Bang On is an iOS app for performing quick searches on the web. When it was introduced, it was the fastest way to do a DuckDuckGo search from apps like Launch Center Pro. This latest update removes support for DuckDuckGo.
It’s not clear why support was dropped but the release notes have a mysterious statement from the developer:
Bang On now allows you to choose between two popular default search engines.
Under the hood, iOS7 appears to be one of the biggest updates Apple has ever released for the iPhone. Unfortunately, the paint job is pretty disappointing to me.
Take a look at these icons:
Now ask yourself, seriously, if you were browsing the App Store and came across the Notes, Compass or Weather icons in a list of apps, would you even bother reading the descriptions? Take all of that interface in.
Eric Pramano over at GeeksWithJuniors has some nice examples of using Due and Drafts together.
The first example uses Drafts and Launch Center Pro to send a message with an embeded Due reminder. I didn’t even know that it was possible to send a Due reminder to someone else this way.
The second post is a series of clever ideas to time-shift work like sending emails. Type in the address, title and reminder time in Drafts and get a nice little Due reminder.
Byword for iOS is out today with a significant update to the app and business.1 They’ve improved the offline Dropbox usage dramatically and added some very nice Markdown preview options.
In addition, they’ve added a new premium feature as an IAP option. Publish to WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, Scriptogram and Evernote. Wow, that’s pretty awesome and totally worth the $5 price tag, in my opinion.
Yup, still affiliate link. ↩︎
Sean Korzdorfer has a great outline depicting his use cases for Drafts and Launch Center Pro.
Just look at this list of Drafts actions:
Spoiler:
The above APIs are not ready to support the local synchronization approach used by Mr. Reader.
Read the whole thing because it’s nice to hear it directly from the people making apps and not arm-chair developers.
I certainly hope that NewsBlur can improve their API to enable tools like this…and fast.
Introduction Google Reader is essentially dead. Its passed on. This reader is no more. It has ceased to be. Kicked the bucket. Shuffled off its mortal coil.
I’ll miss the syncing service, but I was never really thrilled with the interface so it’s a minor loss.
Rather than throw out a bunch of alternatives that I’ve never used more than five minutes, I’ll give you my opinions from the ground up.
Lex Friedman and Dave Addey both have thoughtful articles about app pricing. Go ahead, you really should go read them if you care about apps or developers.
I can’t disagree with their premise. There’s a common perception that apps should cost next to nothing.1 The low cost of software is changing the traditional business model of software.2
While I don’t disagree with Lex and Dave’s fundamental premise, I think that neither article recognizes a basic sea change taking place in software: The average computer user is losing their fear of software and that means a bigger market for everyone.
Game Dev Tycoon let’s players simulate running a software company for profit. What happens when players pirate Game Dev Tycoon? A small dose of reality.
“Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
What’s that sound? It’s the sound of thousands of text-nerds squealing with delight as they open their freshly updated Drafts app for iOS.1 In case you are one of the uninitiated, Drafts is a sausage grinder of text. Words go in and beautiful processed products come out the other end. Ok, this metaphor is falling apart. Let’s move on.
So what’s the big deal about this update? Drafts made it to my home screen long ago.
