TDH.me

Spotted: Some of my books in Singapore

TDH — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:40:59 +0000

Singapore

It is always nice when I get sent emails or tweets about where my books have been spotted. This photo (click for full-size image), which features both the first and second edition of Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog (the third edition is on its way!) as well as Tackling Tumblr, was sent to me by Ripperdoc who spotted these books in a book store in Singapore. Thanks!

Less is more, that’s all I’m sayin’

TDH — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:55:46 +0000

This year’s first column (weekly ones, remember?) for WPMU.org is online. It is about theme developers and keeping it simple.

Announcing Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 3rd Edition

TDH — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:04:17 +0000

A mere hour ago I delivered the manuscript for Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog, 3rd Edition to my publisher. That’s right, there’ll be a third edition of my WordPress book and I hope you’re as psyched about that as I am. Probably not, but still.

I’ll get back to you with more on this book, along with the cover and a table of contents, some PR talk and stuff like that. For now all I can tell you is that it is a fairly substantial update to the second edition, fully updated to the 3.3 branch of WordPress. I’m pretty happy with it, especially some new examples and ideas to get your minds spinning.

Look for more later. For now, I’ll just sit back and relax, feeling bloody happy of yet another manuscript delivered.

Om Malik’s re-birthday

TDH — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:18:41 +0000

Take it from someone who’s been down the rabbit hole, you should read Om Malik’s post about his re-birthday. That is, the day shit happened and he had to revaluate what was important. We all should experience such a day, sans the shit part obviously, but I’m afraid most of us are too thickheaded to really understand without something hitting us hard from behind.

So there, do yourself a favor for the new year and take a breather, think things through, and get out of the negative maelstrom parts of whatever kind of life you’re living. We all have that, we all need to rethink and redo the parts of our lives that just aren’t working out. Work, relationships, whatever – it is all the same and it adds to what could be a problem.

Happy re-birthday Om. I know, I know, I’m a bit late but it is the thought that counts, right?

Naming your theme

TDH — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:19:28 +0000

Important things are discussed in this year’s last column for WPMU.org: What should you name that theme?

These iOS and Android articles are awesome

TDH — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:39:42 +0000

I can’t exactly say that I’m reading everything that ends up on The Verge, but I do find that it is a great site overall. If you like truly in-depth reviews, this is the place to look, but what really sets them apart is posts like the Android and iOS visual histories. Great content and lots of images, detailing how these two platforms have evolved over the years. Now if they would just get that whole text column left, text column right thing under control, I’d like them even more!

Stylus – the problem is in the name

TDH — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:03:10 +0000

Ben Brooks doesn’t seem to have much love for styluses meant for touchscreens, or the iPad in particular. His words:

anyone who owns a stylus for their iPad should have their iPad taken away

If I was inclined to be offended, I would. You see, I recently discovered that JustMobile’s stylus is great for doing design sketches in Sketchbook Pro, and to jot down notes when talking about design with clients. I’m using it more and more, and since I consider myself something of a power user when it comes to the iPad and its possiblities, I just had to point out the obvious.

A lot of these “styluses” meant for touchscreens have very little to do with the styluses of old. Or to put it this way, the iPad styluses are more like felt pens and have very little in common with whatever you got with your old smartphone, your Nintendo DS, or your old school table PC.

That being said, anyone who owns a pen for their iPad and uses it for everything should have their iPad taken away.

Notes Blog: An update

TDH — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:04:18 +0000

I just published an update on what’s going on with the Notes themes. Be sure to read it if you’re into that sort of thing.

Should your plugin even be on wordpress.org?

TDH — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:29:20 +0000

In light of recent events, I’m asking the question whether your plugin should be hosted on wordpress.org in my latest column at WPMU.org.

Lessons learned from organizing a WordCamp

TDH — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:00:57 +0000

My latest column on WPMU.org is about the lessons i learned from organizing a WordCamp. Sorry, no profanities or controversy in this one!