Less.

minimalmac: From a 1980 kids computer book. Takeaway: We live...

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 07:11:44 +0100

From a 1980 kids computer book. Takeaway: We live in the future.

Quite ironic how the buttons to screen ratio turned out eventually.

My favourite note taking app just got even better. Previously I...

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:55:52 +0200

My favourite note taking app just got even better.

Previously I mentioned a single function Foursquare app called Checkie that sports a very clean and minimal interface. One of my other favourite single function apps called JotAgent that’s singular feature is taking notes and sending them to Evernote or Dropbox. The app also has a very elegant queue feature that helps you when you need to takes notes while under no reception.

It’s perfect for taking notes quickly. Just write something and press send. I’ve set it up so that the notes that it creates are named as date-hour.txt to my Dropbox. Later when I get to my laptop I just open up Notational Velocity app and I’ll see my jots there. Oh and JotAgent is available also for iPad.

I started to write again.

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 10:21:43 +0200

I decided to take up on the pen again, but wanted to have my own space for my writings and not get constricted by any particular topic.

I’ve studied Journalism over 10-years ago and always wanted to get back on writing. Last 6-years i’ve managed to have excuses such as working in the game industry as a Producer and not having enough time. The truth is there is always enough time.

http://selfeditor.tumblr.com

Evening Edition

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:13:48 +0200

Evening Edition:

I wish more news sites would be like this, or would provide a service as such. Works great on mobile and tablet.

minimalmac:

It’s a summary of the day’s news, written by an actual journalist, with links to the best reporting in the world, published once a day. It’s optimized for your phone or iPad so you can read it on the train home or on the couch. It can be the starting point for a deep-dive or just enough so you sound erudite at your next cocktail party. What it’s not, and what it will never be, is another chirp of noise constantly guilting you into checking it. It’s breaking news for the slow web.

It’s also quite lovely. Completely web based and responsive. The “save to home screen” icon is quite nice too. Proof that not everything good has to be delivered in an app. Sometimes the web is enough.

Full grain leather meets iPhone 4S

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:45:59 +0200

Just got my SGP Leather Grip Case (Vintage Edition) and so far it’s an instant classic for the iPhone 4S. For a handmade leather case it’s flawless and fits almost perfectly, texture is great. Feels great in the hand and provides a good grip, size of the case is slim enough even though i’d like it to me even more so but probably any slimmer than this would mean handmade is out of the picture.

It’s full grain leather which shows patina in a wonderful way after some use. Already after couple days it’s showing that, can’t wait to see how it turns out in a month. I’ll definitely post a photo of it then.

Small detail I definitely like is how it doesn’t hide the iPhone 4S too much as you can see in the top and bottom front face is cut out as well as is the area around mute and volume buttons. Plus it goes well with my leather “Stilgut” case for iPad 3.

Seeking wabi-sabi, iPhone 4S

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:37:45 +0200

Wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi

When it has come to new and shiny gadgets I’ve always tried to protect them from wear and tear to the point of frustration. I often considered myself as OCD when it comes to new gadgets, but I realised as time passed I stop caring, but why?
I believe the answer to that is quite simple, when something is pristine and new you seek to keep it so and when something is very worn down and used you accept it. So it’s all about acceptance of weathering objects in life, nothing stays pristine and everything fades. I found myself being able to accept wear and tear in objects when they are from the start exactly that, much like a pair of sand washed Diesel jeans.

So recently as I jumped back on the iOS ship I found myself trying to vigorously protect my new gadget from any wear and tear. I want this to change, so I realised as iPhone 4S itself does not age in style as compared to say an old iPhone 2G or iPod due to its aluminium/metal back, as Steve Jobs himself said about the iPod that it will age like a pair of jeans. Apple having changed that design since radically we have to look to the accessories side now when it comes to the latest iPhones.

Browsing the sites for a perfect case that would be both simple, slim and would age well was a hard task but I finally found what I was looking for.
SGP Leather Grip Case (Vintage Edition)

Based on a blog post I found it should age like full grain leather does but at the same time leaving the device in a good condition. http://labeldeficiency.tumblr.com/post/2682338794

I can’t wait to get this case just to see it get wear and tear as I use it. Hopefully it will also make me care less about the wear and tear of my iPhone 4S.

I also archived some good wabi-sabi style items in my Fancy account & will continue to add more in the future: http://www.thefancy.com/mluotio/list/7852007

Foursquare without all the bells and whistles. Great example of...

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:47:52 +0200

Foursquare without all the bells and whistles. Great example of minimalism in product design, this app manages to do one thing extremely well and that’s checking in, nothing else. But this also makes it many times faster to use than the official foursquare app. I also love the black and white UI design that really helps the usage and speeds up readability to further make checking in as clear and effortless as possible.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/checkie/id382356167?mt=8&ls=1

Thought of the day: Use verbs for iOS folders, you will end up...

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:35:19 +0200

Thought of the day:

Use verbs for iOS folders, you will end up with Action > How. Like for example, Capture > Instagram or Read > Instapaper.

You will end up with shorter folder names, less clutter and meaningful connection of what you do with your device.

Current setup & home desk. From left to right: -iPhone 4S...

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:25:00 +0200

Current setup & home desk.

From left to right:

-iPhone 4S with Case-Mate Barely There case

-MB Air 13” Late 2010 model

-iPad 3 with Stilgut leather stand case

Our new apartment in Ireland is not the biggest and since having a 5 month old baby also will eat up space i’ve opted for a standing desk by the window overlooking the courtyard. I’m quite happy with it but it’s a tad low setup. I need to get something to raise them a bit.

Mac OS old school retrofit pack

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:06:00 +0200

Mac OS old school retrofit pack:

Sure Mountain Lion is the step towards good direction yet again but in case you find yourself yearning for the good old days consider yourself served.

4-4 case for iPhone 4/4S. Has to be the most minimalist if...

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 22:00:00 +0200

4-4 case for iPhone 4/4S. Has to be the most minimalist if bumper I’ve come across. Ordered one a week ago, can’t wait to see if it’s really a good fit.

The designer Michiel Cornelissen has some other great design at his site: http://michielcornelissen.com/designs.html

The Sound by Soundcloud.

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:12:26 +0200

The Sound by Soundcloud.

The law of beauty hidden behind the iCloud icon.

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:40:31 +0200

The law of beauty hidden behind the iCloud icon.:

Apple’s iCloud icon uses the Golden Ratio. Ingenious and beautiful end result.

Minimal: Feature bloat and the art of keeping things simple

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:35:18 +0200

Minimal: Feature bloat and the art of keeping things simple:

mnmal:

Software, like pretty much everything in this world, is succeptible to clutter and bloat. More specifically feature bloat. Developers keep on adding new features until their products can send email, or in other words their software gets so full of features it’s no longer agile and fast and it’s…

Working at My home office aka ‘Kitchen’ on...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:13:00 +0200

Working at My home office aka ‘Kitchen’ on Flickr.

Best place to work at home for me, in the Kitchen.

Why?
-Window view to a quiet street full of trees
-Just enough distraction
-Coffee machine next to me
-Stool, better than a standing desk in my opinion. Fixes my back pains.
-Away from the TV and other distractions
-Whirring of the Fridge that’s in it’s own way weirdly calming
-Natural light that penetrates the nearby trees shimmering directly to my desk

Minimal: Calling cards

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:31:50 +0200

Minimal: Calling cards:

mnmal:

Calling cards have been with us for some time. Unfortunately, like with most things today, cards tend to be cheap quality and cluttered with a lot of information.

However it doesn’t have to be this way. Cards can be simple and beautiful and present only the information needed, leaving white…

sirmitchell: Astronauts on the International Space Station...

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:20:51 +0200

sirmitchell:

Astronauts on the International Space Station captured these views of the aurora australis (“southern lights”) and wildfires in Australia in mid-September 2011.

Holy SHIT, this is unreal. I’ve watched it multiple times and I am still having a hard time believing it’s real. Wow.

Getting Things Done by David Allen

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:43:55 +0200

Getting Things Done by David Allen:

simplifymotherfuckers:

Finally, I’m sitting down to read Getting Things Done. The famous GTD! David Allen has inspired a lot of people with this book, including Merlin Mann, who in his turn inspired Ash Ponders.

I’ve been tortured by the vague sense that I should be doing significant things with my life for the…

My next camera. Absolutely. photojojo: Maybe you’ve drooled...

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:27:46 +0200

My next camera. Absolutely.

photojojo:

Maybe you’ve drooled over the Fuji Finepix X100 like the rest of us (y’know, the digital camera that looks like a pretty pretty vintage camera).

Turns out Fuji’s really good at making us drool. Check out the Finepix X10. It’s a point-and-shoot that can shoot in RAW and snap 360 panoramas all while sporting a similar retro outside case.

via Gizmodo

Hauntingly beautiful

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:11:19 +0200

Hauntingly beautiful