Basil for iPad. Your Recipe Book. [Sponsor] →

I’m very excited to give Basil a nod as this week’s RSS feed sponsor. The main reason — I use the heck out of this app.

I do the vast majority of the daily cooking for my family. Basil has become as essential a tool for my kitchen as any other utensil. I store all of my favorite recipes in Basil and use it to find great new ones as well. It’s go some really innovative features too. Like, if there is a time length involved in given step (i.e. “Let bake for 20 minutes”), tap it, and up pops an inline timer set to that length. It is filled with a myriad of these kinds of nice touches and attention to detail that make it a cook’s dream. If you see me cooking in the kitchen these days, you will see Basil on my iPad right there on the counter next to the cutting board.

Seriously, if you care about cooking at all, this is the iPad app to get. 

Bonus — iPad Cooking Pro Tip: Want to know how to protect your iPad from the various food elements and debris that might harm it in the kitchen? Stick it in a gallon-sized plastic zip bag. Your fingers can even still operate the touchscreen with it in there… You’re welcome!

Launchwrite - Home →

Launchwrite is a new app that makes jotting a note as quick as possible. Just click on the icon and it blurs the background and allows you to start typing. Hit escape and you are back out to where you were. Click again and your text remains. Copy and paste to get out. Simple and as feature-free as possible.

Reminds me of a certain iOS app. Hmmm…

Why the iPad Is My New Laptop — Shawn Blanc →

It is not a sacrifice to use the iPad as a primary device. I wanted to take a look at some of the most compelling reasons to use an iPad as your portable, if not your only, computer.

This is essentially true for me as well. My MacBook Air only leaves the house in those rare cases my iPad will not suffice.

You Got (Single) Served - The Daily →

Nice brief look at the rise of “one thing well” apps including one that I have a role in. 

The Verge at work: sync your text everywhere, never lose an idea again | The Verge →

Paul Miller gives a really nice overview of his writing setup involving Simplenote, Notational Velocity, and PlainText.

The dirty truth about messy offices | Unclutterer →

To keep your coworkers from making negative, and probably inaccurate, judgments about your job performance, spend five to ten minutes each day cleaning and straightening your workspace before heading home.

Some solid advice.

Zibity: Broomstick →

Broomstick is the easiest way to hide menubar icons that you don’t like. While most apps that create a menubar icon allow you to hide it, some apps don’t provide this option. Broomstick lets you take back control of your menubar!

Works as expected though, for obvious reasons, it has to “know” about the app. There is a way to submit apps so that they can be added to the hiding functionality in a future update. I do like the spirit of this though.

Also, app developer is 14 years old. Nice to see such smart your people these days. 

(h/t John Anstett)

Does Your Dock Reflect Your Priorities? →

The Dock. That little area on your iPhone or iPad that contains a handful of apps which are available on every screen. It says something about what you’re about and what you want to achieve.

Nice post. I speak about applying this same idea of sacred spaces even more broadly in my book. Nice to see it echoed in a specific area here.