Slug: two-in-beta-mac-apps-i-love Date: 2007-06-22 Title: Two in-beta Mac apps I love layout: post I’m currently beta-testing two new Mac apps that I love and at least one is approaching “can’t live without” status. Mailplane is a desktop wrapper around GMail that used webkit and provides all kinds of Mac-like spit-n-polish for Google’s ubiquitous webmail platform. There are command-keys for new message, discard, archive, star (a favorite: command-*). etc. You can drag files onto the Mailplane compose window to attach them to the document, and it even has a shortcut for taking a screenshot and emailing it to someone. Using Mailplane means that I can close/open new browser windows all day long (and being a web developer means I am) without having to remember to re-open Gmail when I accidently close that window/tab. It also means that clicking mailto: links open in Mailplane/GMail. W00t! The other is Plasq’s Skitch, which I was turned onto after Merlin Mann mentioned it on Macbreak Weekly. I’ve been using Skitch for all my screenshots on this site for a few months now, I’ve used it at work for processing screengrabs for our applications, and it’s a huge timesaver. While Plasq provides a “MySkitch” web service to host your screenshots, I setup SFTP so uploading an image is as easy as clicking “upload”, then “copy” and pasting the html into a blog post.

Slug: sitelight-brand-new Date: 2007-06-22 Title: “SiteLight: Brand New” layout: post After a long dim spell, today the SiteLight shines again! Brand New is a design blog dedicated to dissecting corporate re-branding efforts and bringing you the autopsy. ###What is this site? Brand New is run by the mysterious duo of Armin and Bryony, and follows a simple formula: the logo before the re-brand, the logo after, and a few paragraphs of commentary. Past targets have included Dairy Queen (“Dreary Queen”), Portland State University (“Linking Design with Academia”), and The Neilsen Company (“The Nine Dots Of The Apocalypse”). ###Why I read this site: Currently a web UI developer (code monkey with crayons), I come out of a graphic/identity design education/background, and reading Armin’s writing makes me feel re-connected to the principles I “grew up with”, especially since few if any of the brands deconstructed so far have been trendy web brands. ###Why you should read this site: If you’re a designer in any area, Brand New will give you a brain boost. If you’re in brand/identity work, pay attention lest your latest portfolio piece be served up hot off a grill! ###Q & A: I had a brief email conversation with Armin over the last few days, enjoy!

Steve: Brand New is a part of underconsideration, which seems to be mostly a wrapper around Speak Up, Quipsologies, TDE, and Brand New. What is underconsideration, and how did the idea of Brand New come about?

Armin:

Steve: Who are you and Bryony, and how did you end up started a web publishing empire? :-)

Armin:

Steve: I’ve really appreciated the breadth of variety of brands that come up for um “consideration” on Brand New. I love that so few of them are web companies, and I feel like that keeps me connected to the larger world of design and identity. What is it about a re-branding that grabs your attention and merits a blog post?

Armin:

• Brand New (RSS)
• underconsideration

Slug: safari-gets-a-new-web-inspector Date: 2007-06-22 Title: Safari gets a new Web Inspector! layout: post

Slug: only-one-on-the-internet Date: 2007-06-22 Title: Only one on the internet layout: post

Slug: site-maintenance Date: 2007-06-20 Title: Site maintenance layout: post

Slug: ratatouille Date: 2007-06-19 Title: Ratatouille layout: post

Slug: rails-on-rules Date: 2007-06-15 Title: Rails on Rules layout: post

Slug: 7-reasons-you-might-want-to-read-dustins-website Date: 2007-06-15 Title: 7 Reasons you might want to read Dustin’s website layout: post

Slug: monkinetic-wordpress-widgets-update Date: 2007-06-14 Title: Monkinetic Wordpress widgets update layout: post

Slug: rounded-menu-corners-in-leopard Date: 2007-06-13 Title: Rounded Menu Corners in Leopard? layout: post