Todayswork

Using multiple Google calendars on iPad/iPhone

Richard Sprengers — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:41:13 +0000

Unfortunately, the iPad is not able to handle more than one Google calendar from one single account. It automatically picks the first created calendar and ignores the rest.
Here’s an easy solution to get it working.

HOW TO FIX:
1. Browse to http://www.google.com/calendar/iphoneselect

2. Select the calendars you want to use on your iPad/iPhone

3. On your iPhone/iPad go to “settings” > “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” > “Add Account”

4. Now choose for “Other”.

5. Choose “Add CalDAV Account” and use the following settings:
- Server: www.google.com
- User name: [YourAccountName]@gmail.com
- Password:[YourPassword]
- Description: [displayname you want to use for this account]

10 Great interfaces that deserve some attention

Richard Sprengers — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:37:54 +0000

I just went looking for sites showing some impressive user experience. Watch this selection of great work:

– Intuitive task-based interfaces –

01. Netvibes

Pure functional + highly customizable interface.

02. Zootool

Nice document bookmarking tool.

03. MSNBC Spectra

This one is out there a while, but still worth mentioning because it’s such a intuitive and smooth interface.

04. Grooveshark

Free online music player.

05. Soup

Soup is a tumblelog, a super-easy blog that can do more than just text: post links, quotes, videos, audio, files, reviews and events.

– Experience interfaces –

06. Snapshots of Provence

Nice refreshing way of navigating. Intuitive and smooth

07. Orange unlimited webpage

Endless page with loads of entertainment. great animation & audio.

08. Ariza

09. Hilfiger Denim

10. Tre80

Uses your webcam to let you navigate through the website.

Creative bus & busshelter advertisements

Richard Sprengers — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:43:13 +0000

Just found a great collection of bus(shelter) advertisments on Creativebits.org and Toxel.com.

A tweet from inside your Ford

Richard Sprengers — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:37:24 +0000

Last week Ford revealed their new dashboard “MyFord” at the North American International Auto salon. They got thereselves a pretty valuable PR-moment with the fact that owners of a brand new Ford will be able to tweet from your car using this new “MyFord” dashboard.

“Ford drivers will be able to tweet by using voice-recognition of the car.”

Now I’m wondering if they just used this ‘possibe feature’ to make it a PR worthy story, or if they really offer a specific Twitter functionality. The specs don’t say a single word about a Twitter feature. It just says that the system has a WIFI receiver for internet access.

Nonetheless, a smart way of marketing the product and a feature I would definately want in my car!

More info: MyFord Specifications

The future of digital magazines/e-readers

Richard Sprengers — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:24:16 +0000

A nice conceptvideo from Bonnier Research & Development on the future of digital magazines/e-readers, called “Mag+”. I’m afraid it will take some years to have such a device ready for the market.

Mag+ concept video

Scrolling or pagination

There is an interesting discussion going on whether the interface should offer the use of scrolling and/or pagination while reading articles. I’m curious what a usability test among users would bring up.

Why scrolling: Because we’re used to reading vertical (e-mail, websites etc.) Both on computerscreens and mobile devices. And it might be easier while scanning the article for specific information.

Why pagination: Making sure the user keeps his orientation while reading

But I Personaly don’t see why these features can’t be combined. Doesn’t for example Microsoft Word already use this succesfully?

Underground usability

Richard Sprengers — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:01:17 +0000

In a recent visit to Paris I was again fascinated by the briliant way its public transport works. But how do you manage to keep such a big networks of stations (+/-300) recognizable?

The underground has some subtile details helping all travellers find their way.

It’s great to see how much small details (like color and shape) help people navigate through the underground (both conscious & subliminal). Some things that grap my attention:

Station specific colors

Besides the fact that every station marks which metro line your currently on, every station also has its signature color. Five main colour schemes were used for this: yellow, red, green, blue and orange. A stations color will always be different from the stations next to it, to facilitate subliminal recognition.

This colors can be seen in seats, light housings, advertising frames and walls of connecting corridors.

Station specific chairs

The RATP also uses a variety of different seats to distinquish the stations.

Navigating with your head

Richard Sprengers — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:14:31 +0000

Tre 80 has a nice new website using an experimental navigation:. The website uses your webcam and motion detection to navigate you through the website.

Website: http://www.tre80.com

Explored Boxee media centre

Richard Sprengers — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:20:02 +0000

Sorry, this topic has lost its relevance since the release of Boxee Beta.

More recent info on getting Uitzending Gemist to work in Boxee, can be found here.