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Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

mechanicalteeth.com

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Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#11

Post by mcobrien »

swombat wrote: post #9
blasdel wrote: post #7

"Ever get nervous leaving iPad around with your email account logged in?" Please don't use Apple's insufferable house style of ditching articles and possessives when mentioning the physical device. Thankfully you use "an iPad" and "your iPad" elsewhere, you just need to be consistent.

Where does Apple do that??

"In general references, don’t use an article. When referring to the user’s particular iPhone, it’s OK to use your."

from (pdf) http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/UserExp...

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#12

Post by blasdel »

swombat wrote: post #9
blasdel wrote: post #7

"Ever get nervous leaving iPad around with your email account logged in?" Please don't use Apple's insufferable house style of ditching articles and possessives when mentioning the physical device. Thankfully you use "an iPad" and "your iPad" elsewhere, you just need to be consistent.

Where does Apple do that??

They used to do it absolutely everywhere, with insane consistency. They almost always used the construction "with iPhone" and never "your iPhone" or "an iPhone". The only such strings I would find would be stuff like "your iPhone Developer Program membership".

They relaxed their style considerably after they started using the term "iOS" — they no longer need to use the same term to refer to both the abstract device and the one in your hand, though they still do quite a lot.

They've been doing it for at least 10 years, there's lots of "with Mac" and "with iPod" in their old copy text. It's something I can easily imagine Jobs having a fetish for.

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#13

Post by swombat »

cubicle67 wrote: post #10
swombat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where does Apple do that??

everywhere. examples from apple.com/ipad iPad Opens Up New Worlds for Autistic Children Archaeologist Steven Ellis and his team use iPad with apps from the App Store to capture invaluable historical data in the trenches at Pompeii Apps on iPad look... ...specifically designed for iPad Stories are even more immersive thanks to iPad capabilities ...9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display on iPad... you get the idea

Interesting. I had never noticed those. Thanks for the examples.

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#14

Post by marklubi »

The website could really use some work for those users trying to browse it on an iPad. The paging indicators imply that the user should be able to swipe, but in actuality, the user must wait for the timed change, or try to hit one of the extremely small pips (well, extremely small for mobile browsing)

Creating a positive web experience for actual users of the device you're selling to is critical.

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#15

Post by Vojto »

I think you should add app icon and/or some kind of logo on the website.

Now it's a bit confusing:

> Switch lets different people ...

And people start thinking: Switch? What is Switch?

---

Take a look at: http://www.apple.com/ipad/ See? iPad. The biggest text on the page.

By the way Switch is a very cool name for an app so use it a lot :-)

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#16

Post by JoachimSchipper »

I'd lose the "mechanical teeth" branding unless it actually has something to do with anything - and even in that case, put in a corner somewhere.

You appear to have something usable as "porn mode"; have you looked into keywords like "ipad private browsing"? I'm not sure you want the business, but...

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#17

Post by MiguelHudnandez »

cubicle67 wrote: post #10
swombat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where does Apple do that??

everywhere. examples from apple.com/ipad iPad Opens Up New Worlds for Autistic Children Archaeologist Steven Ellis and his team use iPad with apps from the App Store to capture invaluable historical data in the trenches at Pompeii Apps on iPad look... ...specifically designed for iPad Stories are even more immersive thanks to iPad capabilities ...9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display on iPad... you get the idea

I never noticed that. I think subconsciously I wrote it off as OK when they are speaking about the platform, and not a specific device.

No one would ever say "grab iPad and visit a website" but they might say "does your app work on iPad?"

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#18

Post by bruceboughton »

JoachimSchipper wrote: post #16

I'd lose the "mechanical teeth" branding unless it actually has something to do with anything - and even in that case, put in a corner somewhere. You appear to have something usable as "porn mode"; have you looked into keywords like "ipad private browsing"? I'm not sure you want the business, but...

Absolutely. I had no idea the app was called Switch until a read another comment in the thread. That's a great name; Mechanical Teeth means nothing.

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#19

Post by bruceboughton »

Out of interest, do you have any plans to launch for other iOS devices too? If not, what are the issues? I understand there would be some UI work involved, and I can see its strongest pull would be on the iPad, but I think it could carve a niche on other iOS devices too.

(As an aside, it's interesting how natural "iOS" sounds these days. "iPad" too.)

Re: Show HN: my new app is fast user switching for the iPad (sort-of)

#20

Post by mcobrien »

bruceboughton wrote: post #19

Out of interest, do you have any plans to launch for other iOS devices too? If not, what are the issues? I understand there would be some UI work involved, and I can see its strongest pull would be on the iPad, but I think it could carve a niche on other iOS devices too. (As an aside, it's interesting how natural "iOS" sounds these days. "iPad" too.)

I've thought about it -- it's not difficult to port iPad apps to other iOS devices -- I guess it depends on demand.

People are more likely to share iPads of course, but for hackers the other things you can use Switch for (juggling site logins, testing without cookies) are just as relevant on the iPhone.

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