This page lists every article ever published on this site.
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Weekly Short Story: Retrogenesis
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Patrol
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: The Tradesman
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Compressing Your Keyboard
Moving to a smaller keyboard without losing functionality.
Weekly Short Story: Beautiful Walls
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Undeserving
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Like / Follow / Kill
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
40% Keyboard Layout for Writing
Some useful keyboard layout customisations for writers using a 40% keyboard, particularly with the QMK firmware.
The Planck Keyboard
Using a 40% ortholinear mechanical keyboard, and how I've customised my layout.
Weekly Short Story: Down Deep
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: The Tesseract
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Divergent
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Paper
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Biometrics
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Famous
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Enantiomorph
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Familiar
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Monsters
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: I Remember Everything
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Slow
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Look The Other Way
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Therapy
This year, I finally started therapy.
Weekly Short Story: Ignite
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: The Magician
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Next Stop
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Aliens
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: The Forest
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Your Heart's Desire
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Burrowers
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Piety
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: The Hotel
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Regarding My Work
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Justice System
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: DNR
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: The Puzzle
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: The Archminister
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Dice
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Reading Time
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Not Yet
On the birth of my son.
Weekly Short Story: Antisocial
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Weekly Short Story: Nine Mile Burn
A weekly story from my Once Upon A Time series.
Free weekly short stories via email
My new free weekly short story newsletter.
Once Upon A Time autographed copies
Just in time for Christmas, I'm offering autographed copies of my new print anthology of flash fiction, Once Upon A Time.
Publishing paperback novels with an iPad
Creating and publishing paperback (and ebook) novels using only an iPad from start to finish.
Beautiful paperback novels with Ulysses
My iPad-only workflow for creating paperback novels.
Once Upon A Time Volume 3
Once Upon A Time — An anthology of flash fiction in genres like science fiction, horror, and more.
Tools versus work
On reminding myself that the tools are less important than what you do with them.
Custom Prompts for Drafts
Two open source custom prompts/dialogs for Drafts on iPadOS, iOS, and macOS.
Using Drafts as a local Wiki
Keeping an offline knowledge repository in Drafts for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
Keyboard-Driven Cross-Linking in Drafts
An action I wrote to make the Drafts app's cross-linking feature usable entirely from the keyboard.
Pointer Control
On the ability to use a traditional pointing device with the iPad.
In Theory
On having children.
Once Upon A Time Volume 2
Once Upon A Time — An anthology of flash fiction in genres like science fiction, horror, and more.
Once Upon A Time Volume 1
Once Upon A Time — An anthology of flash fiction in genres like science fiction, horror, and more.
KESTREL is going Kindle-exclusive for ebooks
My KESTREL technothrillers series is going Kindle-exclusive, for ebooks only, for at least the next few months. There’s still time to get the books on other ebook platforms though!
One Silver Shilling
A brief epistolary tale written for my patrons, about Orkney and in a vaguely Lovecraftian style.
An incredible gift
The story of one of the most thoughtful and moving gifts I've ever received.
Cover reveal: KESTREL Book Three
The title, cover artwork, and some tantalising details about the third book in the KESTREL technothrillers series.
My new office
Creating a home office for myself in our new house.
Separately
On attending the latest Mark Knopfler gig, but for the first time not sitting with my brother.
40
I’ve been alive for forty years.
The Second Book
What I learned while writing my second novel.
TOLL reviews are in
TOLL has been well-received, and what I've learned from the reviews so far.
Mechanical Keyboards
On the joy and percussiveness of typing on a noisy mechanical keyboard.
TOLL is out now!
TOLL, the second novel in the KESTREL technothriller series, is now available!
Beautiful ebook novels with Ulysses
My iPad-only workflow for creating ebook novels.
Using the iPad for: autographed ebooks
My iPad-only workflow for making autographed ebooks, customised for each reader.
Autographed ebooks
With the help of iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, I can now offer autographed ebooks.
The Big iPad
I upgraded to the 2018 model 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
iPad Pro 10.5" for sale
I'm selling my nearly-new iPad Pro 10.5", with Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard, cases and accessories.
Points of View in Ulysses
Using coloured keywords to track points of view in a novel in Ulysses.
Europe Day 2018
Celebrating Europe Day 2018, as I write about a fictional EU special forces team.
Cli-Fi
On climate-change novels, and KESTREL book two.
A Big Phone
The iPad is a larger version of everyone's main computer.
Review: ORIGIN by Dan Brown
A book review of ORIGIN, by Dan Brown. No spoilers.
Dual room Nintendo Switch setup
I added a Nintendo Switch play area in my home office.
2018 Resolutions
Changes I'm making in 2018.
Breath of the Wild
My thoughts on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Nintendo Switch
On what the Nintendo Switch is for me, and why I love it.
Mental Health Day
If you're having mental health problems, acknowledge them, talk about them, and seek help.
Fifteen years
As of today, I've been blogging for fifteen years.
My Ulysses interview
I was interviewed by the makers of Ulysses, the app I use to write novels on the iPad Pro.
My desk
My desk, what's on it, and how I work when I'm sitting at it.
Learn Ulysses
Learn Ulysses online course with The Sweet Setup.
Locations: The Cuypers Library
Behind-the-scenes notes on a location from CHANGER: The Cuypers Library within the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
For Members: Alternate CHANGER covers
This week's members-only newsletter: writing a cover-design brief, and some exclusive alternate cover concepts for CHANGER.
No More Frisbee
On frisbees and coffee makers, and companies choosing their desired customers. Subscription software versus license ownership.
Project Structure for a Novel
The project structure I use to organise a novel, and its related materials.
Subscription Software
About software as a service, or app subscriptions.
Site Membership for 2017
New site membership plans, monthly or yearly, Apple Pay support, and get new books first and free.
Providing
On other people's money.
HTTPS
This site is now HTTPS-only, and HTTP/2.
Thrillers bundle giveaway
Win a copy of CHANGER by Matt Gemmell, THE BABYLON IDOL by Scott Mariani, and THE SEVENTH PLAGUE by James Rollins.
Cover reveal: TOLL — KESTREL Book Two
The cover for TOLL — KESTREL Book Two.
Decaf
Why I drink decaf coffee.
Laptop Replacement
On the preoccupation with laptop-tablet equivalence.
The 10.5-inch iPad Pro
Brief thoughts on Apple's newest iPad.
One Year On
It's been a year since CHANGER was released. Here's a new edition, and a teaser…
iPad Pro 10.5-inch first look
My wife surprised me with a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro.
iPad Pro 9.7" for sale
I'm selling my nearly-new iPad Pro 9.7", with Smart Connector keyboard case and accessories.
iPad Pro 9.7" for sale
I'm selling my nearly-new iPad Pro 9.7", with Smart Connector keyboard case and accessories.
The Other Shoe
On Apple's recommitment to the iPad with iOS 11.
Room To Think
Redesigning my home office to suit my new style of working.
Mobile
On mobile-first design as an extension of the real world.
Briefly: Nintendo Switch
On Nintendo's new home and handheld console.
Damage
Apple's destruction of the value of software, and the sustainability of indie developer businesses.
A few more words
Ten years ago, I asked my now-wife to marry me.
KESTREL Book Two… and You
Be the first to know when Book Two in the KESTREL series is out… and maybe contribute a name to the story.
Using the iPad for: Taking notes and planning
My iPad-only workflow for taking notes, planning, and replacing a paper notebook.
Designing for iPad Power Users
Thoughts for iOS app developers who want to cater to iPad power users.
Heart
Staying fit, and getting my heart condition under control.
Setting up on micro.blog
Just testing
Apple Watch for sale
I'm selling my Apple Watch, along with several bands and accessories.
Farewell to the Apple Watch
I'm getting rid of my Apple Watch. Here's why.
Thoughts on Ulysses and Scrivener
My reflections on the two premier writing studios on the Apple platforms.
Setapp Beta Invitations
I have some beta invitations for Setapp, the Mac multi-vendor software subscription service.
iPad gear: Logitech Create keyboard case
The Logitech Create keyboard case with Smart Connector, for the 9.7" iPad Pro.
iPad-only: Month One
I've been iPad-only for a month.
Self Care
Remember to take time to look after yourself.
Denning's Walk
A short piece of original fiction.
Weltschmerz
On our anxiety at the state of the world, and why we must resist hate.
My iPad Setup
How and where I work with my iPad, and details of my current accessories.
Using the iPad for: Writing Novels
My iPad-only workflow for writing long-form fiction.
Using the iPad for: Web Development
My iPad-only workflow for web development.
Lifting the Mouse
Reflections on the role of the iPad, and why it holds such an attraction for a jaded user of computers.
Using the iPad for: Blogging with Jekyll
My iPad-only workflow for blogging with the Jekyll static site generator.
Using the iPad for: email newsletters in Markdown and HTML
My iPad-only workflow for weekly membership newsletters.
Rediscovering the iPad
After several years without a tablet, I'm going iPad-only.
iMac for sale
I'm selling my iOS/Mac development workstation iMac, with peripherals and extras.
iPhones and iPad for sale
I'm selling my various old iOS test/development devices.
Sponsoring this site
How to sponsor this site, and share your message with my audience.
CHANGER bonus chapter: Saying Goodbye
A bonus chapter for my novel, CHANGER. Contains spoilers!
Work in progress
Our writing serves as a diary, whether we mean it to or not.
A Declining Trajectory
On a downturn in Apple's software quality.
Twelve years
Today marks twelve years since I started writing at this site.
Regulars
On people-watching, and seeing someone else instead.
Jangled
A recollection from childhood.
Omen
On the cover of my first novel, twenty-five years ago.
CHANGER paperbacks are now available!
My novel CHANGER is now available as a paperback.
Reviews are in for CHANGER
My new action-adventure novel, CHANGER, is getting some great reviews.
Stranger than fiction
That feeling when you release a pro-Europe action novel two days before the UK votes to leave the EU.
CHANGER is out now!
My novel CHANGER is now available.
Announcing CHANGER
My novel CHANGER will be available this month.
Shelf 7
On the place I'm always drawn to in bookshops.
Writing in Markdown
My new mini-ebook, Writing in Markdown.
Power Unused
When you use little of what you have, you could get by with less.
Conduit
On the power that names hold.
TaskPaper 3
The new version of Jesse Grosjean's plain-text to-do list Mac app.
Household Wiki on Raspberry Pi
Setting up a family info server cheaply, with encryption.
Regular Expressions
The most useful thing I ever learned in tech.
Losing Trust
Allowing software to auto-update is a gesture of trust. Don’t squander it.
The reader-hostile web
We're still abusing people's patience with needlessly bloated, sluggish web pages.
Leaving the Store
For Mac developers, there are more arguments than ever for staying outside the App Store.
Civil comments
Respectful discourse addresses one pain-point of online comments, but I still have doubts.
Clone your drive
The time to backup your data is now.
Liberty and cryptography
Cryptographic backdoors are vulnerabilities to any malefactor.
Tiered social media
Rewarding social media users by hiding ads is problematic.
Briefly
Writing fewer words, more often.
The Dao of the Shell
Using a command-line computer interface to quieten and focus the mind.
Site Membership for 2016
An invitation to become a member of this site.
Superstition
On growing up surrounded by belief in the supernatural.
Elsewhere
On the one morning each year when our living room door led to another place.
Acquainted
On the things you become familiar with, whether you choose to or not.
Ideology
On our reactions when faced with acts of terrorism.
Remember
Sometimes, I can almost remember how.
Emotional
There's nothing shameful about feeling.
Responsibility
Having a large audience brings both privileges and consequences.
Sharing your words
On the natural fear we feel when allowing others to read what we're written.
Break
There's a gap in my identity.
Waiting
A short piece of original fiction.
Negotiations
On the flaws in the ethical argument against ad-blocking.
Social Dark
I've limited social media to my phone, to boost my productivity on the laptop.
Autumn
On the season that heralds change, and reminds us of the work we've yet to do.
Eleven years
Today marks eleven years since I started writing at mattgemmell.com
Obsession
On the spark of fresh inspiration, as both the ally and nemesis of creative output.
Normal
Whatever you grew up with seems ordinary, even if it's not.
Membership so far
I introduced site membership five months ago. Here's how it's been going, and what I've learned.
Eulogy
If you have praise to give, don't wait until it's too late.
Losing weight with Apple Watch
How to make some small changes each day, and shed some extra pounds.
Essentials
On finding the essentials in life, and how our perspective on what’s important alters over time.
A Laptop for Writers
The new 2015 MacBook is the ideal laptop for a very specific type of user.
Voice Two
The other voices inside us, and the one I turn to in times of trouble.
Half life
Today marks the end of my 35th year.
Building an audience
The truth about increasing your readership and social following.
Sci-Fi
On science fiction, and how it embodies hope.
Respect Metrics
Create web sites that respect readers above all else.
Points of View in Scrivener
Labelling scenes with points of view in Scrivener.
Status report – May 2015
An update on my writing projects.
Bailing
My shifting relationship with money, during the major changes in my life.
A week with the Watch
My first week with Apple Watch, and how it changed my behaviour.
Distractions
How the Apple Watch changed my relationship with other devices.
Junctions
On the points in life when we make decisions that define our future.
Façades
We show versions of ourselves to others, to help us hide.
Whisky
There's no finer substance than single malt whisky.
Small changes
Minor tweaks to accessibility can have profound benefits for differently-abled people.
Hindsight
I regret writing my most popular article.
Female voices
Men should make the effort to seek out more female voices.
Colours
For men, colour choices are often monochromatic - but they don't have to be.
Motivation
On motivation, and the darker emotions that can lie behind it.
On blogs
Thoughts on what blogs are, and how our words for them are trivialising.
Mask
On death, and its true face.
Windows Phone
An overview of Windows Phone, from a long-time iOS user.
Smoke
The power that smoke has to evoke my memories.
Permalinks
Why you should get rid of the cruft from your site's URLs.
Jekyll Multipage
A Jekyll plugin to split posts across multiple pages.
Introducing Membership
How you can support this site by becoming a member.
Staging drafts with Jekyll
A Ruby gem to stage and unstage Jekyll draft posts.
Random Trek: All Good Things
I appeared as a guest on the Random Trek podcast recently, talking about the Star Trek: The Next Generation finale, All Good Things.
Darkwater
On the nature of depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Dedicated
On the strengths of simple, designed-for-purpose tools for creativity.
Cover images
Creating magazine-like cover images with Jekyll.
Nationalism
My vote is with the Scottish National Party for 2015.
Work
When you're doing what you're meant to do, it doesn't seem like work.
Referrers script
Referrers: a Ruby script to show the referring URLs from Apache access logs.
A farewell to files
I'm ready for the file system to go away.
Patronage
If we don't support the artistic output we enjoy, it will inevitably vanish.
Site enhancements 2015
Some enhancements to this site's design and functionality, for the reader's convenience.
A final laptop
The ultra-portable laptop for regular users is now a perfected device.
Extremism
Reflections on extremism and terrorism, after the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris.
Heroes and Miracles
We need stories.
The year ahead: 2015
Thoughts about the year that's just ended, and my goals for 2015.
Beginning
On feeling free to write for myself, and let readership take care of itself.
Haunted
On the interplay of imagination and fiction.
Aurora
Chasing the Northern Lights, and finding wonder in our world.
Craft
Some thoughts on incorporating themes, symbolism and motifs into writing.
Formerly
I wasn't always called Matt Gemmell.
In Winter
My dark dreams as the year draws to a close.
Trying
Ten years ago, a friend and I decided to try being together.
Workout
Details of my workout routine.
Incipio Feather for iPhone 6
The Incipio Feather case for iPhone 6.
Watch
Thoughts on the Apple Watch, and where it fits into the market.
Portable
I've simplified my set of computing devices, to help clear my mind and let me move.
Page-specific assets with Jekyll
Including page-specific CSS or JavaScript assets using Jekyll.
True
A writer's job is find the lie that's truer than real life.
Independence
Thoughts on yesterday's referendum on Scottish independence from the UK.
Sultans
Sultans of Swing has accompanied me through my life.
Subscribe via email
You can now subscribe to the articles on mattgemmell.com via email.
Fan Fiction
On the importance of fan fiction as literary output.
Redesign 2014
A new blog design to celebrate ten years of mattgemmell.com
Ten years
Today marks a decade since I started writing at mattgemmell.com
Anthologies in Scrivener
Using Scrivener to create ebook anthologies of essays, short stories, poems, etc.
Raw Materials is free today on Kindle
My anthology of personal essays is free today on the Kindle Store.
Raw Materials: Collected Essays
An anthology of my personal essays, on the Kindle Store.
Writing a novel: resolving plot issues e-book
The new e-book version of my technique for resolving plot issues in fiction, and tackling the second draft.
Writing a novel: resolving plot issues
My technique for resolving plot issues in fiction, and tackling the second draft.
Genre shame
Coming to terms with writing in a pulp genre.
Dissatisfaction
The day I learned that the world isn't optimal, and it's OK to be unhappy about that.
Writing a novel: first draft
My experiences writing the first draft of a novel.
Unprepared
On our unpreparedness for being thrust into the decisions of adulthood.
Unprofessional and CocoaConf podcasts
My appearances as a guest on two podcasts recently.
Staedtler pigment liner and Moleskine notebook
A review of the Staedtler pigment liner 0.3mm, and the Moleskine soft cover pocket notebook.
Handwriting
A tribute to the art of handwriting.
Keyboard Maestro macros
Some of my macros for Keyboard Maestro on Mac OS X.
Confessions of an ex-developer
Thoughts on the software industry, now that I'm no longer a developer.
First world problems
Thoughts on the psychology of pointing out first world problems.
Meeting my wife
Ten years ago, I met the woman who became my wife.
Backups
Some details on my data backup strategy, and the tools I use.
Permanence
Thoughts on preserving our digital legacy.
Finder Tags
How I use Finder tags on OS X.
Relative
Lessons I've learned about pain.
Boost
Don't give your work away. Not for anything.
The gift of writing
A small thank-you to those who read my writing.
Letting go
Finding focus by opting out of distractions and negative experiences.
Macworld MacMania 2015
I'll be speaking on the Macworld MacMania cruise around the Canary Islands in December 2015.
Staying creative
Maintaining creativity over long periods.
Consulting
Thoughts on how to run an effective consulting business.
Mac keyboard shortcuts
Some of the Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts I use most often.
Thinking slowly
Analogue tools apply a drag force that helps us think before creating.
Burying the URL
Most people shouldn't need to see or think about URLs.
Trabalhando em Casa
The challenges of working from home full-time, and some tips on how to do so effectively.
Working from home
The challenges of working from home full-time, and some tips on how to do so effectively.
Little guys
On building an audience, and the double-edged sword of having one.
Small screen productivity
Screen size isn't a limiting factor for productivity, with the right tools.
Taking credit
Taking credit can also mean taking responsibility.
Offscreen 8
Offscreen magazine issue 8, featuring my piece on legacy in the digital age.
You can make an app
You Can Make An App bookazine from Future Publishing, featuring my piece on app design.
One hundred days
My change of career to full-time writing, three months in.
Sponsorship
How to sponsor my writing, and share your message with my audience.
Paths
I am one possible version of myself.
Profanity
In defence of the judicious use of profanity in writing.
Own your words
Publish your words on your own site, not someone else's.
Empathy
Everything is about other people's reactions.
Raw materials
Writing about what you know isn't always easy.
Making changes
I'm making a big change to my career.
Who to read in 2014
The online writers you should be reading, and some of my favourite pieces I've written in 2013.
Gamers
The video gaming community has a real problem with women.
Blocked
Regarding Twitter's recent change (then reversion) of the block function.
Focusing on reading
Towards a cleaner, more reading-oriented blog.
Structuring Your Novel
A chart of the advice in K. M. Weiland's book on Structuring Your Novel.
The Unacknowledged Compromise
It's a lie that one device fits all. Instead, use the right tool for the job.
Wishes
It's easy to disdain wishes until you have something to wish for.
Fear
My experience with anxiety and panic attacks.
Nets
Our nostalgia traps us.
Privacy
The current state of privacy from state surveillance in the West, and what's reasonable for citizens to expect.
Fiction Style Guide
A brief summary of my preferred style guide for formatting fiction.
Content as Medium
Whether digital or print, publications are most appealing when they respect the content and reader, not the medium.
Writing tips
Some tips on writing fiction.
Language skills
On the importance of having a sound grasp of spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Working in the Shed
The effectiveness of working without the distraction of internet access.
Connecting Newton devices to OS X
How to connect and sync Newton devices with Mac OS X.
Constraints
Every product is constrained. Choose to optimise your compromises, whether you're designing or just buying.
Not a geek
The difficulty I have in defining myself, and how I don't feel like I'm primarily a software developer.
iOS 7
Thoughts on the new user interface style and aesthetics of iOS 7.
Legacy
My compulsion to leave something behind, and be remembered.
How I Write
Notes on my own writing process, including planning, editing, and dealing with block.
The Reconstructed Man
My continuing journey to find and filter prejudice, and my good fortune in having strong female role models.
Thank you
Review of my most popular posts of 2012, and some updated traffic stats for this blog.
Designing blogs for readers
Thoughts on designing a blog to suit the reader: what to include, and what to omit.
Author Marks
Author Marks: a JavaScript to highlight an author's key points or most quotable sections of an article.
Tail wagging
The ongoing debate about skeuomorphism in software interfaces misses the point.
A new site design
A brief discussion of the new site design for this blog.
App.Net for conversations
My thoughts on the App.Net platform and social network, and how it differs from Twitter.
Days of the week with Alfred 2
A workflow for Alfred 2 to tell you which day of a week a given date is.
Generating filename slugs with Alfred 2
A workflow for Alfred 2 to create filename or URL slugs (clean URLs).
Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP Wallpapers
Desktop wallpapers featuring various colours (and special editions) of the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP.
Update your mattgemmell.com feed
This site's feed has moved away from Feedburner.
Super Nintendo Controller Wallpapers
Desktop wallpapers featuring Super Nintendo (SNES) controllers.
iPhone 5 Nintendo NES Wallpapers
Some Nintendo NES-themed wallpapers for iPhone 5, featuring various games.
iPhone 5 Super Nintendo Wallpapers
Some Super Nintendo-themed wallpapers for iPhone 5, featuring various games.
Playing Nintendo games on a Mac
The software and hardware you'll need to play classic NES, SNES, N64 and Gamecube games on OS X, using original Nintendo controllers.
MGWordCounter
MGWordCounter, a free and open source live word-counting implementation for OS X NSTextView and iOS UITextView.
The Unfollower
A tour of some of the less desirable subspecies of Twitter user.
Staying Afraid
Reading (and writing) horror fiction controls the fears we already have.
Writing Tools
The tools and accessories I use for writing; both software and physical.
Stories
Rediscovering the short stories I wrote as a teenager.
Married
A gallery of photos of my wife and I over the years so far.
iOS Accessibility Heroes and Villains
Examples of VoiceOver accessibility on iOS done very well, and very poorly.
iPhone 5 Hex Grid Wallpapers
Some hexagonal grid wallpapers for iPhone 5, in various colours.
Sticky Notifications 1.0.3
Version 1.0.3 of my Mac app Sticky Notifications, for quick notes and reminders.
Sticky Notifications 1.0.1
Version 1.0.1 of my Mac app Sticky Notifications, for quick notes and reminders.
Releasing Outside the App Store
How to release Mac apps outside the App Store, complete with updates, licenses and payments.
Sticky Notifications
Introducing Sticky Notifications, an OS X app for quick notes and reminders.
Managing Email Realistically
Your fancy email-filing system won't work. Be ruthless instead.
Closed for Business
Open platforms don't work for commercial success. Closed is where the smart developer money is.
Entitlement and Acquisition
Reflections on the poor thinking behind negative reactions to indie devs being acquired.
Replying to App Store reviews
Why it would be a bad idea for Apple to let developers reply to App Store reviews.
My Photoshop setup
Details of my Photoshop workspace, both physical and virtual.
iPhoto iPad tooltips PSD
A Photoshop PSD recreation of the tooltips from iPhoto on iOS.
API Design
My years of experience in creating reusable components distilled into 25 rules.
MGTileMenu
An open source iOS GUI component providing pop-up tile-based menus.
iPad productivity apps
The apps I keep on my iPad for working and travelling.
Familiar is not a design
Thoughts on a recent misguided concept for layered window management on iPad.
Misogyny
A condemnation of our continuing discrimination and sexism towards women.
Augmented Paper
A discussion of an increasingly-prevalent UX aesthetic that appeals to me on touch-screen devices.
iPad as a Mac Retina Display
Using a 3rd generation iPad as a Mac HiDPI Retina Display, via Air Display
Thoughts on Appsterdam
Thoughts on the Appsterdam initiative, as its founder steps back to pursue new ventures.
iPad 3 Retina Display Lock Screen
A template for an iPad 3 Lock Screen image, showing your contact information.
PlayStation Vita
A brief review of Sony's new PlayStation Vita portable gaming system, with screenshots.
Supporting this blog
A few ways you can help to support this blog.
The Piracy Threshold
Piracy isn't a consumer problem; it's due to the closed-mindedness and greed of the industry.
Sleazy promotions
Thoughts on sleazy and disrespectful entry methods for promotions and competitions.
Hashing for privacy in social apps
What hashing is, how it can protect your privacy and contact information in social media apps.
Using PDF images in iOS apps
How to export Photoshop artwork as PDFs, compress the PDFs, and use them in iOS apps.
Etched effects in Photoshop
How to create an etched effect for UI designs in Photoshop.
How Developers Can Help Designers
Tips on how app and web developers can help graphic/UI designers.
How Designers Can Help Developers
Tips on how designers can help app and web developers, including practising good Photoshop hygiene.
iPhone User Interface Cookbook giveaway
I'm giving away 3 copies of the iPhone User Interface Cookbook, via Packt Publishing.
Subtle UI texture in Photoshop
How to add texture to UI designs using noise on gradient layers in Photoshop.
iBooks Ideas
Non-textbook ideas about what you can make with iBooks Author.
iBooks Author for Authors
Some points to consider before beginning a book project with iBooks Author.
Morality and Persecution
A response to the Pope's latest appalling condemnation of homosexuality.
Pseudonyms
A response to Disqus' study purporting to show pseudonyms generate higher quality comments.
Comments Commentary
Feedback from around the web on my 'comments off' policy.
Your thoughts on mattgemmell.com
Survey results on your preferred types of articles on this blog.
Microsoft Signature
Microsoft Stores will sell demo/crapware-free PCs, calling the process 'Signature'.
Nintendo 3DS Review
A review of the Nintendo 3DS (and Ocarina of Time) after owning one for a week.
Comments Still Off
One month after switching comments off, I'm a happier blogger and writer.
Opinions in Journalism
The importance of expressing an opinion in tech journalism and blogging.
One Million
Review of my most popular posts of 2011, and some traffic stats showing over a million pageviews.
AllThis Sleazy Dishonesty
The dishonest, sleazy tactics of AllThis, falsely implying endorsement by others.
Open Source Code
A set of best practices for releasing open source code, to maximise its usefulness.
Women Conference Speakers
A list of recommended speakers for technical conferences, who happen to be women.
Dear TextMate
A letter to a formerly beloved OS X text editor, upon bumping into its long-awaited 2.0.
Open Source webOS
Why HP making webOS open source probably spells the death of the platform.
Google Currents
A brief overview of Google Currents for iOS, a curated content-reading app.
Low Expectations
On the low expectations of the PC industry press regarding hardware quality.
Simplicity
The search for simplicity, elegance and focus in my life, both online and offline.
Latest Version
Why you should feel free to develop your app for the newest version of the operating system only.
Read and Trust
I'm proud to have been invited to join the Read and Trust network of the best independent writers on the web.
Comments Off
Why I switched off comments on my blog, and why you should consider doing it too.
Copycats
A discussion of why copying another product is actually more difficult than innovating.
Adobe Communication
A rewritten version of Adobe's announcement about the end of mobile Flash Player.
On/Off Switches
User experience issues with On/Off switch implementations.
Favorites 2 UI design
A progressive set of UI/UX mockups of my iPhone speed-dial app, Favorites.
Tap! Magazine for iPad
The new iPad app edition of Tap! magazine for iOS
SEO for Non-dicks
Why dishonest Search Engine Optimization tactics are self-defeating. Instead, focus on creating trustworthy, genuine, relevant content repeatedly.
Public Speaking
Tips on public speaking: how to rehearse, deal with nervousness, avoid demos, and deliver effective presentations that entertain the audience.
Lion in VMware Fusion
How to install and run Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, and Windows 8, in VMware Fusion 4. Includes screenshots.
Authorship
The importance of proper attribution when quoting someone's work, avoiding plagiarism, and having a genuine identity to increase credibility online.
Blogging With Octopress
How to migrate from WordPress to Octopress, for static 'baked' blogging. Tips for configuring Octopress and Apache for the best performance.
Pie Menus on iOS
Pie (circular, radial) menus implemented on iOS, for the iPad. A touch screen user experience concept implemented, with screenshot and video.
Favorite Mailboxes in Lion Mail
Using keyboard shortcuts and the Favorites Bar in Mail on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion to quickly and easily open mailboxes and move messages.
The Matt Gemmell Daily
My dislike of collections of links without any editorial contribution, as exemplified by paper.li.
Google Moto Quotes
Using Spaces on OS X Lion
How to restore most of Mac OS X Snow Leopard's Spaces functionality on 10.7 Lion, including keyboard shortcuts, multiple Spaces and pinned apps.
Network Link Conditioner in Lion
How to simulate various network conditions using Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
Find Patterns in text on Lion
Using the new regular expressions based Find Patterns in TextEdit on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
Quick Look previews in Spotlight menu
Using Quick Look previews in the Spotlight menu in Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
Apps vs the Web
The difference between native mobile apps and web apps, and the additional user experience cost of not being native.
Save sheet shortcuts in Lion
Renaming flags in Mail on Lion
How to rename the color flags in Mail on Mac OS X Lion.
Mac OS X Lion review
Courtesy Suicide
How to ask questions properly via email, and avoid excessive courtesy or superfluous words that make your message difficult to understand.
Using OS X with an SSD plus HDD setup
How to use Mac OS X with a dual drive, hard disk (HDD) plus solid state (SSD) configuration, booting from SSD. Keeping large files on another drive.
Manually Migrating to a new Mac
Migrating to a new Mac without using Time Machine or updating. Which files to copy, and what to keep from the old machine. A checklist.
Makers and Takers
The importance of contributing to your field of interest with new work and ideas, rather than simply extracting money from the system.
Making Annoying iOS Apps
Critical Customisation Cost of Software
An essay on the desire to keep a system as close to its factory specification as possible, and which apps demand too much compromise.
NSConference 2011
Four Years
Use my code without attribution
Accessibility Reviews for iOS apps
MacBook Air 11"
Accessibility for iPhone and iPad apps
How to implement VoiceOver accessibility support in iPhone and iPad apps to help visually impaired users. The importance of accessible technology.
Speaking engagements in 2011
Using Growl with Microsoft Outlook 2011 Mac
Favorites with FaceTime
Six years of mattgemmell.com
Finger Tools
A multi-touch user experience and user interface concept for tools attached to each finger of the hand, for painting and other canvas apps.
MGSplitViewController Updated
Free copies of Favorites for iPhone
MGSplitViewController for iPad
Open source iPad split view replacement for iOS, including portrait and landscape configurations, draggable splitters, and much more.
Magic Trackpad
Favorites for iOS 4
Touch Notation
A notation system using symbols to describe multi-touch gestures like tap, swipe and rotate. Includes Photoshop and Illustrator shapes and a glossary.
Touch Notation
A notation system using symbols to describe multi-touch gestures like tap, swipe and rotate. Includes Photoshop and Illustrator shapes and a glossary.
MGImageUtilities
World According To Gemmell Workshop Videos
Shareable Experiences
iPhone 4 Signal Loss Issues
Your App's Website Sucks
How to create an app product web site that encourages users to download, try and buy the software. Common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Perceived Software Complexity
iPad App Pricing
iPad VGA Output
iPad Multi-Touch
Open source code, screenshots and videos showing how many simultaneous touch events the iPad supports - it goes up to eleven.
Future directions
Creative Space and iPad
The MacTech 25
Making Mistakes Impossible
MGTwitterEngine on GitHub
Selling Source Code
Engineer Thinking
The tendency of engineers to include configurable functionality in apps, when a non-configurable option suiting the majority of users would be better.
iPad Application Design
The theory, design concepts and metaphors behind iPad user interface and user experience. How to look and behave like a proper iOS application.
Speaking engagements page
Send me your NSConference feedback
Writing Fiction Online
NSConference 2010 US Workshop
Ask me anything
How to compete with iPad
NSConference 2010 Workshop
Windows 7 64-bit via Boot Camp with Snow Leopard
Resolutions 2010
World According To Gemmell - Getting Started
Computing Science as a Service
World According To Gemmell - Stay Focused
Linode
Some kind of Twitter Engine
Shady for tired eyes
World of Warcraft again
Podcast for Application Developers
Accessible Blog Redesign
Real Usability
NSConference 2010
Justice and Mercy
Ten and Counting
Coffee Times Episode 2
Coffee Times
iPhone Development Emergency Guide
A brief and direct guide to getting started with iOS development, for experienced developers on other platforms. Your questions answered.
The World According to Gemmell
Sony Reader PRS-505 video review
Source code pledge drive
Holiday in the Past
Star Trek
NSConference 2009
Client Requests
Dock Survey Results
Dock Survey
Downturn Different
The Unconsoled
2008 in review
Animal Crossing Wii Friend Code
What have you tried?
How to properly ask technical questions, and demonstrate that you've done your research and are willing to learn on your own.
iPhone dev tips for synced contacts
Gemmell Inside
Gemmell Inside logos and badges to use in your software products if you've used Matt Legend Gemmell's source code.
Favorites UI design
A discussion of the user interface and user experience design decisions in Favorites, my speed dial app for the iPhone.
MGScopeBar
Favorites 1.0.1 submitted
Announcing Favorites for iPhone
MGTemplateEngine for iPhone
Logbook for Backpack Journal
MGTwitterEngine works on iPhone
iPhone NDA to be lifted
Apple is listening
NaNoWriMo for iPhone apps
MGTwitterEngine important update
iPhone Developer Complaints
iPhone SMS Coping Strategies
iPhone 3G on O2 UK
Twitter on iPhone
MGTwitterEngine updated
Twenty Nine
Edinburgh Mac developers meetup
HUD controls framework for Leopard
MGTemplateEngine - Templates with Cocoa
ImageCrop updated
Not pillow talk
Mac devs Manchester meet-up
Mac devs Edinburgh meet-up
Source code update
So long, CyberStudio
Icon Resource Review
Mario Kart Wii Friend Code
Random Errors
MGTwitterEngine and MGViewAnimation updated
FolderSweep source code
iPhone Development
Icon Resource - Learn to create your own OS X icons
Using MAAttachedWindow with an NSStatusItem
Computing Society Promo Video
Skinnable Cocoa UI with WebKit and CSS
MGTwitterEngine - Twitter from Cocoa
Irate about User Interface
Cylon Paid Search
Hierarchical folders in the Leopard Dock with Quay
Amazon Kindle
Irate Scotsman
Source Code Licensing
Do you use my source code?
MGViewAnimation minor update
Blog redesign
Convert Jerome's Keywords to WordPress Tags
NSColorWell bug on Leopard
How to get a Quick Look preview as an NSImage
Get rid of your code with Leopard
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Metroid Prime 3 Corruption Friend Tokens
Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass Friend Code
MGViewAnimation update
DS9 The Fallen for Mac Patches
Winter Beard
Setting the text color of an NSButton
MAAttachedWindow NSWindow subclass
MATrackingArea for NSView
CoreData Application template issue on Tiger
MGViewAnimation update
Leopard upgrade rate
3 years
Music to code to
Apple Store Glasgow
Happy Birthday Philo
Sheercore.com
Graph me
Even Optimus gets depressed
Halfway There
Helena's Brain
Another Birthday
The necessary arrangements
Engaged
Legend
Analogue
Blogs, plural
Yahoo Pipes
iTunes style in Java
Easy
Time Style
Want to buy a Nintendo Wii?
Going indie
Wii Number
Nintendo Wii has arrived
Nintendo Wii
MGViewAnimation
NSViewAnimation WTF
TextMate
Milk and Two
Software Birthdays
Applications 2.0
More RoundedBox updates
RoundedBox source code updated
Django
iLife-style controls source code
The pinnacle of an artform
2 years on
Moved
I'm off
NSColor Contrasting Label Extensions
Moving to Edinburgh
Stuff I'm selling
Some miscellaneous pics
Graduation Ball pics are up
Blackpoleon Blackaparte
Losing Direction
Holiday Photos
Fame.m
HUDWindow updated
Boot stuff
Creative
Keeping work at work
Lord of the Trees
Metroid Prime Hunters RSI
Nintendo DS Lite
Dates of Significance
Gamegirl
The Grammarian
Animal Crossing
Envelopes
Acquisitions
ImageCrop source code
Grep history
Now with added Flickr goodness
HUDWindow
It's snowing
Technology at Work
That's one big fucking duck
Yet another iTunes 5 window code update
iCal Birthday Shifter
Sheercoreness
Sheercore
Dual Input in Cocoa
Updated iTunes 5 window code (yet again)
Updated iTunes 5 window code (again)
Writing
PDA screenshots
Chicken, Brazilians and a Canon XM2
Mac OS X Mobile
Dell Axim x51v
More PDA thoughts
In a dangerous world
Matrix stylee
Which PDA to get
Mario Kart DS
Anyone got a spare 17" flat-panel?
XXII Group
Tags with Jerome's Keywords
Many updates
We are number 1
Cocoa Source Code Page
Library panel demo app
Proxy drag bug
Customer Service
RoundedBox source code
Hit test algorithm
Sexiness Tax
World Usability Day
RoundedBox NSBox subclass
Icon app UI design 2
Erectile Dysfunction
UI feedback request
Yearcore
Haptics
Stuffed
It's a paradigm
UI Design icon
Past the Dragons
Professor of Cunning
Saved
Mousing
I Heart Microsoft
Bats
Your Latest Trick
Updated iTunes 5 window code
iTunes 5 window style code
Call me Captain
iTunes 5
Stirling Castle
Nemeses Required; Apply Within
Unfortunate choice of words
Neil.clone()
NSFetishism
The door in the tower
iCal Calendars source
Vista
8 Meg
Happy Healthy Buildings
Shifter 1.3
Mensiversary
I'm feeling lucky
TwuntCam
We are the Sultans
Happy 56th birthday to Mark Knopfler.
Flitting
Vintage
Your Latest Track
Buy It Now
Supercool
Obvious in retrospect
Denouement
404 Penguins Not Found
Return of the King
Quick update
Sword-o-phone
1 day
Sony Ericsson K700i
I Want To Dance With Some Children
Put it up to eleven
Saudade
Psychic iTunes
The Motorist
Chaos magic
Texts
Holidays at last
Matt Project
GoogleX
Project Report
Office Assistance
PowerBack
Paper bag day
Tomorrow
LaurenDempster.com
Kitchen Mishap
Txt words
Alpha male
I Love My Mac
Destiny
Incognito
All good
self.clone()
PowerBook
Cheers
Apple Software Design Guidelines
Scrolling Pie Menus
Original version
Wine
New Year
Moderate coreness
Carded
Sultans versions
My versions of Sultans of Swing.