If you ever have the need to take a screenshot on your Mac, bookmark this guide.
Design
Designing for the Apple Watch, and some pro tips
Tech design agency Mutual Mobile put together a solid infographic laying out the process of designing for the Apple Watch as well as an interesting set of pro tips.
An Apple Watch use case
Rob Richman, writing for Opinion8td, on his long hospital stay and the value of having a smart watch on his wrist.
Another Apple Watch sizing guide
If you are wondering about the relative sizes of the different case and strap sizes, give this sizing guide a try.
This is the Apple Watch I will wear
Genius.
Collected reactions to the Apple Watch
Jay Yarow at Business Insider pulled together a variety of reactions to some hands-on time with the Apple Watch. These are snap reactions, given without the opportunity to live with the technology, without the benefit of true immersion.
In a nutshell, the reaction feels like one of confusion with the Apple Watch interface.
Free HTML5, CSS site templates
I think these are pretty nice looking, elegant without complexity. Try them out, view the page source. Good stuff.
Instant logo design
Withoomph takes a business name and a set of keywords and gens up a set of logos for your consideration.
Apple Watch wins gold at renowned IF design awards
From the International Forum web site:
Apple Watch features revolutionary new technologies, a pioneering interface, and a design that honors the rich tradition of watchmaking.
Apple Watch and the power of focused design
If price was no object, if every single watch in both the Apple Watch and Android Wear collections cost exactly the same, and if both watch lines worked equally well with your personal choice of platform, which watch would you choose?
Canadians “Spock” their banknotes to honor Leonard Nimoy
Fantastic.
Designing for the Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel won the Academy Award for Best Production Design (an award that combines the categories of art direction and set decoration). In my opinion, no other movie even came close.
To get a sense of the elements involved, take a read through this interview with the film’s lead graphic designer Annie Atkins, who was responsible for every graphic prop in the movie.
The Apple Watch, pricing and repairability
Serenity Caldwell explores the possibility of the Apple Watch having a repairable/replaceable core. Good article. A solid idea.
Handcrafting a guitar
A gorgeous walk through the process of handcrafting a guitar.
If you work with color, the ColorDrop app is a great app to have
If you work with color, this is an excellent app to have. Pick a picture from your library, zoom in, touch a pixel, all the info you could ever want about the pixel’s color.
Stand that uses gecko-like microscopic suction to hold your iPad
This is not necessarily my cup of tea as an iPad stand (the angle is not adjustable), but I find the technology behind the stickum fascinating.
The thing Apple and Microsoft do not get about Gmail
Every time I hear about a new email client that will support multiple services, I get excited. Is this finally the one that will free me from gmail’s native iOS app? And time after time, I am disappointed, all because of one missing feature.
How a Superbowl football is made
This is a surprisingly heartwarming look at the people who make their living crafting footballs that will be used in the Superbowl.
Free patterns you can use in your own designs
There are some incredible patterns here, all Photoshop compatible, all free to use (covered by a Creative Commons license).
Leatherman should bring this new bracelet to the Apple Watch
Dave Aiello spotted this new bracelet from Leatherman, makes the pitch that Leatherman should turn this into a watchband for the Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch and staged notifications
Rene Ritchie, writing about the process of receiving a notification on the iWatch. Apple, per usual, gets it spot on right.
Be My Eyes – An app that lets you help a blind person
Be My Eyes pairs visually impaired and sighted people in video link sessions that let the sighted person help sort out a specific problem.
Watch the video below. Brilliant.
On multi-user access to your iOS device
Have you ever wanted to share your iPhone or iPad with someone else? If you share your Mac with someone, you can each have your own account. OS X is designed for multiple users. But iOS is not.
Here’s an idea for a short term fix.
How your favorite apps might look on the Apple Watch
This is a really well done piece with some thoughtful Apple Watch mockups for Uber, Foursquare, Instagram, and others.
A strategy for picking colors for your design
A bit of help making color choices for your design.
Seaboard’s wildly innovative piano keyboard
This keyboard was introduced about a year ago, but I saw it for the first time yesterday. This is a novel interface, in much the same way as the Chapman Stick. I love outlying technology like this.
A car key embedded in your watch
Imagine if a standard emerged that allowed Apple to embed your specific car key in your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Apple patents next generation, GoPro-like wearable camera
Yesterday, Apple was granted a patent for a Digital camera system having remote control. GoPro stock drops about 15%.
Robotic iPad covers in Apple display window
This Regent Street, London Apple Store window shows off a series of iPads with covers that automatically open and close, turning on and off the iPad with each cycle. Charming. Fascinating.
Makes me wonder how this works. There are no obvious wires or holes. There must be a motor underneath each iPad, but what’s the linkage that makes the cover bend over like that? Really well done.
The daily routines of famous creative people
Follow the link to an interactive page listing a number of historic figures along with their daily regimen. It might sound dull, but it is fascinating, especially if you have an interest in history or design.