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iMore app, making choices, and starting something big
Seth Clifford | April 2012

We're thrilled to announce the launch of a new app for iMore, the iOS arm of the vaunted Mobile Nations empire. It was the result of a few months of solid design and development with the ultimate goal being an app that looked and felt completely at home on the iPhone - an app that Apple itself could have created. We wanted to accurately represent the site and its content, and the end product is a highly polished, very usable reading app with podcast downloading/streaming functionality built right in. It's the first step in a series of developmental releases for iMore, and we're really looking forward to iterating on the app, and bringing it to the iPad as well.

To coincide with the launch, Rene (editor-in-chief of iMore) and I both wrote posts for the site to explain both the functions of the app as well as the challenges we faced in bringing it to life. His post and walkthrough is here, and my post on the choices we collectively made is here. I think they complement each other and provide a good deal of background on the process - and the sacrifices - of bringing a 1.0 to market when there's so much you want to do.

Stay tuned for updates to that app. I have a feeling they're going to come quickly. We all love it and can't wait to make it even better. And if you haven't, download it on the App Store and let us know what you think.

S

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Nickelfish v4.0
Seth Clifford | October 2011

After many months of planning, design, and construction, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that our new site is live! We've been trying to do this for a long time, but as the old saying goes "the shoemaker's children have no shoes", and we've been busy making awesome stuff for other people, neglecting our own tiny slice of the internets.

But no more. We've got a colorful, engaging look at some of the more recent work we've done and the new project pages reflect the pride we feel from the work. We've added many new members to our team, so we've fleshed out a little personal space for everyone, and we had some incredible artwork commissioned for us to depict the team as the superheroes they are. Be sure and read the alter-ego bios on the About page, they're just fantastic. There's a few other nerdy laughs tucked around the site amidst the copy, primarily for our own amusement, but we're sure a few of you will crack a smile here and there as well. And since some of you have asked in the past, we added a new Downloads section where we have some cool desktop wallpapers done by our design team that you can grab.

I'm going to personally try to blog more, and I'm bringing a few people kicking and screaming with me. We do a lot of thinking about stuff, and we like talking about it, so we're going to start sharing with you as well. A few team members have expressed an interest in writing about their respective fields, so I'm going to do my best to keep that train rolling. As always, you can follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/nickelfish) and like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/nickelfish). There are some great photos and videos on the Facebook page from around the office and some events that we've had.

Overall, we're so happy with the way the new site looks and feels, and it's long overdue. We really wanted something that we could show to people without disclaimers, and we feel we've hit our marks for now. We have plans to continue revising and adding features within the site, including some white papers that we've done on various topics, so keep an eye out for them. I'd love to know what you think about everything, so hit me up on Twitter (http://twitter.com/sethclifford) and say hi.

The power of the internet, focused locally.
Seth Clifford | July 2011

It's always amazing to me when something happens through actions on the internet that affects me in my actual life. On Friday such an occurrence came to pass, and it was one of those moments in which you realize what a truly valuable communication tool the web has become, and in this case, particularly Twitter. Twitter, derided by many in its path to prominence for being just a vector for sharing lunch preferences; Twitter, celebrity soapbox; Twitter, armchair activist bullhorn. It's always been a tool to me, for conversation, and a connection to people with like-minded interests.

At the office on Friday, we were testing a BlackBerry app that we've developed in tandem with an Android and iOS version. Something wasn't working quite right, and we couldn't determine if it was the app itself or our handset that was acting up. A sheepish query wandered through our conversation - "does anyone know ANYONE with this phone so we can find out what the problem is?" - and the stark realization that indeed, no one knew anyone with that particular phone became apparent.

I sounded the alert on Twitter - a last resort - and my post was retweeted and seen by someone not even following me at the time. It turns out, this guy not only had the phone we needed, but he was less than fifteen minutes away from our office and was happy to loan us the device. Elated, I made plans to meet him and set out to claim my redemption.

Within a single hour, with Twitter's help, I managed to get the backup device for our testing, and meet a fine gentleman who ended up running in many of the same online circles I did. Our social Venn diagrams never crossed for whatever reason, but that was quickly rectified, and I marveled at how quickly the entire scenario played out.

It's stuff like this that makes me tolerate the deluge of stupidity and ignorance surging through the internet. For every million asinine YouTube comments that make me hang my head in shame and lament humanity, there's one thing like this, but it's the rarity of it that makes it so special.

Huge thanks (again) to @jdipane for the RT, and to @azeis for coming through with the clutch play.

-SC [Cross-posted here]

Specs Mean Nothing [In a World of Software Experiences]
Seth Clifford | March 2011

The release of the iPad 2 brings with it some lofty claims by Apple about what it can accomplish, and other tablet makers have been quick to point out its inadequacies, but they've primarily focused on hardware shortcomings. Unfortunately for these other manufacturers, they're fighting a battle that really doesn't even exist in the minds of consumers.

Look at how Apple positions its products: pure experience, with promise of creation, exploration, and connection with the people and things we care about. That is what resonates with consumers. My mom isn't interested in the fact that the iPad has a dual-core processor, or that the Xoom has a better camera on the back. She cares about seeing her grandkids, and FaceTime makes that happen. Software enables her to experience what she wants with the device. The fact that the camera is only VGA means absolutely nothing to her.

This is where other companies fall down. They can't compete in the software choices. They build to impress a group of people (spec nerds) who represent a shrinking market, and a market whose clout over the direction the consumer tech industry takes has all but vanished. Apple builds for everyone. It's the reason hardcore geeks get bent out of shape when they can't do exactly what they want with Apple hardware, but it's not for them. It's for everyone else, and everyone else is who's spending the lion's share of the money and filling Apple's coffers with reasons to continue along this path. Computers have been too hard to use for too many people for too long and Apple's stance is that it's time for a change.

The spec battle is long since over. Companies who insist on continuing it instead of creating compelling software experiences do so at their own peril. It's too bad, because more interesting software makes the market better for all of us.

-SC [Cross-posted here]