Typography for non-professionals

Seth Godin:

If you use a typeface that reminds me of the script on the menu of a French restaurant, then no, I’m not going to instinctively believe that you’re a good doctor. If you use a thin, elegant wedding invitation font in your Powerpoint presentation, you haven’t been clever, you’ve merely confused me.

So true. I see people do crazy things like this all the time and it just makes me angry.

CleanMyMac 2

Many thanks to CleanMyMac 2 for sponsoring this week’s RSS feed on The Loop.

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Some humor

Harry Marks’ “My Valiant Return to Reading” is hilarious. Clearly making fun of some people that quit the Internet.

What comes after flat design?

Geri Reid brings up a good question. Skeuomorphic design took the world on quite a ride, but it seems to be out now. While I don’t agree with her that Microsoft “struck a winning blow with the flat interface of Windows 8,” there is no doubt a change is coming.

I would like to see Apple update their interfaces, but not eschew Skeuomorphic elements altogether.

Remember Apple’s previous keynotes. The crowd didn’t roar and applaud for the flat design elements, they cheered when the Passbook app shredded a card with a realistic shredder that popped up on the screen.

Apple needs to refine that design, not replace it.

YouTube says it won the battle with the TV

YouTube vs. TV? YouTube says the battle — if there ever was one — is over.

In a flashy presentation to advertisers Wednesday night, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt declined to forecast that Internet video will displace television watching. Instead he declared: “That’s already happened.”

I agree that habits are changing and there is a huge shift coming, but I don’t believe YouTube has won.

Backblaze iPhone app

Shawn Blanc takes a look at Backblaze’s new iPhone app for managing the off-site backup of your desktop computer.

Triage email app for iPhone

Triage is for people who struggle to stay on top of their inbox. It doesn’t try to replace your desktop mail client, but lets you use your downtime to quickly remove the noise and stress.

I tested Triage and loved it. It was released while I was traveling, so I didn’t get a chance to post about it. It’s a brilliant idea to help you keep on top of your email quickly and easily.

Ev Williams on building Medium

This article was posted last November, but there are some great lessons to be learned for anyone that is building a product or company.

Apple’s “All-Time Top Apps”

Federico Viticci has a list of the top apps from the past few years. I found the “interesting facts about the new charts” section to be great.

Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman dead at 49

Just over two years after contracting a rare skin tissue disease, Slayer guitarist and songwriter Jeff Hanneman died on Thursday from liver failure at a hospital near his home in Southern California’s Inland Empire area.

RIP

The Street.com sure fucked this one up

There’s a story on The Street today titled, “Lookout Apple, Here Comes Microsoft: Surface Tablets Break Into Top 5.” Sounds impressive, right? […]

Horace Dediu talks about analysts

Horace Dediu talking about analysts:

So paradoxically, the opinion of those who are highly paid should be treated with suspicion while the opinion of those subject to peer review should be treated with respect. It brings to mind the difference between highly paid fortune tellers and pundits whose methods are obscure vs. poorly paid graduate students whose methods are open to all. Whose opinion is worth more?”

I have a great deal of respect for Horace.

Apple releases iOS 6.1.4

According to Apple, iOS 6.1.4 has an updated audio profile for speakerphone, as well as security content originally included in previous iOS Software Updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on device to get the update.

No HBO GO without a cable subscription

Jeff Bewkes, CEO of HBO’s parent company Time Warner, said on Wednesday that the company has no plans to offer HBO GO without a cable subscription.

This will make a lot of people very unhappy.

Heineken challenges designers

I was hoping it was a drinking contest, but they are looking for ideas that appeal to drinkers over 60-years-old.

Amplified: People Love You

Jim and Dan discuss Jim being driven to strike someone at a Metallica concert, tarantulas and june bugs, a Volkswagen Beatle with an iPad dock, and more.

Sponsored by Gazelle, Shutterstock (use code DANSENTME4 for 30% off), and Shopify.

PCalc for iOS

James Thomson says this is the biggest update to the app since its initial release.