minimalsites.com - Minimal Web Design Gallery and Minimalist Community

I kind of knew when working on my post about Minimal Word Processors that I ran the risk of getting a ton of questions about apps that I did not include. Of course, that’s exactly what happened. I got tons of “what about” submissions in the queue for apps that, well, are not Word Processors. Hence the reason I did not mention them.

In my mind, a Word Processor includes things like support for styles, bullets and numbering, tables, etc. Then, there are Text Editors, mainly meant for working with plain text and code, which include things like line numbering and syntax coloring. Then, there are the things which were so urgently suggested, which are… Writing Environments.

A Writing Environment is usually an app that is designed to reduce distractions, usually by employing some version of “full screen” mode, and that allow one to focus on writing. There are, generally, not the advanced styling controls that a Word Processor includes nor the syntax coloring of a Text Editor.

OK, with that explanation out of the way, let me point you to the Writing Environments, mentioned most:

Omm Writer – There is a reason I have not mentioned it here before, though I risk hearing from it’s rabid and vocal fans should I say anything untoward. Therefore, I shall refrain and stick to the facts…

Omm Writer is a distraction free writing environment that includes, three different “zen” background options, seven different kinds of “ambient” music, and seven different types of beep and click sounds to emulate keyboard noise. But hey, I guess a lot of people consider these features a benefit to their writing. It is full screen only though, so that is a help. Also, you can turn off all of these features and just have dark text on a white background, which I guess is as close as my boat will get to floating with it. That said, it sure seems to be popular amongst the readers here so who am I to judge.

Writeroom – Now here, my friends, is a Writing Environment. In my opinion, it’s the ultimate in minimalist and distraction-free writing applications for the Mac. Despite the truly distraction free, full screen, blissfuly barren interface, the preferences contain what in any civilized nation would be called a “shit ton” of configuration options. You really can tailor this to your every need…

Unless, of course, you need ambient music and keyboard noise. Here’s a ninja move for you – Fire up the Phil Glass on iTunes and get yourself a mechanical keyboard. Butter!

As you all know, the time of day is a mathematical translation of the earth’s movements versus the sun – and the moon is our companion at night.

Our friends at Barcelona’s The Emotion Lab (the Australian Tom Allen, the Mexican Christian Vivanco and the Spanish Yago Rodríguez) have taken these facts in and created Moonwatch: a watch that shows you exactly which phase the moon is in.

The watch also has a second, normal clock interface. The ability to switch between these two interfaces invites people to gain a closer understanding of their mood and daily life on earth.

Moonwatch is currently still just a concept, but the designers are actively looking for a manufacturer – so if you’re interested, let them know!

Nacho Polo has fashioned his own language for starkly white. He’s added a bit of drama to white while respecting its formal purity. He used white to create glowing brightness and accentuate the essence of his Nineteenth Century apartment, next to the Royal Palace Opera in Madrid.

Madrid-born and Miami-based designer and architect Nacho Polo’s apartment retains a classic mood, yet indulges minimalist cleanliness. “I could not live without a notebook with blank pages and a pencil to draw,” he claims. In a sense, he has treated his apartment as a white canvas, dripping sensual accents of black paint and classic elements of crown moldings and carpentry.

His collection of artless white frames is experimental drama. A type of highly colored minimalism?

Launch: Draft for iPad - (37signals):

Draft makes it very easy to quickly sketch a concept in broad strokes and share it via email or Campfire. It only comes in black with red and white ink. There’s only one pen weight meant to emulate a standard sharpie. Draft is a “just draw and share the damn thing quickly” tool. It’s not for fine art, it’s not for tinkering with colors or weights. It’s the quickest way we know how to share a quick visual idea with the rest of our crew no matter where they are.

Where to even begin?

I love everything about this. I love the simplicity. I love the “scratch your own itch first” approach that infuses everything 37 Signals does. I love their defense of lack of features (This isn’t about precision, it’s about a rough first draft. Just draw the box.). I love their defense of the $9.99 price tag (It’s perfectly fine to say “I would not get $10 worth of value out of this” or “I’d rather have a game”. Doesn’t make the price “ridiculous” though. Just too high for you.). Love, Love, Love.

Urbanape - Some Non-Busy iPhone Wallpapers:

Just like it says on the tin. There are some iPad ones here too if you dig a little. (via DF, which also has some links to others)

I had a request in the submissions to recommend some Minimal Word processors. As someone who considers himself a writer, I certainly have a weakness for trying out just about every such program that comes along. Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to round up the few I have covered here.

That said, I want to start out with one that, in the course of doing this post, I discovered I had not featured before…

Mariner Write – Not quite sure how I missed not mentioning this one here before. Especially because I have used it for years (I think well over 10, and likely closer to 15). Perhaps it is because most of those in the company that develop it are really close friends of mine and I was afraid I could not be partial.

No matter, it deserves attention because it’s a really excellent word processor with a ton of features (Hello. Deep Applescript support!) and none of the bloat of the other full featured ones out there. It’s fast, flexible, has easy to manage style support, and can save out and open a ton of formats. Plus, you have to give a certain amount of respect to a program that has been around doing its thing for as long as it has. Also, have I mentioned it is made with care by some of the loveliest humans to ever grace my meager life?

Seriously, check it out.

And in the covered it here before department…

Bean – Bean is a rich text editor who’s aim is to provide a bit more functionality than TextEdit and decidedly less that Microsoft Word. Also, be sure to check out the story of how it came into being.

Pagehand – Made with typography nerds and a nod towards elegance in mind. Meant to provide advanced styling controls yet still not get in your way.

Text Edit – Of course, I would be not be doing my Minimal Mac duty if I did not point out, for the eleventeenth time, what a simple yet capable word processor you have built right into your Mac. Go ahead, click the link to my earliest post, look at the list I made there, and see if there is not at least one “Holy crap, I didn’t know it did that!” moments.

Sticks and stone won’t break my bones – they’ll hold my coat.

This here is a coat rack, designed by Lithuanian product/furniture designer Vytautas Gecas. The foot is made out of concrete, the stick are plain wood.

I love that it’s just sticks in a pot: two honest and unadorned materials, which come together to form a coat rack. No screws, no hinges, just friction and gravity.