Jony Ive Goes In-depth About Apple’s Design Philosophy

Jonathan Ive portrait in suit jacket - black & whiteAhead of receiving his knighthood from the Queen, Jony gave an interview to the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph. Jony Ive’s own words:

“We try to develop products that seem somehow inevitable. That leave you with the sense that that’s the only possible solution that makes sense.”

“I think subconsciously people are remarkably discerning. I think that they can sense care. I think it’s a wonderful view that care was important – but I think you can make a one-off and not care and you can make a million of something and care. Whether you really care or not is not driven by how many of the products you’re going to make.”

“One of the concerns was that there would somehow be, inherent with mass production and industrialisation, a godlessness and a lack of care.

“We’re keenly aware that when we develop and make something and bring it to market that it really does speak to a set of values. And what preoccupies us is that sense of care, and what our products will not speak to is a schedule, what our products will not speak to is trying to respond to some corporate or competitive agenda. We’re very genuinely designing the best products that we can for people.” GigaOM »

You can watch the clip of Ive’s knighting here »

I have a lot of respect for the man. He is one of the coolest men roaming the earth today. I am impressed with him in the Apple product videos, in keynote presentations along with Steve Jobs, and in the stories related in some of Jobs biographies. Jony is a rare breed. He is the real deal even when he’s philosophizing about abstracts of design that most ordinary tech users do not understand, but sure do appreciate.

Pixar’s New Short Film, La Luna

La Luna promotional art by Pixar

I always look forward to the Pixar short films as much as their full-length feature film releases.

“La Luna” is the timeless fable of a young boy who is coming of age in the most peculiar of circumstances. Tonight is the very first time his Papa and Grandpa are taking him to work. In an old wooden boat they row out to sea, and with no land in sight, they stop and wait. A big surprise awaits the little boy as he discovers his family’s most unusual line of work. Should he follow the example of his Papa, or his Grandpa? Will he be able to find his own way in the midst of their conflicting opinions and timeworn traditions? Pixar »

It would seem based on Pixar’s description of La Luna that the story’s message echoes similar values presented in Brave. I don’t expect anything ‘epic’ out of their short films; rather, they are an antidote to overside films. It’s great to watch what they can do in a creative story in so little time on screen.

We can expect to see La Luna for the first time in theaters along with showings of Brave.

23 Rare Behind The Scenes Photos From ‘Back To The Future’

Getting the De Lorean to Fly

Filming the flying De Lorean

Great Scott! I’ve never seen these production photos before. Click the photo to see the rest of the production photos from the eighties on Bit Rebel.

One of my all-time favorite subjects: a flying time-travelling De Lorean. The photos got me ready to check the films out on my new HD television.

Chipper Jones Plans His Triumphant Retirement

Chipper Jones Topps rookie baseball card

Chipper’s rookie baseball card

For a team that dates to 1876, Jones ranks second to Hank Aaron in almost every offensive category. He needs just 12 runs batted in to pass George Brett as the career R.B.I. leader among players whose primary position was third base. Among switch-hitters, only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray have more career homers than Jones’s 459, and only Murray has more hits than Jones’s 2,646.

“I just told him, ‘How stupid — you’re going to retire, and you could make another $20 million!’ ” Ozzie Guillen, the Miami Marlins’ manager and a former teammate, said Wednesday. “But Chipper’s very professional, goes about his business, fights through injuries the right way. You look at Chipper’s numbers, you go: ‘Wow, really? No way.’ He does it very quietly.” New York Times »

As all good ball players should. I will miss Chipper after the season. I grew up watching him, Smoltz, and the others, but the one constant is Chipper. Hopefully he will join the Braves as a manager, or something else like that.