They all still had a drawer system accessed from the masthead which exposes a lengthy linear list in the side drawer. What was equally odd,  was that this change did not occur as a result of  an update from the app store. At the time, I had been eagerly watching the updates on both the website and native app experience out of curiosity about the recently promoted changes to the “News Feed”.

As I played with the updated version, I immediately had issues with it. The bottom navigation feels like a dated paradigm, and functionally it cuts into the valuable vertical real estate that I have to consume the contents of my feed. Over the past months the app has evolved to include larger images, both vertical and horizontal (something that I like) as well to include recommendations (ads) in to the experience. All of which make greater demands on the mentioned vertical space.

As you can see below, the side drawer with it’s separate vertical scroll supports the deep navigational options that the app supports. Since the “filter” panel is only exposed on engagement, the consume layer is able to maximize the viewable space within the experience. (Also something that I like)

I felt that the app was both looking really sharp as well as serving to provide easy access to the growing depth of filters and utility that the product has to offer. Not only that, but it was pretty darn fast.

Now fast forward back to the update. As I mentioned, the minimized vertical consume layer seem to make my iPhone 5 have as much viewable space as my iPhone 4 with it’s smaller screen. Grrrrrr… As I played with it more – the contents of the top and bottom nav options are duplicated which undermine any justification for giving up on my consume space. An inventory of the top offers access to my friend request, my messages, my notifications as well as a secondary method of starting new messages via the drawer system on the right. The lower navigation offers me nothing new, except the more tab which exposes the contents that were previously accessed via the control in the upper left of the masthead.

Below you can see the main change to the side drawer contents. On the left is how it was when accessed via the masthead. The core of the app seems accessible,  logically grouped and catered to the main areas of “intent” for the experience. To the right is the new experience with it’s smaller footprint sandwiched between the functions nearly mirrored top and bottom. The main difference: The more button on the right opens the menu. The news feed button on the left – OR – a selected item from the list, will close it.

My take away: A confusing twist to the primary navigation that gave me no benefit and takes away from the enjoyment of the feed itself.

This brings me to the part about it being quirky. By quirky I am not referring to the change itself. That I simply don’t like. However, none of my friends and coworkers seem to have this new experience. So out of curiosity, I deleted the app and downloaded it again. To my delight, the fresh download gave me the previous experience which I like very much.

However, as I use the app for a short bit – it seems to magically morph back to the lower tabs from the side drawer on its own. (Not after further updates)  First I thought, perhaps I am getting senile and just performing batch updates as I get notifications. However, I have now deleted the app and retrieved a new install 4 times. Each time I am greeted by the version I like followed by the transition back into these tabs!

This experience has spanned a few weeks. During that time, I have broadcast on twitter a number of times to see if any others are experiencing anything similar. Thus far, none of my extended network have been able to confirm anything similar. One suggestion was that perhaps I was stuck in an A/B user test. We do these on my teams all the time and it makes perfect sense.

So tonight I broadcast my issues yet again. On previous tweets, I had included screen captures of the experience in the hope that someone in my network could chime in to say that they also had the same experience.

My hope was also to understand weather or not I am in fact in a user test… as well as why I can not seem to get out of it when I delete the app and re install a fresh version. It has been interesting to see what I am guessing is product experimentation from Facebook.

However, after playing with it and trying to acclimate to the changes… I remain unimpressed and would simply prefer to go back to using the previous app that seemed so impressive up until the latest round of updates. With each of my comments or complaints about the new tabs (on twitter) – I have offered to provide more detailed feedback.

Over the years I have used twitter to make remarks about any number of product and customer experiences that I thought were either good, bad or could be improved upon. On many occasions I have been amazed by the unexpected and quick response I have gotten from big brick and mortar businesses, banks, retailers, local restaurants, magazines and many individuals. So somehow I thought  Facebook who’s sole product mission IS social would respond with a comment, question or even explanation.

Regardless – Facebook is a product that I like… and I have a dual intent in sharing. First, I think user feedback is great and am always happy to share. Second, I would like to get out of this user test and either continuously get back to the previous version – OR – voice my thoughts to help it’s next iteration.

Someone who is able to transform complex concepts into simple, approachable interactive experiences that are easy to use and visually balanced, across any device. A team player that lives and breathes the interactive space – Someone whose work has been seen or will soon be seen in some of the top design showcase sites. (Dribbble, Scoutzie, Creatica, TheBestDesigns, CSSMania etc)

Responsibilities:

• Approach projects with user-centered design methodologies in the execution of high-fidelity mockups and interaction flows
• Participate in ongoing discussion with product, engineering and other team partners to develop new solutions to complex discovery / consumption problems that convey ideas into tangible form
• Incorporate / Refine the TV.com / Metacritic Visual sensibility in all designs, consistently and efficiently
• Quickly adapt to fast moving timelines and variable project requirements
• A passion for innovation with an attitude that good enough is NEVER good enough

Qualifications

• An amazing portfolio that can be viewed online. Any applicant without an “online” portfolio will not be considered.
• A strong understanding of modern web/mobile best practices to create an efficient user-experience
• Ability to manage time and multiple deadlines effectively
• Ability to quickly execute hi-fidelity comps with a strong attention to pixel-level detail and craftsmanship.
• Awareness of the trends and applied technology being used across the desktop & mobile interactive.
• Full knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite.
• 2 – 3 years of professional work experience.

Most important – you MUST have an online portfolio. I’m not interested in a resume of what you’ve done, and where you have been. Let your work knock my socks off. If you have the chops… you are that person, or know of that person… I want to hear from you!

This had become a sad irony as I have spent the past two years advocating then building out a stronger and more effective mobile presence for properties within CBS Interactive. My belief has been that we must stop thinking about building websites – OR – apps – but create a product framework that is device agnostic for content, while being device or platform aware for the user experience. With this in mind, my site goal was to simplify, amplify content over style and optimize regardless of what “screen” you chose to visit with.

The Dyslexic Doodler

My bio as a “dyslexic doodler” is not actually a play on words… I am in fact quite dyslexic and my code has been historically filled with its share of duct tape and string holding it together. My personal site serves many purposes, but at its core remains a sandbox to try new things. Forcing myself to create only what I can code myself demands that I continue to grow, learn and “TRY” to stay as up to date on what my development teams build out in a more comprehensive way at work.

A giant step towards simplifying this effort, was the early decision to use Skeleton as my base framework. As described: A Beautiful Boilerplate for Responsive, Mobile-Friendly Development. Skeleton is lightweight and super easy to build with particularly because of the simplicity and logical nature of it’s syntax. (naming conventions)

Content over style

The idea of amplifying the content over the style, is not to suggest that I am not focused on visuals. My previous design was quite dark with the intent that it created strong contrast which allows the designs to stand out. But in reality my site is not simply a showcase of work, but a place where I offer my perspective (at times long form) on what I do, what I am working on or how and who I am learning from. So with this in mind, lightening the overall footprint serves to bring better readability to the written aspects of what I share. This along with the greatly improved accessibility given the mobile optimization are the core of how I hope to fulfill a desire to keep content over style.

Its never a wrap

For me the process remains more exciting then the destination and particularly with interactive design, there are no solid goal lines. Each new update simply brings a new foundation to build from. I am pleased  to have advanced my site forward a bit and yet even more excited about where I can tweak my sandbox from here!

I desired my president to think through the actions & repercussions of his / her administration and believed then as I do now that you weigh your decisions on history and the vast possibilities of their potential outcomes.

Tomorrow night, my hope is that you show up to fight. (Respectfully and with presidential dignity – but to fight nonetheless). I have watched this entire process for some time. For a period, I felt that it might be more interesting if Mr. Romney were to simply debate himself, as he seems to have taken a firm stance on nearly every side of each issue before him over the past ten years.

Your last debate performance was not your best. Of course anyone can have an off night – but I came to realize that while Mr. Romney may not have a core of deep convictions that he intends to run on – he IS a VERY ambitious man. One who desperately wants your job. You have at times indicated that you are willing to rest your presidency on your beliefs. I admire this. However, you cannot rely on the vast block of American voters to fact check what you or your opponent has to say on the past four years or for the plans for the next.

You MUST take the fight to Mr. Romney. Not in paid advertisements – but face to face on the debate floor and in front of the American people. Your words have moved me and countless others over the course of your time in the public light. In my opinion, your actions have made us safer, brought us dignity both on the world’s stage and at home as well as to pave the way for a brighter future. It is nearly impossible to argue that things could have been worse. However, people would have seen a HUGE difference in our country should you not have taken many an unpopular decision. But as you know, elections are about many things… and Mr. Romney’s ambitions along with his salesmanship and skill to “close the deal” are having an impact because you are not calling him on his gamesmanship.

You are fighting for many… You re fighting for a level playing field – not simply for the privileged, but for those who do not have a voice as loud as yours and stage by which to share the mission of the coming 4 years. You have much to run on, much to be proud of.

I watched my father a retired naval aviator struggle in a hospital for nearly 5 months while insurance companies debated weather he was OK to leave the care facility that wanted him out despite him being petrified that he would not be able to function at home. He had the money to extend his care, but I continued to wonder about the many others who did not and would be simply left to fend for themselves if it were not for a universal healthcare system. I have read the plaque at the base of the statue of liberty – my immigrant mother and wife have greatly benefited from it’s meaning. We are a country of immigrant’s… people who have come here not to scam a system, but to bring a better way of life for their families. I have watched as my wife struggled to improve the education and results of the bilingual third grade class that she teaches. Without decent pay and with no help as a result of meaningless testing via No Child left behind, she has been a tireless advocate for children and REAL learning results that may turn disaffected kids into folks who may one day cure disease or create innovation. In her 8 years, she has been a part of a team that has taken the scores of her school from last to first in her district. I have driven both imported and US made cars… but after you invested in Detroit, I sold both my imports and bought new American cars… Why? Because I believe in the hard things that your administration is trying to do and am willing to be a part in any way that I can.

Why share this tonight? Because I am one of these coveted independent voters that I hear about on the news so much. In past elections I have voted for Democrats, Republicans, Independents and even Green Party & libertarian in my 41 years. I try to listen and read as much as I can, and vote my conscience. I have read writings from Lincoln, FRD, Reagan, Clinton as well as the writings of our founding fathers. I believe that there was a great deal of intent in their words. I think these men / women played for the long game… and not quick gimmicks and showmanship

I have listened to what Mr. Romney / Ryan has in mind for the country. I do not believe that they have any malice in their intent – but Regan-omics did not work… it exploded the deficit. I don’t want my leaders to shoot first and ask questions later… and I don’t believe that ANYONE is FOR abortions – they simply want the ability to make tough choices between themselves, their doctors and their gods.

I have not agreed with each decision you have made as president – but I continue to stand with you, believe in you and need you to bring the fight and passion in tomorrow’s debate. You are fighting for many, for an equal playing field, for seniors. You are fighting for ME, my family and the future of my 5year old son.

Please bring the fight, your passion and you’re A game. I am with you.

Marc

Along with a quick dose of some VERY needed Vitamin D – the water front makes for a great back drop for the old school street cars

I love that San Francisco has restored these functional old relics. It gives such character to the city vibe – plus this bad boy looks awesome in it’s original Mango Green.

Sitting along the bay with the bridge as a backdrop, the deco styled rocket ship is a fun new landmark as well as a great way to jump start an imagination that may need a boost.

The theme is continued with this nifty transit station sign for those interested in getting tickets aboard our local spacecraft!

The old street lamps and majestic Canary Date palms create an inviting path up to the Ferry building. Equally enjoyable is to see that others were thinking the same thing and able to take a moment out of their busy day to fuel up on some good old fashion spring weather!

Someone who is able to transform complex concepts into simple, approachable mobile experiences that are easy to use and visually balanced, across any device. A team player that lives and breathes the interactive space – Someone whose work has been seen in some of the top design showcase sites. (Dribbble, Scoutzie, Creatica, TheBestDesigns, CSSMania etc)

Responsibilities:

• Approach projects with user-centered design methodologies in the execution of high-fidelity mockups and interaction flows
• Participate in ongoing discussion with product, engineering and other design partners to develop new solutions to complex discovery / consumption problems which convey ideas into tangible form
• Incorporate the CNET Visual sensibility in all designs, consistently and efficiently
• Quickly adapt to fast moving timelines and variable project requirements
• A passion for innovation with an attitude that good enough is NEVER good enough

Qualifications

• An amazing portfolio that can be viewed online. Any applicant without a portfolio will not be considered.
• Proven experience on mobile UX design and interaction requirements/specifications for iPhone, iPad and Android
• A strong understanding of modern web/mobile practices to create an efficient user-experience
• Ability to manage time and multiple deadlines effectively
• Ability to quickly execute hi-fidelity comps with a strong attention to pixel-level detail and craftsmanship.
• Awareness of the trends and technology in the mobile space.
• Full knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite.
• 3 years of professional work experience.

Most important – you have to have an online portfolio. I’m not interested in a resume of what you’ve done, and where you have been. Let your work knock my socks off. If you have the chops… you are that person, or know of that person… I want to hear from you!

Most folks by now are very familiar with the adaptive web. It is an industry buzz that promises to solve the issue of accessibility across the mobile spectrum. We all have limited resources to solve the issue of access for a what is becoming an avalanche of both platforms as well as the size form factors in each. Lets face it, it is not just iOS and Android.

The hope at the most basic level was to create a product framework that is truly device agnostic for content, yet device or platform aware for the user experience. Our users have a relationship with us through these screens of various shapes and sizes. They access us both directly, or indirectly through search and the social graph. Thus, creators of media or utility can not rely on having a product on a single platform. Even content shared from a native experience will always lead to a mobile enabled WAP environment since you can not define what folks on the receiving end will have to view what is being broadcast.

So while this article will specifically walk through the visual design and function of our iPhone app – the most exciting part is that with our new framework, users will have a tough time distinguishing between our native app and the mobile site. The path we have taken is devise navigational paradigms, consumption sequences and touch behaviors based on the size of the form factor rather then to focus specifically on platform specific products. This frees a small team up to think about the best ways to consume a product in a 4″ 6″ and 9″ environment. To determine the features and paths that make best use given the spacial limitations and then develop and optimize the experience for each regardless of whether it is done in HTML or a native environment.

The iPhone app is our 4″ form factor – Similar to the tablet experience, we simplify the experience into 2 simple but distinct views – Discovery with aggregation – Consume with utility or access to a deeper experience. Thus upon opening the app (or the m.cnet.com) users are greeted with lead content curated by editorial. Folks can swipe left and right to see more of what editorial believe are the key stories / products that users may want to see. Below sits a list of the latest news, product reviews, videos and photo galleries based on the day’s publishing. At the base of the page, users can click to load “more” date relevant content.

In the upper left, you can access the main navigational drawer which allows you to distill the latest by a given topic of interest or content type. Once you have chosen, the drawer will close and reload your list view panel with the latest from the given selection

In the example above, I chose to see the latest for Tablets. My discovery view is now populated with the latest tablet content within CNET. However, for users looking for something more specific – you can access the filter function in the upper right.

Doing this will allow you to distill the explore experience further by “type” – reviews, news, photos or video content. Keeping our options to aggregate within these varied drawers allows us to maximize the available space towards surfacing as much viewable content within the explore panel.

A typical news story delivers a fairly standard article type led with large headline, date and author attribution followed by a quick summary of what is found below in the story. Within the article itself resides any specific art, charts and graphics that the editor used in the desktop product to better visualize their narrative. Share options are found in the upper right for folks to distribute or broadcast items of interest to their friends and social graph. (Far more features are planned for additional functions moving forward)

For folks who are looking for content at a more granular level, search sits at the top of the main navigational drawer. Once a user taps the text input, they are prompted with the keyboard to either enter something specific – OR – tap the Scan an item function to access the devise camera. (note: this function is the main functional difference between the m.cnet and native experience.)

For folks searching on a specific – the results deliver the latest available per the given query. However, the results can be refined further by narrowing these down based on the core content available on CNET.

Should you tap the “Scan an item function”, this triggers the iOS camera which then allows you to focus on a product bar code. Hold still as the result will take you directly to the CNET review of the specific product. A pretty nifty feature when you are in the store and hoping to walk out with a given gadget!

Folks familiar with a CNET reviews know the depth of coverage available. Mobile users are greeted by a short but sweet overview of the product. What it is, What it costs followed by our signature Good, Bad & Bottom Line. Much of our catalog has a video review which you can watch on the spot, or can simply swipe left and right to see a gallery of images which illustrate things about the gadget you may be interested to see.

Should you want more then just a summary – The top of each product review provides access to a deep dive of more comprehensive information such as the full CNET technical & editorial review. Each opens a new “panel” that allows you to read more without leaving the main page with it’s access to the other silos of information

In addition to the full CNET review, tech specs and buying information – we also surface the crowd sourced information of what our many users are always willing to share both with ratings and reviews of their own. Thus, you are never far from what either the experts or your peers think of the gadgets that we all love.

For our photo galleries, we reverse out the the content panel for a theater display. This maximizes the contrast to allow the photos the best opportunity to stand out. To get a closer look, tap the photo to bring up to full screen in a landscape view.

So there you have it – version 1 of our next generation mobile experience. However as I mentioned above, our goal was to solve issues of accessibility more broadly. As a result, this first offering is light on features by design. By insuring our ability to distribute more broadly, we hope to have quicker and more incremental launches that will not be limited to a few users – but available to our entire audience regardless of what screen you choose to access it with.

Thanks to tia Dafne for being there so that I could jump into the last photo and share the moment with my family!

While we worked on this in tandem to the overall CNET redesign, we had the ability to build from scratch rather then to retrofit the extensive product and publishing infrastructure utilized for the web based version of CNET. This wide open playing field really opened up the possibilities to rethink many of our existing consumption paradigms.

Our goal was simple:

We wanted to greatly simplify the exploration and consumption process. This applied to both what is new and published by our editorial team, as well as access to topics and sections sought after by our users. To do this, we insisted on making it feel very iOS specific to take advantage of how users have already learned to interacted with Apple’s tablet device.

What we came up with is a multi panel display that separates browsing from consumptions into 2 simple but distinct views – a list or browse view and a consumption panel.

The experience begins with a list view or river of stories that leads with larger and more prominent features up top. While the grid itself can be controlled by editorial teams based on the importance of a single or multiple stories – the recent or most important content sits in various larger tiles that form a brick pattern up top.

From the lower left of any view, a user can open a section drawer that exposes the numerous ways they can aggregate the list view of content based on a given category, topic or type of CNET special programming such as our Holiday Gift guide or our future CES programming.

As you scroll down through the experience the masonry pattern from above gives way to a simplified list view. The story headline, image, content label and date stamp remain, but are sized down into a streamlined stack for more uniform browsing.

Once a user clicks on a headline, a consumption panel enters from the bottom with the given story. This is the same for all content, however each has elements that allow a user to simply consume, paginate or do a deeper dive. This is the case in the review above where users can tab this view to deep dive into the content subset of the full review, user review, product specs or where to buy.

In the case of an image gallery, we reverse out the experience to provide a theater view. This helps to highlight the featured image as well as the related thumbs to stand out by utilizing higher contrast for this view.

Similar to reviews, news articles open into a single story panel that users can scroll vertically for the full read or to view any related in line content information or author bios that cap each piece of content. From any piece of content, users can either close each individual panel or simply swipe left and right to access the next & previous story.

On the right side of the display (directly where the thumb sits) lives a consumption utility that is accessed by tapping the right side of any article. From here users can size up the content for increased font readability. Or a user can tap the share function to access means to pass enjoyed content along to folks in their social graph or by email. As we add more consumption utilities, this feature will likely change or be built upon.

From the lower right of the tool bar, a user can both alter their settings or search the app with the simple magnify icon. Similar to the topical drawer, the keyboard panel also emerges from the bottom of the display / product experience. Search results display just as they do when making a query on the native device. Once in a story from a result, users can swipe left and right to paginate to next and previous items with in the list.

So there you have it – The richness of CNET’s content in a simpliefied native tablet app to enjoy. This is obviously our v1 release and we will only build on this from here – but given that we consume as well as produce CNET, we are really excited about this new method of getting all of what CNET has to offer in this streamlined form factor. Give it a try and let us know what you think! We really are listening and want your input to make it the best experience possible~

While the party town of San Lucas is not my thing, the slower pace of San Jose del Cabo was exactly the sort of quick tranquil get away that I needed. Being a visual person, you can see below how the colors of southern baja go a long way to refill my tired human fuel tank.

Arriving in Cabo, the beautiful desert mountains at dusk immediately set a nice mood for a short but sweet taxi ride to Cabo Azul in San Jose del Cabo.

Cabo Azul is a beautiful place with a series of plush horizon pools that terrace down to it’s beach front. While the pools are nice, my little man and I began our morning with a hike up the beach to explore for sea shells.

One of my favorite parts of a warm climate are the lush tropical plants and flowers that bring pleasing visuals and smells to go along with the sand in your toes and salt water in the air.

The sharp contrast of king palms and Baja shade make for a great silhouette as the sun goes down over Palmilla beach from Javier’s restaurant. That along with my beautiful date, silly 4 year old clone and a plate of Camarones a la Diabla… and this night was perfection

Warm lights and cool shadows dance along the rocks leading up to the Archs monument during an evening dinner cruise.

Just around the bend – it is easy to see what makes this spot such a favorite for whales, surfers and post card photographers!~

This shot that my wife took sums up what I loved about my time on this adventure… simply soaking it all in with a warm sun on my face and cool pacific breeze in my hair.

After cruising up the coast a bit – We turned around at this point and enjoyed this backdrop while a small pod of humpback whales led our boat back into the bay for dinner. While they did not fully breach, they did come up for deep breaths revealing their backs and big splash with their immense tails.

While the expression suggests that one stop to smell the roses, I stand by my belief that that a hibiscus will do just fine. It smells just as sweet and it’s leaves are softer, prettier and it has no thorns.

With a nice tan and a fresh perspective we wait outside in the warm sun to board our chariot home.  Like the flight, the get away was quick… but the slow pace and beautiful colors of Baja were just what this pixel man needed to cool my jets and recharge my imagination.