FullView Design

10 things Android phones do better than the iPhone

stephane — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:41:06 +0000

We all know the iPhone, know how it works (or doesn’t work, in many instances). We know there is an app for just about every possible task on the planet. But an Android phone? You don’t really know an Android phone until you’ve worked with one. That’s when you’ll find how far you can push your mobile experience.

1: Browsing

Let me first say I do like the Safari browser on the iPhone. It’s fast, it’s reliable, it’s stable. But flexible? Flash? Monopolistic? Yes Safari is the only browser for the iPhone, and that browser still does not do Flash. However, the Android browser is one of the best browsers on the mobile market. On my HTC Hero, I have Opera Mini, Dolphin, and the default Browser. I haven’t used Opera Mini since I used it a couple of times upon installation. Dolphin is outstanding, with its use of Tabs and Gestures. But the default Android browser just can’t be beat. It usually loads pages faster than Safari, has Flash support, and simply does everything a browser should do.

2: Desktop

Instead of just having icons littering your phone’s desktop (like the iPhone), the Android phone adds widgets to the desktop. These widgets tend to have an actual purpose. For example:

- The Twitter Widget allows you to update your Twitter status from your mobile desktop.
- The People Widget allows you to enable different actions for different contacts right from your desktop (say you want to call your wife with a single click and text your child from a single click).
- The Messages Widget allows you to instantly see your email from the desktop.

The Android desktop is on a completely different level from the iPhone desktop. To compare them is actually unfair. Apples to Éclairs as it were.

3: Connectivity

On one of the “pages” of my Hero desktop, I have four buttons:

- Turn on/off bluetooth
- Turn on/off Wifi
- Turn on/off Mobile Network
- Turn on/off GPS

These buttons let you instantly switch on or off the various connectivity options, which will go a long way toward conserving battery life. There is also an app in the Market called Y5, which will turn off Wi-Fi automatically when no known wireless network is available. To do any of this on the iPhone, you have to go into the Settings screen and navigate your way around the various options.

4: PC connection

Unlike the iPhone, you don’t need to have iTunes to manage your phone. Now, I say this with a bit of a chewed-up tongue because Android can’t sync with the Linux desktop yet. That’s okay for now. But Android can mount the SD card so that it is usable (via drag and drop) by any operating system. On this you can add music and files, which will then be usable on the phone. Simple.

5: Multi-notification

One of the issues I’ve always had with the iPhone is its notification system. Basically, it depends upon a single system that not all applications have access too. For instance, if you are a Twitterer, you can find out if you have updates only by opening the Twitter app on the iPhone. With Android, the apps have access to the notification system and can all report. The notification bar on the Android phone can alert you to new voice messages, email messages, Facebook notifications, new Gmail, new text messages, and much more. If an app has a notification, it can let you know quickly, and in the background.

6: Endless personalization

I hesitate to place this on the list because so many readers seem to think user-configuration is worthless. It’s not. The Android phone allows users to configure their mobile to look and behave exactly how they want it. If you’re a social network power user, you can have a screen for Facebook, one for Twitter, one for texting, and one for Flickr. Or if you are a business user, you can have a screen for contacts, for your calendar, for gmail, for email, for RSS, and more. Not only can you configure the desktop the way you want, you can configure the behaviour of your phone. Set up default actions for different contacts — even add an entirely different desktop, should you want. The possibilities are endless with the Android phone. With the iPhone, you’re pretty much limited to what Apple says.

7: Market

Yes, Apple has an app for that. But so does Android. And chances are, the Android app is free and works as well (or better) than the iPhone app. And, believe it or not, there are thousands of apps in the Android Market. Apple does not (at least yet) have a patent on an application for just about everything. Give it time though. And installing applications on your Android phone is actually easier than it is on the iPhone. For free applications, you don’t have to worry about entering a password every time you try to install anything. And you do not have to link to Apple’s iTunes store to purchase applications from the Android Market. For those apps that have a price, you enter your information on the Google Market one time and you’re done.

8: Google integration

This one is almost not fair, since Android was built with the intention of integrating with Google. But wow does it integrate well. Want to search Google? Simply click the search button, enter your search string, and you’re off and running. Did I mention Google Voice? Yes, the Android has an app for that.

9: Open Source

Why does being open make Android better than iPhone? For the same reason that being open helps Linux: a planet full of developers with the ability to aid Android’s developers. Anyone can get access to the source of Android to better the system. This is also a double-edged sword, in that it allows those will less-than-ideal intentions to discover any weakness of the phone. But that can be seen as an indirect plus because when weaknesses are found in the open source community, they are quickly fixed. I assume that this tradition will extend to the Android phone. iPhone open? You’re kidding right?

10: Open to carriers

This is yet another reason why Android is superior. If you want an iPhone (at least for the time being), you better be open to AT&T. If you don’t like AT&T and you still want an iPhone, you better be open to doing a little jail breaking or move to another country. If you want an Android phone, you can join any number of carriers and have your choice of any number of outstanding phones using Android. No lock down.

Your take

What do you think: Are these reasons enough to get you to move from your iPhone to an Android phone? If not, tell us why you prefer the iPhone. And if you aren’t sure, just grab an Android phone and play around with it. You might quickly change your mind.

Article written by Jack Wallen

testimonial director

stephane — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:40:55 +0000

We were approached to create a website and email campaign for Testimonial Director. Our client wanted something that was clean and fresh with some FullView style. The site was designed with a black and red colour scheme, matching the TD corporate colours. With attention to key areas and valuable marketing real estate oppertunities we were able to deliver a final package that our clients fell in love with.

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Testimonial – BlackTruckInc

stephane — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:51:44 +0000

I was blown away by the website that FullView design created for my home-based company. Stephane at FullView was able to make the process quick, easy and seamless. He delivered an amazing concept after only giving him some basic ideas of what I was looking for. I could not be happier with the end result. FullView captured the exact look and feel I was hoping for. I am totally impressed with the prompt and professional service they provided to me. Thanks FullView for the awesome job!

25+ Must-have Chrome extensions

stephane — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:47:40 +0000

For many web designers and developers, Firefox is unsurpassable. For others, Firefox eats Chrome’s dust.

For the past two years, since Google Chrome’s release, there’s been a raging debate on which browser is superior. Mozilla’s open source product has stood the test of time and Firefox has quickly become the most used browser, having surpassed Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.

Don’t feel sorry for Google Chrome, however. Even in its infancy, Chrome has already reached second most popular, having already surpassed Internet Explorer and with a high chance of surpassing Firefox.

Although Firefox is more robust (primarily due to its popularity), Chrome is lightning fast and, with new extensions added daily, an exciting option for the serious web designer.

And here you are to find tools that make Chrome useful to you as a designer or a developer. Fortunately, Chrome has a burgeoning collection of extensions that will make the transition from Firefox a lot easier.

1. AppJump App Launcher and Organizer

After you finish downloading all the extensions in this list, you’ll definitely need an organizer. AppJump is a Chrome extension that allows you to locate and launch your applications and other extensions quickly from a drop down menu on your toolbar. One cool feature of AppJump is the ability to organize apps and extensions into different groups. For example, you can easily separate your work extensions from your personal, for more effective time management.

2. Awesome Screenshot

Awesome Screenshot lives up to its name. This awesome extension allows you to take snapshots of the whole or partial page. After taking a screenshot, you can circle or underline relevant parts, blur out irrelevant parts and make comments. You have the option to save to local or upload and receive an image link for sharing.

3. Aviary Screen Capture

After waxing poetic about Awesome Screenshot above, you may wonder why two screen capture extensions are added on this list. One downside to Awesome Screenshot is that it requires access to all the data on your computer and your browsing history. For those users who feel that is an invasion of privacy, Aviary is a perfectly capable option.

4. Chrome Sniffer

Chrome Sniffer allows you to check the framework of any website. It locates and displays any known Content Management System (CMS) or Javascript library on a website. This extension is great for those mind-blowing websites that leave you wondering, “How is that humanly possible?” Currently, Chrome Sniffer can detect over 100 frameworks.

5. Cloud Save

There’s a huge shift from operating locally to working in the cloud. As designers and developers, you are accustomed to working on the internet, but do you also save important files online? If your excuse is that it’s not so convenient, you may want to take a serious look at Cloud Save. Cloud Save allows you to save files from any website to supported cloud services. Save to Amazon Cloud Drive, Dropbox and Flickr.

6. Code Cola

Code Cola is an extension that allows users to edit individual pages inside of a website. The extension allows you to click on an area within a web page and edit the CSS automatically.

7. Corporate Ipsum

Corporate Ipsum is a fun alternative to the standard Lorem Ipsum text filler. With this extension, you can populate your website with “corporate” speak and buzz words. An example of Corporate Ipsum is, “Competently target enterprise-wide data with multifunctional ideas.” This extension is based on the popular Mac widget of the same name.

8. Diigo Bookmark, Archive, Highlight and Sticky Note

Diigo is short for Digest of Internet Information Groups and Other stuff. It is an online research tool that allows users to manage information. Highlight webpages in multiple colors, make sticky notes, exchange pages across your social network and create groups to share your research.

9. Drag2up

Drag2up is an easy to use file attachment system. Instead of clicking through various windows, simply drag the file you’d like to attach from your computer onto the input field. Alternately, you can upload files to various hosting sites, including Flickr, ImageShack, Twitpic, and Box.net. This extension is easily one of the must-have downloads.

10. Eye Dropper

Every now and then, you come across the perfect shade of green that you must incorporate into your web design. The Eye Dropper extension allows you to locate the exact shade. It also keeps track of your colors history.

11. Firebug Lite

Firebug is one of the great tools that makes it difficult to transition from Firefox and leave it behind. Fortunately, Chrome has an extension called Firebug Lite that offers a similar function. Firebug Lite works along side Chrome Development Tools to enable developers to inspect and edit HTML and DOM elements. It also allows you to debug with ease. Firebug Lite is actually a JavaScript file that acts like the original Firebug once inserted into a web page.

12. Greplin

Greplin is an extension that allows you to search within your private data. Use this extension to locate a piece of information you post on various social websites, including Twitter, Facebook or even Gmail. It indexes your data for easy searching. Instead of dredging through your history, you can easily call up data with Greplin.

13. HTML Instant

HTML Instant is a real time HTML. It features a split screen. As you type your code on left side of the split screen, you see the results automatically on the right side. HTML Instant not only works with HTML, but it also supports CSS and JavaScript. You can also upload images from your Image Shack, Photobucket, or a random website that’s hosting an image. This HTML editor is very user friendly, for the novice designer.

14. IE Tab

The IE Tab extension allows you to view a webpage from a simulated Internet Explorer, while still using your Chrome browser. Internet Explorer is still the preferred browser of most internet users. And there are still some sites that work best or even exclusively with Internet Explorer. This tab allows you to use Internet Explorer without sacrificing your dignity. First things first, IE Tab only works on Windows. This is because it uses Window’s built in rendering engine for Internet Explorer. For that reason, Mac users are out of luck on this one.

15. Image Properties Context Menu

Image Properties Context Menu is a useful Chrome extension that provides information on all things related to a selected image. Users can find both the location and the source of an image. It also shows the image’s dimensions and file size. It’s a simple but effective extension that is somehow not included in the Chrome browser.

16. MeasureIt!

MeasureIt is a ruler that you use to find the dimensions of any element on a web page. Simply click on the extension and drag out the ruler to find the dimensions quickly and easily.

17. Microstock Photo Power Search Tool

What separates a good web designer from a great web designer is knowing where to go for stock images. Any designer knows that finding the right image is one of the most time consuming parts of design, especially if you have several go-to resources. This extensionallows you to search microstock on 5 of the top stock agencies, including Dreamstime, Fotolia, and Shutterstock.

18. Palette for Chrome

The Palette for Chrome extension is instantly useful. Right click on any image you’d like to use. This extension creates a 16, 24, or 32 color palette. Alternatively, you can also create a custom palette. Use this extension to incorporate and convey the colors from your favorite image into your web design.

19. Pendule

The powerful Pendule extension combines several of the extensions found in this list. Pendule allows you to view and alter Javascript and CSS. You can also view information about specific images or hide them altogether. It’s a robust developer tool that includes a color picker, an HTML and CSS validator and a link checker.

20. PlainClothes

PlainClothes is a fun and useful extension that allows you to see the bare bones of a website. Sometimes it’s easier to see mistakes in a design or analyze why it works so well when it goes black and white. PlainClothes allows you to strip down an webpage to one text color, one background color and one link color. Links are underlined, text is your default and suddenly, you’re in 1998 again. Actually, PlainClothes works very well for adding accessibility to your web design.

21. Resolution Test

Change the size of your browser to test your website in various resolutions. Resolution Test comes with preset resolution sizes, but you can also view in your own specified resolution.

22. Search by Image

Search by Image is one of my favorite Chrome extensions. This extension allows you to find a specific image on different websites. With Search by Image, you also have the option to find similar images. Simply right-click on the image of interest and select “search Google with this image.” You will find pages that include matching images or are visually similar.

23. Session Manager

The Session Manager extension saves all of your currently opened tabs for later perusal. This extension is extremely useful if you, like most, find yourself opening the same pages over and over again. Group and save related tabs in Session Manager. For example, bundle all of your social networking sites together so that you can quickly access them without having to individually open each site. And close them just as quickly, with assurance that your tabs are saved.

24. TabJump

Similar in scope to Session Manager, TabJump goes a step beyond. Not only does it manage your tabs, this extension can also lock tabs, preventing you from closing an important tab accidentally. If you do close a tab by mistake, TabJump will allow you to re-open it, but keep in mind that extensions cannot restore history.

25. TooManyTabs

Because there can never be enough extensions to address browser tab management,TooManyTabs is another must-have. This extension shows a thumbnail of all of the tabs you have open. This comes in handy when you’re operating with so many tabs that you can no longer read the tab titles. Having a visual aid helps you sort through your workspace effectively.

26. Web Developer

Web Developer is another comprehensive developer tool. It is by the same developer who wrote the wildly popular Firefox extension. With this extension, users can view and edit CSS, display image file sizes and clear session cookies.

27. WhatFont

For most web designers, fonts are kind of a big deal. Have you ever happened upon a random website and found the perfect font, only to search endless code for answers? If you like things simple, install this font finding extension. Simply hover over a text and find the font in use. Not only will this extension tell you the name of the font, it also gives font size and color.

Jacqueline Thomas is an award-winning writer and web design consultant. Find her on herwebsite and follow her on Twitter.

Do you have any favorite extensions that didn’t make this list? Please share it with us in the comments.

audio recording academy

stephane — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:13:17 +0000

Web site design and development for The Audio Recording Academy. The TARA website has a clean and simple appearance, with use of large imagery and jQuery functionality for subtle interactivity. The web site is used as a valuable lead generation tool for TARA with Search Engine Optimization implementation strategies and provides valuable information about the studio what their academy has to offer.

The Audio Recording Academy focuses on hands-on learning that gives their students the practical experience needed to excel in a recording studio. With their industry leading staff and state of the art equipment they’ve quickly become leaders in the Ottawa and Toronto areas.

fullview featured on CSS Mania

stephane — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:47:53 +0000

logo featured on creattica

stephane — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:03:29 +0000

Testimonial – Biddle Interactive

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 01:05:03 +0000

Stephane always delivers first rate work on time, on budget, and better than expected.

Testimonial – The Green Grind

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 01:03:38 +0000

FullView Design created something fresh and modern for me that summed up what I was looking for. When there were minute details here and there that I wanted to tweak they had no problem doing that for me. It’s obvious this company takes great pride in the final product they produce. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone that’s looking for a web designer and will continue to use them.