Apple has announced the 2021 Apple Design Award Finalists. I try to write here about design every now and then. Today is one of those days. The line-up of finalists includes an App under the category ‘Delight and Fun,’ which is just that – it’s a delight, and it is incredible fun.
It is poolside.fm.
John Gruber wrote about poolside.fm:
What kind of sick twisted people, who obviously know and love the classic Mac look-and-feel, would mix it with parts of the old Windows look-and-feel? And somehow make it work? I’ve consulted with experts, and we’ve determined that the Poolside vibe is 3 measures classic Mac OS, 1 measure Windows, 1 measure original, and the resulting cocktail is just what the good doctor ordered.
John Gruber
During the booting process, the start screen, with a somewhat MS-blue background, tells you that the system is
CONSUMING DAIQUIRI.DLL
INSTALLNING BIKINI.EXE
APPLYING VACATION-SPF-30
ENGAGING ULTRASUMMER-20.20...
That is probably more on the side of what John describes as one measure of Windows.
Then after an ASCII-Island (I do not spoil this piece of art here) you enter a blend of really early Mac OS and Windows in your browser window.
![](https://www.berndebersberger.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/image-1-1024x757.png)
You can select summerly playlists and videos from the late 80s and early 90s to light up your day and get yourself in a summerly mood.
How great is that?
And what is even more amazing is implementing an iOS-App that is not a copy of the website. Rather, it is a nice independent interpretation of the overall style and functionality.
![](https://www.berndebersberger.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bildschirmfoto-2021-06-02-um-19.40.12-473x1024.jpg)
I now head outside and get myself an iced tea or something.