What’s wrong with the news
Aritcle: The 3 key parts of news stories you usually don’t get
A really interesting read on the problems with journalism at the moment. It highlights that news reporting features only the latest headlines skipping over the important investigative details and relative backstory.
On the App Store
There’s been a constant buzz of internet activity circulating around the iTunes App Store recently with particular focus on app rejections and Apple’s responses. I don’t have a problem with apps being reviewed. I don’t have a problem with some apps being rejected. What I don’t like is that the rules for rejecting apps are vague at best and that some of them are down right stupid.
The one that really bugs me is the “duplicating functionality” argument. If google can build a better mail client than Apple can then why am I not entitled to decided which mail client I use? Same goes for browsers and everything else said to be duplicating functionality.
Apple, regarded by many as the most innovative company in the world, is doing nothing other than killing innovation by persisting with this non-compete policy.
User Interface Design: Complexity
Article: Managing UI Complexity
Excellent article on designing UI’s and a whole bunch of “little” things with big impacts that one should be paying attention to.
Waits that Work
Link: Designing Waits that Work
The MIT Sloan Management Review has published Donald Norman’s paper ‘Designing Waits That Work‘ (available for $6.50).
Could be an interesting read. If anyone’s bought it let me know how it is.
Update: Turns out you can get the article for free by clicking through and signing up for free.
Banks and progress?
Link: Gruber on USAA Bank allowing check deposit by photo.
Innovation by banks? I like it but never would have seen it coming. Don’t think it’ll happen over here in Australia any time soon though.
Titan
Article: Meet Earth’s Little Brother Titan
Titan, one of Saturn’s Moons, apparently resembles earth to some extent. Apart from being super cooled (-160 degrees Celsius) it’s got a thick atmosphere and an earth like surface. I love space exploration and am forever hopeful that I’ll get to visit another planet before I die. We really need another space movement like the last space race.