Monthly Archive for February, 2008

Fonts in the Web?

Fonts, fonts and fonts – thats what you have installed on your Mac! My fonts library has over 200 different fonts and it just becomes obscuring when I try to pick one good-looking font for the web!

Fonts for the web are limited. To get to the point for those who don’t like reading, here are the reasons:

  • Not every computer has your specific font
  • Different browsers might not render your font
  • Macs/PCs might not read your font

The biggest problem with using fonts is that not all computers have your font. If you plan to use a font that you downloaded from Dafont, then do not expect that your visitors will have that font. This will result in the browser replacing your specified font with it’s standard font. That of course will mess your site up. Shifting, ugliness, etc… – you know the outcomes!

Another problem is that each browser renders fonts differently. Firefox varies from Safari and both of them vary from Internet Explorer. Some might read your font, some might not! Safari is one of the best browsers to read all fonts. I have never had real issues using any fancy fonts with Safari – but as soon as I switch to Camino or Firefox on my mac (with the fonts installed), the fonts might render correctly. I do not know the reasons behind this – but it just sucks! Internet Explorer seems to ignore nearly all fonts except for the standard serif or sans-serif. Crazy!

Lastly, the Mac and Windows issue. I will not elaborate to much on this because it is pretty obvious that Mac and Windows things are not that compatible.

Basically it comes down to forgetting about the idea that you have found the global font for all platforms. Now people switch to options like sIFR or to just use images. Unknowingly, you kick Googles ass because it can no longer read any of the contents in your site!

So what are we to do?

To make it simple and painless: use any of the standard fonts. There is a collection of standard fonts that will render correctly in all browsers and on all platforms. The fonts aren’t the best – but someone takes what they can get!
So here is a list of them:

  • Arial
  • Arial Black
  • Comic Sans MS – cool
  • Courier New
  • Georgia – cool
  • Helvetica – cool
  • Impact
  • Times
  • Times New Roman
  • Trebuchet MS
  • Verdana – 100% all time working

If you are a mac user, you can find these fonts in the default font browser under the tab “Web-safe” fonts:

I know, this isn’t the best solution, so what else is there?

Well what I like to do is to simply use the font that I like. I then use CSS to apply a font family and a second font for backup. So when my favorite font is not accepted by the browser, it skips to the second font. The second font is one of the fonts in the list above and looks as similar as possible to the one you wanted. Thus, those who have the font and the correct browser enjoy your design capabilities and those who do not have your font, get to enjoy one of the default fonts.

Here is an example:

element {
font-family: "cool sans-serif seeming font", sans-serif;
}

So choose your fonts correctly! Test them in all browsers and with all platforms to make sure that you know how you render.

On Sale: iPod Touch 8GB

The day has come; I could no longer resist the want for an iPhone. I eventually went out an bought one. I am totally happy with it – but now, I still have my old iPod touch which I no longer need. So, that’s why the iPod is going on sale.

I’m pricing the iPod at 179€ (SOLD, NO LONGER AVAILABLE) which is exactly 100€ less than with what I bought it. The iPod has absolutely no scratches at the front, headphones are in top shape, dock adapter has never been unpacked and the iPod itself is running smoother than ever.

I have posted pictures below, if your interested in how the whole package looks.

So if you are interested then drop me a mail at mail@guimkie.com with the subject “iPod Touch Interest” (or something similar). Questions regarding the sale go to that mail address as well.

The iPod is running version 1.1.3 and is not jailbreaked in any way. I have bought the iPhone apps from iTunes and they are on the iPod. I will not delete them (as I see no way how to do this), so they will come with the iPod. Music, videos, notes and whatsoever will of course be deleted.

As far as the hardware stuff goes, it’s the 8GB version. The iPods front has zero scratches. The back has some minor scratches which are tiny and so quite negligible; as seen in the photos. The iPod has been carried inside a iPod Video sleeve, so it’s not plagued by scratches in any way.
The headphones don’t make funny noises, the cable is 100% working and the dock connector has basically been never used. The dock adapter is still wrapped in the original plastic. The little stand for the iPod is also included (which also, was never used). Lastly, the cleaning cloth is also there!
To make it clear, anything that was in the original package, is still in it!

The box, the manuals are of course coming as well. I will pack the iPod back into the box just as it was in the beginning; this thing is practically new!

The iPod has been bought in the online Apple Store on the 25 of September last year and so is still in warranty. The order summary will be printed out and attached.

Lastly, shipping is not included in the price above. Im sending the iPod from Germany, so the closer you are to Munich, the better. It is completely up to you with what carrier, I am totally free to use anything that I can.

I think the best way is to simply take a look at the photos. This is how the iPod will be shipped.

Continue reading ‘On Sale: iPod Touch 8GB’

Uploading Your iWeb Site To Your Server

This video tutorial will show you how you can upload your site in iWeb – which you have published to a folder – to your own server. This tutorial is easy as a pie and you should have published your site in a matter of seconds to your very own server. Yay!

Let’s give this tutorial an example. You publish your site in iWeb and your unsure how to get it up to GoDaddy, 1and1 or many of the other hosting providers. Well, after following this tutorial you will be an expert at uploading your site from the published folder up to your server.

If you’re ready to do the tutorial, then click the read on link and enjoy a high-quality video tutorial.

Continue reading ‘Uploading Your iWeb Site To Your Server’

Boy – I’m Angry!

I had planned to upload new video tutorials since the end of last week. I had also planned to release the new versions of iMap and iWebExpander a.k.a iTweak. My fricken webhosting company seems to have some technical issues and thus the FTP connections are sadly not working! Sadly??? That’s what the support woman told me … I mean excuse me – FTP is like the most important thing! Hello???

Sorry guys – can’t help it! They are working to fix it – as said in a mail by them. For god’s sake!

Get On Google With iWeb ‘08

The tutorial has been updated and spit into two parts:

The tutorial was aimed to be much simpler and shorter. If you however still wish to look at the look video tutorial, then feel free to do so:

Do you want new iWeb Templates? Go here

This Tutorial will show and help you how to get your iWeb-made-site on Google without any difficulties. This tutorial will also show you how to add Meta-Tags to your iWeb site and create a sitemap in a snap.

Now, before you start, let me give you a tip! Watch the whole tutorial through once, and then, only then actually do it while still watching it! That will make sure that you will get it correct in the very first place and thus, will save lot’s of time that you might later waste figuring out which step you missed!

Huddle, huddle and rush, rush will lead you absolutely nowhere!

Continue reading ‘Get On Google With iWeb ‘08′