Daily Links
The Colour Clock, time as an RGB hex value
Plus, they spelled colour correctly.Google Launching New Search Algorithm in the US
Google's hard at work trying to improve search results. This algorithm update removes "low quality" sites from search results, but only if you're using google.com. But this will likely be rolled out to the rest of the world in time. So, if you're relying on a content farm full of short, oddly-worded articles for either link-backs or ad revenue, the end is nigh.MacWorld Explains What Thunderbolt Is
Thunderbolt (previously called Light Peak) is a new peripheral-connection technology, developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, that combines data, video, audio, and power in a single connection.
If you need to know more, head over to MacWorld and read the great article by Dan Moren and Dan Frakes.
Daily Links
Half Pints Redesign
Our buddies over at Guppy Design are the guys behind Half Pint Brewing Co's new box and bottle designs. I was unaware of this when I first ran across the new look.Updated Macbook Pros, Dev Preview of Max OS X Lion
Just as expected, Apple rolled out an update to its MacBook Pro line Thursday morning, one that brought quad-core i7 processors to its laptops for the first time.Content Management and Design: Compromise
Any design element where the content being designed is under the control of the content management administrator requires simplicity in relation to the design. Specifically we are referring to the styling of copy within a website. Since the copy generally has to be fully editable to the content administrator for on the fly updates, having complex styling in the copy is not preferred. Due to the fact that the average person making copy edits to the content isn't skilled in HTML or CSS, a complex set of styles for paragraphs or headings is prohibitive to content management software.
Some Examples
In the following we see a design element which is slightly complex when considering the simple editing functionality of the CMS. The design would like to have several colours displayed to the visitor.
As you can see the content administrator has a single field to enter the copy for the heading. Assuming that the user doesn't know any HTML or CSS, how could he or she implement the design style indicated above? There are a few options here, however we should be clear that each of these options are based on very specific circumstances.
Option One: Redesign
Since the content administrator does not have the requisite programming skills or knowledge, the designer could redesign the look for a single colour of formatting for the heading. While the look is likely not as pleasing, it certainly simplifies the amount of programming we would have to do in order to allow a basic content editor to manage colours in sentences. The graphic below illustrates a single colour for the headline.
Option Two: Programming
If it is necessary to have the specific look to the heading we are seeing, a set of generalized rules needs to be agreed upon in order for us to be able to programmatically apply the specified look to all headings in the same fashion. This is actually a decent option as it provides a consistent look to headings throughout the site. As long as it applies to all cases it is a relatively straight-forward rule to implement.
In the example below the last word would always be green while the rest of the title is red. This could also be adjusted so that the programming recognizes that the first word following a colon is green. The more complex the rules, the more programming is required to make the design work. If it gets to the point where the rules are too complex, it might be best to look into options 3 and 4.
Option Three: No Editors
This option is not ideal as it takes away the ability of the content administrator to edit the specific copy that they would like to be able to edit. However, this allows the programmer to apply the code and styles exactly as set forth in the design.
Option Four: Modified Editors
This option is not much of an option. Seriously. Don't ever pick this one, but in theory, we could build this. However the content administrator would likely look at the editors and say "You've got to be kidding". If the editors are modified to allow the administrator to build out the heading to be as complex as a word at a time, this would allow the content administrator to have complete control of the headings on a word by word basis. This option requires a significant effort on the part of the programmers to allow for the word by word functionality, and if actually used by the administrator, a significant amount of work building out the headings.
The example below also has some limitations, such as every second field would be coloured black and the other fields would follow a sequence of colours based on the design. This option could be extended further by adding a field per word where the admin could select from a series of set colours, but at that point it really is no longer a CMS and more of a customized HTML page and Option 3 would be a more appropriate choice.
So What Is My Best Option In Order To Build The Design My Client Wants?
When it comes down to it, option two is the one generally approved by designer, client, and programmer alike. As long as the programmers spell out the options for the designer and client ahead of time, all three groups won't waste time and money trying to do something that either takes away the content editing functionality from the client, causes a redesign from the designer, or requires coding complex editors than don't end up being used.
When planning and designing for your clients, our philosophy of "keep it simple" really applies when content control is being handed over.
Daily Links
MTV Still Has an Unplugged Series?
Silversun Pickups are one my favourite bands to have emerged in the 00's. Panic Switch from Swoon was given the MTV unplugged treatment. Not only is this a great rendition of the song, with an awesome arrangement that includes a string section, I also learned that MTV sill does an unplugged series. Who knew?GoDaddy offers domains for $1.18
GoDaddyy offers domains for $1.18 for a limited time for the next 10000 registrations or March 20th whatever comes first.Promo code: PRESIDENT
Domains can be registered/transfer in .COM, .US, .MOBI, .BIZ, .NET, .ORG, .CA, .CO.UK, .IN zones. Any account allows only one registration or transfer using the promo code.
Some more promos from GoDaddy:
* promo10 – 10% off your entire order
* promo15 – Save 15% on your order of $75 or more
* promo530 – Save $5 off any order of $30 or more
* promo749 – Save $3 on .com registrations, transfers and renewals
* promossl – $12.99 standard SSL certificates (normally $29.95)
Cussing In Commits
Developer Andrew Vos was looking for a weekend project when he decided to grab some one million commit messages from GitHub and scan them for swear words.West Wars
A series of custom action figures from the same guy who brought you Steam Wars, Samurai Wars, and Star Wars 1942.Google Releases Final Honeycomb SDK
The search giant released the software development kit for Android 3.0 yesterday, offering several new features that developers can incorporate into their mobile apps with the goal of publishing them directly to Google's Android Market. This final version follows the interim one that Google rolled out last month.What Happens After Yahoo Acquires you?
A 37signals blog articles summing up how Yahoo squandered some great opportunities and killed some high-profile applications.Daily Links
New blog on mysterious characters, part one: the pilcrow
This is a pilcrow: ¶. They crop up surprisingly frequently … the story of the pilcrow is intertwined with the evolution of modern writing. It is the quintessential shady character.
How OK Took Over The World
It crops up in our speech dozens of times every day, although it apparently means little. So how did the word "OK" conquer the world, asks Allan Metcalf.New File Formats In The Google Docs Viewer
Twelve new types, to be exact, including XLS, PAGES, AI, PSD, and SVG.Dragon Age 2 Demo
For those of you who have been chomping at the bit for it, the Dragon Age 2 demo is available for Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 today.HTML5 specification for Web developers
This HTML5 specification is like no other—It has been processed with you, the humble web developer in mind. The focus of this specification is readability and ease of access. Unlike the full HTML specification, this "web developer edition" removes information that only browser vendors need know.Apple Subscription Squabbling
I have to agree with Richard Gaywood in this TUAW article. Despite sharply words defences of Apple's new subscription policy, if it results in some very good apps being pulled from the App Store, then it's bad for developers and users. :/Space Battleship Yamato Trailer
Japan has made a live-action movie version of the classic anime series. Looks fun!Happy Birthday to an Ever Exploring Crocodile Hunter
Steve would have celebrated a birthday today. My kids love how excited he is when he gets right up close to all those creepy, crawly things that suddenly don't seem so scary anymore.Daily Links
The best scientific illustration of 2010 by Science Magazine
At first glance, it could pass for a piece of crochet, a fluffy gray and orange ball. But its real-world counterpart is far more destructive: It claims an estimated 2 million lives a year and has wreaked more global havoc than some wars.Source | Large version in PDF | Gallery and 360 view
Daily Links
A Caturday Video of Cat Bowling
This seriously needs consideration as a pro-league. I would watch it.Daily Links
Facebook Adds Microformats
Facebook has marked up all events with the hCalendar microformat including marking up their venues with hCard as well. According to a simple Google search, that's millions of public events now with microformats.Louis Riel Day 2011 Long Weekend Closures
A good list of services and locations open and closed during the long weekend, via Access Winnipeg.RadioHead Releases King Of Limbs a Day Early
RadioHead did a stealth release of their new album via their website this morning. Downloading now!Looking at Design and Now I Want a House in the Hollywood Hills
With the new office plans starting to take shape, I've been bouncing around various furniture and architectural sites. Love the modern lines and our green colour in the above shot. I had also just finished sketching out office desks that look just like this. (linked on Coudal.com)Twitter Blocks UberMedia Apps
The microblogging service has suspended its apps, which include mobile clients UberTwitter, Echofon, and Twidroyd, as well as an advertising product, citing a number of violations.Daily Links
Shaw Customer Discussion Sessions
UBB isn't going away, if you're a Shaw customer and have something to say try and get an invite to one of these sessions.The Jets are Coming Back! Again.... well maybe?!?
Forget Phoenix!! Atlanta holds the key if Winnipeg is to get an NHL teamKyle Gass Interviews Dave Grohl About How To Write A Hit
Dave Grohl provides us with some invaluable tips on how to write a hit. This is worth your 4 minutes.Pixelfari
8-bit internet browsing!Festival Du Voyageur This Weekend
The 42nd annual Festival Du Voyageur launches this weekend from February 18 – 27, 2011. This once 3-day event has evolved into a 10-day province-wide celebration of sights, sounds, snow and spirit.Eight WordPress SEO Plugins
This is a listing of top-notch WordPress plugins for SEO to improve your WordPress site's search engine rankings.An Update to Google Social Search
Having social info handy is interesting, but usually seems to add noise to what should be relevant results :/Cardboard Flashdrives
Art Lebedev Studio has a concept design for disposable data storage. I could see these made into some great business cards.After Largely Ignoring Warnings The Government Gets Hacked
GhostNet identifiers informed our government back in 2009 that they had to increase security or they where going to get hacked. We waited until late 2010. Then we got hacked. Way to go feds, us computer nerds don't know what we are talking about. Never listen to us.Daily Links
Manitoba Museum Free Admission
The Manitoba Museum is celebrating Louis Riel Day by offering free entrance on Sunday, February 20, 2011 from 11am until 5pm to the Museum, Planetarium, and Science Gallery.Borders Files For Bankruptcy
Another brick-and-mortar bookstore bites the dust. :/Nine Tools For Managing Your Freelance Design Business
Nathan Weller has whipped up a short list of tools for managing your freelance design business.Antitrust Issues With Apple's Subscription Policies?
The Wall Street Journal explores possible antitrust issues, with experts noting that any such case would hinge on the definition of the market, as that would determine how dominant Apple's position is in it.Google Slaps JCPenny Down
Another example of a company trying to game the SEO system, and the inevitable response from Google. Remember, if it sounds shady to you, it'll sound shady to Google too.Death Cab For Cutie Reveals New Album
Death Cab For Cutie announced on its website today that the band's new album, Codes and Keys, will be released May 31 on Atlantic Records.Imagine A Jump
The vocals of Van Halen's "Jump" overtop of the instruments of John Lennon's "Imagine"Google One Pass
Is Google giving publishers what they want the day after Apple has pissed off so many content distributers?Daily Links
W3C Confirms May 2011 for HTML5 Last Call, Targets 2014 for HTML5 Standard
W3C today extended the charter of the HTML Working Group with clear milestones for HTML5, the cornerstone of W3C's Open Web Platform for application development. In May 2011, the Working Group will advance HTML5 to "Last Call," an invitation to communities inside and outside W3C to confirm the technical soundness of the specification. The group will then shift focus to gathering implementation experience. W3C is developing a comprehensive test suite to achieve broad interoperability for the full specification by 2014, the target date for Recommendation.CSS 3 Backgrounds & Borders was just approved as CR
CSS 3 Backgrounds & Borders specs have changed from Working Draft (WD) to Candidate Recommendation (CR). Next step will be Proposed Recommendation (PR) and finally W3C Recommendation (REC).Apple Unveils Subscription Service in App Store
The processing of payments will be Apple's job and handled within the App Store. Apple will collect 30 percent of the revenue.Coca Cola's Secret Recipe Revealed! ... In 1979
The recipeFluid extract of Coca: 3 drams USP
Citric acid: 3 oz
Caffeine: 1 oz
Sugar: 30 (unclear quantity)
Water: 2.5 gal
Lime juice: 2 pints, 1 quart
Vanilla: 1 oz
Caramel: 1.5 oz or more for color
The secret 7X flavor (use 2 oz of flavor to 5 gals syrup):
Alcohol: 8 oz
Orange oil: 20 drops
Lemon oil: 30 drops
Nutmeg oil: 10 drops
Coriander: 5 drops
Neroli: 10 drops
Cinnamon: 10 drops
Image by Eye Of The Photographer