Google Caffeine Is Here!

Google has just released a 'beta" version of its new search engine, code named Caffeine. Aptly named! Web designers and SEO specialists will be drinking plenty of late night coffee seeking to master its ranking methodologies! In its official blog, Google made the following statement regarding its new engine:

"For the last several months, a large team of Googlers has been working on a secret project: a next-generation architecture for Google's web search. It's the first step in a process that will let us push the envelope on size, indexing speed, accuracy, comprehensiveness and other dimensions. The new infrastructure sits "under the hood" of Google's search engine, which means that most users won't notice a difference in search results. But web developers and power searchers might notice a few differences, so we're opening up a web developer preview to collect feedback."

After a brief test of Caffeine vs the current Google, I can sense a refinement in the search results that may be short-circuiting some of the currently popular SEO tactics. That's a good thing. I applaud Google for seeking to improve the engine rather than just a overhaul of the graphics and marketing which for now appears to be Microsoft Bing's strategy.

Will Google's BMW like approach to search continue to prevail over Microsoft's Cadillac Escalade like cushy graphics in Bing? Let's see what the market decides!

Follow this link to try Google Caffeine.

Napping for Web Designers

As a self-employed web designer, I have a good amount of control over how my time is used. Occasionally, I will take a brief midday or afternoon nap. I find that it recharges me and helps me to think more clearly. In fact, when I worked for a large web development firm a few years ago, they had a room set aside for taking brief naps. That short rest is good for the creative process! Now, researchers are finding another good reason for taking an occasional nap.

A study of over 23,000 Greek men and women concluded that taking at least three daytime naps a week may reduce the risk of death from heart attack by 37 percent. “There is considerable evidence that both acute and chronic stress are related to heart disease,” explains Dimitrios Trichopoulos, a researcher and an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health, U.S.A. “An afternoon siesta,” he says, “may act as a stress-releasing process [and] reduce coronary mortality.”

Now you can feel less guilty about taking that afternoon siesta. It's good for your heart!

Cheap Stock Photos - A New Source

Online microstock is a boon for web designers who must work with clients on a very tight budget. They provide stock photos at very low cost for immediate purchase and download. While typically the quality of the photos are not consistently high, with a bit of research suitable images can be found for almost any application.

I am always on the lookout for new sources of good microstock. I discovered a new source of microstock that from my initial sampling seems to have good quality photos, pixmac.com. Add this to your list of microstock sources for your next web design project on a slim budget!

To Allergy Sufferers . . .

This topic does not have much to do with web designers specifically, yet I am sure it affects many of us! This is allergy season. Here in the southwestern United States the pollen counts are at an all time high because of the last rainy winter. I have found a little aid that can help allergy sufferers (like myself). Because I am sneezing and blowing my nose continually it can get quite reddened and raw. Plus, regular tissues simply do not hold up under use. In fact, they may aggravate allergies because of the dryness and lint. I started using pre-packed moistened baby wipes for my nose with great success. They are moist and do not irritate the nose. Plus, they are heavier than normal tissues and do a better job of cleaning the nose. Try them if you have allergies! The store brands are usually the cheapest. Be sure to get the moistened baby wipes with a neutral scent unless you want to smell like baby powder all day!

A Favorite Font . . . for Free!

I get many emails from other web designers asking about the fonts used in my web design. The font most often asked about is a beautiful script typeface named Scriptina, used in the web design shown above. This modern, breezy, handwritten style font is a personal favorite that I have used in a number of projects. It is also available for free! This website offers free downloads (click here) of both the Mac and PC versions of this beautifully rendered typeface. Sometimes, the best things in life (or at least web design) are free!