Drew Rattray
| News and views on design vs. functionality balance across the communications and technology space.
November 2008
You are browsing the archive for November 2008.
New App Helps with Online Photo Privacy
November 25, 2008
A good majority of us are on Facebook, MySpace, or some other online social network. For whatever reason, it has become very important to let everyone in cyberspace know what we've done, what we're doing, and what we're going to do, and we of course have the pictures to prove it. Sad to say, I'm guilty of it as well.
One of the biggest problems with the functionality of these networks is that it is extremely difficult to shut off areas of your profile to certain people without hindering the possibility of someone else finding you or viewing what you did today (which is the whole point of the network).
On many profiles there are definitely party pictures shared for your friends to see, that you do not want your employers or parents finding. There are also embarassing work picnic pictures your co-workers tag you in, that you may not want your friends to see.
One of the biggest problems with the functionality of these networks is that it is extremely difficult to shut off areas of your profile to certain people without hindering the possibility of someone else finding you or viewing what you did today (which is the whole point of the network).
On many profiles there are definitely party pictures shared for your friends to see, that you do not want your employers or parents finding. There are also embarassing work picnic pictures your co-workers tag you in, that you may not want your friends to see.
The new MacBook vs. the Economy
November 25, 2008
On November 10th, Digitimes reported that Apple and Asustek were reducing notebook outsourcing by 20-30% for the fourth quarter of this year. This came less than a month after the October 14th launch of the Unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro. It's not very surprising in these economic times, and it also may be that they are bringing production levels down to a normal level after trying to meet the demands of the first month after launch.
Recent reports say that Apple saw a 28% increase in sales over last October following the launch of the new MacBooks and HP has reported that their Q3 notebook revenue grew 26%. But in the long run, I think Apple might be pricing itself out of the competition with how tight money is this holiday season.
The new MacBooks haven't reduced in price at all as far as I can tell, while Windows notebooks have seen about a 20% price drop in the past 2 years. I'm a Mac fan, but you have to wonder how it is all adding up?
Recent reports say that Apple saw a 28% increase in sales over last October following the launch of the new MacBooks and HP has reported that their Q3 notebook revenue grew 26%. But in the long run, I think Apple might be pricing itself out of the competition with how tight money is this holiday season.
The new MacBooks haven't reduced in price at all as far as I can tell, while Windows notebooks have seen about a 20% price drop in the past 2 years. I'm a Mac fan, but you have to wonder how it is all adding up?
Finally... the BlackBerry Storm is here
November 21, 2008
I've been loosely following some of the hipe in this blog and now we've finally reached the release day. As of this morning, you can purchase the worlds first touch screen BlackBerry. Through Verizon it is available for $199 ($249 2 year price minus $50 mail-in rebate debit card) and a new 2 year activation.
I was hoping to be one of the first to comment on real world experience with its functionality and the pro's and con's of the touch screen design... but I was informed last night by my fiancee that I am now in the "Christmas Blackout" period. Basically I'm not allowed to buy myself anything until December 26th.
So please feel free to drop me a line or comment here and tell me and the rest of the TMCbloggers how great this phone is or how terrible your experiences are with it.
I was hoping to be one of the first to comment on real world experience with its functionality and the pro's and con's of the touch screen design... but I was informed last night by my fiancee that I am now in the "Christmas Blackout" period. Basically I'm not allowed to buy myself anything until December 26th.
So please feel free to drop me a line or comment here and tell me and the rest of the TMCbloggers how great this phone is or how terrible your experiences are with it.
Rethinking the Designer Holy Triangle
November 20, 2008
Fast, Good, or Cheap. Pick two. That's the Web designer holy triangle. In most, if not all cases, you can't have it all. The majority of clients don't understand this and most designers don't like to accept it, but both have had to deal with the reality of it.
James Bond is Q-less
November 13, 2008
I'm a James Bond fanatic. I own every film and have watched each one probably 5+ times. I've even watched "the making of" extras on every DVD (I used to have a lot of time on my hands).
One of my favorite interactions in every James Bond has been with the gadget master "Q". Since they have tried to re-introduce James Bond to a new generation with Daniel Craig as 007, they have decided to remove "Q" and a lot of the far fetched gadgets that I love.
What does this have to do with design vs.
One of my favorite interactions in every James Bond has been with the gadget master "Q". Since they have tried to re-introduce James Bond to a new generation with Daniel Craig as 007, they have decided to remove "Q" and a lot of the far fetched gadgets that I love.
What does this have to do with design vs.
Mac based web developers may want to check out Coda before Dreamweaver
November 7, 2008
I didn't learn web development the best way and I know it. My first real job was a typesetting and page layout position for a publishing company. One day the boss asked me if I had any interest in web development. I had zero experience, but said "Sure".
