Author / Ben

by Ben

More Candy for Karmic Koala

Apparently a greater selection of wallpapers and background images will be included in the next release of Ubuntu. I’m a little unsure about this. It can only be a good thing I suppose, more artwork, more community input – all good things. But is it needed? There are so many artwork websites out there for linux, you’re only ever a link away from gnome-look, kde-look, xfce-look, linuxmint-art (all essentially the same site, just rebranded and visited by different users… I assume) to name but a few.

But I think I’m just grumbling. So many people criticize ubuntu for the fact it’s brown and orange.. but so what. The easiest thing to do on a Linux computer (for me personally, in Gnome) is change the theme and general appearance of your desktop.

Everything can be customized. Don’t like the brown? Fine, it takes seconds to change it. If, like me, you prefer a simple, sensible desktop and just want to make the odd few changes here and there – you can.

But sorry I’ll stop now. Rant over. I guess that’s why the forum phenomenon “flame-wars” are called as such, the battles are often over but the war carries on..

More wallpapers can only really do good for Ubuntu and the huge community that enjoys and supports it, maybe I’ll do a couple of my own..

by Ben

Fit-PC2: Full Ubuntu, Tiny PC

500px-Fit-pc2-art-large With what seems to be a ceaseless torrent of Netbook releases and distros to match; it’s great to see a new system soon to enter the market which makes the best of the standard installation of Ubuntu. The Fit-PC2 is smaller than your average Dictionary, measuring in at only 1 1/8″ (27 mm) x 4 1/2″ (115 mm) x 4″ (101mm). Despite it’s diminutive size it manages some pretty good specs.

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by Ben

Ridiculously good-looking but just ridiculous underneath

Finally I’m nearly there with the basics of this theme. The look and feel is about right, and when I load the page I like what I see. I just don’t like the code that creates it.

The code behind it is a hugely modified version of the Writers Blog theme by Eric Crooks. I loved his simple yet elegant theme and knew it would be a great starting point. However; there are a few things now I need to do with the theme to finish it that require a rewrite of the basics to accomplish.

I don’t like monolithic programming structures. That is Microsoft’s biggest mistake in my opinion; and the reason Windows gets so slow after even a short period of use. But what I have here is a combination of so many little css hacks and alterations that reviewing my code makes my eyes water.

Bad Benjy.

So, it’s time to stop it and tidy up (fantastic cartoon when I was growing up – anyone else remember it?) With all this colour and panache I’ve lost what I hold dearest in web design: semantic markup + clear and concise CSS = ease of use/adaptation for all.

Once I’m happy with it I can get on with uploading some of the other wordpress themes I’ve been working on.. and everything else I tinker with when I’ve half the chance.

by Ben

Tweeted this week 2009-06-14

  • Today is decision day – to where do we move? #
  • Whoop – holding a beautiful flat for a month before we hopefully move in at the end: No more matchbox living! #
  • Raaaaaaaaaats still in the flat, socialising during the night and day now. No cold water, low supply of hot. No shower. It never ends. #
  • New series of “That Mitchell and Webb Look” starts tonight at 10pm on BBC2 – just in time if I run home from work! #
  • @OutsrceWebsite Thanks for the retweet, you like my designs? I have so many more to put online.. it’s just finding the time! in reply to OutsrceWebsite #
  • Nearly the end of another week, I’d swear someone’s trimming them. I know time is money and the country’s in recession but this is silly… #

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by Ben

Upgraded to WordPress 2.8

Incredibly useful article for anyone using wordpress 2.8. A mini-review rolled into a brief collections of howtos.

A must read if you’re thinking of updating or you just have.

This week I upgraded to wordpress 2.8, and despite a few warnings the upgrade went utterly without a hitch. Backing everything up first helped to alleviate my worrys. After ensuring everything was tickety boo I did a little googling to see what people thought about the new release, what troubles or successes they were having and during the course of my searching I came across this little nugget of a review/guide:

webdesignbooth.com/wordpress-28-and-10-things…

The article covers most of the improvements/updates succinctly so I won’t go into too much detail here but I will say the wordpress team have put ever more work into simplifying many of a blog owners functions and tasks.

The widgets configurations screen is a vast improvement, no fiddly save settings – everything is accomplished through seamless AJAX. I also really like the new html/css editor for your themes; now with functions lookup and syntax highlighting, making editing template files online now much quicker.I tinker with my layout too much for this not to be a great addition.

After all, who can keep all the functions in their head at one time? The wordpress codex has become my most visited site in the last few months according to firefox..

Anyway, to sum up: thumbs up; fantastic new additions to the wp backend and overall productivity within the blog.

by Ben

Shooting Richness; My new wallpaper and web design

Over the last few days I’ve been doing a little tinkering with my blog layout, trying to find something to elevate it a little, make it more eye-catching and just generally more aesthetically pleasing.

I think I’ve succeeded with this background! Once I’ve finished making all the files I will put these up for download in a variety of different resolutions to suit all desktops.

I made them using the GNU Image Manipulation Program, making specific use of the motion blur filter and the erasing colours to transparency with a gradient.

blue green purple red

And a purple one for you mesanna – hope it’s the right purple!

Edit: these files can now be found in the artwork section here.

by Ben

Design tweaking

Surprise surprise I’ve been tinkering with the layout again, what do you think?

As you may have noticed, in the last few days I’ve been tinkering with the design slightly, bringing it slowly closer to the finished article.

If you like the background, expect to see more of it when release it as a wallpaper. I’ll be doing some colour variations and possibly some Linux badges may find there way on somewhere.

My big question now though, is do I make the main content black to match the rest of the page or leave it as white to stand out and ensure it’s easily readable?

Love to hear your comments.

by Ben

Tweeted this week 2009-06-07

  • Five minutes with Bill Bailey; slight recompense for missing his tour this year http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8073976.stm #
  • It’s been a mental 2 days.. no sleep, rats, poison. A trip to the hospital – unrelated, but tiring all the same, happy to say goodnight all. #
  • Finished work for the week – whoop whoop! Two whole days off… cue contented sigh. Time for a beer (I say ‘a’…) and some Benjy time. #
  • Ridley Scott to produce CC licensed (BY-SA) prequel web series to BLADE RUNNER http://digg.com/u14qw1 #
  • WhatTheFont: Great service for finding that elusive font #

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