The Art Of Form & Function: What Makes A Great Mac Application
I try out dozens of new applications each and every week, and get along well with a handful of software developers . Based on my experience with Macintosh software, I have my own standards and my own personal opinion on what makes a Mac application exceptional in its field.
My three points of consideration? Interface, simplicity and usability. Of course, an application needs to fulfill a suitable function, but these three pointers are what pulls me in to software and get me hooked.
I’m sure most of you have heard about AppZapper at some point or another. If not, AppZapper allows you to confidently uninstall virtually any application as easily as it was installed - just drag and drop. Drag one or more unwanted apps onto the main AppZapper window and watch as it finds all the extra associated files and lets you delete them with a single click.
The first thing which attracted me to AppZapper was not only the elegant ability to uninstall applications which has been carried out so well, but the complete usability and overall simplicity of the application, it immediately leaped into my dock and hasn’t left since, same goes with many other applications such as Delicious Library, Coda, MarsEdit, and Transmit. They are all so elegantly developed, with attention paid to both form and function.
Two standout examples of companies paying severe attention to detail are Panic Software with their lead applications Coda, Transmit and CandyBar. Along with Delicious Monster’s application “Delicious Library.”
Potential For Greatness In Form
Other applications, including DVD-ripping software HandBrake, have the potential to be amazing with some work on the usability and form. HandBrake is a wonderful application but it doesn’t come across as elegant and as easy to use as an application like AppZapper. Of course, it fills a much larger function than AppZapper and requires a large scale of features - which I believe could be carried out in a different manner.
Why is that? Because consumers want applications that are extremely easy to use. Austin Sarner, the developer of AppZapper, hit the sweet spot when designing it: he knew exactly what the people wanted and how to give it to them. AppZapper is so simple to use that it’s ingenious.
Companies like Panic and Delicious Monster have got all aspects right on design and user interface which in my opinion is a contributing fact to why they have enjoyed so much success. Form & function my friends. Pay attention to the vital details.
#1
Hector A. Henry Sjogreen → www.blinkyit.com
Hey dude for real i notice know that you are back thats good.
Well sorry for ask for something rare or far from the team but my question its, will you talk about the new ipod touch 32 and some of the news stuff for ipod. Soon on…
Sorry for the question out of team.
Tke care
#2
Aidan GirardI think “Interface, simplicity and usability” is the moral that apple bases all there apps on when they are building them.
#3
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Really, it’s the little details in an application that make me want to use it all the more. Those features are the determining factor between them and the competition.
It’s actually funny trying to talk to the average PC user about these things. They don’t care about things like usability and User Interface design. But really, that is what makes the Mac the Mac. I was showing my PC friend a video in the Finder (via Quick Look), and she loved the transition the effect made. A month later and she is a Mac user.
Consumers do care about style and form as well as function. because in the end, if your app has all the features in the world, but I can’t find them, what good is that?
#4
Michael RaudalfApple has you fans bent over back words and you love it when they slide it in!
http://www.cnet.com/8301-13739_1-9889159-46.html
Apple’s iPhone software development kit is already drawing complaints due to the strict terms of service. Voice over IP apps like Skype that attempt to use the cellular data connection will be blocked. Competing web browsers Firefox and Opera are forbidden. Even Sun is now backpedaling on its recent announcement of a java port, noting that there are some legal issues
#5
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
This has nothing to do with Apple Inc. Michael, this is about third party developers, no matter which platform they’re designing for.
#6
James@Michael
In what universe did you think that AT&T was going to let Apple sell VOIP clients that would run on the cellular network? Did you forget what they make money from?
Remember, if Apple wants to sell a phone, they need to have a carrier. And if they want to have a carrier, they are going to have to play by some of the carriers rules. That being said, Apple has more power over their carrier than any other device manufacturer has ever had before.
If you don’t like the iPhone, the don’t buy one! Simple as that. You don’t need to get all pissy just because Apple has released yet another revolutionary device, and is taking over another market.
#7
rmaspero → www.rmaspero.com
One of the reasons I switched to the Mac is the fact it looked better then the PC and all the software seemed to just fit in with the overall look. You re right the thing that makes a piece of software good is not always just the function but also the UI and it is often over looked.
#8
Henning → www.firstofall.net
Great to see you’re back and posting regularly, Glenn. Reminds me to stay active myself.
Coda is a great app, I’m not really the web development type, but when I used Coda to learn HTML, I had a boatload of fun. I love how third party apps on the Mac are so well thought through. I totally agree on form & function, you can’t find this kind of quality on Windows and Linux.
#9
Sheridan Haskell → youcomprehend.wordpress.com
I would like to add that an artistic, simple and beautiful interfaces not only increases usability but also increase the optimism of the user. When the user sees this extraordinary interface it encourages them create the best quality material from the application that they can.
#10
Armin Vosough → armin.sytes.net
I’ve been using Coda since it was first issued, and it’s easily one of the best Mac apps I’ve ever used. It’s very elegant in how it goes about its business, and includes enough features without becoming bloated.
#11
ZagAppearance means nothing if the app can’t do anything. I’m looking at you, Disco. A great example of function over form is SUPER vs. VisualHub. SUPER is based on the exact same things as VisualHub, but works better and is free, despite looking like a giant virus.
#12
VikkiHey Glenn… quick question. Is AppZapper free? I looked up the page… came accross with the Download… but next to it, it asks whether I would like to buy it. It’s not expensive… I don’t think, but would it help to buy it rather then downloading it? -Or is the download just an upgrade version? Thanks… bye
#13
Nathan Bolender → www.nathanbolender.com
I absolutely LOVE Coda! The interface is just so wonderful to work with. I think my favorite thing is the face that when you type a closing bracket, Coda visually alerts you to where the opening bracket is.