Aug 22

Android GUI Starter Kit, a set that comes with several button elements as well as different interface options for Android GUI.

This set was designed by Pavel Maček and released especially for Smashing Magazine and its readers. Android GUI PSD is based on elements of Android 1.5 GUI and was made to help open-source community with Android applications mock-ups.
Most of the elements and phone illustration are made in vector path so they are easily resizable.
For text Android Sans was used.

android_psd_full_preview

Aug 18

By default timthumb offers a cropping starting from center middle. Sometimes you may need some flexibility with a script so we used our knowledge to modify it a bit and make it more functionak for our needs. There are approx. 30 lines of code to add to make it work (see below). This supposed to make the use of plugins based on timthumb more flexible.By default timthumb offers a cropping starting from center middle. Sometimes you may need some flexibility with a script so we used our knowledge to modify it a bit and make it more functionak for our needs. There are approx. 30 lines of code to add to make it work (see below). This supposed to make the use of plugins based on timthumb more flexible.

Also an edited version is available for download.

Added “cropfrom” filter, accepted are values:

1. middle,

2. middleleft,

3. middleright,

4. topleft,

5. topright,

6. topcenter,

7. bottomleft,

8. bottomright,

9. bottomcenter,

simple modification done in 1 place on timthumb.php – easy for any level.

If you want to edit an original timthumb code:

1. Download recent timthumb version.

Read all about it and it’s usage if you not familiar with it yet.

2. Open it in text editor, and:

find: (line 59)

$quality         = preg_replace(“/[^0-9]+/”, “”, get_request(“q”, 80));

$filters        = get_request(“f”, “”);

add below:

// get crop position – added by studio-xl.com

$crop_from = get_request( ‘cropfrom’, ‘middle’ ) ;

// get crop position – added by studio-xl.com

find: (line 160)

imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, $src_x, $src_y, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h );

REPLACE with:

// Crop position – modification by Studi-XL.com

if($crop_from ==”middle” )

// crop from center

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, $src_x, $src_y, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

// crop from middle left

elseif ($crop_from ==”middleleft” )

// crop from middle right

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, 0, $src_y, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

elseif ($crop_from ==”middleright” )

// crop from top center

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, 2*$src_x, $src_y, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

elseif ($crop_from ==”topcenter” )

// crop from top center

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, $src_x, 0, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

elseif ($crop_from ==”topleft” )

// crop from top left

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, 0, 0, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

elseif ($crop_from ==”topright” )

// crop from top center

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, 2*$src_x, 0, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

elseif ($crop_from ==”bottomcenter” )

// crop from bottom center

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, $src_x, 2*$src_y, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

elseif ($crop_from ==”bottomleft” )

// crop from bottom left

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, 0, 2*$src_y, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

elseif ($crop_from ==”bottomright” )

// crop from bottom center

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, 2*$src_x, 2*$src_y, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

elseif  (!$crop_from)

// no data

{ imagecopyresampled( $canvas, $image, 0, 0, $src_x, $src_y, $new_width, $new_height, $src_w, $src_h ); }

// Crop position – modification by Studi-XL.com

* You may delete any block that you don’t need or leave it all for a max. flexibility.

3. Usage:

by default timthumb query string looks something like this:

src=/images/whatever.jpg&h=150&w=150&zc=1

we added 1 more filter which tells timthumb where to position cropping, you need to add &cropfrom=[position] to it, for example:

src=/images/whatever.jpg&h=150&w=150&zc=1&cropfrom=topleft

If you want an already updated file

You may download a modified ver. This one is fully working and used in our WP blogs.

Dowload edited timthumb.php

Demo of all positions

demo link

Aug 14

Before getting started with Photoshop, we all should have first visited the “Edit > Preferences” menu and change the “Performance” settings to fit our personal taste and computer specifications, but this isn’t always the case – in many situations designers simply forget these aspects.

If you never changed the default performance settings in your Photoshop or you just want to double check them to improve the Photoshop performance, here are 10 important and useful points that you may want to consider.

Continue reading »

Aug 03

limit-login-attempts

Russian Translation available for Limit Login Attempts, tested on Wordpress 2.8.2.

Done by Studio-XL, available for download here:

Limit Login Attempts Russian

More info and instructions in Russian here:

link

limit-login-attempts

Russian Translation available for Limit Login Attempts, tested on Wordpress 2.8.2.

Done by Studio-XL, available for download here:

Limit Login Attempts Russian

More info and instructions in Russian here:

link

Aug 01

guessworkCreativity breathes life into successful websites. However, creative ideas and solutions can sometimes seem like guesswork—and guessing is risky business. So what can designers do to show clients they’re using a solid strategy and have the best intentions? The following exercises are a great way to start discussing and documenting aspects of design to help clients shed their fear of creativity and encourage them to join the design process.

Continue reading »

Jul 31

preview

GD Star Rating Plugin – the best Rating plugin available for Wordpress – is now translated to Russian.

More info about the plugin is available at GD Star Rating official website and their Forums.

More info about the translation is available at the Russian version of this post.

Demo and example of translated plugin may be found on Dunduk.com website

Download translation files:

GD Star Rating – Russian

Jul 30

Russian translation for a “skype online status” plugin for Wordpress.

More info about the plugin available on plugin’s author’s page.

Skype Online Status development release

Donwload Russian translated files:
skype-online-status-RU.

Jul 12

From Google Blog:
Like lots of you, we’ve been drawn into Twitter this year. After all, we’re all about frequent updates ourselves, and there’s lots happening around here that we want to share with you. Of course, we enjoy watching, and contributing to, the tweetstream (we hope you find our tweets useful, too). Because there are many programs and initiatives across the company, we’ve got a number of active accounts. Here’s a list of the current ones. We’ll update this list from time to time.

twitter.com/Google – our central account
twitter.com/Blogger – for Blogger fans
twitter.com/GoogleCalendar – user tips & updates
twitter.com/GoogleImages - news, tips, tricks on our visual image search
twitter.com/GoogleNews – latest headlines via Google News
twitter.com/GoogleReader – from our feed reader team
twitter.com/iGoogle - news & notes from Google’s personalized homepage
twitter.com/GoogleStudents – news of interest to students using Google
twitter.com/YouTube – for YouTube fans
twitter.com/YouTubeES – en Espanol
twitter.com/GoogleAtWork - solutions for IT and workplace productivity

From Google Blog:
Like lots of you, we’ve been drawn into Twitter this year. After all, we’re all about frequent updates ourselves, and there’s lots happening around here that we want to share with you. Of course, we enjoy watching, and contributing to, the tweetstream (we hope you find our tweets useful, too). Because there are many programs and initiatives across the company, we’ve got a number of active accounts. Here’s a list of the current ones. We’ll update this list from time to time.

twitter.com/Google – our central account
twitter.com/Blogger – for Blogger fans
twitter.com/GoogleCalendar – user tips & updates
twitter.com/GoogleImages - news, tips, tricks on our visual image search
twitter.com/GoogleNews – latest headlines via Google News
twitter.com/GoogleReader – from our feed reader team
twitter.com/iGoogle - news & notes from Google’s personalized homepage
twitter.com/GoogleStudents – news of interest to students using Google
twitter.com/YouTube – for YouTube fans
twitter.com/YouTubeES – en Espanol
twitter.com/GoogleAtWork - solutions for IT and workplace productivity

Geo-related
twitter.com/SketchUp - Google SketchUp news
twitter.com/3DWH – SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse
twitter.com/Modelyourtown – 3D modeling to build your favorite places
twitter.com/EarthOutreach - Earth & Maps tools for nonprofits & orgs
twitter.com/GoogleMaps – uses, tips, mashups
twitter.com/GoogleSkyMap -Android app for the night sky

Ads-related
twitter.com/AdSense – for online publishers
twitter.com/AdWordsHelper – looking out for AdWords questions and tech issues
twitter.com/AdWordsProSarah – Google Guide for AdWords Help Forum
twitter.com/GoogleAnalytics – insights for website effectiveness
twitter.com/GoogleAdBuilder – re building display ads
twitter.com/GoogleRetail – for retail advertisers
twitter.com/TechnologyUK – for U.K. tech advertisers
twitter.com/InsideAdWordsDE – for German AdWords customers
twitter.com/GoogleAgencyDE – for German ad agencies
twitter.com/AdSensePT – info for Portuguese-language publishers
twitter.com/AdWordsRussia – AdWords news & tips in Russian
twitter.com/DentroDeAdWords – Spanish updates from the Inside AdWords blog
twitter.com/AdWordsAPI – AdWords API tips

Developer & technical
twitter.com/GoogleResearch – from our research scientists
twitter.com/GoogleWMC – Google Webmaster Central
twitter.com/GoogleCode – latest updates for Google developer products
twitter.com/GoogleData – Data APIs provide a standard protocol for reading and writing web data
twitter.com/app_engine – web apps run on Google infrastructure
twitter.com/DataLiberation – our initiative for complete import/export of all data
twitter.com/GoogleMapsAPI – about using Google Maps embedded in websites
twitter.com/GoogleIO - Google’s largest annual developer event

Culture, People
twitter.com/googletalks – notes from our @Google speaker series
twitter.com/googlejobs – the voice of Google recruiters

Country or Region
twitter.com/googledownunder – Google activities in Australia & New Zealand
twitter.com/GoogleDE – Google in Germany
twitter.com/GoogleLatAm – Latin America (en Espanol)
twitter.com/GooglePolicyIt – Notes on Google policy issues in Italy Continue reading »

Jul 12

Learn how to use Google Analytics to find your best performing keywords in Google AdWords and adjust your campaigns to increase the return on your advertising investment.

Jul 11

“Fashion is not about utility. An accessory is merely a piece of iconography used to express individual identity.”
The Devil Wears Prada movie

Fashion is not only about clothing and accessories and goes way beyond the makeup and hair designs. Fashion “refers to the styles and customs prevalent at a given time”. A fashion website should be true to its brand identity but at the same time should be trendy enough and up to date with the latest online design trends, navigation and usability systems; to be fashionable!

The photography constitute an essential part of fashion websites most of the websites are minimalistic and use highly contrasting colors. The music, the mood and usage of 3d elements or photographic still shots reflects the brand and its intended market target. Enjoy our selection!

Continue reading »

Jul 11
magento-logo2

Part 1: This is Part 1 of 2 videos showing Multiple Websites/Stores. Part 2 will go into more detail about store views and multiple stores under the same website.

This screencast from johannes, Magento focuses on one of the more powerful Magento features, the ability to manage multiple Online storefronts from a single administration panel.

This functionality allows an online merchant to centrally manage all facets of a business from one location, while selling through multiple online stores. The first video goes through the basics of creating a completely separate website within the Magento installation, to be controlled from the same admin.

Below are the necessary steps to do this, carried out and recorded on the 0.9.17740 version of Magento:

Continue reading »

Jul 11

According to W3C News Archive, XHTML 2 working group is expected to stop work end of 2009 and W3C is planning to increase resources on HTML 5 instead. And even although HTML 5 won’t be completely supported until 2022, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be widely adopted within the foreseeable future.

So in the spirit of the upcoming change we decided to release a handy printable HTML 5 Cheat Sheet that lists all currently supported tags, their descriptions, their attributes and their support in HTML 4.

Please notice that the specification is an ongoing work, and is expected to remain so for many years, although parts of HTML 5 are going to be finished and implemented in browsers before the whole specification reaches final Recommendation status. We’ll do our best to update the cheat sheet when new changes will become known. The cheat sheet was created by our friends from Veign.com and released exclusively for the readers of Smashing Magazine.

Jul 11

Introduction

Most of the debates on the importance of design in business are usually focused on how aesthetics affect a business’s bottom line. Whether it’s Facebook vs Myspace or Microsoft vs Apple, the argument is a lot like the infamous invisibility vs flight hypothetical. With absolutely no data, it can be argued on several levels and, in the end, often say more about the person than the companies involved.

Continue reading »

Jul 11

Pablo Picasso, the first living artist to be featured in the Louvre, influenced the artistic world in a uniquely original way. So why is he known for saying “Good artists copy, great artists steal”?


It’s true. Picasso really said, “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” Or at least, since his death in 1973, everyone believes he said that.

But why? Why would someone as original as Picasso say something as ironic as that? And what did he mean? Google Picasso’s quote, and you’ll find plenty of opinions and interpretations as to what he really meant.

My intent here, then, is to uncover one possible interpretation. This interpretation involves three levels of design, each of which:

  1. involves some aspect of copying or stealing,
  2. shows increasing design maturity, and
  3. adapts Picasso’s quote to modern graphic design.

Continue reading »

Jul 11

By using Google Analytics with your Ecommerce website, you can gain valuable insights about your transactions, ROI, and customers.


Jul 11

Learn how Google Analytics and Site Search can improve content discovery and landing page relevancy for your online advertising spend.

Jul 10
Jul 10

In this screencast we will walk you through the setup of Magentos interface and theme directory, as well as how you can go about creating and assigning a new theme to your store front.


Jul 10
Jul 10

Magento Groups are the easiest way to coordinate with your fellow community members on various projects to help you accomplish your goals with Magento. This screencasts demonstrates how to create a new group and shows you what groups can do.