As you can probably see, I’ve done some changes to the front end of my blog.
You’re probably thinking, why? Well, I hate to keep things the same for too long. I thought the old design was bland (this one is too), but not just in the color sense. With this new design, I’ve focused all the bland qualities on the color scheme and overall graphics (which I can improve later).
What’s New:
- Changed the width. I felt like the old width was too small, and this new one should take up more width at a reasonable amount (not the entire width on huge monitors).
- Completely redesigned the menu. This was necessary. Before, there was no menu, it was only in the sidebar. I’ve changed that and now there is a horizontal css-based men.
- Re-proportioned. You don’t want to see too much sidebar. I changed it so that you read more content, and less sidebar. It should be easier on the eyes.
- Changed the fonts. I’m using a Helvetica/Arial font family.
- I’m using a CSS Framework called Blueprint to make the layout foundations now
- Fixed up the spacing between posts. Now you can differentiate.
- Created more padding and increased margins (in general). Too many instances for me to mention specifically.
- Re-ordered and added content to the sidebar. New “Latest Tweets” and “Last.fm Playlist” sections, as well as a reordering for easier navigation.
- Recreated the sidebar headings. Now they have dotted borders, which looks pretty good in my opinion.
- Once again XHTML valid.
Let me know what you think, because I’m improving on this design every day 
To do list:
- add archives & categories
- implement jquery
- write more pages for nav menu
- create typography-based logo
css, new design, valid xhtml
Filed in web design
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This year’s MacHeist 3 Bundle is coming to a close! So before everything ends, why don’t I sum things up. goodie.
So I’ll just talk about the apps I use. First, go ahead and buy the bundle. It’s totally worth $39.
Picturesque
Picturesque is very simple and it’s a gorgeous looking app as well. It allows you to add perspective, reflection, (drop) shadow, crop, resize, and change the background color of images with just a few clicks. It’s simple interface and intuitive approach earned it an Apple Design Award, and good thing for you it’s in the MH3 bundle!
LittleSnapper
Very well done snapshot editor. Take screenshots of all kinds and organize them in a gorgeous interface. Like MH puts it, this it the iPhoto of snapshots. It’s perfect for every sort of use and even includes it’s own built in DOM web snapper. It also includes a free subscription to the online QuickSnapper service.
Acorn
An incredibly powerful image editor, Acorn is simply the alternative to PixelMator. Underneath its simple interface lies a very powerful engine, and I haven’t really gotten to get that engine under control yet. I will post more about this later, but watch the screencast to get a better idea.
The Hit List
This is a must have for any GTD enthusiast. I just became familiar with GTD and this provides the perfect computer-based structure. It’s also flexible to meet your other systems or just as a simple to-do list task manager. Keyboard shortcuts and a great user interface make this a must.
Espresso
My favorite app from the bundle, Espresso is truly amazing. While it is just out of beta and lacks a good CSS Editor, it is the best all-in-one web development application for the price. Check out the MacRabbit site to learn more about it.
Times
Another app just out of beta, Times has its issues (Spaces anyone?) but is by far the best RSS reader on the mac. I love it’s simple, easy layout with the newspaper-style reading. The icon is gorgeous and so is the interface – it’s overall a well polished app that’s great to read RSS on
So there you have it; I’ll add more as I feel like it. For now, buy the bundle! My referral link is: http://www.macheist.com/bundle/u/120152/
macheist, software
Filed in apps, mac, reviews
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With the introduction of OS 10.5, otherwise known as Leopard, Apple brought along a feature long yearned for by Linux enthusiasts: virtual desktops. Virtual desktops, known as “spaces” in Leopard, are exactly what they sound like. You get multiple desktops for organizing windows. For example, you can have a work desktop and a fun desktop, but when you’re in one, you don’t see the applications running in the other (until you switch).
When I switched to Leopard, I didn’t use Spaces. What’s the point? I wondered. Then, after about a month, I turned it on and popped iTunes in one space with all my other applications in another. For me, hiding applications was enough.
About a month ago, I really started using spaces. I read up on it’s uses and decided to give it a shot. Using an app called HyperSpaces, I labelled all my Spaces and started getting organized. Then it hit me.
The difference between virtual desktops and hiding applications is organization. Spaces are not just a nice looking feature, they are functional. As soon as I started using Spaces my workspace became less and less cluttered.
For me, Spaces is now a must. I use 4 spaces (Leopard allows a maximum of 16), each with a different purpose. I have a space for internet applications (flowery wording for Safari), one for communications (EventBox, Mail, and iChat), another for my working environment (CyberDuck, Smultron, WriteRoom, Office, and other work-related applications), and finally a general space to put random stuff in (usually iTunes). Some people prefer to use one Space per app, but in the end it’s up to the user. When I started using multiple space per app, I really started to understand the difference between hiding and virtual desktops. The desktops can contain hidden apps, so using multiple apps in one space was the most efficient form of desktop organization for me. I’m a Dock power user, so whenever I click on a hidden app’s icon in the Dock it unhides the app and takes me to the app’s corresponding Space.
This all sounds pretty confusing, and at the start, it was for me. One of my biggest problems was not knowing which desktop I was using. That’s where the menu bar comes in to play. Just click the little checkbox which shows Spaces in the menu bar, and presto: instant gratification. Another power user trick I like is the big view of spaces (accessible from the Spaces Dock icon or cmd-F8 on MacBooks). It lets me see what’s going on where, and where everything is. For switching spaces Apple has included several nice options, including dragging an app to the side of the screen, using ctrl + a number key, or using ctrl + the arrow keys. 3rd party apps can add even more to Spaces, like HyperSpaces, which adds custom labeling, desktop pictures, notifications, and a nice menu bar space browser. Another interesting Spaces “add-on” is called Warp, which allows you to switch spaces using your mouse at the edge of the screen.
Spaces is a great addition to Leopard, and the extra GUI touches Apple has added make it even better. Combined with the ability to hide apps, Spaces cleans up your workspace, increases productivity, and make using Leopard even easier.
cyberduck, eventbox, hyperspaces, ichat, itunes, leopard, mail, safari, smultron, software, spaces, tips, tutorial, usability, warp, writeroom
Filed in mac
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