Digital-Engineer.net: update

The new project, Digital-Engineer.net, is almost ready for launch. Designs were made, discussed, adjusted and finally created in HTML/CSS. Like I said before, I really want the new design to focus on the content. The site needs to look good of course but the content is king. Everything on the website needs to support the content. That means: no aqua-styled buttons, no fake shadows and as little Photoshop-pixels as possible. Another advantage: No Photoshop-pixels means faster load times.

For the meantime I’ve even dumped the GoogleAds. There will be 2 banners, but they will be displayed via ‘OpenX Hosted’. The advanced infrastructure of OpenX provides website-owners with an perfect way to distribute and track ads. The new Single Page Call method now makes the process of delivering ads even faster. I’ll also be experimenting with OpenX Market whenever I don’t have a direct advertiser. OpenX Market is basically a place where you can offer ad-space. (A bit like Google, but you set the price).

Because I focus on the content it makes sense to spend some time experimenting with the typography and readability. I ended up using the Helvetica Neue. Now that’s a typeface only Mac users can view in their browser right away (without installing extra fonts). But, because most of my current visitors use Macs (about 66%) it felt right to provide them with a higher quality font. Unfortunately Firefox renders the Helvetica Neue not quite as good as Apple’s Safari, but it does a pretty good job. Still, if you wish to see the difference just view the site in both Safari and Firefox.

And Windows-users? Well, even though most of you know the difference between Helvetica or Arial (if you don’t here’s a quick read) Arial’s presence on the internet is so overwhelming I’m betting most Windows-users won’t mind.

About them pixels
One of the nice things of running a website like this, is the professional and enthusiastic people you get to meet. And, like I said before, I’ll be writing Digital-Engineer.net using my own name. Back in 1998 when I first started writing and posting in various websites I needed a nickname. It became ‘Woz’ (from Wozniac, one of the two founders of Apple) because I liked his technical view and the way he was not on the ‘frontrow’. (Whenever I write about professionals I also try to get ‘out of the way’ and not let the interview be about me). But over the years the real Wozniak became quite a celebrity even outside the Apple in crowd. And now he’s even ‘Dancing with the Stars’).

So it’s time to start publishing using my real name. And I thought: If you’re going to have an ‘About page’ why not get a good photo up there? I’ve seen a lot of good friend their ‘About page’ and I’m sorry to say most of them show the visitor a crappy webcam-picture. It’s even used for public-relation purposes. Those same guys would never use a crappy photo like that in the artwork they produce, but somehow they don’t feel the same when it’s their own website…

I felt I needed a good photographer. And very soon I had the pleasure of doing – not one – but two photo shoots. I’ll tell you all about it in time, but for now rest a sure you’ll get to see who’s behind the MacMojo and Digital-Engineer.net website. The website is basically finished. I’ll activate it in a few weeks. In case you’re wondering why I’m not going to do it right now, well I’m getting eye-surgery (in fact I’m typing this topic using only one eye and that really sucks). After the surgery I’ve got a small vacation coming up. If you wish to get notified when I activate the new site, just send me an email or join the MacMojo newsletter. Hope to see you at Digital-Engineer.net.