SimplyBlog
SimplyBlog covers such topics as Macs & iPods, usability, web design, philosophical & political issues, and other grand insights.
When not blogging, I’m an interaction designer, teacher, and primary author of Usability for the Web.
Profile
Name: Tom Brinck
Age: 41
Birthday: July 12
Status: Single
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Occupation: Creative Director / Interaction Design
Quote: “One has to commit a painting, said Degas, the way one commits a crime.” — Octavio Paz
New Reading: Flight Vol. 1-4, Approaches to Peace, lots of haiku books.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
The Shangri-La Diet: Impressions of another fad diet
Summary: The Shangri-la diet is basically to drink a few tablespoons of extra-light olive oil every day, with the idea that this will suppress your appetite. With a lower appetite, you’ll eat less and lose weight. Sounds great. So far, I’ve tried it for 3 weeks with no measurable weight loss, while the book suggests an expected 2-3 pounds of weight loss per week. It’s an interesting theory
Sunday, September 23, 2007
When will we get back our democracy, and the courage that goes with a free society?
Summary: I’m frustrated by the current environment in U.S. society and politics that continues to restrict our freedoms. Airport security has become ridiculous, where an innocent art project gets you arrested, and people can’t take bottled water on a plane (it’s insane!). People are being violently tasered for being slightly obnoxious. In fact, I thought being obnoxious was not just a right,
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The future of the minimalist MP3 player
(or Conversing with my purple Shuffle)
(or Conversing with my purple Shuffle)
Summary: How much smaller can an MP3 player get, and what’s the point? What do I do with a music player that can hold a bazillion songs when I have no screen to navigate to the ones I want? I propose voice announcements and presets as ways to improve the experience of a music player with loads of memory. To get smaller, I suggest eliminating the buttons on the music player by using voice
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Doubt: The fascinating history of non-belief
Summary: A quick review of the delightful history and philosophy book, Doubt. The references were wonderful to free-thinking doubters throughout the world and throughout recorded history. I was pleased to hear that a tradition of doubt has been with us and passed down, together with refinements, up until the modern day, even as religion threatens to quiet those who would speak of atheism.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Initial iPhone impressions
Summary: I’ve tried the new iPhone, and it meets expectations. It’s fun. It’s engaging. Here’s my interface analysis and a few nuisances. I discuss the touchscreen, the keyboard, Coverflow, Clock (where’s the date?), Calculator, SMS, accessibility, audio quality, and the quality of iPod features. The speakers are awfully quiet, a problem for hearing the ring. I encountered a little
Thursday, August 17, 2006
iPhone DEADLINE: My countdown begins
Okay Apple, I realize I should have given you more time, but you’re going to have to perform with the time alloted. It’s time for me to buy a new cellphone.
I’m going to set a deadline of Tuesday, September 5, 2006 to release the iPhone. (Why Tuesday? Because Apple product launches are frequently on Tuesdays.) Otherwise, I’ll have gone without a phone long enough and will have to give in
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Mac OS X 10.5 update: Catching up with Leopard
Summary: A review of the preview of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. In particular, a great new backup tool is coming, nice updates to Mail and iChat, and the necessary updates to iCal to keep it in the running. Still no sign of internet search in Spotlight or a broader implementation of universal tagging, rating, coloring, and sharing.
At WWDC on August 7, 2006 Apple gave a preview of the features
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Obsession: finding the sympathetic heart of design
Summary: Attached is a talk I gave in Ann Arbor to the Michigan UPA and MOCHI chapters.
This presentation covers strategic concept, brand, user experience, usefulness, "fit", relevance, creativity, and user passion. It explores where to get ideas for the root concept of a design, and how to determine when you've got it right, tying together the contemporary focus on customer experience (e.g.,
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
iWeb review
Summary: iWeb 1.1.1 is a useful starting point in creating very simple websites, with some nice layout tools and effective basics for blogs and podcasts. It currently lacks a lot that keeps it from serving mildly complex needs or building larger sites. The provided templates don’t do a great job at following best practices in web design, and since templates can’t be modified, fixing your site
Sunday, July 30, 2006
iPod accessibility
Summary: iPods and other MP3 players are meant to be heard, but currently require good vision to use them effectively. I suggest simple features that would make them more accessible, and more fun for everyone to use, including setting the font size, icons in menus, audio icons, spoken menus and song names, display controls, scrollwheel sensitivity controls, and closed captions.
As tools for
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Apple performance Jan ’01 - Jul ‘06
Summary: I graph Apple quarterly financial data along with other quantitative data such as iTunes song sales and product release dates. These trends show the massive growth of the company since 2000.
I own a small amount of Apple stock and read their quarterly financial reports, but I’m always a bit frustrated that company reports and news reports rarely show graphs, give much historical
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Mac OS X 10.5: How I’d like my Leopard
Summary: The next version of Mac OS X, Leopard, is scheduled for release in early 2007. Here are some things I would like to see: Leopard should consistently use tagging, rating, and coloring (including bookmarks and contacts) throughout the system. Give all the applications the ability to create dynamic “playlists” and the ability to share data via Bonjour. Improve Spotlight, by putting the
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
iTunes Pro
Summary: An iTunes Pro application is a way to explore advanced music collection features that may not be appropriate for a mass audience while generating revenue developing ideas. Some possible features include asset management tools like richer metadata and detailed stats, composition features like support for audio loops and multi-track song formats, recording features for voice notes,
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Apple creative & media ecosystem
Summary: Above is a diagram of Apple’s software niches. Apple’s practice of producing equivalent consumer and professional applications suggests they may pursue professional versions of iWeb or iTunes. Their audio focus suggests a professional podcast, live radio, or live performance package. Their video focus suggests videocasting, video workflow, scriptwriting, or storyboarding. The Mac
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Don’t delete my life...on my hard drive
Summary: Losing data is a catastrophe for anyone. Today, this ought to be a supreme priority for computer manufacturers. I suggest: 1. integrate backup into the OS, 2. RAID drives, 3. a personal backup server, 4. build data recovery into the service model.
Losing a Lifetime of Data
I keep my whole life on my computer: appointments, phone numbers, notes, photos, music, emails, every report
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