Gabe Weatherhead:

I reviewed Blink 1.0 back in March and I still think it’s excellent. Version 1.1 is out now and adds some nice new features. You can now include the “geo” code so that links work better for sharing across international borders. You can also now share Apple Music links so that they open in in the Music app instead of the Store app. I haven’t researched the difference between affiliate payouts but I mostly don’t care. I think it’s nicer to have them open in the Music app.

Gabe’s right, Blink is far and away the best way to work with iTunes affiliate links on iOS. Doesn’t hurt that it’s made by good people. Well worth the $5.

From the Panic site:

We’ve put an stunning, desktop-class amount of work into Coda for iOS. It’s truly pro. But, it’s not hard to learn. You’re getting an incredible amount of power at a killer price. Buy it today! And let us know what you make with it!

Yeah. Just buy it. And yes, this post was created in/posted from Coda for iOS. Crazy awesome stuff.

Jordan Cooper hosts the very funny podcast, Tech Douchebags. I was on the most recent episode, which was a ton of fun.

In this week’s meeting, Nate Boateng confronts his guilt over whining about inconsequential things and how he gets unreasonably annoyed at software bugs, poor user interface design, slow app updated for new iOS versions, and generally having his time wasted.

In addition, we discuss the psychology of online criticism, consumer expectations of mobile apps, podcast app bugbears, road rage, and supermarket gentrification.

I miss regular podcasting. And blogging. Might have to get back to doing both.

Federico Viticci, on life:

Cancer changed me. It’s not necessarily about chemo drugs (they’re awful, but they work) or the oncology routine and terminology that you’re forced to learn suddenly and force upon the people around you. As a survivor, it’s not even strictly about living with the consequences and the constant reminder that I need to be prepared for anything.

Cancer taught me the beauty of life. To find magic in the simple act of having dinner with my girlfriend. To see work as an opportunity to inspire others and be useful. To love my parents now and cherish every moment with them because one day they’ll be gone and I’ll hold onto my memories forever. To listen to people and respect others because, in the end, no matter our diverging opinions and disagreements, we’re human beings and empathy drives us forward. My experience gave me a profound awareness of the fact that my time is limited and that, at a basic level, I have no idea what I’m doing here. And this freedom is amazing.

I’m here today because people saved me. I recognize that I am lucky and privileged. Last year, when I realized that I wasn’t fully seizing the second chance I was granted, I decided to do everything in my power to change my habits and respect this new opportunity. What I can do as a person is to take better care of myself and find a balance between my activities and my personal, physical existence on this planet. I sought a healthier lifestyle so I wouldn’t squander my extra time.

Take some time, and really digest this piece. It’s not a surprise that Federico’s most personal writing is also his best. Cheers, Ticci.

Jinnie, over at Three Staples:

Here’s another idea that inspired me to start this blog: Field Notes color comparisons! I’ve been sneaking some quick color comparisons in previous Field Notes posts but I think it’s high time that I do a dedicated post on a color. And I choose “white” first!

Can you think of all the Field Notes that have white covers?

COLORS Editions

Out of the Colors series, there have been three so far (as of January 2015): Northerly (Winter 2011), National Crop “Cotton” (Spring 2012), and Day Game “Hardball White” (Summer 2012). That’s three editions in a row!

I’ll just let the pictures do most of the talking.

I’m a Field Notes addict, and Jinnie is doing an incredibly deep dive into the beloved memo books. Such good stuff.

Seth Brown:

The defacto wood for brisket is oak and it’s what I prefer to smoke with. Brisket takes a long time to cook and the mild flavors of oak imbues a wonderful phenolic flavor to brisket without over-powering it. Hardwoods like hickory or pecan are too strong and drown out the more delicate flavors of the beef. I split around an eighth cord of seasoned oak the day before barbecuing, which is plenty of wood for a cook.

You’ll want to grab a drool napkin before you read Seth’s piece.

That’s my momma.

Jimmy J. Aquino and Lola Landekic over at Art of the Title:

Ultimately, Lee’s decision for the titles was to forgo the white chalk, the crane, the actual Brooklyn locations, and the lighter side of summer that “Cool Jerk” represented. Instead, he opted for a colourful, animated typeface by former Columbia Records album art designer Art Sims and focused on the simmering tension and energy in Bedford-Stuyvesant — on a soundstage.

I love this movie, and this is a great breakdown of the fantastic opening credits.

Josh Ginter, at The Newsprint:

There are a couple things which make the Techo stand out from the rest of the crowd. Its compact size, its page-per-day format, and its Tomoe River paper make it a true jack-of-all-trades in the planner world. So much so, in fact, that I don’t necessarily think it’s fair to call the Techo a “planner” per se. The Techo could be used as a planner, but it could instead be used as a journal, a daily log, or a simple notebook. Its utility is endless.

Very nice look at the Techo if planning on paper is up your alley. I love Josh’s site. Super thoughtful review with fantastic photos.

Federico Viticci on Due 2:

The way Lin Junjie decided to release Due 2 is also worth a mention. Due 2 is a free update that replaces the old Due app on the App Store, bringing a new UI and the features mentioned above. For new customers, the app will be $4.99 as usual. For old customers only, four features will be locked with a $2.99 In-App Purchase: background sync, 45 new tones, auto snooze options, and the ability to pause timers. This is, effectively, a way to implement upgrade pricing on the App Store for an existing SKU – new customers won’t see the IAP and old owners of the app will automatically be brought into the new Due app with an option to pay for new functionality.

Interesting model, and I’m happy that Junjie was able to figure out a way to charge for an discounted upgrade. It’s a hack, but it works.