This section covers stuff that my geek-side might be interested in knowing about. I've separated it off because unless you're also a bit of a geek there's probably nothing of interest here for you.
tell me about your toys then?
I do all the web work and graphics for splateagle.com myself and all of it at present on Apollo, a late 2010 MacBook Pro (core i7) I expect most sane people think it's sad to name your computers but I don't care, I'm an anthropomorphist - sosumi! ;)
My first computer was a BBC model B, back in the mid 80s*, that sparked my interest in computers and was eventually replaced by an Amiga 500+ much to my delight and surprise at the beginning of the 1990s.
The 500+ gave way to an A1200 about three years later and that computer incredibly staggered on into the 21st century before finally being replaced by Sparky, a Titanium PowerBook G4 (running OS X 10.0) in 2001.
Flash, a 2005 model 1.67ghz PowerBook G4 (running Mac OS X 10.3 - 10.5) picked up the mantle from Sparky in 2005 after a nasty accident with a glass coffee table and a tripped on power cable smashed the venerable TiBook's hinges and screen bezel. I reckon I'm probably on a 4-6 year replacement cycle now so hopefully won't be shelling out for a new machine again before 2015.
* we had a family ZX81 earlier than that, and of course the obligatory TV pong-clone games consoles... but the Beeb was the first machine that was explicitly mine.
My first computer was a BBC model B, back in the mid 80s*, that sparked my interest in computers and was eventually replaced by an Amiga 500+ much to my delight and surprise at the beginning of the 1990s.
The 500+ gave way to an A1200 about three years later and that computer incredibly staggered on into the 21st century before finally being replaced by Sparky, a Titanium PowerBook G4 (running OS X 10.0) in 2001.
Flash, a 2005 model 1.67ghz PowerBook G4 (running Mac OS X 10.3 - 10.5) picked up the mantle from Sparky in 2005 after a nasty accident with a glass coffee table and a tripped on power cable smashed the venerable TiBook's hinges and screen bezel. I reckon I'm probably on a 4-6 year replacement cycle now so hopefully won't be shelling out for a new machine again before 2015.
* we had a family ZX81 earlier than that, and of course the obligatory TV pong-clone games consoles... but the Beeb was the first machine that was explicitly mine.
I'm having problems, help?
Now that I'm increasingly building websites for clients I've begun taking a more professional approach to the compatibility of my own site.
I still feel that web design is more art than science, and I'm resigned to the fact that any site will probably misrender to a certain extent on some systems. However if you're using a 21st century operating system and web browser, and finding parts of the site don't work, please let me know and I'll endeavour to fix the problem.
I still feel that web design is more art than science, and I'm resigned to the fact that any site will probably misrender to a certain extent on some systems. However if you're using a 21st century operating system and web browser, and finding parts of the site don't work, please let me know and I'll endeavour to fix the problem.
why are you using Flash/Javascript?
I know, I know, HTML5 is where it's at right? Except it's like a gorgeous cake that's not fully baked yet - browsers that support HTML5 don't yet do so consistently, and while it'll be delicious when it's finished it just isn't quite there... yet.
In time I hope to migrate most of splateagle.com's content to the new standards but in the mean time there are things I want to do which I know I can achieve using Flash or Javascript, so I use those tools.
I've endeavoured to keep Flash to a minimum since it excludes the (ever increasing) audience on iOS, but there are some parts of the site (Photo albums for the time being) that you just won't be able to view properly on your iPhone/iPad for now. Sorry.
Similarly I try not to use Javascript where CSS will do, if you're a code-head and spot somewhere you think I could further streamline the site I'd love to hear from you.
In time I hope to migrate most of splateagle.com's content to the new standards but in the mean time there are things I want to do which I know I can achieve using Flash or Javascript, so I use those tools.
I've endeavoured to keep Flash to a minimum since it excludes the (ever increasing) audience on iOS, but there are some parts of the site (Photo albums for the time being) that you just won't be able to view properly on your iPhone/iPad for now. Sorry.
Similarly I try not to use Javascript where CSS will do, if you're a code-head and spot somewhere you think I could further streamline the site I'd love to hear from you.
credit where credit's due...
splateagle.com is created using Adobe's all conquering software juggernaut: Creative Suite 5
some of the technical guts of the site were built using RealMac's Rapidweaver, specifically the excellent plugins RapidBlog, Formloom and Accordion (all of which free up my coding head for CSS, javascript and activescript...)
The case studies on the front page are powered by Christophe Beyls's excellent slimbox script (which I finally found after tearing my hair out for a day trying to get various other lightbox scripts to play nice)
web hosting is provided by Little Oak
...and all site design work is done (by me) on an Apple Macintosh computer running Mac OS X
