A clever use of Keyboard Maestro by Ben Brooks.
Category: Apps
The iPhone Ecosystem ⇢
The iPhone has created an economy that’s spurring the creation of jobs and new positions all over the globe. It reignited the mobile phone industry, and, in one fell swoop, turned competitors upside down as they struggled to keep their eyes open to the new wind blowing in their direction. The App Store didn’t launch until 2008, but its numbers are the very example of the software revolution spearheaded by the iPhone.
While the iPhone might not be made in America, it surely has helped the economy here.
Dr. Drang, on Podcast Apps
Apple’s podcast-playing app is an abomination of which we really shouldn’t speak. I didn’t even like the idea of reinstalling it on my iPhone to get screenshots.
On ‘Jack’s Diary’
Having a kid with cancer sucks. Talking to them about it sucks just as hard.
Thankfully, there are a lot of good resources out there for such conversations, including a new ebook out for the iPad:
Jack’s Diary is an interactive, illustrated story about a little boy’s courage and determination during a confusing and frightening time. The book is a colourful and engaging way to learn about cancer, treatment and getting life back to normal. Animations bring to life and add an element of fun to what can be a difficult subject to discuss with children.
The book has pop-overs, videos and more, all designed to help explain cancer, treatment and life afterwards.
While this book is aimed at leukemia patients, it’s well-worth a look for any parents in similar situations.
It’s available on the iBooks Store for $4. Part of the proceeds go to leukemia research.
Google Chrome for iOS
Apple Ships ‘Podcasts’ for iOS
Apple has today launched a new standalone app for Podcasts that runs on iPhone and iPad. This should help to centralize and promote podcast listening and downloading for users, breaking it out of the iTunes Store proper.
We’ll be talking about the app on the 512 Podcast this afternoon.
My OmniFocus Theme
(Here’s a screenshot.)
Fantastical’s Half-Off Sale
There’s really no reason not to have this great app in your menu bar.
NYT Coming to Flipboard
An innovative move for the Old Gray Lady.
LeVar Burton, on Reading
…in an interview with Ars’ Jacqui Cheng:
This is one of the reasons it was so important to me, from a personal level, to bring Reading Rainbow to this new generation of kids, to try and do something about it. Here’s what I know: in 26 years on PBS, we were able to—through the medium of television—have an impact on the reading habits of children. I want to see if we can make light and do it again.
As a parent, I’m psyched about the iPad’s role in my kids’ education.
Bento 4 Ships
The new release makes it easier than ever to create new databased by including 25 built-in templates especially designed for iOS. 40 themes are included which provide coordinated backgrounds, fonts and shading for custom database creation. And access to FileMaker’s online “Bento Template Exchange” is now integrated, making it easier to find templates that other users have created. The Exchange currently hosts more than 1,000 free templates from Bento and FileMaker users.
I used Bento at a former job, and loved the Mac version. This new iPad app seems really great, and I can’t wait for an excuse to give it a spin.
Reeder 3
Reeder has always sported a nice and customized look, but this app is more than just a pretty face. As I mentioned above, Reeder is jam packed with new features. Some are huge, some are subtle, but all are awesome.
The update to my favorite iPhone RSS app is great, but I was disappointed that the app didn’t retain any settings after being upgraded from version 2.