Inverted Reality

update shmuckdate

How crazy are things right now? building a house, work, kids, whoa.

I think I might consolidate some blogs / pages I write on, it's getting too hard.

Firstly, I'm not blogging gym/fitness stuff any more, it's too hard to keep up with. I'm still working out 3+ times a week. I stopped swimming and started lifting weights, but just last week renewed my swimming pass so I can start that again, even if it's once a week. I enjoy it.

I'm now a member of the "Health and Wellness Centre Committee" at work. This means I sit on a committee of people who run the gym in East Perth for the Department of Health and Department of Child Protection. There is three or four members from each dept. We maintain the gym, including the budget (equipment tracking, replacement, maintenance, etc), take feedback, promote health and fitness, etc. Will see how it goes! It's great to be involved with things, providing I have time!

I'm also a member of the Policy Reference Group at work, representing the Applications Directorate. Like I'm not busy enough! It's nice to be a part of this group which develops and forms policies for our org.

My motorcycle project is stalled http://rd200.com/ until I can unstick the engine which is really stuck. *sigh*

The Vespa is still ripping it up, despite a small accident on the fwy a few months ago with a 4WD which almost knocked me off. It's going well with the stainless pipe on it. sounds good, goes better. I really should get a new helmet though.

Our house build is going well! http://blogs.dalealcock.com.au/category/james-melissa-journey/ hopefully we will be in before Christmas!

The kids are growing so fast. Melissa graduated from uni and is now studying her Masters. We got a Thermomix (and it's awesome). I miss having broadband internet at home. We are eating Healthy (like Paleo). We finally bought a new DSLR camera.

I'm thinking about merging posts on some of my other sites in to this site and then closing those sites down, too much work to keep them all. Some haven't been updated in a year or more. http://kitchenmac.com/ http://cinemamac.com/ http://perthscooter.com/ http://leopardtricks.com/ http://fireflyhelicopter.com/ http://buyeyefi.com/ http://thebeaningoflife.com/ .. more?

Speaking of cleaning up, I should really trawl through my entire online presence and clean things up... urgh.

App Review - Thermomix HD for iOS

Vorwerk recently released their Thermomix iOS apps (iPhone and iPad) for recipes, shopping lists and instructional videos.

The app is based on the "My Way of Cooking" cookbook, which I own, and enjoy.

Because of this, I wasn't willing to pay for the full version of this application, and instead only downloaded the free "lite" version to try out.

Firstly, I manage a team of software developers for a government organisation and know a thing or two about apps. User Interface (UI), User Experience, Functionality, etc.

After installing the Thermomix app, I was impressed with the neat way of scrolling through the index of recipes, broken down by meal type. (sides, mains, deserts, etc). It is indeed pleasant to look at.

Then I opened a recipe, greeted by a lovely photo. The photography really is great. With the photo is an overview of the time to make the meal, portion size and a few other things. It took me a while to realize that I had to click the "show" button in the top right of the screen to actually get the directions and ingredients. OK, that's fine.

Then I hit "show".... And my hopes and dreams came crumbling down.

Let me explain..... I use my iPad a LOT in the kitchen. You stand it up like a recipe book and it's just brilliant. Most of the time I use Evernote which stores some of my recipe web clippings, or an actual recipe web page. Maybe even an email. It's so convenient!

What's wrong with the Thermomix app? One simple thing. You need to interact with the iPad to go to the next step in the prep of the meal. This is a big mistake in my book. I want everything in one screen. The ingredients AND the directions, all in plain sight, one screen. If I have food stuffs all over my hands, I would prefer to not have to touch my tablet. The iPad cleans very easily if you do have to touch it with messy hands, but imagine if I didn't have to at all?

The Thermomix app displays a massive picture of the meal, on every page that has a step. Cut that out, ditch it, it's not needed. Just show me a massive display of instructions. Or at least add a nice big view in to the interface. Call it "Chef View". You press a button and get massive font, everything in one place, nice.

I had this same feature on my Kitchen Mac http://www.kitchenmac.com/ and it was just brilliant. I could have my iPad or Mac on the island bench, be cooking on the other side of the kitchen and very easily just turn my head and see the next step from a distance. Amazing.

Therefore, I believe this new Thermomix app, at this stage, is nothing more than an application to 'browse' recipes. It really isn't much good for actually following a recipe as you cook in the kitchen.

I have no doubt that by either changing the UI for better views, or adding in a "chef view" button to give me an "overall look" at a recipe, this application will be one step closer to "killer".

UI aside, the videos are very professional and well presented, but have no subtitles or spoken dialog, expecting the viewer to just watch a meal be made. It's not too bad an idea, considering the language and localization that would be required if they were more complex. The video idea would be great if it had text / step instructions overlayed on the screen. eg "add 30g sugar" on the actual video for that step. This way, you can either watch the video to make the meal, OR follow the text directions.

Vorwerk could also really benefit from adding some more "social" integration. Allow the user to like or tweet what they are making from the app. It doesn't post the recipe to the social network, but it does let their friends and family know that they are cooking with the Thermomix right now. That has to be a win.

What about the ability to add photos of meals you have made? Or your own recipes?

This app could be so much more. It really is just a "magazine" at this time.

Great first effort, long way to go,

Cheers, James