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New tool set in 2011
May 21, ’11
7:11 PM
I’ve recently been surprised at how often I use a small and ever-changing collection of widget apps to get work done. I still spend a lot of time using Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver. Yet increasingly it’s a bunch of tiny web-based apps that help get work done:
- Firebug
- CSS lint
- Lipsum.com
- Word Docx converter
- Numerous sites that convert or calculate
- Google, I just search for a tool that need, whatever it is.
Where’s Photoshop in the new Mac App Store?
Jan 17, ’11
11:43 AM
Apple recently debuted it’s new App Store for Mac computers. It functions much the same as the store available on the iPhone or iPad. If it is to succeed, it may be that big ticket software packages like Photoshop, Adobe CS5, and Microsoft Office will need to be available in addition to the countless low grossing and free apps. An article from Engadget covers the new rules and regulations that Apple will enforce. The sentiment appears to be that the interface requirements will reject Photoshop (and other Adobe products). That is one theory.
Another, is simply that the aforementioned apps are duplicated by software that Apple already creates and sells. A quick look at the top grossing apps in the store has Aperature at number one. (really?). I’m a little suspect of that, but regardless, Aperature is Apple’s Photoshop. And it also seems obvious that Pages, Numbers and Keynote are going to prevent Word, Excel and Powerpoint from ever appearing at the store either.
It seems like a slightly even more walled garden from one perspective. Yet, Mac users are more than welcome to go and find software to use from many other sources, whereas iPhone and iPad users are not. First reports are that the store is performing very well out of the gate. It may be able to continue to perform well into the future, but it seems clear Apples is hedging it’s bet that their apps succeed as replacements for such industry standard applications. I don’t know about you, but I’m not aware of so many graphic or web designers jumping ship for iWork and Aperature to get work done. Or throwing away Word for Pages. On the contrary, most will stay with what they know. I, for one, just acquiried the new MS Office for Mac 2011, and can tell you that it’s pretty good. And yes I had to get it from Amazon, and not Apple, yet in the end, that really did not seem to matter.
Modern Web Design
Dec 21, ’10
11:14 PM
Modernizer
Modernizr is a set of javascripts that execute pre-rendering, to check which CSS3 features the browser supports. Using this allows one to design with new and interesting CSS3 features, and degrade gracefully to something which, albeit plain for most tastes, will at the same time cause no real damage to the usability of the page or the brand that is being supported by it.
- It tests for over 20 next-generation features, all in a matter of milliseconds;
- It creates a JavaScript object (named Modernizr) that contains the results of these tests as boolean properties;
- It adds classes to the html element that explain precisely what features are and are not natively supported
My Prediction: This appears to be a smart trend in the trajectory of web design and development that portends a clear way to the future. That is, the process of checking for the acceptance of something new, but not doing anything if there isn’t anything new, is a pretty progressive concept.
Embracing the future, and not worrying about the past. I won’t be surprised if we see more of this as new presentation layer features are continually being set in motion. Hello CSS10? 
Good Bye Blogger – Hello WordPress!
Dec 12, ’10
6:11 AM
Although I have been using Google’s Blogger platform for a couple years now, I’ve also been watching WordPress grow along the way. After seeing this blogging platform mature into what could rightly be considered a CMS (content management system) proper, I have just recently made the switch. And this is my first post using the system.
This theme is taken from Khoi Vinh’s Basic Maths, which I find is both elegant and functional. It also has great columns and margins. Although I am quite capable of developing a custom theme of my own, I simply don’t have the time, and Vinh, being the former Design Director for the New York Times has produced such a powerful and usable theme already. This probably the first design based purchase of someone else’s work I have ever made. I’m really enthused to discover all the possibilities of both this theme and the WordPress platform. I’m sure I’ll be blogging a lot more now…
Although the Basic Maths theme comes at a price of $45, I find it well worth it’s cost. Installation was very easy, and the instructions on how to use it and modify it are very simple too. I simply purchased the theme, zipped it up, and uploaded it to WordPress using the Appearance/Themes panel.
Favorite iPad Apps (for Business)
Oct 25, ’10
6:54 PM
Now that I’ve had the iPad for a couple months, I thought I’d share my short list of favorite apps. These are all business or productivity apps, which is the main focus of use for me. I know there are plenty of killer games, toys and what not out there, but the iPad has been primarily a business purchase for me, and so I’m focusing on apps that benefit getting things done.
Informant HD ($14.99)
This is a great organizer app. I looked at OmniFocus, but thought it too complicated and expensive. I probably use this app more than any other. Hooks into Google Calendar, and is very easy to use and has nice features. I’m finally done with hard-copy organizers forever!
Good Reader ($1.99)
I really prefer this app to Apple’s iBooks app. I’ve only downloaded one eBook so far, and found this app to be a much better way to read books on the iPad. No fancy page curl animations, but it displays the book I purchased as it would look if I actually had a hard copy. It’s also great for organizing files to read later, PDFs, etc.
Twitter (FREE)
I have to admit I haven’t been tweeting alot. But this app is great for catching up on all the tweeters I’m following. Very sophisticated user interface with sliding columns. And it’s free!
Air Display ($9.99)
Does just what it says, and works as an extension of my desktop monitor/laptop. No, it’s not great for video or game. But it works so well that I have been bringing it home to use as an external monitor for my laptop.
Safari (INSTALLED)
I know this isn’t an app you need to buy, download or install. But Safari on the iPad has got to be one of the best browsing experiences I’ve had. On the plus side it’s VERY FAST, and the negative is of course, the lack of Flash support. Otherwise, blows other browsers out of the water.
There are a few others, but these make my short list. I’ll keep this updated as I come across more useful apps for business and productivity. Somebody has got to make a presentation app that’s better than Keynote, and I for one can’t wait.
Steve Jobs Using Paper instead of iPad
Oct 12, ’10
10:50 PM
At several points during Apple’s recent September 2010 Special Event, I was a little surprised to see Steve jobs using a paper notebook to facilitate his keynote. It is particularly amusing that the creator of the iPad has not found a sufficient use for it to replace something as simple as his notebook. I would expect that Apple could setup a scenario where the iPad was used to control the presentation.
Being an iPad user, I have not found it a great replacement for pen and paper when it comes to note rapid note taking (during an interview for instance). But I have used it as a replacement for my portfolio under certain circumstances. I seem to recall hearing Steve say something to the effect that he’s wasn’t exactly sure what people would use the iPad for. Apparently he’s not sure of himself either.
Best SEO Advice
Aug 18, ’10
8:59 PM
This was found in the online manual for Squarespace, a web/blog hosting provider chosen by one of my clients. They basically took the words right out of my mouth (italics mine, and slight paraphrasing).
“Unless your website has over 100 or so incoming links, search engines may index your site very sparsely. You can expect to see more traffic from search engines when you have established more credibility on the web (credibility being determined by links to your site by third parties that already have credible links to their sites).
Websites That Evolve and Adapt
Jul 26, ’10
5:55 PM
Responsive web design appears to be the key to unlock the ability to tailor, truncate, or modify content accordingly for the specific limitations of the device that is being used consume it. I first read about this subject through Zeldman.com’s article “Responsive Design is the New Black“.
The article looks at the website for Simon Collison. If you scale your window horizontally while browsing his site, you will notice that extra columns appear and disappear depending upon the width of your screen. This is adaptive, or rather responsive web design, tailoring itself and accommodating a variety of viewing situations. It could be a desktop browser, a mobile device, or an iPad. One set of content, and varying ways of displaying it.
For more on this subject, read the A List Apart article on the subject: “Responsive Web Design“. CSS media queries are the magic behind all of it.
Here’s a short list of website’s I’ve found that are using this new approach:
Test your browser windows’ width to see how the content and layout accommodate your viewing device. Excellent degradation, fallback, and fluid response. I really hope to see more of this in the near future, and to begin exploring with it for my own projects. This has got to be the future. There are only going to be more and more devices, and they’ll all continue to be slightly different. I recommend the adaptive or responsive approach.
Fluid images are used in some of these site, here’s a link I found describing how to use them:
Unstoppable Robot Ninja
The User Interface Demystified
Feb 10, ’10
4:37 AM
I believe that successful user interface design and research is far more simple than many usability experts portend. We are ALL users. The simple act of watching your co-worker use your company’s website can be very revealing. Great examples of usability enhancements can be made clear by putting one’s self in the shoes of the user.
Sounds pretty simple, since we are all users by default. It’s just that some of us (myself included) happen to be practitioners in computer and web technology. And then our knowledge and expertise somehow comes in the way of looking at things like the “outside” user would (and for whom we are creating our web applications).
An ability to “abstract” one’s viewpoint can be helpful. Imagine shifting rapidly between the forest and the trees. This is what I try to do in my creative and development processes.
Good usability information can be gleaned far more easily, if one can basically forget everything that went into its making. The average Joe or Jane user has no concept of the business requirements, strategy, goals, mockups, wireframes, prototypes and the rest. They just want things to work.
Like all the rest of us.
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