While we’re already busy testing our Outlook toolbar for MIGTurbo CRM out on the new Windows 7 operating system, the bods at Microsoft are also busy … building pretentious marketing videos for Office 2010.
Have a look at their work so far at http://www.office2010themovie.com/.
While I’m sure you’re just as concerned as me about the “No Return, No Undo” captions, one question remains: Will they backtrack on their ribbon user-interface? They now have two sections of their users that prefer the “classic” menus and toolbars and those that prefer the new ribbon interface (which includes me).
Nathan Response Graphical User Interface (GUI), MIGTurbo Outlook Toolbar, Office 2007, Office 2010, Windows 7
With the new user interface in MIGTurbo 2 coming together, we were faced with the daunting task of replacing the existing set of icons. In older versions of MIGTurbo we have been using pixel-based 16×16px icons, just like the ones you find in older versions of Windows (pre-XP). Whilst they’ve been serving us well, we thought a new set of vector-based icons would suit the new Graphical User Interface (GUI) better.
So, considering we’re currently using more than 350 icons in MIGTurbo, how to go about getting a replacement set?
First we looked at commercially available icon libraries, but we soon hit a couple of problems. To start with, existing libraries are subject to a range of complicated licence schemes, where you might or might not be able to use the purchased icons in distributable software products (whilst it’s true that MIGTurbo is a web based solution, it’s not after all a single hosted web site). Secondly, finding a set of icons in a suitable style catering for our rather specific needs proved to be difficult.
In the end we found it more convenient to create the replacement set ourselves. This gave us full control to add and/or modify icons to suit our needs, and obviously licencing wouldn’t be an issue either! Also, it was quite rewarding to get an opportunity to work in Illustrator again.
So, what at first seemed to be a daunting prospect turned out to be the easiest solution - with the added bonus of getting a unique one-of-the-kind icon set!
Below you can view a small subset of the new icons - I think they turned out quite well!
Andreas MIGTurbo Graphical User Interface (GUI), GUI, icons, MIGTurbo, MIGTurbo 2.0, User Experience (UX)
Apparently, The Department of Trade & Industry have “been working on a project for some time to develop an e-commerce solution for local independent retailers with a leading UK service provider called Venda. This solution is {apparently} beyond what is currently available on Island and will not only have a significant impact on our local retail sector but will also generate a considerable amount of work for supporting service provider companies, specifically in the areas of web and branding design, web services, online marketing, copywriting and photography.”
It is incredible that a local government body can seek and obtain approval to spend significant revenue with an off island supplier, and in doing so deprive local businesses of a valuable revenue stream when there are clearly service providers on the island who have both the infrastructure and the necessary skills to provide these services. Far worse - to my mind, is to claim “There are no credible e-business providers on the Isle of Man”. When you consider the level of investment in infrastructure - Domicilium, Manx, Wi-Manx etc., service provision such as isleofman.com, e-business service providers such as ourselves. - Freedom to Flourish!.. actions, speak louder than words.
Charles Response Department of Trade and Industry, e-Commerce, Isle of Man Government
