Jason Tiernan

May 19

Github for Recipes

Someone make it please?

#thehungerideas

May 18

Start making something useful

The design community in general seems to be very inwardly focused. Many of the problems we try to “solve” are those we ourselves create and like talking about. For example, the world really doesn’t need a new photo sharing app. I think we can move on to something else.

We should all start trying to make things better for the normal people. Not designers or those that love advertising. With sites like Facebook having such a huge captive community of the world, it seems like a great opportunity to make their lives better while they are there. 

May 15

The slow death of Flickr

Great article on how Yahoo killed Flickr.

I originally started using flickr as another form of backup for photos. It was quick, would save my camera settings, and be easily sorted/shared with friends. Simple. The main problem with flickr is that it never really evolved. Aside from the slick uploader, the rest of the site remained unchanged for years. 

I find myself wanting to leave flickr for some other alternative, like 500px but I feel locked in. I’ve been using it for years and apps like Instagram leave me with no other alternative but facebook. 

I hope as online storage gets cheaper, a new competitor comes around.

May 11

If not the whole head, how about an ear?

It looks like we have some confirmation of Apple debuting a new Maps in iOS 5 that will supposedly “blow your head off”. Oh hyperbole, how I love you.

*fingers crossed*

May 10

So now that Facebook has bought Instagram

Will Google buy Viddy? Seems like a logical acquisition. 

May 09

App Store Wishlist

With WWDC around the corner, I started to think of how the App Store could make the world (ok, mostly nerds) happier.

• An option for video previews. There is only so much you can get from still images.
   
• Automatic App Updating Options. I’ve said this before, but I hate the amount of work I have to do just to keep everything updated to the latest and greatest version. 
   
• Better discoverability. Let me filter search results by popularity, release date, rating, etc. I feel like the best apps only spread through word of mouth. 
   
• Trial Versions and proper upgrade paths for the Mac App Store. 

world-shaker:

This is an amazing idea.

(The QR codes let you download the ebook!)

(via thenextweb)

Apr 24

Which cloud storage is right for you?

With the announcement of Google’s foray into consumer cloud storage comes a great side by side comparison on The Verge.

Dropbox is still the winner in my opinion.

Apr 23

Light Table

A couple of months ago, Bret Victor posted a fantastic video, Inventing on Principle showing some experimental UI concepts and the future of software engineering.

It left everyone asking, “Why haven’t we been thinking about it that way before?”. Our tools looked outdated. Live debugging/coding/however you want to describe it is the future.

Chris Granger has introduced something remarkably close on Kickstarter, Light Table. Currently at 116 thousand away from its goal, I hope it picks up steam and gets us one step closer to the instant feedback and creative coding that Bret had talked to.

Apr 21

iOS 6 Wishlist

After playing around extensively with both Android and Windows phone interfaces I still believe that iOS is the best mobile operating system available. Of course, I’m only talking about the latest iteration of iOS on no phone older than the iPhone 4.

That being said, there is always room for improvement. In the next couple months we will start to get a peek at what the next generation of iPhone software has to (finally as I’m sure everyone will say) feature. Here’s a quick top 10 features I’d love to see in the update.

1. Maps - Maps on the iPhone hasn’t changed much (at all?) since 2007. It has always struck me, as passable. Google has the best public maps out there currently and I know that the Android experience is better. Hell, why are we still waiting for turn by turn directions?  Now we know Apple bought C3 Technologies recently who seem to have a magical product, but it’s a lot easier said then done to come out with something that works as well as Google’s product (not on the iPhone).
    
2. New Gestures - Specifically, swipe up multitasking. In iOS 5, Apple introduced the notification center which would be accessed via swiping from the top of the screen. I propose that instead of double clicking the home button to access the multitasking tray, you swipe up from the bottom. Maybe Siri should be accessed from a double click instead of a hold?
    
3. Further Siri Integration - Now I know that it will be a while before it’s feasible for third party apps to have Siri functionality but it would be fantastic to have the ability to control system preferences via Siri. For example, “Siri, turn off Wifi.”
    
4. Fix Apple ID - My biggest gripe with Apple’s push into the iCloud model is the implementation of the Apple ID system. It started with iTools back in the day, then iTunes, then MobileMe. The system is convoluted and broken for those with legacy accounts, or those with multiple accounts. (family households and the such) I could go on and on about this but I’ll save that for another day. Just please fix it, Apple.
    
5. Unified Search & Address Bar in Safari - Safari in Mountain Lion looks to have this improvement. Please introduce it into iOS. I can’t count how many times I’ve quickly gone to search for something and been in the wrong field.
    
6. A true Dashboard - The notifications panel tried to do this but this in my opinion is the biggest area of opportunity for iOS 6. Apple really needs to steal the functionality of Windows Phone Active Tiles here. Have there be an option to view the screen upon unlocking. It would be great to be able to look at a glance at various things like mail, weather, social activity, etc. Seeing what has changed on my iPhone since I last viewed it is more important then seeing which apps I launch most.
    
7. Make iCloud Better. - The idea of “the cloud” is more marketing than anything, but Apple really has an opportunity to push how valuable it is to have data accessible from any device via the web. Google is pushing out, Drive their competitor to Dropbox soon, why doesn’t Apple have something similar? Which leads me to…
    
8. File Management - Dropbox is awesome. I just drop what I’m working on at home or work into a folder and it’s synced and ready to go anywhere I need it. Apple needs this. I’m not even asking for the ability to edit that content, just preview it, and transfer around if need be. Sync it to iCloud. Call it the new iDisk. Act like Dropbox doesn’t even exist. That or try partnering with/buying them again.
    
9. Further Facetime Integration - Give third party developers access to an API. The technology is great and needs to spread. 
    
10. Automatic App Updates - Allow me to flick a switch to allow my apps to automatically update on their own. Even if it’s only over Wifi. It would be even greater if I had an update all, or could manually pick and choose which I wanted to update. Certain developers are always pushing out minor bug fixes, where others will push out updates that I may not necessarily want yet.

There are ton of other lil’ nitpicking things I’d like to see fixed too, but listing those out may make me look like a crazy person.