Hi,

You may have heard that Google just released its’ open source browser – Chrome. So, should web designers be freaking out about it?

Short answer: no.

Why not, you say … why not!?

Simply speaking, Chrome uses the same rendering engine that Safari, Adobe AIR, iPhone, and Android use. Something called ‘Web Kit’. So as web designers, we don’t have to worry about another annoying engine that can screw up our code.

(more…)

I recently got a call from someone wanting to know what I thought about various image editing programs in terms of their abilities to make buttons:

“Stef, what program do you think I should use to create buttons for my websites? One buddy tells me he likes Corel Draw and another guy is big on Adobe Fireworks. What do you use?”

My answer to this question is simple:

Web designers should not be making buttons.

(more…)

I’m very busy with things (video games, movies etc …) so it is not uncommon for me to outsource some programming work these days.

Side note: I have to tell you, as an old-school web nerd who likes code, it was really hard at first to let go and let others do the work. Fortunately, it’s getting easier with every project!

Anyway, I do have my assistants here at killersites.com, who by the way, are a tremendous help. Nonetheless, sometimes I get outside help for whatever reasons.

Crazy quotes from Java nerds

I decided recently that I wanted to contribute back to an open source project that I have used in the past … by throwing the people involved in that project, some work. I also agreed to release the additions/modifications back to the community.

Anyway …

The modifications I wanted were relatively simple – a couple of filters, some rearranging of the UI etc ..

So I get back the quote for this project. I want to mention that I could do it myself in say two days – and my Java skills are rusty! The point is, this was not a big project.

… And yet in the quote, we had a project manager budgeted in and crazy time devoted to testing. For example:

For a button that took the user to a screen/view that already existed … just a button: 8 hrs of testing!

??

Now we all know that Java guys love to over engineer, but this is crazy! When will Java nerds learn that you don’t need an aircraft carrier to move a rocking chair.

Stefan Mischook

www.killersites.com

This article is targeted at web designers and business owners who are considering an investment in social networking.

Let me just first say, that I have invested in it personally, where I created a video sharing system to help distribute my own content.

… I had other ideas beyond that, but I soon discovered that:

1. It would require a huge investment (millions) in capitol to just get it off the ground.
2. That most user contributed videos are just terrible. I deleted most of them.

You can read the rest in the magazine.

Hi,

I just released a 10 minute video blog talking about the three critical aspects of a web site.

So what are the three critical aspects of a web site?

1. Content
2. Ease of use
3. Design aesthetics

I go over what each mean and I also give you a few hints and examples that you can use in your own web design work.

Thanks,

Stefan Mischook

www.killersites.com
www.killerphp.com