Unhindered Creations: Interesting...

Skype for iPhone Review....

2012-02-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Below, I took the time earlier today to give a few of my thoughts on Skype for iPhone, as Unhindered Creations currently uses it as its business number. Take a look at it, and let me know of your feedback on this!

Overall, Good (For Now?)....

I ended up holding off writing a review for this until now. From the beginning of 2011 to January, I had version 3.5.117 on the iPhone, and didn't upgrade because I kept seeing the negative reviews on iTunes. But then, I took the "plunge" in the middle of January 2012, upgrading to the latest version. I read in an article from Skype that the best way to upgrade was to delete your old copy from your phone, and then install the newest version onto it (as if it didn't exist on the phone in the first place). As a safeguard, I moved the original version (3.5.117) to an external hard drive in case the upgrade didn't work. But now that I have the latest version, it works just fine!

For Now? (Issue….)

Initially, I was making calls over Wifi (just like I did with my Mac all along), but I'll admit the 3G function works pretty well. Even with 3 bars (via Sprint), the app didn't crash on me, and I was able to update my status (i.e. away, invisible, online, etc.) without any problems. Call quality was clear, and functioned just like a regular phone call. People on the other end could hear me just fine as well. The only issue; however, that I had was that when I was in the midst of a call on Skype, if my iPhone rang, it would automatically cut off the Skype phone call. I hadn't even answered the phone, but yet at just a ring from someone, it would automatically disconnect the call. That was NOT good at all, as I use the Skype number for business.

So, for those of you out there who desire to use Skype as your business number, it is better for you to use your Mac or PC over Wifi to make and receive calls from your Skype number rather than making calls FIRST from Skype on your iPhone. This technique ensures that your calls won't be interrupted by your iPhone…. It should be a last resort to make and receive calls from Skype on your iPhone UNLESS you are out and about, and are expecting calls from people at those times. Other than that, the app is pretty good, and works without any problems thus far.

HTML5: What It Means For You

2011-12-09T10:15:00.001-08:00

As of a few weeks ago, Unhindered Creations is now integrating HTML5 technology into website creations! However, to the average person, the question first comes, "What is HTML5?" Well, look no further!

What Is HTML5?

To put it as simple as possible, HTML5 is the "new" standard of the internet. In essence, when you are looking at the web/internet, you are looking at HTML. Behind the nice interface (i.e. what we see; the buttons, the links, graphics, etc.) is a "coded language" called HTML. This language has been around since the 1990s; however, it is now being revised and supported by all the major browsers and devices out here (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, iOS, Android, etc.).

In other words, what this means for you is that we (website developers) can now place interactive & animated content onto website creations that is cross-platform compatible! For years, interactive content was the "gold standard" in website creations, and this primarily was accomplished through a technology called Adobe Flash. This technology was widely supported on PCs (as 90% of all PCs now have Flash built in to them); however, smartphone devices like iOS & Android either did not have Flash built in, or were partially supported (meaning people who were on smartphones only saw a "part" of the internet instead of all of it). Also, the learning curve for this technology can be pretty steep for the novice user, and in order for you to do what you really wanted to do, you had to know code languages like HTML, as well as ActionScript, CSS, Javascript, and others, and know them well.

But, with the advent of HTML5, there are companies that are now creating software products that will allow web designers to focus more on the design of websites than the code. In essence, Unhindered Creations is a DESIGN company more so than a development company, so when we are out to design something for you, we are looking for the solutions to FIT your needs more so than trying to figure out HOW to put the design together to fit you (which makes the entire process much more time consuming). Because our efficiency in designing for clients has grown, this allows us to charge less than the competition because we don't have to spend as much time on your design. However, with the inclusion of HTML5 software technologies that make it easy for us to create designs for you, this is a definite advantage not just to us, but to you as well!

The Benefits

So, what are some of the benefits of HTML5? Here are some of them:

1.) Interactive Web Experiences: Create engaging and interactive experiences on your website! For a quick example, did you notice the animations on our Home page? That is HTML5 in action!

2.) Video & Sound Integration: Because of HTML5, we can now place videos (say, from YouTube & Vimeo) and sound into your website! This makes your website stand out from the competition, more often than not.

3.) Cross-Platform Compatibility: For the first time, when we integrate these interactive experiences on your website, they can be seen not just on desktops and laptops, but also on phones (such as iOS, Android, Blackberry, HP/Palm WebOS, etc.). For years, we had the capability of creating Flash content for clients, but we stopped offering it recently because it could not be seen on smartphone devices.

4.) Search Engine Optimization: The code that is created for your website is standards-compliant, and is easily recognizable by the major Search Engine entities (such as Google, Bing, and others). This means that because your website is easily "readable" to search engines, it helps your website become more easily seen by people who are searching for it. Unhindered Creations has been making websites search-engine-optimized since we started doing websites, but this new technology just helps to enhance that feature the more!

5.) Creativity!: Because this technology allows us to look at websites from not just a static, but animated perspective, we now can get more creative with your design! Animations can be created not just for showing changing content, but also can be used to present your logo in a new and fresh way, or to present your material in an even more engaging way than before!

Of course, as time progresses, we will be presenting more content to you regarding not just this, but also in the areas of Photography and Graphic Design! Be sure to check back regularly, as fresh content will be added!

If you are interested in Unhindered Creations doing a Website Creation for you/your company, be sure to contact us at http://www.unhinderedcreations.com/contact.html today!

A Case Study: Website Creation: Southern Comfort Inn Adult Care Residence

2011-10-18T13:33:00.001-07:00

"A truly unique experience" was the central focus of this website. This was the first of its kind for Unhindered Creations to undertake regarding Assisted Living facilities, so after viewing various other Assisted Living facility websites, the question became: How do we make the new Southern Comfort Inn Adult Care Residence website stand out from the rest? How do we make it Different & Unconventional?

This is the standard approach that we take when creating websites for our clients. But the awesome thing is that with each one that is created, the Lord has His way "stretching" us in our capabilities, beyond what we have asked or thought....

So, how did we make this one stand out from other comparable websites? Quite simply, it rested in the details. Because the owners of the residence, Pastor & Mrs. Joe Green, elected to integrate the Photography Action Session into their Website Creation package, it helped to establish a stronger sense of Purpose in what was being created. From those images, we took the approach of establishing a down-to-earth and laid-back perspective, combining conventional form and function, while also establishing a new and unconventional look that is pleasing to the eye.

HTML5, which is a relatively new way of viewing animations on websites, was established for the first time into our website creation. This important feature allows for nearly every major device (i.e. iPhones, iPads, mobile devices, and PCs) to see the animations. Music was integrated into the home page. Beautiful backgrounds were created for each page to create a truly unique viewing experience for large screens. A Payment Center was established so that those submitting payments can do so conveniently online (even if they don't have a PayPal account). And, a custom Logo was created by us and integrated into their website and marketing materials to convey the character, integrity and unique level of service of Southern Comfort.

The result: A product that truly is Different and Unconventional, and FITS the needs of Southern Comfort Inn Adult Care Residence.

Experience this Website Creation now at:

http://www.southerncomfortinnacr.com

And, to see more examples of Website Creations, be sure to visit our Website Creation page.