A handy guide if you're doing this kinda stuff: Designing Web Sites for the Internet Explorer for Pocket PC. Yet another bonus of the seperation of design and markup - PocketIE, which is really a combo of IE 3, 4 (for scripting), and 5 (for xml) - handles this site quite well. I'll post a screenshot for my own amusement later.
Adobe is now promoting Photoshop 7 on their website. The product isn't for sale or demo download yet, but a bit of info about the new version is available, mostly in the available PDF file. Looks like several intriguing features will be available in this new version, but I'm thinking that support for os x is the most exciting.
Auto validation of XHTML and CSS from 13thparallel today (actually tomorrow because I'm a few hours behind them).
There are simillar ones for HTML and CSS from tantek, however 13th's is opens the XHTML in a new window and does a validation for each (if multiple) relatively pathed css sheets. gazingus also has validation bookmarklets for HTML (with and without options), CSS, and Bobby's version of accessibility (each offered in same or new window). Another general HTML validator over at malevolent. If you're ever looking for bookmarklets but have forgotten the url of a major source, I've got a handy list on the bottom right column for you - let me know if you're aware of other sources for web developer bookmarklets.
dru writes:
"Have you guys ever discussed the differences between "western" websites and eastern websites? I think that it is very interesting, if confusing, how active some chinese sites are. Ones that immediatly comes to mind are Sina and Sohu."
I'm assuming you may mean a visual or aesthetic "activeness", or at least I have to assume this since I can't read the sites mentioned. I'm not sure I would agree that the sites mentioned are busier, for example look at some western portal sites, e.g. go, msn, yahoo, netscape, cbs, fox, npr.
I guess another aspect is the visual difference in the language, the japanese and especially chinesse characters are visually more detailed than latin based language characters, although more is conveyed with fewer symbols I believe. Please comment to this post dru and others, hopefully I'm interpreting your question correctly.
CSS email list brought this test page for text styled with css which is scalable by the user (using ems).
Upgraded to Brent's latest version of BlogChat, and added a webgraphics spin on the UI. Please feel free to stop by and say "hi" anytime I'm online.
Ok, so there's a webgraphics chat now, based on Brent's excellent work (see last post). Today, it's first day, there are several hinks including: I haven't finished the interface tweaks, and I will need to update to the latest version once brent has released it. I don't think we have enough traffic here to make this a "chat room", more of like a "howdy, how ya doin nate" type of feature.
Was checking out brentashley's chat (via glish) and ended up getting live CSS technical support! Thank you Brent Ashley.
The CSS Colouring Book mentioned in yesterday's posts is now offering a challenge to anyone interested in improving the layouts for better compatibility.
Hide css techniques collected in an easy to reference form: Hide CSS from Browsers (posted to css-discuss)
Someone, (I'll call him "the boss") tried downloading the webgraphics homepage plus one level below of links to his Palm device using a tool called Fireviewer. Was delighted to see how readable it ended up, and am considering making templates which optimize content for various handheld devices. There are three issues tho - 1. this site is mostly outside links at the moment, when I eventually get enough time to write another feature article, that type of content might make more sense. 2. Which handheld browser/markup/platform is the most prevelent? Would a comprimse output do better, or is there a few clear leaders? 3. Doing this is somewhat against the purpose of the whole xhtml/css layout movement, matter of fact this site renders quite nicely as is in the few handheld browsers I've checked it with.
Wannabegirl's CSS Colouring Book, tableless layouts for the masses is a library of CSS based layouts for all (except people who don't hug). The layouts were constructed without colors for cleaner customizing. Html 4.01 trans (not xhtml), and the css could be condensed using shorthands, but who can complain about such a nice donation to web developers at large? Each template includes a commenting feature, a preview and a blogger template version. (via Meryl)
Francois has collected a great list of: Bookmarklets and other useful things for IE's Links bar.
Glish's latest apple developer article Working with CSS - Introduction to CSS Layout is worth remembering. It's well written and includes a pracitcal step by step explination of transforming table based layout to css based.
Nice clean easy to read paper: What Does Usability Mean - Looking Beyond Ease of Use noted from CHI-Web list.
Meryl has written up some techniques for using CSS as a tool to uncover legacy markup! Brilliant, it makes too much sense: Blast Sites with User CSS Sheets. Perhaps these techniques would do well to exist as a bookmarklet? Hmmm.....
An opensource node navigation type technology, somewhat like "brain", check out the java demo: TouchGraph (via wiremine)
on her one year anniversary. As a great read and a pleasure to have met, I'm very grateful that Melanie is planning to keep it going. Here's to brushstroke.tv, on the first of hopefully many many more! *clink*
ScottAndrew expresses some clear thoughts on the attractiveness of standards, dom, css and the like. For my additional two cents, I'd like to go back to an very simple concept everyone has heard (and I just mentioned in my last post):
A previous post and comments has gotten me thinking about keyboard shortcuts and their relation to applicaiton interface usability. If we suppose that keyboard commands are the answer to effective power use computing (as reflected by Jason in his comment to this post); is this a sign of OS/program disservice to power users? Are there distinctions made between what is most usable for user types of various skill levels? I don't mean the typical newbie vs. computer litterate, I think of it as a varied spectrum with an oft ignored upper-range of those using an interface daily for years. There may be a connection to looking at how physical interfaces in the last century have changed from products designed for a lifetime of use to quick, cheap rapid production plastic bits which quite plainly won't survive normal use for more than a few years. Perhaps the super short life cycle of computer applications means that expecting them to be used for a few years is completely unrealistic. Even software applications which have become industry standards are drastically evolving from version to version (why else would we buy them?). So many interfaces via the boom of electronic devices, muliplied by so many interfaces via the boom of computers, multiplied by so many interfaces from the internet boom - are we working towards a landscape of interaction designed for initial, sporadic and short term use? Take a look at this 1924 radio, a beautiful interface which in materials and quality could last many more lifetimes, and in usability caters to simplicity rather than previous exposure and context, and all this without punishing the experienced user. It seems that as antique radios gained more features and popularity rose, competition centered around who could build with the most quality, durability and beauty (and then came the transistor). Now it seems that interfaces are yanked out faster than paper towels at chicken wing joint, and a complex layering of interface inside interface inside interface, all with differing usage models keeps a large number of folks from getting past computer "literacy" except out of the necessity of daily use. Form should follow function, but in an environment of a thousand functions, complex vectors of context and motivation, a heaping helping of technical choices and powerful degenerative economic biases - how can we hope to swim upstream?
My father is into photography, growing up in Rochester NY (kodak land), I ended up going to summer photography classes, it seemed like a part of growing up although it was mostly a hobby for dad. Recently he's focused back into this hobby, and even joined a leica enthusiast's list. When he asked for a method to post his recent photos for others in the group to see, it only made too much sense to simply set up another weblog with the pre-existing moveable type install used for this weblog. So, take a gander at dad's latest black and whites: SteinerPhoto.
I sure wish Adobe would make PhotoStrator or Illushop - an app suited for both vector and bitmap work in one app, with one type tool, one export feature, etc. One large footprint app to replace two would be worth the scratch to me. Yah, I know there are other tools for doin' simillar, but they don't cut it.
I think I'll start posting keyboard shortcuts as I figure them out, perhaps this way I can remember them better. Here's one: In pshop 6, when typing, break out of the type tool with ctrl + enter (win), and I assume cmnd + enter (mac). Save a trip to the mouse, and use ctrl + alt + shift + "s" to export gif and jpgs. This keyboard shortcut stuff is pretty basic, but I've realized lately that my command of the keyboard shortcut timesaving features are limited. I'm waisting time with my mouse.
O'Reilly Network: Why Use a Command Line Instead of Windows? [Nov. 15, 2001] via bump
Mozilla, the next generation Netscape browser, is rapidly approaching a 1.0 release. There's great momentum but a slew of issues to solve. Helping developers identify the issues of most import is the subject of a well-engineered process by a large community. Today and Friday, the mozilla.org organization is conducting a Bug-day in which they help newbies become productive contributors to the problem identification and reporting process.
Grab a copy of mozilla and jump into IRC to get started. The payoff is a standard compliant, utterly customizable browser with a slew of addons.
A very interesting company/product: Danger - Hiptop, it's a combo device - cellphone, pda, camera, and very very small. Apparently Woz is on the board as well. I'm posting this not just because the it's generally interesting - they have a signup for beta testers now.
I've worked with Robert and can vouch for his top notch web development skills.
Results are back from an informal test: given multiple windows based machines and one macintosh iBook, cats seem to prefer the mac. Perhaps it's the smooth flat keys, or the rounded edges of warm plastic, we aren't quite sure, but one things for certain - they don't seem to give up easy.
BT is suing for Prodigy for royalties over the unlicensed use of hyperlinks. The article claims that if Prodigy loses, other ISPs could be the target of this suit.
Have you visited webgraphics before, and wish to find an old post about something? Now it's a bit easier thanks to the inclusion of MT-Search in the archive section. As a very quick summary for those considering installing the search - it has some powerful features such as multiple template, multiple blog search, and either config file or hidden input filtering. The basic tags are there to provide results, and they work just like the regular MT tags, but there are only a limited number of tags to choose from (ex. no date tag that I can find). Overall - very easy and slim system that is well worth installing for the value it brings.
Search module added to weblog archive, but it's alpha - will be completed tomorrow.
Great flash animation based on Ivana Brlic Mazuranic's book: Croatian tales of long ago (1916). This particular tale: How Quest Sought the Truth, is created by another nathan. I'm particularly fond of this vectorish illustration style, and it seems to translate very well into flash.
Francois was thoughtful enough to point out a big oversight of mine regarding the missing permalinks in the weblog archive. Those will reapear as well as several tweaks and improvements over the weekend. While I'm cleaning up, do you have any suggestions or thoughts for what you see at webgraphics? If so, don't hesitate to let us know, we appreciate the feedback and hope to make this site more useful to our readers.
My old 12 dollar win desktop keyboard died just now, luckily I had a couple spare old ones from random computers. The one with all the keys is a usb keyboard, so I used another to search for the driver. The acer site (it's from an old acer model computer my father owned) was absolutely no help. After deciphering where I was supposed to go (completly un-intuitive) it became clear that they have no intention of allowing the download of legacy keyboard drivers. A google search revealed results from DriverGuide.com. After the required free sign-up, I was delighted to quickly find exactly what I needed with complete installation instructions! So I have them to thank for being able to write this post tonight, and I thought the resource worth sharing since you might be reading this from a computer that needs random legacy drivers. I swear one day I'll have a nice mac desktop.
fnordware.com has released SuperPNG, a free Photoshop plug-in for saving 16-bit color PNGs. Currently, Photoshop can only read, not write 16-bit PNGs. SuperPNG is designed for Photoshop and After Effects users who want to work with 16-bit color in these programs. It can save out remarkably small 16-bit RGB+A images that virtually anyone can read.
Kerning in Illustrator... the easy way. You may already know this, but this is intended for the person out there who doesn't.
My apologies to webgraphics author Pepe.. In attemt to tweak some backend functioning I accidentally removed his association with recent posts (like the last 2). Pepe is still with us, and future posts won't have this problem.
Some of the incredible things cooking up at the IBM labs.
A handy online utility that simulates web pages displaying in different environments and resolutions. Check it out.
I tried making some micro icons for use inline with link text. Let's see how they work:
sample outside link icon (7x8)
sample email link (7x5)
sample pdf link (7x8)
I'm not sure if these will work, but if you like 'em, save 'em for your use or improvement. The idea for this is based off of qbullets, but smaller and less distracting (hopefully). The gifs here are transparent, but will probably only work on the lightest of background colors.
Nope, I don't really know what I'm doing - but I believe I've "fixed" the XML RSS version of this weblog. The problem: javascript bookmarklet uses less-than and greater-than signs which invalidates the xml. The solution: enclosing the entry area with CDATA tags. I have no idea if/how/where anyone might be using the WG xml file, but it seems that the Frontier xml.aggregator is one of our top referrs, so persumably someone is. Whom ever you are, hope this helps.
Having gone beyond using TopStyle to help remember core style attribute names, I have wished for a more complete CSS Editor. Morphon may be the answer, though java applications still make me wince.
Massless is experimenting with a List Box Content Swap: "Move Multiple Items From One List Box To Another List Box (Without Using a List Box)".
Sense Objects Atlanta launches. What is it? Well...
Sense Objects Atlanta simply put, is a resource. A resource of information, inspiration and dedication. Here you will find a gallery that is updated once a month, showcasing the work of Atlanta area designers and illustrators. Browse through a list of links to upcoming creative events, and read interviews with the people who drive this community. The original goal of this site is simple. To inspire global reaction by showcasing local creativity.
WG and Dominey Design both get nods from the venerable Brad Hanna. Thank you.
Now miraculously working on my second commercial web application which has clearance to be all CSS based, I thought an equivalent of the "show tables" bookmarklet might be helpfull for those of us trying to figure out what's going on with our layout as we build. This bookmarklet simply makes all DIVs have a dashed gray border and all spans have a solid black border. Browser compatibility will be posted in comments as I test. Please modify and comment if you know ways to make it more compatible. (make this link a bookmark and use on any web page that has divs and/or spans, click below to test)... and oh yes, refreshing will remove the lines:
Todd reports from testing the flash 6 player (and here).
Moock has updated the fLASH pLAYER iNSPECTOR to detect Flash 6 properly.