AutoRip for books

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Still, AutoRip is painfully close to something I’ve found myself pining for since starting to use a Kindle e-reader: free Kindle copies of purchased physical books.

A lot of people would love that.

Ottawa Citizen praises Qualcomm keynote

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The challenge for Qualcomm was to find a way to showcase their technology and keep the keynote about them and not the products of the companies that use their technology. Not only did they pull it off, they did it in style.

Everyone in the tech industry looked at the Qualcomm keynote and said WTF? Except the Ottawa Citizen. Now you know which Canadian site to never read.

Designing the empty pages in apps

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Empty states are places in apps that have no content or data. They are empty. A blank page. Traditionally empty states are overlooked as most designers focus on how best to display lots of content or data.

Great article. When I see an app where the empty pages have seen some attention, I’m confident that the designer has thought about the details of the app. Strangely, it’s these pages that often make you feel like the designer missed something.

If Apple was more like Samsung

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While Apple released one new iPhone last year, Samsung let loose a whopping 37 different phone variations. (For those keeping score, HTC released 18, Nokia introduced nine, and LG launched 24.) Certainly good hardware design played a role in Samsung’s healthy sales. But it also didn’t hurt that the company flooded the market.

Apple puts all of its efforts into making one great product for users. Clearly everyone else is just throwing as much at the market as they can.

Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass

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Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass captures the unmistakable sound of a Rickenbacker 4003 for the first time in software. Delivering meaty, low end thunder and the crisp, defined midrange that has shaped rock and pop history, Rickenbacker BASS is the first software instrument to be officially approved by Rickenbacker.

Sounds good.

Amplified: Burrito, Hoagie, iPhone

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Jim and Dan discuss people’s expectations of Apple now and in the future and the top stories coming from Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Sponsored by Hover (use code DANSENTME for 10% off), Harvest (use code 5BY5 for 50% off), and Lynda.

Man up

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I agree with Michael. If you do a review, don’t waste your readers time.

Apple moves to stop App Store scammers

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This small but important update shuts down a widely used scam tactic, where developers would upload game screenshots to get an app approved by Apple and then switch them out with screenshots from another popular app.

Great move by Apple.

Kickstarter in 2012

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The company put together a little slideshow of the high points from last year. Some fascinating numbers.

Website usability tests

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In one of the first usability tests I ever did, I met a lovely old lady who could not use a mouse. She kept lifting it in the air and pointing at the screen, speaking words of encouragement to the cursor. At the end of the test I got absolutely nothing, but she did think I was a “lovely boy” who should meet her granddaughter. Very quickly I learned the value of setting very clear criteria for participant recruitment.

That’s classic. Thankfully Damian Rees offers some tips to improve your results.

Android developers get RIMmed

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The matter came to light when one developer said he’d received a request for support from someone who’d purchased the BB version of his app, despite the fact that he’d created no such version.

Oh RIM.

Creative block

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Creative block, writers block or whatever you call it, is a terrible thing to overcome. It’s that point when your mind will just not think, not let any ideas or words through this giant wall it’s erected in your mind. Stacey Kole offers some ideas on how to get around it.

Book stores foster ebook sales

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A fascinating premise, but I don’t get it. If we are shopping online more than ever, why go to a book store to see what we want to buy online?

Netflix Super HD

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Netflix Super HD requires an internet connection with at least 5Mb/s download. Not all devices can play Super HD. Super HD is only available via Internet Providers that are part of the Open Connect network.

Hulu’s Original and Exclusive Series

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In less than two years, Hulu has distributed 25 Hulu Original and Exclusive Series, offering viewers distinctive premium programming that can’t be seen anywhere else from top creative talent and 2013 is gearing up to be another great year for exclusive and original programming on Hulu. It’s a thrill to share what we have planned, including a new slate of Original and Exclusive Series that’s chock full of superheroes-in-training, rogue French cops, high-energy mascots and more. All shows will be available on free Hulu.com and the Hulu Plus subscription service.

This is the type of content I like to see services like Hulu work on. Exclusive, original, well done content. That’s worth paying for.

CocoaConf

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Dave Klein posted some dates on the 2013 CocoaConf Spring Tour. They have several cities already lined up.

Fender Select Series 2013

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Fender Select series guitars and basses combine more than six decades of Fender experience and expertise with a wealth of high-end features and elegant design options for discerning musicians everywhere.

I must have one of the Strats.

Delivering innovation vs delivering products

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A company’s ability to manufacture products and sell them worldwide is not the same as having the power to deliver innovation to a market. Apple has proven over the last few decades that it innovates, while many of its competitors are satisfied with building products based on that innovation. […]

Letter from David Bowie in 1970

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In November of 1970, a month after signing a five-year publishing deal with Chrys­alis Music, 24-year-old David Bowie wrote the following letter to Bob Grace, the man who signed him, and briefly filled him in on his life so far.