Websites need to work on a web server so when you want to develop locally, you need to mimic the live environment on your machine.
I use MAMP to do this and it’s available for both Mac and Windows. It’s super easy to install and then you get all the benefits of a live environment with an Apache web server and PHP support.
For now though, it’s just going to be used primitively as a server to display an HTML version of the new website.
Having worked on a platform such as Squiz Matrix for over four years, I grew accustomed to its pros and cons. Back in 2009, I was exposed to this new system after I helped to migrate the University of Westminster‘s website from old, out of date systems to a brand new installation of Matrix.
The issue of Cookies on websites held within the EU will rise in importance in the first half of 2012. Most websites do not have a plan for the deadline of 26 May 2012 and that includes the ICO.
They are yet to advise organisations throughout the UK on how to combat this major issue that has been set in motion without much foresight into the implications.
Yes, companies do track usage of users but most of it is anonymous data. When companies do hold information about users, it tends to improve the user experience by offering personalised content.
The updated version of Google Web Fonts was updated this week in what should go down as one of the defining projects of web design for many years.
The whole project has been rolling along for a while and has slowly been gathering pace but the announcement at Google I/O 2011 of the new online directory was one of the standout talks. David Wurtz (@davidwurtz), Raph Levien (@raphlinus) and Darren Glenister (@typedna) presented an amazing web based repository which makes ‘Font Book’ look like yesterday’s news.
They haven’t just improved on the old font directory. They’ve given designers and developers the ultimate tool in selecting the best font for your project.
The Mac App Store launched this week and after a few hiccups in authorising accounts, has been a huge hit. There has been a lot of buzz about it since, but some of this seems to be misguided.
Yes, it makes sense that software should be available to download via an online marketplace like this but it isn’t exactly taking giant leaps forward. All the Mac App Store is really doing is freeing up space within Apple’s high street stores by ultimately reducing the offer of boxes of software that serve no purpose.
Opera 11 beta was released this week, this may not seem like much to some because their market share has been crippled in recent months by the growth of Chrome and the resurgence of IE with IE9.
But to those in the web design community, we still look toward Opera for innovation. They come up with a lot of these ideas first only to be duplicated by competitors and ultimately improved upon.
Seriously, how long had Opera displayed ‘speed dial’ as a home screen before Apple came along and produced their own version. Obviously Apple made this sexier with a curved effect and reflections but Opera were there first.
The battle between Google TV and Apple TV took another turn this week and there are still no clear victors.
I recently opted for Apple TV because I wanted the original version but wasn’t prepared to pay the price. The re-release and price reduction to £99.99 may prove beneficial in the war as it snapped up early buyers.
Although not instantly blown away by Apple TV, I recognise the potential in what’s to come. Initially, the UK version does not give you access to TV programmes, just films and your own iTunes library. But, that will come in time in addition to apps or extensions similar to that on the iPhone.
As soon as Apple made their string of announcements on 1st September 2010, I was straight onto iTunes trying to download the update. After a few hours of re-downloading iTunes 9, I managed to get the 10.0 update.I quickly set up my account and I was away.
Sometimes though, jumping the gun can have it’s pitfalls. There was no one there.What is this? Google Wave?Ah, Rick Rubin, I see you are on Ping, a quick follow and I received some very random musical preferences on my profile stream. Great, who else should I follow? Hmm… that looks good, recommendations based on your musical tastes and people you follow. Great! Who’s on there?
MySource Matrix has been slowly but steadily building up steam over the past few years and Squiz, the creators of the popular open source Content Management System recently announced a new era in it’s development.The Squiz Suite will launch in November 2010 and will contain a multitude of tools to offer a complete solution for enterprises.The new suite consists of:
What? No Mysource Matrix? No MySource Mini? Surely these are hallmark features of any new system from the developers over at Squiz labs?Don’t worry people, they’ve been rebranded.
So, one of the most anticipated launches of 2009, Google Wave has come to an end less than a year later in 2010. At one point, Google Wave invites were passing hands on eBay for hundreds of dollars but now it’s getting brushed under the carpet. There were definitely some critics of the technology that set out to replace email.
On the one hand, it was a concept that was better than email. On the other hand, perhaps this was a step too far ahead of its users but you can’t blame Google for trying.I don’t think it has all been a waste though. A lot of that innovation won’t end up on the scrap heap, but surely must be reused in alternative projects.For example, we already have (in the US) embeddable maps within GMail. One of the hallmark features of creating a wave was being able to embed a map and collaborate on it. This feature will live on and hopefully be released throughout the world soon.
Design process: Picking a frontend framework
Desig process: Using Foundation locally
Design process: Initial designs
Design process: Picking a font
Design process: Selecting colours