Those would give me the ability to have the same interface no matter laptop, iPhone, iPad och any other device and as the kronan på verket; seemless syncing via Dropbox.com

… but it didn’t turn out that easy at all albeit the current plain text frenzy spreading the interwebs …

First of all; Writer for iPad doesn’t support subfolders, so it doesn’t integrate well in my workflow if I don’t want to change my way of working and my folder structure. I had to use the PlainText app on the iPad for the files that I kept outside Writers default folder.

The not so plain text encoding.

On the surface the apps looks great; just use the plain text format to encode your textfiles. But little do the user know that the plain text cake comes in a variety of flavours.

PlainText from Hog Bay Software has really strict UTF-8 encodig rules, anything not UTF-8 would not work in PlainText. I like that, that’s my kind of keeping it strict and minimal.

[Update] PlainText now supports the UTF-16 format since v1.2.

Writer from Information Architects on the other hand encodes plain text files as UTF-16.

Writeroom (also from Hog Bay Software) does not have any control of how it encodes the documents, it simply opens the files using the OSX native open file functionality, and there is now way to change the default encoding via Writeroom settings. Result; a new file created in Writeroom would not be UTF-8.

Jesse the developer of PlainText and WriteRoom says in the WriteRoom Google group: “Sorry setting the default setting isn’t supported. I just use the default OS X call for opening the file, and that’s supposed to detect the format most of the time. You can try opening and saving the file in TextEdit, I think that will add a utf-8 metadata attribute that WriteRoom will use to open the file correctly.”

Then there is the fourth part of the party; OSX TextEdit app. By default TextEdit is set to use ”Automatic encoding” when opening and saving plain text files. So it keeps the current encoding of the document; open a file from Writer (UTF-16) will save it as UTF-16. Open a rich text document (.rtf) will save it as rich text formatting and so on.

The result has been a minor nightmare full of files beeing blank in one app, working in another and a lot of logging into Dropbox.com to revert and restore files.

The solution for now …

Here is what you have to do to get all files cleaned up and working on all devices/apps.

Start off by opening TextEdit, change the “Open and Save”-settings to “Automatic” for opening and “UTF-8” for saving files. Then open all the textfiles that you want to ‘clean’, or that you have in your writing-envirionemnt. Do ”Save as …” and make sure the encoding is set to ”UTF-8” in the Save as dialog. After that you have to go back and change the default TextEdit “Open”-settings to “UTF-8”.

After that you must download the Writeroom 2.5 development Beta from the WriteRoom Dev Versions cos it supports setting the default encoding to UTF-8.

Writer still has to change it’s standard encoding into UTF-8 … we’ll have to wait for that to happend.

PlainText has loosened it’s encoding rules and now reads UTF-16 (iA Writer files).

After the first one or two steps where the video was uploaded to YouTube and published on Erics site credit in most cases were lost.

So my tip is to always include your name/site/twittername or something on the first frames in the video, but don’t pester the poster image with it.

If you don’t do that you might miss a ton of goodwill if your work goes viral.

Jeremy Messersmith – Tatooine from Eric Power on Vimeo.

I’ve embedded the Vimeo version cos it has the correct credits :-).

We teach you to read and write so that you can understand the world around you and have a chance to create your own values and views. So that you can form, affect and change yours and others opinions. So that you can engage in causes that you value. So that you maybe one day can change the world.

Our understanding of why we shall teach you this is based on the way information have been distributed the last 100 years; from a variety of sources with exclusive access to information; sources that decided to filter and shape the information the way they saw it and then distributed it to the rest of the world in the form of tv, newspapers, radio and printed matter.

Unfortunately the media landscape have changed dramatically; when newspapers, radio and tv were born they were independent, they tried to stay neutral and represent the truth. Today only a handful of outlets owns the news, the tv, the radio and the music. Truth and neutrality is no longer guaranteed.

Today you kids have to rely on the internet to stay independent. But with one big differance; there is no one collecting and gathering the truth for you. You have to do that yourself. The good thing is that it’s out there free for any of you to access. It’s in the Twitter streams, the Facebook statuses, the blogs and the open source tools, the api:s, the openGov projects, the UN databases, schools, librarys and a lot more.

But if you don’t know how to access, compile, compare and work with all this raw data you will be as easy mislead as we have been.

So, kids, I’m not saving up huge amounts for you to spend on housing, education and leisure in the future. I’m working my ass off to learn programming; PHP, Javascript, jQuery, C++, XML, JSON and more so that I firstly can make a living and help Malin support you and our family. Secondly so that I can give you the tools and knowledge to access the worlds sources of information and independently investigate and evaluate the world that is ahead of you. So that you can be free to find out things for yourself. Cos without the basic knowledge of computer programming you will not be able to draw your own conclutions. You can not form, affect and change yours or others opinions. You can not engage in causes that you value. You cannot change the world.

/Dad.

My back-up has three main components;1. Instant/realtime backup of workfolders and DBs. 2. Daily backups of my complete workstation/laptop. 3. Passive backups on my archives that is activated automatically when I archive stuff

My back-up has three main components;1. Instant/realtime backup of workfolders and DBs. 2. Daily backups of my complete workstation/laptop. 3. Passive backups on my archives that is activated automatically when I archive stuff

The setup has three basic components;

1. Instant/realtime backup for the stuff I work right now + databases.
2. Daily backups of my complete workstation/laptop.
3. Passive backups of my archives that is activated automatically when I archive stuff.

For the instant backups I use Dropbox Pro with the Symlinks-script installed (more about that at the end of the post). Via the symlink- script Dropbox monitors my workfolders/files and backs them up the very second anything changes. Dropbox offers 50Gb storage for $9.99 a month or 100Gb for $19.99 a month. I signed up for the 50Gb account and it has worked fine for me so far.

For the daily/nightly backups of my laptop I chosed iDrive.com. They offer 150Gb for $4.95 a month and has an extremely good interface when you want to create your backup sets. The size restriction on the account hasn’t been a problem to me, and I guess they will offer unlimited storage in a near future.

For the “passive” archive backups I have choosen to go with Mozy.com. I really wanted to use Backblaze.com since I felt that is was more flexible, faster and has a better user experience in general but I have files that is up to 20 years old that has to be backed up from old cd-roms (remember those days :-) and somehow OSX Leopard won’t read those discs. So I had to go with OSX Tiger on the archive server … and Backblaze isn’t available for Tiger. Anyway, Mozy offers unlimited storage at $4.95 a month so thats perfect for the archives.

Here is how you set up the Symlinks script on a Mac.

The Symlinks script allows me to sync/backup folders outside the default Dropbox folder. That way I can keep my filestructure and the workflow I have had pre-Dropbox.Basically it let’s me right-click any folder or document and create an alias (symlink) to my Dropbox-folder. Via that symlink Dropbox can then monitor my workfolders/files and sync/back up any file the second it changes.

First download the Symlinks files.

1. Place the “Create Symbolic Link.workflow” file in Home Folder/Library/Workflows/Applications/Finder/

2.Place the “Create Symbolic Link.action” file in
Home Folder/Library/Automator

If any of the folders do not exist … create them.

How to create Symlinks using Automator:

1. Right Click file or folder you wish to monitor.
2. Choose More
3. Choose Automator
4. Select Create Symbolic Link

5. Once you select Create Symbolic Link the script will prompt you and ask for the location of the alias/symlink. Choose your Dropbox folder and click continue.
6. The symlink will be created in the Dropbox folder and look like a traditional Mac-alias within the Dropbox folder.

Step-by-step tutorial based on “Dropbox Tutorial – OS X Symlinks.pdf” by Stephen Russet.

For more detailed information please visit the Dropbox wiki

Over the years I have built a library of icons and graphics that I regulary use to make fast and generic illustrations for pitches and presentations. The purpose of the icons is to be clean and generic and used to illustrate ideas, flows and strategies. They are not intended for GUI design or more proper wireframing since they are quite a mix of different styles.

I thought that I might share my library since there must be people spending hours trying to find graphics for their presentations.

Feel free to download them and use them as much as you like. Included in the .zip-file is:

• Icons as Illustrator file (.ai).
• Icons pasted into a clean Keynote document.

Some examples on how I have used them:

“We’ve all had them dangling around our necks – conference badges. But what do they really do for us? They tell the event staff that we’re allowed in to certain areas (and maybe even allowed a “free” lunch).

But how are they useful to us, the conference attendees? Ok, it’s handy to see people’s names, and see what their title or role is. Some badges have a schedule printed on them, which is nice.

Beyond that – usually the badge doesn’t do much more than just hang there.”

Precisely, and that is why we want to broaden the focus from the badge to the conference experience as a whole.

Jaan further writes:

“In my point of view a badge should do two things:
1) Help me identify people I know from the online world but that I have never met in real life.
2) Help me explore and experience the event in the best way possible.”

The first point is mostly a design issue and this is where the UX Australia competition is focused. But the badge itself has limitations on how useful it can be no matter how creatively it has been designed. And we don’t think that a better badge is the only solution to a better event experience.

The problem we and other conference attendees have is that we always end up with a smattering of flyers, business cards, session notes, email addresses, names, schedules and other info that we found useful and interesting.

Unfortunately all this info tends to end up in a drawer, tucked inside the conference bag, and it never sees the light of day again.

The problem is storage and access.

What we think is missing is a conference hub where you can store, and more importantly access, your collected info in an easy and quick way long after the conference has ended.

Our solution centres on QR codes and mobile devices.

As you know QR codes can link to huge amounts of information. They are easily created, and scanning is done using your cell phone’s camera.

Here is a scenario:

Imagine signing up for a conference. In the confirmation email you get a link to an app that you can install on your mobile device.

After installing, you use it to socialize with other attendees Crowdwine style, get the latest updates on schedules, hotel info, useful maps or any other type of useful conference information.

When you arrive at the conference you don’t have to stand in line for registration. You simply scan the registration QR code that is displayed on huge screens throughout the conference lobby.

All the info you provided about yourself when you signed up for the event gets printed together with your own unique QR code on the badge that you pick up as you breeze on through to the event hall.

Next you attended a great presentation. On your way out you scan the sessions QR code that’s displayed by the door. This action pulls the session slides and the speaker’s contact info in to your conference app.

During the lunch break you discuss the session with some fellow attendees. Instead of exchanging business cards you scan each other’s QR codes. This puts contact information, latest blog posts, portfolios, latest tweets etc into the conference app. Contextual, and easily accessible.

In the exhibition hall you watch an interesting product demo. You scan the exhibitor’s QR code and receive conference specific offers and all the info you could possibly need in to the event app.

Other things organizers use QR codes for include links to Google maps displaying places to eat lunch and dinner, and also other related events like BarCamps, bar crawls, parties and more. They are displayed on printed banners as well as screens throughout the venue.

Next you go back to the hotel to get ready for the conference party. But before the party you want to go down to the bar crawl and meet some local businesses. You scan their QR codes from the programme and the conference app creates a map with their locations, as well as giving you directions from your hotel to the crawl. Additional info about the business you chose is also added to your app.

At the party your meet more really interesting people and have a great time. Cheers.

After the conference has ended and you’re back at home base you launch the app and there it is – all the info you collected nicely organised and easily accessed and distributed to your other apps (Address book, Things, etc).

So, that is how we would like to experience future conferences!

As you can see, there are numerous benefits to us attendees. The pros for the organizers, sponsors and exhibitors are also many. Not least from a cost/environment perspective. Less printed material (that is outdated as soon as the event is over) equal less paper, ink and transport costs. Less physical materials means cheaper clean-ups and less time spent pre and post the event.

Back to the competition! Our UX Australia badge competition entries are over at the event’s Flickr group:

Look for the files submitted by “Nofont” and “jorvet”. Each badge version comes with a detailed explanation on our ideas for their components. Let us know what you think of them.

Remy Sharp and Chris Mills gave an excellent, from a designers point of view, introduction to unobtrusive development and accessibility. As a designer getting more involved in technology and development the level was excellent, some stuff I knew and some stuff were new that I didn’t know of.

The technology Remy and Chris spent two hours describing was completely focused on enhancing the user experience of a website. The point of the talk was to show how and what you could do to make a site work no matter what plaform or level of css-, html- and javascript support the visitor has. It was obvious that what they talked about has to be used by us designer and developers to make the most out of our clients businesses and the sites that we produce for our clients.

The shocking thing to me was some of the questions from the audience and some of the tweets after Chris and Remys presentation:

“Have you talked to a designer about graceful degradation? How do you think we designers feel creating a lot of different versions of a website?”

“Isn’t graceful degredation just a lazy/bad (couldn’t hear the exact wording) solution … why don’t you just force the user to upgrade to a better browser?”

“… sane thoughts but not appliable in reality …”

I might have quoted some of you wrong but it’s the general attitude in the questions I’m trying to capture.

What the …? How on earth can you ask such questions after seeing and hearing Chris and Remy for two hours? And the sad thing was that some of the questions came from people working at some of the most promintent agencys in Sweden.

If you as a designer or developer doesn’t understand the value or choose not to use the available technology, you will lower the possibility for your clients to run their business online and in the end you are going down a quite risky path wasting your clients money and, worst of all, risking their business.

As a designer it’s your responsibility to dig into technology and get a brief understanding of what it does and how it works, you don’t have to know it inside out, you just have to get a brief understanding so that you can design and plan for it in your projects.

Design is not about beauty or pixel perfection, it’s about delivering content and functionality to the end user so that the get a hassle free experience when they encounter your clients business.

If you fail to do that you will, hopefully, be out of business pretty soon cos:

1. Your clients will go somewhere else because what you deliver will be bad for their business. If a site fails to make a sale due to lack of decent degredation you have failed. No matter how great the design and error free validation the site has.
2. Your co-workers won’t continue working with you because you’ll become an obstacle, a no-doer that hinders the development of great sites and services.

That’s my response to the questions.

Watch the talk here:
http://bambuser.com/node/218451
Slides will be available at:
http://my.opera.com/chrismills

In his traditional way of thinking there is a clear and strict agency-hierarchy. The production slave is at the bottom of the food chain. He or she is eaten by the designer who then gets wolfed down by the copy/art director. On top of it all the Creative Director is orchestrating the gluttony. And that’s the way it always has been … not in every agency of cource, but unfortunately in way to many agencies run predominately by middle aged white men there is a love for the hierarchy.

In my world tech and design/creativity goes hand in hand. But hierarchys like that that is outdated and will strain creativity. Your ideas and creative is not better just because you have the title “Art director”, probably you have a lot more experience in a lot of fields but using the hierarchy today as a validation of quality is wrong.

To me the hieararchy was valid when tech was slow and there were well defined surfaces between the communicator and the reciever, when there was TV, radio, print and old school web. Then the distribution chains and channels of communication was fixed and monopolitized by creatives. It did cost a hell of a lot of money to reach the broad masses, and as a creative you could charge a hell of a lot to let people use your fixed channels. The time from idea to public apperance and impact was long.

But that is pure business and, again, has nothing to do with creativity or quality of ideas.

The essence of personal creativity to me is to capture and realise your ideas, nurture your curiosity and most important get your ideas out in public. To me an idea is worht nothing if it’s not outed and valued and viewed by others.

Back then it was impossible for John Doe to get his stuff out and make an impact on the broader mass and therefore the correct and only way to do things was to move up the hierachical ladder. To support and be apart of the hierarchy.

Today it’s different. The time from idea to apperance and impact is close to zero.

As a creative you need to get into tech cos it’s is the way to commuicate today. It is the way to realise your ideas. It is the way to impact the masses. Tech has made it possible for anyone to have an idea, produce it and make it available for the masses, thus making an impact. And the beauty of it is that tech doesn’t care if you are an art director or production retard. As long as you know how to tech you will have the power to change the world.

You don’t have to become a rockstar developer, you just have to get your ass out of your creative dungeon and move over to where the tools and techs reside. Read, learn, test, try and explore.

I condemn the hierarchy, if you support it you will be sitting with your brilliant ideas in an ancient structure that doesn’t let you realise your ideas. You will be left behind because every idea you have will be made public by someone else long before you.

You can be a brilliant copywriter but noone will hear you.
You can be a fantastic art director but noone will see you.

If you want to make a change, if you want to impact a broad mass. For gods sake, embrace tech.

I'm really happy with the environment I have. It's based on the MAMP php/Apache/mySql server.

The environment I have had for a while now is basically:

• Local server – MAMP (MySQL, Apache and PHP5). Since I’m a designer by heart I wanted a really simple interface to start with and Mamp gave me that.
• Mac and Windows environment. Through Parallels Desktop I can run Windows XP which is really valuable when testing sites, scripts and such.
• A bunch of browsers for both Mac and Win; Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome, Firefox and Opera.

That base will get you a long way, but it might be a good idea to check your stuff with Browsershots.org that will batch render your site in a vast amount of browsers and platforms. Or check out Litmus new Alkaline app. The downside with those services is that you get a astatic render of the site you are testing so interaction, javascipt and such cannot be tested, thats why I bought Parallells to run XP on.

Googles Chrome browser is picking up speed but it’s still not available for Mac, so if you to check your site in Chorme you can install CrossOver Chromium. It’s a ported version of Chorme developed on the Wine open source project. Be aware that CrossOver Chromium is still a test so don’t rely too hevily on it yet.

For hosting I’m using Bluehost (US) and Binero (Swe).

When developing sites iPhoney is a good Mac iPhone simulator running webkit.

When developing sites it might also be good to check them in a mobile interface. If you don’t want to flip your iPhone out every minute you can install the iPhoney desktop application. It simulates browsing in the iPhone and is built on Safari/Webkit. iPhoney is only available for the Mac.

Coding software.
Which web development software you use is a matter of taste as long as you don’t use crap like Frontpage or any other app that generates code for you via a wysiwyg interface. Your site is doomed to be filled with tons of crapcode and you’ll learn nothing.

Personally I have switched from Dreamweaver to Coda about a year ago, and I must say that I really love Coda. As soon as you get that basic knowledge in HTML, XHTML, CSS you should get an app that lets you handcode your own sites. In that way you learn more and get much better control of what you are doing … or at least what you are trying to do :-)

Browser plugins and other tools.
There are tons of addons and plugins for you to use. Some of the ones I use for development and debugging is:

Firebug - one of the most popular addons for Firefox. It gives you full overview of your site/components. Has really good debugging features like DOM-, CSS-, Html-, script-inspectors among others.

YSlow – analyses what, when and how fast every component of your site loads. So if you have a slow site, install YSlow and find out whats causing the lag.

CSS Edit – Initially I used CSS edit, but after a while I switched to Firebug and Codas built in DOM-inspector. CSS Edit gives you a custom browser in which you can examine your DOM elements and classes. One of the best things with CSS Edit is that you can create local CSS overrides for existing websites.

When developing column based designs Gridfox lets you set up your custom guides.

Gridfox – If you have built your own CSS framework or are using an existion one Gridfox lets you create guiding columns to aid your development. You can specify number of columns, widths, padding and more.