Seven Places for Design Resources

by: Erik Bernskiold

We all need to go somewhere to get inspired and to get resources to use in our creations. There are many, many places out there that provides good resources for you, either to learn the latest tools of the trade or to pick up elements to use in your creations.

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Thursday News Stuff

by: Erik Bernskiold

• Apple has released a public-beta of Safari 4. It is a whole lot faster than the old version and is the first browser ever to fully pass the Acid 3 test on web compliance! Something that will take a bit of getting used to is the new user interface that looks a bit more "Google Chrome"’ish, with the tabs up at the top of the window, a space-saver which is quite nicer after you get used to it. You can download Safari 4 over at the Apple website.
   
• Many thanks to my buddy A.J Wood who turned me onto this great, official plugin for Photoshop CS4 that turns off the multi-touch gestures for zooming and rotating the canvas. The accidental rotation of the canvas is really frustrating when you are working on the newest MacBook Pro laptops with the touchpad and fortunately, there is now an official plugin to fix it!
   
• Smashing Magazine has released a free WordPress theme made by WeFunction for all their readers, called Magazeen. It is a very advanced magazine type theme that looks really nice! (Screenshot seen above)
   
• CreativeTechs has an article and review on applications that will help you copy your music from your iPod to your Computer. They list their favourite applications, both paid and free and offer some advice on how to best do it!

Weekend Website Tip: Smashing Magazine

by: Erik Bernskiold

Smashing Magazine is a website that’s made in the form of a online magazine with its contents being all about design. It isn’t just one part like showcases only or articles only but a good, healthy and inspirational combination.

I really like the solid showcases that they put together and coming from a person that has a mixed relationship with showcases, that is a really good thing! The art they put in their truly well researched posts are really good and can be used as a good source of inspiration.

Another thing that Smashing Magazine is known for, is their articles on different trends and ideas. It isn’t so much how-to posts as posts discussing the current trends and styles, perfect for any designer. Of course I must admit that their regularly listings of free things are really appealing as well!

Wednesday Newsflash Goodies

by: Erik Bernskiold

Here’s some goodies for today, Wednesday.

• As y’all know, the big photo convention Photokina is going on in Cologne (Köln), Germany. WIth my hectic schedule right now, I can’t possibly follow up on all (I will on some stuff) new releases from home here so I’m going to link you to a sum-up of the news so far, from 1001 Noisy Cameras.
   
• It can be really hard to find good quality free fonts sometimes especially as the font databases like DaFont is getting so large. Thus, I really like the releases Smashing Magazine are doing a little now and then. They’ve gone ahead and posted some free fonts of the month over at their site. They’re really good and really useful. I’ve played around with some and I do find them super.
   
• I’ve been digging the LumniQuest Softbox III for a while on and off and been pondering if I should get one. I was really happy to see a review of it by David Hobby at the Strobist. David really knows what he is talking about so it’s really good to be able to hear what he thinks!
   
• Finally, with the CS4 announcement yesterday there were a bunch of learning centers published (I wish I would have the software to be able to create one myself, but I’m just not an adobe partnert there). If you wish to learn the new Photoshop CS4, there is no better place than from the Photoshop Guys over at NAPP, at their learning center. If you wish to learn about all the new suite, Layers Magazine has put together a great learning center online as well. Both are free!

Monday News Quickies

by: Erik Bernskiold

So, I’ve regained my internet connection again sadly just a little too late to be posting the podcast episode (it’s late here). It’ll come online tomorrow at noonish GMT time.

• Sometimes resorting to themes when developing your websites is a good way when you have little time but need something nice and functional. The people over at Smashing Magazine are bringing us yet another quality free WordPress theme called Agregado. It’s a slick, clean and modern theme design which works best for more personal websites. Nonetheless, it’s a great asset.
   
• Since posting my list of my 10 Favorite iPhone Apps I’ve gotten some response from some of the App Developers asking about the few problems I mentioned with some of the apps. To me, that shows real caring in the app development and I’ll be doing a rundown post tomorrow about what’s happened!
   
• Tomorrow is the day of an Apple Special Event titled "Let’s Rock". The event will if we trust all rumors, unveil the new iPod generation as well as iTunes 8. The latest rumors even mention the release of iPhone software updates. In any case we will see tomorrow and you can follow a liveblog from the event over at MacWorld. It’s all starting tomorrow, September 9 at 11a.m Pacific time.

That’s the news for today. I’m still a bit jealous of everyone that could go to Photoshop World last week after seeing all cool photos and info about this years edition.