Some Random Dude

With embedded fonts being supported by all modern browsers in one form or another (be it EOT or @font-face), it is only a matter of time until font embedding becomes commonplace on sites catering to current generation browsers. There is a large collection of blog articles discussing the obvious ramifications of embedding commercially-licensed fonts, the inevitable rise in piracy and the equally inevitable decrease in type foundry profits. I have spent a lot of time thinking about this subject and how it relates to recent copyright debacles conflicts. I would like to be optimistic that a proactive approach towards embedding licensed fonts is attainable and will be accepted by many of the major foundries. However, I do not think it will be happening anytime soon. Therefore, I think the more plausible solution for the immediate future, is to push for an embeddable, open source font collection. Read the rest of this post…

When Internet Explorer 6 came out in 2001, it was a huge step forward for the browsing world. Sadly, while the long-living browser still commands a strong contingent of users, it has outlived its welcome for at least 5 years. Nowadays, the nearly 8 year old browser still continues to be a thorn in side of web developers. When I redesigned my site this past January, I was unwilling to commit to the time it would take to make IE6 fully compatible with the design and unorthodox elements on the site. I had a choice of allowing visitors using IE6 to have a downgraded version of the site (which would take time in and of itself to implement) or to block them altogether. I chose the latter and I am writing why I think it is a reasonable decision. Read the rest of this post…

As many of you know, Some Random Dude was redesigned earlier this month. The redesign of this blog was a tremendous effort that took months of part-time work to get from inception to launch. The process was overly-arduous for a plethora of reasons — I was determined to design and plan in a way that would prolong the longevity of the current site and push off next redesign of this site as long as possible. In doing so, it strengthened my belief of four basic tenets when going through the redesign of a blog or any other content-driven site. I have tried to apply each four of these rules to the new redesign which have already made the site much more manageable and enjoyable and worthwhile. I thought it would be worthwhile to share my experiences. Read the rest of this post…

Back in 2002 or 2003, when Internet Explorer reigned at the undisputed leader in browser market share, I was very outspoken over the need to support all browsers - even those with only 5% share or less. I argued about the need to provide a consistent experience for all users, regardless of what browser or version they decide (or as forced) to use. This ideology was all the easier to adopt considering how had market share at the time - I feel as though my strong feelings were just as much about not idly allowing the “evil” corporate browser to swallow even more share by helping make it the de-facto browser on the internet. Fast forward 5+ years and oh, how the tables are turning. A new generation is jumping online and they’re not just blindly clicking the blue ‘e’ on their desktop. Firefox 3 shattered the record for most downloads and, according to some metrics, is passing up 20% global market share and well above 40% in some European countries. The underdog is now the up-and-comer.
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I just read a very good article by Jakob Nielsen on proper writing for weblogs. His opinion is that blogs (most notably, business blogs) should focus more on in-depth articles rather than short, post-lets. I think Mr. Nielsen’s advice is absolutely correct for a large number of business bloggers out there - but I hesitate to agree it is the best format for all business blogs. I genuinely respect Nielsen’s research on the subject, but a few thoughts from my experience have led me to the opinions mentioned below.
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