Ask web developers about the tools they use, and it’s likely they’ll start talking about hardware, software and web applications. That’s understandable, but it’s not the whole picture.
I believe things like software pale in comparison with the most powerful tool available: coffee.
It's CSS Naked Day, is your markup showing?
There's a certain purity to seeing content with absolutely no CSS applied. Raw structure, a focus what the page is really about. It pares away all possible distraction, shows the heirarchy of content. Plus, it kind of reminds me of the early days when my net access was text-only ;) (vt100, dialup).
Running good semantic HTML without any CSS is perhaps the most levelling thing you can do - everyone can use it. Desktop browsers, mobiles, Lynx, screen readers... the Googlebot is pretty big on text, too.
Good structural markup is the foundation for a solid, flexible and maintainable website. You should always pay attention to your markup!
Many things live on past their use-by date, but few have shown the zombie-like tenacity of IE6. It has remained animated, chewing on our brains long after it should have stopped twitching.
We've all felt the pain of building for IE6 alongside modern browsers. So, it's glorious to be able to say this - 2009 is the year we get rid of IE6. Say it with me, people!
The popularity of netbooks seems to just keep on growing. I suppose it's not really surprising to find a lot of people are keen on a cheap, small laptop!
I bought a 10″ Eee PC just in time for WDS08, where it seemed even the Macbook Pro's dominance might be under threat from cheap ultraportables. Since then I've travelled to Perth with it; taken it to several web events; and even used it at work.
Since I periodically get asked what I think of the Eee, I thought I should write up a proper review.
We talk about connection a lot. We talk about social objects, social networks... technology to connect people.
But for all that, a lot of the time we remain distracted by the tools we're using. The experience is often "using the service" rather than "connecting with friends".
Then there are some moments which show us what connection really means.
The old rules for supporting screen resolutions were simple. Monitors were basically all the same shape and new ones just got a little bigger... so all you really had to do was support the standard resolution of new monitors, plus one resolution "back". Easy!
But these days the rules aren't so simple. Desktop monitors are generally bigger, but they come in a variety of sizes and ratios; and users don't always maximise their browser windows anyway. People are browsing on tiny mobile phones that weren't really designed for anything longer than a text message. Devices like the iPhone, Nintendo Wii and Asus Eee PC are new and shiny, yet their resolution is retro.