Enough Coda for Everyone

Well, I have made the switch, and this was one not taken lightly.  I have been a Dreamweaver user since it’s first beta back in the 90’s and have held true ever since.  But the fact of the matter is, I have never used Dreamweaver for all its ‘features’, but more so as a text editor on steroids. Truth be told, the world of web developers has evolved and I am afraid that Dreamweaver has not.

I have watched CODA from afar for a while now.  I have always been a fan of Panic’s software and what designer does not know the Panic site?  This first version of CODA was nice, but just not enough to get me to drop Dreamweaver.  But as of late I have come out of my creative hiatus and have re-engaged my development side again.  Very exciting, but long story there.  Anyway, being back in the development pit again required getting up to speed with Subversion.  So now what?  Glomp on another app to support subersion?  Use a Subversion client from a PC.  Ummmmmmmm, no.

Like Photoshop, I feel that Dreamweaver has lost its way. Ever since Dreamweaver became the super app and incorporated Ultra Dev, it just has become a bloated application.  I don’t use any of the WYSIWYG tools, and like any of that stuff works for modern XHTML development these days anyway.  You know, it was great when I was starting out, but I have kicked off the training wheels long ago and it is time to move on. And not to mention, I am in NO WAY going to drop another $700 to upgrade to CS4 to get Subversion support.  Sorry Adobe, but you guys need to re-tool.

Well, while searching for a Subverison client I came across CODA again. Man, this really is a tight little package.  If you are a web developer and want to get back to basics of coding without all that extra junk that Dreamweaver packs in, CODA is for you.  The UI is clean, the features are simple and to the point, and as the tagline states, it is a one-window web development app.

One feature that really sold me was the split window screen. Man! This is gold. I can’t tell you how many times I would have killed for this feature in DW. Editing the HTML and seeing the CSS in the same screen, TIME SAVER! And unlike DW that tries to render the HTML as a WYSIWYG, CODA has a browser built in for previewing your work. As handy as that is, you still can’t beat previewing in FireFox with Firebug. How did we ever really get along without that?  Darkages man.

Ok, more CODA features. Spell checker. COOL!!  Anyone reading my blog will know that I am typo king, so this feature will really help me out. Live collaboration using the Subetha Engine. This is pretty cool. With tools like this, do we really need to work in an office any more?

Anyway, that is my rant.  Do with it what you will.  If you are a coder and use a Mac, I highly suggest giving CODA a try.

Obama + iPhone!

There are a few things in life that just make sense. Peanut butter + Jelly. Milk + Cookies. Death + Taxes. We can now add to that list Obama + iPhone.

The team that has brought you an amazing web site and really great online applications, today released on the Apple Store an application that once again just proves that the Obama team gets it. If you haven’t heard, it is the iPhone app, Obama 08.

Again, the Obama team clearly states that they just get it. They are part of the next generation, the generation that is sick of old skool politics and are looking for a leader to take them into the future. This team has consistently proven that they are in touch with the next great generation of voters.

Look, the next President of the United States will not only have to deal with issues of the past, and there are issues, but there is a future out there that we need to grab onto and embrace. This new world breaks down barriers and unites people in a way that we as a people have never seen. Our next President needs to have the mind set to envision that future. Understand the impacts of their decisions for generations to come.

If there is anything that can be said about McCain, he will bring more of the same when it comes to large corporations. That is fact. As we enter this next evolution of the internet, there will be major interests from these large corporations in seizing control over market technology, and as documented in many cases, not in the best interest of the people. We need a President like Obama who will understand these new technologies and how to manage legislation properly to ensure that the internet and the power it wields is for the masses, not a select few.

So, where is the McCain iPhone app? Well, if this campaign has taught us anything, there will be one soon. After all, McCain has continued to ride the coat tails of the Obama Campaign the whole ride so far, even to the point of hijacking the “Vote for Change” theme. They probably would have resonated better with their base if they had just stuck with the GOP tag-line, “Stay the Course!”

So what does this app bring? Power. Pure, unadulterated power! In your pocket, in a heartbeat, are all the answers you could ever have when it comes to discussing the issues. Where does Obama stand on <enter issue here>? Just look it up. This is the single greatest resource tool of this campaign. Just remember, use this power wisely. With great power, goes even greater obligation to rub the issues in the faces of the misinformed and misguided.

That is my $0.02, do with it what you will.

Wow, this is pretty cool

Looking for that companion tool for blogging on your iPhone? ShoZu is for you.

What does ShoZu bring to the table? Well, this really universal tool allows you quickly and easily access your WordPress account and just as easily snap a new picture or grab one from your iPhone library and quickly make a new post.

When I say universal, I mean this tool will talk to just about every community photo and blogging service on the planet. The set up was really quick and adding a new photo post to your site is even faster.

Then using the WordPress iPhone application, you can access that new post, add your copy and communicate at the speed of light from your iPhone. This is the kid of stuff that those old skool, right wing, news suppressing major corporation media outlets fear! 

Man, life doesn’t get better then this! And who is that cute kid?

One note though. The pictures you are uploading is not being uploaded to your blog, but being uploaded to the ShoZu service and the a link to that image is what gets posted. Not sure if that is of a concern, but I thought that I would put that out there.