Ideas and Discoveries
gestures
Icons for Teaching Touch
“Cue” is a clever set of icons for teaching touch. Designer P.J. Onori created the icons for mobile interfaces or wireframes to prompt touch interactions, and they take [a fresh point of view on the challenge]
gestures
Apple, Kindly Remove Your OS Gestures from My App Canvas
With iOS 5, iPad gets welcome app-switching gestures. But touch actions that should be limited to the edges are encroaching on app real estate.
ffly
“Don't Confuse Context with Intent”
In an interview with Webdesigner Depot, I shared some future-friendly thinking about adapting to the needs of a whole universe of connected devices.
apple
An Unwitting Tribute
I thought my first CNN appearance marked the next generation of a new device. Instead, it was an unwitting tribute to Steve Jobs. Rest in peace, Steve, we miss you.
community
Future Friendly at Mobilewood
I joined nine of the smartest people I know to think through a future-friendly strategy for keeping up with the fast-changing mobile landscape. Here’s what we came up with.
conference
For Your Consideration: "Teaching Touch" at SXSW
I’m pitching a SXSW talk about crafting discoverable gestures and joyous touchscreen interfaces. I could use your vote.
icons
Iconathon!
Designers, on your marks! Pixel slingers, grab your javelins! Icon acrobats, get limber! [The Iconathon is here, and it’s an AWESOME concept.
stats
Digital Life: Today & Tomorrow
This fun and wide-ranging infoviz video provides a nifty snapshot of how quickly our digital lives are changing.
business
Belly Flop: Retailers Dive into Mobile Ecommerce
A measly 12 percent of the top 500 US online retailers have mobile websites. Many who do have mobile sites are fumbling with misguided attempts to create lite versions of the “real” website.
mobile
Over Half the People on Earth Have a Mobile Phone
Tomi Ahonen shared his snapshot of global mobile stats, including a slew of just-plain-astonishing nuggets.
conference
Buttons Are a Hack
Designing for touch means creating direct interactions that shed three decades of abstract desktop metaphors. As designers, that means we have some deprogramming to do.
conference
FOWD Throws in the Towel
I couldn’t stop giggling when I saw my ugly mug on this tea towel created by the good folks at Future of Web Design.
android
Justin Williams: A Tablet Isn't a Large Phone
“The best iPad apps are not those that just stretch their iPhone table views out to take advantage of the larger screen.”
apple
Asymco: The Post PC Era as Explained by Developer Events
A stark example of how quickly new platforms generate enthusiasm along with an appetite for learning and community among developers.
android
Fugly Android
A gallery of mobile horrors calls itself “an argument for closed systems,” but more subtly, it’s really an argument that bad taste abounds.
business
Mobile Web vs Native App: Give It a Rest
This isn’t a matchup at all. Providing a great experience almost certainly means that you’ll build both web and native-app solutions. We’re all in this together, friends.
books
A Tale of Type and Transportation
Just ordered “Helvetica and the New York City Subway System” based on an engaging review by Michael Bierut.
iphone
Video of My Mobile Design Course Available
I just finished teaching an eight-week class on tapworthy iPhone design and user experience. If you missed it, all 12 hours of video are available for sale.