Cinch Creative Media | Web Design, Logo Design, Photography

Just the other day, MacRumors released an article detailing the vast improvements in web standards and CSS, and the only way you’ll be able to notice is if you’re using a browser powered by the WebKit engine. What exactly is WebKit? Simply put, WebKit is an open source web browser engine. WebKit is also the name of the Mac OS X system framework version of the engine that’s used by Safari, Dashboard, Mail, and many other OS X applications. Yup, where there’s a revolution, there’s Apple.

Wait, isn’t Safari an Apple-only app? Until a couple days ago, yes. Undoubtedly in an attempt to join in the web browser market share, Apple has made their latest release of Safari, version 3.1, available free of charge to Windows users. (Visit www.apple.com/safari or use your Software Update utility, which was bundled and installed through your most recent iTunes installation). This comes as no surprise, as the Apple-Microsoft deal to keep Internet Explorer bundled with any new Mac ended in 2002, therefore freeing up any legal issues possibly faced by Apple for web browser development. What this basically means for PC users is that there is finally another alternative to IE than Firefox. Most important of all, Safari is the only PC web browser capable of displaying these new standards. Any future plans for PC browser development to include these standards and practices? Eventually, yes, thats how it works. Standards are raised, and developers scramble to get their software working seamlessly with them. Anytime soon? Perhaps with the release of Firefox 3..

Now, getting on to the examples. One requirement is the basic understanding of CSS and W3C web standards. [ CSS | W3C Web Standards ] Second, and most important, these examples are only viewable using Safari 3.1. Obviously. And no, earlier versions of Safari for Mac will not work. (WebKit was updated, not just Safari, so you’ll need to hit Software Update).

**Although a few of the transitional rules will display in other browsers, they animate incorrectly. When tested in Safari 3.1, one notices a huge difference.

CSS Animation - Currently, transitions are being displayed for viewing here. It may not seem like much yet, but this is pretty big; CSS 3 commands which are already being implemented to the web.

Transitions are specified using the following properties:
transition-property - What property should animate, e.g., opacity.
transition-duration - How long the transition should last.
transition-timing-function - The timing function for the transition (e.g., linear vs. ease-in vs. a custom cubic bezier function).
transition - A shorthand for all three properties.

HTML5 Media Support - This is one of the new developments that will reshape how media is embedded on the web.

The new HTML5 < video > and < audio > elements add native support for embedding video and audio content in web pages. They also provide a rich scripting API for controlling playback. Click here to view.

Font Downloads

Instead of having to rely on common fonts available to browsers, you can now link to actual font files within your CSS.

So to recap:
CSS/HTML5 > Flash-soaked sites
Safari > Everything else (until maybe Firefox 3)
Slider phones > Flip phones

Currently Listening: “Viva La Cobra - Cobra Starship”

Everything on the Internet starts with a domain name!

I know that may come off as a bit over reaching - but its true. From email to news, search, video or anything else on the Internet - you have to know where you’re going which is only achieved by a domain name.

The ABC’s of domain names, which as a title may come off as a little corny to you, is an exercise that makes you think about your industry or business, what you’re doing in it, and how you go about doing what you do as it relates to domain names. The use of the ABC’s format is to provide a simple, back to basics approach to deliver fundamental concepts that provoke thoughts, ideas and questions on domain names and how they are a part of your world.

So, whatever all of that means - lets dive into the ABC’s of domain names and find their relevance in your line or work, personal life, hobbies, educational background, experience or special areas of interest to see what jumps out and comes naturally to you:

A: Advertising - domain names offer the perfect venue to advertise your product or services or to provide potential revenue by domain parking and/or affiliate programs.

B: Branding - the brand is in the name. Having a great targeted domain name can really build a brand, or can actually be the brand (eg: Google.com)
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Code-named “Greenweb”, we here at Cinch Creative Media are bringing a new kind of project to life. Literally.

It’s no secret that the state of our environment is a constant battle and must always remain in the back of everyones thoughts. From recycling, to picking up litter, to not leaving your bedroom light on when you go out.. these are all seemingly small tasks that actually amount to a lot. The better we do now, the better future generations will have it.

So, what does this have to do with Cinch? We’re just a design firm.. what could we possibly do?

Well, anytime from here on, for a small donation, Cinch Creative Media will offer to plant a tree in your business or organizations’ name, with the purchase of a new product or service. Launching a new website? Cleaning up an old one? Re-branding your businesses’ logo? You might as well plant a tree while you’re at it! When you sign up for “Greenweb”, Cinch will buy a young, healthy tree from our local nursery, and plant it somewhere within our local community, in your name! Who wouldn’t want to be able to say they helped make a difference in the community? Future generations will thank you for it!

Within the next week or so, keep your eyes out for a full section and details on our Plant-a-tree project. We will have a website section, and possibly, an entire side-site, listing important details and types of trees you can have planted. Interested in becoming affiliated or just want to know more details? Leave a detailed e-mail for me by clicking here.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.. help make a difference! You can hide the “green issues”, but they’ll never go away.

Currently Listening to: “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie”

Hey Everybody!

I’m Zach LeBar, the new intern here at Cinch Creative Media. I am really enjoying this internship, hanging out with the guys, creating cool stuff. Hopefully you’ll soon be seeing some stuff from me in the weeks and months to come. This crew is passionate about design, and so am I, so this is really going to be a perfect fit. Keep watching the blog to see what new stuff comes out. News, reviews, maybe some freebies! This blog is going to be great so stick with it and see whats to come.

Here’s a link for the road, whenever we need to step back from a logo design, or just need a good laugh, we watch this video. Check it out.