Blog

iphone web app updated

September 28th, 2009

After the initial buzz of getting this website onto the iPhone, I decided to have a closer look at the code that Dashcode had churned out. I came to the conclusion that it was pretty crap, so started looking around for alternatives and stumbled across IUI, a JavaScript library that restyles your semantic XHTML into iPhone-styled screens.

The result is this, a semantically written set of XHTML templates which work across all graphical browsers and a iPhone-specific look and feel for (yes you guessed it) the iPhone.

Now I can relax and get to work on learning how to write my first iPhone App!

Information Architecture: size matters

September 25th, 2009

For the past few days I’ve been working from home and decided to take advantage of our new flat screen TV (as you can see below).

The resolution isn’t as high as a Mac flat screen, but at 32 inches the wireframes are almost popping out of my screen.

Sometimes you just have to go BIG!

The ultimate mac set-up?

Graphic Designer vs Client

September 25th, 2009

My friend Beej sent me a link to this video today Graphic Designer vs Client. Its a short, tongue-in-cheek clip about the trials and tribulations of working in the industry we work in (Digital) and it made me crack up (more so because some clients are actually like this – or worse).

A little bit of home grown and a spot of picking

September 13th, 2009

This year was my first year trying out the art of home grown vegetables. I always thought this was reserved for old people and/or folk you see on TV, but I was inspired this year to try my hand at it.

Well what can I say, it’s on the whole been a big success. I’ve had rocket, lettuce, tomatoes, courgettes, herbs, carrots, chilies, sweet peppers and runner beans. The only thing that got munched (not by myself) by insects was my second installment of rocket. Apart from that it has been a summer of garden goodness.

Also to note is that we have a load of woodland and hedgerows in this neck of Essex, and so I have managed to pick about 3kg or so of Blackberries this summer. The last of which I picked today along with some apples which will probably be going into a crumble and some smoothies this week!

herbs

lettuce

sweet peppers

tomatoes in bowl

apples and blackberries

tomatoes on plant

chili on plant

Dropbox

August 11th, 2009

My friend Richie sent me an invite to this useful online storage and file sharing service last week. Dropbox allows you to sync files and share folders across multiple computers (Mac or PC). You can also use it for remote back-up.

Dropbox logo

You may say, well I only have one computer, so I don’t need such a service, but it does come in handy. My last few days working at Dare Digital last week were from home (another train strike). I usually have to email across my files at the end of each day, so this not only involves sending an email but is generally limited to files under 10MB (no one really appreciates massive file attachments).

Anyway I thought I would try Dropbox out. So I installed it and set up a shared folder, allowing access to the guys at Dare. All I had to do now was to just drop any updated/latest files into my Dropbox on my Mac and they were automatically “beamed” over to the work computer (and backed up online).

I can see it coming in quite handy for future projects where I work remotely. Thanks Richie!

King Apparel

August 11th, 2009

Last week I was on my way out for a bit of lunch and decided to take a stroll over to Covent Garden to check out the O’Neill shop. Whilst walking down Earlham Street (one of the streets that links off the Seven Dials) I passed by a shop which caught my eye: King Apparel. I decided to pop in and check out the sale that was on and was pretty stoked to find a load of cool clothing at good prices.

After chatting to the guys in the store and picking up a new track top and a few pairs of shorts I walked back to the office with a new stoke. It is always cool to find a new clothing label that produces quality items which are a little different from what everyone else is wearing.

King Apparel logo

Eagle Vs Shark

July 28th, 2009

So Copping (and a few others) thinks I resemble Jarrod (Flight of the Concords fame) from the film Eagle Vs Shark. I am not really sure if he means I look like him or moreso my style is similar, anyway I guess you can decide for yourselves. BTW, go check out the film it is funny as hell!

Eagle Vs Shark

Check out the trailer for Eagle Vs Shark below:

Hungry Browser Google search listing

May 16th, 2009

I’m pretty pleased with my current organic search listings on Google at the moment. Check out the screen shots below for a little evidence. All down to coding this site in an accessible way, writing relevant content and having industry knowledge of search engine optimisation.

Keyword phrase: Freelance Information Architect London

google_1

Keyword phrase: Freelance IA London

google_2

Keyword phrase: Freelance Information Architect Essex

google_3

Keyword phrase: Freelance Information Architect UK

google_4

James Cox and Ashton Kutcher in CNNbrk Twitter race

April 17th, 2009

It came to my attention yesterday that maybe Coxy’s year’s of fiddling about with code and not really doing much “proper” work may have finally resulted in something worthwhile.

Beej told me yesterday about the race between the CNNbrk feed (developed by Coxy) and Ashton Kutcher to get 1,000,000 Twitter followers . Next thing I know James is all over the internet doing interviews with US and UK newspapers explaining how he developed the automated feed a few years back that takes breaking news from CNN and delivers it to mobile phones via a Twitter feed.

The long and short of it is Coxy is now, in a funny way, semi-famous in the geek arena.

BTW: Kutcher’s feed pipped the CNN feed to reach 1,000,000 followers by about 30 mins, still, good going from a Hertfordshire kid who taught himself to code!

Hungry Browser Netvibes widget

October 9th, 2008

You can now get all the latest news from Hungry Browser through the new widget I’ve just launched for Netvibes. It is availalbe for OS X, Windows Vista, iGoogle, Opera and Windows Live. Go check it out!

Hungry Browser Widget