I have to say, installing Xcode 4 from the Mac App Store was one of the worst software installation experiences I’ve ever had. Thwarted Expectations For starters, the big appeal to me of downloading and installing stuff from the App Store is that I don’t have to manage it. All that management stuff is handled [...]
Boy, you’d think by now Apple could nail a launch, but it seems like they always have problems if it’s something web-based (MobileMe, I’m looking at you). Case in point, my first attempt at a purchase in the Mac App Store: Some nice touches, my purchased apps — even ones purchased outside the Mac App [...]
The latest Firefox 4 beta is really nice. I particularly like the minor refinements to the tabs. The tabs in 4.0b7 look pretty much like Firefox 3.6′s tabs: The tops are rounded; the bottoms, where the tab connects to the page, are square; the color of a background tab is nearly the same as the [...]
My initial impression of the iPad, after reading about it and seeing it in stores, was your basic meh. There didn’t seem to be much compelling about the device for a user such as myself. Let’s be clear: I don’t think the iPad is a bad thing, or not a “real” computer, or anything bad [...]
By default, Services that you create in Automator simply retain the Automator icon — the little robot with the pipe — in the Services menu. If you want to customize the look of your Services, simply give the actual services on disk (located at ~/Library/Services) a custom icon. These icons will appear in the Services [...]
My reaction to HP’s (nee Palm’s) webOS is diametrically opposed to that of my reaction to Windows Phone 7. The webOS looks decidedly Smartphone 1.0, with chintzy, plasticky looking graphics and entirely too much information. I’m not sure what people find so appealing about the OS, but I can’t imagine it’s the look of it. [...]
First off, apologies for the incredible dearth of posts for the past 3 months (Jesus!). I should have more on that soon. Suffice to say, I’m not dead. Meantime, I wanted to just point out the Ars review of Windows Phone 7, which I’m presently in the midst of skimming. And I have to say, [...]
Much has already been said about the high-profile features in the new iOS 4. But there are also a bunch of smaller, subtler changes that I really enjoy. Mail Gmail settings for mail, calendars and notes are now all integrated and accessible from one attractive page. To take advantage of this change you’ll have to [...]
Two small but exciting improvements revealed today. 1. Google has at last made some design improvements to their search results (via Daring Fireball). I wrote about my frustration with Google’s lack of design vision some time ago. It’s great to finally see them trying to improve their usability and their aesthetic at the same time. [...]
Google’s finally released a beta version of their browser for the Mac. I’m surprised at how impressive I’m finding it. Here are some initial observations: “Reopen Closed Tab” Google Chrome allows you to reopen the last tab you closed, which is an insanely useful feature I don’t seem to be able to live without anymore, [...]