The quick explanation is this: Java is a programming language that was developed by Sun Mircosystems in the mid-1990’s. It’s cross-platform compatible, so any program written in Java can be used on Windows, Mac or Linux machines. For that reason, it is a popular choice for programs that are built into websites, as the web site owner cannot be sure which operating system their visitors will be using.

In my experience, however, things never seem to work quite the way it was intended. The applications only work about half the time (at least, it seems that way). So this strip was just a play on that.

Truth be told, I’m not even that particularly impressed by the iPhone, nor do I want one. I think that the hard drive size (8 gigs??) and tie to AT&T are deal breakers. Some of the ways one might use it are pretty intriguing, but not enough to spend that kind of money.

What surprised, and irritated, me more was the coverage the iPhone was getting ahead of it’s release. It’s like all of the analysts had to make SOME statement about it – and I think a lot of them were missing the point. I can’t remember which technology firm did it (I think there were several), but they publicly were warning they’re corporate clients not to purchase or support the iPhone for their staffers. When was the iPhone ever being marketed towards corporate users?? At what point was this ever a consideration? I just felt that kind pronouncement was asinine – about as useless as complaining that the iPhone doesn’t make confections.

What gets me, though, is that a huge corporation like that, arguably the largest software maker in the world (are they??), can’t make a browser that freakin’ works. The open source folks at Firefox could pull it off, Apple could pull it off (with Safari), even small Scandinavian company could make it happen (with Opera). But Microsoft? Oh no no no. And it’s not like web standards are anything new – standardized recommendations for rendering HTML has been around since 1999. It’s 8 years later. IE has had several updates – but Microsoft still can’t seem to pull their act together. Even the newest Internet Explorer – IE 7, still doesn’t get it right.

C’mon, people, get with the program!!

PS – don’t even get me started on IE 6.

As for the the method I used to draw it- it’s quite a departure. I dunno, I’ve been feeling like my cartoons had been too “neat”. So I tried to make this one a little more messy – what do you think?

Well, graphic designers everywhere are cringing because of the new logo that was unveiled for the London 2012 Olympic Games. I’ve even seen it referred to as the “logo that rocked the world”.

Here’s UnBeige’s take on it with a nice list of links.
Design Observer’s Adrian Shaughnessy weighs in.
Even CNN has a go.

So I thought it would be obligatory that I do a cartoon about it. I had my little spin on the subject – what do you think? This is my first attempt at being timely with a cartoon. I kind of wish that I had gotten my butt in gear last week, to strike while the iron was hotter. I’m still working on streamlining my process, but this was an improvement.

Basically, I thought, there was some meeting somewhere when a designer got up and presented this logo to a committee. I just was thinking – how did that meeting go? And whoever WAS that presenter deserves a raise – they have a real gift!

Since I’ve been working with the web, I’ve become more and more comfortable with the technology and realizing what it can do. What I’ve also come to realize, maybe even more importantly, is what it CAN’T do. So I’ve had a lot more experience with clients, and a common desire is to have web designs look the same on all browsers. Riiiiiight. Any web developer can tell you that it doesn’t really work that way – there will inevitably be some variation in design, and sometimes you just can’t control it. It’s just part of the learning process – and moving into a digital world.

So, now that it’s up I’d like to know what your reaction is! Let me know in the comment box below!

As for the cartoon – I think most designers can attest to feeling like this every once in a while. I suppose I have a noose fixation, as I used one just a few cartoons ago (click here to see).

I’m also trying something a little different in terms of my style. I’ve been trying to do something a little more interesting, so I’m trying to use colored line work (as opposed to black lines) and different coloring schemes in general. I’ve also been building my cartoons differently, so I can go back and mess around with colors much easier. So don’t be surprised if you come back to a cartoon looking a little different.

What do you all think? Let me know – post a comment!

But I need all the help I can get when it comes to the real world. My wife can tell you how abysmal I am at finding physical objects.

In fact, I do have to thank her for helping me with some of the dialogue in this cartoon. Thanks hon!