This time around I have decided to use a support system from the start. Why? Because I enjoy communicating with my customers*, but the art of organizing it and making sure nobody slips through the cracks; not so much.

* Yes, I’m an engineer who like people.

I always thought I’d end up with Zendesk. I have followed their progress for a long time, I love their little buddah figure, I have even done a trial run once and found that I liked the service. However I ended up with desk.com, and the process went something like this:

• I went over to zendesk.com to sign up, but I ended up doing nothing.
• I went over to  zendesk.com again, and again I ended up doing nothing.
• Then I suddenly stumbled onto desk.com where I signed up immediately.

Why this sudden change of hearts? Take a look at the screenshots below.

What do they mean with basic self-service under the cheap option? Why can I only do a free trial on the expensive one? So if I get regular should I do annual or monthly billing?

Wow, it's free until I get more people on board and then it's a dollar an hour. Sound good!

Which one would you have choosen?

I have googled,
I have trusted my gut feeling and
I have mentioned random names to people and closely monitored their reaction!

Now it is up to you, the people, to decide what the apps in bGraphics first app series shall be named!

Thanks to everyone who suggested names by commenting on the first Name Help blogpost. The nominated suggestions were submitted by Leif Arne Bakker, Daniel C Treidene, Espen Sjøulk and myself.

I’m back, and ready to get an app onto the App Store, and I need your help to find the perfect name!

The app(s)

The app I’m focusing on is the first in a small series of apps that will let you e-mail yourself or others without getting sucked into your inbox. I.e. the apps lets you compose and send an e-mail without getting redirected back to your inbox, and the first one will be for sending notes and reminders to yourself.

There will be two or three apps in this series (in the following prioritized order):

1. E-mailing yourself.
2. E-mailing anyone (ie. blank to-field).
3. Choosing between several preset recipients (ie. boyfriend, boss, mother etc).

Read more about the rational and idea in my earlier blogpost, and if you would like to test them as they are nearing completion please sign up to be a part of my team on TestFlight.

For those of you wondering what happened to 911Caller/Emergency Caller it got more complicated than I though, but my plan is still to have it out by summer.

The name

I think it would be best with a name that focuses on the benefit:  Not getting sucked into and stressed out by you inbox, and not on the feature: There is no inbox. As an engineer that is not my strongest ability, so my name suggestion is/has been: No Inbox Mail.

The name should also work for all three versions of the app, i.e:

1. No Inbox Mail Me
2. No Inbox Mail Anyone
3. No Inbox Mail Favorites

Help me!

Do you think I should focus on the benefit in some way, and if so so you have a suggestion?

Do you think I could focus on the feature, and if so is No Inbox Mail a good name or do you have another suggestion?

Words/phrases to inspire you: compose, send, stress free, quick, instant, easy.

I just realized it will be the first vacation, since august 2010, that I’m not planning to do any work – at all!

My Appelsin partner in crime, Anders, has received a lovely support routine document, bGraphic customers are well-informed and bGraphic apps will just have to wait until I return.

For the first time in my life I will set up an “Out of office reply”, I almost feel like a proper adult…

Have a great easter everyone!

I knew this message would come, but it still amazes me! Underneath is an excerpt from devenroll@apple.com (bolding done by me).

Certificates of registration (‘Registerutskrift’) from the Br?nn?ysund Register Centre, as well as a certified English translation.

Developers located internationally may fax their documents to 1-408-974-7683.

So again I must find a fax, any suggestions??

The mail office up the street has a fax service, but international calls are blocked  - same goes for the real-estate office I tried last time. When I registered Appelsin I ended up faxing from the offices next to my old employers office, but that doe not feel feasible right now.

Also last time I’m quite sure they did not ask for a translation, at least I did not send one – so I’ll skip that step and see how it goes.

This is a fax machine for those of you who have forgotten it.

The app will use your location and immediately call the equivalent of 911 in the country you are in.

Not much more to say really, what are your immediate thoughts?

I do hope you like the idea, because I have a confession; the app is almost done.

If you would like to help me test the app please sign up at TestFlight.

As soon as the location is found the correct number is called.

For countries that have more than one emergency number, a choice is provided.

If anything goes wrong this screen is shown with the appropriate message.

That’s it for now, have a great day :D

What is a PE /PG?

When I first came up with the concept I wrote this blog post, after that I have done a handful of jobs that I feel fit into this concept. Here are some examples:

• Took over the operations of a WordPress site after it had crashed and I helped the client get it back in business.
• Researched and wrote a report on how to track pdf downloads without needing to change the clients current it-infrastructure.
• Helped a client get an account on YouTube and Vimeo, and later I will help her upload and sort her movies.
• Created and ordered stickers, based on a client’s logo, from moo.com.
• Created a WordPress site based on the react theme and took care of all arrangements to get it online.
• Teached a client how to publish blog posts on her current WordPress site.

Usually I do several assignments per client, and some even by hours in bulk so they can call/e-mail whenever they have need for their PE/PG.

The player

If you would like to see and read about how this app has evolved take a look at the Cabin Fever archive.

The code is also much cleaner. I reuse one view for all the tabs on the iPhone version, and these tabs are reused in the pop ups on the iPad version. In addition all the content is kept separate from the code. Hopefully all of this will make it super easy to get the next movie apps off the ground :D

The next movie app will be Mona’s feature Chlorox, ammonia and coffee and after that some of her shorts!!

Info about the app and share options

Info about the director, iPhone version

Why oh why, you might say? Hear me out :D

I have started using my inbox as my main unsolved task list and getting things done tool. The inspiration for this comes from the norwegian MD, Jørn. You can read about his concept “Inbox Control”, in norwegian, at innbokskontroll.no, or have a go at the google translated version.

With this method you start sending a fair amout of e-mails to yourself, and after about three self addressed e-mail I thought: “There must be an app for that” and there is.  Mail Myself!  will save you from these three steps:

1. Open the mail app
2. Tap the compose icon
3. Write your e-mail adress

I’ve used Mail Myself! and I can highly recommend the app.

After a little while however I wanted more, the more being:

I do not want to get directed back to my inbox/mail app after the e-mail has been sent.

Why?

I am a recovering inboxaholic.

I have no self control. If there is a new messages I must have a look at it, if there are no new messages I can spend a minute or two looking through the inbox anyhow! I have turned off the little red dot that tells you how many new e-mails you have. I have turned off e-mail notifications. I have in fact turned off all notifications, my iPhone will only let me activly know of new texts or  people calling.

My first thought was as always: “There must be an app for that”. Unfortunatly I have not found one that fullfills this need yet, so I’m thinking of making it myself. The app would simply:

1. Present a compose e-mail view (with the to-field already filled out).
2. Let you write and send your e-mail.
3. Direct you back to step 1!

No inbox in sight :D

I would love to hear what you think!

I’ve always wanted to order something from MOO since I have heard so many good things about them, and they definitely lived up to the expectation. The cards turned out great, they arrived fast and their e-mails are a joy (I’m a sucker for automatically generated e-mails that make me smile).

I’m Little MOO – the bit of software that will be managing your order
with moo.com. It will shortly be sent to Big MOO, our print machine who
will print it for you in the next few days. I’ll let you know when it’s
done and on its way to you.

Remember, I’m just a bit of software.

So, if you have any questions regarding your order please (…) contact Customer Service (who are real people).

The picture doesn’t give the cards justice at all, you will have to ask me for one!  They need to be seen and fondled IRL.

If you are convinced, buy after clicking the link in this blogpost and I get a little cut :D