The original Wordpress admin theme is boring; blue and white boxes with hard lines don’t make it the most eye-pleasing design. Up to this point I thought I was stuck with the original theme until I found WP Tiger Administration from Orderedlist.com.

Click above image for larger picture 

The Tiger Admin theme moves the various blog tabs (ie ‘presentation’) to the left for easier navigation and the subcategories are still kept at the top. If you’ve used WordPress at all you’ll easily understand the layout. Almost every link from the original is in the same place or close to it. The overall color scheme is gray and green, which is not as bold as the previous, but really simplifies the feel. The layout is obviously modeled after Finder in OS X, which explains why it’s called WP Tiger Administration. Realizing this right after I published the post.

Installing the theme is like installing a WordPress Plug-in. Just download the file, unzip it, throw it into your plug-ins folder with your FTP manager, and activate it. You’ll see the new look as soon as you press ‘activate’. I wasn’t going to risk screwing up my site for a theme that I’m only going to see, but it’s a plug-in I can delete anytime.

I’ve yet to find any big problems with the plug-in/theme. There are a couple of links that will randomly stop working, but with a refresh of the page they are fixed. Additional plug-ins also work peacefully. Currently, version 3.0 (latest version) works with Safari and Firefox. The admin theme isn’t incompatible with IE and will resort back to the original theme if using the browser.

WP Tiger Administration

I’ve decided to start a new series showcasing media on the net. There are countless sites with TV quality content that need to be promoted throughout the net. I already have a decent sized list, but I’m always looking for more content. If you find any worthy or even questionably worthy, shoot me an email. Content can be in the form of writing, video, pictures, or anything else experience-able.

Here is the first ( and relatively small) r3fresh Web Showcase:

Web Drifter, on Revision3, with once television host Martin Sargent is arguably one of the funniest shows on the site. Martin Sargent’s awkward personality mixed with the quirky, creepy people he follows make the show enjoyable. If you’ve yet to see a show, Martin interviews the interesting owners of even more interesting websites. The weekly video shows are roughly fifteen minutes and are free like the rest of the Revision3 content. Martin Sargent was once a host on Tech TV’s “Unscrewed” which is similar to Web Drifter. Here is the most recent episode of Web Drifter:

Doing some last minute shopping, for myself, on Amazon and I was looking through the software. While I was going through the “Movers & Shakers” section of Amazon I found this:

Now when I saw this I became quite frustrated. The already shady Norton is now cashing in on new unknowing mac users. Those of you who are new to the mac world and aren’t tech savvy, you need to know that virus software isn’t needed when running Mac OS X. Don’t waste $50 on crappy software that will just take up space on your hard drive.

The “Product Information” on Amazon:

 

• Automatically detects and removes viruses Offers automatic protection against the latest threats with set-and-forget convenience
• Scans and cleans downloaded files and email attachments Delivers continuous, up-to-date protection via fast updates
• Protects against attacks that target software vulnerabilities Provides advanced protection against software and Internet vulnerabilities
• Works with new Mac OS® X v10.5 Runs natively on Intel® and PowerPC® based Mac® systems
• Includes an all-new Norton AntiVirus dashboard widget

The information is repetitive, but the dashboard widget sounds innovative. Right?

Is this the beginning of so called “problem solving” windows software moving to the mac? I can’t wait for the release Windows Movie Maker and disk defragmenter early next year.

When I was young I always took my toys apart to see how they worked. Unfortunately, I was never able to put the toys back together. I am still not able to put those toys back together, unless I have some sort of step by step, how-to guide. Here is a list of my favorite step by step, how-to sites:

PSDTUTS

I like Illustrator better than Photoshop, but Photoshop is many times more powerful than the vector image alternative. To make my relationship with Photoshop a little smoother, I attempt many of the tutorials on the Internet. My favorite tutorial site, PSDTuts, is where I practice my amateur Photoshop skills. They have tutorials for beginners as well as for the advanced. The best part of the site is the text effects, which are some of the most well done and fulfilling tutorials you’ll ever do.

SYSTM

Not a website, but a web show by Revision3. The hosts Dave Randolph and Patrick Norton aren’t the most enthusiastic people, but the stuff they make is. I, personally, have never attempted any of their projects, but I can always dream. The MAME Arcade series is the epitome of what the show is about.

MAKEZINE

Similar to SYSTM, but not a show. Makezine teaches you how to make generally nerdy stuff. They sell their projects in the online store for anyone willing to give them a try. I’ve never tried a Makezine project, but I just ordered the a project in hopes of success. Bring on the soldering!

SMASHINGMAGAZINE

Probably my favorite of the list, Smashing Magazine has all the resources and howtos to be a web or graphic designer. Throughout this blog, you might see some “Smashing” influence and I’m not the only one. Smashing Magazine is always feeling the Digg Effect and for good reason.

CNET TIPS & TRICKS

I don’t like CNET. It has nothing that I can’t find better elsewhere, except for its “Tips and Tricks” section. Want to know how to expand your wifi signal? CNET T&T will show you either through an article or a video. I actually find myself watching videos that would be no use to me, but they’re usually well done and would be possible for a non-tech interested friend or family member.

Got any more how-to sites? As always, leave them in the comments.

I asked the internet community to vote on what I should do with my broken iPod. I didn’t listen and decided to fix it. Since then, my iPod Touch has become my main player and the old, but still working iPod had been pushed into the corner to collect dust, but before it could I found BuyMyTronics.com.

BuyMyTronics.com, which used to be BuyMyBrokeniPod.com, buys old and/or broken iPods, Zunes, and even game consoles, and pays you through PayPal. To submit a “tronic” you’ll go through a few pages of information about the condition of the item you’re wanting to sell and if you have the original accessories and manuals (the more stuff you’ve, got the more you’ll get). When submitting my iPod I also included the box and I ended up making $120. Not bad considering the iPod wasn’t in the best condition and it was the previous generation. My luck on eBay is laughable and BuyMyTronics was the best way for me to make money without having to (attempt) another auction.

The whole process was very simple. Instructions on sending your iPod in were emailed to you quickly, but shipping to BuyMyTronics is on your tab (and it’s wise to include Delivery Confirmation). The newly redesigned website is also easy to navigate and it’s ad free.

In the future, BuyMyTronics will be buying laptops, cell phones, cameras and “camcorders” (I wonder if they’re talking about the huge black cameras from the early 90’s?). This will be interesting to see how they price the dozens of different types of phones and cameras.

BuyMyTronics is the best choice for those who want to get money for their electronics, but don’t want to hassle with eBay. The procedure is simple and you’ll come out with a full man purse.

www.BuyMyTronics.com

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