05.05.2009

Never Changes

Hello! A micro-entry on the frustration of trying to download Microsoft's free Windows 7 Release Candidate.

1 - Requiring an MSN address, Live account, etc. Basically you're probably going to have to sign up. I shouldn't have to give a mass of details just to download this. It's annoying. Getting an error when verifying my email is also fun.

2 - The registration and shit won't work in Safari. If you want it, you'll have to launch Firefox and sign in. Again.

3 - The download requires ActiveX or Java? Are you fucking kidding me? In this day and age? A fucking java application used to manage the download? It's 2009. Two-thousand and bloody nine. Classic Microsoft having to reinvent the wheel instead of use perfectly good alternatives such as BitTorrent or another service.

4 - Hitting download loads the java application in that tab. A lot of people, myself included, start to grab the download for something as soon as possible and then read through things. Such as copy-pasting the key. Forcing me to open a new tab and find the page in my history isn't a great idea. Maybe fucking ask if the user wants to browse away from the page and ask them if they have written down the key they need?

It's amazing how convoluted people can make things. Imagine an indie Mac developer requiring all the above to download a beta? He'd be fucking butchered. At most it would be the following: Field for email (to send the key), version and language selection and a button for either direct downloading or a torrent. One click. No mess.

Shame committees don't do simple.

24.03.2009

Purple Juice

Evenin'! I thought I'd type something up since it's been just over a month since my last update and there's actually some cool news to report! I recently started a new job with the cool guys at SourceBits, wrangled up by Piotr whom I've known since my '02/'03-ish Aqua-Soft days. It feels good to have a steady stream of things to work on.

Folks that have known me a long time will probably be shocked at the next news. I've actually started the move to Photoshop for all my work. It's been about half a week so far and except for some confused frustration it's been pretty neat. Certainly different workflow to the one I'm used to. I guess it was about time I did it though, I've probably pushed Fireworks as hard as I can and no matter what I personally do it's still not going a standard for the type of work I do. It's going to be a lot of fun seeing what I can do a year from now.

Here's lookin' towards the future!

23.02.2009

Icon: Transmission III

23.02.2009

The Third Cog

Today's freebie update is one I've been meaning to do for some time. It's strange because it's extremely rare I go back and redo a freeware icon, let alone twice, but I think this one warrants it. The previous version have niggled at me to the point of annoyance. There's a huge reason why I wanted to redo the icon: so that the perspective isn't shit. I've spent a lot of time the past year just focusing on perspective and how things should really look rather than being lazy. Not only is the cog better done, but I've also included a version with an accessory to balance it out a bit more.

That said, I'm going to be working on catching up with my freebie releases, hope you enjoy today's. Oh and a quick question: Can anyone give me a hint to removing the underlines for image links in Firefox and Camino? They don't appear in Safari and it baffles me a little.

03.02.2009

White Box

Hey there. I thought I'd just do a quick post today to say I'm not dead and will have some goodies for you guys coming soon. I've mostly been quiet because I've had nothing exceptionally interesting to talk about (or rant about as is usually the case). I haven't been really inspired this month, which accounts for the lack of freeware releases. Not that I haven't done any, but none were really as great as I wanted and I don't like releasing stuff I feel meh about.

Hope you had a nice Christmas and New Year! If you have any ideas for icons you'd like to see done, don't hesitate to email me.

22.12.2008

Icon: Twinkle

16.12.2008

Stock: Etched

Etched is my first stock icon collection available, made up of over one-hundred and eighty 32x32 glyphs in five styles. Made to look fantastic in your application's buttons. It's also my first collaboration with a reseller. Be sure to check it out. Etched is available from $75.

Keep your eyes peeled for Etched getting it's own promotional page with more information here on the 'Soap.

16.12.2008

App: Rebound

Rebound is a fun little time-waster app and also my first hired work available at the App store. Bridger was great fun to work with. Be sure to check out his blog for information on how the app was brought to life.

07.12.2008

Shift Alt H

Hey everyone. I just thought I'd do a quick post today in case anyone thought I'd fallen off the face of the Earth. I'm sorry I haven't really had time to do any Friday Freeware releases the past few weeks, I've got my hands full with a few bits and pieces that I'll talk about soon. The first thing I'd like to do is again, welcome all the new folks that found me - for the first time Vanillasoap broke 1 TB of transfer in a month.

I'm pretty much stunned. Thanks to everyone who posted about either Hydride or Lätt. It's really an amazing leap from the kind of traffic I got even three months ago.

Now it's December and unfortunately it looks like Façade isn't coming until mid-January. It's a shame and I know some people are getting mildly (ahem) annoyed. It's understandable and would probably of been for the best for them to not have gave any sort of date until much closer completion. They're not the first ones to do something silly like that, so please don't gut them okay guys?

I'm still going to be dedicated to releasing good themes once it's out. I know quite a few people are after an update to Niqu and it's definitely on the table to do after Qui. Now, for future reference, Qui and the Niqu update will not get official Windows ports. That has nothing to do with elitism or anti-Windows feelings (hell, I use Windows a lot for gaming), just the fact they're going to be pay-for themes.

At least that's the plan for now. Life is never certain. I'll try my best to get you guys some nice shiny icons this month. Don't be shy about sending me an email concerning Façade, theming, Niqu or anything like that!

23.11.2008

Icon: Lätt Sjö