Designing a product is keeping five thousand things in your brain and fitting them all together in new and different ways to get what you want. And every day you discover something new that is a new problem or a new opportunity to fit these things together a little differently.
And it’s that process that is the magic.
Frederic Lardinois, for TechCrunch:
Windows 8.1 represents a chance to fix some of the issues with Windows 8. The fact that Microsoft is bringing back the Start button and now allowing users to boot right into the desktop is a sign that the company has been listening to its users. In many ways, 8.1 — even in this Preview version — is what Windows 8 should have been.
It looks like Windows 8 is full of fixes, rather than new features. I can’t fault Microsoft for improving their product based on customer feedback, but it is a shame there are so few new and exciting features for users. Frederic agrees:
It’s a shame that many of the features Microsoft is introducing now weren’t in Windows 8 already.
My take? Windows 8.1 is what Windows 8 should have been.
Translation: “Microsoft willing to sell Surface RT at less than half price because nobody wants to buy one.”
Alex Wilhelm:
The company quite obviously has stock on hand to distribute.
Quite.
This (pretty awesome) article I wrote last year needed updating. So I just updated it. (Yes, the images are fixed, finally.)
For those curious whether I still use this method for managing my music, I do not. I no longer use an iPod Classic — and I’m fully in the iTunes Match camp now, with no full local copy of my music collection on any computer or device. Further, I’m incredibly excited for iTunes Radio, when it launches later this year.
Speaking of TidBITS, I'm proud to announce my first article for this respected operation has been published. It's a review of Duolingo:
Learning a new language from scratch is a massive undertaking: getting started with basic words and phrases is a common approach, but leaping beyond these ordinary words to a solid understanding of grammar and pronunciation requires dedication and a lot of practice, particularly for adults. This is often so much to ask that the new language is quickly set aside, turning something that should be a fun and rewarding challenge into a boring chore that’s easy to put off.
Duolingo is a free Web site and app designed to solve this problem.
Bonus points for my first podcast appearance, too! (Big week.)
Written by the one and only Glenn Fleishman for TidBITS. If you're curious about the new Wi-Fi specification, this will (probably) answer any questions you have. There's a lot of technical jargon involved, though.
This is a video produced by Apple to encourage developers to make apps for iOS.
Here's last year's, if you didn't catch it at the time. It's equally heartfelt.
If you've got an invite to the new Google Maps, these videos will help you right away. If you haven't yet got an invite, it's worth checking these videos out to see the future of maps.
Amazing and inspirational video prominently featuring my good friend Andy Jay. If you enjoy watching talented gymnasts and free runners enjoy themselves, this video is for you.
Sometimes, things have to be done. This is one such example.
I'm honoured that the moment was captured by the official Rush photographer. Can't believe I was invited backstage — a perfect way to end my 7th time seeing this incredible trio.
Ever since Mike Portnoy’s departure from Dream Theater, he’s been involved with some pretty awesome side projects. His latest effort, The Winery Dogs might just be my favourite yet.
Amazing bass work by Mr Big’s bassist, Billy Sheehan. Love the vocals, too. Can’t wait for this album to be released.
Well, it’s an accurate title, I suppose.