Brand Design Blog, News and Ideas

For all you Image Browsers and Researchers, I’ve discovered a brilliant new plugin for your favourite browser.

It’s called Piclens and it’s a whole new way to view any of the web imagery you’d normally search for on google images or flickr.

Simply load the plugin into your browser by visiting the web site at: www.piclens.com.

I found the process was easiest with Firefox which was a simple one click installation.

The program current allows you to search through:

• Google
• Yahoo
• Flickr
• SmugMug
• Photobucket
• deviantArt
• and You Tube

and displays the results in an expanding 3D landscape that not only looks fantastic, but saves on having to constantly click the ‘next page’ button.

There is no sign up to use PicLens and it’s completly FREE!!!
You’ll need to use PicLens to get the full effect, so I suggest you go on over try it out for yourself.

Then let me know what you think.

So what is so good about Drop.io?

Well, first let me explain what it is.

Drop.io is a web site that offers file exchange services. Much like an ftp area within a web server, you have the ability to drop files into the server and have them picked up anywhere in the world where web access is available.

Sounds good, but most people have access to their own ftp area. Why do I want this one?

Well, for starters, it’s free. Up to 100mg is available free to anyone world wide and you don’t even need to sign up to use or create a work space.

You simply create a folder, directly on the home page. Put a password on that folder and you’re ready to go.

No sign up. No email input. Drop.io will log your IP address to in case of illegal activities, but the server you create is completely secure and unreadable by anyone without your password. Including the drop.io staff.

But wait – There’s more!

Once you have your own server. You can use it’s rss feed to monitor when the folder has been updated. Great for group file exchange

Another very useful application is the ability to accept facsimiles and voice messages. Each drop.io folder has a phone extension assigned to it.

The number can receive faxs which it will then turn into downloadable pdfs and voice messages will be converted into mp3s.

I find the fax particularly useful because I don’t have fax requests often these days, but they do happen. The cost of a separate line and fax machine to receive these messages can add up. If I can get a service like this for free, then why the hell not.

Of course, you may find that 100mg is simply not enough space for your file exchange. So, for $10 US you can purchase 1gb pf space which will be held for 12 months.

No bad at all.

I’ve already used many of the functions of this web service and I’m sure to use more in the future.

If any of you decide to give it a try, please let me know what you thought and if it was useful for you.

Drop.io can be found here. Enjoy.

I’ve just finished reading a great book that you might be interested in.
‘Made to Stick - Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die…’

Written by Chip & Dan Heath, Made to Stick deals with why some ideas, stories and products become world famous and why most don’t. Why some things are ’sticky’ and why others are not.

I found the topic particularly interesting from a marketing and advertising point of view.

Not only does the book direct us to examples of the ’stickiness’ factor. But it then breaks them down and describes why they work. Then best of all, how we can replicate them.

Of course, with all great things, many elements have to align for our ideas to become hugely successful.

But by following methods described in the book, you will certainly place yourself closer to the mark. Giving you every chance to make sure that your next thing - is the ‘Next Big Thing’.

I’d definitely recommend reading the book if only to freshen your ideas about marketing and presentation.

To read more about the book including excerpts, you can visit the Made to Stick web site here.

While this blog isn’t about movies or television, I will from time to time mention anything I watch that strikes me as extraordinary.

Deadwood is an example of a television series that falls into this category.

A story of a growing mining camp set in Dakota Territory 1870, Deadwood is a western along a similar vain of Unforgiven or Tombstone.

Like the movies I’ve just mentioned, Deadwood provides the same level of quality while being over 15 times the length with 3 series’ currently completed.

While the series does have an excess of violence, nudity and course language which may scare off some views. It only added to punctuate and enhance the writing by becoming part of the language of the camp.

The writing is superb and could be considered as Shakespearian if allowed it’s liberties with foul language.

The acting is top notch from ever participant. Especially Ian McShane as Al Swearengen, which won him a golden globe for the performance. It’s also the best I’ve seen from Timothy Olyphant. Who does a fantastic job as Seth Bullock.

The other great thing about Deadwood is the attention to detail. For a television series they’ve really pulled out all the stops to make you feel like you are looking back into the 1870’s. Something which television westerns of the past have always struggled with.

This is the best television series I’ve seen next to perhaps Firefly. So I’d suggest if you haven’t already seen it and are able to see past the explicit use of profanity.

Go rent of buy it now and let me know your thoughts.