We’re proud to officially launch Generate, a world-class web design event coming to London this September. Learn more about this amazing conference…
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Creative Bloq launches first-ever conference!
Noho Next 2013: Five highlights from Noho Design District’s most captivating exhibit during NYC Design Week
Always a high point of our NYC Design Week, Noho Design District has fast become a destination for up and coming and established designers looking to introduce their latest work outside the conventional confines of…
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Freebies wednesday
Every wednesday, we share a few freebies that’ll make your designer toolbox a bit more useful.
Slides.js
Create stylish web presentations with this JavaScript tool. Those presentations are embeddable, mobile-friendly, and can be exported to be seen offline.
PSD ribbon
A cute ribbon you can download for free on Dribbble, thanks to Aerolab.
Label.css
An easy and intuitive way to create image labels on your website.
Browser UI
Simple and clean browser UI for sketching websites, apps and interfaces.
Magnific popup
A free responsive jQuery lightbox plugin focused on performance, it also comes with retina support.
Create A Full Android Backup With Orange Backup App
Note: Android rooting is required.
Android users who want to root their phone are advised time and time again to perform regular backups. It is not uncommon to find a rooted Android device messed up so having a backup to revert to is always a good idea. Don’t want to stress out over the loss of precious data? Then, do a NANDroid backup.
NANDroid backup can only be done in custom recovery and many prefer this method in spite of other new ways of creating backups since it provides the user with a full backup of the entire system. But having to reboot into recovery every single time is a hassle.
Orange Backup allows you to create a full Android backup right from within the app itself with the option to upload your backup to your cloud storage and create a schedule backup exercise at any time you like. Plus, it’s free.
Recommended Reading: 20 Essential Apps For Your Android Phone
Here are shortcuts for fast access:
- Getting Started
- How To Setup Cloud Network
- How To Upload Backup To Cloud
- How To Schedule Backup
- How To Restore Your Backup
Getting Started
Note that Orange Backup only works with the following requirements:
- Only works for Rooted devices
- Supports CWM, TWRP, and Ex4 recoveries
- Supports Android version 2.3 and above
Get the Orange Backup. Install it and open it. You will be requested to permit a superuser request (Root Access). Choose Grant.
After that, let the app detect your device.
If the auto detection doesn’t work you can select your device from the ‘Auto-detected’ list. If you still don’t see your device on the list, manually download the patch and flash it using your custom recovery.
Select the brand. In my case, it’s Google.
I’m selecting Nexus 7 as the device model.
Then choose your backup type, depending on the version of custom recovery that you have. If you are using CWM recovery, I suggest you to choose CWM Full – bigger size (default).
Next tap on CONTINUE.
Then you will be prompted with a ‘Cloud Support’ window where you can connect to your Cloud Storage. Pick the storage support you need or do this later by tapping ‘Later’. The next section will deal with the cloud storage setup.
To start creating your backup, tap on the Magic Brand icon at the top right.
Next, tap on START to start the backup.
Let the backup run till it is done. You can also tap to hide the backup and let it run in the background.
Once the backup is completed you will be prompted with a window like this. And you’re done!
Setup Cloud Network
If you did not setup your cloud network earlier, head to Settings. Choose ‘Cloud network’.
Choose your desired cloud storage. Then, tap on CONFIGURE.
After that you will be prompted with a page requesting for your permission for access. Choose Allow.
How To Upload Backup to Cloud
By default, the upload would be done automatically by the app after you have setup a cloud network. But if you want to do the backup manually, follow these steps.
Return to the backup page, at the top right, there are 3 dots beside the Magic Brand Icon. Choose Upload last backup.
Next choose UPLOAD to start uploading.
When the upload starts, you can watch the progress at your notification bar.
How To Schedule Backup
Head to Settings and tap on Schedule backup at the top of the list.
Pick a time to schedule your backup and tap on SCHEDULE.
How To Restore Your Backup
To restore your backup data, go to the Backup page and you will see your most recently created backup. Tap on it.
To restore your backup simply tap on RESTORE. This will reboot into recovery.
Every recovery should have a similar layout of functions. Head to Restore to start restoring your backup.
Select your recently created backup.
To restore your backup fully, leave all options ticked. Next, ‘Swipe to Restore’.
The process will start.
Congratulations, you have successfully restored your backup.
Problems?
If you are new to this, there is a chance that you may have a problem or two pop up during the process. One of the more popular ones could be caused by the user selecting the wrong device-specific path. The right path is needed to tell the script where to find the boot and recovery partitions. You can find the patches here.
Backups can be done all at once rather than by selecting particular partitions to backup. Orange Backup will handle backing up all the relevant partitions for you, so unless you know what you are doing, just leave it to Orange.
Be advised that you should only use the SD-EXT option if you use apps like app2sd, link2sd, data2sd, etc. Otherwise leave that option disabled. For more support, click here.
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Interview: Stelios Kallinikou: The Cypriot photographer on the cyclical flow of creativity and balancing artistic and commercial work
by Emily Millett Inside the stark walls of Penindaplinena Gallery in Cyprus, beautiful people flit from one exhibit to another, while outside on the damp pavement, others balance cigarettes and glasses of wine. Standing confidently between…
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Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4: the next console war pits living room against cloud
We think of video game consoles as being principally about, well, the games. But when the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 went head-to-head in 2006, it wasn’t games that truly determined the victor. What eventually drove the Xbox 360 to first place was the underlying vision — a place where your friends could connect, chat, and compete — as well as additions that no one saw coming, including Microsoft’s Kinect and Netflix.
Based on what we now know about the next Xbox and PlayStation, we can expect a fairly similar scenario this time around. As far as games are concerned, the hardware sounds quite similar out of the box. Both consoles promise to track your motions, power on instantly, and seamlessly update themselves in the background,…
Create a Drop Down Menu with Search Box in CSS3 and HTML
Topic: CSS3 Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated Completion Time: 45 min In this tutorial, we will be creating a flat style navigation with a search box and dropdown menu from the Square UI. HTML Code The navigation is made up of an unordered list (.nav) containing various types of elements inside them: List items(LIs) which contain normal [...]
You’re reading Create a Drop Down Menu with Search Box in CSS3 and HTML, originally posted on Designmodo – UI Kits. If you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook, Google+!
9 Thing You Should Know About Firefox OS
If you use the browser Firefox instead of Chrome and Safari, chances are you have heard about Firefox OS, the new open source operating system for smartphones and tablets from Mozilla. The organization is serious in working to make the Web open and accessible to everyone.
Though this new mobile OS is an emerging technology, it is quickly catching the eyes of users, developers, and critics. In this post, we will have a look at what’s in store.
Recommended Reading: Cloud Operating System You Can Try Out for Free
Q1: What is Firefox OS?
A: Firefox OS (codenamed Boot2Gecko or B2G) is a mobile operating system based on Linux and Mozilla’s Gecko technology. It is built upon open web standards like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
Mozilla has developed Web APIs so that HTML5 apps can communicate with the device’s hardware, which was only possible for native apps until now, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Camera, etc.
Mozilla Foundation has always worked to make the Web more accessible to everyone, and apart from Firefox OS, there are other tools such as the Firefox Browser, Firefox Marketplace, etc. However, some critics report that it a Mozilla tactic to reach a bigger mobile audience in order to level up to its primary competitor, Chrome.
Q2: How is Firefox OS different from Existing Mobile OS?
A: “Built entirely using HTML5 and other open Web standards, Firefox OS is free from the rules and restrictions of existing proprietary platforms.” – Mozilla
Firefox OS is different – you can think of it as something more than a browser running on a very lightweight Linux-based operating system. Every app in Firefox OS including the Camera and the Dialer is a web app, i.e. a website in the form of an app. Simple!
Web is the platform for Firefox OS – apps are built using HTML5 (along with CSS3 and JavaScript) instead of native languages. For comparison, Android apps are developed in Java; Windows Phone apps are developed in C++, C#, or HTML5, etc. Firefox OS is written entirely using open Web standards, with the exception in the lightweight operating system (codenamed Gonk) forming the base of Firefox OS.
Q3: What is The User Interface Like In Firefox OS?
A: Android is the inspiration for the user interface of Firefox OS. Hence, it has a lock screen, home screen and notification bar. However, there are some changes as compared to Android. The home screen shows a background image (along with the time and date) and has no support for widgets for now.
Sliding right on the home screen shows the list of installed apps; there is no dedicated icon to open the app drawer like on other mobile OS. Sliding left on the home screen shows the list of app categories, which when clicked, shows installed and suggested apps in the chosen category.
Long pressing the home key brings the list of opened apps along. Pressing the power button brings the power off menu. Pressing home and power keys together takes a screenshot.
Firefox OS’s user interface is better than iPhone or Windows Phone OS, but it is not as good as that of Android. Apps share common styling conventions, and thus provide a consistent design factor, making it easy for users to get around the app’s functionality.
Q4: How Are apps for Firefox OS different from apps for other Mobile OS?
A: Firefox OS, powered by Gecko engine, runs only websites in the form of apps, known as web apps. These apps are built using HTML, the same technology that powers the Web. These web apps will run on many operating systems in addition to Firefox OS. Every operating system (including Android and Windows 8) that runs Firefox browser will be able to run these web apps distributed through Firefox Marketplace.
Web apps will come in two forms for Firefox OS: hosted apps and packaged apps. Hosted apps will be hosted on Mozilla’s server and will be downloaded and loaded each time you access them, i.e., they are quite like web pages instead of apps, and they will not run if data connection fails.
Packaged apps will be downloaded once in the form of a compressed package and will be loaded from the local source each time you access them, i.e., they are quite alike apps on other operating systems. This is possible due to the local storage and cache features of HTML5 language.
Q5: What are the different ways to try Firefox OS?
A: Firefox OS, though still in its development stages, is worth a try. However, buying a phone for USD200 just to test the mobile operating system may not be in everyone’s immediate plans. Do not worry as you have other options to play with Firefox OS.
You can try Firefox OS in these four ways:
- You can use Firefox OS Desktop client for your operating system. Check the instructions for downloading and building Firefox OS Desktop client.
- Download Firefox OS Simulator add-on for Firefox browser (of course, you need to have Firefox browser on your system). Check the Firefox extensions page on Firefox OS Simulator.
- You can build Firefox OS Simulator from source and use Firefox OS in a simulated environment. Check the instructions on how to build Firefox OS.
- You can build Firefox OS from source and install it on your existing device (only if it is supported – check the question below).
It is suggested to use the Firefox OS Simulator add-on for Firefox browser because it is the easiest and safest method for trying Firefox OS. Building Firefox OS from source is tedious work and the Firefox OS Desktop client may or may not work successfully for you.
Q6: What are the devices that currently support Firefox OS?
A: Mozilla has released two phones with Firefox OS but so far they are only available for developers:
- Keon by Geeksphone
- Peak by Geeksphone
Firefox OS can be built and installed on some other compatible devices too. Check the guide for installing Firefox OS on a compatible device. It is even reported that Firefox OS can be dual-booted with Android on the Samsung Galaxy S2.
Some of the devices supporting Firefox OS are:
- Unagi
- Otoro
- Pandaboard
- Samsung Galaxy S
- Samsung Galaxy S 4G
- Samsung Galaxy S2
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Q7: How does it compare with Ubuntu for Phones?
A: Ubuntu for Phones is a mobile operating system built upon the Linux kernel, same as Firefox OS. Ubuntu for Phones makes full use of the mobile’s small screen and touch functionality. The full area of the screen is provided to the app’s content (i.e., options or controls are hidden) and swiping over the corners bring the controls in view. Thus, apps on Ubuntu for Phones provide better user experience to mobile users.
Firefox OS has web apps but Ubuntu for Phones has native apps as well as web apps. Native apps use advance APIs and powerful features, e.g device’s hardware and services, etc. Web apps are developed using HTML5 and CSS3, and lack powerful features that are provided to native apps in Ubuntu for Phones.
Q8: What are the plans for Firefox OS’ Security?
A: Mozilla is actively working on the security of its new mobile OS. Many of the security features are inspired from Google’s Android. These are some of the security features of Firefox OS:
Device screen or SIM can be locked with a PIN.
Permissions required by any app are shown to the user upon installation. Low-risk permissions (e.g., web access, etc.) are provided automatically to the app while high-risk permissions (e.g. location access, etc.) are first confirmed from the user, and then provided to the app.
Permission Manager (or App Permissions) allows the user to manually allow or block permissions for an app. This is something missing in Android.
Mozilla plans to bring device encryption (using a boot-time password) to Firefox OS in near future. (Source)
Q9: What does Firefox OS mean for the Future of Smartphones?
A: Firefox OS, if successful, will change the way we use the Web. We are used to visit websites but Firefox OS will bring an era where we will be using Web apps more than Websites. Ubuntu for Phones will also support Firefox OS to help bring in this change.
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Interview: Andrea Buglione of TOTHEM: Italy’s young photography-inspired fashion label keeps production at home
The relationship between photography and fashion is very strong today, in particular when it comes to T-shirts. Sometimes the link is purely opportunistic and instrumental, but other times it’s an authentic and deep bond. This is…
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11 Useful And Free CSS UI Kits
We have previously presented many user interface (UI) kits for our designers fellows but rarely have compiled UI kits that have been exclusively built with CSS. This is something that many designers are looking for. So, look no further as here we are presenting 11 free CSS UI Kits for you. All of these 11 UI kits have been coded with CSS and contain a wide range of common web UI elements. These UI kits and more precisely the common web UI elements are the resources that you will need to build your own wireframe. We hope that you will find this collection useful for you.
Here is the full list after the small jump. We hope that you like this collection. Feel free to download as many as you like. Also, let us know what you think about this compilation. Your comments are always more than welcome. Enjoy!
Gumby Framework provides huge buttons, navigation and other CSS UI kits which are easy to implement.
ui.css is a tool for creating clean user interfaces for the web. The download includes a css file with styles for all the elements, including :hover and :active states.
This UI kit has been designed and hand-coded from scratch in HTML5 taking advantage of modern CSS3 techniques, it includes a range of common user interface elements and font stacks, which look beautiful in modern browsers and degrade gracefully in Internet Explorer.
Here is fully coded CSS3 UI Kit. This includes everything from a search box, checkboxes, radio buttons, and more! Everything is code.
Icon Deposit CSS3 UI Kit (PSD+CSS)
This CSS3 UI Kit includes everything from GUI switches and buttons, to radio buttons and checkboxes. I also included the Photoshop PSD file for those who want to edit the design or make the images bigger.
This set includes web CSS UI elements that works in both bright and dark enviroments.
A huge assortment of UI elements made in nearly only CSS. Only one image (the arrow of the dropdown), no javascript, no extra markup.
Metro UI CSS a set of styles to create a site with an interface similar to Windows 8 Metro UI. This set of styles was developed as a self-contained solution.
Futurico UI HTML is written using the SASS preprocessor. If you are not familiar with SASS you can use the CSS version instead
Free and Useful Online Resources for Designers and Developers
