Clear for iPhone→

Clear looks to be a pretty slick app for managing your various lists. I’ll definitely be trying this out once it’s released. [Vimeo]

Just enough distraction→

Put in a silent room before a blank page, it’s almost impossible to write. Neither is it be ideal to work near a television set that keeps drawing one’s attention or a room where a child keeps interrupting. In a coffeehouse, its rare for someone to intrude on the space of a patron with an open laptop and a look of concentration. Still, there is just enough conversation and foot traffic in the background that you’re forced to semi-consciously tune it out. There’s that scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when the latter is asked to demonstrate his shooting prowess, but can’t hit the target unless he’s moving. On some level, I think the same thing is going on when I write. Forced to focus on a single thing the mind rebels, whereas adding another element somehow focuses it. The coffeehouse somehow provides that element.
I’ve been spending a lot more time in coffee/tea shops these days — in fact, I’m at Argo Tea right now working on my Cr48 — and I have to say that I’m loving it so far. I admit that I do feel a bit silly paying $3 for a cup of tea that I can probably brew better at home. I suppose what I’m really paying for is “just enough distraction” and the ability to read/write, which for some reason I cannot seem to do — not effectively, at least — in my own apartment. [The Atlantic via Shawn Blanc]

Is there such a thing as too awesome?

Someone actually returned his iPad because it was “too good.” The crux of his argument is that the iPad is so accessible and easy to use that he was no longer ever bored — and his best ideas come to him when he is unproductive. It’s an interesting position, and one that I tend to agree with.

Let’s face it, my attention span has pretty much gone to crap thanks to my iPhone and Google Reader. I’m pretty much consuming information from the moment I awake until the moment I get ready for bed, which often leaves me with precious time to sit down and think to myself. In fact, I find the best time for this is right before I fall asleep — which sometimes isn’t more than a few minutes — and there’s definitely something to be said about taking a break just to sort everything through your brain.

So maybe boredom really is good for you after all. Just don’t expect that to stop me from getting an iPhone 4 and second gen iPad. [HBR via Silicon Alley Insider]