weblog jarón barends

Text reflections with css and javascript: jQuery text reflection plugin

If you want to create a reflected text header, an often used solution is to dynamically create an image for each header which includes the reflection. However, this has some disadvantages. Therefore, I have created a jQuery plugin which uses only javascript and css to create reflections, and all you have to do is drop it into your page to make it work.

Why the iPhone causes you to make spelling errors

Do you ever wonder why you are making all those spelling errors on your iPhone? Or rather - why the iPhone keeps inserting them for you?

This is because the auto correct function has a few obvious flaws in the way it works: It’s in the wrong place, it has the wrong trigger and it is not designed for a touch interface.

Sign in with oAuth where Twitter.com is blocked

In two days, Twitter will start to shut down basic authentication on their API. The only way to connect to the API will then be by using oAuth. This will force anyone who wants to use a Twitter web app to give that app access to their account. Every app has to redirect them to Twitter.com to do that.

However, in some places Twitter.com is being blocked – by censoring governments or overly zealous system administrators. That means that users in those places can no longer use Twitter. But as an app developer, you can quite easily build a workaround for some of those users.

Usability detail bij Twitters Tweet Button

Sinds gisteren kun je bij artikelen een Tweet Button plaatsen: als de bezoeker daarop klikt krijgt hij een twitter boxje met een door jou bepaalde tekst erin. Dat is handig, maar waar ik pas echt enthousiast van werd was een klein detail: slechts een deel van de tekst is geselecteerd.

Great music videos featuring infographics

If you love infographics (like I do), this music video by the Norwegian band Röyksopp is a must see. I only came across it recently, but it apparently won the MTV Europe Music Award for best music video back in 2002. And if you like that video, you may also like the version of little Red Riding Hood by Tomas Nilsson, that was inspired by it.

Tafelvoetbal wk-shirts

Eindelijk is er nu de moeder aller wk-gadgets: oranje shirts voor je tafelvoetbal elftal. Download de shirts, print ze uit, maak je favoriete opstelling en laat ze scoren!

Does Twitter turn its back on Chinese web users?

This week, Twitter has announced that it's changing the way people sign in to a method called oAuth. From a security point of view, the new sign in system offers several advantages.

However, users in censored countries like China and Iran will no longer be able to use Twitter through the web. Until now, Twitter has not yet come up with a solution for this.

How to create a bulletproof Registration and Sign In flow

Have you ever decided to leave a website when you Log In attempt failed? Or have you ever stopped during a registration process because it was confusing? I certainly have. You don't want to lose your prospective customers before they've even got started. We have to make your Registration and Sign In flow really fool-proof. This post offers you a couple of flowcharts which cover every step in a typical Registration and Log In process. To make things easy, I have added a set with example screens in html for every case you might encounter. And for those interested, I'm explaining the underlying thoughts.

Adding character to your brand with design – Kulula airways

It's great when products give you a smile with something unexpected. These delighters are a great way to give your brand character. The painting on this Kulula airplane is good example.

Forever Free: Mailchimp leaves no room for doubt

Have you ever found yourself wondering exactly what a "free account" meant? That's the kind of friction you really want to avoid in a signup process. Mailchimp's pricing page does a great job at taking away those kind of doubts. They've simply called their free plan The Forever Free Plan. You can't get any clearer than that.