Web Design | AloneOnTheWeb

Tag Archive: Web Design

I created an eBay selling template for a client

Written on July 19, 2009 by admin in Freelance, Web Design

Hitch and Tow Logo Recently I created a template for an eBay store for a client who also happens to be a friend. The eBay store is called Hitch and Tow and they sell hitch products and accessories on eBay. This project was a learning experience because of all the complexity involved with hooking into eBay and that user interface.

The part of the eBay selling template I created can be found by clicking on a live auction item and then scrolling down to the actual description area of the page (You will see the Hitch and Tow header in green). We also reused the template header and modified it a bit for the store header.

It was pretty challenging because you have to code for an environment that you control very little of the elements except for the template iteself, so to test it you have to actually make an auction live to see what will happen.

It also had to work within the eBay bulk program Turbo Lister, which was an additional hurdle, but it can be done. You also have to train the end user on how to work within the HTML of the template. I’m glad it finally worked out so well for my client that he currently uses it for over 200 listings and that total is growing.

Please note: The Hitch and Tow eBay store went out of business in 2010, but my link takes you to the original design I created that is still on my own GushinDesigns.com website.

0 Comments - Leave a comment!

I have a new job at UT Dallas!

Written on December 24, 2008 by admin in Job Search, UT Dallas, Web Design

So I guess my mission has changed a bit since I took a position at The University of Texas at Dallas.

I started there on December 3rd and am now employed full time doing what I love to do – Web Design!

I’m working in a team environment with a team leader and 5 other coders in the Web Services Department. There are various skill levels represented and each member has their little niche that they excel in.

I (don’t laugh) have a Dell laptop that I use in tandem with my Apple Powerbook G4 paired with (2) 19″ Dell monitors. Each machine has a 19″ to extend the desktop, so it’s a sweet setup.

I have dived in and am involved already in 2 major projects as well as having just worked on the Fall 2008 Graduation this past weekend.

The school is on break until Jan. 5th, so I don’t go back until then. While I am on break I have started a major re-design job for the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation’s website.

I will continue to help my freelance clients finish up the sites I was working on. Then I will take on freelance jobs as I have time available, with the ok of the University.

The opportunity came from a job ad I answered on Craigslist while I was in San Antonio working from the hotel. The benefits are really good and the people I am working with are really nice.

0 Comments - Leave a comment!

Adobe Air Apps and Products Used in Everyday Computing

Written on November 30, 2008 by admin in Cloud Software, Software

Adobe has created a new development platform for developers called Adobe Air that allows you to use small applications independent of your web browser.

So why is this important or useful for the everyday computer user?

Well, when you take an app, say Facebook, and run it from Adobe Air, it is totally independent of the chosen web browser. If Facebook crashes or if another tab on the web browser crashes, you don’t have to restart everything.

I discovered Adobe Air when I went to a local DFW Adobe User Group meeting. They kept talking about Air this and Air that, so finally I asked what in the world Adobe Air was.

The explanation I got was that Adobe Air was the ability to take applications on a trip of their own and let them do things by themselves. This sounded kinda cryptic to me, so they said to just go to the Adobe site and check it out for myself.

So when I got home I did and discovered I had already installed Adobe Air when I had installed an app I tried out for Twitter called Twhirl, that lets you run Twitter in its’ own little window and that would let you do a lot more with Twitter than you could through the web browser with the app.

On a Mac, how is it different from using an app in Dashboard?

The important things here are that the apps can run on different types of computers, unlike Dashboard apps. So, if by chance you use a PC at work and a Mac at home, the Adobe Air app would be the same on both machines – platform independent.

So how do I use Adobe Air apps in a real world situation?

First off, it is not the best solution for every task. Some tasks are still better off done in a web browser, like using Gmail. I spent a bit of time going through the available (tons) apps and paring the ones I use down to just 23 apps. Of those, I only use a few on a regular basis.

I use Adobe Air apps for things like using a stopwatch to time certain client events like a client phone call. It’s a real small quick app that does just that, but does it well. Some other apps I use on a regular basis…

Facedesk (for Facebook)
Flickr Desktop Search
clDesktop (Craigslist)
Analytics Reporting Suite (Google Analytics – very slick interface)
Snippage (Allows you to make your own apps from the web browser)
RoadFinder (Does both Google Maps and Yahoo Maps at once)
Pixus (Measures screen pixels – great for Web Designers)
HTML Scout (Has all sorts of Web Design helper stuff to inspect pages)
Scoop (RSS reader that can sync with Google Reader – just installed and testing)

All of these apps can be found by going to the Adobe Air Marketplace and searching for your next favorite application. Did I mention that all this is FREE!

Anyone wanna share information on what their favorite Air apps are?

0 Comments - Leave a comment!