Virtualization tool VMware Fusion is on sale tomorrow (on “Cyber Monday”) for half-off the normal price of $79.99. That’s a great deal on a great piece of software that I highly recommend for anyone needing to run Windows software on a Mac. ✓
Gmail gets colors and themes, Google positions itself for world domination. ✓
Well this settles it. There’s no way in H-E-double-hockey-sticks I’m ever runnin’ for President. ✓
The New Campaign Monitor looks great. They’re combining MailBuild and Campaign Monitor into a single product interface — designed by Jesse Bennett-Chamberlain. Can’t wait to start using it. ✓
Weightbot is so slick it should be included with the iPhone default system. I’ve never used the app, but I don’t need to — it’s simple enough that the quick video demo covers the entirety of the interface.
It just goes to show you what one designer and one developer can do if they get real and sweat the details. ✓
Hey look, it’s a story about Apple’s stance on California Proposition 8. Release the hounds! ✓
Seth Godin has posted an excellent analysis of the US elections from a marketing standpoint. My favorite parts:
You can’t email a TV commercial to a friend, but you can definitely spread a YouTube video.
And:
It’s easier (far easier) to motivate the slightly motivated than it is to argue with those that either ignore you or are predisposed to not like you.
And this gem:
The tribe that Obama built identified with him. Attacking him [via TV ads] was like attacking them. They took it personally, and their outrage led to more donations and bigger turnout. This is the lucky situation Apple finds itself in as well. Attacking an Apple product is like attacking an Apple user.
I can’t see this, I can’t see this, I can’t see this, I can’t see this …
I’ve finally switched from using NewsFire as my default RSS reader (to Google Reader) and although I miss it, I’m curiously content. Something like this might just tip me off. ✓
How Subtraction.com was converted to EE. Lots of great (ExpressionEngine) tricks here. There’s no better way to learn EE than to have a look at the source of sites that are powered by it. ✓
A third dimension: Ars reviews Photoshop CS4 Extended.
The Save for Web color profile problem has been fixed. You no longer need to use this well-known workaround to get sRGB JPEGs
Hallelujah!
Beyond that, the rest of the updates seem worthy of consideration for anyone using Photoshop as a professional tool. ✓
Dan Cederholm on his new MacBook Pro:
I like that all the inputs are on one side now. I don’t like that it’s the opposite side that I’ve configured my desk for.
D’oh! ✓
On Apple’s Hot News page (emphasis mine):
Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.
I’m stunned. It’s insane that any publicly-held company would consider taking sides in a political discourse like this. I doubt a company-wide poll was conducted in order to determine how Apple employees felt about the issue, so it’s safe to assume this statement was generated among Apple executives — most likely the board of directors. How arrogant of them. ✓
“Expecting” — Originally uploaded by Sean Sperte
Classics is a forthcoming iPhone application that looks amazing. (This one’s for you, Jamie.)
(Via Sebastiaan.) ✓
“Take On Me: Literal Video Version” is A-Ha’s classic music video, but with lyrics that explain what is actually going on. Absolutely hilarious. (Via SimpleBits.) ✓
John Gruber says to buy Apple stock, in not-so-few words. ✓
“Ply it forward” is social reformation waiting to happen. The idea is that you, after washing and drying your hands in a public bathroom, prepare the towel dispenser for the next patron. I love it. (Via DF.) ✓
Helvetica, a documentary film about typography, is available for purchase and rent on the iTunes Store. ✓
The iPhone development world is abuzz today after news that Apple has dropped the developer NDA:
[…] the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success, so we are dropping it for released software.
John Gruber is calling it a “glorious non-[expletive]-NDA world”. (It made me laugh, at least.) ✓
Sean Sperte is Geek & Mild. His passion for technology and media, along with his interest in 
RSS Feed