I recently tweeted this image of a focussed view with in the task app Todoist. Since doing so I’ve been asked the same two questions:
How do you do that?
Where can I get that wallpaper?
To get the focussed view in Todoist is so simple:
Resize the Todoist window horizontally, at a certain point the sidebar disappears and you are left with a window focussed on whatever list or view you have open.
Make the window wider again and the sidebar returns.
To access other views or lists click or tap the ‘hamburger‘ or menu button in the top left corner.
And as for that gorgeous wallpaper? I downloaded it via the app Cuto, so I am assuming it’s royalty free – download a copy here.
I was up rather late last night, and thought I’d check Twitter on my iPad one last time before heading to bed. I did so just as the news of Steve Jobs passing away hit Twitter; somehow it felt fitting to be watching people express their sadness and thanks on one of the amazing devices he created. As President Obama said in his tribute:
There may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.
I am an unabashed fan of Apple, and therefore Steve Jobs as they were for many of us inseperable, but I was surprised how I felt on hearing the news; the best way I can describe it is as a feeling of hollowness.
I didn’t know him, I never met him or even saw him present, but I feel I understand him. Every time I use a piece of Apple hardware or software I can see, and understand, his values and passion.
Two of my favourite Steve Jobs philosophies are that Apple products should be “insanely great” and “it just works”.
I’m reminded of these philosophies when I watch my six year old son creating music in Garage Band, export that music to iTunes and then sync it to his iPod. I like to think that Steve Jobs would be as proud and delighted as I am to see him beaming away as he listen to “his music”.
This is Steve Jobs legacy: insanely great products that are a joy to use and bring delight their users.
Whilst making my coffee this morning I remembered this video I shot a while back as a test of iMovie on the iPhone and iPad.
I was surprised just how good the video from the iPhone is, but also surprised at what a palaver it is to get the movie off of the iPhone and onto the iPad for editing.
Getting data on and off the iOS devices is fast becoming a real chink in Apple’s armour I believe, but I digress.
Ladies and Gentlemen, for your viewing pleasure, I present my first iMovie:
Walt Mossberg, the respected Wall Street Journal personal technology columnist, has a “review” of Apple’s latest version of iWork over on All Things Digital.
I’m biased, but I feel he has missed the point in comparing iWork 08 with Microsoft Office for the Mac.
iWork is quite clearly targeted at a different audience to the full version of office; in fact I am the target audience.
I want a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation package and nothing else.
I want those packages to have OS X like elegance and to enable me to carry the relatively basic writing and calculating that most users need to do. Numbers, the new spreadsheet application doesn’t do pivot tables apparently – what’s a pivot table?
Personally I couldn’t wait to remove Office from my Macs and to replace it with iWork and so far it does everything that I need and more.
Because of the bloody French, European iPods have a very low and very annoying volume limit.
Back off Brussels! I’m a grown up and can operate a volume control.
Sorry… thankfully it’s possible to hack the firmware on the iPod and remove this Nanny State nastiness. To do so is pretty tricky but some very clever people have made a lovely little application that does it all for you called goPod.
Sadly with the last iPod firmware upgrade it no longer worked.
Now it’s back and its supports iPod 3G, 4G, photo, mini, colour and even the lovely new nano.
I’ve just synced my 6680 with my Mac using iSync, and I’ve got to say how much I like iSync. Wan to know why I like iSync so much? It just works… each and every time I use it.
I recognise this may be part due to the 6680 also as I did have issues with the P910i syncing, but this is an updated version of iSync so…
Every PDA sync application I have used including Hotsync and Active Sync have all had issues especially Active Sync which was a nightmare.
Of course, knowing technology as well as I do I’m sure my next sync will probably be a horrible mess.
