Killing the browser
Posted: October 28, 2010 Filed under: regular | Tags: iPad, iPhone, UX, Web Leave a comment »With the advent of the iPhone and the iPad, richer applications will be needed to justify the need of these devices. Applications that make users desire them.
In my opinion, the web we know will never match the expectations created by such devices. Web applications will always reach 80% of an application’s potential while people consuming these new generation devices certainly will expect more. Way more.
The web I envision is a web where we use the network to deliver tailored data to our special application; where we really care about the users; and specially a web where we have no web browsers.
Yes. No browsers, at least the way we use them today. They are basically time sinks. People spend more time searching in the Internet instead of actually doing. The browser is an attempt to provide a generic solution for really specific problems.
Think a bit about it. How many desktop and mobile Twitter clients do we have nowadays? If the web is so good, why people bother building such applications, and other people buy them?
For example, the Twitter for iPad is a billion times better than Twitter’s website, even if compared with the new website version. The way you use it feels much more natural and interactive, and all the information is contained and available within the application itself. Of course it uses a contained web view in some places, and I think they’ve done a terrific job with it.
So, let’s start to put the dots in the right place: full featured, imersive and interactive applications must be as natural to the platform they’ll be used, while content should be provided to these applications, through the wire, as tailored as possible to increase imersion and user experience.
Maybe I’m wrong, but whenever I think about web applications I feel like a 2 year old kid trying to fit a cube in a cilinder hole.
Instapaper Tests Out Subscriptions Service
Posted: October 28, 2010 Filed under: regular Leave a comment »Instapaper Tests Out Subscriptions Service: “Instapaper subscriptions may disprove the long-assumed adage that everything on the Internet must be free or monetized by advertising. Individuals might just be willing to pay for a service if it offers utility and value.”
(Via Mashable.)
Killing the Browser
Posted: October 28, 2010 Filed under: regular Leave a comment »With the advent of the iPhone and the iPad, richer applications will be needed to justify the need of these devices. Applications that make users desire them.
In my opinion, the web we know will never match the expectations created by such devices. Web applications will always reach 80% of an application’s potential while people consuming these new generation devices certainly will expect more. Way more.
The web I envision is a web where we use the network to deliver tailored data to our special application; where we really care about the users; and specially a web where we have no web browsers.
Yes. No browsers, at least the way we use them today. They are basically time sinks. People spend more time searching in the Internet instead of actually doing. The browser is an attempt to provide a generic solution for really specific problems.
Think a bit about it. How many desktop and mobile Twitter clients do we have nowadays? If the web is so good, why people bother building such applications, and other people buy them?
For example, the Twitter for iPad is a billion times better than Twitter’s website, even if compared with the new website version. The way you use it feels much more natural and interactive, and all the information is contained and available within the application itself. Of course it uses a contained web view in some places, and I think they’ve done a terrific job with it.
So, let’s start to put the dots in the right place: full featured, imersive and interactive applications must be as natural to the platform they’ll be used, while content should be provided to these applications, through the wire, as tailored as possible to increase immersion and user experience.
Maybe I’m wrong, but whenever I think about web applications I feel like a 2 year old kid trying to fit a cube in a cylinder hole.
Ground rules for happiness
Posted: October 27, 2010 Filed under: regular Leave a comment »
- Work must be fun. When it is not fun anymore, you should be doing anything else.
- Your work should never be your whole life — it must be part of it.
- Always have time for yourself. Read a book, take pictures, play games, or even do nothing for a while.
The iPad experience
Posted: October 26, 2010 Filed under: regular | Tags: Apple, internet, iPad Leave a comment »Last week I bought an iPad. I think it was one of the very best things that happened lately.
Before I bought it, I only used it for a few minutes at several different stores, and that kind of usage isn’t enough to see how good it is, specially because either you’re not at your living room watching a movie, and suddenly you want to know where in the world is “Bermudas”; or wondering what movies are available in the movie theater in a boring Sunday; or even wanting to just see your Twitter timeline in such a quick and interactive way the desktop can’t provide.
I think my least used application in the iPad is Mobile Safari, specially because most websites, even if they render properly in it, are not designed to give the user the proper experience. And because of this, I think the iPad changed the way the Internet will be in the future (but I’ll leave this for another article).
Finishing, the iPad is (almost) everything I ever wanted regarding personal computer experience. It basically provides the ability to consume content—like reading Twitter timeline, Mail and News—, and this allows me to concentrate and do actual work when I’m in front of a “real” computer—write code, in other words.
Yes, I’m in love with it.
Posted: October 13, 2010 Filed under: regular | Tags: indie Leave a comment »
A colleague of mine said:
“Doesn’t matter if I work for a company I really identify myself, or my own, as long I can have enough to enjoy my life and be happy.”
Totally agree.
If you put enough “almost works” things together in a particular way then you end up with something that approaches “works” as effort goes towards infinity.
Posted: October 11, 2010 Filed under: quote Leave a comment »If you put enough “almost works” things together in a particular way then you end up with something that approaches “works” as effort goes towards infinity.
Bob Ippolito
Posted: October 8, 2010 Filed under: regular | Tags: Apple, iPad Leave a comment »
I read somewhere Apple is going to sell 7” iPads, with mini USB port.
I’d be surprised if that happens. Anything sized between an iPhone and an iPad will be uncomfortable to use. Too big to fit in the pocket, too small to be properly used.
Update: According to some sources the European Union proposed the micro USB port for charging devices, and it seems Apple will be adapting to the new standards quite soon.
The business of software
Posted: October 5, 2010 Filed under: link Leave a comment »The business of software: “because you can code something that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.”
(Via Seth’s Blog.)
Posted: October 1, 2010 Filed under: regular | Tags: Apple, indie Leave a comment »
Apple doesn’t create only the computers lots of people are using nowadays. They provide a service no other company in the IT industry provides.
A platform.
They create a platform well suited for other people provide applications they have either no interest or hands to develop. This enable several individuals to provide solutions and services at low cost and—in the majority of the cases—high quality.
But why does that happen?
In my standpoint, I’d guess the main reason is the fact that individuals are passionate about a subject, making them excel in the solution they’re providing. This usually happens because they’re scratching their own itches, providing a solution for themselves instead of implementing solutions to problems they’ll never have. And this leads to another interesting point: diversity.
The same problem can—and will—be solved differently by different people. If you take in account the following problem statement: “I need to upload pictures to Flickr”. There are several different applications that provide a solution for this problem: “Flickr Uploadr”, “FlickrExport” and “Courier” to mention a few.
If we look again at the problem statement: “I need to upload pictures to Flickr,” “FlickrExport” and “Courier” wouldn’t exist, because “Flickr Uploadr” is free and actually works.
But then, why do they exist?
Because not only problems can be solved differently by different people, but also different solutions will be preferred by different people. People have different needs and expectations.
The problem doesn’t define a niche by itself, but will define once it is placed with the audience it targets.
