War of the Worlds: Evernote vs. Earthlings

The role of invading aliens will be played by Evernote

In September 2012, T. J. Luoma, a writer for TUAW (a/k/a The Unofficial Apple Weblog) posted a pungent, well-reasoned article about Evernote's absorption of the highly esteemed Mac application,  Skitch.  You can read Skitch 2.0 is like Skitch 1.0 without all those pesky "features" for yourself.  Go ahead, you'll be glad you did.  The story of Skitch's dismantling demonstrates all too vividly what happens when the vision of creators, users, and opportunistic buyers clash.  "Creative disruption" can be a good thing.  Mutilation, not so much.

Today, I re-encountered Luoma's article.  It still resonates.  This time, I'm pausing long enough to respond and add a history update -- what broadcaster Paul Harvey called "the rest of the story".

Lost In The Dark...

A free screensaver, "Lost In The Dark", compliments

of Gitanajava Productions LLC.

For personal use only.  To use commercially,

contact us for written permission.

To download the full-sized version (1815 x 1443), go here.

Con profundo cariño y admiración de Beverly, mi amiga querida.

Full Speed Ahead - It's a Whole New Year!

Right now, you're either welcoming the new year with a fresh heart and clear head, you're feeling a bit fuzzy around the edges after a night of festivities, or during the first few wobbly days you'll need a gentle reminder that it is a new year.  We can help...

Counting Colours...

Here's your big chance!  You have an opportunity to influence the marketing of one of our most talented and unusual colleagues and longtime friends, a/k/a KCTenor, The Mystery Client.

Our Java-pal, the "Leather Lawyer"

Our java-amigo, Daniel Denton, is a lawyer, a former organic chemist for the pharmaceutical industry, and also a gifted leather artist.  The photos above are a small representation of the colourful and exacting leather work he does.  For more examples, go to http://www.facebook.com/flyingd.leather.  If you've a project in mind -- say, a customised seat for your motorcycle, a briefcase (you should see his!), a wallet, whatever -- get in touch with him.  His work will be featured soon in "Cowboys and Indians" magazine, so get in touch with him before demand drives his prices higher.

Caveat Venditor, Starbucks...

This cartoon is by the ever-brilliant Mick Stevens, New Yorker magazine
Buy the framed print at http://www.condenaststore.com/-sp/Braithwaite-Starbucks-How-may-we-help-you-New-Yorker-Cartoon-Prints_i8543850_.htm

"What Starbucks has created around coffee is

an extension of the front porch.

If you look at the UK, the English pub is an extension of

people's homes but for a different beverage.

Our stores have become a gathering and meeting place

in addition to the coffee."

~Howard Schultz, Chairman/CEO Starbucks

After several weeks of finding local store and office personnel unresponsive to issues regarding faulty Wi-Fi and an approaching remodel of the store, a group of us who are regulars at Starbucks Location X decided to "bump the thread".  We met, listed our specific concerns, and Gitanajava Productions drafted the following letter, written to Starbucks via their website.  We posted our letter the evening of Friday, 6th April 2012.  Now, we're waiting to see what, if any, response we'll get from Starbucks.

Buckle your seatbelts, here we go...

To All Our Friends & Colleagues, Near & Far....

A Christmas Screensaver for You from Gitanajava Productions LLC
(right-click, open to full-sized view, then d/l to your device.)

Happy Christmas & Merry New Year! 

أجمل التهاني بمناسبة الميلاد و حلول السنة الجديدة

Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo! 

¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo!

חג מולד שמח ושנה טובה

Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr! 

สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส และสวัสดีปีใหม่ 

С наступающим Новым Годом ~ С Рождеством Христовым 

Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou!

BTW, Gitanajava Productions also designed and decorated the tree portrayed in this screensaver -- that's enough 3" tied-them-ourselves-bows and strategically placed candy canes to cover an 8' foot tree from top to bottom and all around, with no bare spots.

Un-occupy Gmail, Part 2

Since noting our strong objections to Google/Gmail's latest shenanigans in yesterday's post, Un-occupy Gmail, we're discovering other voices critical of their heavy-handed redesign.


Scott Wilson sees the Google/Gmail re-design rationale "shaping up to be an unmitigated disaster".

Un-occupy Gmail

If Necessity is the Mother of Invention, Who's Baby's Daddy?

Why We Won't Switch Voluntarily to the New Gmail UI

Over the past week or so, we've read all the blogs, news, and comments about the roll-out of Gmail's new look.  In the pursuit of truth, justice, and leaping tall buildings in a single bound, we even tolerated a couple of videos, and this is what it comes to:  until the G-men force us to change to the new look, we'll skip it.  It can roll right past us, thank you.

First, the "new and improved" Gmail UI is rife with advertising distractions.  The subtle "oh, by the way" is bye-bye.