Hello all, haven’t updated my blog for a long long time, just because my blog has been migrated to a new server and created the new interface, similar to my original concept – simple. Please check it out when you have a moment.
Google announced the 40 regional finalists in its annual Doodle 4 Google competition, which challenges school children to create their own version of the Google logo The winning logo will run on Google’s home page for a day. Over 33,000 students in grades K-12 submitted entries, competing for a $15,000 college scholarship, a $25,000 technology grant for their schools, and other prizes.
Creative Overflow showcase 30 Design Blogs that you may visit every day, being from informative articles, interviews, resources, tutorials and inspiration. It lists the links of the blog and also the RSS feed.
Interesting article on Smashing Magazine that talks about how Geo Location takes a big part in today’s web development. Simply using IP address and tracing down the location of user. This article shows different online tools and examples with code to help you have a better understanding on this topic, also comment the advantages and disadvantages of different online services.
Why Geo Matters
First of all, why is it important to consider physical location on this planet (at this moment) when we develop Web products? There are a few answers to this.
The first answer is mobility. The days of people sitting in front of desktop machines at home are over. Sales of mobile devices, laptops and netbooks have overtaken those of bulky stationary computers in the last few years. The power of processors now allows us to use smaller, more mobile hardware to perform the same tasks. So, if people use their hardware on the go, we should bring our systems to them. Which brings us to the second—very important—point: relevance.
Giving the user content that is relevant to the physical space they are in at the moment makes a lot of sense. We are creatures of habit. While we love the reach of the Internet, we also want to be able to find things in our local area easily: people to meet, cafes to frequent, interesting buildings and museums to learn about. The advertising industry—especially of the adult and dating variety—realized this years ago.
Google has carried out it’s threat to shut down the Google.cn search engine following its censorship dispute with the Chinese Government. All users are now redirected to the Hong Kong-based Google.com.hk. Although Hong Kong is part of China, it retains a level of independence and its search engine delivers uncensored results.
Google’s chief legal officer, David Drummond, stated: “The Chinese Government has been crystal clear throughout our discussions that self-censorship is a non-negotiable legal requirement. We believe this approach of providing uncensored search in simplified Chinese from Google.com.hk is a sensible solution to the challenges we’ve faced. It is entirely legal.”
Envisioned by AGENT, a strategic intelligence embassy, the “CTRUS” is a see-through soccer ball that imitates the bounce of an inflated pneumatic soccer ball, but without losing the air, giving transparency to the game of soccer. In fact, it does not need air to recoil and perform. The hybrid soccer ball comes integrated with an interactive detection system that communicating wirelessly with control stations at the stadium changes its color to display the critical game situations, such as goal, offside, kick force, travel speed and if the ball is over the goal line or outside the field of play, via a GPS/RFID inner light.
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
“On January 13, 2010, the world was shocked to hear the news about the devastation that took place in Haiti. An earthquake with the magnitude of 7.0 hit the country hard. A few days later, we were informed of the hundreds of thousands of people that were killed due to this horrific event. When the people around the world heard of this tragedy, lots of them immediately took action. Millions of dollars have been raised thus far to help out the Haitians.”
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.
Article on Inhabitat
Google.org worked with Greg Asner of the Carnegie Institution for Science and Carlos Souza of Imazon in order to fully develop the program. To evaluate deforestation in a certain area of the world, the software relies on past, present and future models of satellite image data. Under this program, richer countries would provide financial incentives for poorer nations to protect their forests. By protecting said forests, these nations would help eliminate deforestation, a major contributor of the world’s carbon emissions.
“E-book reading devices are not a great achievement nowadays, but how many of them can really give you the feeling of reading a traditional book?
The innovative LIBRARY e-book reader concept effectively meets the issue with its mechanical rollers along with lively page flipping animation on the screen that gives readers the feel of flipping through pages with their thumbs. The multi-touch display allows the readers to underline the book’s content with their fingers and can make bookmarks with simple gestures.”
Fede Alvarez, a Uruguayan indie producer who uploaded a short (4 mins 48 seconds) film to YouTube on November 3rd 2009, has been offered a US$30m contract to make a Hollywood film. The movie will be sponsored by director Sam Raimi, whose credits include the Spiderman and Evil Dead films. Fede Alvarez’s short film “Ataque de Panico!” (Panic Attack!) featured giant robots invading and destroying Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The film was made on a budget of US$300, so far it has had more than 4.5 million views on YouTube.
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.
Containers has been used today for a range of spaces, from houses to offices and even schools. And the reason for that? It’s affordable, modular, easy to build and environmentally friendly. Researching that subject I found a versatile system called Container City™, by Urban Space Management. Container City™ is an innovative and highly versatile system that provides stylish and affordable accommodation for a range of uses, this system uses shipping containers linked together to provide high strength, prefabricated steel modules that can be combined to create a wide variety of building shapes and adapted to suit most planning or end user needs.
What is HTML 5?
Essentially, HTML 5 is a new version of HTML / XHTML which specifically focuses on the wants and needs of web app developers. It allows developers to implement a ton of new features in the things they create, for example a lot of new drag and drop functionality, new structuring elements as well as improved support for audio and video.
Why has it been developed?
Up until 2004, the HTML language was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. A lot of developers were disillusioned with the proposed improvements in the HTML language that the W3C were proposing, many feeling that they were out of touch with the needs of modern day web and app developers. A new group named WHATWG ( Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group ) has since taken over development of the language and has named it’s specification HTML 5.
Article by Jacqueline Thomas on Web Design Ledger
As you think of how you will incorporate new trends into your designs, focus on the main idea of each trend. Be encouraged to dabble into these trends so that you become part of the movement.
01. Oversized Logos/Headers: make visitors remember you
02. Sketch/Hand-drawn Design: part of corporate design
03. Slab Typefaces: express who you are
04. Typography: more interesting to readers
05. One Page Layouts: more about personal profiles
06. Huge Images: draw visitors into your site
07. Change of Perspective: different perspectives in 2010
08. Interactive/Intuitive Design: more flash, more interactive
09. Modal Boxes: easy to design and use
10. Minimalism: venture into typology
11. Oversized Footer: less important but more personal information
12. Retro: new ways to honor vintage art
13. Intro Boxes: new way to introduce yourself
14. Magazine Layouts: used for infotainment sites
