Was there really a Mac OSX virus spreading around last week? Well, here’s a post with all the facts about the rumor http://www.ambrosiasw.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=102379
“A file called “latestpics.tgz” was posted on a Mac rumors web site http://www.macrumors.com/ , claiming to be pictures of “MacOS X Leopard” (an upcoming version of MacOS X, aka “MacOS X 10.5″). It is actually a Trojan (or arguably, a very non-virulent virus). We’ll call it “Oompa-Loompa” (aka “OSX/Oomp-A“) for reasons that will become obvious.
You cannot be infected by this unless you do all of the following:
1) Are somehow sent (via email, iChat, etc.) or download the “latestpics.tgz” file
2) Double-click on the file to decompress it
3) Double-click on the resulting file to “open” it
…and then for non-Admin users, it fails to infect most applications.
You cannot simply “catch” the virus. Even if someone does send you the “latestpics.tgz” file, you cannot be infected unless you unarchive the file, and then open it. “
February 20th, 2006
AppleInsider claims the MacBook Pro will be available by June of this year, possibly a little sooner.
read more | digg story
February 19th, 2006
From a fellow graphic designer, who has got it right, (in my humble opinion).
Read the entire article: My Philosophy on Graphic Design
“For me, graphic design is not about personal expression. (I do that elsewhere.) It’s not about scoring high on some standard of aesthetics either. (High aesthetics is not always appropriate.) It’s about solving communication problems. My creativity lies in how I solve them.”
February 19th, 2006
I recently came across the article titled Graphic Design Plays A Minor Role On The Web. It takes an interesting stance on design versus function on the web. The points are valid “your website must be userful, it must be fast and convenient.” It singles out some very successful websites, namely google.com, skype, amazon, that don’t rely as heavily on the visual design but focus on the innovation of their products to attract visitors.
As a graphic designer, who also dabbles in web design, its hard to completely ignore the fact that visual design doesn’t play a role at all. But as a Marketing major in my former days, I recognize that, clearly, the most effective websites are those that combine good visual aesthetics and functionality. Case in point, notice how Peter Morville’s article, User Experience Design, while focusing on the usefullness, accessibility, credibility, of the site, he also suggests that “desirability” is a valid consideration.
I certainly feel like there is no reason why a good designer can’t accomplish both, creating a visually unique website, that navigates easily. The harsh reality is that it can take a level of maturity/insightfulness to accomplish such a balance effectively. A “design thinker”, as characterized in Most designers aren’t design thinkers, yet | Increased Design Maturity - PDF, aspires to grow their skill set as well as their perspectives. You don’t have to totally desert style to usability, but have a conscientiousness of the end product, end user, end function.
But I think the most important thing to remember is that this philosophy of remembering the user and functionality of a design is not simply limited to web design. This mentality is appropriate in keep in mind in all types of design. One of the most recent examples is CNN International’s decision to revamp the look of their on-screen presentation with new fonts, new graphics, even a new color scheme that is far less intrusive then their current visual that includes a constantly scrolling news ticker.
February 19th, 2006
So I set up a blog for my sister. She is really the one that needs one of these. She’s the writer in the fam’. Hopefully she’ll post to it on a regular basis and you’ll get a taste of just how talented she it.
http://www.bethherrman.com
February 4th, 2006
A great analysis of logo-making.
read more | digg story
February 1st, 2006
