New for the iPad – Photoshop Touch
As a Photoshop fan, I was interested to hear that Adobe has now launched an iPad version of their ever-popular image editing software. The software has been around for Android Tablets for a while, but now iPad 2 users can also get their hands (literally) on the Photoshop Touch app.
The iPad app features many of the things Photoshop users are used to, such as working in layers, sophisticated selection tools and re-touching tools. The degree of accuracy these tools will be capable of achieving is yet unknown. Other features include pre-loaded image effects and the ability to use your iPad’s built in camera to fill portions of the image you are working on.
Photoshop Touch is part of Adobe’s upcoming suite of iPad ‘Touch’ Apps, which will be inspired by Adobe’s Creative Suite. The apps include: Adobe Collage, Adobe Debut, Adobe Ideas (similar to Illustrator), Adobe Kuler (color theme manager); and Adobe Proto.
I can’t imagine that professionals will take to this software as they have to regular Photoshop. For a start, an iPad screen is far too small for the precision that professional photo editing demands. However, photography enthusiasts might find quickly fixing an image from the comfort of their sofa very appealing. More so perhaps the teenagers with iPads who insist on re-touching their profile pictures before uploading them to Facebook… (a social media upload facility is another feature of the app).
Priced at just $9.99, it is just a fraction of the price of conventional Photoshop software which retails at around a whopping £500… Maybe this signifies that Adobe is looking into making their software more affordable to the masses. Could this be the beginning of the end of Adobe’s overpriced reign over photographers and designers? I’m hoping so.
A computer for £22?! Say Hello to the Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi computer went on sale today priced at just £22. The coveted device immediately sold out, crashing the product’s the website and leaving many gadget buffs disappointed.
So what is everyone so excited about? The Raspberry Pi doesn’t have any bells and whistles, in fact, you even have to provide your own keyboard and monitor to use it. The unique selling point is simplicity – the Raspberry Pi is fully programmable by the user.
The Raspberry Pi is capable of internet browsing and has a USB port, Ethernet port, SD card slot, and an HDMI port for video output. At its heart is an ARM chip, also found in mobile phones and tablets, and it runs a version of the free open-source operating system Linux.
It is hoped that the Raspberry Pi will inspire a new generation of children to learn computer programming, just like its forebears the Sinclair Spectrum and BBC Micro did in the 1980s. Eben Upton, the founder of the charity behind Raspberry Pi, thinks one should be given away to every child as they reach a new school year – something that will be achievable thanks to the low cost of the device.
Upton got the idea for the Rasberry Pit when he found that applicants for computer-related degree course places “[didn’t] seem to know enough about what a computer really was or how it worked….”
As one of the non-technical staff at eSterling, I’m certainly familiar with knowing how to use a computer, but having no idea how it actually works. Perhaps the Raspberry Pi could revolutionise the way we think about computer programming and make technology accessible to schools and businesses alike.
Upgrade your Website with eSterling
If you’re thinking of giving your website some TLC, you can rely on eSterling to help. Whether you are looking for a simple upgrade such as adding a page, or you are looking to completely re-design your site, eSterling has the solution at a competitive price.
Our experienced web designers and developers are always willing to listen to your special requirements and help you get the best out of your project, whilst our dedicated project manager will ensure that the job will be carried out to schedule.
If you are an existing eMarketing customer, our SEO team will be able to advise you of the best solutions to maintain your current rankings. This minimises disruption to your site and keeps the traffic following even when changes are being made.
Contact us today if you need to:
- Add a new page to your website
- Get a blog for your website
- Re-design your homepage
- Re-brand your site
- Add a video upload page
- Upgrade your CMS (content management system)
Call eSterling today on 0121 766 4080 or email helpdesk@esterling.co.uk to get things started.
eSterling Launches Social Media Training
Due to popular demand, eSterling has launched a social media training course for our clients.
We have found that many of our clients are aware of the value of social media sites, but are unsure how to use them for their business. Many also find that they haven’t got the time to spend getting to grips with the technology and therefore keep putting it off for another time.
That’s why the team at eSterling has devised a three-hour training session that will get you up and running. The aim is to give you the confidence to run your Facebook or Twitter account without feeling overwhelmed.
eSterling social media training is jargon-free, with everything simplified into terms that you can understand. We actively welcome your questions during the training session and you will be given handy worksheets to take away so that you can refer back to your notes.
Our training course is one-to-one and can be tailored to suit which social network(s) you are interested in, whether you are looking to use Facebook, Twitter or another site such as Pinterest. As each training session is tailored to suit your needs, you can request topics of interest that you would like us to cover.
Examples of topics covered include:
- Twitter/ Facebook layouts
- Twitter trending topics
- Suggestions of what to share using social media
- How to increase followers
- Social media reporting
As we predict that social media will have more of an influence on Google rankings over the next two years, it really does pay to get ahead of your competition and make a start with social media.
To book your training session please call Cassandra on 0121 766 4080 or email cassandra.lilly@esterling.co.uk.
Pinterest – a social network to watch in 2012
There’s no doubt that Facebook and Twitter are the big hitters in the social media game that everyone (yes, you!) should be using, but there are other social networking sites that are well worth a look this New Year.
Pinterest is one of the developing social networks that I’ve just discovered. Using Pinterest, you can ‘pin’ your ‘interests’ using the ‘online pinboard’ interface. This works like a virtual pinboard and is great for making and sharing collections of anything you are interested in. Once users gather their pinned items together they then group them into categories and share them with others, who can then comment and share accordingly.
Pinterest’s main users are women between the ages of 25 and 44. 58% of Pinterest visitors are female and the most popular ‘pinned’ topics are fashion, lifestyle, homes, weddings and food.
If your target customer fits into this demographic, then Pinterest could help to boost your social media engagement in 2012. Think about your customer – would it be helpful for them to be able to collect and save your products in this way? I think back to when I was choosing a wedding dress last year… I collected images of dresses I liked online and then contacted suppliers to track down what I wanted. If I had used Pinterest back then, would it have been helpful come across wedding dress shops in my area? Absolutely!
Although Pinterest is mainly about social networking, it can also double as a workflow tool. If like me, you constantly bookmark websites just because you like one picture on the page, or save interesting images to your desktop, Pinterest is the way to get organised. Sharing this process with your potential customers is a sure-fire way to engage them with your brand.
Pinterest is now in the top 10 websites in social networking and forums – so it’s definitely one to watch in 2012. I’m pretty much sold on the idea, but the downside is Pinterest is still invitation-only (which makes me want it all the more!). I’d better start looking for an invitation – I’ll keep you posted!
New Year, New You?
As each new year arrives we seem to be subjected to a barrage of pressure to change something, to improve some aspect of our lives by torturous or expensive means.
Stop smoking!
Stop eating!
Stop having so much fun and come and buy a sofa!
This year the January sales have been on since November and there are still Quality Streets left in the tin so as far as I’m concerned they can keep their new leaf, I’m staying as I am. And as January continues, so does my penny-pinching. I’m settling down to wait out the winter (with my chocolates) and to see what happens before I make any major purchases.
January is always a tough time for business, we’re all reeling from the pocket-washing that Christmas brings, but it can also be a time to take stock and get those little jobs sorted that you’ve put off all year. While business is quiet get your web site updated, take those photos you’ve been meaning to, write those three pages of content you need refreshing. Get yourself prepared for when the chocolate-huggers like me come out to play and to spend money again.
eSterling are offering a 10% discount on Web Site orders placed before the end of January 2012. If you’d like to refresh a couple of pages, update stock lists or just give your site an early spring clean, get in touch.
Pass the tin, mine are the purple ones…
Would you buy from a mobile phone?
They have now invented a term for it – m-Commerce
Studies show that consumers buying goods from their handsets is set to more than double by the year 2013 (Survey by Ovum and Verdict Research Company)
There is a current total of £123 million being spent via mobile, out of a total of £21bn online retail spend.
There is already a shift towards the mobile-web, so are we ready for what they reckon could be the next big step?
What type of products might one buy via a mobile device?
Am I a dinosaur for feeling it will be years before I take a chance on buying from a mobile? Although I might buy from a Tablet.
What do you think?
Christmas Special Offer – 10% off new websites!
Start 2012 the right way with a new website from eSterling and get 10% off! We are offering new and existing customers this great discount when they order a new website before 31st January 2012.
Whether you are looking to launch a new product or service, or you just want to upgrade your old site, eSterling can help. We offer professional web design and web development services to provide you with a website that is tailored to suit your business.
To take advantage of this limited period Special Offer, simply email helpdesk@esterling.co.uk or call 0121 766 4080 and quote the code WEB10.
Terms and Conditions
- 10% discount is redeemable on new websites ordered before 31st January 2012.
- One discount is available per client, per website.
Christmas Special Offer – £50 Adwords vouchers up for grabs!
It’s a great time to give Google Adwords a go, as eSterling have a number of £50 Adwords vouchers available to our customers! You can use your FREE voucher to kick-start your Adwords campaign, which will help to bring extra traffic to your website just in time for Christmas.
Google Adwords is the easy way to get visitors to your site by making it instantly visible on the 1st page of Google. Your Adwords advert will appear right at the top of the Google results page in the sponsored listings area. You only pay when someone clicks on your advert, which means Adwords can be a cost effective way to get relevant visits. Pay-per-click advertising works brilliantly alongside your existing organic SEO and has the benefit of being totally flexible to suit your budget.
To take advantage of this Special Offer and claim your FREE £50 trial voucher call us today on 0121 766 4080 or email helpdesk@esterling.co.uk and quote the code AD50.
Terms and Conditions
- Adwords vouchers can be redeemed against one keyword for a period of two weeks.
- If you wish to continue your Adwords campaign after the two week trial period, a £75 + VAT per month management fee applies. The pay-per-click budget can be specified by the client (£100 per month minimum is recommended).
- The keyword chosen and Adwords management for the trial period shall be deemed correct by eSterling.
- One voucher is available per client, per website.
Jacques Designer Bathrooms is ‘more competitive than ever’ on the Web
Jacques Designer Bathrooms is a long standing eSterling client, having been with us since 2001. Over the past 10 years the web has changed dramatically, but eSterling has ensured that Jacques has been able to move with the times in order to outshine their competitors. The most recent development was put in place last year when Jacques had a new website designed by eSterling.
The new website features a simple layout with the emphasis being on the quality of Jacques Designer Bathrooms’ products and services. The overall function of the website is to be a platform for enquiries, as the bathrooms in which Jacques specialises need to be seen in person at their showroom to be fully appreciated.
To launch the new site an advanced SEO service was put in place to target a wider range of keywords. The work carried out by eSterling has produced excellent results for Jacques as many of the keywords, such as ‘designer bathrooms’, are ranking on page one of Google.
Jacques has also branched out from traditional SEO techniques and have used our press release service to drive traffic to their site. This also gave their rankings a boost, proving that this is a great technique to grow the profile of a business.
Bringing traffic to the Jacques Designer Bathrooms website is important for the development of the company at this stage, as potential customers are sure to want to take advantage of Jacques’ prices on designer bathroom suites and installation.
Managing director David Jacques said that the company’s pricing structure ‘is more competitive than ever’ so now is a great time to order a luxury bathroom. David also commented; ‘eSterling’s ongoing commitment to achieving results for my business has ensured that my site is visible online, even in difficult times for the industry.’
