Author Archive
Handbrake interface fix
Hello,
So I have tried to overhaul the interface to make it easier to deal with/navigate. There are far too many options right off the bat and it can be pared down into a simpler interface, easy enough for my mother to use. Initial concept was to actually hide most of the confusing information as it was extraneous for the most part. I would like the program to rip a dvd in as few clicks as possible. Attached are two images from handbrake and my updated interface. The first image is actually what you see when you open handbrake, pretty ridiculous. My update hasn’t been spruced up, it’s basic, I just wanted to establish the architecture of it prior to adding any typical effects one finds in apps. I have the functions defaulting to the most commonly used options.
Handbrake OSD project
Handbrake recap:
HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded DVD to MPEG-4 converter, available for MacOS X, Linux and Windows. Essentially HandBrake is a video encoder that takes your movies and transfers them to a format that’s useful on your computers, media centers, and portable electronic devices.
Handbrake developers are a little bit funny. The mail list is completely ignored (it is advised that new developers actually don’t even sign up for it) and most of the dev discussions take place on IRC or via a discussion forum on the handbrake website, on which my account is still pending approval. Most of the developers involved are focusing on the backend/coding of converting software. Interface design is virtually ignored, which could explain a few things. Something of interest: because HandBrake is a multi platform app, its visual appearance/interface is different from platform to platform. This seems to have something to do with the way the GUI works between os x/linux platforms and windows platforms. Might be an idea to unifty the appearance across platforms.
The main figures/developers on the discussion forum regarding design are Titer (who was the main developer and is referred to as ‘the godfather‘…riggggghhht), Ritsuka, benlake and dynaflash who all seem to have other development rolls as well. In terms of introducing myself to the mix, once I get approval I will participate in the discussion forum and attempt to hop in on some IRC dev chats or use that as a way to garner more info about how to go about contributing to the interface side of HandBrake, which seems like it has potential. Maybe I should have picked a cooler username!
Discussion forum is here.
Whoa dudes, wordpress2.5!
Wordpress 2.5 just came out, and to possibly some of our delights it features a built in gallery (and some other goodies). I’m guessing we should all upgrade?
Small revision
Did some more research, this may be busying up my design but thought about using these little line dividers to hide any attached images/tags.
What do you guys think? Still need to clean up the black area around the reversed out text, it is very rough at this point.
A few ideas for assignment #3
I’m having a bit of a tough time narrowing down the field and choosing what project I would like to work, I was a bit all over the map to be honest, looking at everything from content management systems, enterprise management systems (which I didn’t even know existed at the open source level), some rss feeders etc etc etc. I think what would make the most sense for me is to work on some open source products that I actually use. So I’m looking into VLC and Handbrake. Neither of their websites are terribly offensive, but I think that both don’t reach their full potential. The same thoughts apply to their logo/identity/branding. Both are great software that I highly recommend, have a look and let me know what you guys think, thanks!
slog updated, html/css, wordpress theme all up.
Updated design, two options attached. First keeps with the white background/black text and gives some increased line spacing to the body copy. This was a helpful suggestion. Second update brings a different element to the table, I inverted all the text so it is white in black boxes, still simple looking and un-wordpressy in my opinion. I know I can figure out how to code this (I think, seems pretty possible to make the type appear as I want it to), but these are some photoshop comps, a bit rough, you can’t see the image as well as I would like.
Update: rough html/css linky
Slog will live here.
Edit: for some reason my padding is being goofy, it shouldn’t be sitting that far to the left. Looking forward to the workshop!
Blog design revision
Blog revision: still a fan of the courier…moved all tags/links to the right hand side. I would like to do some sneaky drop down menus within the right hand side navigation (and think this is possible?) as a nice mix of basic appearance and slicker css-ness. Gonna need some help figuring that one out haha, I found somewhere I can steal some code from I believe. I’m working with a 15 column grid right now. Having issues getting on my server right now, hope to have something live up shortly.
Oh my blog.
Attached are some images for my blog. I think you guys have all heard me grumble about the interwebz and how I find a lot of web design garish and scary and somewhat painful to look at…so with that as an influencing factor I pared my own design right now to the bare bones (but with some sneaky hover over bits, adding a bit of tech to it).
I think I will actually develop this into a personal blog, I have been putting that off for a while now, that is more of a tool for staying in contact with friends around the world and potentially showcasing my portfolio, although this is less of a concern. Inspiration in terms of content are sites like this and this and this and this but most importantly a personal touch (and easy on the youtubes). What drives me nuts about most ‘blahgs’ is the gigantic regurgitation of information and how people add zero personalized content, information, opinions, whatever.
Yadda yadda yadda, images attached, must learn how to diddle css to make those little hover guys, I know it is possible!
Edit: I am so awesome at the internet that I can’t get these imgs to load properly, so please right clicky –> view image on them to see what they actually look like.
Paging Susanna…!
Susanna I need to give you my tutorial still!
Please email me: cian@sleepdep.org or even call/sms @ 646.915.6119.
I will be at school tomorrow for most of the day, worse comes to worst I will email it to you but I need your email addy. I would prefer to give you the physical tutorial.
Thanks!
open source goodies
Some links to accompany my presentation.
Open source software:
Firefox browser
Some non software related links:
Open source DIY clothing patterns
Open source pretty much anything you can think of
