Posted by Michael on Feb 25, 2009 in
Rumors,
Site News,
Software,
Web The beta version of Safari version 4 is all the rage on the web right now, and for good reason. It is light, fast, and works well. But it also include a bunch of user interface changes that you may not like. Now, thanks to the guys over at Swedish Campground, you can set some of those interface deviations back the way you want them.
Using the tweaks detailed in this Swedish Campground article, you can move the tabs off the top of the browser, get rid of the Cover Flow view in bookmarks, and a get rid of the Google suggest menu, and a number of other changes. All of the adjustments will require a bit of typing, or copy and pasting, at the command line, but if those new design elements bother you then they are well worth it.
Tags: Safari, Web Browser, Web Development
Posted by Michael on Feb 22, 2009 in
Software This really doesn’t strictly pertain to Mac development, but I found this article so interesting I though I would share it. Recently Smashing Magazine published a piece on 50 Beautiful and User-Friendly Navigation Menus. I spent quite log time going to each of the links and checking out the action of the menus in question. While some weren’t really my style, they were all attractive, different and thought provoking.
What I really took away from this article is that we need to re-examine the mundane components of the software and websites we develop. While maintaining the usability and intuitiveness, we need to come up with creative ways to reinterpret what we are doing. Too often we accept defaults or just do things as we have always done them. But we need to stop, look at what we are creating, and ask ourselves, “what would make this program easier to use,” or “what would make this website fun and attractive while adding to its message?”
I guess the real bottom line is architect vs construction crew. Are you taking the time to architect a well rounded solution when you build something, or are you jumping right in with your standard bag of tools and doing the same thing over and over. Food for thought.
Tags: development, Web Development
Posted by Michael on Mar 26, 2008 in
Software,
Web Apple’s decision to offer its own Safari Web browser as a software update for its popular iTunes music service and QuickTime video software could hit rival Mozilla’s Firefox browser hard.
That’s the word from solution providers reacting to Apple’s controversial decision to tightly tie its music and video software for the first time with its Safari Web browser. The move comes with the first version of the five-year-old Safari Macintosh browser released for the more dominant Windows market. That Macintosh version, released on March 18, apparently triggered Apple to offer Safari as software update for iTunes and QuickTime.
“This could be a fairly substantial blow to Mozilla’s Firefox,” said Tyler Dikman, CEO of Cooltronics, a Tampa, Fla. solution provider, reacting to Apple’s decision to push Safari version 3.1 for Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS X to users as an update. “Even if Safari gets 10 percent share on PC browsers that’s pretty significant. I don’t think it will put anyone out of business, but it sends a serious wake up call that Firefox isn’t the only browser that’s different. It shows that there is another player in the game and a lot of money to be made in the browser business.”
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Tags: Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, Web Development
