Jobs: Alex kid, Apple's chief evangelist, the CIS and of Parallels software management

More recently, Apple held a conference. As developers and ordinary users of products "apple" of the company we were very pleased. We decided to introduce you to the most famous Apple fan. This kid, Alex. Alex also works in the company Parallels. He told about themselves and their workplace is very detailed and interesting!

What do you do in your work?

I work for a company Parallels director of development of software products and is responsible for the product manufactured by the mobile Parallels Access. This is a large and complex project, allowing to work with the applications for a computer on a mobile device so as if these applications are designed for mobile devices. Imagine a full-featured Word or AutoCAD to iPad - that's something like this. On this project I actually advocate the product manager and is responsible for all that relates to the product features, their performance, appearance and roadmap planning. Prior to that, I also worked in the gaming division of Mail.ru, and even earlier - with friends organized a company-developer of mobile applications Unreal Mojo, is known to provide a variety of popular applications for iOS, Android and even Windows Phone for various customers in Russia and only.

In addition, I am Apple-centric blog, Titled twitter @alexmakAt one time he was involved in the largest online community ru_mac Learn. Periodically give comments to various media on Apple and mobile technologies (it was a little earlier than Apple and as if by itself, and today's hard to imagine this corporation in isolation from other trends and news industry).

How does your workplace?

My workplace - it is a constant battle of chaos and order. I'm trying to get on the table was the order, but chaos constant replenishment of assets. In general, I'm a big fan of minimalism and try to make sure that on the table as small as possible junk, try to minimize the number of wires. I therefore welcome all the latest wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. I like multi-monitor mode - both Typically, this is a bunch of "laptop and external monitor" that allows me to display multiple applications and work with them.

Home server itself is not. NetGear router raises VPN-connection to your ISP, then in Bridge mode to it connected Apple Time Capsule hard drive with 2 TB, which stores music, backup Time Machine, your favorite movies, TV shows and t. d. All other household gadgets - smartphones, tablets, laptops, Apple TV, PS3, and so on. - connected by Wi-Fi, only a home theater - for Ethernet-cable, because I was greedy to Wi-Fi-module for it. Separately, in another room, in the closet, hidden MFP HP, which perfectly prints and scans for Wi-Fi, it also greatly simplifies the situation with its location.

I also have "apple" keyboard and mouse, but I'm so used to the notebook, its keyboard and trackpad that does not see the need for external devices. Houses at the table still lives audio system Harman Kardon SoundSticks III, for which a separate Wi-Fi-Base Airport Express, and the sound is transmitted to the wireless network.

(In the photo of the house black laptop with the white bone of the right of the table - it's IBM ThinkPad 2005 with Windows XP. I do not know why, but I did not raise his hand to throw it away. If it works great except for a dead battery).

Mobile gadgets

My main mobile gadget - iPhone 5s. At present, I believe Apple devices with iOS operating system the most convenient and thoughtful mobile devices. As a second smartphone I use HTC One: I like the design, and the use of Android there is no aversion. But all through me enormous number of gadgets that are packed with drawer: there some the BlackBerry, and smartphone on Windows Phone 7, some older Android, and something else - I'm not I remember.

In addition, as the second most important mobile gadget I use the iPad mini with Retina screen. In my view this is the ideal combination of size, screen quality and usability among tablets. Black color; 128 GB, which is rarely even half filled. the iPad - a, in fact, my computer, as I frequently use Parallels Access to not take a computer with themselves, but to have access to applications and files that are on it (and at two - operating and home).

What software use?

Since I obviously "apple-oriented" user, both at home and at work I use Macs as the main computers: MacBook Pro Retina 15 "- at home and MacBook Air 13" - at work. Operating system - OS X 10.9, which is the owner of any modern Mac is completely free to download from the Mac App Store. But other than that, there is still work to a virtual machine with Windows 8 desktop PC with Windows 7, a hybrid laptop-tablet HP Envy 2 with Windows 8, Surface RT (vote! Level of distortion) with Windows RT, Samsung Chromebook with Chrome OS, well, more than one tablet: Nexus 7, Samsung Note 8.0 and seems to be something else (the enemy must know in face). On the home computer in a virtual machine using Parallels Desktop running Windows 7, and with the help of BootCamp - and Windows 8 on another partition.

As for the application, then there are no special revelations not. At home I use a Mac built-in email client Mail.app, and at work lately trying to go on AirMail - the client side, which seems to work with the Exchange under the blasted than a native app for OS X. Browser - Safari (several attempts to switch to Chrome did not succeed, so I do not like the lack of a native interface and rendering of text and pictures). As a Twitter-client I use Tweetbot. I consider it the best Twitter client on all platforms. A native client, sorry, usually sucks balls. Music player - iTunes, although I still dream about the time when the Apple partition it into multiple different applications. The password is stored in 1Password, it is convenient to sync between home and work Macs. To store the information before using Jojimbo, but then lost in their versions to sync content, and try to go to Evernote. Also save interesting links to Instapaper. At first I was somehow accidentally bought this app, and then began to use the same name service. Photos I keep right inside iPhoto. Periodically wonder about whether I go to the Aperture, but then I remember that my treatment photos usually comes down to pressing the Enhance button and that make sense to buy a fancy tool for this somehow not. As an office suite, I would prefer to use iWork instead of MS Office, because I like the interface and ease of application. Unfortunately, of iWork does not provide 100% of file format compatibility, so you have to use in the main package name Office.

For online data synchronization use DropBoxSince, thanks to their program, and referential samples of different devices, I have there accumulated almost 100 GB of free space. However, the 100GB I almost do not use, and my conservatism is somehow not completely trust klaudnym technologies. Another of the cloud - backups iPhone / iPad go to iCloud. I am also subscribed to iTunes Match service, which allows you to store in the cloud all the music and listen to it on all your devices. For chats mainly use Skype. Sometimes, if there is a need for GoogleTalk or, God forgive me, ICQ, run Adium (multi-protocol instant messenger for OS X). Recently, I try to use the Telegram for OS X - if you do not paranoia, it does not mean that do not follow you.

Of small useful utilities can note program from XACT, which can convert audio files in virtually any desired format; Pixelmator - if you want to edit any image (keep this for Photoshop somehow unreasonable, and stealing is wrong); TextWrangler - for tricky text manipulation when TextEdit is not enough; and DiskInventory X - if you need to understand that it takes a bunch of disk space (absolutely basic and the blasted utility, written a hundred years ago for OS X, but I somehow got used to it and I can not go on to something etc.). But we must also note CleanMyMac - a useful tool for combating all sorts of debris on the drive. There are all sorts of GeekBench, iBench, Xbench and so on. - I use them when I come to test any new Mac. Begins to fail if Wi-Fi (as in the modern metropolis with all wireless interfaces, it periodically happens), in this case I have a Wi-Fi Scanner - an application that provides a bunch of useful information about Wi-Fi-environment around. Really like Air Video Server - the possibility to stream video of any format with Mac on the iPad, not to engage in converting into a suitable format for iOS.

What is your attitude to the address verification?

I try to reply to e-mail as quickly as possible, although the letters "to think," I usually immediately saved in the drafts and try to progress as far as the thought process to answer them. Accordingly, the email client I've always running, and I several times an hour watch, that there "dripped". Messenger - is including a working tool (on the job is mostly used Skype, but in recent years while also Microsoft Lync), so running constantly to respond to colleagues, if there is such a necessity. But in general, I try to minimize distractions, so disable virtually all notifications from applications - it it is important, if you write any document or presentation vayaesh, and pop-up notifications in this case is not needed. So what about new emails or messages, I know only by a red circle icon in the application.

How do you organize your time?

Use the time, unfortunately, very inefficient, I suffer from bouts of procrastination, and has a pronounced signs of attention deficit disorder. At least, I think so "inside". But if someone tells how six months before a particular event I had everything planned (for example, a trip with tickets, hotels and so on.), It is usually people are shocked. At work plan helps the system goals for the year and quarters, as well as regular meetings with the leadership, devoted to the discussion of current and upcoming challenges. So for long-term planning has SuccessFactors, for short - do not believe it - Excel.

You have assistants? How do you feel about the delegation of authority?

Helpers there - there are colleagues with whom we share the tasks under the arrangement. In general, in the delegation, I am positive, especially if the person has already established itself as a responsible employee and performs tasks.

What's your daily routine?

I try to be more "lark" to wake up early and come to work that night, too, within a reasonable time to return home to his family. In general, I believe that the definition of "early bird" and "owl" - it is a question only of mental attitude and habits. At one time, when I was young and single, I was not at all difficult to work in a mode "from the afternoon until well after midnight," although initially a mode of habit I was shocked. Now I try to go to bed at around midnight and get up at 7-8 am. On the morning in silence I can quietly read mail that has accumulated during the night, and write the answers - the best time.

What place sport occupies in your life?

Hard to call what I do, buddy, but I try to lead a healthy lifestyle, at least alcohol, no tobacco, well, go to the gym, not to rust. In the gym I do with a trainer that has its own system for the maintenance of a healthy mind in my body. While that kind of work. In addition, I try to swim - or rather, he decided to learn how to swim - so go separately to yet another coach.

How to pass the time in traffic jams?

In the cork across not so often as to and from work is usually going "against the flow", but actually in the car trying to listen to music. I do this on the iPhone through iTunes Match - fortunately, for the last time in Moscow operators significantly increased call quality, and Beeline is enough channel to comfortably listen to tracks from clouds. The machine has a connector for the USB, it is able to work with the iPod (or iPod mode in the iPhone), so the screen displays information about the artist and track as well as album art. Tracks can be switched from the steering wheel, which is very convenient. By the way, with the help of iTunes Match, and I listen to music on your computer.
At airports, queues and other similar places of Twitter and RSS in the phone are able to fill virtually any appeared in my spare time.

Is there a place in your paper work?

I try to take care of the trees, despite the fact that most of the paper today is made from recycled materials. Nevertheless, I try to minimize the printing of documents and providing electronic circulation wherever possible. I print the document only if it is required, for example profiles in obtaining a visa. But here from what I can not give up - it's from the notebook. I usually use a Moleskin, where do all sorts of notes to yourself, for example, planning the next task or talking on the phone with someone. Especially here these all the GTD, which we discussed above - very much like to outline the task list, and then put pen beautiful checkmark doing things.

Layfhakerstvo from ...

It is difficult here so take note and something that has a direct impact on me as a person. As a longtime Apple fan, I read a lot about the company, its history, internal processes (as it is generally available). It seems to me that much knowledge about the products, their development and the people who use them, I have learned from these books. The last and wondering what I was reading, I would like to mention the book "A Brief History of anything," Bill Bryson - incredibly entertaining collection of interesting facts about the world around us. Interesting books that shed light on the behavior of people - "Traffic. Psychology behavior on the roads. " It tells the story of how we behave inside and outside the car. Reading it, you realize that everything that we do, and how to respond to their environment - in our heads. I also would like to note address Dan Ariely at TED - talks about how people are irrational in their decisions. Knowing this, we can make decisions that affect the design and functionality of the product, as well as its pricing model. Perhaps we should mention one more of something shocking performance at TED - Jill Bolte Taylor - about the human brain and its functioning.

Is there a dream configuration?

The ideal computer for me - a MacBook Air with Retina screen and discrete graphics. Easy, perfect size and weight, and power of this, to have enough not only for basic tasks such as email and browser, but for some toys, if there will be free time and mood.

Parting words from Alex

Creating products that are very difficult to separate what you want to do "for himself", and what it can actually be demanded by users. In this case, users often do not know themselves what they want, as long as you tell them you will not give it. As Henry Ford said, "If I asked my customers prior to the release of the machine that they want to, they would have said 'a faster horse." The balance between what users need, and that will actually help people make their lives better, higher quality, easier to look for the time. It is very important in the process of creating a product to try to understand the world, to see it the way other people see it. Therefore, only perceiving the world around us can create something that makes it better.