Personal webspace of Michael Grinstead a designer slash web developer, and a wannabe illustrator

1st Post this year!!

Oh dear I seem to have neglected this boring blog of mine!

Ok a quick overview of 2007 so far…

WORK
9-5 job seems to be going through a heavy workload stage, new products are in development, so I’m currently working on the branding for these.

It’s got to stage where I need to find new employment, been hear long enough and designing for the same company can be tedious. If I had the bottle and consent from the missus then I would venture into the world of freelancing full-time. Though I do have my hopes pinned on a friend who owns a software development company who has mentioned in the past that they maybe looking for a web designer/developer to join their team.

FREELANCE
Work is flowing nicely, just making sure I don’t take too much on whilst still holding down a 9-5 job.

This site uses TextPattern and as you can see I’m basically using the default template, my knowledge of TP has progress from then, so much so I’ve started to introduce it to my clients as a way for them to update their site. I design and implement the site in TP, set their privileges depending on their proficiency. In some case the default privileges have not been suitable, i.e. client needs to create articles and upload images but also needs to add links so the default ‘Staff Writer’ is no use as this doesn’t have the add links privilege, no problem as you can edit the admin_config file to add or remove privileges. There is also a useful plugin for this.

LINK2FILES
I’m so sorry, this has just come to a stand still, I feel bad as I’m still getting visitors signing up for a notification when the site goes live. This site is not exciting, it’s just a free, simple and ‘unoriginal’ way of transferring files, with no signup required.

Now I have been working on a mobile version which allows you to send a file to a mobile (cell) phone, basically the file is uploaded, a text message (sms) is sent with a link to the file. The problem I had with this is that on some phones the link appeared as a hyperlink but on some slightly older phones it was just plain text. The only way around this is to send a wap push message, this would send a message along with an option to connect to a wap site, but unsure how this works on other phones. What I plan to do is ask for some beta testers, I’ll ask you to provide me with your make & model of phone and I will select a range of models from the list.

So we will have the option to send a file to a phone, how about the reverse, send from a phone to a PC? Well I plan to have this option as well, you visit the site via your phone, upload the file, enter an email address and of it goes.

I started this back in October last year, and in normal circumstances would have been up and running by now. I will get back to working on this soon.

MICHAELGRINSTEAD-DOT-COM
At the moment I’m considering combining this site with my other personal site supaco.com, with keeping Supaco as the domain. Why Supaco? It’s short and I fancied not having my boring name for a domain.

The site will host more illustrations and characters rather then being a boring blog (then again you might find my illustrations boring). I currently have a few (simple) designs for consideration, but again work is getting in the way.

EVENTS
As you may have noticed, to the right there are some banners, these are two web design events I shall be attending this year (hopefully a 3rd, d.construct in Sept).
Now I’ve never attended these events (or any other) and although nervous I’m very excited. I read and follow many blogs of designers/developers who have made a name for themselves in the web design industry, so it will be good to finally get to stalk listen to them in person.

I’m sure these events are going to be very inspirational and give me the boost I need.

Still need to sort out a hotel for the @Media event, I’m planning to go up the day before (Wed) might even attend the pre-party. As for hotels the choice is Swinton Hotel (15min walk & £48 a night) or the Jury Hotel (5min & £119 a night). The Swinton sounds like a good deal, but a 15min walk and I’ve read that the rooms are very poky!!

PERSONAL
My wife had ‘two’ out of the blue epileptic fits last year and after various scans & tests it turns out that she has a small tumor on the right frontal lobe. She is now on the waiting list to have this removed, although it’s a simple operation the procedure doesn’t sound pleasant at all.

Lesley, we are all here for you, love you lots!

Posted: 12 March 07