{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Phil Bowell", "icon": "https://avatars.micro.blog/avatars/2022/230.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://philbowell.me/", "feed_url": "https://philbowell.me/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/10/10/i-spent-some-time-in.html", "content_html": "

I spent some time in Sketch last night refining the design of my read later app for Micro.blog bookmarks. Today whilst cleaning the kitchen using voice mode I had Codex implement the refined designs. This is bookmarks view in the new dark mode.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2026-10-10T19:06:18+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/10/10/i-spent-some-time-in.html", "tags": ["Captures","Notes"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/10/08/some-more-of-my-read.html", "content_html": "

Some more of my read later app powered by Micro.blog bookmarks. All the functionality seems to be almost there, but I need to refine the theme colours. This shows the article view in normal and fullscreen modes. From here you can highlight, add tags, and mark as read.

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\"A\"A

\n", "date_published": "2026-10-08T20:39:24+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/10/08/some-more-of-my-read.html", "tags": ["Captures"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/10/05/jim-nielsen-is-embarrassed-on.html", "content_html": "

Jim Nielsen is “Embarrassed on Behalf of the Tech Industry” and I’ll add a hearty me too. My Mum hates technology when it changes and the way she did things no longer works or is possible. The web is definitely harder than it used to be, often in the name of making things easier, which always begs the question… easier for who?

\n", "date_published": "2026-10-05T13:29:48+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/10/05/jim-nielsen-is-embarrassed-on.html" }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/10/03/ive-been-having-fun-experimenting.html", "content_html": "

I’ve been having fun experimenting with Codex… I’ve had many ideas for apps over the years but never been able to do anything about them. Finally I’m able to at least try ideas out, this one is a read later app powered by Micro.blog’s bookmarks feature.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2026-10-03T18:33:23+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/10/03/ive-been-having-fun-experimenting.html", "tags": ["Captures"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/28/a-humane-interface-or-a.html", "content_html": "
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a humane interface — or a humane system, even a humane technology — is considerate of human frailties. It acknowledges they exist and works with them, rather than taking advantage of them.

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Jim Nielsen

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It’s rare that I find something strikes home so early in the day; this did. Much of my job as a designer is spent defending users, a battle of taste over numbers in a dashboard, but this might be how I start framing some of my arguments going forward. Juicing the numbers is the exact opposite of this, the methods used, more often than not, take advantage of human frailties to make them go up.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-28T09:30:44+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/28/a-humane-interface-or-a.html", "tags": ["Notes"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/26/today-marks-my-nd-trip.html", "content_html": "

Today marks my 42nd trip around the sun. I opened OutPost with the intention of writing something, typed out the first sentence and froze. My brain once again seemingly blocked whatever prompted me to begin. So instead I find myself typing whatever is coming to my mind.

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Being an end of September birthday means I am often in a reflective mood. The changing of the season brings with it feelings of new starts and the end of long days. Soon the nights will be longer than the days and with that comes woolly jumpers, scarves, and cosy nights on the sofa. The world turns from green and colourful to orange and brown. Footsteps stop being crisp and instead become crunchy as the paths snuggle down under a blanket of fallen leaves.

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This summer has been hot, too hot. Will the winter be cold or will we be in for a mild one? Only time will tell. For now, I’ll settle down for the afternoon with a coffee and my book before dinner out tonight to celebrate. Japanese. Perhaps BBQ or hotpot…

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-26T13:42:55+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/26/today-marks-my-nd-trip.html", "tags": ["Writings"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/23/in-what-can-only-be.html", "content_html": "

In what can only be classed as a state of wishful thinking, I changed my Mac wallpaper to a more autumnal theme.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-23T09:27:49+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/23/in-what-can-only-be.html", "tags": ["Moments"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/22/trying-out-the-new-outpost.html", "content_html": "

Trying out the new Outpost app that Manton linked to. It feels like a more modern version of MarsEdit. Time to give it a bit of a test drive.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-22T20:35:16+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/22/trying-out-the-new-outpost.html", "tags": ["Moments"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/20/ive-integrated-the-new-books.html", "content_html": "\n

I’ve integrated the new books feature Manton launched at the end of August into my blog, so now the book details pages feel part of my blog. I may revise the design a little in the future but I’m happy with how it works right now. If I’ve posted about the book the details page also displays those posts as well.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-20T10:53:18+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/20/ive-integrated-the-new-books.html", "tags": ["Notes"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/17/to-my-surprise-i-really.html", "content_html": "
To my surprise I really enjoyed it. It turned out that writing and learning are a lot of fun, and I was constantly looking for ways to practice my new found writing skills. I think that's part of why I still love typing - I just find creating words on a screen a lot of fun.\n

Kev Quirk

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I couldn’t agree more. It makes my recent writing block all the more troubling. After a message from a kind friend who saw my post yesterday, I’ve decided to try and start small with posts like this one.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-17T09:29:03+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/17/to-my-surprise-i-really.html", "tags": ["Notes"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/16/i-have-a-problem-that.html", "content_html": "

I have a problem, that some might call a block. Simply put, I want to blog but don’t know what to write. Every time I sit down I am left with a blank brain, every time I think I should post about that nothing comes out. A blockage that won’t budge that results in nothing being written.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-16T12:36:13+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/16/i-have-a-problem-that.html", "tags": ["Notes"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/10/catching-up-on-the-new.html", "content_html": "

Catching up on the new Apple stuff over coffee this morning and so far there’s one thing I want from the Duo on my iPad. The dock on the side, some of those controls on the side of apps especially when in tablet mode and detached from Magic Keyboard.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-10T08:30:38+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/10/catching-up-on-the-new.html" }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/05/finished-reading-odyssey-by-stephen.html", "content_html": "\n

Finished reading: Odyssey by Stephen Fry 📚

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Very enjoyable. I wish I had been able to read it all before I saw the new film, but even so, it is worth a read afterwards.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-05T16:59:58+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/05/finished-reading-odyssey-by-stephen.html", "tags": ["Books"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/09/02/first-day-back-at-work.html", "content_html": "

First day back at work after a very relaxing and enjoyable week and a bit off exploring the North East coast of England.

\n", "date_published": "2026-09-02T10:47:56+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/09/02/first-day-back-at-work.html" }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/08/20/at-last-we-have-some.html", "content_html": "

At last we have some rain down in the south of England. It’s been a long time coming and desperately needed as well, if I hadn’t been on a work call and didn’t have the plumber here I think I would be outside standing in it.

\n", "date_published": "2026-08-20T15:02:43+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/08/20/at-last-we-have-some.html" }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/08/15/ive-set-my-old-macbook.html", "content_html": "

I’ve set my old MacBook Pro up as a home server and I’m slowly experimenting with various different things I can do with it. It’s like a fun summer side project.

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I’ve set up Plex and Navidrome on it so far, I’ve been rediscovering my old mp3 library while I work. This afternoon I set up Home Assistant, although I’m not sure how much better it is than the Apple Home app, I do like the way it handles my TV. More experimenting to come.

\n", "date_published": "2026-08-15T18:49:24+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/08/15/ive-set-my-old-macbook.html" }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/08/15/hello-help-when-i-try.html", "content_html": "

Hello @help When I try to change my AT Protocol domain I get this error.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2026-08-15T11:33:09+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/08/15/hello-help-when-i-try.html", "tags": ["Captures"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/08/12/my-attempt-at-watching-and.html", "content_html": "

My attempt at watching and capturing this evenings eclipse.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2026-08-12T19:54:03+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/08/12/my-attempt-at-watching-and.html", "tags": ["Captures","Moments"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/08/03/filming-for-amazons-young-sherlock.html", "content_html": "

Filming for Amazon’s Young Sherlock in town today.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2026-08-03T06:42:13+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/08/03/filming-for-amazons-young-sherlock.html", "tags": ["Captures"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/07/30/this-flow-have-a-thought.html", "content_html": "
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This flow:

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    \n
  1. Have a thought.
    2. \n
  2. Start writing a short post about it.
    3. \n
  3. It’s not working. Expand into a full-length blog post.
    4. \n
  4. Still no good. Delete the draft and copy the text into a note.
    5. \n
  5. Months later, pull the draft into a better blog post about a larger topic.
    6. \n
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In other words, always write things down.

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\n

Manton with the wise words again. This is something I need to get in the habit of doing more often, so many times I think I need to write about that, start a post and then Cmd-A delete it.

\n", "date_published": "2026-07-30T22:28:08+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/07/30/this-flow-have-a-thought.html" }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/07/20/in-perils-of-the-new.html", "content_html": "

In Perils of the New Armchair Scholarship Dan Cohen finishes with a summary that hits exactly where I am landing on using AI in design. Emphasis mine:

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This is the professorial equivalent of the cognitive decline that we worry about with our students who have been using AI for years — and what atrophies in the seminar room will surely atrophy on the page as well. The solution seems clear: if you would like, use AI for the parts of scholarly work where it excels and check all automated output, while retaining human seniority in orchestrating and expressing the meaning of your research.

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For me, as I explore how to use these new tools in my work, this is where I am landing. I do all the design thinking, the layouts, and interactions but the AI does the building. What would take me maybe a week or more to build a prototype to test a design, takes Claude an hour or two, and as a result my work is richer.

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Design for me has never stopped in the design software. When I worked for myself as both designer and developer, design would continue as I built. I would move back and forth between Sketch and code, my problem was that sometimes I was aware a better solution was out there, I just couldn’t build it. When I moved to an in-house design team that symbiosis of design and dev was lost. The design software we used to prototype would influence my design thinking, I didn’t always know how to do something, or it would take too long to build so I couldn’t explore it.

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In contrast, the workflow now emerging for me is much closer to what it used to be when I was self-employed, the difference now is that I am less constrained by my own technical ability. I am able to push designs further and see how they work in the browser, my work has become both quicker and deeper.

\n", "date_published": "2026-07-20T12:05:09+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/07/20/in-perils-of-the-new.html", "tags": ["Notes"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/07/18/atlas.html", "content_html": "

Atlas looks like an interesting app for collecting an inspiration library. Along time ago I used Yojimbo and a now long gone app (whose name escapes me) specifically for collecting screenshots as my inspiration library. I often wondered how I could return to that practice of collecting things for inspiration, perhaps this might be it.

\n", "date_published": "2026-07-18T10:40:42+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/07/18/atlas.html", "tags": ["Notes"] }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/07/18/went-to-see-the-odyssey.html", "content_html": "\n

Went to see The Odyssey last night. Definitely an experience and worth seeing on the big screen. 🎥

\n", "date_published": "2026-07-18T08:53:16+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/07/18/went-to-see-the-odyssey.html" }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/07/12/ive-been-trying-to-watch.html", "content_html": "\n

I’ve been trying to watch Foundation Season 3 but I can’t get in to it. Such a shame as the first season was very good, seems to have been in decline ever since. 📺

\n", "date_published": "2026-07-12T09:40:15+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/07/12/ive-been-trying-to-watch.html" }, { "id": "http://philbowell.micro.blog/2026/06/26/its-finally-a-bearable-temperature.html", "content_html": "

It’s finally a bearable temperature outside, a cool 23 degrees. It’s still 30 in my flat though…

\n", "date_published": "2026-06-26T21:49:10+01:00", "url": "https://philbowell.me/2026/06/26/its-finally-a-bearable-temperature.html" } ] }