Read Everyday: Magazine Edition
Magazines have been a major part of our culture for centuries and today more than ever before magazines often have some of the best content out there. Ever since I got my first iPad 2 years ago, I have wanted to get more into magazine reading. Finally, I’d say over the past 6-months I have gotten into it. By getting into it, I don’t mean saving articles in instapaper to read, I mean reading magazines as the publisher meant them to be, with specific typography and styling.
I know that many hate the way iPad magazines work, and I agree that they are not perfect. But still over the last half year or so I have subscribed to a bunch of magazines. Each have somewhat of a different experience.
The first one I subscribed to was GQ, I had been a print subscriber for a few years. When GQ gave subscribers a free iPad subscription I jumped on it right a way. The GQ app is not great, like all the Conde Nast magazines the user experience to get to your magazine is horrible. You cannot download in the background, the magazine files are very large, they are basicall just enhanced PDF’s of the magazine. However the interface for reading the pages of the magazine is really nice. First I like how many sections have great interactive features, like before and after photos and tapping for things (like prices) to show up. When reading long articles I love how the have created very specific styling to make a user feel like they are still reading a magazine. Finally when my print subscription ran out, I bought just a year of the digital only version, for all of its flaws I find the experience enjoyable enough and I didn’t want a stack of magazines in my house.
Later on, I subscribed to the digital only version of The New Yorker, for years I had been reading its articles and features online but I wanted to experience the magazine. I chose the digital only subscription because I knew I couldn’t handle a weekly magazine delivery, I am a bit of a packrat and would never throw away old copies. The New Yorker is another Conde Nast application so its user experience is the same as GQ that I describe above. I really cannot stand the way they download the magazines and the apps are slow to load but once you get into the magazine the experience is really good. Conde Nast should really invest in building better apps for their publications.
A few weeks ago I subscribed to Bloomberg Businessweek (aka BW), again I had been really enjoying their articles online but I wanted to experience the magazine. BW is not a Conde Nast publication and I wanted to see how another publishers app worked. Let me tell you BW is a completely different and much better experience. The publisher has built a complete application, it is much more then an enhanced PDF. The app shows that the publisher has invested into the app world. BW has built a custom layout for its iPad application, one that is truly unmatched. It can do everything an app should do, i.e. increasing the font size of an article. As well the app includes embedded videos and rich graphics. Overall its a great job.
For about two years now I have been a subscriber to Foreign Affairs, a foreign policy journal. They have gone a different route and decided not to build an app but they deliver an “enhanced” PDF that can be read in any PDF reader. Its only enhancement is the fact that the table of contents is linked to the individual articles. The thing is I really like this format for scholarly journals and I think more academic journals should follow Foreign Affairs lead and publish an “enhanced” PDF edition.
Finally I am subscriber to New York Magazine and there app is horrendous. It still has not been updated to take advantage of News Stand, so it remains a stand alone app. It literally is just a scan of the printed magazine with no enhancements for the iPad.
When the iPad came out many argued it would save the publishing world. I do believe it can but in order to do so publishers need to invest in saving itself. They need to build robust applications offering digital readers a truly unique experience. Advertisers need to develop new way to make advertisements interactive within the digital edition. Finally users need to realize that they will need to pay for these subscriptions. A magazine app should offer a unique reading experience, as printed magazines have for decades, making the subscription costs worth it.
Home Sweet Home Screen: My Home Screen is Updated
Ever since I bought my first iPhone a few years ago, I have exhuastively tried to figure which apps I need everyday. More improtantly which of these application should receive one of the 16 coveted spots on the homescreen. A few months back I began taking homescreen shots every few weeks to see how it evolved. Examing the earlier screen shot (above) from September 2011, I can tell you that my homescreen has drastically evolved since then. The tasks I need to complete everyday on my phone have not changed as much as the applications I use to do them.
There are several specific tasks I use my phone for.
- Talking - Texting & phone calls
- Writing - Tweeting, e-mailing, blogging, & note taking
- Reading - Articles, RSS feeds, & Tweets
- Productivity - Lists & planning
- Tracking - Analytics & diet
- Networking/Sharing - Social networks & photography
- Listening - Radio, podcasts, music
Each of these tasks are among the things I want to complete easily on my iPhone and more importantly from my homescreen.
When I set out reorganizing my homescreen I came to a few important conclusions. First I wanted to have two screens of apps, one my homescreen and two a folders page. Second, I did not want an application to be more than a few taps away. Finally, I wanted to find the best apps to complete each task. I know the latter sounds silly but many people are afraid to buy apps and try them out. I have bought and deleter numerous apps that I thought would fit my work flow but did not make the cut.
This is the homescreen I came up with.
For talking, specifically texting and making phone calls I use Dialvetica and Messages.app. I never thought phone app did not work it was more that I was looking for a better user experience. Dialvetica offers a very interesting but still not perfect experience. Search is more intuitive and it easily launches me into a text message. The majore gripe I have is with e-mail, since I don’t use mail.app (more on that later) I cannot use Dialvetica to launch a new e-mail message. Also if I hand my phone to someone else (i.e. my girlfriend), they are typically complete lost trying to find the phone function.
Writing is among one of the most important tasks I complete on my iPhone. I often write long e-mails and drafts of blog posts while on the subway or bus, all on my iPhone. I usually have my iPad but the phone is a little more convenient when going a few stops, to drafts some quick notes. For writing I primarily focus on four apps, SimpleNote, ByWord, and Sparrow for iOS, and Tweetbot. Each serve a distinct purpose.
Simplenote, combined with Resoph Note on my work PC and NValt on my MacBook Air at home is where I store all of my quick notes, I use alot of tags and the search function is fantastic. Before I discovered Simplenote I used to e-mail myself dozens of times a day with links and stuff. Now I just have running list of notes each title with the date. This is a much better system then my previous system.
Byword, is where I write long prose particularly blog posts and school work. I don’t always write them on my phone but when an idea hits me I want to write it in the app. It keeps all my blog posts organized in a very specific DropBox folder. It been incredibly useful to have on my iPhone. My only gripe about Byword is that it does not support multiple dropbox folders.
Sparrow for iOS, is the mail client Apple should have built. Mail.app has not seen much revision since its first iteration and today it does not work in my email flow at all. I had been using Sparrow for the Mac for sometime, the iOS app was a welcome addition. Biggest gripe is the lack of real push notifications, the Boxcar work around is great but not a perfect solution by any means. I know they are working on getting this approved for version 1.2, so I will keep waiting. It would do Apple some good just to acquire Sparrow and turn them into their Mail.app team.
Twitter is a major part of my daily life, I gather news with it and stay connected with friends both in Washington and all over the world. Tweetbot is the best twitter client for iOS, it is far superior to any other app I have tried.
Listening to music is another major thing I use my iPhone for, considering I haven’t used my iPod Classic since I bought the iPhone. Podcasts, radio stations and my music library are each an important piece of my audio consumption. For podcasts, Instacast is amazing, I subscribe to more than a dozen different one my goals each week is to finish most of them. It doesn’t always happen and then I usually declare bankrupty, and mark all as played. My music library has completely transitioned to Spotify. I love Spotify generally as a service, their app also generally works well. It really works well for me as my music choices change frequently. While working I listen to a lot of Indie Rock, at the gym its techno/house music, while writing/reading I love good classical music or movie soundtracks. I also have the Live Phish app, for when I need to get my jam band fill. Their app works really well as a stand alone app, I tend to hate apps that are a walled garden of sort, but stil it serves its purpose. Rounding out my audio apps are TuneIn Radio for radio stations and Pandora for random internet mixes.
You’ll notice that my listening apps all reside in folder, and it’s my only folder on my home screen. I am not a huge fan of folders on the home screen because I do not believe people use that many apps frequently enough to keep them on their home screen. However since listening to different things through out the day is a major part of my daily flow the folder makes sense.
For me the category of productivity and planning covers a broad category of apps, including Omnifocus, Agenda, and Clear. Agenda is great for calendars, it destroys the stock app. Its minimilist design is great on the iPhone.
It took me a long time to buy into Omnifocus, the cost is a real barrier to entry. But I am glad I did, I have used several project managemet apps before, including TeuxDeux and Wunderlist. All of them are good, however OmniFocus is great. It’s a complete personal project management solution. I use it for everything in my life, school, work, blog, personal. It really helps me get things done and stay on track.
Alot of people may wonder why I have Clear and Omnifocus. Clear is really just a simple list app. I use it for just that, simple quick lists, blog post title ideas, groceries, gifts, and more are kept in easy lists. The other thing that is great about Clear is its use of multitouch. Clear really takes full advantage of the iPhones touch screen.
Networking and sharing revolves around four apps, Tweetbot, Instagram, Foursquare, and Facebook. I won’t go into much detail here. Just to say each of these apps serve their purpose.
Tracking is something that I am constantly doing. I track my web analytics using Ego, its the best way to quickly glance over web hits, twitter followers, and more. Bank of America has the greatest banking app, the only thing its missing is deposits by photo. I also track most of what I consume via the Weight Watchers app. I have been on the diet now for four months and have lost 30 lbs. it is clearly working.
Reading is the final thing I use my phone for and probably what I use it for most frequently. For RSS, Reeder is great and I read long form stuff in Instapaper. Although my Instapaper queue has become quite long lately, I am working on trimming it down. I think their will always be things left unread, most of the stuff I read in Instapaper is not time sensitive so if I read it 3 weeks later its not a big deal. The way you set up your home screen is your own decision. I can only offer a few words of advice, make your choices wisely and do not be afraid to take an app off your home screen if you are not using it. Lastly, try new apps. The Apple App developer community is building amazing products take advantage of it.
A Naked iPhone
About two months ago I ordered an OlloClip for my iPhone in an effort to improve my iPhone photography. Around the same time the bumper I had been using since I bought my phone ripped off my phone. I decided I would try carrying my iPhone sans case. A few months later I am loving having a naked iPhone.
Over the past several weeks I have had the opportunity to use the phone the way the designers intended it to be used. I never thought having a case on the phone would seriously change the feeling of the phone. I was so wrong, the overall experience using the device has been greatly improved. It is more comfortable when texting, tweeting or writing on the phone. As well playing games is a much more friendly experience. Holding it in my pocket or in my hand is great, the phone slides effortlessly in and out of my jeans.
One of the reasons why I put a case on my iPhone 4 was antennagate. The “myth” that users dropped more calls without a case due to the way the phone is held. I can confirm that I do indeed drop more calls then I did before. It really only happens in my apartment where I had spotty service to begin, I live in a basement. But 3G service remains much more spotty then it did before with case. This really does not bother me though, because even though the device is a phone, I would say less than 20% of my time is spent using it as a phone. Most of the time, I am writing on it (texting, emailing, tweeting, etc).
The biggest thing though is that using my phone is much more enjoyable. All day long I see people with these unrecognizable iPhones in hefty cases that make using the phone difficult and unenjoyable. Those of you walking around with our phone “protected” in a case that doubles the thickness of the phone are crazy. Take your phone out of the case and see if the experience is different, I guarantee it will be.
I am a fervent believer that Apple’s designers built the phone in a way that they thought was best. Using any case bumper or otherwise takes away from the phones intended use. The smart cover for the iPad is different in that it was developed to work with the device. No case has been designed to work in sync with the iPhone.
Obviously my iPhone is precious and extremely breakable, since removing the bumper I’ve had some close calls. So far I have no cracks or bumps on my phone. (Knock on wood) I treat the phone delicately, making sure its fully in my pocket and laying it down nicely on my desk. I still use the hell out of it and it has yet to break.
My advice to iPhone owners be bold and let your iPhone run naked across the world.
(Disclaimer: I know writing this post means theres a good chance in the future I will break my phone, it’s a risk I am willing to take.)
Read Everyday: E-Newsletters Edition
In today’s world we all spend hours on end on the web collecting and reading articles. For me the proliferation of e-newsletters has made it very easy to stay informed. Some would say this way of gathering information is antiquated in our world consumed by tweets and status updates.
I really think if you subscribe to a small handful of newsletters and read them or at least skim them every day you will be very well informed. Mind you on top of these daily e-mails, I follow several hundred users on twitter and well over a hundred blogs/websites via RSS.
There are so many newsletters out there, one can easily be over whelmed. Each covers a variety of issues, some are weekly, some daily, some monthly. Each serve a purpose.
Here’s a rundown of what newsletter come to my inbox and how I read them. My library of newsletters focuses on politics, technology, and general curiosity.
Read Every Day
Mike Allen’s Politico Playbook, is my go to resource for politics and what’s going on in Washington. I read it for two reasons, first it keeps me informed for my job and second it I am politics junkie.
Read & Trust is a great weekly email from a network of writers. It covers a ton of different topics from some really great writers all over the web. It’s a paid for subscription ($5/month) but it is definitely worth it. It’s the only newsletter I pay for but I like the paid for model. Web writers need to be paid.
Now I Know (That’s Half the Battle) by Dan Lewis is amongst the newest e-mails I have signed up for and I love it. Simply its a daily dose of knowledge on random issues. From bugs to myths to history and so much more they are short and very informative. I try to read Dan’s e-mails before I finish my days sometimes I run out of time. It’s definitely a must read.
Skim Every Day
The Atlantic Wire’s- 5 Best Columns is a great newsletter from one of my favorite websites providing readers with the most important columns from all of the major newspapers. I really only skim to see if there is something that perks my interest, I usually open one or two of the links.
News.me is a daily newsletter that I try to quickly skim on my way to work each day. It shows me the top links that people I follow on twitter have shared. It really helps me see what conversations are happening in the different worlds I live in. Usually there is at least one link from the political world, a technology article, and a few miscellaneous pieces that are the stories of the day. On and offline people will be talking about them.
Brain Pickings, is curated by Maria Popova, someone I aspire to be. Her posts are among some of the best content on the web. What makes her stuff stand out is it is not just content curated from the web, like Kottke, but rather web and real word content for users to explore. It includes a lot of great book recommendations. The e-mail is weekly, and I follow her blog so I skim in case I missed something but there is always great content.
Next Draft is a great afternoon read, conveniently it will come to your inbox in the midafternoon. Covering interesting stuff that has happened throughtout the day. I tend to skim it but try to read the whole thing if I can.
Every Block, is another one I skim. It gives readers information about whats going on in there neighborhood from shootings and robberies to special events and farmers market hours. If you read these to in depth you might be afraid to go outside, but its good to be informed.
The Browser, Longform, and Long Reads - I used to read these everyday, but since I have begun using RSS feeds again I tend to just look at the stories on Google Reader and delete the e-mails. I probably should unsubscribe but that seems over the top.
Tthor, is a great e-mail if you’re looking for fun stuff to read regarding general technology and curiosity. Some of the link get really into the weeds about stuff I have no idea about but with each e-mail I usually find one or two links I have missed.
HackerNewsLetter is a product put out by an avid reader of Y Combinators Hacker News a site that has hundreds of links on it daily. The newsletter is a great way to catch up on things you may have missed throughout the week.
Daily Deal E-Mails (Living Social, Groupon, KGB Deals, Capital Deals, etc), although I hate the way these clog up my inbox, at least once a week I find a deal that is good enough to buy (even though I don’t alway buy the good ones). I used to be able to skim the subjects but these companies are getting smarter and are making the e-mails very ambiguous to generate more clicks. I usually hope I see a good deal shared on one of the social channels or receive an e-mail from a friend asking me to buy one.
Read, Reply, Archive, Delete
Everyone has their own system for going through e-mail, some strive for Inbox Zero, I strive for Inbox Complete. Everyday when I wake up on average I have approxiametely 50 new pieces of unread e-mail in my personal account and 70 or so in my work inbox. Unfortunately both inboxes remain completely independent of eachother due to my employers IT constraints.
In effort to process morning email quickly and the rest of the mail I receive through out the day I employ a three step process. First I read the subject to see if the email is worth opening, if its not, I skip to step 3. If I choose to open it, I simply read the email and then make a choice between three options - reply, archive, or delete. If I choose not to read the e-mail, it automatically is moved to the trash. Anything not worth reading, is something I don’t intend to come back to later.
If I read it and don’t need to respond, the email is typically archived. I do this because many times I will come back to the email via search. The search on Gmail is an excellent tool and I employ it incessantly.
If I want to reply, I try to do so as quickly and briefly as possible. I respond mostly in bullet points. Some people like to write brilliant prose in email, I try to just get it done. People do not have time in their day to look for what you are giving them in response or to look for what you are asking. I am believer in just getting to the point. Obviously this system does not work for every response, some will require a long drawn out response.
If something can be answered in 5 words instead of 10, I will do so. Some colleagues, hate this cause I will often send a simple email like “Yes,” and they will have no idea what I mean. It tends to mean “Yes, I will bring that to the meeting” or “Yes, I am working on __.” I don’t understand the need for extra verbiage.
I find that email can often become a burden, keeping me from accomplishing the real work at hand. I think it’s important with any email process to set a time frame for emails. I tend to spend the first hour at my desk processing email. Then I will begin work on the days main project, I try my hardest to spend a few hours without going back to email. I do this so I can really get something done. Unfortunately in the world we live in people want responses before they even send an email so I am forced to look at my email every half hour or so. I say if something is that important call me or come to my desk.
Kony 2012, proves the social web is a two-way street
Unless you live under a rock, you have probably heard about KONY 2012, a “movement” that has been spreading like wild fire on the internet.
In short, the movement is being launched by Invisible Children, and it is an effort to arrest the International Criminal Courts most wanted man - Joseph Kony. His reputation is horrible including the kidnapping and raping of thousands of children. Since the videos release, it has been viewed millions of times. This sounds like a moral and just cause, one in which world wide citizenry should stand against.
As the video spread rapidly so have questions arisen about the organizations finances and ethics. Over the past week there has been plenty of debate over the group and its intentions. However no one should read this post and think that it’s mission is unjustified. Whether these crimes are still being committed does not matter, the criminal that is Joseph Kony should be arrested and tried for his vicious crimes.
The debate today, is whether Invisible Children is actually doing what it portrays in the video. In today’s world it is amazing how a global movement can be started in 140 characters or a short web video. What is more amazing is how quickly the internet can uncover that something is not quite as kosher as it sounds. On the internet today anyone can create a viral sensation. As quickly as the YouTube video is posted millions of people world wide can immediately figure out if it is legitimate. In the long term this new democratized web will help more people.
Think about the period of time following the tragic events of 9/11 or Hurrican Katrina. The internet existed but the social web was only in its infancy. Immediately following the catastrophes hundreds of charities began collecting donations. Many of them were well intentioned, but we all know that several nefarious charities existed, where more than half of your donation is going to cover over head expenses; salaries, rent, marketing, etc. All of those costs are relevant and important but more money donated to charity should go towards the cause then towards raising the money itself.
The internet is making this process easier. Today, it is simple for anyone to research a charity before making a contribution. More importantly in todays social web we no longer need to wait for the 6 O’Clock news to hear that a charity is not doing what it says it is. If you are an active participant in the social web you should easily be able to find out the problem.
KONY 2012 is a perfect example, looking through my facebook and twitter feed I could see a myriad of different people posting about Kony whether it was the video or the problems that existed. From young kids from camp to my friends mom to my coworkers everyone posted about Kony. The social graph is able to spread something virally and equally the social web can shut something down.
The social web, is a powerful tool for fundraising and organizing and should remain that way. But marketers for non-profits and corporations need to understand it is a two-way street.
Critics of South by Southwest's Homeless Hotspots Haven't Met Jonathan Hill
Tim Fernholz at GOOD has a nice write up on the homeless hotspot controversy taking place at SXSW this week.
I personally think its a good idea. The program offered homeless people a way to make some cash and have interaction with other people. At the end of the day its very similar to companies paying homeless people to stand on the side of the road with signs for a big sale, and no one seems to have a problem with that.
I also think it has started a conversation amongst a group of entrepreneurs, who are born problem solvers. Maybe one of them will be inspired to find a way to tackle homelessness.
So I got a Kindle, here’s why you should also…
My birthday was last month and I asked my parents for a Kindle, and my wish was fulfilled. A lot of people wondered why I wanted a Kindle, considering I have an iPad and can just use the Kindle App.
There are many reasons for any iPad owner to buy a no-frills classic Kindle.
- Reading on e-ink is amazing, and an overall much better experience then reading long form on the iPad screen. The NEW iPad may change this because of the resolution but, I still think that after reading on a backlit screen for a few hours anyones eyes will hurt.
- The Kindle ways nothing. This also helps with a readers longevity and ease. Holding the iPad while laying in bed is tiresome, the Kindle provide a light weight way to read. It’s also a joke to carry with you. I don’t have scale but I imagine the sleeve I slide my Kindle into ways more than my actual Kindle.
- The Kindle is a unitasker - it does one thing and does it well. It was impossible to read on the iPad, there are to many distractions, twitter, youtube, etc.
- Kindle vs. Nook vs. Sony vs. Other E-Reader. I did a lot of research and I came down to two choices Kindle or Nook. I chose the Kindle because I already owned a few Kindle books on my iPad. As well even though the Nook is saving Barnes & Noble from extinction, I have more faith in Amazons longevity. I don’t see the Kindle as something I will upgrade to the latest release so I want something that will continue to be supported.
- Kindle Singles are amazing. Basically they are long form pieces of writing that authors can publish and sell for almost nothing. They are pieces that fit between long form magazine articles (i.e. New Yorker features) and a full length book.
- Finally reading time. Having the Kindle sitting on my desk or on my coffee table has forced me to say “now is a good time to stop surfing the web and go read that book I have wanted to read.” On the iPad the Kindle or other book reading app gets lost in the other apps.
Technology democratized music by making everything available.
This week while reading tweets from #TED, I came across this quote from Michael Tilson Thomas it made me think about how much better listening to music has become over the years. For decades people picked a genre of music they liked from classical to rock to hip hop, and they were really stuck with it. Since you had to go out and buy each album in a genre. Then iTunes came along and totally disrupted the industry. Today it has been changed again.
For months now I have used just three apps to listen to music, Spotify, Pandora, and TuneIn Radio. Each serves a distinct purpose, Spotify for when I know what I want to listen to, Pandora when I know a style of music I want to listen to and TuneIn for when I want to listen to the radio. Most importantly though is these services do not limit me to the music I own, they allow me to explore and discover any form of music I want to.
On any typical day I will likely listen to several hours of music but each task in my day has a different soundtrack. Before these technologies existed to cover my musical cornocopia I would need to spend hundreds of dollars. Today access to music is easy. I wake up in the morning to music from a concert like Dave Matthews or Jason Mraz. The energy a live concert recording provides as you wake up is amazing. While at work I am listening to indie rock on either Pandora or I am listenign to KEXP Seattle via Tune In. When I hit the treadmill I like to listen to several playlists on Spotify, none of which I created instead I found them through friends and friends of friends. When I am at home in the evening while reading or writing I tend to listen to more indie music, movie soundtracks or classical music all from Spotify.
I know many people dislike these services for a few reasons, first people like to own there music. For a long time I was in that camp, but finally the technology progressed to a point where ownership is a waste. I rather have unlimited access to anything I choose at any time then have to decide if I like something then buy it. You know how many albums I own that I listened to once and never played again. The second criticism is that some artists are delaying releasing there albums on these services (i.e. Coldplay), that is definetely an issue today but as the technology progresses this will be a thing of the past.
Apple revolutionized the way we bought music with the introduction of the iPod and iTunes. Today the industry is once again being forced to change.
(Disclaimer: I also use the LivePhish app to listen to Phish concerts.)
Source: twitter.com
The greatest 24 hours in Kickstarter history.
I have yet to fund a project on Kickstarter, and I don’t really know why. The website truly amazes me, it is disrupting all industries and promoting what will be truly amazing products. From smaller projects like Put This On to the Elevation Dock to Double Fine Adventure, Kickstarter is poised to be one our generations greatest inventions.
Allowing anyone with an idea to find a way to pay for it. It won’t work for everything but it is truly a game changer. I got excited just reading about Kickstarter’s amazing 24 hours this past week in which two projects raised one-million dollars for the first time in the websites history.
The Ultimate Guide to Pinterest
I still don’t see a use for Pinterest, it just doesn’t seem to have a place in my social networks. My opinion is that in order to add a new network to the already long list of networks that I interact with, it must serve a new purpose.
When I got my iPhone, like many people, I immediately signed up for Instagram. It serves a unique purpose and interacts fluidly with my other social networks. I know right now Pinterest is the darling of the tech press, it is gaining a lot of users and page hit. However, I am interested to see if the momentum is sustainable.
Discovering a new website, it’s like finding a hidden treasure.
Discovering a new website is often like what I imagine Christmas morning is for young kids (I am Jewish so I never experienced that feeling). Finding a new website gives me the opportunity to totally immerse myself in the writers content. If you take some time it can really all you to read without care of RSS feed numbers or other tweets.
Over the past few years, when I have discovered a new website I have taken time to read a few posts. If I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read, the new site will become an obsession of mine. I will tell everyone I know about this great site, tweet links from to it, anything to spread the word of the new gospel I have uncovered.
Most importantly though I will spend the next several days reading the website and immersing myself in the content, going deep into the archives to see where and how the writer got started. Reading posts that are out of date may seem like a waste of time to many people but really you get to learn so much. This obviously will not work on a breaking news blog. However on technology, music, or design blogs you get to see some amazing things that you only get to see because you took the time to go back into the archives. I have discovered some great applications, like Simplenote, and great products by going through archives.
It is also a great way to better understand how and what to blog about. Since starting this blog as a site dedicated to the liberal arts, technology, and general curiosity, my RSS reader has expanded to include several new sites. Each blog is helping me expand my knowledge and writing.
As you discover new websites take some time to interact with the writer. It is usually pretty simple to interact via twitter or even via email. If I discover something I like, I will usually tweet Just discovered this cool new blog written by @AuthorsName. Keep up the good work. Nine times out of ten the blogger will respond via twitter and will usually have dialogue with a reader. If they don’t respond but you have a question send them a tweet, Hey, @Author Loved your review, have you seen this new app? Sometimes they won’t respond at least you tried.
Web discovery takes some time but at the end of the day it will be worth it.
Send me a message on twitter and tell me your favorite blog. Hopefully I find something new I like.
iPhoneography 101: Get great photos, and great control in iOS
Some great tips in this article. I have a Canon point and shoot that has become a great (expensive) paper weight, I fully rely on my iPhone for all my photo needs. I have been intrigued by the prosumer micro four thirds cameras, and may end up purchasing one to take better photos on that eventual vacation or something.
Daniel Markovitz says "To-Do Lists Don't Work"
While I agree with some of Daniel’s points, I disagree that all To-Do Lists don’t work. There are some simple ways to manage tasks and projects that individuals can apply to their everyday life.
I committed to the rule of 3 at work, each day I have 3 main things I plan to work on while in the office. This leaves room for other ‘emergency’ tasks that my crop up. In order to maintain this blog and school work, I create short lists for these projects as well. I give myself a due date for every project and I don’t allow myself to plan to far in advance. I say if a project does not need to be touched for 4 or 5 weeks it can wait a few weeks before it is put on the list. This in turn allows me to keep my to do lists short on task but long on details.
When I have a project on the list, I always have several bullet points underneath breaking the project down into smaller tasks or just notes on what needs to be accomplished. Finally every Friday, I review the previous week and every Monday I preview the upcoming week.
Finally I use a great piece of task management software, Omnifocus. Although it has a premium price tag it is excellent at helping me Get Things Done. There are many free apps out there that are good as well. Wunderlist comes to mind in the free space.
To Do list surely won’t work for everyone, but if you keep them manageable they can be a great tool.
Reflections on Unlocking the Gym Rat Badge and My Other 2012 Goals
A month into 2012, I though it would be good to reflect on my 2012 goals and where I am. I can report that I have been working hard on most and need to work harder on others, but this little experiment of goal setting and tracking has been really great. I recommend setting goals, and writing them down and keeping track of your progress.
I am definitely on the road to my number one goal, losing weight. Since the year started I have been going to the gym 6 days a week, I workout with a train on two of those occasions. Before the year started I had been going to the gym about 3 days a week, and often fell off the wagon. I keep unlocking different levels of the Foursquare Gym Rat Badge (photo above), so I must be doing something right. My diet was always my biggest issue and I needed to drastically address it. Weight Watchers has been excellent, although frustrating at times their system has worked well for me (I don’t think it will work for everyone). Their mobile application makes dieting much easier, but the app could use some technical improvements, thats for a future post. As of this writing I have lost 13lbs since the first of the year. Well on my way to my goal of 50!
I signed up for Team Treehouse, an online programming school to learn how to Code. So far so good, although I need to devote more time to it. It’s a great way to learn to code, and has been built by a great company who really supports there users.
Reading has been a bit of a challenge. I finished one book this month (The Revolution Will Not Be Televised), but I know if I devoted more time to reading then to Netflix and YouTube I would be able to read more then a book a month. I just bought, The Education of Millionaires on the Kindle App. I really think that if I had a standalone Kindle (a unitasker) for reading, I would read a whole lot more.
I started my final semester of graduate school, so I am on my way to finishing my degree in May. I am taking a class taught by Representative Jason Altmire (D-PA), it is very interesting and he is really nice. The other class, Congress and Trade Policy, is a total bore. Come May 18th, I will be a graduate.
I have blogged a bit more then links this month and I am working on formulating a schedule to really do that. The only goal I have not touched is volunteering but hey there are eleven months left of 2012 and I didn’t plan to work on that til I am done with school.
The year is off to a great start, and will keep getting better. February will be great, especially since my birthday is on the 23rd.
If you made goals for 2012 and are working on them keep up the good work, if you didn’t get started you still have plenty of time, and if you didn’t make goals yet you still can set them and achieve them.
Stay hungry, stay foolish.
