Some might consider this a dead technology – part of Web 1.0 – but, I and many others disagree. RSS usage never really took off, probably because of lack of understanding by the general public. Surveys show that RSS usage peaked in 2008 at around 11% and has dropped to 9% since then. It remains a great tool for those who want to manage the information they receive. I use my RSS feeds to get job status updates from my printer and to get notified when a new post is made on my neighborhood’s forum. Email is one popular way to get this kind of information, but has many drawbacks.

As for my client’s needs, the idea to use RSS came to me while reviewing statistics in my bulk email program. The fact is, really good email campaigns can only produce about a 40% open rate (and falling daily), while doing everything right; using only opt-in addresses, following anti-spam guidelines, ensuring optimal HTML compatibility across most email programs, etc., etc. – How do I close the gap? It’s one thing to update a web page and keep content pertinent and fresh, but you can’t predict when (if ever) the people you are trying to reach will go there. With email, many people will simply not read the message for various reasons in or out of their control. If I rely on Facebook alone, I alienate everyone who is not connected through THAT channel. Simply put, there is not a single channel of communication that will reach 100% of the target audience.

RSS is just one more way to increase the likelihood that the right person will read the message at the right time. It remains a valuable tool to help us stay connected with our readers, customers, friends, family, or whomever. The fact is, everyone seeks and digests information in many different ways. If you think you could benefit from a custom RSS feed, please let me know.

These fonts are installed on a Web server (not the end-user’s computer), and allow much greater flexibility in designing. Problem solved, right? Sort of. As with most creative works, typefaces are protected by various legal means, including design patents, copyrights, and trademarks. While it’s not impossible to swap fonts between friends the same way digital music is shared, it’s still illegal and – increasingly – difficult. That’s because the major type foundries who distribute our beautiful fonts recognize the Web as a major evolutionary platform and are endorsing technologies that protect their investment, as they should. In fact, these digital type designs are more akin to computer programs than art, and can be encoded using all sorts of security techniques to prevent copying. But, there is a silver lining.

Many open-source fonts are available for download at no charge, and can be installed for personal or commercial use. If a particular font is not available for free, and a designer is willing to pay a reasonable fee, a growing number of commercial fonts can be purchase like music or stock photos. Licensing is indeed at the forefront of this movement, but having the legal right to use a font is not the only challenge to overcome.

Although the technology to download Web fonts on demand has existed for more than ten years, it was not immediately embraced. Development slowed and a lack of standards made the whole practice inadvisable. Today, interest in displaying real Web-based fonts has grown. As a result, new standards have been recommended, and for the most part all major browsers and font foundries are on board. There are merely four major formats [of fonts] that cover all major browsers, provided users don’t have a sufficiently old version.

Web designers have a great tool in their back pocket that encourages more creativity, while addressing the needs of accessibility. Many services already exist that allow free font downloads, hosting, and subscription services. The unique font shown above in this post was downloaded from Kernest.com for free. Another site of interest is Typekit.com. Better yet, just Google the topic and you will be rewarded with a wealth of information on Web Typography.

Given the fact that HTML5 won’t be completed for years, and it is reasonable to assume that an unimaginable number of existing Flash content on the Web won’t ever be converted, I am perplexed by Jobs and Apple. What will the Internet activists think? Adobe estimates that 75% of online videos use Flash. And what of the non-video content? Educational games for students? Testing and training applications? Revenue generating ads? Maps and navigation programs? There is a strong possibility that some functionality currently offered by Flash will not be replicated with HTML5 at all. So, why is Apple blocking such a widely used technology, with rich content I might add, from its handhelds?

I remember several years ago, when CSS was still getting a foothold, how many designers were struggling with the syntax of tableless layouts. I liked the concept, and somehow knew that separating styling from content was a good idea. So, I spent many hours learning CSS and became familiar with its quirky behavior in certain browsers. The more sites I designed with CSS, the better I got. But, it has been a very bumpy road. Web browsers still render tables for layout, even though CSS is better. Many designers like me are progressive thinkers and understand that technology changes to make our lives better. We are used to learning as we go, and adapting to a changing Internet landscape.

I do want to learn all about HTML5, if it is the future. I mean, who doesn’t like scalable vector graphics? But, I believe that Flash will still be with us for years to come, and eliminating support for it is foolish. Let me run down the list of everything I use Flash for:

• interactive maps
• in-page document viewing
• animated banner advertisements
• interactive photo slideshows (with really cool transitions)
• and, uh… streaming video and audio

You will notice that one thing you don’t see on that list is Web sites. For some strange reason, I never thought that designing an entire site using Flash was a good idea (patting myself on the back now). At the time, it would have taken me too long. And, time was money (still is). Plus, none of the search engines could read Flash content like they can now. Still, I can offer a lot of neat functionality to my clients by creating Flash content for their websites. Time will tell whether Apple and Adobe will come to a compromise to benefit its customers. If Apple continues to block content from its popular handheld devices, I predict it will lose market share.

My 2010 Texas calendar celebrates this rich ecological diversity and the sights that accompany each adventure. Browse through the images below. Each calendar is only $19.95.

Traditionally, terrazzo describes the classic, centuries-old flooring concept using marble chips and other fine aggregates embedded in a finished concrete surface. EnviroGLAS has improved this process and given the beautiful art form new, modern applications while reducing landfill waste. Discarded bottles, mirrors, and windows are given new life as ecological awareness increases and sustainability becomes a lifestyle. Most recently, these award-winning products were installed in IKEA Frisco’s kitchen and bath kiosk #41 and #46, as part of the global retailer’s new environmentally friendly product line. Kitchens and baths, however, are only two places you might find these signature products.

EnviroGLAS is used in flooring, countertops, and landscaping. The same glass aggregate used to make terrazzo can be used around the home or office, in flowerbeds, beneath shrubbery, surrounding trees, and in fish ponds. Various sizes and a multitude of colors give designers a versatile palette, both inside and out. And, it’s not just beautiful. It’s practical, too.

EnviroSLAB (the countertops) provides a surface comparable to granite, is heat- and scratch-resistant, and easy to maintain. EnviroSCAPE (loose aggregate for landscaping) gives landscape architects creative options for water conservation and Xeriscape applications. And, did you know porcelain can be used too?

Kudos to EnviroGLAS for being so innovative and environmentally conscious while providing us with a great product.