Apple, Stuff of Intrigue

I'll keep this short, because it won't interest everyone.

Apple: In Trouble?

If you follow tech stuff at all, you might know about the lawsuit filed against Apple for their upcoming "iCloud" service. Apparently, there's a company by that name that does stuff with the cloud — and it's similar to what Apple wants to do. I think that it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Apple isn't known for playing nice.

But, I like their stuff.

Particularly, I love my iPad 2. Bradtastic Approved. What a great device... seriously. What makes it really fantastic, however, is the software. The App Store offers some amazing stuff — apps created by some of the coolest developers anywhere. I've personally contacted dozens of them; they've ALL been quick to reply, and each has taken my opinions and suggestions seriously.

Their dedication makes iOS phenomenal. I like to support people and businesses that truly believe in what they offer, and I'm happy to see that success hasn't given them the "greater than thou" mentality.

In closing, I'd like to recommend some apps:

For writers: check out OmmWriter. The new desktop version, Dana II, is available for Mac and PC. You can download Dana I for free to try out the app; however, Dana II has many worthwhile features, and for the price, it's a great deal. I especially like the chroma therapy background and adjustable text area.

If you don't consider yourself a writer, that's okay — OmmWriter Dana I might be a spark. Check it out anyway, and let me know what you think. Better yet, tell the devs!

For Mac owners, Day One (Journal/Diary) is amazing. I've mentioned Momento before, but I prefer Day One, for several reasons. First, it syncs with Dropbox — if you don't have an account, you really should get one. (Please use that link; in doing so, I'll get a little extra storage space for free. It's a wonderful service, and many apps use it for backup.) Second, Day One is incredibly usable. If you have an iPhone and/or iPad, the Day One universal app keeps everything synced with the desktop version, and creating entries couldn't be easier. There aren't any complicated or useless features, and a simple reminder system effectively aids the user to remember to write something.

Writing is a healthy process that people don't always make time for, and Day One is great because it doesn't seem to demand long entries or a particular style. I've exchanged emails with the developer — features will continue to be added, and if you think of something, he's more than happy to receive your suggestion. I've used each version of Day One extensively, and can affirm that each is stable.

I've got a lot of things that I'd like to share (on multiple subjects, too) but I haven't yet made the time to write it all out. I want to convey things properly... and I would like to include more images in my posts.

Also: please don't be shy. If you're reading this, let me know — say "hello!"