I don’t know whether to be delighted or grumpy about iBlog – the new weblogging software package for Mac OSX. I’m delighted because I’ve been thinking about how you might develop something very much like it. And I’m grumpy because I’ve been thinking about how you might develop something very much like it. Do you see how that works? In fact, I spent a good couple of days working on a design / concept mock-up of how I thought such an application should work. This work is now essentially useless. Still never mind.
Nonetheless, here are some of my thoughts about desktop weblogging applications:
- Firstly, an application of this kind should allow people to design modules and interfaces for the various packages, services and softwares already in existence (Blogger, Movable Type etc).
- Secondly (and related to the first point), the application should be able to function as an interface to an online service where posts could be stored centrally , Blogger-style. This would allow a web interface which is a crucial part of the whole ease-of-use weblogging aspect. The application could sync with the most recently updated or created posts, which can then be worked on and edited offline without compromising that sense of possession and security that comes of having the files locally.
- Thirdly, Apple should be building an application of this kind as an iApp because it extends the ability of the less web-savvy, web newcomers and the people who turn to Apple because of clarity and ease of interface. They should also be doing it because it could potentially add substantial value and utility to the .mac service.
- Fourthly, Apple controls a vast amount of other information which can be published to the web or specifically to .mac services – from iCal diaries, address book contact information and iPhoto albums. Even iTunes has spawned applications designed to make it easy to place what you’re listening to online. I makes total sense to organise a potential central point where you could bring all this information together – just as personal weblogs have been doing for the last few years.
- Fifthly, Apple made a terrible mistake in allowing other people to use the brushed metal finish which has been associated with their core applications. The metal made them seem stable, solid, reliable and core to the operating system – ie. trustworthy and reliable. This piece of branding genius is now inevitably going to be compromised….
- Sixthly, I much prefer the name iJournal, myself…
For more debate and discussion e-mail me or post a comment to the Blogroots thread, which I will check on regularly…