David Hughes

Notes From Afar

Tag: Apple (page 2 of 9)

19 June 2019

35 Years Of Progress?

Ian Bogost’s Atlantic article I Wrote This on a 30-Year-Old Computer was written entirely on an 30 year old Macintosh SE and makes for a fascinating trip down memory lane and back to the future.

There’s much to think about in the article, but one line really stood out to me:

Computing was an accompaniment to life, rather than the sieve through which all ideas and activities must filter.

‘The sieve through which all ideas and activities must filter’ – what a phrase and what a thought.

Within my online ‘bubble’ there seems to be a growing movement away from social media and being ‘always on’ and towards Digital Minimalism – a phrase coined by Cal Newport in his latest book.

I wonder if we’ve made as much progress as we think we have over the last 35 years, or have we become shackled and beholden to the devices and services we’ve created?

19 January 2018

Twelvesouth PencilSnap Review

Where and how to store your Apple Pencil is an ongoing first world problem for iPad Pro users. Apple’s cases and covers don’t include a home for your pencil; except for the eye wateringly expensive Leather Sleeve.

Apple make a very nice looking Pencil Case, but I could never understand why it wasn’t magnetic allowing it to stick to your Smart Cover or Keyboard.

I guess Twelvesouth had the same thought and thus created the PencilSnap – a leather sleeve for your Apple Pencil that sticks to your Smart Cover through the wonder of magnetism.

When I saw the PencilSnap I ordered one immediately. Now, the PencilSnap isn’t cheap; it cost me £35 including shipping, and then there was a further £5 in customs charges, so £40 in all. Suddenly Apple accessories seem almost reasonably priced.

When I removed the PencilSnap from it’s rather nice box I had to check the box for details of the case as I was confused over the PencilSnap’s construction. The PencilSnap is made from leather, apparently, but it looks and feels like pleather or dare I say it vinyl. It certainly isn’t the same quality or feel as Apple’s Smart Cover, and so doesn’t match well visually.

The PencilSnap holds the Apple Pencil securely, very securely. I hope that as the PencilSnap wears in the leather will soften making it easier to remove the Pencil and a better visual match for my Smart Cover.

And speaking of holding securely – the PencilSnap’s magnets are excellent, adhering to the Smart Cover very strongly indeed, there’s no risk of the case falling or slipping off.

The magnets hold the PencilSnap in one location, which causes another issue with the case – it sits proud of the edge of the Smart Cover when I had expected it to sit flush and parallel with the edge. It’s not a deal breaker as I tend to hold the iPad by the side where the Smart cover attachs, but it’s a little annoying. Again I’m hoping that as the PencilSnap wears in it will be less noticeable.

The PencilSnap is a great idea and functions well, but is perhaps a little let down by the materials and final design, which given the cost is a little disappointing.

Should it improve with wear I’ll update this review.

16 September 2017

Logitech Keys to Go iPad Keyboard Review

Logitech Keys To Go Review

I’ve tried a number of keyboards and keyboard cases for the iPad, and my favourite by far is the Logitech Keys to Go keyboard. I’m typing this very sentence on it now.

So what makes the Keys to Go so good?

I prefer a keyboard that is separate from the iPad, as it gives me more flexibility when I’m typing. I can raise the iPad up closer to eye level for example, and keep the keyboard where it needs to be for typing.

A separate keyboard allows me to use the Smart Cover on the iPad, keeping it light and easy to hold when I’m not typing.

These two things alone make the Apple Smart Keyboard a non-starter.

The Keys to Go has another significant advantage over the Smart Keyboard – an extra row of control keys including media and volume controls, a home button, even a screenshot button.

It’s beyond me why the Apple Smart Keyboard doesn’t have these.

Which just leaves the all important feel of the keyboard.

Everyone has personal preferences when it comes to keyboards, and I really like the Keys to Go. I find I type more accurately on my Keys to Go than on my Magic Keyboard.

The keys have a surprising amount of travel given the very flat design; there’s a very positive feel on pressing the keys, not a click, but reassuring tactile feedback.

Oh and did I mention it’s splash-proof? Handy should you spill your Flat White.

The Logitech Keys to Go makes the iPad a genuine laptop alternative for when I’m away from my desk.

And it appears to be on offer on the Logitech site – order one now, thank me later.

1 August 2017

Design Is How It Works

A young Steve Jobs

Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it’s this veneer – that the designers are handed this box and told, “Make it look good!” That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

— Steve Jobs

28 June 2017

On Siri, Privacy and Consistency

Apple talks often and proudly about respecting its users privacy, about not sharing or storing information ‘in the cloud and about using machine learning and algorithms on the users device. About not sharing or storing information ‘in the cloud. About using machine learning and algorithms on the users device.

Yet despite all talk of privacy and machine learning, Siri is dependent upon Apple’s servers to decipher spoken instructions.

This dependency on server based processing has a negative impact Siri’s effectiveness. On anything less than wifi or a 4G connection Siri is often unable to recognise speech.

I now drive to and from the office and I thought Siri would be a great tool for capturing thoughts and tasks as I drive. Much of my route takes me through the English countryside, where connections range from 4G to GPRS and everything in-between. At least 50% of the times I attempt to use Siri it fails, or I receive the message that my watch will tap me on the wrist when it is ready – it never does.

So why if Apple is so keen to process information on devices is Siri completely dependent upon ‘the cloud’? Having Siri process speech on the device would improve it’s effectiveness and usefulness.

Hell, it might “just work”.

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