web * print * motion * code
Recently we’ve discovered how handy YouTube playlists are on our Apple TV. Whenever we find content that we want to watch in succession, I add it to a playlist on my YouTube account for later viewing. The reason why this is so handy is because Apple TV will play all items in a YouTube playlist without interruption. The utility of this becomes apparent once you consider a couple of examples: [Read more...]
I’ve been so busy with work lately that I’ve seriously neglected posting here. So I thought I’d share links to some of the tools that have been helping me get things done. [Read more...]
Like many people, I’ve been fascinated by Steve Jobs impact upon our world. With his passing last week, I’ve come across many good reads offering different perspectives on one of the greatest innovators of our time:
Steve Jobs and the Portal to the Invisible – Esquire
Originally published in October 2008 with updates in 2011, this article looks at various aspects of Jobs’ life and their influence upon his passions, drive and genius.
Xerox PARC, Apple, and the Truth About Innovation – The New Yorker
This piece by Malcolm Gladwell provided me with a clearer picture of Steve Jobs’ fabled visit to Xerox’s Palo-Alto Research Center (PARC). Reading it was like watching a dimly viewed myth materialize into reality.
The Wizard and the Mortal: Two Sides of Genius – NY Times
Many have likened Steve Jobs to a modern day Thomas Edison. This piece, by a man who wrote books about both men, does a good job of providing profound comparisons and contrasts between the two.
What are some great stories about Steve Jobs? – Quora
Here’s a great collection of user contributed stories about Steve Jobs.
I learned about Jobs' death while browsing on my iPad.
As our second daughter was born a week and a half ago, I haven’t had time lately to peruse my usual news outlets. However, last night before bed, we’d laid Paige down, and I had a spare moment to browse the web on my iPad. I pulled up the NY Times, and I was greeted by the news that Steve Jobs had died. I was immediately taken by the sadness of his passing, a much admired tech-icon taken too soon.
This morning before I get to work, I’m aware of how much what I do has been influenced by Steve Jobs. I develop websites with my iMac. I stay up-to-date with the latest developments in web design by browsing the web and reading feeds on my iPad. Each day I talk to my clients on my iPhone. Yet, as I’ve written before, I’ve made the switch to Mac only recently. However, even before the switch, Steve Job’s fingerprints have been upon the tools of my trade.
The very concept of a “personal computer” found much of its genesis in Job’s mind. During his fabled visit to Xerox’s Palo-Alto Research Campus (PARC), it was Jobs who saw how the combination of a computer, a mouse and a graphical user interface (GUI) was the key to bringing computing power to the masses. Now thirty some-odd years later, I, like many other freelancers, benefit from the power of personal computing. Via these machines, we’re able to do meaningful work and make a living from the comfort of our home offices.
During our lifetimes, we’ve been witness to a remarkable explosion of technology. Steve Jobs stands out as a true innovator and visionary of our time. For those of us who work with, play with and use computers and mobile devices each day, we are indebted to Mr. Jobs’ skill, vision and aesthetic. Thank you, Mr. Jobs for your contributions to this world and our lives.
This month’s Fortune magazine features an article taking a look inside of Apple, Inc. In addition to being an entertaining read, Fortune has made the article available via Amazon’s Kindle Store (Inside Apple — From Steve Jobs down to the janitor: How America’s most successful – and most secretive – big company really works
One of my favorite stories from the article is Steve Job’s parable: The Difference Between the Janitor and the Vice President. Every time an executive reaches VP, Steve Jobs relates the following story:
Jobs imagines his garbage regularly not being emptied in his office, and when he asks the janitor why, he gets an excuse: The locks have been changed, and the janitor doesn’t have a key. This is an acceptable excuse coming from [the janitor]. [He] gets to explain why something went wrong… “When you’re the janitor, reasons matter,” Jobs tells incoming VPs. He continues: “Somewhere between janitor and the CEO, reasons stop mattering. That Rubicon is crossed when you become a VP.”
That story has application beyond big companies. It makes me think of how I run my web design/development business. Do I run it like a janitor or like an executive?
It’s always my goal to deliver high quality results which don’t compromise my client’s vision. In order to do this, I must be “on top of my game,” keeping up-to-date with the latest best-practice technology and never compromising my own high standards. In addition, I also must keep my focus narrow enough that my solutions are able to meet those demands.
These ideals work themselves out in the products and services I offer. I specialize in coding and developing WordPress powered websites. In addition, I generally require that my clients host their websites on my Rackspace managed server. Focusing on one web software (i.e. WordPress) allows me to have expert knowledge of its capabilities and implementation. Hosting with Rackspace means I’m able to offer hosting backed by one of the world’s most reliable IT staffs. This gives me end-to-end control over the services I provide. Bottom line: I’m able to manage the quality of the products I offer at every step of the process.
Oftentimes merely knowing about something pales in comparison to actually experiencing the thing. This was the case with me and the FaceTime video calling feature on my iPhone. I knew the concept as I’ve participated in numerous video calls before; however, I had yet to experience the simplicity of the FaceTime interface along with the portability of my iPhone. The opportunity to move from theory into practice happened when my daughter, Ella, and I placed a FaceTime call to “grandmommy” one evening last week. [Read more...]
Today’s Links of Interest focuses on my favorite tablet computer, the Apple iPad. Ever since I bought my iPad WiFi+3G on launch day last year, it has been my “go-to” computer for casual computing. I do believe it has been my favorite technology purchase ever.
This past fall, one of my clients purchased me an iMac so I could develop an iPad application for them. It only took a couple of weeks of working with it before I was compelled to completely ditch my PC. [Read more...]
This video shows Steve Jobs introducing the Macintosh computer twenty-five years ago. Watch it to see how far things have come.
(HT: Sachin’s Posterous)
