Adobe Ink and Slide - New Tool For Design Sketches

I was setting up a library in Adobe's Creative Cloud and stumbled upon this new gadget. The Adobe Ink and Slide.

It works with specific iPads loaded with a specific Adobe or Adobe compatible app. Quoted from their site:

Ink and Slide are designed to work with iPad 4+, iPad Air 1, iPad Mini, or iPad Mini with Retina display. (Note: There is a known, intermittent issue with the iPad Air 2, in which Ink stops drawing mid-stroke. After thorough investigation, we suspect the solution will require involvement from Apple, and we are trying to work with them to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.)

I'm always looking for ways to simplify my design sketch work flow. Right now I'm hardwired to my desk with a wacom cintiq which I love . But there is something really appealing to the untethered freedom this system can provide.

It's more than just a stylus, the aluminum bar to the left (in the picture) is what they call a "slide" and it lets you draw precise straight lines and curves if you need to. 

As of this post the price is around $125 and fulfilled by adonit.

Certainly adding this to my wishlist!

Hang Drum, deceptively simple, simply great...

This has nothing to do with small business, or designing your life, but it is certainly good. Check out this amazing instument called a hang drum. The range of sound from such a simple looking percussive instrument is sure to impress not only music aficionados of all types, but fans of simplicity as well.

Simplicity is a characteristic I constantly strive for as a designer, inspiration like this makes me want to strive even harder. Come to think of it, it's a characteristic that should probably play a role in how we design our life... hmm. Anyway a shout out goes to our intern for sharing this awesome example, thanks Parry!

Do you find it inspiring? Do you have examples of simplicity at its best? Please share in the comments.

Raising Money for a Startup?

So, you and a few friends have an idea for a company. Your next action should be to watch this video. You'll learn how to think about what you are worth before approaching investors. You'll also learn about share distributions before and after an investor gets involved. Good stuff! This video is brought to you by the fine folks at the Khan Academy where you can learn almost anything for free.  

Raising money from an angel investor. Pre-money and post-money valuation. More free lessons at: http://www.khanacademy.org/video?v=8OCjwBkMJ_E