Minimal Universe

Minimal Universe collect posts from our favorite minimal-related blogs listed on the right.
  • Simple Software goal

    Simple Software goal:

    Simple Software was borned out of necessity. I was dealing with bloated, complex programs that were doing more than one thing and all of them poorly; so I decided to write my own tools. Each tool focuses on one task and one task only, providing a fast and simple way to achieve your desired target…

  • Flexibility and power

    Flexibility and power:

    One thing I love about iPhone and iPad apps is that they have to be designed for power. There’s just not enough conceptual canvas space for a ton of flexibility.


    And I think people who use software — which includes you and me and everybody reading this — are learning to value power over flexibility. In part because of iOS apps, and in part because our attentions are further disintegrated and we have less time for each app.

    via Shawn Blanc who writes:

    Alternate title could have been: “Building Software That Does One Thing Well.”

    Fantastic

  • inessential.com: Flexibility and power

    inessential.com: Flexibility and power:

    And I think people who use software — which includes you and me and everybody reading this — are learning to value power over flexibility. In part because of iOS apps, and in part because our attentions are further disintegrated and we have less time for each app.

    Wonderful and insightful post by Brent Simmons about how software development on the Mac may be changing because of iOS with a renewed commitment to power over flexibility. (via Shawn Blanc)

  • simpledesks: This is how I choose to work these...



    simpledesks:

    This is how I choose to work these days…

    Submitted by Jonathan Haellmayer.

    Makes one want to get a box, put it on the end on their desk, pick up their Mac, and sweep everything else off into the box. Does it not? (And, yes, that was a decluttering tip).



  • Kaizen: continuous improvement | Presentation Zen

    Kaizen (改善) means “improvement” — “kai” (改) means change/make better, and “zen” (善) means good — but as the term is used as a business process it more closely resembles in English “continuous improvement.”

    These are some of the tips that Garr Reynolds mentions:

    • Get out of your comfort zone. Participate in something creative that others may think is out of character for you. If you’re always comfortable, you probably are not growing. Dare to be weird (at least sometimes).

    • Read books on graphic design, typography, color, photography, documentary film making, and even architecture and other areas of design — you never know where the design lessons are to be found.

    • Go for long walks alone (with ability to record your observations). As you walk, if an idea snaps into your head or you notice something that stimulates your imagination, use the voice recorder in your phone (or other device) to record the idea. It may seem odd, but I often even go jogging with my iPhone just in case I need to take a snap of something remarkable or an idea comes to mind that I need to record instantly. Besides relieving stress and keeping you fit, exercise seems to stimulate ideas. Record those ideas when possible in a way easiest for you.

    • Get completely unplugged and off the grid — no iPhones or BlackBerrys, etc. — and go for a walk, a hike, a bike ride, or whatever it is that allows you slow your busy mind. And what if that brilliant idea hits you and you can’t record it in any way or take a picture of a remarkable example? Don’t worry about it. Getting off the grid and freeing up your mind (and pockets) is necessary too.

    • Teach others what you learn. One of the best ways to deepen and solidify your new knowledge is to teach it to others. Give a presentation, run a seminar, teach a class, or volunteer to run a small internal workshop to teach others in your organization what you are learning. Real learning occurs when you share it.

  • "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."

    “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”

    - Chinese proverb

  • Oh… I’d love to be there….



    Oh… I’d love to be there….



  • Elastic Straps and Drawings

    France-based artist Julien Mijangos executed the use of elastic straps quite brilliantly in his Elastic Straps and Drawings show at Sebastien Ricou Gallery.

    Leaving the majority of the gallery empty, Julien used elastic straps sparingly and quite drastically; intersecting and manipulating the architecture of the building. Superb.

    His drawings are great, too, by the way.

    Photography by Jacques Theys.

    Julien Mijangos 1
    Julien Mijangos 2
    Julien Mijangos 3
    Julien Mijangos 4
    Julien Mijangos 5
    Julien Mijangos 6
    Julien Mijangos 7
    Julien Mijangos 8
    Julien Mijangos 9

  • Photo





  • "Apple and Microsoft have something in common: their “Mac vs PC” comparisons both target..."

    “Apple and Microsoft have something in common: their “Mac vs PC” comparisons both target PC users.”

    -

    via this

    If you want to know the reason of this quote see the new M$ PC vs Mac. It’s a ridiculous website that basically says: PCs give you more choice so they are simpler…

    huh? In any case as the quote said: they are targeting PC users since they are the one considering switching.



  • 7 Simple Ways To Say "No" | Zen Habits

    7 Simple Ways To Say “No” | Zen Habits

  • Flatland

    Flatland:

    Extensive analysis of how modern computers store and organize data and how it is not simple to users to cope with that.

  • "There’s nothing wrong with staying small. You can do big things with a small team."

    “There’s nothing wrong with staying small. You can do big things with a small team.”

    - Jason Fried

  • Jim Burke Sharktooth A fantastic and super minimal neck...



    Jim Burke Sharktooth

    A fantastic and super minimal neck knife.

    (original here)



  • Year One

    Minimal Mac recently rounded the corner of it’s first year in existence. I think I can safely say that everything about it has exceeded my expectations, mostly because I really had none at the start. I thought I would come up with this little project that a few people might enjoy that discussed the merits of having “enough” when it came to technology and, with extrapolation, life. It went from that thought to execution in 24 hours. Here we are, almost 900 posts later, still doing this thing. I won’t discuss the numbers but, let me suffice to say that more than a few of you show up every day to see what I post and, as a writer and curator, it makes me equal parts humbled and proud.

    I hope the coming year will bring even more of the same, yet better. I want to continue to make sure I am working every day to bring a level of quality to the work I produce here that is consistent with my beliefs and abilities. I want to make sure that the subject matter is both topical and rational. I also want to work hard to make sure that anyone who chooses to give me even a moment of their valuable time and attention walks away feeling it is a fair trade and square deal.

    I’m also hoping to spruce the place up a bit. Perhaps a fresh coat of greyscale paint. Make it look even better on those new fangled devices all the cool kids carry these days.

    I thought, especially for those that have not been here since the beginning, an appropriate way to celebrate would be for me to call out some of the posts I think are not only a good overview of the year that was, but are also a reflection of what we believe in:

    Welcome – The very first post.

    The forgotten cost of features – Wherein I use a simple piece of paper to explain that every feature has an often hidden associated cost.

    The “What if” Myth – The lies we use to excuse ourselves from bad behavior.

    My Pledge To You – What Gizmodo did not learn as children. Also, the things I learned.

    Down With Minimalism! Clutter Is The Productive Way Forward! – There is no “right way”.

    Happy Birthday iPod – Wherein I use the iPod’s Birthday to tell you a story about how to beat stereotypes.

    Dancing to the rhythm, walking to the walk. – Not everyone noticed, but I like to think the content on the site changed quite a bit after this post.

    Doing it wrong – Sometimes, if you want to be successful, do opposite of what people tell you.

    The Season of Stuff – Not just for the holidays.

    Unclutter Your Mac in One Week – Day 1 – The first part of a 7 part series. If there is anywhere to begin with getting your Mac clutter under control, start here.

    Computing Simplicity? – Just so we are clear about what I believe in.

    What Apple Sells… – Just in case you thought it was computers.

    It’s not a bargain if you don’t need it – How’s that Tweetie 2 for Mac workin’ for ya?

    Faith in The Future – My replacing my Macbook with my iPad for a mobile machine is going just fine, thank you. Writing this post on it.

    The Future – My favorite photo I’ve ever posted to Minimal Mac was my own.

    The Simple Life – Though this one is a very close second.

    iPhone Shot – Most Tumblr popular thing I ever posted (3608 notes). Still not quite sure why.

    Steve Jobs: The Next Insanely Great Thing – Because even a washing machine matters.

    Want not, waste not. – Because it is so fundamentally important to everything we believe in.

Sponsor

via Ad Packs

Sources