Blaze New Media

After this morning’s announcement from Apple, it’s interesting to consider the possible impact of the iPod touch on a web developer’s world.

The iPod touch is Apple’s new touch screen iPod offering. It’s essentially an iPhone without the phone features. It includes Wi-Fi, as well as the Safari web browser for internet access.

The crucial difference between the iPod touch and iPhone however, is the fact Apple is selling the iPod touch worldwide from the end of September.

Apple have already sold over 100m iPods, not all of which were full sized versions, but it gives an idea of the numbers. This means there is the possibility of many millions of people with the ability to browse the web on a quality mobile device. As Steve Jobs said, this is not the watered-down mobile web, this is the full web experience.

What does this mean for Web Developers?

With the potential for millions of people to use their iPod to browse the web, it could become a significant platform. It definitely will become a platform that needs to be tested on by developers, making sure that sites work with the screen-size and interface.

However, the bigger question is when will clients start requesting “iPod enabled” websites? We have already seen the likes of Digg and Facebook creating iPhone specific interfaces, making use of the iPhone’s screen size and touch interface.

I wonder if it will ever get to a point in time where people head on over to your website or web app and expect an “iPod enabled” interface?

Lots of things to consider, but you can see how the inclusion of a web browser on the iPod opens the doors to many new possibilities.

What are your thoughts?

The new iMac is looking very tempting.

According to the official specs however, it isn’t thinner. Take a look at the old dimensions compared with the new.

Just saying… everyone is going on about how thin they’re supposed to be. Even Steve Jobs said:

“[The new iMac is] Really thin. You’ll get your hands on it in a minute, but they’re appreciably thinner.”

What gives?

Thankfully it turns out the Leopard Finder mockup I produced a couple of months ago wasn’t too far away from the real deal. I’m pretty happy with the additions Apple have made, it should make for a much better overall experience.

I’m happy with the new look, although I personally think it feels a little unfinished (aqua scrollbars still? Hmm). Unifying the look across core applications was the right decision, especially when Apple are picking up new users in droves.

A Comparison:

Smarter Filters, Cover Flow & Quick View

Better smart filters are very welcome. Although they didn’t use them in exactly the same way I expected, the fact that they are providing pre-created filters is sure to let users actually know filtering exists - and is useful in everyday situations.

Cover Flow was a given, I’m not sure why I didn’t pick up on that one. Apple loves it, although I’m still unsure whether this will be any more than an added whistle. Perhaps for folders of pictures or videos I can see it being helpful, but for viewing the applications folder? I doubt it.

Quick view is excellent. I think it could be the best feature announced. I hate opening up apps just to check to see if I have the right document. Hopefully this will be easily extensible, so 3rd party developers can add support for their own document types.

No Tabs - But Hello Breadcrumb!

I wish Apple would add tabs. Perhaps this breaks too many interface guidelines to be considered. I still think it would be extremely useful - providing I can drop files onto a tab and have it spring open in the same way folders do.

One thing that did find its way in to the new Finder was a bread crumb. I thought this had very little chance to be honest, but it’s a very welcome addition. We see bread crumbs on websites all the time, and they are a critical component to the iTunes store. Users know what they mean, so the Finder seems the perfect place to use them.

Overall a great (and needed) upgrade. I’m looking forward to using it.

In the latest build of Leopard, Apple has started to pay attention to the window chrome, unifying it across the board.

I’m positive this is an indication we will see some serious work done on the interface of many core applications (unification is just the first step).

Here’s a mockup of a new Finder interface, and what I feel we might see, or at least I’d love to see, in the October release.

Full Size Version

1. The iTunes Look & Feel

When iTunes 7 was released, along came another new interface. However, this time there had been a lot more thought put in. There were new widgets, new colors, and a distinct lack of “Aqua”.

My personal opinion, and that of many Mac enthusiasts, is this will start the transition. A transition away from the jelly bean, “reflections everywhere” look and feel that has been with OS X since day one. I think we will see this look and feel (or at least some sort of variation of it) across the board in Leopard.

2. Tabs Tabs Tabs

Tabs are something that Finder has been crying out for for a long time. When tabs exploded onto the browser scene a few years back, people took time to adjust to having multiple layers in one window. I think most people now find it hard to live without them. Tabs help stop window clutter and make it simple to see all of the locations you have open at one time.

I think Apple would be crazy to leave tabs out of a new Finder application.

3. Bread-crumb Navigation

This is something I would personally love to see. A Finder bread-crumb would represent a history of where you’ve been, rather than just a simple folder hierarchy. This would tie in nicely to the back and forward buttons, but also allow you the freedom of jumping to any point in the history. This may well break interface guidelines however, as it differs from the way it works in iTunes, so it’s probably a long shot.

4. Multi Views

Smart folders are great, I make them, use them for five minutes, and then forget about them.

What if Apple came up with some pre-made smart folders that would appear in a section at the top of each finder window? Most of the time I’m opening finder if get hold of a file I’ve edited pretty recently. If Finder presented me with my last five edited files, this would be a big time saver.

Apple could create other options such as “files with a red color label” or “files less than 5mb”. All this functionality already exists through smart folders. I’m just making it more useful for the average user.

5. Smart Folder / Burn Folder Button

Following on from before, smart folders and burn folders are hidden up in the “File” menu. Why not bring this into view by using a “cog” button on the main finder window?

6. New Folder Icons

Along with the new look and feel, I think we will see new folder icons. The current ones are very “pinstriped” and look dated. Maybe we will see folder icons along the same style as the new Adobe CS3 folder icons?

What are you thoughts on a new Finder?

As a web professional, being able to do this on one computer with very little trouble makes me happy to own my Intel Mac.

Of course, this is all down to a great virtualization program called Parallels Desktop that lets you run any windows application within your Mac OS X desktop.