A unique mix of technology, creativity and human interaction makes cnp_studio a Web development firm focused on connecting people. Creating simple, useful Web sites is what we do. Learn more about us.
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
Throughout the development process one item that can be an interesting struggle is icons. On the surface, icons can save space and can liven up an otherwise drab page. Well, that is, icons can save space if you don't label them in some way. The problem then becomes if you don't label an icon then a user has to guess at its meaning. This never ends well.
Thanks BrandSpankingNew
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
Hello and welcome to the all new cnp_studio! To put it simply, cnp_studio is the Web Development team at Clark/Nikdel/Powell Design and Communications, but better. We are still the same guys working in the same offices in downtown Winter Haven (with a little luck, though we might just be expanding into a new home. Stay tuned for that!). cnp_studio is a result of the differences between the advertising/print/PR side of our business and interactive/Web development side.
We still have all of the love in the world for our family on that side of the office. There's just only so many times as a Web developer you can hear "Clark/Nikdel/Powell? Sounds like a law firm." And it's true. So we've shortened it (cnp_studio). Given it a new Web site that we hope you enjoy and also find slightly more in line with our focus on Web Development. We've added this blog, which we hope you check back with and maybe even subscribe to. We love talking about ourselves and it's even better when we have people listening.
So I invite you to take a look around the site. See some of the projects we've recently launched and be sure to read up on your favorite cnp_studio team member. We're very excited about things to come.
Monday, June 25th, 2007
Hey mom, all those years of video games finally paid off! It's an exciting day when I can say we had a hand in the rollout of an official Sony Web site. Josh over at Hyku handled the design of the site along with helping on project coordination. Pete skillfully crafted the XHTML/CSS. Mike, as well as myself, beautifully executed any and all WordPress customizations and Sean handled all server configurations.
You can see more on the project in our portfolio.
Thursday, June 14th, 2007
Just when we didn't want another browser to test, Apple goes and joins the browser wars by releasing the beta version of Safari for Windows. Well, in case there was any doubt about whether it would get some attention, Apple says in the first 2 days after release that it was downloaded more than 1 million times. Sheesh.
NorthTemple has what I know Pete will think is a very reasonable recommendation:
By virtue of the fact that a web designer’s life is already full of cross-browser debugging, I hereby nominate IE6 to fall off the edge of the Earth. Microsoft, you have my permission to push IE7 as a mandatory update.
Couldn't have said it better myself. If you haven't yet, go download Safari for Windows. We will be supporting it.
Monday, June 11th, 2007
Let me rephrase that, Adobe's Tools for creating Flash SUCK! Flash is a powerful and useful tool, very often mis-used, but a useful none the less. From what I've seen so far, the Actionscript language is pretty good. It gives you the flexibility to do almost anything you want with flash and its not too bulky. As for the flash GUI, it sucks.
One of the biggest things I've had a problem with is how hard it is to be productive. The things you use most aren't in the right click menu. IE: Delete and Ungroup. However, they did at least decide that these very useful items should have keyboard shortcuts.
What are they?
Delete : Delete...thats not too bad.
Ungroup: Cntrl + Shft + G ...Uhhh what?
Okay, Cntrl + Shft + G makes logical sense considering that Group is Cntrl + G. However, try doing that one handed quickly. It ain't happening. On top of that the delete button is on the opposite end of the keyboard from my left hand..the only hand I have on the keyboard when working with graphics.
So I decided to search Google for a solution to my problem. Thats when I found the CombiMouse. No more going back and forth between the keyboard and mouse. I've been wanting something like this for years. The bad news is, since their still looking for funding, I may be waiting a few more.
Friday, June 1st, 2007
When I see titles such as "Top 10 Things Not..." or "5 Reasons Why You..." it usually catches my interest. I recently came across the article 19 Things Not to Do When Building a Web Site and I have to say that they're dead on. I'm also happy to say that these are things that we do not do. Here's a few of the better "rules."
If your website requires the visitor to load your home page, and then “launch” your real website in a pop up, YOU LOSE.
If your website is ALL Flash, FIRE your web development company, and if you made it, add it to your portfolio under “Useless web projects I’ve done” and start over.
If you are a print designer, and “do websites on the side”, STOP DOING websites and providing “advice” to your print clients about web design. Print design to web design is like designing an ad for a race car, and actually building and racing that race car.
If your website does not work in Firefox, welcome to 2007 DUMBASS.
No blinking text, no Frontpage, no pop-ups (even requested), no scrolling text, no font downloads, and no Flash intros.
...if the user has to mouse over your graphic or small image to know what it is, or where it will take them if its a link, quit your job and be a magician or a blackjack dealer, making web interfaces is not for you.
andrew:
hey mike -- thanks for the reply, let me clarify what i mean.... I know that PHP fu...
nick:
Hi Jeff, Thanks for the heads up on the link. It's all fixed now and you should...
Jeff:
I would love to try your plugin, but the download link appears to be dead again. Ca...
mike:
@Denise: 1. The image is selected randomly each time the code is run. So normally ...
andrew:
hey -- great plugin and would like to use on several different pages, not just the ...