Thanks to today’s sponsors: iClip, the multiple clipboard solution for OS X, Awaken, the iTunes compatible alarm clock, and macZOT!, for daily deals on Mac software.
Has it really been only a day since the first three finalists were announced? Yes, yes it has. Which means it’s time for the next three.
Cookbook, by Michael Yuan: I know what you’re thinking. A cookbook app? But Michael’s idea goes beyond that, safely into the territory of the ultimate cookbook app. Beyond the expected online recipes database integration, you have full screen remote or voice activated recipe viewing for when you’re busy in the kitchen, iPod and phone syncing for shopping lists, Leopard voiceover technology integration to have recipes read to you, and even Amazon grocery shopping integration for some quick shopping. Just check out Michael’s beautiful mockup to get a better picture of the concept. You can read the full idea here and check out Michael’s first blog post here.
Development Manager John Casasanta: “I can see people getting all jazzed over this one. People love organization, especially Mac users. Otherwise sites like 43 Folders wouldn’t exist. This brings organization to people’s recipes and grocery shopping. What remains to be seen is whether people will actually go to Amazon.com when they run out of Meow-Berry Pop-Tarts to replenish their supply. One big thing this has in it’s favor is that there were several other similar ideas in the entries so there seems to be a market for an app like this. It definitely makes good use of OS X technologies so that’s a plus.”
Chatboard, by Michael Wuerthele: Chatboard is visual group collaboration made easy. The idea keeps things simple. It’s a virtual network-enabled whiteboard that allows participants to drop in images, sketch simple diagrams, and basically add visual collaboration to chatting and other text-focused solutions with the simplicity that users would expect if Apple had done it. You can read the full idea here and check out Michael’s first blog post here.
Developer Judge Jason Harris: “I pushed this idea pretty hard ’cause it’s got the potential to be both fun and useful. I picture it as a window that blends into your desktop that your group of friends can “push” content to - pictures, movies, songs, flash games, that loud screaming sound, websites, whatever. It’s P2P file transfer that “just works” between you and your friends, in other words.
Or, when you actually need to work, you can draw or type in the window and everyone you’re sharing with will see and be able to add or edit the contents.
It’ll be great for goofing off in class AND for getting things done!”
Portal, by Farzad Sadjadi: Portal merges easy to use network syncing of folders and documents between Macs with a whimsical, futuristic 3D interface. File transfers are represented by wormholes literally crackling into life on your desktop, and relevant icons are sent spiraling through the wormhole onto your Mac. You can read the full idea here, and check out Farzad’s first blog post here.
My personal thoughts: This one really caught my eye for the whimsical and flat out cool UI possibilities. During the keynote at the World Wide Developers Conference, one of the loudest cheers went up when Leopard’s Time Machine app was demoed. I think Portal would be a great compliment to the app, and I can imagine some custom crazy futuristic looking windows, rips in the space time continuum delivering future releases of the app to users occasionally (betas), and a lot of tongue in cheek humor, such as claiming the app came to us from the future. Ok, maybe I’m going a bit overboard here, but I’d really enjoy seeing this one develop.
Again, congrats to Michael Yuan, Michael Wuerthele and Farzad Sadjadi for their wonderful entries and finalist status. Be sure to let them know what you think of their ideas in their personal forums, and come back tomorrow for some more finalist action. 6 down, 18 to go!
