Milton Glaser is such a fantastic inspiration.

Steven Frank, co-founder of Panic software who make great Mac software including Transmit and Coda blogs about how a product succeeds in the marketplace.

From the post: "My current hypothesis is that there are at least three positions of prominence in each segment—three ways to be number one, if you will: The First One, The Free One, and The Good One." Full blog post here: The First, The Free and The Good...

We would tend to agree with that one.

Great diagram. Simplicity in design. Simplicity, what we can learn about usability.

We are experimenting with Twitter here in the office. It started off with me trying to figure out why it is so popular and has since degenerated into comedy and some scary conversations, especially viewed out of context. My initial thoughts were that Irish people would be too cynical to use this, but we will see.

You see my Twitter posts here just in case you are curious: http://twitter.com/naoise_g

I am using the spiffy app Twitteriffic on the Mac to keep it updated and it also updated the status menu on iChat.

I am starting to see how it could be useful, but it seems mostly a fun diversion so far.


Update:
Video explaining Twitter.

Dave Shea posts about what options are available to designers to produce something by themselves that they can sell. A product! I love this quote from the article: "Hey, I’ve got these visual design skills, what can I do with them that will result in a product I can sell to people?"

Here at Marino we have taken the collaborative approach, working within a team to create products. It can be hard but rewarding work if you are passionate enough about what you are producing. I have tried the on my own approach before but found it frustrating trying to spread my skill-sets across so many technical areas.

Of course the lure of creating a financially successful product with little maintenance overhead is compelling.

Fake Steve has picked on the iPhone Ireland ripoff. Just don't take the hollywood Oirish accent stuff too personally.

Jaysus! Howja make a fookin phone call with this fookin thing?

After the Sunday Business Post highlighting the rip off of the iPhone in Ireland, lots of other stuff is cropping up now.

Apparently is was in the Mirror today and here is a selection of links discussing the same thing.

The high price of iPhones in Ireland - News.com

Irish telco firm blasts O2/iPhone price package - Silicon Republic

O2 Ireland defends controversial iPhone plans - Mac NN

O2 Ireland defends high iPhone costs

Dear Ms. Danuta Gray

iPhone hits Ireland with rip-off tariffs

O2 - The Irish iPhone Rip-off

iPhone launch 14th March on O2 Ireland...

Found this useful Google Maps setup while browsing shared feeds in my Google Reader. I am finding Google Reader great. I have used the now free NetNewsWire for Mac for years which is also fantastic RSS client but am finding the integration of the Google apps very useful these days. Also really like the way Google are slowly integrating more social elements into their applications. Far more useful than the viral application clutter on Facebook etc.

Irish WiFi Hotspots using Google Maps. Setup by Eirepreneur and updated by many...


View Larger Map

The Sunday Business Post have highlighted the rip off going on with the iPhone in Ireland.

I can't find an online link but they highlight the difference between the packages available in the UK and in Ireland. As they put it, "When it comes to 'Eire surcharge' that mobile operators traditionally levy on Irish customers, its business as usual with the iPhone. Basic package customers pay four ties the tariff per minute than British customers do and five times the texting rate. From the phone's basic cost to its data allowances, we will pay more for less than our counterparts on the same operator in Belfast or London. Only on calls outside package limits is the Irish customer better off.'

The thing is, there are so many minutes in the packages in the UK it makes no difference that the outside package minutes cost more.

Basic Package