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Australian Film Industry emulates last centuries failed business models — suing ISPs

Well, at least (for now) it's not users, but news today via the Sydney Morning Herald that Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), the histrionically named consortium of Australian Film and Television companies such as Village Roadshow, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, ... Read more »

How not to communicate

Yes, like all of you out there, I use Facebook. But so many of the things it does annoys me (and worse).Here's a perfect example.I've been using Facebook to message a small number of folks I've messaged in the past about various professional matters. Sadly, the send mechanism simply wasn't ... Read more »

JS-​​909 — Cameron Adams’ Drum Machine in JavaScript

If you went to Craig Sharkie's JavaScript Libraries Panel at Web Directions South this year, you will no doubt be familiar with this latest work of that obsessive genius, Cameron Adams. Craig charged Cameron with ... Read more »

HTML5 Markup Language first draft published

HTML5 is big. It contains multitudes. It's very much a work in progress. One important milestone in that process occurred today, with the publication of the first draft of the HTML5 Language first draft, titled, perhaps a little confusingly "HTML: The Markup Language"This specification describes the fifth major version ... Read more »

Web Directions East in Tokyo — a great success

We're just wrapping up the workshops at our first ever Web Directions in Tokyo, and a great event it has been.Events like Web Directions aren't at all common here, and despite I think some skepticism, turnout was fantastic, and the response by those involved who I've spoken with has ... Read more »

Lessons learned while developing an iPhone site

Got a client who wants you to build an iPhone site? There's a growing body of resources out there that will help you learn from the hard won experience of those who have gone before you. Check out this one from the Flickr team. And closer to home, here's ... Read more »

All Web Directions South 2008 slides and podcasts now online

Thanks to a huge effort by Guy, we now have all the slides and podcasts from WDS08 available at the site, which means it is officially "a wrap".Please spread the word about these resources: we make them available like this because we believe too much great content comes out of ... Read more »

Interview about Scroll and Web Directions at Opera Developer Network

Bruce Lawson, and Opera Software, recently interviewed us about Scroll and the conferences. For those interested in knowing a little more about the conference, or the magazine, there's quite a bit of detail there.In particular for those interested in the conferences, we tried to go into a little of ... Read more »

Web Directions North 09 is launched

We've just launched the site and registrations for Web Directions North 09 - to be held in Denver Colorado in the first week of February.We've got an amazing lineup of experts, sessions and workshops, - check out all the details at the site.This year for the ... Read more »

Ubiquitous web font embedding just got a step closer

[Update 1] A couple of months back, I surveyed the scene regarding a long cherished dream of web designers and developers - font linking and embedding.[Update 2] Opera 10, and Firefox 3.1 now support linking to TrueType and OpenType (but not EOT) in currently shipping alphas or betas.A short ... Read more »

A glimmer of hope in the current economic climate

Unless one lives under a rock, or is hiking in Bhutan, the current chaotic and clearly difficult state of the world economy will have not escaped attention. So, Google's recently reported 30% year on year increase in revenues is something of a glimmer of positive news at least in ... Read more »

Opera: 4.13% of the web is standards compliant

Via Ars Technica, news of a survey by Opera Software, long time supporters of Web Directions, makers of fine browsers, and strong advocates for an open, standards based web, that finds, to probably no one's surprise, that the vast majority of the web is not standards based.The good ... Read more »

Great moments in Hypocrisy (mine)

So, some while back I wrote quite scathingly about native iPhone apps. I still stand by what I wrote there - but that hasn't stopped me downloading some apps, and even paying for a couple.But one really stands out, and I bought it this morning, sight unseen, less ... Read more »

Fauxmunity

Those of us who've been round online a while will have seen at least one, and probably several occasions where large organisation starts blog/forum/online community, then proceeds to try hamfistedly to control the conversation, whether by deleting adverse comments, stacking the community with "sock puppets" (community members who are employees, ... Read more »

Cameron Adams “cloud versus bird” remix — now with Dinosaurs

As if the man (in blue) doesn't have enough to do, he's now remixed Carla Hackett's wonderful "Cloud v Bird" cartoon featured on the cover of Scroll (and at Web Directions South about eveywhere).It's also available at RedBubble should ... Read more »

Scroll Magazine is launched

Those who came to Web Directions left with something special - a brand new magazine for web professionals - Scroll. Designed by Veerle Pieters, with a fantastic name courtesy of Maxine Sherrin, and largely the fruit of incredibly hard work by Maxine, Scroll features in depth articles by ... Read more »

Web Directions North — launching next week

A quick note for visitors new and old, that Web Directions North will be launching next week. We are just finalizing speakers and workshops, so that when we launch, you'll know exactly why you should be coming.This year, Web Directions North moves to Denver, Colorado, for a whole host ... Read more »

Organizing Our Marvellous Neighbours — Joe Clark’s new book

Many in the web professions will be familiar with (and rightly so) Joe Clark. He spoke at the first conference we were associated with in 2004, and is well known as one of the earliest web accessibility experts, and author of the groundbreaking Building Accessible Websites.Joe has just ... Read more »

Web Directions Jobs — more than 50 up there now

Just quick note to say we now have over 50 reputable, legitimate jobs at jobs.webirections in just a few short weeks. There's design, development, IA, and many more positions at the likes of the ABC, Atlassian, Gruden, Medicare, and many more. If you are looking for contractors part timers ... Read more »

First batch of slides available!

The moment you've (perhaps) been eagerly awaiting: we've added in the slideshows for 10 of the presentations from the recent Web Directions South to the Resources section of this site. We'll be adding more as time goes by, along with podcasts of the sessions. Check 'em out:Jeffrey ... Read more »

Photos from Web Directions South 2008

I've just uploaded almost 500 photos taken by our photographer this year, Wade Millican, who might I say did a thoroughly excellent job - thanks Wade!Check them out for yourself. Even better, if you have time and inclination to tag ... Read more »

Firefox in Australia — the survey

While the audience of Web Directions probably somewhat skews the sample, Mozilla are looking to get a better understanding of the use of Firefox around the world. So if you have a few minutes, please do head over to their survey.In fact, even if you don't use Firefox ... Read more »

Thank you

There's so much to come in the hours, days and weeks ahead, but just right now, a huge thanks to all who made Web Directions what it was. Amazing.We'll have much more specific thanks coming soon, but for now, the sincerest gratitude from Maxine and me.

WDS08 got you hankering for a change?

Monday morning after a week like the last one can be heavy going no? If things seem just a little pedestrian as you look around the office this morning, and contemplate what you have to do this week, you do have options you know. Take a break round 11 and ... Read more »

Follow us on Flickr, Twitter, teh blogs and YouTube

It's quiet on the blog, but Twitter, Flickr, the blogs and YouTube are are alive with comments, photos, video and more from the conference.Follow along if you couldn't come!

The McFarlane Prize Shortlist for 2008

The Jury for the prize has now drawn up the shortlist for this year's prize. The standard of this year's entries was without doubt the best yet, demonstrating that each year, the quality of Australia's web industry's output improves considerably. I'm sure Nigel would have been most pleased with that.This ... Read more »

Web Directions and web application, social networks, and so on

With a week to go, it's time to start firing up your social networks, and other online tools in preparation for the conference.If you take photos, and use Flickr, please upload them with the tag wds08 (or search for photos tagged wds08 to see what others are seeing).If you ... Read more »

Coming to Web Directions? Win a Macbook Air courtesy of Campaign Monitor

The boys from Campaign monitor always make a splash at Web Directions, this year going one better than an iMac, by giving away a Macbook Air during the conference. And they've teamed up with a number of speakers to reward you for paying attention - check out their blog ... Read more »

Web Directions speaker Jina Bolton — the SitePoint Sexy Stylesheets interview

Jina Bolton, one of the excellent international speakers we have lined up for Web Directions next week features in a detailed interview in SitePoint - so to get a sense of what she has in store for her presentation, head over to SitePoint for her chat with Matt ... Read more »

500th Attendee free

We are fast coming up on a milestone that when we started this crazy web directions thing a few years ago, if you'd told me we'd be anywhere near, I would have doubted your sanity. Last year we went just past 500 attendees, and we are again nearing that pretty ... Read more »

Session Spotlight — HTML5 with Michael ™ Smith

Keeping abreast with browser and standards developments, latest scripting and styling techniques, let alone next generation developments like HTML5 is a full time job. Since most of us have full time jobs, what we at Web Directions try to do is a lot of that job for you - by ... Read more »

Very nice molt:n t shirts — get yours!

Scott and Cheryl of molt:n digital came up with a great design for the t shirts they'll be giving away at the conference this year.Make sure you get yourself one by blogging or flickring something about Web Directions and tagging ... Read more »

Microsoft Surface at Web Directions!

A couple of weeks back we announced a keynote presentation by August de los Reyes, chief experience architect for the Surface project. Well, not only will we have August speaking, but you'll be able to get your hands on the Surface itself, in a rare public outing.Not sure how ... Read more »

Win an ipod touch — thanks to our closing night party sponsors 99designs and Gruden

99designs and Gruden have just come on board as our closing night party sponsors, which is great news in itself. But even better is the fact that ... Read more »

Adobe’s CS4 launch date — September 23rd

It's been widely reported that CS4 is to be launched on September 23rd.And, Adobe is exhibiting at Web Directions South on September 25th and 26th.So, I'm wondering what folks might be able to se at the Adobe stand at Web Directions South?Just speculating wildly is all ;-)

Jobs at our job board

Jut a little reminder that if you are looking for employees - part tim, full time, or contractors, or looking for a job, or contract, the Web Directions Job board now has over 40 jobs for web professionals, covering a wide range of job titles.Posting jobs and applying for ... Read more »

Social Events during Web Directions

Plenty to do after hours during Web Directions South this year - rest assured, you will not be going back to your hotel room after things wrap up at the conference and workshops each day.Please let me know if you're organising something you'd like me ... Read more »

Internet Explorer 8 — are you ready for a CSS renaissance?

Because browsers evolve so rapidly, there really is no time to sit back and feel that you already know it all if you are a front end developer. New browsers give you a lot to be excited about with new levels of support for CSS, but at the same time ... Read more »

Web Directions South 2008 — We have Webjam!

Some very exciting news for everyone who's going to be in town for Web Directions South 2008. Those four days in September just got even better with the Webjam team announcing that the all new Webjam 8 will happen at ... Read more »

Wifi at Web Directions South this year — latest news

Following on from all the comments we got on the the two blog posts we put out there last week on this topic, John and I decided to do a bit further investigation into extending wifi into the conference theatres this year at Web Directions South. It hasn't quite ... Read more »

Web Directions South — Discount ends tomorrow!

Only one more day to get the $100 discount for Web Directions South. Don't miss out!

Introducing Aconex, our student scholarship sponsor

Since we started Web Directions, we've tried to make the conference accessible as possible. Which doesn't just mean accessible to people with special needs, but also as affordable as possible. One way we do this is by making the conference as reasonably priced as possible. Now, you might say $1050 ... Read more »

The history of touch interfaces

Via Web Directions speaker Gabriel White's blog "Small Surfaces", is a detailed article of the history of touch technology in user interfaces, going back into the dark ages early 1970s, in the Economist magazine's quarterly Technology Review. Well worth a read ahead of Web Directions, where both ... Read more »

Thanks to our significant supporters — Opera

All of us in the web industry know about Opera, the browser, and probably have installed it for testing, and maybe even our everyday web use. What many of us don't really realize is the sheer reach of the Opera platform.The browser in the Wii is powered by Opera Hundreds ... Read more »

JavaScript libraries roundup

Keeping up with developments in the world of JavaScript libraries is increasingly a challenge - with new libraries seemingly springing up by the week. If you are interested in what's out there beyond "the usual suspects" of JQuery, Prototype and so on, Six Revisions has a round up of ... Read more »

Web Directions South 2008 t shirt remixes

There's some cute remixes of the Web Directions T shirt over at Redbubble already. Very droll, all of you :)You can order “Cloud vs Bird” at Redbubble today ... Read more »

Great backchannel stories of our time

John wrote here yesterday about Wifi availability at the conference venue this year. The good news is, if all goes according to plan, we should be swimming in the network, which is great.There's been ... Read more »

Many thanks to our Key Sponsor, Adobe

Last year, Adobe became involved with Web Directions, as a key supporter. For those of your who'd been to previous conferences, I hope you felt that across the board, the quality of the conference had improved - from the venue, to the number of sessions and tracks, to the ... Read more »

Cappuccino arrives

I'm more of a latté kind of guy (well, not really), but today sees the arrival of the long anticipated Cappucino framework, from 280 North, makers of the beautiful web based presentation application (think Keynote for the Web) 280 Slides.280 Slides particularly excited me as a web app, ... Read more »

Web Directions Expo almost full

There's only a place or so left for this year's Expo - so if your company might be interested in exhibiting to what is doubtless the finest audience of web professionals in the country, then let the right people in your organisation know, as there's not much time left. ... Read more »

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