Mobile Websites vs. Applications

Mobile Websites vs Applications

There’s no denying that mobile phones have grown to become an increasing part of our lives. In fact, there’s a 42% likelihood that you’re reading this newsletter on your phone or tablet device, up 10% from last March. And in most cases, mobile applications would probably be overkill for your business or brand, where a beautifully designed, responsive newsletter (such as this one) will more than suffice. However, if you’re looking for something more than emails, here are some things for you to consider.

There’s a big difference between a mobile website and a mobile application. Before you can evaluate the benefits of either, it’s important to understand the key differences between the two. Both apps and mobile websites are accessed on a handheld devices such as smartphones (e.g. iPhone, Android and Blackberry) and tablets.

Read the rest of the newsletter here

Random Musings VI

 

Hashtags on Facebook

Stop using hashtags on Facebook

Where’s Andre?

Where's Andre?

I figure nobody is going to get this joke except for Sara, unless you’re into fashion or like bad reality television.

Google Pince-Nez Project

Pince Nez

Please help me to attain funding for my Kickstarter campaign aimed at re-protoyping Google Glass to the ever-fashionable Pince-Nez. I truly believe that in order for such a ground-breaking, life-changing product to become successful among tweens and techies of today, we must root it firmly in the timeless accessory style popularized by Teddy Roosevelt, Anton Checkhov,  Francisco de QuevedoBram Stocker’s Dracula, Scrooge McDuck, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, The Matrix’s Morpheus, uber-stylish Sonic the Hedgehog villain, Doctor Eggman, and, naturally, Professor Tofty, Wizarding Examinations Authority Proctor at Hogwarts. 

 

Pince Nez

 

Pince Nez

 

 

Google Author Tag

Google Author Tag

Todd recently pointed me to the attention of Google’s new “author” tag, to help users read more articles by journalists and bloggers, and their new “publisher” tag, to help users find more articles by companies and organizations. Hopefully, within the next few months, you’ll be able to see my mug appearing by articles in Google search results pages, directing your attention to other articles I’ve written.

If you’re interested in learning more about author and publisher tags, read this article (and other information resources) on my design studio’s site: era404.com.

Facebook Moleskine Sketchbook

Facebook Moleskine SketchbookI think I’m going to make a Facebook Moleskine Sketchbook for myself, and people like myself, who would rather draw caricatures of friends rather than read the banal, tiresome updates of real friends. The illustrations in this mock-up were pulled from old sketchbooks, as well as a line drawing of the Red, White & Bubbly, in Brooklyn. The status and life events by my fictitious friend, Walter Sobchak, were pulled from IMDB’s listing on The Big Lebowski.

 

Altamira

Altamira Bison

In researching inspirational photos for some new wine labels for a client, I came across these breathtaking paleolithic cave paintings from the cave of Altamira, located near the town of Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, Spain. Just one glance at the beauty and wonder of the artwork proves why the cave and its paintings has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Read more

Making Limoncello

Jar.

In the past, I’d had a few more DIY photologs (Making LinguiniMaking a ServerMaking a ClosetMaking a PatioMaking a Genovese) and thought it was about time that I put a new one online.

Limoncello with Donato Fioretti and Family
Limoncello with Donato Fioretti and Family
Anywhere you go in Campania, you’ll see Limoncello. And after having spent a month in Italy with my extended family, my love of the digestif led me to seek it out upon returning to NYC. While my Italian comprehension skills were quite bad back then, and I’d already consumed a number of glasses of the 32% alcohol, I seem to remember my cousin, Donato, telling me it was a family tradition to make their own.  It’s the second most popular liqueur in Italy and infused rampantly throughout the Amalfi Coast—where my family original settled.

So, naturally, I thought it’d be fun to make my own. Read more