To use iBooks Author or not

Written by

Brett Kelly:

Let me restate that I’m not just generally crapping on iBooks, the iBooks Author application or anything else. I’m an eBook author that’s sold a few copies and is pretty happy with how things have gone. If Apple’s wares seem like just the thing for your next eBook project, then I’d suggest you seriously consider employing them.Just make sure you think through all of the possible ramifications of such a decision. That’s all I’m saying.

Brett certainly has some good points. While I’ve been asked many times to write a book, I never have, so I’m not an eBook author. For me, the interactivity that iBooks Author offers would be enough to use it and sell my books through the iBookstore. As Brett said, it’s important to know everything before you jump in.

Minimalist Web design

Written by

DesignModo:

The role of minimalism is very strong in web design with the help of companies like Apple. Apple has helped expose minimalism in to the 20th century by the way their website, branding and devices were stripped down to show only its necessary elements, the less is more statement has never been so popular.

Clearly I’m a big fan of minimalist designs, but I like functionality and coolness too.

Johnny Cash’s 1970 Rolls-Royce up for auction

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In 1970, at the height of his career, Cash needed a personal limousine. He turned to Rolls-Royce where he acquired a long-wheelbase Silver Shadow Saloon. At the time the Crewe factory did not produce a limousine, so Cash turned to a local Nashville coachbuilder, gave them his specifications and this is the final product. Cash used this limousine up through 1977 when it was sold to another private owner prior to coming to the Burdick collection.

Longform.org’s iPad app

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Longform delivers all of the latest in-depth articles from the world’s best magazines, plus unmissable reads curated from across the web by the editors of Longform.org. Perfect for commutes, flights, or Sunday afternoons.

I expect this will be quite popular.

Nestle’s focus on packaging design

Written by

Dexigner:

Nestle is the first food and beverage company to adopt this method following its partnership with the university in 2009. Inclusive Design is a process which seeks to develop product design to meet the needs of more people. Companies can use a number of specialist Inclusive Design tools to determine how they can make products easier to use.

Interesting article on how product design is helping people with arthritis and other physical problems.

BGR comments frustration

Written by

BGR:

I’m tired of reading nonsense and of interacting with people that solely troll this site just to get a rise out of other commenters and start a holy war in the comments section. I’m tired of having to delete crap and I’m tired of people complaining that a few thousand people ruin it for millions. Maybe I’m just tired of you.

Another site turns of story comments. BGR is one of the biggest in recent months to do it though.

Jordan Rudess talks iPad, Dream Theater

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There are a handful of musicians that really push the boundaries. For anyone that knows Jordan Rudess, it will come as no surprise that he is one of them! In this exclusive interview with MPVHub Jordan reveals the inspiration behind his popular iOS apps, talks candidly about Dream Theater’s creative process, and explores how music technology has changed the way he approaches the music making process.

I’ve known Jordan for a number of years and have a tremendous amount of respect for him.

Samsung faces antitrust investigation in Europe

Written by

BGR:

The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether Samsung Electronics has abusively, and in contravention of a commitment it gave to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), used certain of its standard essential patent rights to distort competition in European mobile device markets, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

CSS3 image styles

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If you click the “view demo” button, you can see how they will look. I like the cutout style.

Launch Center profiles

Written by

Dave Caolo:

This got me thinking of “profiles” for the app, or how individuals might set the app up, based on occupation or interest. Launch Center does not offer a profiles feature, but it doesn’t really have to. Instead, a person’s interests or occupation naturally creates a certain list of of tasks.

Tools for increasing productivity are getting better, but a lot times it’s how we use them that make the apps truly great.

Apple pauses push for high-def music says Neil Young

Written by

CNN:

Jobs was personally involved in the high-def initiative, speaking directly to Young about it, the 66-year-old musician recalled. Improving the quality of digital music is a personal mission for Young, who has evangelized for it before.“Steve Jobs was a pioneer of digital music,” Young said. “But when he went home, he listened to vinyl.”

Laughing Squid Web hosting

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So some of you may not realize this, but Laughing Squid also offers cloud-based web hosting services via Laughing Squid Web Hosting. We’ve been hosting websites since 1998 and the revenue generated from our web hosting services helps support this blog and our other projects. One of our main focuses is hosting WordPress blogs, in fact we are one of the web hosting companies officially recommended by WordPress. So if you are looking for a web host, check us out!

I had no idea that they did Web hosting.

Tips for designers when choosing a CMS

Written by

Tyler Herman:

Don’t just go with the easiest one to configure without taking in some other considerations. A one-click install is nice, but should not be a deciding factor.

Apple hires new Senior Vice President of Retail

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Apple today announced that John Browett will join the company as senior vice president of Retail, reporting to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Browett comes to Apple from European technology retailer Dixons Retail, where he has been CEO since 2007. Beginning in April, he will be responsible for Apple’s retail strategy and the continued expansion of Apple retail stores around the world.“Our retail stores are all about customer service, and John shares that commitment like no one else we’ve met,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We are thrilled to have him join our team and bring his incredible retail experience to Apple.”

Replacing Ron Johnson, who left Apple for Target.

MacDailyNews Take

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After Cameron Kaine wrote for Seeking Alpha that the Kindle Fire was released to rave reviews, MacDailyNews did the best rebuttal I’ve seen in a long time. A massive list of links of everything but rave reviews.

Great stuff.

[Via DF]

iBooks 2 and home schooling

Written by

The Mac Observer:

By comparison, you’d spend around $800 for an iPad 2 and a new textbook each year for those four basic courses. You’d get more up-to-date materials, interactive learning, and a smaller footprint in your luggage for those long-distance field trips. And, you’d spend half as much for that learning experience as you would using traditional books.

Interesting, I hadn’t considered the impact on home schooling.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad

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While Super Bowl ads require a substantial investment, they tend to get a measurable marketing bump from their prominent placement. According to Nielsen, ads that aired during 2011’s Super Bowl XLV were, on average, 58 percent more memorable than commercials airing during regular programming in the first quarter of 2011. In addition, brand awareness for commercials airing during the Super Bowl was up to 275 percent higher than awareness for the same creative during regular programming.

[…]

Startup caught stealing from 37signals

Written by

Jolie O’Dell:

Evidence shows that not only did the Curebit team copy 37signals; they’re serving some assets right from 37signals’ original site.

Not cool.

‘Destroy America’ tweet lands traveler in jail

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When Van Bryan and Bunting arrived in the US, they were immediately detained by officials at Los Angeles International Airport, held by armed guards and questioned for over five hours before they were “handcuffed, put in a van with illegal immigrants and locked up overnight.”