Mag+ caught my attention back in December 2009, when Bonnier developed a conceptual iPad magazine. Now, Bonnier has developed a iPad application for Popular Science magazine. The above video explains the logic and design concept behind Mag+.
I used to be a long time user of Apple Mail until I realised it was shit. As of 2010, I’ve 100% converted to using the Gmail web user interface. Put simply, it’s leagues ahead of any other native or web application available.
Since turning my back on Apple Mail, I’ve become frustrated with my iPhone and the it’s shitty little Mail application. It pisses me off that Apple is adopting a lock in culture whereby only Apple can create core applications for the iPhone or iPad. If Apple truly are confidant that their core applications are the best, then they shouldn’t fear of any competition in this space. After all, Apple stands to benefit the most from a large pool of quality applications in the App Store. I don’t understand their logic!
It was for this reason I was delighted to hear Google were developing a mobile version of Gmail optimised for the iPad. Taking a large degree of inspiration from Apple’s Mail application for the iPad, it looks pretty slick whilst retaining all Gmail’s best functionality.
This new mobile version of Gmail will not drive me to buy the iPad. But if my only choice was to use Apple’s native Mail application, it’d be another barrier in my way to rationalising the purchase.
The Digital Podge website highlights many of my favourite aspects of web design. The infographics are beautifully designed with subtle colours and classic typography. Ultimately, the charts serve their purpose perfectly – convey large amounts of data in a meaningful manner.