Disqus - Latest Comments for brandonhowe

Re: How to Use HelloSign Templates to Eliminate Redundant Document Formatting

brandonhowe — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:47:21 -0000

If someone wanted to send out 50 documents based on the same template, is there a way to auto-populate the fields using an excel spreadsheet or something similar?

Re: Batchgeo maps your data

brandonhowe — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:01:37 -0000

I have used this a couple of times and found it to be a great tool. In fact, I am using it in Google Earth right now to build a specific database for marketing purposes. By using the location data in conjunction with some concentric circles based on mileages from another location, I can get very targeted data.

Re: Reclaim screen real estate with Firefox tweaks

brandonhowe — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:47:24 -0000

It is aggravating to lose so much valuable screen real estate to all of these buttons, esp with monitors moving to a widescreen format vs their more traditional squarish shape.

I have experimented with turning off all of the buttons and using only the tab bar (roughly a 60px gain, but nice for screenshots and gis websites). I just need a way to move tabs into the title bar space. Using keyboard shortcuts eliminates the need for buttons anyway.

Cmd+L for the Location Bar, Cmd+K for Search, Cmd+R to reload, Cmd+T for new tab, 3 finger swipe to go back (Cmd+Left Arrow works too), etc.

The biggest problem with turning all of that off is that it turns off the bookmarks bar, which I enjoy. Maybe I should work on the shortcuts for those as well.

Re: Google Picasa provides fast and easy photo management

brandonhowe — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:50:45 -0000

Interestingly enough, iPhoto had facial recognition first. But, I agree with you on both points that the Mac is a minority platform and that cross platform is very nice to have, if you need access to both platforms. Free is always good too.

I personally think that the biggest advantage for the Mac platform for auctioneers is in its simplicity to do complex things, right out of the box, like photo management and manipulation and video importation and creation. These are tools that are becoming more important for auctioneers, and since many auctioneers are sole practitioners (or very small companies), these tools need to be easy.

That being said, the ability to load Picasa on a Windows computer that most certainly auctioneers already have is an absolute boon. It is definitely better for the type of photo management most auctioneers do than anything else I have seen. Auctioneers, for the most part, don't need things like Adobe Bridge, Lightroom, or Aperture.

You are too hard on us Mac using auctioneers and our locked down platform! :)

Re: Google Picasa provides fast and easy photo management

brandonhowe — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:37:16 -0000

I have used both Picasa and iPhoto, as well as Adobe Bridge. Overall, I like iPhoto best when it comes to just photos. Really, there is very little that you can do with either that the other doesn't do. Picasa is just Google's version of iPhoto.

I find that the interface of iPhoto is better for working with photos than Picasa for me. My wife uses Picasa, because she uses Windows, and the things that frustrate her, are the things that are easier on the Mac, like dealing with folders and file structure.

In my opinion, most novices are better off with a program that can manage their photos for them. Although, I can see where Events in iPhoto could get unwieldy.

To say that iPhoto is a "lesser photo management system" is wrong, because it is every bit as capable as Picasa. It is just different.

Re: The end of the FAQ

brandonhowe — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:32:03 -0000

Good post. I have rarely found FAQs to be beneficial as a user; however, good design with a focus on the user interface most certainly is beneficial.

Most of us try to cram too much information on a page, in order to not use a FAQ. However, much of information could be eliminated, if the UI is good.

I look at my own website, and I see 25-30 things that add nothing to usability, and if anything distract from the content, which would be more usable if those things were not there.

I can think of a vendor or two that might incorporate this as well. It would make my life easier.