Interview: Austin Sarner, Developer Of Disco
We recently had time to catch up with Austin Sarner, Developer Of Disco and AppZapper. Here’s what he had to say about Disco, Macworld, and future plans.
MacApper: Thanks for joining us Austin!
Austin: No problem
MacApper: There was some controversy over the so-called “lack of features” in Disco, do you think that affected it’s sales or boosted them?
Austin: I think for the most part the controversy surrounding Disco has been regarding the supposed “style over substance” ideology that people think we relied on entirely. Things like spandex, discography, as well as the ease of use of the app itself are (we feel) innovations in an otherwise repetitive market. We absolutely value style, probably more than most… and as soon as our use of style stops exponentially increasing both our exposure and sales, we’ll be the first to tone down.
MacApper: What Mac(s) do you currently use in your office to develop your apps?
Austin: I’m running a first generation (i.e. buggy as all hell) MacBook Pro, and I’ve got a 23 inch Cinema that I dock with.
MacApper: Nice, At the Macworld Expo this year you had a small stand displaying Disco and AppZapper, any plans for next year?
Austin: We’ve already reserved a gigantic and well placed 10×20 booth for Macworld 2008, and you can expect a stylish booth design as well as more than just AppZapper and Disco on display.
MacApper: Does this mean your hinting towards a new application?
Austin: Hahaha… certainly not. Most likely MacZOT and some other friends of ours will be showing their products at the booth. After Disco and the upcoming Cookbook, I have no plans to develop another app for awhile.
MacApper: Speaking of Macworld, The iPhone was a big part of this years Macworld, If you could develop an app (existing or new) for the iPhone, which would that be?
Austin: Disco for the iPhone, of course. We’d also market a hardware CD drive add on.
MacApper: One more thing (Steve Jobs moment), any chance we could get a few Zap’d t-shirts from you?
Austin: Haha… well we’ll be giving out a bunch of free ones at WWDC so you can stop by there. We’re planning to allow people to buy t-shirts from our sites, eventually.
MacApper: Well, its been great talking to you Austin, good luck with Cookbook and next year Macworld!
Austin: Thanks again.
Contest: We have three (3) copies of Disco to giveaway thanks to Austin and the Disco crew. To enter the draw, simple leave a comment on this post.
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Disco is so sweet! I can’t wait for v1 to come out later today
And I would really love to win a copy, so count me in on the drawing! 
Here’s my “in the draw” comment
ps, Its great to see that a Developer like Austin will come and talk to a relativly new site like Macapper!
Well count me in the draw, haven’t had a chance yet to check Disco out. This would be a opportunity as good as any.
Great! If only I STAY in US…..
Good interview.
Disco is a fine, disc-burning app. It may not have as many deluxe features like Toast, but it’s also a fraction of its price. The excellent UI changes everything.
[...] I have had a registered version of Disco app for a while now almost since Disco app beta was available for download. A brilliant little app indeed and with just US $14.95 you just cant go wrong. Give it a whirl and if you head on over to Glenn Wolsey’s quick enough you might even get a discount coupon!! Or head on over to read about the interview with Austin Sarner, Developer Of Disco. [...]
Nice interview. I could definitly use an app like this!
Thanks for your comments on style. I think there is freedom in knowing who you are and what you value. It shows in the quality of your work.
Simple with an adorable interface! Just like the way I like my applications.
Good interview, wish it could have been a bit longer. I agree with Austin on this style issue. I think most mac users are a sucker for good looks, and it’s not like the disco crew didn’t put a lot of work into the functionality of Disco, they just also tuned up the look and feel. They should really get props for not just designing a featurefull app, but one that looks “hella cool.”
Here’s to hopin’.
I love the beta, so please choose me….I want to be toast free!
Smoke on Macbook, yeah !
I want one! Burn baby… burn!!!
Nice interview indeed. I’m curious what he would really develop for the iPhone if third party development was allowed.
The interview was good, but why can’t you guys ask questions like “How did you come up with the idea of smoke?” or “How did you get into developing software at such a young age, and where did you start?” Anyways, still a good interview… I just wish there were more in-depth questions and more questions on the app itself.
hey nice interview. will want to get that CD for sure i am currently using the OSX burning option because i can afford toast. will look up disco for sure.
Finally.
http://flickr.com/photos/alej744/387867451/in/photostream/
My old PowerBook 12″ is smoking!!!!
Give me a copy
Me wants!!
Great App, Great Developer, Great Interview. Thanks for letting my Power Mac G4 smoke, Austin! w00t, get me in this contest!
Thanks for addressing the lack of smoke on older graphics cards. Its a really neat feature and I’m sure many users appreciate their new ability.
Downloaded 1.0, now I just have to find something to test it out with.
I’m really considering buying disco and just because of it’s gui… It’s always nice to see people go wild with something new
Disco is a waste of space.
But you said anyone can be in the draw so — I’m in so other people don’t have it take up their hard drive as well.
I fell in love with Disco as soon as I saw the video of it in action:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8JOFoIESxac
Great looking app… enter me in the contest. Thanks!
The apps I am most likely to buy these days are the ones that have deep integration with OS X. Things that work with Sync Services and iCal. I’m really looking forward to Cookbook. And I do appreciate Disco. A balance of form and function is key, and Disco succeeds admirably.
Disco looks great!
Disco looks excellent – cant wait to win
Not only does disco look great. It is simple, functional and uses the macs resources (i.e. sudden motion sensors) to its complete advantage. way to go!
Thanks for the interview!
Hi Austin,
I love AppZapper – I wish more applications were so simple! Thanks for keeping things easy.
Cheers.
Disco is the only cd burning app that my mom can really understand and use. Great work!
Disco keeps it simple and nice without lacking features. Disco rocks (or dances)!
I haven’t used dico yet, but what I know is it’s a really beautiful piece of software. I think the time has come for me to test it!
smokin’, lol
I keep on looking at disco and there is something that just draws me back each time. I cant explain what it is
Nice interview, Disco seems to be a great app.
I love Disco for it simplicity and just overall style. I still need to get a copy though.
Great interview. And a great piece of software:) Looking forward to Cookbook.
I’m going to university this year and am really worried about cooking for myself. I cant wait for cookbook!
[...] Of Disco and AppZapper. Here 's what he had to say about Disco, Macworld, and future plans.”read more | digg [...]
Disco really seems like a polished product, particularly with regard to its interface. I’d love to see the developer bring the same passion and style to other apps. It may be shallow but if all the software on my mac was more like Disco I’d switch from my PC completely (after more than a decade!).
I’d like to be entered into the draw, I could go for a Disco license!
I tried the demo, it’s great
It’s not really all that great. Certainly not worth the money.
Disco is a great app. Now it has everyone smoking! GO DISCO!
Interesting to hear Austin’s thoughts on the whole style vs content debate, even though I’ve never really had anything against Disco.
Style over substance is something most thing Mac seem to spew, but in the end simplicity can end up beating an extremely featureful product with such clutter that it leaves little motivation for one to explore all its possibilities.
Disco is just one example of simplicity done right. Drag and drop may be the bane of administrators, as it makes automatization of tasks difficult, but it’s also the base for intuitive actions.
[...] Austin Sarner, Developer of Disco Filed under: Uncategorized — recar @ 2:27 pm Interview: Austin Sarner, Developer of Disco “We recently had time to catch up with Austin Sarner, Developer Of Disco and AppZapper. Here [...]
My MacBook waiting too for dance with Disco
Awesome
I’ve seen screenshots of Disco’s great style but have not yet seen it in person–
Disco is so cool. I wish all apps are as fun as disco.
hope I win the contest!
I use Disco and love it, love the smoke, too. I don’t need to win, just wanted to make a comment.
oooh D-i-s-c-o! haha.. i’m a great fan of appzapper, thanks for makin it so cool and easy to remove apps!
It is great to see new applications, giving us users choices in what we use. Look forward to using Disco…let me know when I have won!
You need a little Disco in your life.
I’d love to win!
[...] the winners for the other day’s contest [...]
I’ll buy it…
Hope the smoke now works with macbooks…
[...] 22, 2007 at 9:25 am · Filed under Uncategorized Interview: Austin Sarner, Developer of Disco “We recently had time to catch up with Austin Sarner, Developer Of Disco and AppZapper. Here [...]
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