(Let Me preface by saying details in this entry are linked to sources and much of this blog are my own thoughts, concerns and opinion )
It’s made headlines with tech crunch, been championed on Twitter and seems to be the talk of the Technology community lately. What is it? A new service called The Grid, which is set to launch in Late Spring 2015.
The premises of the service, currently being offered at a pre-launch price of $96 USD a year (discounted from the $300 USD cost once launched) is the promise of Artificial Intelligence based Web Design. The claim being that all a user has to do is input their Copy and images and the Grid’s engine will crop photos, generate correct SEO protocols and format code to create you’re Website. The more info you feed it the more it tunes your Website, at least that is what is promised.
Being curious about things, after a story crossed my radar in the News 360 app, I started to look into what the company is promising and the possibility of this working.
The thing is though, and keep in mind here everything I state in this entry is simply My opinion on things, I’m left with some serious misgivings and doubts about things.
The first things that happened to instantly be a concern for Me is that the service does not have anything that a potential end user could inspect to be more comfortable with their promised offering, the only example of the results of their design engine’s results is their company website. No demo version, no proof of execution video where the user can see copy being inputted into the engine and code generated output being produced, nothing!
Next, there are the details like the company promoting that sites would be held in Cloud based servers, which then brings up the question of just how secure the information would be for me.
Things cascade even into more concerns as I notice that the “AI” Interface they are selling this service on is optional and can be turned off if the user has their own knowledge of Web Design code. This brings up the question of “If it’s optional, why would I pay X amount of money a year when I could use a free service like Wix.com ?”
Questions for Myself continued along as I found Myself thinking “Well what about using PHP? Javascript? Python? Ruby?” and “Will the AI Engine allow for personal changes, or is a user looking at this thing going ‘I’m sorry Dave, I can’t let you do that’?”
There is also the detail that every User’s content is housed on the service Github (Wikipedia Entry), which is a popular source for the sharing of code based projects. does this mean any context for a user’s project with The Grid potentially is only as secure as the policies Github outlines here?
Having looked over theTerms of Service and (Privacy Policies Privacy Policy) of The Grid’s website, even more things started to concern me, like I do not see anything that protects the user in regards to an arbitrary removal of their data, as The Grid can terminate an account at their discretion, upon that termination it is said that your data is instantly removed from the servers.
Termination can also be triggered through things like the, in my opinion, vaguely worded references to “Excessively frequent requests to the Grid via the API” in their documentation.
Throw in the details that users have to waive their legal rights towards recovery of fees and damages by a third party, grant The Grid a all encompassing license to allow the use of derivative performance and promotion of the user’s content without the user receiving any royalties of content that The Grid says the user still owns and there being a zero refund policy even though the company is promoting a get your subscription fee credited for referring three additional users policy and in my opinion this service falls under too good to be true.
Oh and Bandwidth usage that is considered “significantly exceeds” could also see one’s account terminated, but that begs the question of what is meant by “significantly exceeds”?
Could this service be of use, possible, but to whom might be a tough sell in my opinion.
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11/14/2014
Using a Website to promote Media events
Using a Website to promote an event can actually be a very effective tool, throwing in Social Media can actually make it double effective. For example, lets use a small independent movie.
Breaking down the Movie here are elements that can be used to help promote it's debut
-The Plot: Every movie, good or bad, has a Plot, there is a premise of why principle characters are doing what they are set out to to through the course of the film. The proper application of this can create curiosity over just what content will be showcased when a Website goes live.
-The Characters: These work well in developing the curiosity of a Website, leaving little hints about some of the personalities again tends to have the chance of sparking your audience's interest.
-Location: just where is the movie set, what elements of that city can be used to establish interest in the plot.
So, with these details taken down, what would the next step be for a production company as they sit down with a Designer? That's actually a pretty good question and one that starts out with the selection of one of the more cryptic and curious personalities. Recording a video related to that character's plot can then be posted up in an viral broadcast linking to the website for additional information.
Once the user ends up on the Website, that is where the promotional magic can begin. Mailing lists and digital scavenger hunts, using successfully crafted hidden links will allow the user to interact with their online environment, creating an investment on the end user's part.
Promoting a project like this yourself? As you do, it might be best to keep the concept of your project's Website in mind along the way, and try to find a Designer who can bring your concept to life.
Breaking down the Movie here are elements that can be used to help promote it's debut
-The Plot: Every movie, good or bad, has a Plot, there is a premise of why principle characters are doing what they are set out to to through the course of the film. The proper application of this can create curiosity over just what content will be showcased when a Website goes live.
-The Characters: These work well in developing the curiosity of a Website, leaving little hints about some of the personalities again tends to have the chance of sparking your audience's interest.
-Location: just where is the movie set, what elements of that city can be used to establish interest in the plot.
So, with these details taken down, what would the next step be for a production company as they sit down with a Designer? That's actually a pretty good question and one that starts out with the selection of one of the more cryptic and curious personalities. Recording a video related to that character's plot can then be posted up in an viral broadcast linking to the website for additional information.
Once the user ends up on the Website, that is where the promotional magic can begin. Mailing lists and digital scavenger hunts, using successfully crafted hidden links will allow the user to interact with their online environment, creating an investment on the end user's part.
Promoting a project like this yourself? As you do, it might be best to keep the concept of your project's Website in mind along the way, and try to find a Designer who can bring your concept to life.
10/26/2014
What are those YAHOO'S thinking?
Like so many other Apple users, I updated My operating system to OS X Yosemite this past week and while slow servers lead to it taking the better part of a week to download the install file, that is not what this entry is about.
Whenever a company issues a new operating system for their hardware there is always the chance of older programs no longer working with the new version. This is why there is a extensive testing period and pre-release beta versions of Operating Systems released giving companies the window to update their code and have a new version of their App ready to go on or around the time of the launch.
At least that is how MOST companies look at things, but clearly not YAHOO! You see when OS X Yosemite released one would figure that Yahoo would have made sure to have updated their Messenger App to support it.
WRONG!
With over 80 Applications on My system at the time of upgrading the Operating system, only one ended up not working post update...Yahoo Messenger. A search on Google very quickly found that I was not the only one with this problem as both Apple and Yahoo Forms, as well as ones on sites like mac rumours all are posting the same thing. Yahoo users who no longer can use Messenger.
And upon looking further including finding this link to Yahoo's Messenger help page, Yahoo appears to have no intent to update it, in fact the exact wording on this page is as follows
Whenever a company issues a new operating system for their hardware there is always the chance of older programs no longer working with the new version. This is why there is a extensive testing period and pre-release beta versions of Operating Systems released giving companies the window to update their code and have a new version of their App ready to go on or around the time of the launch.
At least that is how MOST companies look at things, but clearly not YAHOO! You see when OS X Yosemite released one would figure that Yahoo would have made sure to have updated their Messenger App to support it.
WRONG!
With over 80 Applications on My system at the time of upgrading the Operating system, only one ended up not working post update...Yahoo Messenger. A search on Google very quickly found that I was not the only one with this problem as both Apple and Yahoo Forms, as well as ones on sites like mac rumours all are posting the same thing. Yahoo users who no longer can use Messenger.
And upon looking further including finding this link to Yahoo's Messenger help page, Yahoo appears to have no intent to update it, in fact the exact wording on this page is as follows
MAC OS X 10.10 Yosemite and later: Yahoo
Messenger is not compatible
To continue delivering a safe, secure, and stable Yahoo Messenger for Mac, Yahoo Messenger won’t be supported on versions newer than Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks.
You can still access Yahoo Messenger
You'll still be able to access, view, and send IMs using our Messenger in Mail interface.
Yes, you read that right, Yahoo is playing the "We want to keep people safe and secure" card to justify NOT updating their App. The problem is this decision on Apple's part actually puts their Users data in danger. I have seen people suggest work arounds like changing the build number in the info file of the App (for Windows users think having to do a Registry Edit just to get it to work). Others are suggesting using programs like Trillian (which have users concerned because it stores their Yahoo Password in their servers) or using Apple's Messages app-which gives the user IM's but has reports of lacking the ability to use Voice or Web Cam Services.
Yosemite was announced to the public by Apple at this past June's WWDC Event, it went through 6 or 7 Beta versions before the final release was rolled out to the masses. that means Yahoo had a good 5 months where they could have worked with Apple's developers to ensure that a compatible, stable, working first person client which looked out for Users security was accessible to the masses, instead those YAHOO's did nothing and look where we now are.
On behalf of Mac running Yahoo users, thanks for looking out for us Yahoo...care to protect the iOS versions next?
10/06/2014
This blog is not the only way to keep up with Inertial Zen Designs
Inertial Zen Designs does not always just post to this blog, we're actually on the following Social Media Outlets as well
Google Plus
Facebook:
and
Twitter
So do stop by and feel free to say hello
9/30/2014
The Great Website Debacle
As many of you whom follow Inertial Zen Designs most likely know, things around the office lately have been fairly busy as our Website underwent some redesign work.
In the course of a week, copy was rewritten to improve Search Engine Optimization. Elements reworked to allow for responsive design that makes the code look good and improve mobile consumption was also completed. All of this was done to create a better user experience.
However if you happened to point your browser towards the website on Monday and into Tuesday, you might have noticed that something was missing.
The Website itself was gone.
Now this little detail has not escaped Me and I am currently in a waiting game that is caused by a lack of standards.
You see, My website address is registered with a domain company, My files stored with another company who does the hosting. A move that was done as a security measure. The problem though is how the domain company was requesting and displaying the files from the hosting server. The result, some features were not working correctly.
To combat this, changes were made in how one calls for the other. Those changes though have to repopulate over the World wide web, and that can take days as no two connection points update their databases at the same time windows. some taking minutes, some multiple days
And that is why Inertial Zen Designs Website has been unavailable. Sorry for any inconvenience.
9/09/2014
Smart Watches: The Over Priced Accessory
After watching the September 9th announcement from Apple, and focusing on their entry into the Smartwatch market, I actually found myself having a few thoughts on the matter, and keep in mind this is going to be covering what I consider a issue with Smart Watches in general, not just Android or Apple related devices.
The primary issue is Price. For this blog lets look at three models, the Motorola Moto 360, Samsung Gear Watch and Apple's Watch. Prices for each of these devices, which are, as advertised, accessories and priced as follows (based on MSRP)
Moto 360 ........................ $249.99
Samsung Gear ................ $329.99
Apple Watch ...................$349.99
Some may at this point be saying "so where's the problem, the prices seem reasonable to Me" and if these were stand alone devices there would be no issue what so ever. However these three examples are all classified as Accessories.
The primary issue is Price. For this blog lets look at three models, the Motorola Moto 360, Samsung Gear Watch and Apple's Watch. Prices for each of these devices, which are, as advertised, accessories and priced as follows (based on MSRP)
Moto 360 ........................ $249.99
Samsung Gear ................ $329.99
Apple Watch ...................$349.99
Some may at this point be saying "so where's the problem, the prices seem reasonable to Me" and if these were stand alone devices there would be no issue what so ever. However these three examples are all classified as Accessories.
ac·ces·so·ry
akˈses(ə)rē/
noun
- 1.a thing that can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive.
That's right they are add ons to make a user's mobile device more useful, versatile or attractive. Each of these devices serve a function of being a go between access point for a Smartphone user. They enhance the use of something, in this case the Phone.
Now using the iPhone for example lets look at this in two situations. First lets say the User decides on wanting the iPhone 5s.
Depending on the configuation the use picks this option off contract is a $640 minimal cost, and a maximum cost of $700 without a contract. With a contract that phone goes down to $100, that means that if you buy the phone straight out, the cost of the Accessory is half that of the phone, but if you pick it up on a 2 year contract, you end up paying three and a half times the cost of the phone's upfront cost just to have a interface which allows you to not take the phone out of the pocket to check details.
With the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus this becomes even more interesting. The breakdown on full price purchase of the Phones are as follows
iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus
16 GB $ 749.00 $ 859.00
64 GB $ 859.00 $ 969.00
128 GB $ 969.00 $ 1,079.00
then add the $349 Accessory to things, it can add up quite quickly.
and the same can be said for the contracted prices on these devices. Now I'll admit I actually like the idea of the Apple Watch. it has plenty of aspects where I could find it convenient. As I live with a disability the idea of being able to just look at a wrist mounted display could in many ways make life easier when on the go, however and again this is just my opinion, these watches should have been priced in a range of about $60-$125.
After all, the are not a stand alone device, they are what they are marketed as, an Accessory.
Have any thoughts on this, I invite you to leave comments
8/16/2014
Where do you keep your Pencil?
A great design starts with a single simple item, A Pencil. From the artist who takes the time to sketch that perfect image to their eyes, to the person creating a navigational map, to an architect designing the next great skyscraper there is one thing in common, in their hand is a simple pencil.
That concept holds true for Web Design as well. A Web page, at its base level is really just the digital answer to a pencil applied to the canvas of the imagination.
Images are placed with text wrapping their way around them, creating a welcoming gateway for the use. From that gateway a path is mapped that takes the the user through rooms of information.
Each page, its own digital room, guides yours guest through a collection of information that You believe showcases the value of what You represent. Along the way your guest is given the options to embrace knowledge, see the benefits of your vision and be embraced into Your vision of a better future.
Yet with all the code written, all the time spent in software like Photoshop, the testing to see how things look on any possible screen one can imagine, a Website is still at it`s core a piece of art.
Art that tells a story, Art that informs and envisions, but at its core, no matter the lines of code and pixels of graphics, still Art.
A passionate Web Designer understand this, they are tasked to take the vision presented to them and create something that speaks to those who see it
Web Designers are, at our hearts, Artists and before We even sit down to write that first <html> protocol in Our software, many of us go back to the most basic of tools.... The Pencil.
So when selecting a Web Designer for your project, maybe the first question one should ask is
"Where do you keep your pencils?"
That concept holds true for Web Design as well. A Web page, at its base level is really just the digital answer to a pencil applied to the canvas of the imagination.
Images are placed with text wrapping their way around them, creating a welcoming gateway for the use. From that gateway a path is mapped that takes the the user through rooms of information.
Each page, its own digital room, guides yours guest through a collection of information that You believe showcases the value of what You represent. Along the way your guest is given the options to embrace knowledge, see the benefits of your vision and be embraced into Your vision of a better future.
Yet with all the code written, all the time spent in software like Photoshop, the testing to see how things look on any possible screen one can imagine, a Website is still at it`s core a piece of art.
Art that tells a story, Art that informs and envisions, but at its core, no matter the lines of code and pixels of graphics, still Art.
A passionate Web Designer understand this, they are tasked to take the vision presented to them and create something that speaks to those who see it
Web Designers are, at our hearts, Artists and before We even sit down to write that first <html> protocol in Our software, many of us go back to the most basic of tools.... The Pencil.
So when selecting a Web Designer for your project, maybe the first question one should ask is
"Where do you keep your pencils?"
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