As a Mac nerd, sometimes I catch myself mid-speech when debating issues that affect users and the software they use. I catch myself saying things that I then realize are completely unrealistic assumptions and expectations of the average “normal” user. OS X On the desktop operating system side of things, OS X still allows usContinue reading “Users Are Not Worried about iOS Restrictions”

This is meant to be a follow up to my January piece about how we perceive performance degradation on our computers. I recall when I first brought home a brand new iPhone 4. I had purchased it only a couple months after its official release. Going from an iPhone 3GS to an iPhone 4 wasContinue reading “Part 2: How We Perceive Performance Degradation Over Time”

Perhaps someone with more insight can comment on this, however, I find it troubling that Apple is planning on removing support for linked-to system preferences in iOS 5.1. Some of you may have heard about App Cubby’s Launch Center app for iOS. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s akin to something like Alfred onContinue reading “Apple to Remove Linked System Preferences in iOS 5.1”

I’ve been contemplating about running my own mail server lately. With great performing and affordable hardware like the Mac Mini, it’s difficult to ignore the endless possibilities of what I could use it for. So why would I want to run my own mail server when I can just pay a small monthly fee forContinue reading “Running My Own OS X Mail Server”

I am not fearful of major UI changes in software. I understand well enough that change is necessary. Naturally, software UIs evolve over time — hopefully for the betterment of the users experience with it. Apple overall has typically set a high bar for user interface design and interaction, however their record is not withoutContinue reading “Apple: What Did You Do to AirPort Utility?”

There are more than a few people who have been giving Siri a hard time. It seems like the general consensus among people I know is this: what is Apple doing with their new data center if they can’t keep Siri running reliably? But first, a little background Just three days after the iPhone 4SContinue reading “Difficult Times for Siri? Perhaps Not”

There is a growing trend emerging that is worth keeping an eye on. A very small group of the tech elite have been experimenting with using their iPad as their sole computing device. This seems like an impossible feat, or perhaps something most power users such as myself would find unappealing. Why give up aContinue reading “Thinking Bigger about the Future of iOS Computing”

One of the most frustrating apps in iOS that I’ve encountered is the Music app. There are many shortcomings that I’ve discussed before, but the most glaring issue since the introduction of iOS 5 and iTunes Match is not knowing just when the hell your albums have finished downloading. As it stands right now, IContinue reading “iOS 5: Downloading Music from iCloud Is Frustrating”

After I acquire a new computer — typically a MacBook Pro — over the course of its lifetime — typically three years — it starts to feel sluggish. Somewhere between the first time I use my MacBook and the day I decommission it, I would have upgraded the operating system and installed a boatload ofContinue reading “How We Perceive Performance Degradation Over Time”

When it comes to choosing a web browser on OS X, there are no shortage of options. Many of these options have different rendering engines — some work better than others. The three most popular browsers in terms of marketshare are as follows: Safari Firefox Chrome Of course there are other options as well, howeverContinue reading “Raven Browser: A Review”