Peter Wooley’s Blog

As soon as I learned that XHTML 1.1 disallows the use of the target attribute, I was torn. The ability to force links to open in new windows seems quite powerful. What if you want to link to off-site articles, but be sure to keep them on your site? The reason doesn’t even need to be selfish: wouldn’t it confuse the user if they left your site with no obvious way back? My hope would be that the Back button is now obvious, but perhaps we can’t count on that? For well over a year, I’ve been searching for just why target has been removed. Tonight, through a bit of research and a lot of link hopping, I unexpectedly found it:The reason for deprecating those items is that the W3C wants to promote the separation between content (HTML), presentation (CSS) and behaviour (JavaScript). Making an element centred [sic] within the viewport is a presentational issue; thus it should be handled by CSS instead of a center element. Opening a new browser window is a behavioural issue; thus it should be handled by JavaScript rather than a target attribute. —37 steps to perfect markupAnd it dawned on me. When I force a link to open in a new browser, I am telling the browser what to do; and JavaScript usually controls that. The argument that immediately came to mind was, “Well, when you link to something, you tell the browser to open that.” After some thought, I realized why I was wrong. When marking up, you are creating a relationship for the content to what it relates to. Using an anchor tag relates that marked up content to another document; you’re not telling the browser what to do at all, the browser’s default reaction is to open that document when clicked, simple as that.I’d suggest that everyone read Tommy Olsson’s Bulletproof HTML: 37 Steps to Perfect Markup. It may even make you re-consider your user of the i and b tags, if you can believe that.

Ready for a Metroid / Halo mash-up machinima? Yeah, neither was I.However, there is a beautiful piece of work I think everyone should see.

While paging through my NetVibe’s Design Tab, I happened upon a 456 Berea Street article focusing on the author’s testing of layouts in a ton of browsers.He outlines the order he tests in, why he tests in them and the time and energy he spends debugging for any one. While he does far more testing than I’m currently doing, he outlines the why behind Web standards. I get the feeling when discussing Standards with some individuals that it just isn’t necessary—no one really views sites in iCab, no one actually surfs the web on their mobile using Opera Mobile, and certainly no one with a disability needs an alternative browser like a screen reader or enlarger. The fact of the matter is that semantic mark-up, accessibility, unobtrusive styling and scripting all allow the web to be one accessible, free and beautiful world where everyone can take advantage of the Information Age.

Tomorrow I start a new job working as a web developer for a single company doing their single site. I’ve been so excited to work in this manner, but so many of my peers at AiPD are looking forward to working at a firm (or doing freelance), allowing their creative juices to flow in a myriad directions. Yet, from thinking this new opportunity through, I feel I’ll be able to devote myself to a single project, knowing I’ll have a huge connection to it and, in the ending, expressing my creativity more fully through the limitation of a single company’s identity, site and design—which echoes my feelings about Web Design in the first place: browser interoperability, bandwidth restrictions, screen resolution; it constrains all of we web designers, but encourages us to push the visible limits and take the web in a new direction entirely.

allSnap — www.cs.utoronto.ca/~iheckman/allsnapallSnap is a utility that allows all of your open windows to snap to other windows, the edges of your desktop or the center of the screen. I’ve been using allSnap for quite a while now, but I’ve been hesitant to suggest it as really helpful. I’ve now changed my mind, as I realize it provides a service I’ve always wanted, but never attained. When on other machines without it, I miss it—and that’s a sign that I crave functionality. I use it mainly for lining up windows. Often, I line things up to give my desktop a cleaner (and therefore more manageable) look, but it’s also useful for lining up Firefox and Internet Explorer windows when you’re checking for accurateness across the browsers, or “docking” a smaller window to the bottom of your screen where it’s out of the way, but still visible. This is a hard app to sell, but I’d suggest checking it out. The worst it will do is snap your windows in place when you do not want them to be—and that’s when the Uninstall feature can be utilized.Texter — lifehacker.comTexter is a brand new text replacement app, put together by those crazy cats over at LifeHacker (a fantastic blog that should be in everyone’s feed list). It just came out yesterday (March 2nd, 2007) and has all ready made it into my home and work life. It’s main purpose is to allow you to assign short pieces of text to be replaced by a big chunk of text. For example, for this post I’ve been using a string I set up of ‘aah’. Once I type this, if I press space, that text (aah) is replaced by an anchor tag (<a href=”"></a>) and it moves my cursor position inside of the quotes, thereby allowing me to more easily create HTML links. I also have one set up for my address and even one that allows me to generate an entire template for an XHTML 1.1-compliant web page with proper tab-spacing and reference to a stylesheet. It has already been a huge time saver, and will only get better as I add more rules to it. The best part is that it replaces text where ever you are typing: OpenOffice.org, Notepad++, Firefox, Thunderbird, anywhere!TrueCrypt — truecrypt.orgFor on-the-fly encryption, TrueCrypt is amazing. It’s open source, which sounds strange for encryption software, but its encryption methods are plenty, and they are all sound. Setup took only a few minutes, and now I’ve got automated backup (using SyncBack 3.2) on my vital files running into an encrypted file that I can feel safe about.OttoBib — ottobib.comOttoBib is a web-based bibliogrophy tool. With just the ISBN, you can get a citation in MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian or BibTex! When having to write a term paper (as I am currently doing), it’s saved me from the horrors of attempting to write my own ciations, which always appear slightly different on each paper.Snarl — fullphat.netSnarl is “a fancy notification system for Windows.” Essentially, Snarl has the ability to show a pretty little box on your desktop that gives you important information, whether that be what iTunes track you are listening to or what hardware just got inserted into your computer. The idea comes straight from Growl (for Macs). I should warn that this is in some of its earliest stages of development and is definitely only applicable for those who wish to tinker and play. I would suggset using the latest beta versions of the upcoming releases; they tend to be more feature-rich and let you play with all the brand new functionality.

I have a problem. A big problem.For as long as I can recall, I have had unimaginably hard time dealing with any situations where others (or myself) are put on the spot and they (or I) may succeed or fail miserably. The single factor that determines if I’m comfortable or huddled in or a corner with my eyes tightly shut and hands pressed against my ears is my inability to tell the future. I can’t, for the life of me, know that whoever is in the spotlight is going to sink or swim, do well or die trying—and that drives to me to act in the strangest ways.I should specify that the only time I struggle is when I have absolutely no control over the outcome. This is often the case when other people are on the line: if someone tries to sing the national anthem at a sporting event that has questionable talent, if some body begins debating with no idea what they’re doing, etc. However, things are more specific when I’m the one I’m worried about. For example, if a piece of my created work is up for critique, I cannot stand the time when people are appraising it: thinking, examining, passing judgment. I feel I have to escape any way I can. If it would look crazy to leave, I just wrap up in my ball (as silently as I can) and hope it looks less crazy than walking out.When one of these events happens, my stomach and chest tighten in a way that feels similar to nausea. However, unlike the undulation of nausea, everything stays tight until the experience is over. When this happens, my mind immediately thinks of retreating. I often try to fight it, but it’s a pretty powerful feeling. If I am able to close off enough sound and shut my eyes, I literally feel like I’ve left the situation. I attempt to liken it to when a person has multiple personalities, unfortunately, I have no extra personality to take the punishment I am running from—I just look like a weirdo wrapped up in a ball.If money were more available, I’d consider seeing a professional about this. I assume it is entirely connected to something bizarre in my brain, and I’d love to find it, yell at it, kick it in the shins and throw it out of my head forever.Contrary to what some think, I in no way enjoy my strange behavior. It is, by far, the worst habit I have and the one I’d most like to get rid of. In addition, I seem to not realize what I’m doing when the feeling gets really bad. So much so that, after it’s over, I finally see that I was actually being distracting with my behavior – as much as I try not to be. That makes me feel like I’ve lost control of myself—and I hate losing control. That’s one of the reasons I’ll not be using recreational drugs or binging on alcohol in my life time.I’m sure I’ll be able to take care of this at some point. Either through professional help, growing out of it, or a swift kick in the pants, it just has to go away.

Recently, I’ve launched into a Utility-using trip! Partly from my exposure to LifeHacker, Digg and a few friends, I’ve been able to see and use some amazing applications that are shockingly handy on my Windows XP-based system.Launchy — launchy.netTo start, if you haven’t tried Launchy, you may not have read my previous 400 posts praising its awesome-ness. This application allows you to launch programs by simply typing in the first few characters of program’s name and hitting enter. Plus, you can skin the application with some Peter Wooley pizazz (look for Black Glass and Top Tab in the skins menu). Launchy is open source, and free as can be.RocketDock — punksoftware.com/rocketdockRocketDock is, for all intensive purposes, the Mac OS X Dock for Windows. I was just about to write this one off, but Tyler took a chance on it and it really paid off. The most popular skin for this dock is an OS X theme, so it shows what Windows are trying to do. If you’re unfamiliar with the OS X dock, it is a beautiful version of the Windows Task Bar and Quick Launch spun together with the Recycle Bin and a place for your Minimized windows to reside. It consumes very little memory, very little CPU and has excellent customization features from skins to icons to clocks. Give it a couple of days and see if it grows on you as much as it has me. RocketDock is freeware and not open source.Samurize — samurize.comSamurize is yet another powerful tool. Technically, it is “an advanced system monitoring and desktop enhancement engine for Windows.” What they’re trying to say is that it’s a tool that allows you to view your computer’s uptime, your current bandwidth limit, your hard drive’s remaining space, another computer’s uptime, or a ton of other facts about your computer that you may not even know you can see! In addition, it allows you to design just how you want to show off all that fun information. Using bar graphs, text, icons or other goodies, you can make your desktop look the way you want it to. That does mean that you’ll need to do some work to get it going, but if you’re into the techy side of things, this app will rock your desktop. Samurize is freeware and not open source (as far as I can tell).MacSound — landvermesser.tripod.comNext in line is MacSound, a simply tool that allows you to control your Windows system’s volume similarly to how you might control Mac OS X’s. Upon installation and launching, a volume icon appears in your system tray, and using Alt+Up/Down, you can change the volume setting of your PC. A little Mac-inspired box also appears on-screen, and fades out when you’re done. All told, it takes a simply idea and executes it, what more could you ask for? MacSound is freeware and not open source.TaskBar Shuffle 2.0 — http://www.freewebs.com/nerdcave/It has always bothered me that you cannot, by default, re-arrange the open items in your Windows Task Bar. Apparently, it bothered someone else, and they made an application to allow you to! TaskBar Shuffle is a simple app that lets you drag and drop your task bar items into the order you enjoy. When managing a huge number of items or if you’re just nuts about organization, this can come in very handy. TaskBar Shuffle is freeware and not open source.TweakUI — microsoft.comTweakUI is part of the Windows XP PowerToys that Microsoft made available some time ago. It’s purpose is to allow the Power User some extra power over their Windows XP User Interface. It allows you to control a host of things from what system icons can be on your desktop (yes, you can get rid of the Recycle Bin!) to auto-login to what drives auto-play their content. To me, this options should just come with XP, but short of actually coming with XP, they’re handy. TweakUI (and the other XP PowerToys) are freely available and very much not open source.So, those are just a few of the apps that are making my life a little easier, and a lot more fun. And I haven’t even got into Portable Apps! I’m going to have to write a post about Portable Apps. Hopefully you can poke around with this list while I get around to my next post.

Little more than an image of work shown to a few people is enough to get me floating on cloud nine. In this case, LifeHacker put up two images. Granted they were just skins I made for a program called Launchy titled Black Glass and Top Tab and they were listed amongst the other skins, it just felt pleasant.I had a conversation with a friend earlier where I mentioned escaping. Escaping the here and now and feeling as though I were somewhere else. The conversation came up as a Lord of the Rings song came across my playlist and I left my work in Photoshop for a few moments and drifted into somewhere epic. I find myself drifting away every time I see a piece of work I’ve done in the hands of someone it was not intended for. Whether its a Web site that gets Dugg, a voice over put into a project or a horrifically buggy chat application open in a browser across a room, I can’t help but think I may just be successful. I can’t honestly think I’ll ever get to a point where money is no longer a concern, or gain enough fame to be annoyed when a random person emails me bout my work, but in my occupation, I may just find success.

So, Kevin Rose wasn’t lying and the iPhone does exist!The MacWorld Keynote ended a while ago, and I was watching MacRumorsLive.com the whole time (it auto-updates so you can be kept up on all the Keynote action!).All in all, it was a wonderful keynote, at least from what I’ve read about it. Apple released both AppleTV and the iPhone, which looks like they’re going to be killer products, if the features work as well as they were touted and their prices drop a bit, especially the iPhone (which starts at $499).All in all, the AppleTV now allows Apple into the realm of Tivo, Slingbox and all those Media Centers flying around. I can imagine that it’s going to be smooth- and easy-to-use. The crux off the issue will be how locked down it is, either by DRM or just having to use iTunes, sync through iTunes, etc. Only time will tell, and actually using it!Now, onto the iPhone. The revolution of the year, thus far (The Wii was for 2006). The iPhone looks like an answer to the question not many people have been asking, “Is there a cell phone that has actually had time taken in both its hardware and software design?!” The Motorola Razr is by far the favorite for its looks, but, from what I’ve used, the software is only so-so. It’s nice software for a cell phone, but do we really need to lower the bar of expectation just because “it’s a cell phone”? I’d like to think we don’t have to, and here Apple is to confirm that. Their iPhone is running “OS X” in whatever capacity Steve Jobs meant. It’s definitely not like firing up your MacBook or Mac Pro, but then who could actually use a full operating system on a 3.5″ screen?No matter how much OS X is really in there, the UI is awesome. It’s entirely touch-controlled and even allows for multi-touch—which is the ability to touch more than one point on the screen and have them be recognized as two separate inputs. This, to me, is the biggest advancement. Geeks have been ogling over this for years now, and it’s finally coming to a consumer device. I can’t wait to play with it, Apple Store, get ready to see a lot of me.The other awesome part is that it truly is an iPod. You can listen to your music just as you would on any iPod, accept you can access it with you finger, scroll through album art by pushing your finger across the screen, listen via a Bluetooth headset (as far as I could tell) and basically just rock out in new and pretty ways, but with the same great features of the iPod.In addition, they actually added some sweet Wii-inspired sensors to the iPhone. There is a proximity sensor that turns off the display and lowers music volume when it gets close to your ear (although, I don’t think this was shown, but I wasn’t there and haven’t seen the video yet) and an accelerometer that detects when the iPhone has been flipped into landscape mode. And best yet, instead of just taking this data and turning it into a clunky interface, they use OS X’s built-in Core Animation to make all these things look great. When you turn the iPhone over, the UI actually spins to meet you and changes the appropriate aspect ratios to be just right by the time the motion is done. Everything fades in and out, or bumps in and out. It’s just a well throughout UI that will make several users drool on themselves.It also uses WiFi and EDGE (from Cingular, I think) to connect to the Internet. It runs Safari and even it has had some nice additions to compensate for the small screen. You can have multiple pages open in a “tab” sense, where you actually move the pages off of the screen left or right and then scroll back too them. It’s a pretty great idea… now only if someone could hack Firefox to get on there and work similarly. Then I could have all my Extensions!Lastly, one thing that wasn’t shown was the iPhone’s Camera. Now, I’m not sure why, but the conspiratorial side of wants to think that the camera wasn’t working well, so Steve just skipped over it. I’d hate to think that it just wasn’t worth their time, as a 2 megapixel camera phone with built in iPhoto capabilities just sounds great! Until I’m proved otherwise, I’ll think it’s not ready.There was no “Oh, one more thing…” from Steve this time. I even waited like 10 minutes after it had ended, hoping he would come back. I was really hoping he would say he dropped the price on the iPhone (which is $499 for 4GB capacity and $599 for 8GB), or that he would say Cingular was not the only network they’d be on. But, those were pipe dreams.I will say, however, that I believe the first iPhone I will be buying will be from the 2nd Generation, Revision 2. Hopefully the bugs will be worked, because I’m sure there will be bugs.Oh, and Apple Computer, Inc. is now finally Apple, Inc.

So, as I juggled three separate projects about an hour ago, I realized that Firefox’s default handling of many tabs is just not there. Granted, Firefox has done a lot for the power tab user, but I required more.I believed I had seen a Firefox Extension that could group your tabs into folders and let you flip through the folders, but my search yielded nothing. However, I stumbled upon a great extension that did something I’ve always wanted. It’s called FaviconizeTab and its purpose is simple: reduce the size of a given tab to the size of a Fav Icon. This means the title is no longer visible, but if the website has a recognizable Fav Icon, you won’t need that title! This impressed me nearly enough to completely forget my original search—nearly.I continued searching and came upon another beautiful extension. This extension is called PermaTabs and its function is to keep selected tabs permanently open in your Firefox session. This can be helpful for a number of reasons, including: if you use the “Close Other Tab” to close numerous tabs or if you go on a Tab Closing spree, and accidentally close a tab you want left open. Granted, the latter can be solved using Firefox 2’s built-in Recently Closed Tab function. However, wouldn’t it be easier to never have closed the tab at all? PermaTabs does that!As soon as I saw it, I realized I could use them in tandem and my Tabbing life would get a lot better. I installed them both, restarted Firefox and got to customizing.Using either is quite easy, when you right click on a tab, both extensions are accessible there. First you can reduce the size of your tab by hitting the “FaviconizeTab” and then you can make it permanent by hitting the “Permanent Tab” (doing this action again on a tab will turn off either feature).Now you can move your perma tabs into a group (perhaps to the left-most side of Firefox) and your productivity can skyrocket (well, maybe not skyrocket).There was one thing that bothered me, and that was the color that PermaTabs gives to the Permanent tabs. I enjoyed the idea of coloring them differently, but the default yellowish color just didn’t match Firefox’s default theme. If you would like to change the color, you can go to Tools > PermaTab Options. There, you can select, from a limited color palette, what color you would like them to be. I couldn’t find one I liked, so I decided to do a little digging.If you point your browser to “about:config” you can see all the settings that Firefox is currently using (Warning: changing settings could cause problems, take care with about:config). At the top, you can filter out the options you do not want. So, type in “PermaTab” and the list will update to only showing PermaTab’s settings. At the top, you should see “extensions.permatabs.color”. In the value, you should see a Hex Value representing the color. In order to customize the color, simply edit that value (by double-clicking it) and enter your desired hex value.If you are not sure how to create a hex value, fear not! Head over to Colour Lover’s Color Picker, slide the color picker around and copy the six-digit text above the color picker. Now, just copy that value into PermaTab’s color option (be sure to keep the pound sign [#] before the six digits) and select “Ok”!Once you’ve entered the new value, you can make the changes visible by going back up to Tools > PermaTab Options and simply select “Ok”; see how your color showed up in the color palette, even though it shouldn’t have? It’s amazing!Once you’ve done that, the world of Favi’tizing and Perma’nizing your tabs is open to you!Here is a screenshot of what my current set up is:I chose to go with a darker grey to represent my permaTabs — making them look like concrete, because they’re permanent! Anywho, if you like the color, the hex value is: #c0c2c3.Hopefully this may help those who need more control and features with their Tabs. I’ll keep a look out for that elusive extension I couldn’t find, but I still believe it’s out there. If not, I could always try to make it, but not today!