on 3 February 2010
I watched the launch of the iPad (or iSlatelet, as I’d taken to calling it in the hope that someone would have explained to Steve why iPad was an even less sensible name for a consumer electronics product than Wii) with considerable scepticism, but on reflection, so many aspects of this thing are near enough right. continue
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on 1 January 2010
I never fully believed the Apple Tablet was real until I heard these words on my iPhone: ‘It’s [name withheld], I work for Apple and I can confirm that, yes… I’ve read the rumour websites too. We’re all really excited and just waiting for Steve to tell us to start making it.’ continue
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on 18 December 2009
Computer Shopper magazine asked me to produce a special Christmas issue on Windows 7. Which was great, except the time frame was less than four weeks, start to finish. continue
on 20 November 2009
Nobody was shocked when the Secretary of State for Business announced three strikes. There could be a lot more than that by the end of the winter. As it turned out, though, he wasn’t talking about industrial action: Lord Mandelson was resurrecting the proposal to cut off your access to the Internet if you’re accused of infringing copyright. Like privatising the Royal Mail, he probably doesn’t see why this is controversial. continue
on 19 November 2009
PC Pro regular Kevin Partner has written a lively and informative book on setting up and marketing a business on the Internet, and I’ve had fun designing it. continue
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on 23 October 2009
Why a graphics book about graphics books? Noted art director Steven Heller, who wrote the introduction, thinks he owns all the ones mentioned here, but isn’t sure because his personal library – ‘a separate apartment where I store most of my books’ – is too disorganised. You and I, on the other hand, with less shelf space and a more limited budget, may need a bit of help in sifting through the thousands of titles in the field. continue
on 22 October 2009
I’m totally coveting the new 27-inch iMac. Whether the LED screen will be a great leap forward, I don’t know; my current 24in LCD is crystal clear, and the backlight goes up several notches beyond what I’m using, so there’s little obvious room for improvement. But bigger is better. continue
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on 1 October 2009
Windows 7 is the most significant upgrade to Microsoft’s PC operating system for years. Dennis Publishing’s MagBook on the subject is likely to be one of their best sellers this year, and since they liked the way I designed its predecessor (on the somewhat less inspiring Vista), they asked me back. continue
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on 25 September 2009
As I write, artificial intelligence (AI) teams are gathering in Brighton for the 2009 Loebner Prize Contest. This is where chatbots – programs that simulate conversation – compete to pass the Turing Test, convincing a panel of human beings that they’re talking to a real person. Despite the incentive of $100,000, no system has actually won so far, though presumably they all have tearful acceptance speech modules just in case. continue
on 15 September 2009
Talking to a new client today about marketing copy and the importance of tone of voice: to answer your customers’ unspoken questions before they wander away, you have to talk to them, not just list information. Serendipitously, on the way back I picked up the US edition of Wired and found gatefolded within it the most gorgeous example of copywriting wrongness courtesy of Nokia, apparently via Nathan Barley. continue
adambanksdotcom @flayman I'm honestly encouraged though by AAPL. World's top company makes useful stuff, sells it, doesn't piss about manipulating people — go to this tweet