Apple made a video for their annual developer conference which highlights several awesome apps:

Each iOS app offers remarkable — and often delightful — possibilities. But the most powerful iOS apps ever are ones that change people’s lives in ways they never imagined.

This is why I love technology - it has the power to tangibly improve lives.

Dr. Drang:

Despite all the talk of flatness—and there’s no question, the icons and certain other parts of the UI are much flatter—this gives iOS 7 as a whole a greater illusion of depth than it ever had before. The shadows and reflections of today pale in comparison. If Apple can enforce, or at least encourage, a consistent use of this new depth, our experience using iOS devices will improve because the software will seem even more physical.

It may seem as if this bucks the current anti-skeuomorphic trend, but it doesn’t. Skeuomorphism is giving an object a non-functional ornamentation that mimics the functional feature of another object. The much-derided green felt of Game Center and the stitching and leather of Calendar are examples because they don’t do anything. Parallax’s illusion of depth, if handled well, will do something: it will organize iOS’s increasing complexity in the mind of the user.

Recommendation: ignore anyone who refers to iOS 7 as simply a “flat” user interface. It is certainly flatter than previous versions, but all of the small details - such as the parallax feature Dr. Drang mentions - give a sense of familiarity, depth, and order.

Matt Gemmell:

The thing is, we’ve grown up. We don’t require hand-holding to tell us what to click or tap. Interactivity is a matter of invitation, and physical cues are only one specific type. iOS 7 is an iOS for a more mature consumer, who understands that digital surfaces are interactive, and who doesn’t want anything getting in the way of their content.

The basic functionality hasn’t changed. You still use iOS in the same way, and almost everything is where you expect it to be. The same gestures work. There are a few differences here and there – it’s a major new version of the OS, after all – but the changes are mostly aesthetic. You won’t be confused by iOS 7 if you’re accustomed to a previous version.

You will, however, probably find that it feels more fluid, responsive and modern.

Gemmell includes great visuals which highlight how dated and overly ornate iOS 6 looks in comparison to iOS 7.

Marco Arment:

Apple has set fire to iOS. Everything’s in flux. Those with the least to lose have the most to gain, because this fall, hundreds of millions of people will start demanding apps for a platform with thousands of old, stale players and not many new, nimble alternatives. If you want to enter a category that’s crowded on iOS 6, and you’re one of the few that exclusively targets iOS 7, your app can look better, work better, and be faster and cheaper to develop than most competing apps.

This big of an opportunity doesn’t come often — we’re lucky to see one every 3–5 years. Anyone can march right into an established category with a huge advantage if they have the audacity to be exclusively modern.

I’m working on a few app ideas. Whatever I decide, rest assured that it will be designed exclusively for iOS 7. For good or bad, there is no looking back.

Federico Viticci, writing on MacStories:

I have many questions, and I don’t know who will answer them, or when. But among all my doubts and uncertainties, what I keep thinking about is: has Ive managed to fully realize his vision in seven months?

And that is, I believe, why Apple said that iOS 7 isn’t simply change, it’s a new beginning. It’s not an understatement: iOS 7 is not about the icons, labels as buttons, translucency, questionable Lock screen gestures, or a new Spotlight as design choices taken individually – it’s about a single, precise idea: to make iOS simpler and more enjoyable, but at the same time more useful. Control Center, multitasking APIs and background refresh, the new Calendar and Safari, AirDrop and Siri, iBeacons and Sprite Kit for developers – these are all features aimed at making iOS simultaneously familiar and future-proof.

Viticci also covers the initial reaction (mostly negative) to the system icons and why such criticisms are misplaced. It is important to realize that the first beta released to developers is an initial attempt that represents design that has spanned only seven months. Consider that the final version likely won’t be released for three-plus months. That gives designers a substantial period to iterate and improve. I would expect numerous refinements before iOS 7 is delivered to the public.

John Gruber, writing on Daring Fireball:

This is the first product of the post-Jobs Apple. The result shows that in some ways Apple’s software design has gotten better, because it was Jobs (and Forstall) who had a penchant for exuberant textures and gimmickry. Jobs’s taste in hardware was nearly perfect, but his taste in software had a weakness for the saccharine. Wood grain, linen, Rich Corinthian leather, etc. It was all just sugar for the eyes. This is a weakness Jony Ive’s software taste clearly does not suffer.

The software is now of a piece with the hardware. Two sides of the same coin. Not hardware design and software design. Just design.

Dr. Chuck Dowsell:

I can chase with a clear conscience because I serve a purpose beyond myself in doing so. How many of today’s “extreme” chasers can make such a claim and be credible in doing so? I hope they’ll use this occasion to reconsider just why they chase and decide to spend little or no time focused on themselves, but rather seek to achieve some more worthy goal than self-aggrandizement and boastful bravado. Let them become more sensitive to the anguish of tornado victims. Let their cameras be turned away from them and remain on the phenomena they claim to seek. Let them take pains to give something meaningful back for all their fun and excitement. Let this day of infamy mean more chasing with safety, responsibility, and courtesy.

Doswell aptly sums up my feelings following this month’s storms in Oklahoma. I don’t have anything else to add.

Marco Arment discusses recent rumors that the new Mac Pro will somehow be scaled down:

If the Mac Pro’s replacement doesn’t have at least 4 internal RAM slots, 2 PCI-Express slots, and 2–4 drive bays, Apple’s going to get a lot of angry professionals, and a lot of them are going to rush to buy refurbished 2010 Mac Pros.

One big question is whether they’ll still offer dual-socket configurations — their omission would anger many buyers, but not as many as those other changes, and the benefits could be substantial: they could stop relying on Intel’s less-frequently-updated 2P Xeons and make a much smaller, cheaper, cooler, more frequently updated lineup using the Xeon E3 series. But the E3, being only slightly different from Intel’s desktop chips, is limited to 32 GB of RAM, which wouldn’t be well-received in a system that has supported 128 GB since 2009.

My main area of research focuses around scientific computing. Specifically, I use computer models to either predict or simulate atmospheric flows. These codes solve complex equations for multiple variables on millions of grid points at thousands of time periods. Accordingly, these models benefit from multiple, robust processors and large amounts of memory.

Over the past four years, I have used a Mac Pro for my scientific computing. In fact, our small research group has four Mac Pros, ranging from the 2008 to 2010 models. Apple’s tower was an obvious choice for me because it meets the technical requirements of our work and the personal requirements of my design taste.¹ If Apple drops support for dual-socket configurations - thus reducing the number of computing cores and limiting memory expandability - I might just have to order a refurbished 2010 model. In any case, I wouldn’t classify such a change as “really great.”

I was standing in a gazebo watching my best friend walk toward me in a beautiful dress. What a dress. As I stood there in the muggy Florida heat, my eyes were focused only on her. As she neared, a sense of calm swept over me - there was no doubt. I remember the surreal feeling in that moment, gazing into the eyes of the girl I first met in seventh grade. That day, two short years ago, was my wedding day.

I love this photo because my eyes describe how I feel about my wife beyond what words might convey.

It was a beautiful day, but not everything went as planned. The cake didn’t show up until thirty minutes prior to the ceremony. To make matters worse, it was not anything like my wife had described to the decorator. At least the topper was correct.

The cake topper.

In addition to the cake issue, the bouquet had not shown up yet. I called the florist and found out that she had unfortunately mixed up the date of our wedding and that it would be impossible to deliver the flowers in time. These are not the things you want to tell a bride on her wedding day. Naturally, I had her dad break the news. She handled everything with far more grace than I would have been capable.

Her brother and the Maid of Honor’s husband kicked into action and found a few wildflowers. Her dad and Maid of Honor turned those into a makeshift bouquet. It wasn’t the prettiest bouquet in the world, but it was made with love. If nothing else, it added a little character to the wedding.

The makeshift bouquet.

Of course, none of those things mattered. As I held the hand of the girl I had loved since we were thirteen, as we looked deep into each other’s eyes and professed our vows, and as our family and friends witnessed, it took every effort not to cry. The happiness was overwhelmingly palpable. That we were together is what was most important.

Holding hands during the ceremony.

The rest of the day is blur, but I remember my new wife immediately revealing herself as the same person I had always loved. No sooner than we had exchanged vows, she demanded that I help remove her uncomfortable shoes. It wasn’t surprising. She’s never met a pair of socks and shoes that couldn’t be taken off.

My first task as husband was to remove these uncomfortable shoes.

As it goes, we took a few photos, ate dinner with our family and friends, and celebrated the start of our new life together. That day was easily the best day of my life - it meant the beginning of many more great days to come.

We posed for photographs after the ceremony. What a beautiful day.

A recent trip reminded me of why I married her. Instead of opting for an easy (and well-deserved) elective rotation (she’s a Pediatrician), she decided to travel to Peru. There she spent a month traveling around the city of Lima to care for poor, under-served children. She doesn’t talk about doing things for others, she just does. Simply put, she is my hero and she inspires me.

While in Peru, she gave care to many poor and under-served children.

Of course, she always makes time to try new experiences. Her host family took her to the beach one day for surfing lessons. That sounds cool, right? Consider that my wife can’t swim very well and is very uncomfortable around water (panic kind of uncomfortable). She didn’t let that stop her. Determined not to let a potential once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass, she hopped on the board and gave it a go. When she emailed me the photos, I could only smile. My wife’s passion for life is intoxicating.

My wife tried out surfing while in Peru.

The time since that day two years ago has passed way too fast. Luckily we have spent it doing some really cool stuff together. We completed a marathon, traveled internationally, and adopted a new puppy. She is entering her third year of Pediatric residency and I recently finished my doctorate. Schedules are often hectic and we don’t always get too see each other as often as we’d like. But through it all, one thing has remained constant - we did it together.

I don’t know what the future holds. If it is anything like these past two years, then it will be a crazy ride. I know one thing, though - we’ll tackle it like we always have: side-by-side and hand-in-hand.

Together for always.

Nolan Clay and Andrew Knittle, reporting for The Oklahoman, on a tragic case from the May 31st tornadoes that struck El Reno, Oklahoma. The story revolves around a Guatemalan immigrant named Miguel Chicoj and his family:

Driving west on I-40, Chicoj pulled over for about 10 minutes in Yukon because of the approaching storm. He said he decided to keep driving after seeing other vehicles still going west.

He pulled over again near El Reno as the storm worsened.

His wife unbuckled her seat belt to try to comfort their baby who had begun crying, he said.

Chicoj said he saw the tornado approach. He described it Tuesday as “coming from all different directions.” He said he thought about backing up or turning around, but it was too late.

The wind started blowing the car, spinning it slowly twice in circles on the interstate, Chicoj said. “And, then all of a sudden, the wind picked it up.”

Chicoj said the last thing his wife said to him was, “My love, we’re going to die.”

What a heart-wrenching story. The next time you are tempted to say, “Considering that the tornado was an EF-5 and reached 2.6 miles in width, 20 fatalities isn’t that bad”, just stop - because this is as bad as it gets.

(via: Brad Barrett)