Recently we (Abidesco) launched a web site re-design for Abilene, TX-based marriage and family therapist Kurt Boyland’s counseling practice, Cedar Creek Counseling Service. My IA and mark-up development support fellow Abidesco partner Ryan Feerer’s simple, single-page design.

Our challenge was simple, to design a site that featured information about Kurt, what he does, what his clients are saying about him, and was easy to update for him. Our solution was built on WordPress and featured a jQuery-driven acnhor-tag navigation, and a killer wood-panel background.

So, I decided to take advantage of the early upgrade that AT&T so graciously offered me. I was an early adopter of the iPhone, and have been relatively pleased with the device. My biggest complaint being issues with AT&T’s service. This became evident as soon as we moved into our curent rental and discovered that we now lived in an AT&T dead spot. Amid rumors of a possible Verizion iPhone this winter, I considered waiting for that and jumping ship. Then I realized that I still had another year on my current AT&T contract, so to move I would have to pay an early termination fee. Lose, lose…sort of.

Call me impatient, and I was a bit unsure about making this upgrade; “Antennagate” and all, but I was intrigued by the new features. Today I purchased a 16GB iPhone 4, my third iPhone (6th if you count the Apple Care claims that I’ve had). I have to admit I’m pretty pleased. HD video is great, the Retina Display is as advertised Spectacular. Any concerns I had about antenna issues were eased by the reassuring words of the sales person I overheard while I “dropping eaves” in line at the Apple Store:

“It’s just media hype! I can prove it!”

Eight hours in I can say I’m pretty pleased. I still haven’t gotten a chance to FaceTime with anyone, so please fellow iPhone 4 users give me a call, I want to make sure it’s not just “media hype”.

It has been my at-times-frustrating pleasure to use Google Voice for the past year and half. Thanks to Steven Ray, I was an early adopter to the service, using the service since the time that it was called Grand Central. In so many ways it’s been fantastic: allowing me the freedom to have an essentially free business line (my 512 number), screen calls, make discounted international calls, and get text message transcriptions of my voice mail messages. It’s amazing!

About those transcriptions: for anyone who has used GV for any amount of time could tell you, those transcriptions are pretty useless. Whether it’s “Brother” (I’m an only child) “calling to expose Bravo” (no clue) or a friend calling to inform me of his “DMC a claim quick bottle automatic form”. Google Voice has been doing a mediocre job of putting my voice mail messages into written form for over a year now, and not once have I found it helpful. If nothing else it has served for some good entertainment. Let’s hope while google continues to improve and perfect Android OS and its many other technologies that it doesn’t forget about Google Voice. Because 90% of the time I’m a huge fan.

“Regarding that Russian or your interest in the dogs.”
- Google Voice, 3/26/2010

I had to stifle a squeal of child-like glee when I returned from lunch, and before getting back to work, I logged onto Facebook and discovered that FINALLY, after about of week of anticipation my account reflected the new UI re-design. Here I am geeking out about new simplified and more usable header and sidebars, but I know full-well that it’s only a matter of time until it starts. What starts? You might ask. Well, it seems that it’s inevitable that in the next few hours someone will log-on and be so taken-a-back by the appearance of the new FB that they will start their revolt; just as it seems to happen every time that FB makes a significant change or improvement. The page for the FB group “Bring Back The Old Facebook!” is already, showing comments from newly discontented users. It’s funny.

In a nut shell, I totally get where they’re coming from but I also know they they just don’t get it. Things like FB start to become familiar comforts for people and just like when something is disrupted in their environment the change is often not welcomed. Obviously some take it worse than others. I’m totally that way too when it comes to other areas of life. I just get settled in and unpacked(sort of) and in a few weeks I’m moving again! I’ve also learned that no matter how much of an adjustment/inconvenience something can be, probably 98.3% of the time there’s a greater side benefit that results. In this example: Moving = Inconvenience/Hate My Life + New Place = More space = Overall Improved Quality of Life. The same applies to Facebook’s annual UI face-lift (no pun intended). It may take some getting used to but like any other product or service FB is constantly examining and re-examining itself. The funny part is that in a few weeks I’d bet the same people complaining about the new UI will become used to it and a year from now grovel over another change, wishing it were the way it is now.

Maybe I just have stars in my eyes for Facebook, I’m a fanboy. I like the new UI. Now if only they could do something about all those annoying Farmville and Mafia Wars notifications.