Tag: iOS

At Home on the Mac

( )

[exif id="23570"]

As the title suggests, the Mac still feels more comfortable for almost everything. The Mac feels less innovative and "fun" but I actually feel more relaxed when using multiple windows, real keyboard shortcuts, and a true file manager. The irony here is that the size and design of the iPad makes it more of a joy to use, but it's also tainted by inefficiency. I do almost every task faster and more easily with my Mac than I can do it on my iPad Pro.

That paragraph sums up my experience. I’ve used the iPad since 2010. I’ve had the Mac since 2006. I like both. But I’m more productive on a Mac.

Adobe’s iOS app failure?

Adobe's iOS app failure (Six Colors)

Now, how many hours per year do I spend in the five different iOS apps that bear the imprint of the Photoshop product family, many of whom are only accessible to people who (like me) have active Creative Cloud subscriptions? (Keeping in mind that I often travel with only my iPad Pro, and do an awful lot of my work on the iPad these day.)

The answer is zero. I never use them.

I use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Mobile all the time. I don't know if Jason has used Lightroom but it works quite well. I don't think it's possible for Adobe to incorporate the full functionality of the desktop version but most of what I need is there. I don't use any of the other Adobe apps Jason mentioned in his post. From my standpoint, Adobe's mobile program is a success. Other photographers agree.

iTunes Preview

Last week, Apple removed the iOS App Store from iTunes. iTunes is now focused exclusively on music, movies, television, podcasts, and audiobooks. For me, it's a loss. Craig Grannell thinks Apple could have learned something from Google's approach.

Google has always been more comfortable with the internet than Apple, and in this area Apple now falls short. If I’m reading about great iOS apps or games on my PC or Mac, I can no longer quickly grab them in iTunes, and later download them to my iOS devices. There’s not even a wish-list option. I now have to send myself a link, or switch to an iOS device. (Also, some apps are device-specific, and I still can’t buy an iPad app from an iPhone, which is absurd.)

Apple should steal an idea from Google. It should be possible to buy apps directly from iTunes Preview, and choose where to send them. Better: iTunes Preview should grow to become the entire iOS App Store online, giving greater visibility to apps, and freeing browsing and buying them from the confines of iOS.