Working in the Shed→

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Matt Legend Gemmell:

We act as if we take concentration for granted, yet everyone has had trouble keeping their mind on the task at hand. We litter our menubars with icons, keep notifications enabled, and run our email programs, chat apps and social media clients all day. Something’s got to give, and invariably it’s our creative output.

I've felt this in past months. The inflow of widgets and wotsits vying for my attention, not to mention people. My focus and attention have been pulled in almost any and every direction imaginable. And something did give, and it was most definitively my creative output.

I have felt completely and totally hampered in my desire and ability to write here. And this past week, I have found that writing in the quiet of the night, just before I turn out my bedside lamp, to be optimal. There is little seeking my attention then.

It's very obvious that I need to scale back some distractions that mean little, so I can enjoy the things I love.

Apple's Answer on Upgrade Pricing→

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Underscore David Smith on Apple's release of Logic Pro X this morning and how we finally know how to deal with upgrade pricing on the App Store:

Logic Pro X is a Major (with a capital M) update to their professional audio editing suite. It appears to represent a significant investment in both time and resources. So how is it being sold, especially to people who already paid $200 for the previous version (Logic Pro 9)? It is a separate app download with a full cost purchase. No upgrades, no introductory pricing, just straight forward sale.

So, basically, do what we have been doing. Yep.

Go Get Day One [iTunes Link]→

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One of my favorite iOS apps, Day One, is free this week as part of the App Store's 5 year anniversary promotion. The iOS app is normally $4.99 and really is one of the nicest apps I have ever used.

You can read my review of Day One, but at the price of free this week, you don't have much excuse not to grab it.

There are other apps in the promotion which you may like, and Tools & Toys has a lovely roundup.

The agony and the ecstasy of the new MacBook Air’s battery→

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David Chartier:

For all the incredibleness of the MacBook Air’s new battery, the device is still dependent on WiFi hotspots and, let’s face it, the internet is an essential ingredient these days for getting most things done. Now, keep in mind that adding 4G radios to the MacBook Air likely poses its own share of challenges that Apple has clearly decided to avoid for the Mac, at least so far. In general, it seems like 3G/4G radios have never been very popular in notebooks for some reason.

I can see why David wants cellular data in a MacBook, but I guess I don't find it to be much of a bother to just fire up Personal Hotspot on my iPhone.

Feed Wrangler’s Smart Streams→

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On the topic of a post-Google Reader RSS world, and specifically regarding my choice of FeedWrangler, this explanation by Shawn Blanc of how versatile Smart Streams are in FeedWranger is fantastic. I learned quite a bit about them, and though I have some set up as "folders" like I had in Google Reader, I can completely see myself using keyword based Smart Streams and Filters for seasons of organization.

If you are also settling on FeedWrangler, you should definitely read up on Smart Streams.

Twitter for Mac Updated→

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Speaking of being shocked, I thought this app was long dead. The last time it had received an update prior to today was June 1, 2011. That's right, OS X Snow Leopard reigned king when Twitter for Mac was last updated.

But, it appears Twitter is breathing new life into their desktop app. They added Twitter Photos support, Retina graphics, updated iconography, and a slew of languages. They've even put Ben Sandofsky in charge of it full time.

We'll see what happens, but personally, I am more excited that Iconfactory is working on Twitterrific 5 for Mac.

The next generation of Instapaper→

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Marco Arment:

I’m happy to announce that I’ve sold a majority stake in Instapaper to Betaworks. We’ve structured the deal with Instapaper’s health and longevity as the top priority, with incentives to keep it going well into the future. I will continue advising the project indefinitely, while Betaworks will take over its operations, expand its staff, and develop it further.

I'll admit I was shocked to see this, but I can see why Marco took this path. Just from reading his blog about how much time it take to work on The Magazine, I couldn't imagine how he'd find time for Instapaper as well.

Instapaper is one of those apps I have had a long relationship with, and one I hope will have a continued and wonderful future. Congrats, Marco.

End WWDC→

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Daniel Jalkut:

Call it WWDC if you like, but it needs to take place 365 days a year instead of 4. It needs to serve 300,000 developers, not 5,000. And it needs to take place online, not within the cramped confines of a small convention center in San Francisco.

WWDC tickets went on sale and subsequently sold out within 2 minutes today. Two. Minutes. Probably less. It's plain to see that the demand for WWDC has outstripped the supply, and I think Daniel has cooked up the beginnings of a pretty good solution.