Who is responsible for the internet?
That’s right folks, the new version of the internet will be released very soon. Version 3.0 will be better, bigger, smaller, faster, easier, more intricate, scalable, portable, renewable and usable.
Actually, it won’t be.
The problem is that there is no version 3.0. There really wasn’t a Web 2.0 either. Yes, there have been advancements in markup languages, online applications and design styles, but this numbering system and promise of a Next Generation internet (yes, I know Gene Roddenberry invented the internet, not Al Gore) is simply reverse theorising, looking back at technological advances and seeing where things will lead in the future.
Cisco decided to set themselves up as the prophets of a new internet, the connectivity that will create greater value for businesses and personal users. Perhaps their 23% increase in profits went to their head and they thought it was a Sign. A sign that Somebody out there wanted Cisco to tell the good news to all, and to forge the way for the common folk.
I’ve never liked Kool Aid. And perhaps this was just one over-eager blog post that was trying to reach further ahead than necessary. But there are easier ways to make sure the internet (if you think anyone at all has any sought of control over it, Google aside) easier to use, more accessible and just happier for everyone.
But like any revolution, the best way to start is with your own small corner of the world. Here are some tips:
- Stop spam. If you think you have to reach thousands of people at a time, start a newspaper. Then close it down, and start a blog.
- Be real. If your marketing message, your website and everything else you say is not the utter truth, give it a rest. We’re all way too smart to be duped. Ok, most of us are.
- Be honest. If you are not an expert in web design, SEO, web usability, interface design and copywriting, leave it alone. Back AWAY from Dreamweaver, and call someone who studies these fields, understands the way websites need to be built and designed, and get on with doing what you’re good at. Your job.
- Do your job. If you’re a plumber, plumb. If you’re a cook, cook. I don’t want to be waiting for my meal while you finish reading a chapter from ‘HTML for Dummies’. Perhaps you aren’t literally studying in the kitchen, but if you’re going to hone skills, make sure it’s ones people expect of you.
Don’t wait for the new version to be released. Just make sure your web designer knows what they are doing.
By the way – why is it that nobody talks about Print Design 2.0, or Business Cards 3.1 ? Perhaps people ought to be just as critical of print materials as they of the web.
When you need to send piles (or gigabytes) of files, there are better and more friendly ways to do it than sending inbox cramming attachments. Here are a few that will make you popular with your unwitting recipient.
1. iDisk
iDisk is part of the Mobile Me service from Apple, which includes a me.com email address, 20GB of server space (upgradeable), syncing with iCal, Address Book, Safari and other OS X applications and iPhone services. iDisk can be used for backups, storage and file transfer via a public folder accessed with a browser. iDisk can also act just like a drive on your desktop. Don’t think of iDisk as a Mac app. It’s Windows friendly too.
Limit: 20GB Storage / 200 GB Monthly Data Transfer $109 CAN / year (twice the storage/transfer for $50/yr extra)
Cost: $109 CAN Platforms: Mac OSX, Windows More Information
2. Picasa
Picasa is Google’s photo sharing/storing/editing app.
Store and sort you photos on your desktop or phone and upload to online space with the app or browser.
Once online, you can share your photo libraries with email recipients and give them the option to download or comment on your photos. Great for sending clients or friends contact sheets to choose from.
Limit: 1GB (more available) Cost: Free (upgrade to 10GB for $20/yr). Platforms: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux
More Information
3. FTP
FIle Transfer Protocol requires server space, like the one used to host your website. As long as you have username and password access you can use the space to up and download files and give others access for sharing. For security, it’s always a good idea to have a separate folder and user access for people that you don’t want to be able to poke around your precious HTML. If you only have one username or don’t have permission to create new folders, contact your web developer or hosting company.
Limit: Depends on server. Cost: see hosting company Platforms: All.More Information (Netfirms)
4. Ubuntu One
Ubuntu is a version of Linux (an alternative operating system to Windows or MacOS) that now includes a file sharing service called OneUbuntu. 2GB of space is included for free, with additional space available for purchase.
No extra software is required since all you need is a browser.
Limit: 2GB / 50GB Cost: Free/ $10 per month Platforms: Ubuntu
More Information
5. gDisk
gDisk is software that turns your GMail account into a portable hard drive so you can always have your important files accessible accross the Internet.
Another way to make Google and GMail more useful!
Limit: Approx. 7GB
Cost: Free
Platforms: Mac with GMail account
More Information
6. Box.Net
Another Free/Upgrade for a fee service, Box.net is also accessible from mobile devices app and has options for business applications.
An extensive and expandable service with a very impressive clientele list.
Limit: 1GB storage.
Cost: Free. Upgrades from $10/month.
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS X, iPhone, Blackberry
More Information
7. Accellion
Selling itself on the problems caused by email attachments jamming up email servers, Accellion is available as a service for business, small business and enterprise solutions. They also offer a level of security for all file transfers and storage options. At nearly $4000 per year, this is not an option to chuck a PDF your friend’s way when their email account is full. Designed for scalability, Accellion provides corporations from less than 100 users to more than 100,000 users with flexible deployment options that can grow from a single office to global distributed deployment integrating both on-premise and off-premise in-the-cloud installations.
Limit: 50GB Storage, 100GB Transfer Cost: starting at $3990 More Information
The title is a quote from a movie I probably shouldn’t admit to watching, let alone paying attention to. Hugh Grant said this, in ‘Music and Lyrics’, when his partner said that she wasn’t feeling inspired.
This got me thinking of a joke…
Q: Why didn’t the artist look out of the window in the morning?
A: So he had something to do in the afternoon !
I think the implication is that artists sit around, waiting for inspiration. Well, I suppose that as a fine artist that may be true, but as a commercial artist (graphic designer) who doesn’t want to starve or get kicked out of his house (ie. would rather make money), I can’t wait for inspiration!
I think I also have a hidden desire to make my job appear as technical and challenging as possible. The main reason for this is that my job is technical and challenging. More often than not, there is a lot more to design than meets the eye (literally!.
So it was quite refreshing to find this about.com post about logo design. Giving away trade secrets may backfire, but I wanted to share the complexity and length of such a job.
