New website design for Eve-Online contest
I don’t get to do much website design lately but here is my most recent design that I finished this morning. Next step is to code this site.
Popularity: 2% [?]
I don’t get to do much website design lately but here is my most recent design that I finished this morning. Next step is to code this site.
Pros and Cons of switching to Google Chrome from Firefox
Last month I decided to give Google Chrome a try as my main browser, I wanted to see if the new browser had the tools and options I needed for website development. Since I started using Chrome I came across a list of Google Chrome extensions for website development.
Below you will find the pro’s and con’s of switching to Google Chrome:
Pros to switching to Chrome
- Start up speed
- Page speed load times
- Javascript execution speeds
- Works better for Google products
- Built in search engine into the URL bar
- Google’s Speed Tracer tool
- Sandboxed plug-ins
- Sandboxed tabs
- Sandboxed extensions
- Evernotes web version actually works in it
- Streamlined interface
- Easy to use home page
- Coding for Chrome means that the site will work for iPhone and Android phones and safari
- Doesn’t crash very often
- Is new to the browser market so it adds some new features that users are looking for
- Able to pin tabs to open everytime, easier then adding multiple home pages in firefox
- Built in application shortcuts
- Extensions can be added, removed or updated without the browser needing to restart
- Extensions are built using HTML, CSS and Javascript
- Built in bookmark and history sync
- Easy to find items that you search for within a page (the find feature) with the highlighted locations on the scrollbar
- built in hot keys for hiding and showing the bookmar toolbar
Cons to switching to Chrome
- Less people use it, smaller market share
- Doesn’t have firebug extension (no longer an issue, extension came out since starting use)
- Doesn’t have pixel perfect extension
- Doesn’t have yslow extension
- Doesn’t have developer toolbar extension (Most tools in the developer toolbar are replaced by multiple extensions)
- I am use to using Firefox (no longer an issue)
- Firefox Has been around for a few years
- Unable to do a full screen capture of a website with extensions (no longer an issue, extension came out)
- Unable to not save all data automatically (no cookies, history, downloads, etc (small issue))
- Unable to control sessions (no longer an issue, extension came out)
- Limited right click menu, no “copy email address”, no “properties for images” etc.
- Runs multiple processes in the task manager all labeled “Chrome”, it would be nice if they were labels something more useful, like “Chrome: NYTimes.com” which would be the name of the tab.
The list for the con’s may seem like a lot, however each month more useful extensions come out for Chrome and each one more powerful then their alternatives on Firefox. I permanently have switched to Chrome as my main browser and I don’t see me switching back to Firefox any time soon.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Logmein.com in Google Chrome
I am trying out Logmein.com inside of Google Chrome and so far it is pretty nice, the quality is what you would expect from Logmein.com. The upside to logmein.com in Google Chrome is that is doesn’t require any plugin like the firefox version does, which is something that I have been really into lately. On the flip side there is only one downside that I see so far, the sidebar stays showing even when in full screen mode which I could go without, but it is only a minor issue. So far I think it works just as well, if not better then the Firefox version.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Web developer tools for Google Chrome
It has been nearly a month since I started to use Google Chrome as my main browser, and the more I use it, the more I love it. During this month I have gathered a great list of extensions which I use for website development.
Web Developer Extensions for Google Chrome:
- LastPass
- IE Tab*
- Eye Dropper
- Shareaholic for Google Chrome
- Speed Tracer (by Google)*
- Evernote Web Clipper
- Pendule
- Resolution Test*
- Webpage screenshot*
- SEO Status Pagerank/Alexa Toolbar*
- Firebug Lite**
- Google Translate*
- Speed Dial
- Developer Tools***
Notes:
* Disabled when not in use
** I’ve never been a big fan of firebug personally, disabled when not in use
*** The Developer Tools are the built in tools that comes with Google Chrome
The great thing about Google Chrome extensions is that they allow you to disable and enable extensions without having to restart your browser, making them far more useful.
Popularity: 4% [?]
My thoughts on this Conan O’Brien NBC issue
Over the past couple of weeks many have been talking about the change that is happening on NBC’s late night lineup. I personally think it is pretty low what NBC is doing just to keep Jay Leno. Jay Leno had a great run on the Tonight Show and the show was rightfully handed over to Conan, but Jay didn’t want his show to end, so instead of bowing out gracefully Jay has turned to NBC and they gave him his own show. Giving Jay his own show not only made the new companies upset which are their paid advertisers, but it killed thousands of jobs in the process, by canceling shows.Now 7 months later NBC is now talking about pushing back the Tonight Show until 12:05am so that Jay can have his show during his old time slot. Not only will this effect other shows such as the Tonight show and the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, it will also change the time slow that the tonight show has been running on for the past 60 years…. All for Jay Leno. I think Jay needs to see what he is doing and notice that him not wanting to retire or move to a different time slot is now screwing up the lives of thousands of people and a tradition.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Will Google replace Apple after Steve jobs is gone?
The past few years haven’t been the best for the legend Steve Jobs. He has been fighting pancreatic cancer and due to the cancer he has taken some time off to heal. While taking his time to heal it left many people wondering “What will happen to Apple once Steve Jobs is gone?”. No one really knows. Everyone does know that no ONE man can replace him. Steve Jobs did what many could only hope for, he took a dying company and within a few years turned it into a lifestyle. He managed to have give us iPod’s, iMac’s and world changing iPhone.
I personally think that Steve Jobs will stay working and a part of Apple until the day he dies. I feel that he lives and breathes that company, which is why it is so successful. But… one company will come in after him and they will fill his shoes, not with one man, or with one women but with a group of the smartest and most creative people in the world, and that can only be Google.
Google created a search engine over a decade ago that was simple, plain and gave it away to their user for free. This motto still shows itself in every product Google creates today. Gmail changed the way many perceive emails, Google Reader brought us the sites that we love to read, Chrome gave us the fastest and cleanest browser, and the Android operating changed the software we use on phones. Though Google may not have been the first to create these tools, they did however bring it to us in a way that we want; easy to use, open and free.
The world is changing and as technology grows many people want more for less, and the one company that is already doing that is Google.
Posted via email from Andrew’s posterous
Popularity: 1% [?]
Favorite Tweets from December 2009
12/31/09
- @RichardShepherd: Well my code validates. It’s not my fault if yours doesn’t…
- @jamis: unsettling thought: “bread is alive until you cook it”. baking is murder!
12/30/09
- @imrogb: I guess know that you unfollowed and blocked me I guess our short relationship is well and truly over! LOL
- @Anton: A little bird spent the morning dancing naked in the snow, watched silently by his woodland audience.
- @RyanMeray: http://twitpic.com/vwhsm – Spotted at @BeanandLeafCafe in Rochester Hills.
12/29/09
- @tshannon: Fixed my broken tooth with a nail file, nhs helpline and lady in boots both told me to stop being a big pansy about it
- @merttol: Some of spam comments on my article are asking my thoughts about Albert Einstein’s quotes… interesting.
- @hotdogsladies: The Two Kinds of American Men: 1. Guys whose sexual cosmology has been hopelessly distorted by hot lady comic book characters. 2. Liars.
12/28/09
- @nicepaul: Love the kids and all, but when you have stuff to do a baby demanding your 100% attention is a productivity black hole
- @tshannon: Fixed my broken tooth with a nail file, nhs helpline and lady in boots both told me to stop being a big pansy about it
12/25/09
- @codepo8: OK, I wonder how my suitcase will hold all the presents I got from my family. I should send out size restrictions like airlines do.
- @zeldman: It’s astounding how many presents children can open without even having coffee.
- @boagworld: I got hit by a falling Christmas tree while eating Christmas dinner. Only in my world #fb
12/24/09
- @imrogb: Waiting for my apple mouse software update to d/l so I can get ‘touching’ my magic ;)
- @jayeffvee: Wondering if Santa uses Evernote for his list, though.
- @lwcavallucci: @jayeffvee Of course Santa uses Evernote. That would be the smart thing to do, wouldn’t it?
- @vndybudd: I want digital tv to have embeded meta data so I can press a button to get contextual info about the current character, location, song etc.
- @hellomuller: Vintage 1978 Tie-fighter toy for Christmas. Suck on that nerds! I haz teh awesome wife!
- @EverythingMS: The Google-Microsoft rivalry now extends to Santa Web sites http://bit.ly/6srstf
- @mike9r: Bunch of folks are re-creating Home Alone on Twitter with 23 separate accounts, 1 for each character: http://idek.net/qYk
- @cwilso: My wife’s belly is a source of never-ending amusement this evening.
- @cwilso: (She IS 8.5 months pregnant, and baby keeps sticking out an elbow or somethin’. :))
12/23/09
- @AndrewCrow: My Kitchen Aid is making so much noise tonight it should have its own Twitter account. #cookies
- @FuzzyHall: RT @thecomeup: By the end of 2010, I swear ill get an iphone!
- @notasausage: Every time the weather person on the news mentions “rain”, I hope to hear (dramatically): “The rain in Spain, falling mainly on the plains.”
12/22/09
- @leahculver: Just put a password on my parents wifi. Who mooches wifi in the suburbs? Jerks, that’s who.
12/21/09
- @saurabhshah: Google sees you when you’re sleeping….Google knows when you’re awake…Google knows when you’ve been bad or good….
- @boagworld: lol… they are even banning a video promoting progressive enhancement – http://bit.ly/4Otxlh – Does Vimeo love IE6 perhaps? ;-)
- @simplebits: Some might call my present wrapping skills messy or unkempt, while others praise their rustic and handmade qualities.
- @paularmstrong: *facedesk* is the new *facepalm*
- @ccatfishcatfish: RT @TonyNeyer: Haha RT @micahbmx: #baco #baco #baco http://twitpic.com/ukmg5
Popularity: 2% [?]
Sharing my inspiration
Over the years I have collected some artwork and websites that I find inspirational and before these items were only on my computer. This was fine for the first 50-100 pieces but now this stock pile of artwork is into the 800+ items and I needed a easier way to search through them. I needed a way to search by color, layouts and types of artwork.
This past year I started to use Evernote for many things as you can see from my 100 different Evernote uses article.
Since I used Evernote for many things I thought I would give it a chance for my inspirational images. I then started to transfer the images and screenshots, and low and behold it made my inspiration very easy to navigate and use. You can check out the items that I I find as inspiration here: http://www.evernote.com/pub/amaxwell01/inspiration
I try to add a few new items each week so be sure to keep an eye out for any new items.
Popularity: 1% [?]
New Posterous medium blog
I have a very busy schedule working two full time jobs but I want to be able to share my thoughts and experience when ever possible. I know many people are in a similar boat that I am as they try to get their freelance career off the ground and I want to help with sharing my success and failures.
In order to communicate these successes and failures I use Twitter for my micro posts on the go and while working, and I use this site for any longer posts, but I needed something that would fit somewhere in the middle. After sometime spent researching and reading articles I came across a blog system which would allow me to, what I like to call “Medium Post”. Thanks to Paul Boag of Boagworld and his great blogs and podcasts I found Posterous. Posterous allows me to create these medium posts which don’t belong on Twitter because they are too long and they don’t fit on this blog because they are too short.
You can now find my medium posts at andrewmaxwell.posterous.com
Hopefully in the beginning of the year you will see a better integration of these three mediums on this website.
Let me know if you find these new mediums posts useful and what type of topics you would like to read.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Tools to run a business with the cloud
This past year I have been getting busier and the amount of work that I have, has more then doubled. I needed to come up with a solution that would allow me to manage my daily tasks of running a web business and
having to be at multiple places.
Here are some of the problems that I ran into:
- Needed to answer business emails on the go
- Needed access to all of my clients files on the go
- Internet goes down at home and I still needed to meet a deadline
- Needed a clients name and address while I was at the post office
- Needed a secure storage solution for Passwords
- Needed access to my notes where ever I go, making the notes actually usable.
- Wanted to be able to search through my notes (It would be nice to search through PDF’s and images)
- Needed Automatic file backup in case of hard drive failure
- Wanted an easy way to backup photos taken on my phone during a meeting
- Needed to access my chat logs from multiple computers and iPhone
- Needed to access to thousands of bookmarks on any browser and my iPhone
- Needed to track time spent on a project from multiple computers and iPhone
- Wanted to view a website that’s on my computer, on my iPhone with limited effort. And Vice Versa
- Needed to make a To Do task/checklist when an idea or task is mentioned or comes to mind
- Needed to send files to a client while out of the office
- Wanted a business phone number that I can use with any phone
The list is pretty big as you can see and these are only the tip of the ice berg of the things I needed. Basically it came down to; I need to have everything with me, wherever I go, all of the time.
After I did some research and plenty of testing(nearly 6 months and hundreds of tools) with trial and errors I came to use the following tools which allow me to work from anywhere.
- Bookmarks
- Notes (text, audio, video, images and PDF’s)
- Business checklists from Notes
- Website from PC to Phone instantly
- FREE or $5/month
- Secure passwords and notes
- Send a password to email
- FREE for $1/month
- Automatic online file backup
- Send files to a client while away from the office
- Send client a link to a large file without requiring them to login to somewhere
- FREE for 2GB
- Access to personal and business emails
- Quick searches in all email
- One place for all contacts
- FREE
- To Do Tasks with notes
- Due dates and Notifications
- FREE or $2/month
- Microsoft Office replacement on the go
- Quick form creation
- FREE
- Web based Instant Messenger client
- AIM, MSN, Gtalk, Yahoo, ICQ and more
- FREE
- Meeting Dates
- Email, Text Message and web based notifcations
- FREE
- Web based phone number
- Voicemail to text transcripts
- Emailed transcript of voicemail
- FREE
- Web based photo storage
- Send photos from mobile phone to online storage for backup
- FREE for 1GB
- Time tracking
- Task management
- Billing
- Email notices of new project/tasks
- FREE
- Web based access to my computer (terminal service)
- Version on iPhone makes it possible to connect to my main computer on the go
- FREE or $69.95 for Pro
- Access to all of the above tools on the go without a laptop
- Hands down, the best tool for anyone running a business
- $99.00-$299.00
I’ve been using most of these tools now for over 6 months and it has dramatically reduced my stress and increased productivity. I can’t imagine what it would be like if I didn’t have these tools, but I am always
looking for tools to help streamline my work flow.
If you have a tool(s) that you find useful please feel free to share it so that others who read this can choose the tool(s) that works for them.
Popularity: 4% [?]