Jorge Quinteros

Soup - Publish, collect, share

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:40:04 -0500

Soup - Publish, collect, share: Soup is a tumblelog, a super-easy blog that can do more than just text: post links, quotes, videos, audio, files, reviews and events. The last two would be great to see implemented in Tumblr.

"Make no mistake, Happy Cog is the best company I’ve ever worked for. I’ve had the wonderful..."

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:29:13 -0500

“Make no mistake, Happy Cog is the best company I’ve ever worked for. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to work on a variety of great projects over the years, but it’s time for me to move on and try some new things.”

- Jason Santa Maria ∞

Keep it "Apple-like"

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:20:08 -0500

We Mac users are very finicky when it comes to using software. Regardless of whether we’ve falling for the next new application to come out and it simplifies our lives in way like no other program has, we immediately have second thoughts on continuing to use it because it may not possess that inherent Apple like feeling and look to it that we admire. Dan Benjamin on Google’s Picasa for Mac:

Generally speaking, Mac users like Mac OS X because it provides a consistent, reliable, trustworthy interface and user experience. We know how things should work, and what to expect. Applications that step outside of that framework, creating an entirely new user experience with its own set of rules, physics, default options, and base for user interaction, regardless of how great they might be, can have a jarring effect on the user.

Prettify* — Nice icons and wallpapers

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:27:29 -0500

Prettify* — Nice icons and wallpapers: Garrett’s latest side project entitled Prettify, is his response to being unable to find a “good place for icons and wallpapers that appeal to his taste”.

Flipping Typical

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:39:00 -0500

Flipping Typical: A functional site that allows you to explore the popular typefaces you currently have installed on your computer and compare them all at once.

The Ultimate Warrior

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:19:00 -0500

Growing up, it took a lot of explaining from family what they meant saying that the wrestling matches I eagerly watched “were not real”. The blood gushing, the punching and chair smashing on heads could not appear more credible, especially when it came from my all time favorite wrestler, The Ultimate Warrior.

I owned several versions of his action figures, all varying with gaudy outfits performing different maneuvers and while they’re no longer anywhere to be found, I often wondered what ever happen to this man I admired as a kid.

Thanks to the charm of the internet, I managed to do some research and verify that he was still alive. His real name Jim Hellwig but mostly known as The Ultimate Warrior back in the glory days of the WWF from about 1988 to 1992. One of the elements that attributed to his popularity was that he was the first professional wrestler to blast on to the scene with a true bodybuilding physique. He had the presence of a warrior and fought like one. There’s several videos on Youtube with candid interviews of him and other wrestlers reminiscing on his rise and departure from the ring.

The Woork Handbook

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:14:56 -0500

The Woork Handbook: Antonio always publishes practical tutorials on web creation techniques and approaches to the medium and now he’s compiled it all in one free eBook with topics ranging from CSS, HTML, Ajax, web programming, Mootools, Scriptaculous and and so much more.

JPG Magazine Says Goodbye

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:31:00 -0500

JPG Magazine Says Goodbye:

If you share the love for photography and were a JPG member, it was undoubtedly likely that you would become a better photographer by expanding your knowledge and photographic skill set. Each issue is packed with inspirational photos, informative how to’s, and fascinating interviews but this morning I received an unfortunate email informing that the community-driven magazine is saying goodbye:

We’ve spent the last few months trying to make the business behind JPG sustain itself, and we’ve reached the end of the line. We all deeply believe in everything JPG represents, but just weren’t able to raise the money needed to keep JPG alive in these extraordinary economic times. We sought out buyers, spoke with numerous potential investors, and pitched several last-ditch creative efforts, all without success. As a result, jpgmag.com will shut down on Monday, January 5, 2009.

I Hardly Know Her

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:26:00 -0500

I Hardly Know Her: Simple web application for a different approach in viewing Flickr photos. Just add the Flickr username to the URL and you’re set. (via Jim Whimpey)

"Gosh, where do I even begin? First of all, no one writes about the Apple ecosystem with more..."

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:03:11 -0500

“Gosh, where do I even begin? First of all, no one writes about the Apple ecosystem with more honesty, depth and skill. You may not always agree with him but you have to respect him.”

- Patrick Horn describing John Gruber

Flip Mino Icon: In a desperate attempt to find an icon to...

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:00:19 -0500

Flip Mino Icon: In a desperate attempt to find an icon to replace the default Disk Image of his Flip Mino but with no avail, Tim Van Damme did what any designer would be incline to do. He designed his own and has made it available to everyone. Simply stunning!

Elegance of Real Simple Magazine

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:29:27 -0500

My criteria for purchasing a magazine is based primarily on 3 things: how constructive the content is, how it’s presented to the reader and whether the material will be worth saving to reference back on if I enjoyed it the first time. Lately we’ve been picking up every issue of Real Simple magazine, a monthly publication about living simply, avoiding consumerism, cooking frugally and basically enjoying lifes small pleasures that come for free. All the articles are very informative and what I find noteworthy is that there’s always at least one story that you can relate to and apply seamlessly to your life.

But aside from all the useful tips, the one element that I was immediately drawn to about this magazine was the beautiful design and photography displayed in every single page. I’m not trying to sell you a subscription but if you’ve never skimmed through an issue before, I highly recommend you flip the pages on one without even buying it. Even the advertisements and annoying subscription inserts are handled gracefully and are not distracting. Ron Reason, the creative director of the magazine explains:

We spend a lot of time selecting photographs for the page, making sure the content is balanced, the images are arresting, and that there’s a diversity of color and style… so that it stands out in the middle of a bombardment of celebrity, screaming headlines. #

As a person with a background in design, the refine use of typography for both headlines and copy text is something that I find aesthetically pleasing and which others readers may deem inconsequential. For inspiration on any project, I always have at least 4 issues on m desk.

I do have to note that while the magazine’s target audience is women, that doesn’t take away the fact that the information provided can be distributed and read by anyone who appreciates the concept of simplifying their life and essentially “Getting Things Done” and doing them in new ways.

Creating a Polaroid Wall

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:14:24 -0500

Creating a Polaroid Wall: Anything that has to do with extending your creativity with your photography I deem riveting, so Tom’s detailed DIY project on exhibiting your much coveted Polaroids on your wall is no exception.

The Web Design Sketchbook: Excellent notebook for designing...

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:24:00 -0500

The Web Design Sketchbook: Excellent notebook for designing preliminary sketches of websites or web apps with the feeling of doing it on a computer but not really.

Monitor Shopping

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:08:35 -0500

Most of my time on the computer consist of array of things. Among the top 3 is blogging, photo editing and RSS reading but when you try to juggle more than one, it can become quite frustrating when the only canvas you have to work with is a 15” screen, which for me comes from a MacBook Pro. For that reason I’ve been in the market to purchase a monitor that would widen my workspace without slimming my pocket.

As an Apple aficionado, I think the Apple Cinema Displays offer features to justify the hefty price and I’ve always favored their products over any other alternative out in the market but this time, I had established making the exception of finding something that was comparable in specifications and style. Without delving too much into the long and arduous weeks of sifting through reviews, blog comments and forums as to what came close to an ACD, I made my decision on a HP w1907.

The 19” screen stands beautifully adjacent to my MBP and offers that ample space that I long desired while still keeping the inherent mobility you gain by having a laptop. This monitor has a very “cool” glossy black finish and its sharpness is out of this world. I also appreciated the slightly underused built-in speakers although I rely more on the JBL Spot system for that thumping sound. The only shock I experience upon final installation and usage of the monitor was getting accustom to that glossiness against the matte finish of the MBP but I’m willing to oversee that.

If your primary computer is a laptop and are in the fence if expanding your workspace is worthwhile, consider the following excerpt from a study conducted by Microsoft:

The researchers conducted user studies that proved the effectiveness of adding a second or even third monitor to your workstation, creating a wide-screen effect. Give someone a second monitor, let them use it for while, and then try to take it away. It just isn’t going to happen. They’ll never go back to a mono display. #

“With a bigger display you look at your work more the way you look at your desk. It took me some time to get used to it, but then something happens. You start you use tools faster and better, you can put things you need to have around open next to what you’re doing. You don’t have to scroll as much, and can use your eyes and your amazing brain to find information fast by scanning over text and visual information.” #

New Years Checklist: Digital Clean Up

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 11:08:43 -0500

New Years Checklist: Digital Clean Up: When it comes to great advice, the same rule applies in that there’s no need in trying to reinvent something that has been perfectly said already, so with that in mind, as the New Year looms closer, Glenn Wolsey shares some exceptional advice in how to cleanup your digital space and kick off 2009 by leaving all the mess that you might have accumulated in 2008.

The 90 D90 Project

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:13:00 -0500

The 90 D90 Project: Photographer Adam Paul took over 3,200 photos with his Nikon D90 in the first 90 Days and decided to put it all together in time-lapse / stop motion short film. He invites every photo enthusiast to join regardless of your camera of choice.

A very handy, applicable scale for this day and age. Not all...

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:25:38 -0500

A very handy, applicable scale for this day and age. Not all form of textual laughs are created equal.

Holiday Bokeh: Here’s to an amazing year of blogging in...

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:39:00 -0500

Holiday Bokeh: Here’s to an amazing year of blogging in 2008 and wishing you all happy holidays. Cheers! (via trigger25)

Where will all the web developers go?

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:45:00 -0500

Where will all the web developers go?:

Chris once stated that “the hardest part of being a professional web designer is telling people what he does for a living” because in today’s world, any 16-year-old can make an HTML page appear in a browser and proclaim the same title without having any “design skills, Internet knowledge, experience and professional commitment to the field”. With all this knowledge gained and dedication given, Gareth discusses what is to become of this profession in years to come:

The real question I guess is what does the demand for skilled professional web developers look like in ten to twenty years? Do we all just do the same thing we’re doing now. I fear their are only so many times you can learn a new programming language and then solve the same problem you worked on at your last job before the world catches on.