Blog of Much Holding

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Freeware, Apple, iPhone

Apple's made some strange changes to the App Store lately. While the reviews change was a good one, this latest update is just confusing: they removed all of the "See all" links from the sidebar of the main App Store page, including the much-visited "All Free Apps" that many of our readers used to browse the new free stuff in there.

Now, all that's there is a bunch of category links. You can still search for apps, obviously, and you can click on the Top Paid and Free apps to see those, and you can even click on the "See all" near "New," "What's Hot" and "Staff Favorites." But if you want to browse all the new Free apps in the store completely unfiltered, you're out of luck.

Why would this be? Depends on who's guessing -- if you're angry at Apple (perhaps one of many developers who haven't seen their apps in the store yet), you might claim that it's because Apple wants to keep a firm grip on just what new free apps get seen on the homepage. If you're so-so on the issue, it might be because you think Apple wanted to streamline the process and keep you from the hassle of browsing all the free trash yourself. And if you're what our kind commenters call a "fanboy," you might claim that Apple is just having problems with their store, or that they're actually trying to help developers by raising app prices.

Personally, I'm going for option D: someone working on the iTunes page didn't realize how popular the link was, and after a little outcry, it'll be back soon. In the meantime, there are still a few RSS feeds around that will help you keep tabs on what's showing up in the store.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Video, Apple, iPod nano, iPod touch

Apple has designed some beautiful stuff over the years, from the ][e (hey, I think it looks good) to the iPod, but you can take the new OfficialApple YouTube channel off that list -- it's hideous. The glaringly huge sidebar ads got squished and crunched, and managed to make even the new nanos and iPod touches look ugly.

On the plus side, the channel offers lots of Apple videos in the YouTube player, from tutorials to tours to TV ads, so that's nice -- what YouTube videos lack in quality they make up for in ease of use and playability. Sure, the comments aren't much to read (unless you're a glutton for punishment), but at least the videos work.

But what did they do to those icons?! I'm tempted just to report the background with the link at the bottom of the page -- not because it's offensive or crude, but just because it's so badly done.

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I had the opportunity to take my son to the Civil War museum about an hour away (in Kennesaw, Georgia) and had a great time. Lots of authentic Civil War (or, as we call it in my home, the “war of northern aggression”) pieces, a great section on an old locomotive manufacturing plant and the process of building trains, a fun kids area, and (the highlight of the museum) a fantastic exhibit on the “great locomotive chase” that occurred in 1862 when Union spies stole The General engine and used it to wreck the line from Kennessaw to Chattanooga.

Disney made a film starring Fess Parker in the ’50s that featured the union forces as heroes… the movie they showed before you entered the locomotive chase exhibit (which used footage from the original Disney movie) had a slightly different take on who the “hero” was that day. The exhibit featured the restored “General” engine as well… I love trains.

A great place to drop by if you’re in the area. And, look! Photos!

First, the show was really really bad. I mean, seriously. I don’t know what was worse last night, watching the Emmys or watching Green Bay choke against Dallas on Sunday Night Football (through the magic of DVR technology, I did both).

Highlights:
Don Rickles. I love Don, and his mocking of the horrid comedy lines that they had him read off the teleprompter was gold.

MAD MEN WON BEST DRAMA. Yes!

Finally, Ricky Gervais and Steve Carrell. Fantastic bit:

Adam, you’re still on my bad side for not showing up for your DragonCon panel a few weeks back, but I can’t let that stand in the way of issuing you a happy birthday. Those fiendish criminals haven’t stopped you yet! And, as my birthday is Monday, I just realized that we are both Virgos! Cool!

Here’s Adam from an appearance on Hollywood Palace:

Here’s some photos from a recent trip to Disneyland…