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Its graduation time again. The Web is getting ready to take the next step forward. It's going to be a big party, and everyone's invited! The luminaries of web and tech are preaching the way of HTML5. The next major revision of HTML promises great things for promoters of web standards and those who long for a more open, accessible approach to web design. But why care now? Why should every web designer take notice at this point? HTML5 is far from being ratified, all browsers are not fully compatible, and there are still frustrating but

You've just launched your latest flagship website. You're so proud of your artistic and technical masterpiece, that you invite the whole design team out to celebrate. You're almost out the door when you get 'the call'. You know the call. Its your client, and he's not happy. He says "the website is all messed up! ...the logo isn't showing up and the navigation doesn't work!" You assure him its fine. You even bring it up, and sure enough, it looks fine to you. But he says "No... its all out of whack!" And then you ask the $1,000,000 question: "Excuse

In 2003 Apple introduced the iTunes Store to millions of Mac users. Later they introduced the Windows version to many millions more. On the eve of their '10 Billion Song Download' celebration, all signs indicate Apple is preparing to bring the iTunes Store to a browser near you. There's been talk going around that Safari (or at least the WebKit

You can make your own jokes about the name, or laugh at comedy skits like the recently resurrected MADtv (Google it). You can debate with the likes of New York Times' columnist David Pogue on whether Apple's latest creation will be a great success and "change an industry or two". You can express your disdain for the announcement that AT&T, yes the same call-dropping, data-hog hating AT&T will be the 3G provider. But you can not

Sometimes even 'Breaking News' needs a redesign, and in the case of the mega news site CNN.com, its a welcome change. With so many sources for news online, its hard to crown CNN.com as the king of online news. However, if you look at the raw numbers, its hard to deny they're in the royal family. CNN.com has over 120 Billion page views since its launch in 1996, and according to Nicholas Felton's

Like a puppy passing his favorite tree, the impulse is too hard to pass up. So it is, at times, with Marketing and service branding. The need to mark one's territory is just part of their DNA. And sometimes they just don't know when to say "when". I'm sure that when the designers of the new Network Solutions website set out to redesign that mammoth service platform they didn't plan on making navigating more difficult. As a matter of fact, I'm sure that they fought tooth and nail to make it clean and simple. That's what good designers

It was, as they say, like 'Déjà Vu All Over Again!' I had a similar 'Aha!' Moment the first time I saw CSS used to control both style and layout. Once again I knew this would change everything about web design, and what it means to be a web designer. You may recall, I had written about using AJAX vs Flash, but discovering jQuery for the first time was simply significant. According to the official jQuery website; "jQuery is a fast and concise JavaScript Library that simplifies HTML document traversing,

Blue or red, east or west, a site designed for action is always best! I know what you're thinking. And you're right. Why now? The official websites for Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns have been around for a long time now. The answer is; 'Now is the time that most people are starting to pay attention'. With the election this Tuesday, the "undecided voters" are looking for more information about these candidates than television and radio spots and interviews can provide. The official websites for

The browser wars heat up once again as Google introduces its shiny new browser apply named "Chrome". In Google's own words; "Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier." For the time being, I'll withhold my opinion on whether Google Chrome will be a plus or minus for web designers, at least until the Mac version is released and we've had some time to run Google's (BETA) through our standard

"Form follows function!" I can almost hear Professor Thorpe now, repeating the designer's mantra as he looks out over the class and takes another long drag from his cigarette. A sacred verse in the halls of any respectable design school, and one that continues to endure. We were taught to approach design based on a required or desired

I couldn't stop myself from laughing! "They're called 'MyFace' and 'SpaceBook'," she said. "Have you ever heard of them?" My Mom had called to tell me all about a story on the evening news. Mom always calls when they report about the web. "No Mom," I laughed. "Its 'MySpace' and 'FaceBook'. And yes, I've heard of them." But this time, the joke was on me. After I hung up, I thought to myself "I wonder. Just what if...".

Mozilla is set to release Firefox 3 on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. They are encouraging everyone to pledge to download the new software in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for software downloads. According to PCWorld in recent article; "Currently, there is no world record for software downloads; Mozilla is

From the great Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal to blogger sites of all shapes and sizes, countless journalists and pundits have speculated, predicted and prognosticated. Well, the wait is over. All eyes and ears are now focused on San Francisco"s Moscone West for the next exciting "Stevenote" centered around the all new iPhone 3G at this year's

Imagine, if you will... You're a young hot web designer with a BIG new important client. This next job could make you or break you. You're charged with selecting the best web technology to deliver a dynamic RIA and satisfy your client's lofty user experience expectations. Now your head may be saying "Flash", but your heart says "

No, you're not seeing things. That's not the Safari web browser logo with a shiny new gold coat of paint. Or is it? Its actually "WebKit", the browser engine that powers Safari. Apple's Safari is one of many applications using the WebKit browser engine. In addition to web browsers, WebKit is also the engine for many email apps like Apple Mail and Microsoft Entourage 2008, chat apps