MagicPrefs Adds a Little More Magic to Apple’s Magic Mouse

In October, Apple released it’s newest mouse offering, the Magic Mouse.  I wrote a review of it in November, here.  At first, I was worried that it was a little too low profile, but after about a week or so, my hand got used to it and I’ve loved it ever since.  The momentum scrolling is phenomenal, and the multi-touch gestures are fantastic.  They make navigating the web extremely easy while the momentum scrolling makes scrolling through large documents a breeze.  The only problem with it, however, is that Apple sort of crippled it when they shipped it.  It only supports a single two-finger gesture out of the box, and very basic, regular one-finger gestures.  The tracking is also incredibly slow. (more…)

iPhone Icon Christmas Ornaments

After seeing this post online about plexiglass iPhone app icon ornaments, I knew I wanted a set.  But, I didn’t want to buy them online from Belgium.  Not to mention, those ones were incredibly small; they were less than 1″ by 1″.  Working at Fox Chapel Area School District gives me access to a lot of incredible technology, including a laser saw.  So I figured, why not try and make a set myself?  I figured it couldn’t really be that hard… I just needed to find a high-res photo of an iPhone (thanks, Apple press images), and cut out each icon. (more…)

Jonathan Ive’s Segment In Objectified

It looks as though Gary Hustwit (the creator of the film Helvetica) has created yet another fantastic film.  The movie Objectified is all about industrial design in today’s modern culture.  I’ve pre-ordered the blu-ray version.  In the film, there’s a rare look inside Apple’s design studios and an even rarer interview with Apple’s Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, Jonathan Ive.  Check out his segment:

Sorry iPhone, I Need Something New (Maybe You?)

I remember back in 2007 when iPhone was first launched.  I bought one the day after launch.  It was the “must-have” device that was unfortunately out of a lot of people’s price range.  This made it a luxury item.  For a few months, if you had an iPhone, you were the man.  Everyone wanted to see it, and everyone wanted to play with it.  ”Oooh, ahhh” they’d say as they swiped through photos.  Or “Whoa” as they felt the benefits of a multi-touch capacitive touch screen display.  Or “holy shi-” as they felt the industrial design of the phone.  An aluminium-like back, smooth curves, etc.  Now, it’s “Oh, you have an iPhone?  Me too!  Cool!  What’s your favorite app?” (more…)

Magic Mouse – A Little Too Low Profile?

Every day this past week on my way home from RMU, I made a call to the Apple Store.  ”Did you get any Magic Mice in yet?”  I was always getting the same response, “Nope, not yet.  Sorry sir!”  Well, on Friday, the Shadyside store finally got them in.  I went there on my way home and picked one up.  The packing was… interesting.  It reminded me of an iPod package, although it was slighty more “soap dish” shaped.  It was a pain in the butt to open, with tape everywhere, but once I got it opened I was immediately impressed with the industrial design of the Magic Mouse.  It was the sexiest mouse I’ve ever seen.  Such a low profile, the perfect blend of metal and plastic, etc.

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TidBITS Opinion: A Mother’s Letter to Apple about Macworld Expo

You are old enough to realize that the world does not revolve around you. Macworld Expo is our family’s annual reunion. You don’t go to reunions because they are convenient, or because they are cheap. You go to reunions because you are a member of the family, and that’s what families do.

An interesting take on Apple’s leaving of the Macworld Expo.

TidBITS Opinion: A Mother’s Letter to Apple about Macworld Expo.

TRETC 2008

Today was the Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference.  It’s the premier educational technology conference to attend in this region.  Administrators, teachers, and IT professionals all gather for sessions, keynote speakers and of course, lunch.  They also have the opportunity to browse some vendor booths.  What was different this year, was that students also attended.  Well, a few from my school at least, including myself.  The experience was phenomenal.  Unfortunately, we were almost an hour late, and missed the keynote I was much looking forward to, due to a bus driver who seriously lacked any navigational skills whatsoever.  In fact, once we arrived in Cranberry, we ended up using my iPhone 3G’s GPS to find our way to the Regional Learning Alliance.  What a trip!  Regardless though, once we arrived we were eager to jump into the activities going on; of course, that was after we ate a few blueberry muffins.

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iTunes U Puts iPods to Good Use | Edutopia

Boylan says he’s excited to share his Keynote tutorials through iTunes U because experience has taught him that technology makes classrooms more engaging and effective. “I love it,” he says of the opportunity to educate teachers in Pennsylvania and beyond. “It’s really important that teachers incorporate twenty-first-century skills into their lessons, and for me to be able to assist them is quite an honor.”

Read the full article here.