Making News with Web standards
Posted on Aug 27, 2007 11:15:36 AM
The San Francisco Examiner recently became one of the first newspapers in the country to fully adopt Web standards and publish a site that utilizes valid XHTML and uses no tables for layout.
I’ve been the webmaster at the Examiner for almost four years and have redesigned the site many times. With each redesign, the HTML and JavaScript seemed to get more complex. Eventually, working on the site became a complicated and discouraging Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Making, News, standards, withThe Destination Matters More Than the Journey
Posted on Aug 26, 2007 06:08:21 PM
I've often been asked (alarmingly, by senior designers and at least one creative director) to recommend a good introductory book on typography. Many excellent guides exist—Robert Bringhurst's The Elements of Typographic Style is likely the most complete; it's also a deeply satisfying read—however I usually offer that those with a nascent interest in typography would do better to start with the book Bringhurst used as a Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Destination, Journey, Matters, More, ThanFlashes of Brilliance and Use-Centered Design
Posted on Aug 26, 2007 01:57:12 PM
Can Macromedia Flash really add value to a Web site? Or is Flash content on the Web so prone to usability problems that it can never be fully effective? In his October 2000 article Flash: 99% Bad, Jakob Nielsen contends that good Flash design is so rare that the presence of Flash on a Web site “constitutes a usability disease.” Nielsen’s article set the tone for a deluge of Flash-bashing followed by a host of rebuttals. To Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Brilliance, Centered, Design, FlashesThe Open Source Web Design Toolbox: 100 Web Design Template Sources, Tools and Resources
Posted on Aug 26, 2007 12:09:18 PM
The open source model has, over the last 20 years, proven that collaborative development is one of the best ways to incorporate the newest ideas and latest concepts into design.
In fact, the open source model, which began with programmers, has been so successful that it is currently being applied in government, media, education and private business. But despite these new applications, the unique combination of the open source model Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Design, Open, Resources, Source, Sources, template, Toolbox, ToolsJavaScript + CSS + DOM Magic
Posted on Aug 24, 2007 06:23:45 PM
My skills with JavaScript consist of the ability to cut and paste someone else's code with great proficiency. My CSS skills are pretty rudimentary, and all I know about DOM is what the letters stand for. Nevertheless, I'd like to be able to work magic. Makiko Itoh's book just might just be able to equip me with the tricks I need.
Itoh is well suited for the task. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, including Seybold Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: JavaScript, MagicHow to Choose an eCommerce Package
Posted on Aug 14, 2007 12:06:06 AM
Whether you’re a freelance designer looking for a solution for your latest client, or a new company preparing your first online store, choosing an eCommerce package can be a daunting decision. The industry’s rapid growth over the last few years makes it difficult to immediately determine whether a specific package suits both your present and future needs, but there are a few things you can keep in mind to help you through the Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Choose, eCommerce, PackageOrganizing Images with a Database
Posted on Aug 13, 2007 06:39:54 PM
With the advent of Flickr, images have proven to be a powerful way to communicate on the Web—even more effective than words.
Flickr is a massive central repository of images from anyone of anything. By adopting popular interaction concepts such as tagging, feedback and profiles, Flickr has sparked the masses to share, invigorate, and inspire.
Flickr is one of the first major applications to harness the power of a Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Database, Images, Organizing, withThirteen Ways To Save Orkut
Posted on Aug 12, 2007 01:49:42 AM
As nearly everyone knows, Orkut is Google’s entry in the crowded “social networking” field. Orkut seems to be relying on the combination of the powerful Google brand combined with an invitation-only policy to create interest in a service that otherwise would be regarded as late to the game. Like other social networking services, which are designed to connect people who want to date, make friends, or do business together, Orkut’s Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Orkut, Save, Thirteen, WaysClient Side Load Balancing for Web 2.0 Applications
Posted on Aug 6, 2007 07:50:47 PM
A web server handles HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) requests sent to it by web browsers. When you type in a URL —http://www.digital-web.com, for example—your computer sends out a request to look up the servers needed to handle requests and send responses back quickly. The technique for determining how to route requests to the cluster of web servers efficiently is called load balancing.
Load Balancing Web Applications##2## Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Applications, Balancing, Client, Load, SideFreeRice.com
Posted on Aug 4, 2007 08:08:14 AM
I recently came across this site, FreeRice.com, which I thought it is very nice and creative. It is nice because you can learn vocabulary and help end the world hunger. The idea is very creative. This is how it works: you go to FreeRice.com and play their vocabulary game, for each question answered correctly 10 grains of rice will be donated by the sponsors to help people living in poverty. It is a win-win situation - you get to play the game, FreeRice get the traffics, advertisers get their exposure, and people get the free rice. If you like the idea, please help to spread out the word. For more details, please read their FAQ page.
Tags: FreeRicecom