Our goal is simple objects, objects that you can’t imagine any other way. Simplicity is not the absence of clutter. Get it right, and you become closer and more focused on the object.¹

It’s impossible to imagine a world now in which developers proudly browser-sniff to check that the customer is using the “right” browser on the “right” operating system, while they race to code applications that revolve around non-standard “extensions” thereby locking themselves and their users to one browser because it temporarily has the shiniest proprietary extras. That’s absolutely unthinkable as we approach 2011.¹

With just five words, “Design is how it works” expresses succinctly and accurately that engineering should and can be part of the art of design.¹

John Gruber writes a great article about Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs Biography, and about five simple words that could easily be used as a replacement for Apple’s “Think different”-tagline.

If you own a comic that gets upgraded to CMX-HD format, you’ll be prompted to re-download the comic in the higher-quality format. There’s no upgrade fee, nor do HD-capable comics cost more than other comics.¹

That’s the way you role out an HD upgrade.

Learning to think first rather than react quick is a life long pursuit. It’s tough. I still get hot sometimes when I shouldn’t. But I’m really enjoying all the benefits of getting better.¹

This is something that I need to think about. I can sometimes argue against a point made by someone else without thoroughly thinking about what that someone meant. Even if you ultimately still disagree, thinking through the other persons argument and points makes your counter-argument so much stronger.

As discussed in previous Monday Notes (here and here), there’s one strong, clear reason to bet against an integrated or smart Apple TV set: To perform the expected magic, a computer must inhabit the otherwise “dumb” TV. Very quickly, in a year or two, Moore’s Law will obsolete that computer. To get a new computer — more powerful, more fun –  you’ll need a whole new TV set. We might be willing to buy a new phone, tablet, or laptop every other year, but not a new 47” HDTV.¹

Jean-Louis Gassée makes a great case for why Apple will not release a TV set.

I’ve been forced to explain homosexuality to my kids (aged 3 and 4) because their uncle is gay. This incredibly difficult and traumatic experience went as follows:

Child: Why does Uncle Bob go everywhere with Pete?
Me: Because they’re in love, just like Mummy and Daddy are.
Child: Oh. Can I have a biscuit?

We’re all scarred for life. Scarred, I tell you.¹

A wonderful comment on a equally wonderful article about the gay marriage issue of Archie selling out, despite boycott threats from conservative groups.

John Goldwater, The co-CEO of Archie Comics, also has a great comment:

As I’ve said before, Riverdale is a safe, welcoming place that does not judge anyone. It’s an idealized version of America that will hopefully become reality someday.²

There are so many things about the USA that I love. In fact I could definitely see myself living there. However some Americans narrow-minded views on others lifestyle choices is just frightening. Big thumbs up for Archie Comics for standing up for peoples right to love whoever they want.

MacWorld’s Serenity Caldwell has posted an article about some changes to OS X in Mountain Lion. This new backup thing interests me.

After having a terrible hard drive disaster back in college, I’ve been horribly paranoid about my backup arrangements. Mountain Lion will humor my paranoia by letting me use Time Machine to back up to several disks at once, automatically. And since OS X supports backup to networked drives, I can keep my files current in several physical places as well, without any extra work.¹

This is a very interesting review from the Verge. Here’s three very important quotes:

What every other PC maker has failed at, Apple nails: the touchpad on the Air works better with Windows 7 than any other Windows laptop on the market.

[…]

Apple’s decision to use premium parts shows in the display. The 13-inch 1440 x 900 resolution panel bests most of the others in terms of resolution and pixel density. […] [It’s] also a very high quality display. That means that you can see what’s on the screen from most angles, and there isn’t any noticeable color change when you move the display back, like on the Folio 13.

[…]

And there’s more on this below, but the lack of bloatware really speeds up the general responsiveness of the operating system.¹

To me as a Mac user it proves that Apples focus on premium parts at a premium price really pays off for the user experience. (Ultimately the reviewer concludes that the Air plus Windows 7 is a bit to expansive.)

It’s impossible to imagine a world now in which developers proudly browser-sniff to check that the customer is using the “right” browser on the “right” operating system, while they race to code applications that revolve around non-standard “extensions” thereby locking themselves and their users to one browser because it temporarily has the shiniest proprietary extras. That’s absolutely unthinkable as we approach 2011.¹

A relatively old post (over a year), but I found it the other day. A great way of looking at the browser arms race of today.