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The companion workshop to Andy's
The companion workshop to Andy's new book 'Transcending CSS - The Fine Art of Web Design', this session will lift the lid on web technologies including XHTML, CSS and DOM scripting and show you exactly where they fit in with modern web design. Andy will reveal the benefits of working with meaningful XHTML markup, he will help you look at structure, semantics and teach the appropriate use of attributes includingsemantics and teach the appropriate use of attributes including...
Archive for March, 2008
I finally bought a proper iPod, the kind that has a screen and comes with a jar of faux-hawk cream. I already had an iPod shuffle, but I never felt I truly belonged to the International Order of Dancing Silhouettes. It’s one of the first-generation shuffles, the white ones that look like pill cases for hipster septuagenarians, and being a White Shuffler among iPod fans is like showing up at a biker bar with a Harley Hog Cookie Jar under your arm. It doesn’t have the intended effect. But I’m videoblogging now, so I can say in all truthfulness that I bought my new iPod classic for business reasons. I can see what my videos look like in the wild, I use it as a portable hard drive, and I find “One Night in Bangkok” to be creatively inspiring. I feel a little odd about buying anything labeled classic, though. In marketing, classic is a way of making timidity and obstinacy sound cutting-edge. You’re on the avant-garde forefront of resisting change! You hated anything new before hating anything new was trendy! Nonetheless, classic is what I paid for and classic is what I got. And once the final shiny plastic brick had been mortared into place, immuring me into Steve Jobs’ media prison (cf. Poe, “The Cask of Cupertino”), I decided it was time to get serious about iTunes. I, like many people, have employed iTunes’ Party Shuffle feature to mixed results. It lulls you into complacency, and just when you’re getting into the groove, it screws with you. Let’s have a quiet string quartet followed by one of Trent Reznor’s crankier works! And then whale song! Hey, did you know you have the Free to Be … You and Me soundtrack? Let’s treat you to a few minutes of Alan Alda singing about estrogen, and then it’s time for the Star Trek sound effects! Party Shuffle is dangerous, unless you like throwing parties where the attendees get to listen to the sex-chat MP3 you downloaded eight months ago and forgot about. I also looked into Smart Playlists. Some people get really intense about these things, creating multiple nested playlists that can automatically select songs based on criteria like “Punk songs from the 1940s,” “Children’s songs by Kraftwerk” and “Music I’ve already listened to today.” I wanted this power for myself. Most guides to Smart Playlists suggest you start by rating your own music. This makes me uncomfortable. Telling myself how much I like the music I chose and bought seems a little narcissistic. Normally I’m so self-absorbed that if you hug me hard you’re likely to get ego all over your sweater, but this is a bit much even for me. I feel as self-obsessed as a teenage ouroboros on Twitter. Rating my music does not make me feel good about myself. Beethoven? Eh, three stars. I mean, his music is OK when you’re trying to read or sleep or die, but he doesn’t really do it for me. On the other hand, there’s “I Do the Rock.” Tim Curry singing about Linda Ronstadt and Jimmy Carter? A song for the ages! Five stars! Worse yet, people connected to my iTunes library can see my ratings, so my girlfriend, household visitors and random people at WiFi-enabled cafes all know of my shameful love of Frente. The reward for my hard work and mental anguish is somewhat better playlists. I can filter out music I hate along with spoken-word and sound-effects material, but I’m a bit disappointed. I want useful playlists. I want “Tori Amos songs that make a damn lick of sense.” I want “Beck songs where the rhythm track doesn’t sound like he’s throwing Ben Wa balls at an armadillo.” I want “Nick Cave songs that aren’t explicitly about bleeding to death.” Clearly, amassing this sort of data will require some sort of global network of like-minded individuals, all working for the greater good. Steve Jobs is already halfway to creating a hive mind, and I say it’s time he finished the job. - - - Born helpless, nude and unable to provide for himself, Lore Sjöberg eventually overcame these handicaps to get his kicks above the waistline, Sunshine. via http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/alttext/2008/03/alttext_0326
Ninja dogs need not apply. This sweet 8gb iPod Nano you’re feasting your eyes on will only be attainable by the most skilled assassins in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. Of course, this is all based on machine translation, so you’ll have to forgive us some misinterpretation. It appears that there will be three different ways that folks can enter for their chance at the Nano. For one, there looks to be a specific difficulty setting that will apply to this giveaway, meaning that players who partake in the game while in this difficulty setting can upload their high score for entry. Second, players can collect certain in-game prizes (or tokens, we’re assuming). Third, there’s an online survey that can be filled out. Seems fairly easy to us, and there will be a total of 15 Nanos up for grabs. The contest period began on March 21st and ends on April 16th. Again, we’re not certain this applies to folks outside of Japan, so keep that in mind. via http://www.dsfanboy.com/2008/03/24/team-ninja-to-award-high-scoring-ninjas-with-branded-ipod/
Today I’ve found this cool ipod accessory online occasionally!Hope u guys like it! It’s a Blue Heart unique&Deluxe Plastic Hard Case Holder for iPod Touch. This unique case will give yours iPod Touch a great look and style.And it is supposed to give your ipod Touch protection from scratches and minor drops.Dust resistant and keep dust from absorbing on the iPod Touch protector case for much static charge. This is a great accessorie for a Apple iPod Touch owner to have. The case is designed to fit specifically for the iPod Touch only with the proper cutouts of the buttons, jacks and connectors for easy access also with a armband slot for convience. * 100% brand new and high quality guaranteed Blue Heart Deluxe Plastic Hard Case Holder for iPod Touch. via http://en.netlog.com/stokes520/blog/blogid=1999888#blog
via http://www.individualsole.com/?p=15621
Mitchell Henderson, a 13 year old boy, (died April 20, 2006) was an hero (not to be confused with no hero) who supposedly killed himself over losing an iPod, listening to Morrissey, and getting bullied for being a wimpy white kid. The phrase an hero has since become a term for a person that causes a lollercoaster via suicide. In wake of Mitch’s death are hundreds of misspelled comments from his supposed friends calling him “an Hero”. Mitch also happened to die on Hitler’s birthday; the anniversary of the Columbine massacre, an epic feat of an heroism by Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris; and also happens to be April 20th. 4/20 will be known as An hero day from now on. NEVAR FORGET
via http://theofftopic.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=105
It is time to custom your boring desktop wallpaper!, and sevenclick gives you the solution. You can choose one or both of this two desktop wallpapers that SevenClick created for you. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, there are two wallpapers available for this handset too. Here you are. Enjoy ;D Wallpaper 01
via http://blog.sevenclick.com/2008/03/19/sevenclick-desktop-wallpapers-iphone-version-included/
The latest version of our free multi-file video encoding is available at http://techlogg.com/rockpod. Despite some website horrors last week, development of RockPod 08 Lite is now in full swing as new features and new device support now feature in this latest release for Linux Build 18, which follows the Windows Build 17 released yesterday.
This new version also includes five filesize encoding options – 64MB, 128Mb, 256MB, 512MB and 768MB – plus a specific encoding option for Asus’ popular Eee PC. The new Eee PC option is a compromise between the slow 900MHz Celeron, decent battery life and the 800×480-pixel screen. The new Linux build works on any Linux distro with at least GTK+ 2.0 or better, which covers virtually all of the popular distros including Ubuntu 6.06 or later, Xubuntu 6.06 and UserOS ULTRA. Both the Windows and Linux versions are available at http://techlogg.com/rockpod.
With the iPod shuffle available in a range of colours, music fans might like to buy one of each, an Apple spokesperson suggests. The compact music players are among the newest additions to CCL Online, available to order in colours such as blue, purple and green. Either the 1 GB or 2 GB iPod shuffles could soon grace the pocket or belt of shoppers at the site. Speaking at the launch of the iPod shuffles last year, vice-president of worldwide iPod marketing Greg Joswiak called the product “the world’s most wearable digital music player”. “Music fans can now choose iPod shuffle in one of five brilliant colours - or they can buy one of each,” he added. Fabricated out of aluminium, the lightweight media player with its built-in clip could be the ideal option for anyone looking for an easily portable device. With battery life of up to 12 hours, the one-touch random play function might prove useful in making sure the same playlist is not heard over and over again. via http://www.cclonline.com/news/newsArticle.asp?articleid=18517282&tid=cclnews
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 26-year-old woman was sexually battered Saturday by a stranger as she listened to her iPod and gave him directions. The woman said a man walked up to her near the intersection of 21st Street and Castro Way, asked for directions, and then inappropriately touched her after she responded. The victim’s name is being withheld as the investigation continues. via http://www.kcra.com/news/15646885/detail.html
I absolutely fell in love with Giffin’s Evolve Wireless Speaker System after reviewing it back in December. After I returned the review unit to Griffin, I missed being able to stream music stored in my iPod throughout the house—especially when I had friends over for drinks. I’ve thought about buying the iPod-friendly system since, but I’m saving up for a high-definition video camera, so I’m reluctant to pay the $300 price tag at this time. Monster Cable has come up with a beautiful, cheaper alternative they call iSoniCast. This simple two-piece audio bridge wirelessly integrates your iPod into your home stereo system, so you can listen to tunes stored in your music player. The iSoniCast ships with a base station that connects to your home stereo equipment, and a transmitter that plugs into the bottom of your iPod and can stream music up to 30 feet. The transmitter also gives you the ability to control the music you want to play, so no extra software or remote controls are needed. The iSoniCast wireless audio bridge is available now, and retails for $99.95. I’m expecting a review unit soon, so check back for a more detailed review.
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