Below you'll find the last 30 comments made throughout Avalonstar. They're grouped by date for great justice. So if you want to take a look at the newest comments without actually going to the respective entry, well then, I've made it quite easy for you.
Fresh Distortions
august.18th.2008
august.17th.2008
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I wish we could cast IE6 to hell forever but, honestly, I don’t know if hell is a fiery enough place for such a horrendous sin against humanity. Still, has to be said, wonderful redesign and the typeface selections, as you’d mentioned, are unique and fitting. Indeed, it is a bit, um, muted, color-wise, but boy does it make those words pop out. Well done.
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Great redesign, I’ve never heard of Addictionary before and have only used Urban Dictionary, but by the looks of it, is something I’m going to have to check out.
august.9th.2008
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I agree with needing the mobile access. But I need the sync. I’m an OmniFocus fan. Either way though, go GTD.
august.8th.2008
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Hmm, I would love to find out what font the title is in… And I would love to find out how to do the background image mapping of the text!
august.1st.2008
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I agree with you Brian. I have tried many task oriented application for the computer and have left them all to dust. But now that is is on a mobile platform i use it all the time. It is not that i do not want to use a task program, it just was not correct for my needs. When on the computer i think of doing work., not checking my to do list. I play with my phone all the time, having it their for me as well as you, is where it belongs. I do not care about the syncing either because well that was our problem to begin with. It was on the computer. Glad to see it is working for you on the mobile platform. Be looking for a follow up, make that a task.
july.20th.2008
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I definately know what you mean with the whole “not getting” GTD. I’m starting to dip my toe into it, a little. I’m going to be purchasing an iPod Touch within the next few weeks, and I was considering OmniFocus Mobile, but now i’ll have to check out Things.app too. Thanks :)
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Ever heard of a little thing called a tape recorder? They do come in awfully handy and free up your mind a little as they provide an instant outlet to ‘take notes’ if you dare. I take one with me everywhere I go for those ‘Oh yeah’ moments when my hands are busy doing other things. They are also very cheap!!!
Fanny Cuiso
july.18th.2008
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I have a huge issue of not getting things done, and forgetting things I need to do :( Unfortunately, other than a pen+paper or my notebook, I have no other good mobile device for making lists. I have a razr for a phone, which I’m not fond of, but nor am I fond of cell phones. I have a very old palm pilot but I don’t use it. And my notebook, let’s face it…it’s a little large and inconvenient to just whip out any time I get an idea. So it comes down to a notepad…which ends up messy because I end up writing other things on it too.
Oh, what is a girl to do? It may be getting time to invest in some sort of little handheld device…a new phone or perhaps a newer palm-type thing. But of course, money’s a pain (and so is the lack of a macbook :<).
july.16th.2008
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I’m definitely in the same boat, Bryan. I have a hard time getting a good grasp on any new method or app that is supposed to ease my day-to-day. But even harder, is keeping that grasp.
A few months ago I bit the bullet and purchased a license for OmniFocus. I preferred Things for its simplicity, but it just wasn’t far enough along in development at that point. I’ve since been using OmniFocus for keeping track of my monthly expenses and everything associated with my recent move (where to update my address, things to pick up at the hardware store, etc.). But I don’t use it nearly as much as I should, or could. When the app store was released, I immediately snagged OmniFocus for my iPod Touch. I, like you, am constantly checking in while away from my desk on my iPod Touch. I figured I could use the portable version of OmniFocus for day-to-day, non-work related tasks while keeping the desktop version for business. I can sync between the two, but I don’t think I’m going to.
july.15th.2008
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Kyle — Ah, now that’s cool. That shortcut seems worth the $39 in itself.
Dean — I’ve used Hahlo from the day I got my iPhone, it is still by far the best Twitter client out there, mobile or otherwise (sorry Snook!). You wanna talk about easy assimilation. If anything, I should be thanking you. :D
So, I must ask, now is it Twitter = Hahlo? ;)
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I’m really close to buying Things just for those “I’ve got an Idea, I need to write it down” moments that I usually have while sitting on the bus to and from work each day, then they would be recorded and I could attend to them later on. Sure I could probably use a pen and paper, but wheres the fun in that.
Oh and thanks for the mention of Hahlo :)
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Until syncing between the mobile and desktop apps becomes available this won’t be important for you, but the desktop app has a wonderful ‘quick input’ feature that’s triggered by a system-wide shortcut to create new todos & projects. You never even have to see the actual Things app, but you get the benefit of an actual keyboard to type it out. I think you should at least give it a try.
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A brand new toy. thumbs up bryan! =) I wonder when will it arrive here in the Phils.
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I’ve been looking for sidebar for CakePHP , and i’ve found this site,
now where’s the sidebar.
july.13th.2008
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I’m not lucky enough to get my hands on said device. Where I live, it’s prohibitively expensive and it comes with an insane contract attached too.
I’ve had to wait 48 hours to update my iPod Touch though, since the iTunes Store was down for the duration of the whole event (and then some).
Gratz on your new phone!
july.12th.2008
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customizability(its a word now) is a must if you want widespread adoption, because web designers are extremely finicky about not ruining their design, and having everything mesh, plus businesses want easy branding of the widget as well.
interactivity and size are probably relative to what the widget needs to accomplish. curious to see what your working on.
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I was playing around with flickr badge a few days back and thought it was easy to personalize which I think is what users look for in a widget. :)
I’m not sure if lack of interactivity is due to the size but it would probably be because of the purpose of the widget that usually is limited to just listing stuff, as in flickr badge Or editing and listing as in todo list widgets. I wonder how much more interactive they can be…
july.11th.2008
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Well, whatever kind you design, I recommend that you make sure it downgrades for people that block/can’t use that cool thing you design.
Start with a simple HTML widget that works (almost) by it’s self. Then use a simple JS script that (if enabled) will replace the HTML with your supper cool Flash object.
Personally, I use flash block for FF - so anything that is flashy/ad-like is auto-blocked. Plus, some cellphones might choke on your flash SWF. So no need only provide a flash version.
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For a teenager, you did pretty good! I agree with KeeKee, it would be good if opportunities like this were available to all high schoolers. Good for you for having the courage to stand in front of the camera and let the student body watch you report the weather!
july.10th.2008
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In my opinion, the most important factor in creating a successful widget (in terms of people adopting it and spreading it throughout their sites) is customization. The ones that don’t offer this level of transparency are usually trying a bit too hard to brand their service on everyone’s site.
Take a look at the relatively simple Del.icio.us latest links widget, for example. Javascript which gives birth to nice standard code where everything has a class, making it extremely customizable. The user can essentially make it absolutely seamless with their site.
That’s what makes me love a widget.
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Todd: I think that only matters if you expect end users to have the werewithal to use said API. Otherwise, the API is just an enabler for your own implementation. The ad, for example, has no API but still works. an API isn’t required.
However, the main idea of having an API does open up more possibilities such that if a user does want to use it, it’s already there.
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High school is a hard place to find your self-confidence but good for you for reaching out to find it. An opportunity like this should be available to all high school students. Could do wonders for when they are left out in this hard cold world.
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You’re getting too hung up on what “defines” a widget and not getting hung up on the technical aspects of a widget like you should be. Widgets, regardless of size, interactivity and coolness don’t stand on their legs without an API behind it to support it.
- Shouldn’t matter.
- Shouldn’t matter.
- Shouldn’t matter
- Shouldn’t matter
A widget without an internal/external API is a pretty useless widget. :) Example, a client wanted a little javascript widget on the homepage that cycled news titles. Where we getting the news title? Ah ha, we have to create a webservice / JSON thing to retrieve it. Ok, we care less about the javascript widget now and more about the technical implementation behind the two. If properly done with valid XHTML / CSS, the look/feel can be changed at any time.
july.9th.2008
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When learning something new it only takes me about a week, then things become like a riding a bicycle and become natural.
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Dude.. i dunno what your trip is .. but whatever you’re blogging here is so non-nonsensical and at the same time so truthful … Are you on Acid ?
july.8th.2008
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While June won’t be a month of any traveling for you, it would seem that you have your plate full enough to keep you busy all summer, remember all work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy Hope you save time for a little fun in the sun, a little sun a good for a person, full of vitamin D and all that good stuff, just remember the sunblock, kind of seems redundant doesn’t it? Anyway, good luck with your lengthy task list. Betsy Buchanan
july.7th.2008
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anton - Regarding the “writing it down thing”, just so you know… that’s been scientifically proven time and again. The act of handwriting information in your native tongue is one of the best mnemonic tools that exists. It’s why people in Uni find themselves writing notes even when they carry a laptop with them, and why a huge majority of the existing bureaucratic systems, even in heavily technological regions, is still based on good ol’ wood pulp.
matt pennig - Ditto about the gym. For me, it’s not a schedule, but my father - his health is failing, and that’s about the only thing that makes him feel better - he used to be a bodybuilder, so if not physically, then at least emotionally (it must prove to him on some level that he’s not as weak as he feels).
true - Try git. If Subversion doesn’t make sense, maybe you’ve got that rare odd mind like mine that just groks git so much more.
As for things that I can’t work into my lifeflow - GTD. I don’t “Get Things Done” very well, so to speak, so a system would be nice - but every time I try, and every time I fail. I guess this applies for all productivity boosters, really - not just iCal, but calendars in general… todo lists… reminders, notes, stickies, you name it, I’ve tried it.
Great job B, nice to see this finally out in the open - it’s been fun watching from near the inside as you’ve worked through the design, and getting to help with the typography and act as a wall to bounce the occasional thing off was fun too :)
@Pat: Get Capsa. Seriously. Get it now.
Excellent work, Bryan. The real star here is the typography, which should’ve been a high priority considering the site is about words. And wow… Capsa is beautiful. I think I’m going to have to drop the $130 at some point so I can have it for myself.
I agree with you that it’s pretty monochrome in design, and while that doesn’t have to be a bad thing, I see blocks of content on the site that maybe need a little more attention (say, the Word of the Day for instance). The Chameleon icons look fantastic in the navigation (the typography there is fantastic as well), so good choice with those.
And thanks for the write-up. It’s always interesting to dive into the thought process of other designers. Especially when there’s some good IE6 bashing involved.
Nice Design man!