Noted some websites can only be viewed on Internet Explorer, instead of open the actual IE browser, you can open the Google Chrome browser and install the IE Tab extension, the tool is pretty handy for Mac user.
WordPress 3.0 is more than just the next in a long line of WordPress releases. It will see the merging of WordPress with WordPress MU (multi-user), which lets you run as many blogs as you like with a single install, a move that’s been widely welcomed by the blogging community.
9 most needed features for the new update:
1. Multi-Domain Support
2. A New Theme
3. Improved Back-End
4. Page and Post Reordering
5. Increased Security
6. Integration with Canonical Plugins
7. Galleries
8. Image Manipulation
9. A Built In Welcome
Read full article on Design.ag
Photoshop has been a part of every web designer’s life since they picked up their first mouse. On February 10th, 2010, Photoshop turns twenty. To mark this anniversary, Smashing Magazine have come up with an article that takes you through the evolution of Photoshop from its modest beginnings as a bundled program sold with scanners to its current version.
It will shortly be possible to store any type of file on Google Docs. Until now, the system only permitted compatible files such as HTML, PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OpenOffice, text and images. Users will be able to upload files under 250MB in size and will be given 1GB of free storage. Additional space is available for $0.25 per GB per year.
Although there are many online file storage systems, Google Doc’s and shared folders could be ideal for businesses collaborating on designs, specifications, presentations or other documents. Once complete, the files can be securely shared with clients and other authorized personnel. Perhaps the biggest advantage is that most office file types can be viewed and edited online. Users can access the files from most modern browsers; there’s no need to have a particular OS, a specific version of Microsoft Office or Adobe Reader installed.
What The Font
This app connects to that service for font discovery anywhere. Take a photo of the font (magazine, book or computer screen) or use an iPhone screenshot and WhatTheFont will tell you what the font is in just a few seconds, then view the font details within the app.
Photoshop.com Mobile
This is the mobile companion to Photoshop.com for the iPhone which gives you access to your Photoshop.com photos for editing, uploading and sharing. You can crop and rotate, adjust color, saturation and exposure or apply filters like Sketch or Soft Focus along with many more options.
Web Developer Bible
The Web Developer Bible app is a very handy reference for RGB to HEX color conversion, HTML entities and more. It’s a pretty simple app but it could certainly be useful for some web developers.
Dropbox
As a designer and/or developer, you probably share and sync files with lots of people across many computers. The Dropbox app gives you easy access to your Dropbox.com account files for viewing, managing and sharing while you’re on the go.
Wordpress released the latest 2.9 version this past weekend, there are some cool features including Global undo/”trash” – if you accidentally delete a post or comment you can bring it back from the grave. Built-in image editor allows you to crop, edit, rotate, flip, and scale your images. Batch plugin update and compatibility checking, which means you can update 10 plugins at once, versus having to do multiple clicks for each one. Easier video embeds that allow you to just paste a URL on its own line and have it magically turn it into the proper embed code.
Note: Most of the plugin won’t be able to work in the latest version so make sure you don’t necessary need it before any update.
Ntt.cc lists out 10 CMS (Content Management System) platform to create Flash website. “If you have a powerful Content Management System, it will not only save your time, your energy but also help you to control your website easilly. But develop your own Flash CMS it also requires a lot of time to research and develop. Then why not try some options already have.” Check it out…
Secretary
FlashBlocks
After more than one and a half years of development, the world biggest multitouch multi-user wall has now been launched at Nürburgring
The two-piece ring°wall consists of a LED display and a multitouch information-wall and impresses by its size: a total surface of 425 square meters, which equals more than 6000 computer displays, is the biggest of its kind. An interactive World emerges out of 34 million pixels generated by 15 high definition projectors and is supported by 30 directional speakers. Multitouch sensors basing on laser technology, convert the usage of the natural user interface into an experience. More than 80 users can simultaneously get informed about news and activities around the ringworld.
iRing – With a stylish design and wireless Bluetooth connectivity with your iPod and iPhone, the iRing allows you to control playback and volume on any of your Apple media devices. iRing features a bright OLED status display with touch-sensitive function strip, and a rechargeable battery life of up to 2 days. Conveniently recharge your iRing using the included cradle. Its minimal size and unique ring-lock mechanism make it an ideal companion for charging and storing your iRing.
Adobe Flash Catalyst is a new professional interaction design tool for creating expressive interfaces and interactive content without writing code. Create interactive portfolios, product guides, microsites, site navigation, interfaces for RIAs and more, including transform artwork created in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks into interactive designs, create interactive prototypes with the ability to leverage them in the final product, publish a finished project as a SWF file ready for distribution, also work more efficiently with developers who use Adobe Flash Builder 4 to create rich Internet applications (RIAs). Designers use Flash Catalyst to create the functional user experience then provide the project file to developers who use Flash Builder to add functionality and integrate with servers and services.
New Beta 2 release adds support for video, sound effects, motion easing, AIR and more. Create the user experience through an approachable interaction design tool for designers with no coding required.
Discover more on Flash Catalyst
Photoshop CS5 will be released soon and it introduced some amazing tools and technique which will blow up your mind. Below is a demostration by Russell Brown “from the labs” – the painting and warping technology.
Check out more on Adobe CS5
Article by Stan Schroeder on Mashable
“Actually, it’ll only be rotating if you use it on a laptop that has a built-in accelerometer, similar to the one found in the iPhone. But still, the fact that the new version of Firefox (Firefox) (3.6) can recognize your screen orientation and adapt accordingly is awesome and signifies that we’ll see more and more accelerometer-equipped lappies in the future.” Read more on CNET news
Adobe announced that Flash developers will finally be able to create iPhone-compatible Flash games. Flash CS5 (not release yet) will have a feature to export AS3 projects to native iPhone applications. This feature does not mean that the iPhone and iPod touch will be able to understand Flash files or that its Safari browser will be capable of running Flash movies, but it means that Flash developers will be able to use Flash CS5 to make native iPhone and iPod touch applications and games by using their existing ActionScript 3.0 skills.
View the Demonstration Video on Adobe. For developers the new tooling will be made available with the Flash Professional tool, the beta version will be available to download before the end of the year.
Related articles on Adobe and Flash Mobile Blog
Adobe Air is a framework which allows building desktop applications. Adobe Air applications are based on two technologies: Html/Js and Flash. Developers can choose to build desktop application via Html/Js, Flash or Flex. After a brief overview of the architecture, we will build a simple application using Html/Js.
Step 1 – Architecture of an Air application
Step 2 – OS level functionalities
Step 3 – Installation
Step 4 – Configuration
Step 5 – Project creation
Step 6 – Running the application
Step 7 – Deploying Air application
FlashMoto is a groundbreaking script based on Adobe’s ever popular Flash. As more and more websites turn to Flash for enhanced UI, visual effects, and heightened creativity, there have not been many frameworks for developers to work with and base their applications around Flash.
FlashMoto lets Flash developers create Flash websites that are easy to maintain and update. Via a convenient admin panel you can edit any content of your website including sounds, website structure, image galleries and much more. FlashMoto CMS will make your website absolutely SEO-friendly due to the rewritable URLs and deep linking.
Article on Sitepoint
“This week, Adobe announced the beta release of the Text Layout Framework, an extensible library, built on the new text engine in Adobe Flash Player 10. This will allow developers and designers to use more sophisticated typography layouts in Web applications. The framework is intended for use with Adobe Flash CS4 Professional or Adobe Flex, and is included in the next version of Flex, code named Gumbo.”
Content Management Systems have become one the internet’s most powerful web developer tools since PHP. In a market where websites need to be built faster and easier, many developers are turning to Open Source CMS to get the job done. Unfortunately there are now thousands of CMS’s floating around the web and finding the right one has become somewhat of an ordeal.
Top 5 Content Management Systems
Drupal
Drupal is easily the most functional open source CMS. It allows for the editing of content directly on the page, and is easily extended through the use of modules.
Wordpress
Wordpress began as a simple blogging system but has grown into one of the most powerful CMS’s on the Internet. The administration interface which has become so easy to use for millions of bloggers translates over to extended versions of Wordpress. As developers have realized its potential to act as a user friendly CMS, many plugins and extensions have been produced.
Radiant CMS
A simple CMS powered by Ruby on Rails, offer minimum functionality for small development teams, which allows those who know how to write Ruby on Rails to easily customize their own systems.
Magento
An especially effective e-commerce content management system. Offers features above and beyond normal e-commerce systems such as virtue-cart.
Silverstripe
A simplistic CMS, with a growing community. Easy to customize and change. Shows potential to match other systems such as Drupal, but not quite there yet. Great user interface.
What is CMS and why to use?
A Content Management System (CMS) is a Web application that uses a database (usually MySQL) or other methods to create, edit, and store HTML content in a manageable way. Content is created and edited on the web in an administration portion of the web application (referred to as the Backend). The resulting content is then displayed to the viewers on the regular site (referred to as the Frontend).
Several possible reasons for using a Content Management System, but the main reason for using a CMS is to make creating and editing of content simple and easy. A good CMS will allow you to spend more time focused on the design of the frontend then on implementing extensions or functionality.
What to Look for in CMS
Important things to look for in a content management system:
01. Quick and easy installation
02. Simple administration interface
03. Quick and easy extension of CMS for extra functionality
04. Simple template manipulation
05. Helpful user community
Demonstration by Adrian Ludwig
Adobe announced the first Android device to be shipped with the Flash plug-in is the HTC Hero. The device supports Flash Lite 3.1 and not the previously announced full Flash Player 10, which means ActionScript 3.0 would not be supported, only up to Flash Player 9 movies made in ActionScript 2.0 will be playable. Adobe claims that this means that up to 85% of Flash on the Internet will be supported. “The new phone delivers a more complete Web browsing experience and provides access to a broad variety of Flash technology based content available on the Web today.”
Read full article
“As a top of the range device it sports multi-touch HVGA, accelerometers, GPS, Compass, WIFI, a 5MP Camera and the incredible Android Webkit Browser. With Flash the web browsing experience on the device is fantastic, rich and gives you access to a more complete Internet. In this mobile optimized runtime we also have support for streaming audio. You’ll be able to interact with games and rich Internet sites, widgets and of course the HTC Hero is a touch device with a huge HVGA (320×480 px) screen.”
Full article on Flash Mobile Blog
An online tool for testing websites on multiple browsers and platforms. Using the tool you can simply input the URL of any website to view the way that webpage would appear on a number of browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari on Windows and Mac.
