Google has been adding a lot of features to Hangouts that make our weekly status meetings more enjoyable.
Terrific post by Matt Gemmell regarding supporting latest-only versions of iOS. He makes some solid arguments for why you should, including this one about “better customers”:
I think that there’s a correlation between the kind of people who keep their OS updated, and those who are willing to actually pay for software. I don’t have any data to back that up, but it makes sense that someone who’s interested and invested enough in their device to know there’s an update and have applied that update, would be more amenable to investing in a new app or two along the way.
I’ll definitely +1 one this. Again, I can’t prove this with data either, but it sure feels true. People who keep their software up-to-date tend to be savvier, more willing to spend appropriate amounts of money for software, and tend to be invested in the quality of their OS and application experience.
Matt also counters some of the common complaints used as an excuse to support ancient versions, including an excellent point about entitlement:
Bullshit. Customers are entitled to some updates, based on a mostly subjective combination of factors […]. If your app costs $500, your customers probably have a right to expect a year or more of updates, and certainly through to the next major release version (with an upgrade discount). If your app costs $2, anything you provide after purchase (other than fixes for particular egregious bugs) is essentially a courtesy. How mercenary and awful of me to say, but there you have it: Customers are not entitled to updates unconditionally.
And dealing with existing customers who refuse to upgrade but demand your application’s new version still support them:
To hell with those guys. It’s disproportionately burdensome to support them, they’re a shrinking market, they’re technological luddites, they want new stuff for free, and they’re vocal complainers. Seriously, you want to do nice things for these people? What’s wrong with you?
The whole post is gold and completely inline with how I feel about iOS version support. Be sure to read the updates near the end where Matt also responds to a ridiculous Twitter reply he received.
Anonymous asked:
I currently do a small bit of iOS and Android contract work on the side. I really enjoy it since what I'm working on changes somewhat frequently and I have more control over how I work. I'll be graduating from college in the spring and would like to do contract work full time. Any tips other then simply meeting people and creating great work for clients?
Starting your career going freelance is tricky—you need contacts to get jobs and without having had jobs in the industry, you’re unlikely to have contacts. Because you’re just starting out, you probably have a smaller body of work, which means it will be harder to convince potential clients to work with you. My suggestion would be to take a full-time job at a small studio, if possible. It will give you loads of useful, real-world experience in all the areas that matter for later going freelance: Client and project management, the sales process, billing, and, of course, the actual work. Be sure you find a place where you can really get involved in a lot of aspects of the business and learn as much as you can.
While you’re working, become a part of the community. Write a weblog about your work, talk to other designers, attend conferences (preferably smaller, intimate conferences where you’re not just one of 20,000 people), and build up a network of contacts and friends. They’re going to be priceless when you eventually go out on your own.
It all takes time. It took me nearly 10 years to get where I am today with Karbon, and all of the connections and experience I gained along the way have made it possible for me to continue to do fun projects for awesome clients and work with amazing people. Good luck!
Our friends at Crush + Lovely have just launched Duet, a brand-new iPhone app that brings romance back to one-on-one sharing.
Karbon had the pleasure of helping develop the app alongside a fine team of folks. We’re thrilled to see Duet hit the store—you should check it out.
Anonymous asked:
What are the apps in your "Work" folder on your homescreen? I only recognize a few (Things, Skype, Dropbox, Basecamp).
In the “Work” folder of my iPhone’s home screen, I’ve got the following apps/shortcuts: Simplenote, Screens, TestFlight (shortcut), Basecamp (shortcut), Review, Dropbox, Things, Campfire, Skype, Verbs, Google Voice and Billings.
Addressing Karbon Holiday Cards
Thanking clients for a great 2010. (Taken by @staceybord)
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