Introducing the Designed in California blog

I’ll admit it: I’m what most people would call an Apple fanboy—and have been since the late 1980s. I fell in love with their products and design philosophy back when Apple was the small, scrappy underdog.

A lot has changed since then.

But being a self-confessed fanboy doesn’t mean I can’t be critical. I believe in giving credit where it’s due—and calling things out when they fall short. This blog is where I share those thoughts, the good and the bad.

I hope you’ll join the conversation—and share your own thoughts in a friendly, respectful way.

A photo of a Macintosh Performa 200
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Permissions.jpg
Permissions, Permissions, Permissions!

More than once, I’ve built a Shortcut, tested it, and walked away confident. Only later—much later—I’ll notice it silently failed. Why? Because it tried to do something it didn’t yet have permission for. The irony is painful: I asked it to do something, and then I forgot to approve the very thing I asked it to do.

Apple HomePod Mini Is Pushing My Buttons
Apple HomePod Mini Is Pushing My Buttons

For the last few months, I’ve been experimenting with using a HomePod mini as a speaker for my Mac Studio. The idea was simple: if it worked well, I’d buy a second one and set up a stereo pair. So—how did the experiment go?

Let’s just say that the HomePod mini has now been replaced by a pair of Creative Pebble Pro speakers.

The Apple Watch Faces I Can’t Have (But Still Want)
The Apple Watch Faces I Can’t Have (But Still Want)

While scrolling through Instagram, I’m often served ads for apps like Facer and Facet—platforms that promise jaw-dropping Apple Watch faces. Normally, I scroll past them. My logical side usually wins the argument: “They’re not real watch faces, just widgets, and they won’t do what you want.” Case closed.

But the other day, one ad got me. I caved.

Steve Jobs

“The people who crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”