It’s quite overdue, but this blog is now optimized to be viewed in a mobile browser. Many thanks to Ben Seven for giving me the kick in the ass I needed to get it done: Commented on You’re not a user experience designer if… by Ben Seven: Are you allowed to call yourself a User [Keep Reading…]
Etiquette isn’t dead
Sure, the web has made communication more brief, more casual, and a lot more impersonal. But people haven’t ceased to have feelings, so etiquette shouldn’t fly out the window. My friends at RedStamp, a modern stationery company based in Minneapolis, recently released an iPhone app that makes it a cinch to brighten someone’s day and [Keep Reading…]
From the archives: I love new toys!
Pleasure and Pain is not my first blog. It’s probably my fifth, though it’s certainly the only one that ever took off. From September 2004 – August 2006, I had a blog called self-preservation (self-hosted WordPress, natch). At the time, I was pretty damn proud of myself for that witty title — and I kinda [Keep Reading…]
Yet another list of iPad apps (what I use)
I’m pretty obsessed with my iPad. When I first bought it back in April, I didn’t take my laptop out of the house for a good month. I watched movies in the park, showed samples of my work to prospective clients, read my feeds in the bath, and tested out a whole bunch of apps. [Keep Reading…]
My 10 Favorite Tools of 2010
As the year comes to a close, I can’t help but think of all the ways my life has gotten even better over the past 12 months. I’ve met incredible new people, I’ve opened myself up to new experiences, I’ve taken new risks, and I’ve found new loves. The most significant behavioral change that comes [Keep Reading…]
OpenTable has a brain. Does your product?
If you’ve never heard of OpenTable, I’m guessing you don’t live anywhere near a city. It’s the real-time online reservation system that lets you book a table without having to call the restaurant. I dine out a lot and I tend to be the planner in my group of friends, so OpenTable and I know [Keep Reading…]
Photo of the day: A man in need of an iPad
…or a Kindle, or a nook. I recently spotted this man at a Starbucks in SoHo. He was clearly settled in for the day, his keyboard propped up against the wall behind him, feet kicked up, book in hand…and in the other hand, a magnifying glass to help him read the damn thing. That very [Keep Reading…]
Photo of the day: Penn Station, Charging Station
I’ve found myself at Penn Station quite a lot lately. You see, I’m working on the project of a lifetime with Happy Cog Philadelphia, so I visit by train from time-to-time. A few weeks ago I observed some unusual behavior: I’ve passed by this column dozens of times when I walk into the Amtrak area [Keep Reading…]
SeamlessWeb Mobile Site: Easy to Use, But Impossible to Order
Usablenet is responsible for some of the most easy to use mobile websites your smartphones can find. They chose a good company name. Their platform powers mobile sites such as JetBlue and Northwest Airlines, Amtrak and NJ Transit, Hilton Hotels, 1800Flowers, and dozens of other sites you’d be surprised to hear. Just point your mobile [Keep Reading…]
Tips and Tricks for BlackBerry Users
If you’ve been reading this blog for long enough, you know I don’t own an iPhone. How is it possible for a designer to not own an iPhone? Read one of my most popular posts: “Why I don’t have an iPhone (but might someday).” I am the proud owner of a BlackBerry 8830 World Edition [Keep Reading…]
