Mountain Lion without Skeuomorphism

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When Lion released its cockamamie Address Book and iCal UI, I found the apps to be far less usable than the Snow Leopard counterparts.

Mountain Lion made the functional again while renaming them to Contacts and Calendar, respectively, but the apps still have a cockamamie look to them.

These UI edits by Shtekeris over at The Verge’s forums are elegant, functional, and simply beautiful.

Apple, please hire this guy.

Official YouTube App Hits the App Store

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Another thing changing in iOS 6 is that the built-in YouTube app is going away. Today, Google released an official YouTube app in the App Store to replace it. I’ve only spent a few moments with it, but already it seems better than the built-in app.

Just like Apple is eschewing Google’s Maps in favor of their own Maps, the change of guard around YouTube feels right for Google. You need to own your experience.

¶ Downcast | Review

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With iOS 6 likely due out in the next couple of weeks, it’s a good idea to talk about podcasts. If you, like me, are a podcast listener, things are changing in iOS 6.

Traditionally, I’ve used podcasts the Apple way: subscribe via iTunes and sync episodes over USB or Wi-Fi to my iPhone, and then listen to them from the Podcasts tab of Apple’s Music app. It is certainly a process full of friction. It keeps your iPhone tied to your Mac, still, even though iOS 5 made significant inroads to making iOS independent from iTunes.

I take several long-weekend trips every year, and this past year I gave serious consideration to just leaving the Mac at home. A couple times I did, and regretted that I wasn’t able to reload on podcasts. So the past couple trips, my Mac has made the trip with me for that very reason.

In iOS 6, podcasts are being removed from the Music app. Apple’s new way is for users to use the already available Podcasts app. I’ve tried to use it a couple times to preemptively get on board before the big switch. But honestly? Don’t use this app as it stands today.

Apple’s Podcasts app is slow, buggy, and lacks the typical polish and refinement we’ve all come to expect. This app does not feel like something Apple made. It doesn’t even use iCloud to sync the subscription list between your iPhone and iPad, instead making you go through the subscription process twice.

So here’s what you should do. Buy Downcast. It is every bit the caliber you would expect Apple to make, but Apple didn’t make it.

Here’s a rundown of what makes Downcast awesome:

  • It syncs your subscription list, the download and play status of episodes, and app settings — all through iCloud (and it takes little iCloud storage, since it just syncs the status between devices).
  • The episode list is sorted between Unplayed and Played or Empty.
  • You can change the sort order of episodes within a podcast between ascending or descending.
  • You can toggle continuous play, deciding whether you want the next episode to play at the end of the previous, or to just stop entirely (this was the main sell for me).
  • Adding podcasts is a breeze. If you need to download multiple episodes, you can tap the Edit button, mark a bunch of them, then toss them in the download queue.
  • You don’t have to download episodes if you don’t want to. You can add some to the list for streaming. Most podcasts I want to have downloaded, but there are a couple that I have marked for streaming, which I can convert to download if I want.
  • You can set the app to download only on Wi-Fi, so as to not wreck your data plan (something Apple’s Podcasts app does not give an option for).
  • If an episode has linked show notes, Downcast pulls those in for your perusal while listening.
  • It has background geofence support. So you could set a geofence around home and work, and set Downcast to check for new episodes and sync playback when you arrive.

I could go on, there’s much more. The bottom line is this is the sort of full-featured podcast client you want.

I highly recommend that you switch to Downcast before iOS 6 comes out (rumor has it September 19). Downcast is a universal app and runs a whopping $1.99 on the App Store.

Also, I noticed Downcast’s Twitter feed mention they are working on a Mac app.

¶ A Step-by-Step Guide to Pre-Ordering an iPhone 5 and Switching to Verizon

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It is very possible that Apple will open up pre-orders for the iPhone 5 next week after its media event. I’ve mentioned it before, but both times I have purchased an iPhone, AT&T was the sole US carrier. But that isn’t the case now. Now Sprint and Verizon are options, too.

I’m taking the opportunity to not only move up to the iPhone 5, but to switch to Verizon. And I have a feeling I’m not the only person in this situation, so here’s a little guide from yours truly on how to pre-order an iPhone 5 and switch to Verizon while keeping your number.

  1. Pre-order your Verizon iPhone 5 from Apple or Verizon and sign up as a new Verizon customer. Let the system assign you new numbers. Just think of the new numbers as placeholders, as you’ll switch your AT&T number later.
  2. Wait a week or so for your new iPhone 5 to arrive.
  3. Unbox the iPhone 5, boot it up and activate it. I’d hold off on restoring from iCloud’s backup just yet. (Speaking of iCloud backup, on your previous iPhone, make sure you are on Wi-Fi and go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup > Back Up Now and run a current backup).
  4. After it is activated, make sure you can pull cellular data and make a phone call.
  5. Now call Verizon to have them switch your AT&T phone number over.
  6. Say good riddance goodbye to AT&T.
  7. Make another call and make sure your number is correct.
  8. Now, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This will start the setup guide over. Now connect to Wi-Fi during setup and log in with your iCloud ID and restore from your iCloud backup. Everything should be awesome now.

This process should have the least amount of friction in switching both phones and carriers. Godspeed.

Joining AgileBits

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Just a quick note to share some news. Today I joined AgileBits, makers of the amazing 1Password, as part of their customer support team. techēse isn’t going anywhere, but I felt it necessary to disclaim where my paycheck now comes from since I have written about 1Password a number of times, and will continue to do so when appropriate.

I have also made a disclaimer note in the Colophon for future reference.

¶ Two Years with the iPhone 4

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I have had my iPhone 4 for 2 years, 2 months, and 10 days. For the vast majority of that time, I have used the iPhone 4 without a case. Occasionally I will use the Bumper case Apple sent for free from that whole Antennagate fiasco.

I thought with the next iPhone being just over the horizon (if you believe the rumors about release dates, which I do), it would interesting to look at how the iPhone 4 has held up over two years.

The iPhone Itself

The iPhone itself has held up really well. The front glass is still pristine. The stainless steel band around the sides has a slight patina, but is free from scuffs or scratches. The back glass, which isn't Gorilla Glass like on the front, looks remarkable at first blush, but upon close inspection does have two small hairline scratches. But you have to look pretty closely in the right light to see them.

The buttons and switches all work as they should.

I should note that I have had this actual device the entire time. It has never been serviced or replaced by AppleCare.

And, since I mentioned Antennagate earlier, I should also mention that since I use the iPhone 4 without a case nearly all the time, the antenna has not been an issue. Yes, it does drop signal if I press my hand against where the antennae bands meet, but that rarely happens in actual use. I imagine it may happen more if I were a lefty.

Software

The iPhone 4 originally shipped with iOS 4 and currently runs iOS 5. It will be getting iOS 6 in a few weeks (assuming, naturally, that iOS 6 ships concurrently with the next iPhone). What can I say besides that the software has progressively gotten better?

The iPhone 4 runs iOS 5 like a champ. It feels every bit as fast — and in some cases faster — as the day I unboxed it.

My previous (and first) iPhone was the iPhone 3G. The one thing I distinctly remember when it was two years along is that it was slow. Often, the keyboard would lag when typing, which was highly frustrating. And apps took forever to launch.

The iPhone 4 still feels snappy. Now, maybe an iPhone 4S feels faster, but I've rarely used one. My only mark of reference is the memory of the iPhone 3G feeling progressively slower, and the iPhone 4 feeling overall constant.

One area where the iPhone 4 feels like it has gotten progressively faster over time is taking pictures. When the iPhone 4 launched, iOS 4 was very slow at launching the camera app. It got a little better with iOS 4.1, but taking an HDR photo would often crash the camera. iOS 4.2 seemed to smooth everything over. And iOS 5 made the camera launch noticeably faster and has been much more stable with HDR photos. And let's not forget that iOS 5 and 5.1 have improved access to the camera by respectively adding and improving access from the lock screen. And taking pictures has become easier by using the Volume + button as a shutter release.

On the software front, the iPhone 4 has only become better, not worse.

iOS 6

The iPhone 4 officially supports iOS 6. I have not run any of the betas nor have I knowingly seen an iPhone 4 running iOS 6. My hope is that the iPhone will continue to perform admirably with iOS 6, just as it has with iOS 5. In fact, I expect it to, since the iPhone 3GS will run iOS 6, as well, and the iPhone 4 is an order of magnitude more powerful than the iPhone 3GS.

However, that said, I do expect the software to take a slight step backward in iOS 6, and it doesn't affect only the iPhone 4. For instance, Maps will presumably get a performance boost by switching to Apple's vector-based maps, versus Google's bitmapped tiles. However, this is at the expense of transit directions and Street View. I also expect Apple's Maps to have more inaccuracies at the start, but that should improve over time.

Also, Podcasts are being ripped out of the Music app and spun off to Apple's new Podcasts app in the App Store. I've tried switching preemptively to the new Podcasts app a couple times now. I have found it incredibly frustrating, and it is a battery hog even with the screen locked. I am considering alternatives like Downcast or Instacast.

The overall experience, I suspect, will be pretty awesome in iOS 6. Those two items are just a couple obvious (though I hope temporary) regressions.

What's Next

Shortly before the launch of the iPhone 4, I was absolutely ready for new iPhone hardware. AT&T was still the exclusive carrier in the US, so I didn't even have to think about carriers.

That isn't the case this time around, in either respect. I am very happy with the iPhone 4. However, I am very unhappy with AT&T. They have terrible presence in the midwest, and increasingly seem outright hostile to their users.

I've been out of contract with AT&T for two months and ten days. I plan to switch to Verizon in the next few weeks. And, since I will have to buy a new phone to switch, I may as well get the next iPhone.

Like I said, I am very happy with the iPhone 4. I'd be happy to continue to use it if I could stomach staying on AT&T's mediocre network. But I am also looking forward to the next iPhone because it will allow me to finally use Siri. I also look forward to the camera improvements. Heck, even if it uses the same camera as the 4S, it will be better than the iPhone 4. But, in all seriousness, I bet Apple includes a better camera than the iPhone 4S.

And then there is the rumored 4-inch screen. The extra half inch is made up in the screen supposedly getting taller, and not wider. I've pretty much been against the idea of a larger screen — and hence, a larger phone — but if the extra half inch affords me an extra row of apps/folders on each home screen page, I should be able to consolidate back down to just two pages, which will make me very happy.

I have loved using the iPhone 4. It has been my most used device ever. It has served me very well. It has been a large part of my family as it is the iPhone my son has come to know as the iPhone. And man, is he really good at using an iPhone. I have sent countless messages to friends and family, shared many moments on FaceTime, had great conversations, and have taken the majority of photos of my family over the past two years — all on this iPhone 4.

As memorable as the iPhone 4 is, the opportunities to simultaneously move to a better carrier in my area and get the next iPhone will bring my time with the iPhone 4 to an end.

I expect the next iPhone to be even more remarkable in two year's time.