Shopping Spree
Ok, so I'll admit it - I really enjoy spending money. I also enjoy good design. That's what makes me the ideal Apple-consumer. So what do I do to get over the bad election results? I go shopping! I've acquired Mint, a new cellphone (a Motorola E1000), two Parker-pens and various office supplies from designers such as Torben Rasmussn and Folmer Christensen. I'm in a much better mood now. So it's time for a design-related post!
Today I picked up the much-discussed, redesigned edition of the Guardian, and I've got to say - I'm not impressed. Though I enjoy the change of format (I'm sorry, but I just like my papers to be smaller), I still feel that there's too much going on.
First off; I feel there's something wrong when a paper tries to look modern, but still doesn't use a single Sans-Serif font (except for the international price-tags, that are in a stiff-looking sans). What I think the Guardian has tried to pull off here, is to look less like a tabloid, and more serious.
They don't do it very well...The main typeface looks a bit unprofessional, and a bit sloppy. There's something about the spacing that looks totally wrong in my eyes, and though it isn't half as bad as the Independent's redesign - I must say I see this as a big leap down for this newspaper.
To be honest, I think the new Guardian looks a bit like a woman's mag, with a bit of New York Times splashed over it. Not a good combination...
Hello Moto!
Well, I suppose I should contribute to the debate over my new cellphone. While some reviewers think it's 80% perfection, others think it's “absolute rubbish”. Here's my view on things:
The Motorola E1000 is absolutely a 3G phone. Not only in the sense that it supports this new network - but in the sense that it's made especially for that purpose - to watch television on your mobile phone et cetera.
Yes, the phone is big and chunky. Yes, the battery life is absolutely horrific. And yes - and this is a big one - it's Motorola. Now, how do you defend this? Firstly, the big and chunky isn't really a factor. You do not buy this phone for beauty or elegance - you buy it for the enormous(!) screen, the 128MB(!) memory, multi-tasking(!!!) and the stereo speakers(!).
The battery-thing is a problem - and might be especially hard to swallow for some. The statements that it only lasts for 9 hours, however, is bullcrap. It should last for at least 24h; and though that isn't really that much - it works as long as you charge it every night.
“It's Motorola”. Yes it is Motorola, and I, honest to [insert name of higher power here], hate Motorola above all else. However, it seems that the Motorola gang has had very little to do with the GUI-design of the E1000 OS. It looks, if not Apple-good, then at least better-than-Windows-good.
The font is one of the best I have ever seen on any cellphone, and there are different fonts on the text inputs and on the menus. The coloring is overall blue - and though things may seem a bit WinXP-ish at times, it never crosses the magical Fisher Price-line.
I've bought this cellphone for surfing, extensive Mail-handeling, 3G and PDA-features... And it suits my needs perfectly...
I do feel Motorola (considering ROKR) should sport iSync-compatibility, though...
One question for you, my friend… What in the sweet name of the son of a virgin does “Moto” mean?
I think it’s Motorola’s petname for itself… What’s so sweet about the name “Jesus”, anyway? ;)
I don’t know. I somehow find it kind of catchy :P
I still find Oddleif to be sweeter.. Or Per Marit…. :P