chinooktc.com recent Blogs

Find a Domain Name That Fits

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:58:37 +0100

Getting started online all starts with a name... Well typically you want to have an idea of what your web site is going to be about in general, but having an idea for a catchy domain name is a good place to start.

I will admit that I'm a bit of a domain name hoarder. I get these ideas for killer new websites all the time and I run out and start checking on domain names for my next big idea. In the past I would pull up GoDaddy's website to search for domains, but I really didn't like the format of the search, nor all the spam that got tossed up on the screen.

As such I set out to make my own little domain name lookup page. It's still pretty rough around the edges, but the form will automagically go out and check a domain name's availability while you type. If you are a fast typer, you might notice some lag... needless to say, it is a work in progress.

If your domain name is available, a fun box will be shown that is green (yeah!) and you can click it to register it straight away for under $7! What a deal. Once I get the kinks worked out, I'm going to find myself a fancy domain dotcom name to house this script at full time.

Lets Pull Together

Sat, 03 May 2008 20:14:09 +0100

As a joint project with the fine folks of Key Creatives I helped launch a new website for a local non-profit group that has taken on the big task of pulling lots of weeds. Lets Pull Together is a Bend-Based group that organizes events and education for the elimination of invasive weed species.

The new site has information about upcoming weed pull events across Oregon, as well as educational information about the various invasive species that are found in our state.

OPB's Oregon Field Guide has been focusing on the issues surrounding invasive species, and have a video online about the Yellow Star Thistle. So check out Lets Pull Together, and try to make it to one of the events to make a difference in the fight against invasive species here in Oregon.

SugarSynch: Application Data Backup

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:06:46 +0100

A few weeks ago I wrote about SugarSynch here on the blog. I have been actively using SugarSynch to backup data between my laptop and my desktop at the office. Things have been working wonderfully so far. I have my My Documents folder being synched up between both machines. Needless to say I'm a big fan of SugarSynch.

One issue I have encountered is the ability to backup data in hidden folders. For example, an Adobe AIR application I use stores its data file inside a hidden folder in my profile, and SugarSynch Manager will not allow you to select hidden folders for backup.

My fix for this was to create a simple DOS cmd file to take my hidden folders and drop them into the "Magic Briefcase" (SugarSynch lingo for a folder that gets replicated automagically). You can use your Windows Scheduler to have this auto-run for you to boot.

Try SugarSynch Free

So my dear blogsphere friends, I suggest you give SugarSynch a try. Try SugarSync Free for 45 Days. If you have questions about it, drop me a line using the contact form here on the site.

Longboard Skateboard Classifieds

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:33:07 +0100

We launched another site this week for our friends at The Longboard Store. The new site is aptly named The Longboard Trader... as its sole purpose is to provide a free venue for skaters to buy/sell used longboard skateboards, and related equipment (wheels, trucks, decks etc).

The site utilizes the existing Longboard store design, but offers a very simple form for users to post new items to the longboard classifieds. Much like CraigsList, user's must activate their post via a confirmation email, and are contacted by site visitors via an anonymous email form too.

To prevent spammers from exploiting the new service, we implemented the super slick ReCaptcha web service.

Chinook Longboards

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:17:30 +0100

Call it a case of accidental SEO success... Our friends over at The Longboard Store informed me that there was a *new* longboard coming out called Chinook! The board is made by a popular manufacturer from Canada called Landyachtz. Magically I started to see at least 12 google searches hitting my site a day for 'Chinook Longboard'.

Sometimes you have to spend months and $ on a link campaign, and sometimes its just an accident. For those out there looking for the new Chinook Longboard, the Longboard Store has them in stock.

Time Tracking: Klok

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 07:40:57 +0100

Time keeps on ticking, and Klok is here to help you track it. If you work in a trade that requires you to track your time for billing purposes, Klok may be a great tool for you.

Built in Flash, but running on Adobe's AIR platform, Klok is a desktop application that allows you to create projects and track time. Sound's simple? That's the beauty of it. The UI is a juicy black theme that is loaded with intuative drag and drop functionality.

The real power of the tool though is in its reporting features though. You can take a week's worth of time tracking and drag it into MS Excel for number crunching. Most importantly though, the tool is lightweight, easy to use, and free. Give it a spin if you need to keep tabs on your time.

Synch and Backup Data

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:58:52 +0100

For quite sometime I have been looking for a solution that would allow me to keep my computers in synch. Like many web workers online these days, I have a notebook computer that travels with me, as well as a desktop machine at the office. To date, keeping my odds and ends synched up between machines has been a zesty endeavour.

I have tried various different software packages, both free and paid services, and have yet to find one that really fullfilled my needs... that is until I stumbled upon SugarSync

SugarSynch is a web-based service that has a desktop client for Mac and Windows that replicates the files/folders you choose to a secure online storage server. Sounds simple, and I guess it really is... but SugarSync's software is simple and easy to use... and it flat out works. The other grand part is the monthly fee for storage is less than a cup of coffee ($2.50 for 10GB).

Additionally SugarSynch offers an application for BlackBerry and Smart Phone users that gives access to photos and files while on the go. I have yet to test this out, but imagine it will come in handy some day.

So if you need to keep your stuff in synch, and back it up at the same time, check out SugarSynch. Try SugarSync Free for 45 Days

Robert Gustafson Photography

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:06:58 +0100

We had the distinct pleasure of getting to work with a very talented photographer on a recent project. Robert Gustafson specializes in shooting outdoor landscape and scenery photos here in Central Oregon.

The web site design chosen was very minimalist as to keep the focus on the colors and big views of his photography. Perhaps the best part of this project was getting to stare at all his beautiful pictures from around Bend and Sisters. Be sure to check out his gallery at: Robert Gustafson Central Oregon Photography.

Gardening Central Oregon Style

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:52:24 +0100

Local gardening expert and radio-tv-newspaper personality Doug Stott has a new blog online that covers all aspects of cold zone gardening. Doug is sharing his years of experience with gardening in Central Oregon through blog posts ranging from tips on vegetable gardening to reviewing gardening products that have worked well here in our oft-cold climate.

We helped Doug out be creating a custom WordPress theme for his new website, and look forward to helping him bring added features online as his site grows!

Website Traffic Analysis: Try Mint

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:47:56 +0100

For today's blog post I will open up my oft-used web toolkit, and share with you one of my favorite little scripts that I use almost on a daily basis. The tool is deployed after all the fun of coding, designing, and copywriting have all been completed... you can then give yourself a Mint.

Mint is a JavaScript/PHP utility that tracks visitor data on your website. All related data about your site visitors is captured for your statistical enjoyment... so you can watch how many visitors your site is getting, what they are looking at, and even analyze things like browser versioning and OS platform.

Although there is nothing new and ground-breaking about this type of web-visitor data, Mint's presentation of the data via a slick UI is what makes this script a joy to work with. Additionally, Mint is a bit easier to navigate and to view your data than similar tools like Google Analytics.

Mint is also extensible via plug-in's called 'Pepper'. Pepper widgets parse out visitor data and stats into different views for you to geek out even more on your website statistics.

So, what are you waiting for? Have A Mint. Mint costs $30 per domain, and requires PHP and a MySql database. If you are interested in having a Mint, but need a little help... contact us to help you out.