I already have one either. Why is this an iPad-specific problem?

03/15/2012 Read More
Tim Cook: Apple grows a new core

Tim Cook: Apple grows a new core

Tim Cook

When Apple’s charismatic founder Steve Jobs died in October of last year, there were many who wondered if the iconic electronics and consumer products company would be able to survive without its presiding genius. Those of us who know Apple, know that Apple is going to be just fine under Tim Cook’s leadership.

02/17/2012
Made in the U.S.A. is not viable Apple

Made in the U.S.A. is not viable Apple

iPhone made in ChinaThe New York Times posted an article this past week titled How U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work that got a lot of attention. Pando Daily, Cult of Mac and 9-to-5 Mac chimed in on the subject, and the topic even made it into the Republican Presidential Debate.

The sad fact is that Apple is no different than any other electronics company. Heck, forget electronics; practically everything you can buy at Walmart appears to be made in China.

While Steve Jobs stated at a dinner with President Obama that there aren’t enough skilled workers in America to Apple products in America, and that the current tax situation prevents them from bringing their oil-tankers full of cash back to the U.S., I believe there’s another reason as well.

01/23/2012 Read More
The most hated companies in America

The most hated companies in America

I hate that company!Customers, employees, shareholders and taxpayers hate large corporations for many reasons. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a lengthy list of corporations for which there is substantial research data to choose the 10 most hated in America.

The list (in no particular order) features four technology companies:

  • Facebook
  • AT&T
  • Nokia
  • Netflix

For the record, I would add AOL, Google, Verizon, Samsung, and a host of others to the list.

01/17/2012