Minimal Mac

"I don’t want something special. I want something beautifully plain."

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:08:20 -0500

“I don’t want something special. I want something beautifully plain.”

- Anne Lamott

Days Away (App Store Link)

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:17:03 -0500

Some folks may not need a full blown calendar but, instead, might like to simply have a countdown list with how many days remain until an event. This is a simple and cleanly designed app that does just that.

Touchtype: A Case for iPad and Apple Wireless Keyboard by Salman Sajid — Kickstarter

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:35:05 -0500

Touchtype: A Case for iPad and Apple Wireless Keyboard by Salman Sajid — Kickstarter:

Looks great with some thoughtful touches. They are well past the funding goal but you still may want to chip in to be the first to get yours.

EdgeCase

Fri, 11 May 2012 09:02:05 -0500

EdgeCase:

The app creates Fitts’ Law infinite width screen edges for your OS X multiple monitors.

As you probably know, screen edges are a great place to put pointing targets because it’s impossible to “overshoot” them with your mouse cursor. That’s why the Mac menubar and Dock are on screen edges or (even better) in a screen corner. Unfortunately, when you’re using multiple monitors, your mouse bleeds through into the other monitor.

EdgeCase stops your cursor at the screen edge, so you can easily click scroll bars or the Apple/Spotlight menu. Also allows you to slide along the shared edge to hit OS X hot corners. Makes it so you never accidentally lose your cursor into your secondary screen.

When you do want to move between screens, you can do so by holding [ctrl] or [⌘], dwelling for 1/2 second, or ‘bouncing’ on the edge.

Here is one for you multiple screen junkies. Looks like a great solution to one of the problems I’ve always had in the times I’ve used multiple monitors.

"Increasingly I am finding myself powering the phone down when I get home from work. Not “silent..."

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:32:59 -0500

“Increasingly I am finding myself powering the phone down when I get home from work. Not “silent mode.” Not “airplane mode.” Off. Disconnected.”

- Fully Off | James Shelley

MacSparky - Blog - My New Book: The MacSparky Paperless Field Guide

Thu, 10 May 2012 08:31:46 -0500

MacSparky - Blog - My New Book: The MacSparky Paperless Field Guide:

The book is a deep dive on paperless workflows for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It takes full advantage of iBooks Author and includes picture galleries, interactive images, movies, 32 screencasts, and nearly 27,000 words. There is over an hour and a half of video. Not only does this book tell you how to go paperless, it also shows you.

This book (even calling it that feels weird) feels like the future to me. It’s more of an experience. Not only rich with video, pictures, and a beautiful context aware layout but the amount of information you are receiving for the price ($4.99) is unbelievable.

Plus, fitting with what we believe in here, this is the comprehensive guide to going Paperless. If you had ever tried or considered doing so but just didn’t know how or where to start, this is the place to do so.

Seriously, buy this. Even just for the “wow factor” alone.

Monoprice Backup Battery Pack Giveaway!

Wed, 09 May 2012 09:25:00 -0500

I was doing some cleanup few nights ago and discovered I have a few MonoPrice iPhone Battery Boosters left to give away. All are brand new, in the package, and will work with the latest generation of iPhone and iPod Touch.

If you would like a chance at getting one, please do the following.

To enter, please send me a message to @minimalmac on Twitter with the phrase “Need more power” before midnight (Central Standard Time) tonight. No entries will be considered afterwards.
Three winners will be selected tomorrow at random and notified by reply to their Twitter message. I will send out the items at random as well so don’t bother requesting a specific one — beggars can’t be choosy ;-). In that reply, I will give instructions for emailing me shipping information.
All giveaways awarded this week will be sent out via USPS by early next week so set your expectations accordingly.

OK, got it? Good. Now, tell me, who needs more power?

OnePAD is a new notebook app for iOS that is organized around...

Tue, 08 May 2012 23:51:21 -0500

OnePAD is a new notebook app for iOS that is organized around the idea of using one page for each day. I know lots of folks that are day driven and/or keep paper notebooks this way — allocating a page for each day.

What I find most interesting is that, by organizing by date, one could easily use it for journalling, morning pages, or leaving notes for future dates.

There is a built in search function and quick ways to jump back to today’s note or navigate to a specific date.

It also has a pleasant look and feel plus a fair price ($0.99).

Home Work - 007 - Patrick Rhone

Mon, 07 May 2012 23:47:37 -0500

Home Work - 007 - Patrick Rhone:

Just a quick heads up that you can find me on this week’s Home Work, the podcast for people that work from home. In it I discuss my home working environment, give some key tips about how to set proper expectations when you go on vacation, and discuss a few of my favorite tools for managing expectations. If you work from home, or hope to do so one day, this podcast is a must subscribe.

Why My iPad Is Not My Laptop

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:27:47 -0500

Why My iPad Is Not My Laptop:

I can wholeheartedly agree that the iPad is an increasingly great tool to gather ideas, write stories/articles, and stay in touch but for the time being this is where the road unfortunately ends. For many, including myself, the iPad is still not much more than a high tech note pad.

Counterpoint to all of the recent “iPad is the new laptop” chatter that has bubbled up lately. He makes some good points.

That said, there is no right or wrong here. If an iPad works for you as a laptop replacement, more power to you. That said, there are some things a more traditional laptop are better suited to. The key is exploring those questions and seeking the best answers to determine what enough is for you.

Basil for iPad. Your Recipe Book. [Sponsor]

Sun, 06 May 2012 23:41:35 -0500

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

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:53:57 -0500

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

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:53:14 -0500

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

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:51:16 -0500

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

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:15:39 -0500

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

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:06:42 -0500

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.

The Brydge is a recently Kickstarted keyboard/cover combo that...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:57:30 -0500

The Brydge is a recently Kickstarted keyboard/cover combo that is the best of the few I have seen. Once attached, it could almost be mistaken as being a part of the iPad itself, or even as a MacBook Air.

They are well over their funding goal but, if you want to make sure you get in line for the first batch, you can back it anyway.

Zibity: Broomstick

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:00 -0500

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?

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:14:15 -0500

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.

(Jon Siddle’s review of Pop for iOS) This is my favorite...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:53:09 -0500

(Jon Siddle’s review of Pop for iOS)

This is my favorite review of Pop for iOS yet. I love that he kept it short and sweet and put it up as a screenshot of the app itself.

This is as good of an excuse as any for posting some promo codes for our first offering from Minimal Tools. First come, first serve, and when they are all gone they are gone:

NLAWYMPN4MN7

KTXPJNJWEKN6

WY9TT4TAR7TE

AWRN6HNPHMJE

36KMNTLA377T

Of course, you can always buy it for only $0.99 on the app store.