This Bill is an Emergency for the Internet
Today Congress holds hearings on the first American Internet censorship system. If this bill passes, the Internet and free speech will never be the same. Join all of us to stop this bill.
HTML5 is the future of web
What is HTML5?
HTML5 is a light-weight coding specification that validates across all browsers, even IE6! It supports markup for HTML4, XHTML1, and javascript very well.
HTML5 Mobile Template
Here is a basic HTML5 mobile template that I created and use. I have many more mobile development tricks, but this is a bare-bones template to use as a starting point and includes helpful comments for the beginner. It shows you how to embed HTML5 audio and video and how to provide Flash and a download link as fall backs for browsers that don’t support HTML5. The page will render on mobile devices without “pinching to zoom” in on the text. Page validates in HTML5
HTML5 drawing web app
Draw with your fingers, mouse, or pen tablet in your browser now!
Twitter is buzzing with HTML5 news:
Forrst Web Designer and Developer Community
I’m a member of Forrst. It is a great community for web designers and developers to get feedback on their work, ask industry-related questions, post links and even code snippets to share. Forrst is an invite-only club making the topics stay relevant and helpful.
Need an invite?
If you think you would positively contribute to this online community, leave me a comment with a link to your website or follow me on Twitter. I usually have a few invites to give out and would be happy to invite a talented designer or developer to join!
A view from the Artistic Abode office
Curious as to what Artistic Abode’s office looks like? Here it is!
This is my home office where I do most of my work. I use a Mac Pro with two 23″ Apple monitors. I also use a Windows Lenovo ThinkPad laptop. A Wacom tablet for illustrating. Canon Mark Pro II wide format printer for photography prints.
I also do testing for the mobile web on (not pictured) Android Xoom tablet, Android G1, Android G2, Android Thunderbolt an iPod and soon to be adding an iPad 2.
Beautiful exotic hardwood floor thanks to Corridor Hardwood. Painting thanks to Abdala Faye.
10 reasons to get a mobile website
Is your smartphone with you at all times? 52% of those polled said it was within an arm’s reach 20-24 hours a day. Your website should be tapping into this growing audience. Check out the top 10 reasons why you need to get a mobile website in 2011:
-
There are 83 million people surfing the mobile web
According to Nielsen’s State of the Media Report from January 5, 2011, there are now 83 million mobile web users. That’s an audience much too large to ignore and its growing by the day.
-
Smartphones outsell PCs
IDC reports that smartphone sales in the 4th quarter of 2010 were up 87% from the year prior beating out PC sales for the first time.
-
Mobile websites reach all audiences while apps do not
Apps can be fun but have several drawbacks. You have to make an app for each platform you target. That means maintaining at least three apps—one for iPhone, one for Android, and another for Blackberry which will increase your cost and time to produce. Also they have to be installed by the user. ComScore states in a recent finding that people use the mobile web more regularly than mobile apps. Mobile websites can be created at a fraction of the cost and will work with any phone that has a browser.
-
Mobile traffic will boost your overall traffic
When your company has a mobile website, you become more accessible to your target audience resulting in what marketers call “lift”. You can significantly increase your overall audience loyalty by being available wherever and whenever they want to access your site.
-
Most websites’ mobile traffic grew by 50-100% this year
Yes—more mobile phones means more mobile phone users. A Quantcast study showed that mobile web use more than doubled in 2010 (110% annual growth). It’s likely to grow even more in 2011 as smartphones continue to saturate the market.
-
In 3 years there will be more mobile web users than desktop
83 million users and counting! Everyone is going mobile, making it more important than ever to have a mobile-optimized website. Morgan Stanley‘s Internet Trends research report found that use of the mobile web on smartphones is growing so rapidly that it will exceed desktop web in 2014!
-
Desktop sites are difficult or impossible to use on a mobile device
Pinching to zoom in on small text, images that take too long to load, Flash, popups… Desktop sites are very hard to use if not completely broken in a mobile browser. Mobile browsing is all about offering up a quick loading and easy-to-use experience.
-
43 million people check email from their mobile phone daily
When your customers click on a link to your website from a mobile e-mail client, it should be visible, accessible, and optimized for mobile. If you have your customer’s attention in their inbox, catch them in the moment and allow them to tap your links in their inbox and immediately see your mobile-friendly site.
-
Your competitors have a mobile website
Going mobile is a hot trend right now. Even if your company doesn’t get one soon, chances are your competitors will. Don’t get left behind!
-
Reach your audience on the go
Quality customer services means being there to assist them at all times. If you don’t have a mobile website, your customers can only view your website when they are sitting down at home. How much of your day are you on your feet or on the move? Mobile websites are a great way to provide directions for customers to find you easily, contact information, menus, product listings and more.
