During a presentation recently I was asked how I was going to manage the content on a client’s website. Oh, said I, we use WordPress as the core and then customise it to manage your content.

“but is WordPress for blogging only?” came the response.

Putting aside my initial sense of indignation I realised that I had completely missed judged the presentation.  Is WordPress for blogging only? is actually a perfectly reasonable question.  I had completely taken for granted that I would not have to explain what makes WordPress so versatile.

WordPress is more than a blog

• It takes hours of coding working to build a database driven website.  Hours of writing code, manipulating a database and the inevitable bug hunt.  WordPress does the basics in less than 5 minutes.
• It’s free.  Out of the box it’s completely free to use, alter and modify on any website.  You don’t pay a penny for WordPress.
• There is a massive community supporting the maintenance and development of WordPress.  The variables (themes, hosts, software versions, combination of plugins) are almost infinite but you can always find guidance from within the WordPress community. (again free).
• WordPress is SEO friendly without any modifications and at its core it is Standards compliant.

Just for Blogging?

Yes, if you like!

You can set up WordPress as a blog in seconds.  Pick a theme, start writing content and you’re done.  And there are plenty of sites on the web doing exactly that.

However, there is so much more.  An e-commerce site complete with shopping cart.  A full company website with forms, lead generation, brochure, user registration.

Maybe a community website with discussion areas, profiles and social media interaction.

User Friendly.

Having said how easy it is to set up a basic website, it’s worth pointing out that the more complex installations may require a little more expertise.

But, the beauty is that once set-up the end user can manage the basic website themselves with very little training.  Many of my clients will use my services to set up their site and handle upgrades or improvements.  But they will manage the day-to-day content management.  Saving them significant amounts of money compared to the more conventional website management arrangements.

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If 16 people each donated $10, my #movember team will hit $5,000 in donations for a great cause. There’s still time! mobro.co/nacin

— Andrew Nacin (@nacin) December 1, 2012

As of writing RC2 is available for beta testing and the full release is probably going to be early December, possibly the 5th.  Which maintains the cycle of major releases every six months or so.  What’s been updated and what’s new?

Firstly, this is not one of the updates where you’ll notice a whole new look to the dashboard, it’s much more subtle than that.

Twenty Twelve theme

I’m a big fan of the Twenty Ten and Twenty Eleven themes, they are efficient, elegant and great examples of good practice in theme development.  Twenty Twelve is no different.  One of the best aspects of these themes is that they are not outdated when a new one is released.  This means that Twenty Eleven will still be supported for the foreseeable future.

Clearly if everyone used the default theme “out of the box” WordPress sites would be a pretty boring affair.  However Twenty Twelve makes for a great template for child themes.

Twenty Twelve is fully responsive, which means that it looks great on just about any device.  The admin interface now supports Retina screens and greater accessibility has been added.

Some of the other changes are quite subtle, such as the easier controls, and generally more attractive buttons and settings interfaces.

oEmbed Support for Instagram

Adding to the existing support for YouTube, Twitter etc. you can now embed content from Instagram, SlideShare and SoundCloud.  Easy as pasting in a URL into a post and WordPress will automatically embed the content for you.

Be aware that oEmbed support is automatically enabled with 3.5 although a single line of code in the functions.php can change this.

WordPres 3.5 – New Media Management Features

The big change with WordPress 3.5 is the media management, and it’s awesome!

If you have ever been frustrated working with galleries, featured images, post images then look again.  The admin interface for uploading images has been completely re-written and is so easy to use now.

Uploading images has become a whole lot easier, but that’s only half the story.  Managing the media library has been dramatically improved too.

I love the idea that you can now add content to attachment pages.  No more ugly pages with a single image, each image can now be a meaningful page in its own right.

Other changes:

• Remote publishing (XML-RPC) is now enabled by default
• Privacy – the option to restrict search engine access has been moved, and wording modified.
• Plugin Favourites – any plugins you have liked in the repository are now available on the plugins pages, which should be a real time saver.

The post WordPress 3.5 Just In Time For Christmas appeared first on Chris Clarke Web Services.

I’m aware that there are plugins to achieve this, but if this is something specific to a project and likely to be a feature of the theme it probably justifies editing the theme itself.  On that basis I decided that I wanted to make it theme specific.

I’m using a child theme, based on the standard Twentyeleven theme that ships with WordPress.

The first step is to ensure that the theme supports post thumbnails.  You can check this by making sure that the “featured image” metabox is visible on the Edit Post screens.

Funtctions.php

With Twentyeleven it’s not strictly necessary to add the code below to the functions.php file, but it’s not going to hurt either:

add_theme_support( 'post-thumbnails' );

(and of course there is no need to remind people to use a Child Theme, is there?)

I elected to specify the thumbnail size within the function.php too.

add_image_size('excerpt-thumbnail', 140, 140, true);

Content.php

This step has two purposes, firstly it tells the theme to display excerpts instead of the full post, and secondly to show a thumbnail.

Within your child theme look for content.php – if it does not already exist just copy the file from the parent theme and place inside your child theme.

Within Twentyeleven there is a section of code (on about line 37 but that might vary)

php if ( is_search() ) : // Only display Excerpts for Search ?>

The code above tells the theme to show a summary on the search pages (which are a kind of archive page).

That code needs to be replaced with:

But wait, what if the post does not have a featured image set?

Wouldn’t it be great if the theme could detect the first image in a post and use that one,  whilst respecting any image that has already been set as a featured image…

function autoset_featured() {
 global $post;
 $already_has_thumb = has_post_thumbnail($post->ID);
 if (!$already_has_thumb) {
 $attached_image = get_children( "post_parent=$post->ID&post_type=attachment&post_mime_type=image&numberposts=1" );
 if ($attached_image) {
 foreach ($attached_image as $attachment_id => $attachment) {
 set_post_thumbnail($post->ID, $attachment_id);
}
}
}
}
add_action('the_post', 'autoset_featured');
add_action('save_post', 'autoset_featured');
add_action('draft_to_publish', 'autoset_featured');
add_action('new_to_publish', 'autoset_featured');
add_action('pending_to_publish', 'autoset_featured');
add_action('future_to_publish', 'autoset_featured');

Paste the above code in to the functions file, and you’ll achieve exactly that.

Style.css

That should take care of the practicalities of getting the theme to show thumbnails on the category page.   I’ve done this a few times with seemingly identical installs of Twentyeleven, and on some occasions have had to edit the align left class.  Making sure that it looks a lot like this …

The post How I Added WordPress Archive Thumbnail Images appeared first on Chris Clarke Web Services.

In the U. S. , most of the users of Pinterest are ladies. However , this demographic varies from one place to another. This site is the perfect place to share ideas and plans with other people. In fact , people can organise wedding plans and recipe collections with the buddy using Pinterest. The site also allows users to share ideas and favorites with other people. With millions of users all over the world, it is simpler for folks to share information about products, services and other stuff under the sun. Apart from this, the site also makes certain that the copyright interest of the users and owners of the photographs are being protected. It is made allowance for owners to remove a specific content once it’s been pinned.

With the utilisation of an iPhone, folk can already download the Pinterest app. This lets them read, pin and do pretty much anything that they like with the site. The app also contains 2 different features. These features allow users to take a photo with their phone and pin it to their boards or save the pinned photographs to the camera memory of the phone. This app may also be utilised for the iPad, but there is still no official app that can be utilised by android users. Nonetheless, there are already third party products on the market that may also provide similar features with the iPhone app.

Users can also try using the Pinterest widget to improve the employment of the site. Aside from this, there are also other cool items included in the site. One of these is the “pin it” option that can be added to the tool bar and can pin photographs as quickly as possible while surfing the net. Other enhancements also allows users to install the “follow me on Pinterest” button on their own web sites or blogs. There are also some members who are keen on using the third party Pinterest widget. This enables them to encourage their pals and visitors to pin or display their photographs.

Any person is allowed to surf the site to find photographs and images that interest them. Nonetheless, registered members or users are the sole ones that may create their own boards or follow other users of the site. Unregistered members are also not allowed to comment or like photographs they see on Pinterest. To create a username in Pinterest, users will have to have an invite. These invitations are often provided in 2 ways. One is when users push the “Request an Invite” button located on the default page. This can offer an immediate notification whether the user is confirmed or is placed on the list. Users that are placed in the list could mean that they’re now experiencing possible delay in the procedure. Another method to get invites to Pinterest is when a mate who is already a registered user of the site sends the invite. Once the invite is already available, the user will be asked to disclose login details for Facebook and Twitter since these are used in logging in to the internet site. Once a user-name is provided, the user is an authorized member of Pinterest and he or she can instantly enjoy the fantastic features of the site.

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Since the launch of Mobile Me, Apple has struggled to gain the interest of iPhone buyers until now. Just lately, Apple introduced the Find My iPhone App addition to the Mobile Me software program that allows end users to develop a multiplicity of jobs on their system remotely from their desktop computer. With no purchase requested, iPhone 3GS requires purchase of Mobile Me, the Find mMy iPhone addition is sure to get the sight of most iPhone end users.

The initial revolutionary aspect of the Find My iPhone program is the capacity for end users to visit the mobile me software on their own desktop computer as well as a little bit keep track of their IPhone 3GS, IPhone 4 or the Apple IPhone 6. After registering to the user interface, Find my iPhone straightaway begins to track the product. If the system has used up all your power supply or perhaps be powered down, Find My iPhone will immediately offer you the last area the product was tracked. Due to the fact Find My iPhone utilizes Google Maps integration, users are able to track their device to within just 30 feet of its real position on the guide.

The next aspect Find My IPhone delivers is the power to send a remote message to the iPhone or even play a remote sound. Owners who misplaced their system and also would love to incentive its return (rather than play detective by tracking it down and risk the their/finder turning it off) can show a message on the iPhone with call info. Should the product you should be concealing in a coat pocket or even under a bed sheet, the user can just show the system to participate in a obnoxious sound above the product so as to identify it in their residence or workplace.

Eventually, Find My IPhone lets a customer having an iPhone including hypersensitive information and facts to a little bit wipe or lock their phone with the feel of a button. In particular crucial for classified organization emails and/or records, the remote lock and/or wipe aspect shows the manager an additional sense of self-esteem that their device is free from any hypersensitive information and facts.

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Having an iPhone is fantastic, but also not the cheapest of phones on the market. Buying a skin that will be practical, decorative and protective will be an investment at the end of the day. These skins tightly hug the iPhone, protecting it from dents and scratches in case you drop it. There is nothing worse than having a phone that looks all beaten up – not a good impression at all.

Leather skins are becoming ever more preferred. You have to hold this one in your hand to be able to enjoy the softness. The leather skins are available in a number of sophisticated and funky designs. You are sure to find one that shows off your personality. Leather skins will suit the executive type of person, someone who is attempting to make a specific statement.

Custom skins are not only protective, but also decorative and give you the opportunity to upload
your own personalized image. Become an artist with this inventive option. It gives you the ability to adjust your image to mirror your mood. This is a fantastic option for someone attending college. It gives you the freedom to showcase who you really are.

Cartoon designs on iPhone Skins are fun as well. They are fantastic for children and for those of you who are young at heart. Basically, skins are available in almost any design imaginable, but the main thing is to buy one to protect your phone.

The post Decorative and Protective iPhone Skins appeared first on Chris Clarke Web Services.

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The 17-inch MacBook Pro, such as the others in the MacBook line, supports Thunderbolt technology that is certainly the same as the previous Applenet chain technology that enabled you to string together Apple products independently focused high-speed network regarding more significant throughput. In other words, if a product has the right Thunderbolt Display adaptor, you can simply connect them together in the chain that may offer about 10 Gbps. It’s Apple’s exclusive network even so it will also help, when the adapter is right, DVI, HDMI and also other customized products.

For instance some other state-of-the-art laptops that use the quad-core I7 processor, Apple employs Intel’s built-in multi-threading technology that allows each processor of the quad core to undertake about 2 projects at the same time. Basically, you will get 1 system executing around eight parallel works. Apple furthermore makes use of Intel’s direct access technology that allows each processor have complete accessibility to all of accessible system memory on the 1333 front-side bus. The processor operates at its regular clock of 2.4 GHz and uses Intel’s Turboboost function to 3 GHz as required.

Common safe-keeping is handled by a 750 GB 5400-spin hard drive. This MacBook furthermore helps an 8X CD/DVD Superdrive.

One particular helpful element that all MacBooks present is the larger-than-normal glass-faced touchpad. Rather than including the extra buttons that some other laptops feature the MacBook’s touchpad is huge and can support attributes that are much like a far more ordinary laptop computer which has the conventional left and right buttons and also a touchpad. It does not take long to sit and learn to make use of this function.

One thing to note, nevertheless, in regards to the MacBook Pro 2012 is that since it is constructed from a single aluminum case, it might run a little warm although they do have a pretty innovative cooling system to help keep things running as great as achievable.

The MacBook furthermore backs up Bluetooth 2.1 as well as ultrafast WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, in addition to possessing a standard tri-speed LAN port that works with 10/100/1GB speeds so that it can be portion of an over-the-air network, use public hotspots or be section of your home network.

Furthermore, it has 3 USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire 800 port, and ExpressCard slot.

In general, this is a excellent up-date to a fantastic sequence and is also a substantial device for buyers. Find more on TheTechLabs.

The post What Makes MacBook Pro So Unique? appeared first on Chris Clarke Web Services.

After you obtain the app put together as well as managing on your cell phone, as well as you have subscribed to MobileMe, it is very simple to use Find My iPhone App to identify a dropped or perhaps even thieved mobile phone. All you’ll need to perform is to employ an internet linked laptop as well as sign into your own MobileMe account applying your protection password.

There after with a click of a computer system mouse, you may have the ability to view the location of the cellular phone presented on a guide on your desktop computer show. That’s needless to say if a telephone is in fact switched on as well as within a mobile phone cellular coverage area.

Currently one can find a couple definitely very good functions included with the Find My iPhone mobile phone tracker which you have to learn about. The 1st is that you are able to remotely lock your telephone to ensure that nobody might view into your info that is inside your cell phone or place not authorized phone call with your cell phone.

The 2nd feature ought to merely be taken advantage of in the event that an individual does not feel they are truly going to be capable of acquire your cell phone back again. This specific feature enables a person to entirely clear away any type of hypersensitive info that is saved on your mobile phone. Employing this specific feature essentially wipes your smartphone clean in order that all of your private info is risk-free along with shielded. However, find out more concerning Apple iPhone 6.

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Although this may sound condescending, it is very similar to how it is when a baby learns to walk. Many people will learn to do a variety of things, each with their own unique experiences. It is imperative, especially as a newbie, but you learn how to navigate IM minefields. There are so many that you have to circumvent. But you can learn and protect yourself to a relatively high degree and here is how to do that.

There are many reasons why people opt to go with affiliate marketing. Most people opt for affiliate marketing because it is more relaxed and carries with it fewer headaches. You aren’t going to have to deal with taking orders or setting up the infrastructure for taking orders. Customer relations and refunds also do not apply to you. So this alone provides some major incentives for people who might be looking seriously at affiliate marketing. Sure there are others but listing out all of the administrative stuff is just boring for everyone. There are some things that you need to put your attention on right after you have determined what you want to sell online. It is not always necessary to make a website or blog, but you probably will need to. Make a list of all you need in order to get your web business shop set-up. There will be a baseline of components that you will need to get started. You should assign priorities to these to make sure everything is running. It is important to understand all of this, especially when trying to move forward with your business.

Just about the best thing that comes with creating your own products or services is that they increase your methods of making money. If this is the case, you can take on joint ventures with other businesses, which is going to be something that you won’t be able to do as an affiliate. There is an exception to that general rule because a successful affiliate who knows other marketers can do JVs under the right circumstances. This is going to be too hard, though, for people who are new or who haven’t yet reached that level of success, to achieve. When you’re a product vendor, you will be able to eventually create a whole line up of products that relate to each other. After this point, you have the potential to simply stick to email marketing and do joint ventures to earn your living. If you’re just starting your online business, there are several safe guidelines you should follow when doing this. A variety of details and considerations certainly need to be made. Groping or feeling your way in the dark is how it used to be, complete with online marketing labyrinths.

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