Artgig, Apple & Arsenal

Did You Just Say The Hit Alien Buddies Ed App Is FREE?

2012-01-27T09:49:00.002-05:00

Why, yes.

Yes, I did.

Download Alien Buddies For Free Today!

Alien Buddies Update v.1.1 Drops in App Store - More Fun!

2012-01-19T17:52:00.000-05:00

So, Apple cleverly timed their revolutionary educational self-publishing announcement today to hitch a ride on the Artgig express.

I suppose it's just a coincidence that our all new Alien Buddies Puzzle game update went live in the App Store last night.

Well done, Apple - well done.

The Puzzle addition expands the early learning game suite from three to four activities, because the only thing better than fun is more fun, right?

Speaking of fun, Alien Buddies has been a lot of fun to work on, and we hope you and your kids enjoy the update as much as we've enjoyed making it.

And if you find that your kids are suddenly having more fun with Alien Buddies, please take a moment and leave an iTunes review - there's a link right on the Parents page in the app.

Good reviews and lots of 5 star ratings are the kind of thing that Apple likes to see.

And we really like hearing from you.

Now go have more fun.

Download Alien Buddies (you can thank us later)

Happy Holidays! From Artgig Studio

2011-12-23T16:14:00.000-05:00

You:

Damn!

Know what I forgot?

A card!

Us:

Don't worry - we've got your back, with the Artgig Holiday Card Generator.

Now you can make your own custom e-card, featuring the cute and quirky characters from our Alien Buddies App!

And you can do it in your browser or, on your iPad.

Looks here - no Flash up our sleeve.

Sweet!

You:
(Standing there, mouth agape, amazed)

Us:

So, Happy Holidays from us, to you.

You:
(Drooling a little)

Us:

Okay then...er...have fun!

The Artgig Holiday Card Generator!

The Alien Buddies Have Landed – On Cafe Press!

2011-12-15T16:45:00.001-05:00

This Just In:

The Alien Buddies have landed on Cafe Press!

That's right, we're having so much fun with our cute and quirky App Store friends, we decided to open a store to share and wear them!

Have a "New and Noteworthy" baby to shop for?

No problem!

Or maybe you just want your BFF on a shirt!

If you're looking for your favorite Alien Buddies on a plethora of products, we've got you covered!

Just look for Artgig on Cafe Press and follow the signs.

And it's 20% off right now with coupon code NOEL20.

As our Alien Buddies are fond of saying...

Sweet!

Artgig Cafe Press Store

Shake-a-Phrase App v.1.3 - a Peek Under the Hood & a Party Invite!

2011-12-08T11:34:00.001-05:00

Our latest Shake-a-Phrase update, v.1.3, went live in the App Store yesterday.

What you get:
Improved vocabulary and a better Starter theme!

(You can stop here, or read on if you want a peek under the hood and a party invite...)

When we first came up with the idea for Shake-a-Phrase, we thought the content would be relatively cheap - we were wrong.
We started with an open source dictionary but the definitions were lousy and not age appropriate so we ended up rewriting all of them.
With each update and testing, we take a good hard look at the overall quality of the phrases generated, along with user feedback, and make improvements where we can.
If someone is offended by a phrase due to a word in the mix like "drunk" (adj) - we take note and edit the dictionary for the next update.
We've been adding words, tweaking definitions, and deleting words to keep the fun, random silly stuff, but minimize the completely nonsensical phrases so you get a higher percentage of quality phrases.

Since Shake was released, we've been going theme-by-theme to tighten up, and make each theme as strong as it can be.
We updated Monsters for Halloween, and Fairytales for Thanksgiving.
The Sports theme was a big effort because many of the words in our dictionary take on a different meaning in the context of sports - so we gave Sports a separate dictionary.

For this update, we overhauled the Starter theme.
It's been long overdue - the Starter theme has been a bit like the wild west with lots of object nouns in the mix.
So we reclassified some words to make them location nouns ("on the bike", instead of "with the bike"), deleted some words, and we added a whole bunch of new people nouns for more human interaction.

It's not the kind of thing where you can easily point to any one thing and say "that changed" - but rather an overall sense that things are just better.
That's quality.

And tomorrow, you can download Shake-a-Phrase for just .99 (50% off) for the Appy Holidays Party.
We'll be there with Benny and our Alien Buddies hanging out under the mistletoe, giving away promo codes and getting into the punch.

Stop by for great app deals and giveaways from lots of fantastic developers:

Appy Holidays Party!

Enjoy.

Alien Buddies Educational App Review

2011-12-05T13:30:00.001-05:00

Last week was a bit of a blur with the app launch and our Friday Moms With Apps promotion and I wanted to hold off on posting this to give the review some breathing room.

Diane was one of our Alien Buddies Beta testers and she was nice enough to also write a review of the app for the blog.

Alien Buddies - reviewed by Diane Darrow

The Aliens are coming, and they are cuter than ever! Alien Buddies is an adorable new app that helps young children identify colors, shapes, letters and numbers. The goal of the game is to load an alien into the correct spaceship so that they can happily fly away. In order for this to happen, children must first correctly match the symbol on the alien to that on the spaceship. Each time they run a successful mission, they earn a virtual sticker.

What is unique about this matching game is the wonderful way it offers various levels of challenge At the introductory level; the youngest child merely looks for a visual match. While busy making these matches, they hear the names of shapes, colors, letters and numbers called out. This subtle background experience is preparing the player for the next level, where the spaceship will only speak the name of the item the child must visually locate.

Alien Buddies moves beyond just basic letter and number recognition. A child can choose to practice matching either upper or lower case letters separately or together. Once they can identify numbers to 10, the player can move onto the learning numbers to 20 or even 50. Tiered challenges such as this within an app, is a valuable asset for any pre-school or kindergarten teacher looking for ways to differentiate learning in their classroom.

"Aliens Buddies is a charming app that offers a clever and engaging way for a young child to learn basic skills necessary for reading and math. "

If you ask a child why they are enjoy playing with Alien Buddies they will most likely comment on how much fun it is to interact with the characters. The opportunity to earn creatures and objects for a sticker book is very motivating. Children love playing with the reward stickers and if you listen closely, you may even get to hear the stories that their pictures are telling. All of my small friends have thoroughly enjoyed watching the humorous way the aliens shuffle along the loading platform, and often giggle at their silly exclamations. Aliens Buddies is a charming app that offers a clever and engaging way for a young child to learn basic skills necessary for reading and math.

Diane Darrow is an artist, Reading Recovery teacher, and library media specialist at Bel Aire Elementary in Tiburon, CA. You can follow her on Twitter at @dianedarrow.

Thanks Diane!

The Aliens Have Landed

2011-11-28T15:30:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday – that is, if you live here in the United States.

If you live in other parts of the world, like Australia, you may have noticed a change today in the App Store.

That's right, I'm talking 'bout aliens.

You might say we're a little bit obsessed with the cute and quirky little critters – we've been tracking them for months now.

Google Analytics reports they've already landed in Australia and our sources tell us they're making their way to the US App Store tonight.

So keep your eyes peeled.

The Alien Buddies will be here when you wake up.

Alien Buddies in the App Store

Alien Buddies - The Movie

2011-11-16T11:03:00.001-05:00

SPOILER ALERT - This app is fun and educational and your kids will love it!

As Steve is busy trying to squeeze all the Alien Buddies goodness into a download-anywhere under 20MB package so we can submit to Apple later today, I thought I'd share the brand new video trailer with you.

We looked at lots of options for video capture using the iOS Simulator but we were getting weird gradient banding in the background art, so Lis went off on her own for a few days and came back with this.

Enjoy!

alien-buddies.com

Artgig Wins Gold For JFK50.org Website

2011-11-11T10:53:00.001-05:00

Very pleased to be part of the team that won a W3 Gold Award for JFK50.org!

There's more to come from the dynamic duo of ESI Design and Artgig...

W3 Awards Winners Gallery

Lots Shakin' at Artgig Apps!

2011-11-10T12:21:00.000-05:00

I was going to say it's a bit of a stew today at Artgig Apps but a stew isn't nearly fast or exciting enough - it's more of a salad, one that is tossed together quickly but expertly, and comes together with just the right balance of complimentary flavors.

And avocados.

I love avocados.

As lunch quickly approaches, we're buzzing, making final launch preparations for our new Pre-K and Kindergarten educational app, Alien Buddies.

The Final build goes out to testers tonight and we're planning to submit to Apple next week so (fingers crossed) we can be in the App Store by the end of the month!

Speaking of testers, we've got some really good kids, parents, and teachers working this app over and giving us great feedback and ideas, and I cannot thank them enough.

This app has been a lot of fun to build because it hits a sweet spot for lots of little kids I know and the testing gives us great confidence that we've got something special to share with you and your children.

And let's not forget about our other apps - Shake-a-Phrase and Being Benny were both updated last week!

We love tinkering with Shake-a-Phrase - every time we crack the hood we can't help refining and improving the vocabulary for the best possible user experience.

We also added some slick new sharing features, so you can share your favorite phrases by SMS or take advantage of the iOS 5 Twitter integration to tweet all about it.

And we're not done tinkering!

The chefs at Artgig Apps added an extra dash of holiday sprinkles to the Fairytale theme for some festive fun with phrases, and we'll be pushing yet another Shake update this week (v. 1.3) - so stay tuned!

We really want to hear from you, so please drop by our Facebook page and/or leave an app review for us in iTunes - all of our apps have a direct review link to tell us what you think.

Some of the changes we just made to Shake-a-Phrase are a direct result of user feedback!

We've also been hearing from a lot of teachers about using Shake-a-Phrase in the classroom for creative writing exercises, so we're serving up some stories to inspire your own school lessons!

Check out "Shaking Up The Classroom With Shake-a-Phrase," on the Shake website, to read about a 3rd Grade class using the Monster theme to shake up some spooky Halloween tales.

Whew!

I'm starving!

Shaking Up The Classroom With Shake-a-Phrase

How We Roll

2011-11-04T14:39:00.000-04:00

What was all that white stuff that blanketed our town and crippled the Artgig command center for nearly the entire week?

It's too soon to say the "s" word out loud, but this week was a trip down Artgig memory lane.

Once upon a time, before Artgig got all fancy with a brick and mortar studio, we all worked from home.

As legend has it, way back in the days before Skype, the Artgig gang would meet around town, alternating between the diner and Jean Jacques, when we all needed to be in the same place to discuss really important things – like becoming a brick and mortar business.

When we arrived for work Monday morning and found a tree had knocked down the building power line, we assumed it would be a minor disruption and it really wasn't so bad taking Halloween off to spend with the kids.

Four days later, it had turned into a beard growing contest between me and Jim (I won), and I was ready to fire my one and a half year old co-worker for continuously ignoring my orders to stop eating my Wacom stylus.

Despite the challenges of work and home lives colliding, amazingly, I am happy to report we reached a new pinnacle of production before power was finally restored yesterday.

It seems with less pressure to do things like shave and bathe, our app output actually increased!

In a few short days we cranked out a nearly-final Alien Buddies app build, a sweet Shake-a-Phrase update with new words and sharing features, and a Being Benny update.

All while juggling client projects and grocery shopping duties!

That's how we roll here at Artgig.

Check out Artgig Apps

We Come In Peace

2011-10-28T11:52:00.000-04:00

We're really excited to finally introduce you to some new friends (big image here).

They're not from around here and they need a hand with some things like matching and connecting dots, but we think you and the kids will enjoy helping the quirky little buggers out.

Stay tuned as we get closer to a November launch.

And have a Happy Halloween!

alien-buddies.com

Tease or Treat? A Halloween Invitation From Artgig Apps...

2011-10-25T12:28:00.001-04:00

Hmmmm, that's a tough one, do I want to be teased?

Or would I prefer a nice treat?

What if I told you you didn't have to choose.

Because we're gonna tease you anyway, whetting your appetite for our soon-to-be-released (fingers crossed) Educational Kids App.

Then, we're gonna give you a treat by revealing who is hiding behind those masks (big image here).

Check out the the Moms With Apps Halloween Facebook Party this Friday, October 28th, at 1PM EST to find out more!

We'll be there in costume, handing out Shake-a-Phrase promo codes and free advice that could really come in handy this Halloween.

You know, like if your friend or loved one gets bitten by a zombie, sorry, you gotta ditch 'em - just leave.

Go.

Fast.

And don't look back.

Okay, you can look now.

If you're really busy shopping for candy corn Friday, you can also keep an eye on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to see what's cooking (and Like us while you're there!)

See you Friday!

Artgig Apps Facebook

Artgig Apps Shaking Up Halloween

2011-10-20T16:29:00.000-04:00

Really happy to report we went Gold today on iOS build 14.

"What...is iOS build 14" you ask, leaning in a bit closer.

I meet your gaze head-on. "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you."

I do not blink.

You slowly retreat.

End of conversation.

Well, maybe I can tell you a little something, but we are sworn to secrecy on this so forgive me for being so cloak and dagger.

iOS build 14 is a Universal iPad/iPhone Educational app we've been working on for a client.

The app serves up over 1,600 lessons, featuring over 2,000 videos in English & Spanish - all available via IAP's (that's In-App Purchases with your decoder ring).

And yes, it's good to be Gold!

But we also have a soft spot for the orange and black.

Did I ever tell you how much we like Halloween?

To celebrate, we're shaking up some Monsters in our own Shake-a-Phrase app, all month over on the Artgig Apps Facebook page so check it out and show some love by liking us!

And the gang has conjured up some creepy Shake-a-Phrase logos to decorate so we'll be sticking them wherever we can find a clean, dry surface.

And we'll be making a special announcement later this month about a new app we've got brewing...

Lots to do as the witching hour draws near.

Stay tuned and if you ever kill a monster don't turn your back unless you're sure it's really dead.

Stay Gold.

The Week of October 5th

2011-10-07T11:16:00.000-04:00

The week that was...

Artgig Apps Joins A4CWSN International App Party This Weekend!

2011-09-29T12:02:00.000-04:00

We're busy this morning putting the finishing touches on our Shake-a-Phrase App, polishing it up to a fine shine, in anticipation of a big App Party this weekend stretching across the globe with hosts in the US, Canada and on the other side of the world, in Australia!

If there's one guy who knows how to throw an App Party it's Gary at Apps For Children With Special Needs and we're honored to participate.

The goal is simple - let's raise enough money to give 50 kids in 50 states an iPad.

Starting tomorrow and ending Sunday, we're discounting Shake and donating half of our sales to the cause.

Check out the A4CWSN Facebook page for lots of great discounted apps and giveaways all weekend long.

The best part?

You don't even need to pick out an outfit.

PARTY!!!!

A4CWSN Facebook Page (Party Starts Here)

Artgig Launches New Consumer Eyes Website!

2011-09-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

We're proud to announce the official launch of the new Consumer Eyes website.

It's quite good looking, don't you think?

We first met with the consumer insight specialists at CE many months ago and found an innovative company who had clearly outgrown their small Flash website and needed help streamlining a disparate set of web properties.

So, we got to work in close collaboration with the CE team to redesign and reimagine what the Consumer Eyes user experience would be.

Fortunately, the CE gang is sharp and motivated and there was no shortage of content.

This is what we came up with:

Gotta look good now, and a year from now - Jim's barcode design is a timeless classic. Throw in some of Steve's special JavaScript sauce and this HTML website jumps to life.
CMS platform needs to be expandable, modular and user friendly - No programmers, no problem. We built the site using Drupal and a quick tutorial got CE up and running.
Manage an expert video library - YouTube!
Integrate blog and social media - We picked up their WordPress blog content and moved it to the new site for easy management and a seamless user experience. Ever wonder what deep-fried butter on a stick from the Iowa State Fair tastes like? You got it – right on the site.
Take the show on the road - We built the site with a variety of screen sizes in mind to ensure no users are left behind, including those with iPads. We also created a mobile theme for mobile devices.
Did I mention eye candy? - Make that a double of Steve's special sauce. There's plenty of interactive goodness sprinkled throughout to dynamically illustrate innovation at work.

Check it out and don't forget to snap the QR contact code to add Consumer eyes to your contacts!

Consumer Eyes Website

Dolphin Tale Movie Strikes Box Office Gold - We Knew Winter When...

2011-09-26T11:35:00.004-04:00

So, looks like our favorite bionic dolphin, Winter, is giving Brad Pitt a run for his money according to the weekend box office report.

Dolphin Tale, the feel good hit of the Fall, is just behind Moneyball in a photo finish, pulling in over $20 million and earning a top three spot.

Not bad for a little dolphin from Clearwater, Florida.

We were introduced to Winter and his remarkable story a couple of years ago when we made the Winter's Tail website for Turtle Pond Publications in support of the book.

Not surprisingly, the site is seeing a nice traffic spike with the movie's success.

Always nice to see a highly evolved marine mammal with a bionic tail make good.

Check Out Winter's Tail

New Shake-a-Phrase v.1.1 Sports Update and Featured iTunes App!

2011-08-25T12:39:00.001-04:00

Hey, Shake-a-Phrase is featured again in iTunes as a Back to School "Write Away" App!

And that's not all...

Not one to sit idly on the sidelines, we decided to shake up our popular Shake-a-Phrase app with an all new Sports theme, adding over 350 new vocabulary words and a custom dictionary to the mix.

And there's more...

Our team of content editors analyzed the feedback we've received over the last few months and scrutinized each and every vocabulary word and definition - that's over 2,000 total words, to shape and refine the best possible user experience for all five themes.

In short, it's a much better Shake.

The update is free if you already have Shake-a-Phrase and if you don't, I'll let you in on a little secret - you can get the entire app tomorrow, 8/26, for FREE as part of a special Moms With Apps one day promo.

How can we afford to do all of this free stuff you ask?

Well, it's all part of the master Artgig Apps brand building plan.

We'll make the great apps but we need you to spread the word.

All we ask is that you tell us what you think of the app - leave us an App Store review, like us on Facebook, give us a shout on Twitter - and tell your friends!

We've got another kids educational app planned for the Fall so stay tuned...

And keep it shakin'...

Get Shake-a-Phrase!

Shake-a-Phrase App Featured in iTunes App Store!

2011-07-25T15:18:00.000-04:00

See that big "Apps For Learning To Write" banner splashed on the App Store front page?
If you click it, you'll see Shake-a-Phrase featured in the "Storytelling" apps!
I have another Apple story that isn't so happy and feel-goody but I'm going to let that one settle a bit before I mouth off.
Good vibes, good vibes...

Gone Fishin'

2011-07-14T14:13:00.000-04:00

Busy summer – lots on the way.
Will get back to the blog with updates soon.
Until then, cast your line and just chill...

Our Shake-a-Phrase App is an App Store "Staff Favorite!"

2011-06-13T13:55:00.000-04:00

How about them apples?

JFK50.org: Not Just Sexy – Crazy Sexy

2011-05-23T10:22:00.000-04:00

Very pleased to find out last night that JFK50.org won a Gold MUSE Award in the Education/Outreach category from the American Association of Museums. Not only that, one of the judges called the website "crazy sexy."

If you got it, flaunt it, I always say.

Read all about it here.

Now we need to go get a mantle...

Shake-a-Phrase – A Good Day in the App Store!

2011-05-20T16:57:00.004-04:00

This is what a good day in the App Store looks like.

We ran a special App Friday price promo with our friends at Moms With Apps and dropped some press with heavy @artgigapps Twitter support this AM and watched Shake shoot up the Education charts!

We used appFigures analytics for live rankings updates and watching the top charts on our devices...and Shake...just...kept...going.

Really awesome.

Shake-a-Phrase App Store rankings as of 4pm today:

#9 - iPad paid Education apps
#22 - iPhone paid Education
Top 200 - Overall paid iPad apps!

Thinking we may just let the good times shake right through the weekend!

Get Shake-a-Phrase now for only .99!

Shake-a-Phrase: Live in the App Store!

2011-05-13T15:30:00.000-04:00

Shake went live in the App Store last night and the early reviews started flowing in this morning:

"The New Must Have Fun English Language and Vocabulary App"

–Fun Educational Apps (full review)

And Andrea at Applicable2U shares thoughts on using Shake in the classroom:

"As Shake-a-Phrase is integrated, sentences become more than just words, they become a visualization of a writers ideas."

–Applicable2U (full review)

Not bad.

Go ahead...

Shake it up.

Shake-a-Phrase is available now on the iTunes App Store

Kaplan Workout is Live for Your iPad Viewing Pleasure!

2011-05-11T15:30:00.000-04:00

If you're looking to kill some time while you're waiting for our next killer app, Shake-a-Phrase, to clear App Store review, why don't you fire up your iPad with the brand-spanking new Kaplan 20 Minute Workout iPad Edition!

Train your brain for the LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, GRE, DAT, OAT and PCAT exams and show off your cerebrum on the leaderboard!

Go on, get smart!

Kaplan Workout for iPad

Shake-a-Phrase Waiting for App Store Review...

2011-05-11T15:11:00.000-04:00

We submitted Shake on Friday.
It's not unusual for review to take a week or so, but it doesn't make the waiting any easier.
Here's a video teaser to pass the time...

Facebook: Apps, Ads, & Adventures in Privacy

2011-05-04T09:19:00.002-04:00

Part 2 (of 2)

Jim Bail continues his mission to set up Artgig Facebook business pages and finds it all a little revealing...

Apps:

Who doesn't want a more social experience? That's what FB is all about isn't it? So does this mean that with the default share settings I don't have to do a thing and that shady Estonian warez site that my 13 year old cousin likes to download pirated games from has access to a good chunk of this info? At least they won't know that I'm a Wiccan who is interested in lemur farming. Thank Goddess for that.

Speaking of lemurs...look at what that wholesome PBS Nature app can access after you blithely click “Allow” to view their app – which of course is what 99% of us have become conditioned to do.

Ads:

I love this one. In the future, my friends may see ads with my picture in them. Can't wait for my mother-in-law to see my smiling face in that Valtrex ad a year from now. At least my secret's safe for now.

It depends on what the definition of “is” is:

From Facebook's developer blog: “Facebook has never sold and will never sell user information."

I found it a little interesting that a couple of days after I set up our Facebook pages I started seeing ads for fishing gear appear when I viewed our pages. I had in fact looked at some fishing gear during that time, but not on any FB pages.

I guess serving up targeted ads that companies pay for based on your surfing habits along with who knows what other information from your actual profile (and probably your friends' too) doesn't qualify as selling user information since the ad buyers technically don't know who you are.

Facebook isn't alone in doing this little tap dance around your privacy, plenty of other sites do it as well, but to me it's kind of like saying “we won't divulge your home address to anyone” and then telling the interested party that you “...live in a raised ranch at an undisclosed location between 444 and 448 Main St. and we'll be happy to erect a blazing neon sign with your exciting marketing message directly across the street from said house (who's owner, by the way, is interested in refinancing, according to our data) for a small fee”.

So what was the end result of my little Facebook adventure? I don't think I really discovered anything earth shattering. It was more about seeing first hand how difficult if not impossible it is to manage who sees your profile information. Of course choosing not to share any information at all defeats the purpose of being on Facebook in the first place, but ours was an unusual case.

What was surprising was how many hoops I had to jump through to ostensibly lock things down. I'm still not confident that I was completely successful, but for our purposes it was good enough.

Having gone through this exercise, I can't help feeling, as others have pointed out, that Facebook's user interface appears intentionally convoluted and granular to the point of being burdensome when it comes to matters of controlling who sees your data. Settings are a chore to change, if not outright buried. I found myself mumbling “those sneaky bastards...” more than once.

I guess in the end it's a Faustian bargain. If you really must know what your high school chemistry lab partner had for dinner on day three of her Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas, then be prepared for the world to know the truth – that you're not being ironic when you say you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.

This is Jim Bail, signing off.

Face Off With Facebook on Business Pages and Privacy

2011-04-28T12:11:00.000-04:00

We coaxed our very own Jim Bail from the comforts of his warm and cozy cave and challenged him to create some Facebook business pages for us. This is his story...

Part 1 (of 2)

I recently spent some time setting up Facebook pages for Artgig and Artgig Apps. Although our original profile predates (I think) Facebook's policy, I discovered that it's an official no-no to set up your company as you would a personal profile. Facebook has “Pages” for that. Being one of the seven non-Facebook users on the planet, it turned out to be an interesting endeavor for me.

As part of the process, I needed to hide our long neglected personal profile. We still do use it from time to time for app development, so despite the fact that the content has little to do with Artgig proper, we needed to keep it around. We have some pretty interesting and entertaining friends, but unfortunately their updates don't make great fodder for a company presence aimed at marketing...so sorry, but you won't be seeing the breaking news on our wall when the Auto-Tune remix of Crazy Badass Honey Badger drops.

Setting up pages was a somewhat confusing process in of itself, which I won't detail here. But for those thinking of setting up a company page, I'll save you 10 minutes of searching for where to do it because it's not obvious: set up Facebook Pages

Once our company pages were in place ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/Artgig-Studio/176154829099838 and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Artgig-Apps/183056311741030?ref=ts ) I turned my attention to hiding our original profile. That's where things really got interesting.

General Privacy Settings – Fine Grained Fun:

There are about 20 individual privacy settings available and no way to bulk update them aside from reverting back to Facebook's recommended settings. And it gets better. Not only do you have to set them all one by one, but opting not to share a particular item with anyone requires an extra step, as it's a custom setting. So with a few exceptions, setting each item requires going through two sets of drop down menus to turn sharing off completely i.e. 5 clicks per item. The end result is that 70+ clicks are required to turn off all sharing in your basic privacy settings. Of course you're probably still sharing all kinds of info despite all of that...

Stay Tuned for Part 2: Apps, Ads and Adventure...

Water Safety Games for Home Safety Council

2011-04-25T13:44:00.001-04:00

This summer, teach preschool kids to stay safe around pools and water with our just-launched water safety game, Get Wet! or Not Yet!:

Play Get Wet! or Not Yet! on the Home Safety Council website

We also made an interactive activity for parents and caregivers to polish their water safety badges:

Water Safety Search on the Home Safety Council website

It's never too soon to teach safety so pack a towel and get started!

Introducing...Artgig Apps

2011-04-20T11:22:00.000-04:00

Do you smell it?

Exhale...

Ah yes, it's the double pleasure of new logo and new website smell.

Allow me to introduce you to our new website, artgigapps.com.

Artgig Apps represents Artgig's commitment to mobile app development and we're really excited by the possibilities for custom development and expanding what we can offer our clients.

The site launches with the recent release of "Being Benny," a children's book app, and "Shake-a-Phrase," a fun language app for kids that is presently in Beta testing.

Coming from a background of educational game development, stretching way back to the good old days of Sunburst Technology, the educational kids apps are obviously a good fit for us.

And most importantly, we like doing it.

And if you're going to bust your ass doing something, it's really best if you like it.

So stay tuned - we've got plenty more up our sleeves and we're feeling inspired to do all kinds of cool things.

Oh, and please take a moment to check out Artgig Apps on Twitter and Facebook – that's where we'll post reviews, news and other insights into the fast paced, high octane world of app development.

Thanks!

And enjoy.

Check out artgigapps.com

@artgigapps on Twitter

Facebook, if that's your thing

JFK50.org – History Right Now!

2011-04-13T14:15:00.000-04:00

You may recall we initially launched the JFK50.org site with a concept of select time-released events unlocking in "real time" on an interactive timeline in the History Now section.

Well, forget that.

We talked to the JFK Library and we all agree, the events are too important and too interesting and well, too cool, to hide from first time visitors and we all know how important it is to be "sticky" when you've got a content rich website.

So we just unlocked everything on the timeline.

Check out the 13 nail-biting days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, presented as an interactive graphic novel.
Or get a jump on the Bay of Pigs, with the anniversary coming up this weekend.

Remember you can dive in to individual cells to immerse yourself in the day and navigate frame-by-frame through the story.

We hope you like it.

Check out History Now at JFK50.org!

Artgig and Benny App in the News!

2011-04-06T15:41:00.001-04:00

"Local Artists Create Digital Fun for Kids"

And the Benny story continues.
Had a nice sit down with Benny author/illustrator and Artgig pal, Dan Wetzel, and Lisa Buchman from the Bedford-Katonah Patch yesterday to talk apps.

Read all about it here.

Benny Lives! Available now in the App Store...

2011-03-17T14:14:00.001-04:00

Live - from the Apple App Store, it's "Being Benny" for iPad and iPhone.
Yessir, feeling pretty good today about winning the appeal.

Check it out:

Being Benny book app available now in the

iTunes App Store!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the App Store...

2011-03-10T09:30:00.002-05:00

Benny rejected!

Why? Well, apparently Apple found the "Being Benny" app is "primarily a book" and therefore not appropriate for the App Store.

Umm...yeah, that's why it was submitted to the "Books" app category.

It seems Apple recently started directing some book apps to the iBookstore which uses the ePub platform, while continuing to allow others into the App Store.

The author of "Being Benny," Dan Wetzel, originally came to us because the ePub platform wasn't really suited for a graphics intensive interactive children's book application.

So we're scratching our heads a bit.

I don't want to say much else right now while awaiting Apple's verdict on appeal, but we're determined to free Benny and make it right.

Unfortunately, we're not the only developers blindsided by the shifting policy of the mysterious App Store approval process – you can read for yourself:

Apple rejecting non-interactive book apps

Artgig Gunners...

2011-03-08T10:30:00.000-05:00

That's a hat trick – Artgig, Apple & Arsenal, all in one post.

Set your alarms - JFK50.org - The Peace Corps

2011-02-28T10:50:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is March 1, 1961 on the JFK50.org website and you can get a look at the graphic novel treatment of Kennedy's push for the Peace Corps in History Now when the event opens on the timeline. For an an extra layer of rich interactive goodness, you can also dive into individual frames to get more story and media.

The Monkey Sleeps With the Fishes

2011-02-24T11:13:00.000-05:00

By Artgig:

Check out the full size masterpiece and make your own at the Draw and Fold Over website

"Being Benny" Children's Book App Coming Soon...

2011-02-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

So, we’ve been working on some apps.

The first to release this year is “Being Benny,” a children’s book app based on the story from our good friend Dan Wetzel at Purple Sneakers Studio. We know Dan from way back in the Sunburst Technology days when we were making educational games for Houghton Mifflin. He’s a good friend and a very talented illustrator/animator and all-around creative.

When we found out Dan had written and illustrated his own book we applauded him. Sure, it’s easy to dream of writing a book but to actually sit down and craft an entertaining story and illustrate it, is no small feat. Once we got Benny in our hands, it wasn’t long before we were talking about making the leap from the page to the touchscreen.

The app is in Beta testing now and should hit the Apple App Store for iPads and iPhones in the next month or so.

Stay Tuned...

Being Benny is currently available in paperback or hardcover at the Purple Sneakers Store.

Jimmy Fallon JFK50.org Spots

2011-02-11T09:32:00.000-05:00

Pretty cool - Jimmy Fallon did some spots pumping up the JFK50 site.

JFK 50th Anniversary Website - Part 3

2011-02-03T10:44:00.001-05:00

JFK50 - Legacy Gallery and Beyond...

(Part 3 of 3)

Back to those killer videos... JFK was a media-savvy guy and he embraced all platforms of communication. You can see it in the televised addresses, radio speeches, photographs and films of everything he did, and how he made all this media available to as many people as possible. So we went out of our way to incorporate as much video and audio as we could. In addition to the JFK historical media, there is a growing library of videos in the Legacy Gallery that show how the JFK legacy has affected the lives and work of people today, ranging from Matt Damon and Wynton Marsalis to Stephen Colbert and Nancy Pelosi.

And finally, there is a Downloads and Resources section of the website, making themed content available to students and teachers for use in personal or classroom projects.

JFK seized the hearts and minds of America and inspired a nation to form a community focused on change. Since we launched the site on Jan 20th - the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s inauguration speech, I’ve talked to a number of clients, friends, and family, who were there in the 60’s - and the site is clearly stirring memories and emotions. That is impressive. What would really be impressive is if we can achieve our goal, and inspire a younger generation to carry the torch. Who knows? Maybe a future president is looking at History Now, right now.

JFK50.org

JFK 50th Anniversary Website - Part 2

2011-01-31T13:49:00.001-05:00

JFK50 - History Now

(Part 2 of 3)

Working with ESI Design is always a great experience, and working for the JFK Library and Museum in Boston has been a pleasure. Their vision was to bring the life and times of President Kennedy to not only the generation that remembers him, but to engage the new generation of kids who know his name, but maybe not so much about his passion and ideas for a better world. Working for kids is one of our favorite things to do, and we wanted to make history speak in a contemporary language. And so the History Now section of the site was born - transforming formerly dry, colorless information into a graphic novel styled panorama. The timeline is peppered with major events taking place during the three years of the Kennedy presidency, like JFK’s inauguration and the Bay of Pigs invasion, that unfold on the same date they occurred 50 years ago. It's our own version of a time machine. And we think it’s pretty cool.

Next up, Legacy Gallery...

jfk50.org

JFK 50th Anniversary Website - Part 1

2011-01-27T10:57:00.001-05:00

JFK50 - Something for Everyone

(Part 1 of 3)

The final days leading to a major launch are always nerve-wracking, but after some last-gasp coding heroics by super Steve, the site is live and we're all feeling pretty good about it. This project was another herculean team effort, featuring the combined forces of Artgig and ESI Design, along with the crack video crew at Ager Meillier Films.

The jfk50 site is a ground-breaker for us. If you've been keeping up with the iOS vs Flash war raging on the internet and here in my blog, you will have seen that at this moment in the constantly evolving primordial internet soup, it's a complicated and excessive task to make a media-rich, interactive site accessible to every person on every kind of device. But that's just what we've managed to pull off, and we've done it in a way that we hope is both transparent and intuitive. On your computer you can view the site in all of its Flash goodness, or default to HTML for accessibility. On mobile devices and the iPad you'll get all of the media delivered in a friendly lightweight HTML5 presentation. It sounds easy but video was the giant uncooperative gorilla in the room, because once you get away from the standard Flash player - there are no standards. So you better triple your time for testing and tweaking to get it right.

Next week - History Now...

jfk50.org

JFK 50th Anniversary Website

2011-01-25T11:23:00.000-05:00

Launched!

jfk50.org

Really proud of this - stay tuned for the story.

2011 - Apps, Apps, Apps!

2010-12-22T13:26:00.002-05:00

No doubt 2010 was the year of the app and with the tablet market exploding, 2011 promises more of the same.

My iPhone 3G is easily my favorite machine by a long stretch but me and my iPad have endured a rocky period since the honeymoon phase of our relationship hit the fade.

But I'm happy to report a recent breakthrough has me feeling all warm and fuzzy again. It turns out I was carrying expectations from a previous relationship and putting unreasonable demands on my device, instead of starting with a clean slate. So, as part of my renewed commitment to my sleek, sexy tablet, I've been spending more time in apps because that is after all, what makes the iPad special.

So what apps am I packing and how do I rate them?
I'll pick five from my collection that go beyond the standards:

Hipstamatic - Best $1.99 ever spent. I love this camera app. It's not perfect - I often have to take several shots before actually developing one, but the retro effects, edges and filters make virtually every shot a keeper. And you can upgrade to different filter packs to expand your photographic arsenal. Snapped above of Jim and Steve at Union Square yesterday in between meetings.

Dragon Dictation - This free transcription app is almost perfect but I'll forgive it, because it's free. I use DD almost daily to capture my thoughts and daily prep on my morning drive. Part of the fun is trying to figure out what the hell I was saying in the first place, but that's what you get for free. Did I mention that it's free? Here's my transcript from this morning straight out of the app:
Alright new blog post adds adds adds to try this again Dragon dictation keeps breaking up is that shot of Jim and Steve crossing the street in between meetings at Union Square yesterday to talk up my apple beer for tonight is by its inconsistency it still gives you great shots virtually every time with the various filters check it would be Dragon dictation hello jacking up today it's a lot of fun and very easy-to-use on the go to jot down quick notes send text e-mails etc. on third Avenue

Twitter for iPhone/Twitterific for iPad - Need my tweets. Both are free. Both are good.

Cor.kz - I've been using this wine inventory/database app quite a bit lately. I'm no wine snob, I just happen to know some enthusiasts who leave behind bottles at my house and I figured it would be useful to get better acquainted with my collection and keep stock of inventory. The app acts as a tidy front-end for the online Cellartracker database with info on over 750,000 bottles of wine. The integration is a little clunky because you need to toggle between Cor.kz and CellarTracker in order to get the full range of features and functions, but I'm finding I can do the basic inventory and find out what bottles are up for drinking without leaving the app. I did send a question to Cor.kz and received a speedy response, which counts for a lot in my book. Cor.kz will set you back $3.99.

Trucks and Skulls/X2 Football 2010 - What app list would be complete without some mention of games? If you ask me, Trucks and Skulls for .99 is a great way to kill 10 or 15 minutes. From the site: "This is the physics puzzler you've been waiting for! Smash NITRO-BURNING MONSTER TRUCKS into piles of GIANT SKULLS!" Need I say more? But If you ask my five-year-old son, he'd probably say X2 Football takes the prize because he's becoming more of a soccer nut than I am. I can't tell you how many times this free lite version of the game has come to the rescue in impatient waiting circumstances.

And some others worth mention:

The new CNN app is gorgeous, Atomic Lite browser is better than Safari, Speak it! is a text-to-speech app I purchased by accident but it actually does a pretty good job of reading - and, you can do it with a British accent, Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin - 3D Interactive Pop-up Book is awesome, Kids Jokes for $1.99 is a total rip-off.

And stay tuned - we've got some apps of our own in the works for release in early 2011. That's right - Artgig makes apps.

Happy Holidays.

Hey Apple, Where's My Peach Cobbler?

2010-11-11T12:52:00.000-05:00

I happen to like peach cobbler - a lot.
I’m not sure how this love affair began, but it started with a perfect peach cobbler on one occasion many years ago and I’ve been chasing the high ever since.
Unfortunately, it’s much easier to find bad, overly-sweetened, careless cobbler than it is the delicious pinnacle of desserts I recall and crave.
So the other day, out of the blue, my wife announces she’s making me peach cobbler - “tomorrow."She says.
She even had the peaches to prove it.
But tomorrow arrived, and as the day wore on, I sensed a change in the winds - plans were shifting as they so often do in the harsh light of reality.
Unfortunately, she had timed her cobbler announcement with our nephew’s birthday party, for which she was already baking cupcakes and brownies.
I knew there was going to be no cobbler before the official announcement came.
I was told to eat cupcakes and that was it.
I also knew that with each passing minute, the likelihood of the cobbler happening at all was more and more likely a fleeting fantasy.
After all, it was a busy weekend with kids and there’s only so much time for dessert baking splurges.
I didn’t say a word.
The weekend was over - cobbler-less.
On Monday, upon arriving home from work, she shocked me - “I’m making you your cobbler tonight.” she announced.
After dinner she set about the making and baking of my succulent surprise as I played with the kids in the other room.
And then I heard it.
A baker’s groan from the kitchen.
And another one - louder, in case I hadn’t heard the first.
“These peaches are bad.”
And that was it.
The end.
In response to this abrupt dashing of dreams, I said to my wife “The only thing worse than no peach cobbler at all, is someone promising you peach cobbler and not delivering.”

And that’s kind of how I feel about Apple and my iPad.
I mean, Apple definitely got further with the iPad than my wife did with the cobbler.
The iPad is a wonderfully intuitive and sexy device - most of the time.
But what I expected (and what I feel Apple led me to believe I was getting), and what I got, are two different things.
IOS 4.2 is rumored to launch tomorrow and that should resolve some of the clunkiness, enabling basic functions like multitasking and printing.
And I’m not going to get started on Flash because it’s not going to happen - and I knew that when I purchased (but I’d still rather have the option to run Flash or not, instead of stumbling upon gaping content potholes when browsing the web).
But Flash aside, I find web browsing and emailing, and most other basic tasks (even navigating the App store) are just not as easy as they they are on my two-year-old, big, heavy, unsexy MacBook.
The iPad seems, well, really good at apps, if that’s your thing.
And there’s no question it’s a fantastic tool for kids with endless possibilities for education and entertainment.
It’s not bad.
But I expect better from Apple.
I expected the iPad would be a MacBook killer for me.
And I welcomed it.
I wanted it.
The iPad is the perfect size to cozy up with in bed - like a good book.
The MacBook in bed? Please. Only if I’ve had too much to drink.
But lately, I find me and my wife are reaching for the MacBook and not the iPad - even in bed.
When it comes down to getting content and getting things done, it’s just easier to do it on the MacBook.

I love Apple.
I just want my peach cobbler.

Artgig Concert Report: The Dead Weather - Prospect Park, BK

2010-08-05T15:47:00.001-04:00

We shut up shop early Tuesday to brave the BQE, landing in Prospect Park only moments before The Dead Weather hit the stage for a Celebrate Brooklyn benefit concert.
And when Jack White appeared, blow torch in hand, on a perfect summer's eve, we snatched our frosty beverages from the Watering Hole and melded into the buzzing crowd.
From that moment on, we were transported in an experience described afterward by our honorary Artgigger, Nick, as "soul cleansing."
Yeah, soul cleansing with a blow torch - that about sums up the good old-fashioned rock concert The Dead Weather threw down - hustling, cussing and stomping through the night.
When it was over and the dust settled, I was left literally stunned.
That was The Dead Weather.

Read more at Brooklyn Vegan (and look who's at the top of the quotes).

iPads and iPhones and Apps - Oh My!

2010-07-15T09:30:00.003-04:00

A very good longtime friend of mine, an Art Director for a big healthcare advertising agency, stopped by a few weeks ago with his shiny new iPad. I only had a few minutes with it, mostly playing a motion-sensing snowboarding game with my son, but I was left with a clear and distinct desire to own one as soon as possible.

It should be noted, that when I met this friend almost 20 years ago, he was the only person I knew who had a Mac.

A week later, I found myself on my patio drinking a nice bottle of Prisoner red with the same friend, when he voiced his surprise/shock/disappointment that I still didn't have my own iPad - especially since my business is rooted in technology and the web. He went on to tell me how his boss had just come back from some trade show and declared the iPad to be the future of computing.

I explained to him that Apple blindsided us, and our plans for Flash app development, when they pulled the rug out from Adobe with their new developer terms.

He was unimpressed.
He went on to explain that app development is the place to be.
And how he doesn't even miss Flash since he got his iPad.
And how even the porn industry is embracing HTML5.

I explained to him that HTML5 is a nice thought and a good Flash alternative for video in some browsers, but it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the mature interactive application authoring ability, not to mention penetration (while we're talking porn) that Flash provides.

Again, the HTML5 and Flash argument is really apples and oranges.

Well, how do they make games for apps then? He asked.

Well, Apple has their own developer environment for apps called Xcode and you can get up and running with some basic functionality pretty quickly, but if you want to do something fancier and more graphics driven, like a snowboarding game, you'll need to know Objective-C programming language and OpenGL for the graphics interface.

My friend stopped looking at me like I was some kind of caveman and we finished the bottle.

The conversation shifted to a new project he was working on with a hot, happening shop, and as he was talking them up, with iPhone in hand, he naturally made a move to call up their website to show me - but stopped himself.

"I'd show you their website...but it's in Flash."

To be continued...

Artgig Launches IWPR International News Website

2010-06-02T13:39:00.000-04:00

After over three months of around-the-clock-effort from an international development team lead by Jim here in Pleasantville and Tarrant Marshall in Australia for Artgig, along with our friends at ESI Design in Manhattan and the Institute of War and Peace Reporting team in London, we are extremely pleased to announce the launch of the new IWPR corporate news website. ESI had been working on this project for over a year when they brought us in and handed off a 70-plus page design spec for production.

We knew the three-month timeline was aggressive, especially considering there were other development teams in the mix working on ancillary components, but in typical Jim fashion, he didn't even blink - he just rolled up his sleeves and got to work with Tarrant in a routine that involved few breaks for air and lots of Skyping.

Amongst the many virtues of the new Drupal site aside from the new look, is easier, faster access to uploading and editing news and articles from not only everywhere in the world but everyone, including journalists in the field - and they can do it in any language they choose. It’s a picture of democracy blooming not only in struggling nations, but in journalism itself. And the open source platform will allow IWPR to continue and expand their work long after we've gone.

It's a difficult concept for westerners, because we're used to standing up and being heard, regardless of what we have to say. Or despite what we have to say, in most cases, and we don’t even have to stand up. Free speech is a luxury we take for granted. IWPR mentors communities for whom this concept is new and often dangerous, with services, equipment and this new website. They teach, encourage, support and disseminate.

But the beautiful part is the greater transparency of the entire process, which is in fact the main purpose of the organization, and indeed of journalism in any form. Every new iteration of the site allows more small voices a megaphone, brings more stories by the people to the people, cultivates understanding and empathy, and along the way enlightens us all and prompts action in the name of justice. Now that's a website to be proud of.

Check it out:

iwpr.net

From the Trenches: Apple vs Flash Part 3

2010-05-25T15:52:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, May 25th 1547 hours

Just when it appeared Apple had Adobe Flash cornered, Google enters the fray.

Last week Google unveiled Google TV at their developer conference and joining Google's VP of Engineering, Vic Gundotra, on stage in support of the platform were some other tech heavy hitters: Sony boss Sir Howard Stringer, Intel's Paul Otellini, Best Buy's Brian Dunn, and Adobe's chief executive, Shantanu Narayen.

That's right, Google is going full steam ahead with Flash on their mobile Android platform, their Chrome browser which just graduated from Beta, and now coming soon to a TV near you - Google TV.

Attempts at a blended TV/web interactive experience using your television are usually half-baked and clunky but Google aims to change that with the Intel Atom chip to deliver fluid browsing, content, apps and games - all from your remote.

It will also be interesting to see how Google incorporates the power of its powerful speech recognition software.

Our embedded operative and Android tester, Jim Bail, who watched some of the conference webcast, reports the Google gang stuck a big bullseye on Steve Jobs and Apple, calling out comparisons to Big Brother and warning of a Draconian future.

Now let me go search Google for images that include the terms "trench, war, and television."

Stay tuned...

From the Trenches: Apple vs Flash Part 2

2010-05-20T10:03:00.001-04:00

Thursday, May 20th 0956 hours

The big thing that everyone is missing in this Flash War is the fact that Flash is not just video.
Sure, it's the preferred platform of the moment because practically everyone has Flash and can run it in their browser the same as the next.
But if HTML5 or some other technology bumps Flash from its web video throne, Flash will still be the only competent authoring tool for interactivity and animation on the web.
Sure, we've all learned that big splashy Flash intros are bad.
And we all know that what most people want on the web is content and they want to get it quickly without jumping through hoops.
But do you really want to eat chicken every single day?
What about the one day out of the week when you want to change things up, to try something different? To use your imagination?
How else are we to achieve the seamless cinematic quality of a big beautiful Flash site produced in capable and creative hands?
Or a game?
Club Penguin anyone?
Farmville?
Do you think it can be done in HTML5?
Have you seen the amazing "look what I did in HTML5" animations floating around?
They stink.
According to a 2009 Quantcast study, mobile web is less than 1.5% of all web browsing in the US - and that includes the iPhone, iPod Touch and every other mobile device you can think of.
Mobile computing is clearly on the rise, and the iPad will likely add to Apple's mobile share but we're not talking total domination here - not by a long shot.

It's a safe bet that the remaining 98-point-something percent of web users will not abandon their Flash-enabled browsing experience anytime soon.

Flash is safe...for now.

From the Trenches: Apple vs Flash Part 1

2010-05-18T16:00:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, May 18th 1539 hours

It's true what they say, war really is hell.
I'm torn in this battle, like the kid in a divorce.
I grew up using Apple and Adobe products.
Once upon a time, before Adobe acquired Macromedia and a little web animation program called Flash, Apple and Adobe were like peanut butter and jelly for creatives–they just went together.
No more.
I love Apple, but make no mistake, Steve Jobs wants to control the web the same way he controls his products, because that's how he controls the user experience and that's how Apple makes money.
Adobe is no better, they've been charging ridiculous amounts of money for their software and forcing paid upgrades every year or so with seemingly little regard for their loyal customers.
Why? Because they can.
A quick check of the Adobe website, has the Creative Suite 5 Web Premium going for almost $2,000.
That's 2,000 bucks to get started with what is considered the essential, industry-standard software suite.
Instead of bickering, Adobe should step back and take a hard look at themselves and admit they've been riding the gravy train for too long.
They should seize this moment as an opportunity to improve their products, lower prices, connect with their customers and take advantage of their market position.
Everyone already has Flash.
It's much tougher to get people to change.
Make better, cheaper products and treat your customers with respect.
We'll all be happier in the end.
Or keep digging in your heels and wait for someone else to step in and do it.

New Turtle Pond VideoMaker Launches!

2010-05-07T11:55:00.002-04:00

Now you can make a custom video mashup using video clips, text, and music, from the entire Turtle Pond library, featuring Owen and Mzee, Miza, and Winter!
Registered users can save their creations and share them with friends.
The new Videomaker is available at winterstail.com, miza.com and owenandmzee.com – just click on the VideoMaker icon and unleash your inner Kubrick.

Hot Stuff - Safety Games For Kids

2010-05-04T14:06:00.000-04:00

When the educational company we all used to work for finally went belly-up amid corporate downsizing and synergizing, we kind of thought learning through game play went with it. Not so, as it turns out.

We just finished a set of games for Weekly Reader on behalf of their client, the Home Safety Council. Forget those posters and washed out videos you had when you were a little kid – now Pre-K and K kids learn about home safety through the magic of games.

Two dalmatian puppies, Wiggle and Giggle, bring basic, important home safety tips to life in four animated games involving sorting, dress-ups, mazes and puzzles. Good fun, and good for you.

Play HSC Games

Weekly Reader Global Warming E-Issue Launches

2010-04-26T11:23:00.000-04:00

Did you know Antarctica is classified as a desert because it receives less than 10 inches of precipitation in a year?

Weekly Reader Month continues as we launch "A Matter of Degrees," an electronic issue of the Weekly Reader Current Science magazine. Designed as a teaching aid, it illustrates the history, causes and impact of global warming - and what we can do about it.

The horizontal-scrolling Flash website we built featuring our custom Content Management System allows Weekly Reader editors complete control over almost all the content on the site. This was invaluable to both Artgig and Weekly Reader – we didn’t have to make all the small changes, and they could perfect to their heart’s content. Especially since there isn’t just one editor in the WR newsroom; there are many, ranging from science to pedagogical specialists, along with art directors and project managers from all departments.

The media-rich site features images, videos and interactive animations to demonstrate concepts, and the text instruction is multi-leveled; as much or as little info as you require.

Section quizzes reinforce learning along with a Sci-Triv game.

Go on try it – are you smarter than a fifth grader?

Global Warming E-Issue

Kick Grass! A Green Game For Earth Day

2010-04-21T09:30:00.001-04:00

Who wouldn’t want to save the world alongside a cartoon dog named TurfMutt?
And what better way to introduce kids to the idea of greening up to save the planet?

We just launched another Weekly Reader game – this time for their client, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI).

Using the art and branding from a poster Weekly Reader created for OPEI, we created an awesome four-level platform game for kids aged 8-10. Keyboard controls move TurfMutt around the screen to collect all nine grass seed packets, meanwhile avoiding the bad guys and their obstacles: Heat Freak’s hot-spots, Dr. Runoff’s mudballs, Dust Demon’s dusty whirlwinds, and Carbon Creep’s smog. Collect all the seed packets and the environment is saved! TurfMutt can enjoy his doggy green paradise.

We built this game on the engine we used for our Holiday Card last year – a few adjustments, a new skin, and presto! TurfMutt, the Environmental Avenger, is born.

Play TurfMutt!

Artgig and Chris Tarry Win a Webby!

2010-04-14T10:45:00.004-04:00

Congratulations all around.

You may have noticed I can’t go very long without bringing up Chris Tarry. Mainly because he’s about the coolest dude we know. When we first met him we just liked him because he’s funny, and a fantastic musician. Then we liked him because he never stopped thinking about how to make his music better, and he brought us along for the ride. Then we liked him because he’s not just a great musician, he’s also a writer! Who knew? Then we were amazed because he won’t let things grow old and forgotten – he’s constantly upping the ante, using new ideas and techniques without fear. Today, it's no surprise his never ending quest for website domination has earned one of the highest industry awards – the Webby Official Honoree.

With all of this history between us, we thought it would be fun to look back at the evolution of christarry.com. So here it is – the official Tarry Timeline, so far…

Oct, 2007 - Unhappy with his website, Chris spots a little Artgig site credit on Dave Binney's site - he picks up the phone...

Nov, 2007 - We do a bunch of designs

Dec, 2007 - The new Christarry.com site launches

July, 2008 - Add downloads from a voucher

Dec, 2008 - Gifts for everyone and Radiohead "pay what you want" feature

Mar, 2009 - Endorsements

April 2009 - Not just a bassist and composer anymore

April 2009 - Needs a blog for all the writing

Sep, 2009 - And then, of course, a book (which needs a website)

Dec, 2010 - New Home page and - "I was thinking we should enter the Webbys..."

Yesterday - Polish it off with the biggest and best award on the web...

Artgig - The Week In Pictures

2010-04-12T12:42:00.001-04:00

Bad, bad, blogger.
I assure you the lack of posts is not due to laziness - actually, quite the opposite is true.
We've been very busy, working under a cloak of secrecy on various projects over the last couple of months with many launching, or about to, as I type.
Do you hear that?
It's the sound of the floodgates opening for lots of blogging with plenty to talk about.
Until then, here's a little sneak peek behind the scenes at Artgig last week to whet your appetite.
It was a week that trumpeted the welcome arrival of wonderful Spring here in Pleasantville, with the flowers in full bloom, the bees as big as small birds out and about, and a Barcelona beating for Arsenal in the Champion's League that drove us to drink.

Enjoy!

MUSE LIVE NYC

2010-03-07T23:56:00.010-05:00

I gotta say, I had mixed feelings going into this one.

I like Muse, but it's far from an unequivocal love - I probably skip as many songs as I listen to.

Their sound is typically big and heavy and undeniably catchy, but it too often slips into full-blown opera (think Queen)–and that's where they lose me.

On the plus side:

There are few songs better for late night driving on the West Side Highway than "Map of the Problematique."
I saw them perform on television at last year's VMA's (yes, the one hijacked by Kanye West) and I was struck by the precision and confidence of their crunchy performance.
Ever since, the buzz has been building, culminating in a glowing firsthand concert report from Artgig Australia at Big Day Out in Sydney just a couple of months ago.

So when the Garden gig was announced, I felt an immediate tug and grabbed some tickets.

If I had any doubts going into Friday night, Muse smashed them to bits with a powerhouse performance that quite simply kicked ass.

This is a band made for the big stage and they used every inch of it, up and down, to put on one hell of a big show.

See them now if you can.

You won't regret it.

ChatRoulette - Exactly What It Sounds Like

2010-02-22T12:53:00.001-05:00

It's 7:20 pm in Moscow - do you know where your children are?

As I went through my Monday drive mental checklist this morning, I stopped at one nagging item - "must nurture blog."

But this is easier said than done.
For one needs something to write about in order to write.
And I know as soon as I get into the office, I'm likely to come under heavy fire that will not let up until sometime Friday when I lock up for the night, so the opportunities for a moment of precise clarity leading to a worthy blog post are few and far between.

Needless to say, I arrived at work without a topic.
Well, I was thinking of interviewing Steve, but I'll save that for another day.

As I dove into my morning mash of news and tweets, it hit me square in the face.

Enter ChatRoulette to save the day.

What is this? I thought. Another breakthrough social web platform–and I've not heard of it.

How is it possible?

I read the New York Magazine article about a 17-year-old Russian kid who, out of boredom, built the site for random video chatting with strangers.

If you don't like what you see, all you have to do is click next to get a new stranger from somewhere else in the world - before they do it to you.

Brilliant. I thought.

Exciting. I imagined.

Gotta check this out - I did.

And what I got in my five minutes on ChatRoulette was a lot of quick images - mostly guys and most of them jerking off.

Next, next, next...

A guy, wearing a furry raccoon hat with murder in his eyes, stares back at me - next.

A woman, no that's a guy with breasts, next...

A sign - "show me your tits", next...

And then I arrived at something different - like a bad art installation.
Are those giant bags of cocaine or is it seat cushion stuffing set against an aluminum foil backdrop?

The chat started as words appeared on my screen - the stranger on the other side asked me "know what this is?"

"Clueless," I responded.

Next - the stranger disconnected.

Clueless, and happy, I thought.

Ethos CRS: e-Learning Down Under

2010-02-09T19:55:00.002-05:00

"Chas Savage," sounds like he could be a rock star or a superhero, and he may very well be that in the business of training Australian professionals to do a better job of speaking, writing and presenting in whatever business it is they do.

This time last year, Chas was running his business, Ethos CRS, from his home in Canberra and barely had a website of his own.

Today he has 20 professionals working for him in an expanding office and he's attracting the attention of top government agencies with his aim to do big things for Australia.

One of those big things is the launch of a complete e-Learning program, "From Grammar to Clear Writing," slated to go live this spring.

This, is where Ethos and Artgig intersect.

We've become perfect partners, a super duo poised to deliver on-demand learning in a series of interactive lessons to businesses and agencies who recognize good training is good business.

I like Chas, and it goes beyond my inherent soft spot for all things Aussie. Chas is smart and sharp and honest and he does what he says he's going to do and that is admirable.

And this is exactly what he said he was going to do when I met him a year ago on a Skype video call, arranged by Lis.

He just needed some help putting the "e" part in e-Learning.

So I showed him CMEpilot, our mature, proven e-Learning platform developed for continuing medical education training and certification, here in the States.

We'd always envisioned the platform as something that could be re-purposed pretty easily for other industries and to be honest, it was begging for a refresh.

Chas took one look at it and he was sold.

Of course, he has his own ideas about the form and function of his training program and that's where we begin making beautiful music together.

For starters, we threw out the standard Flash slides and talking head modules and built some really slick custom interactive engines - all in JavaScript.

And, knowing Ethos' attention to detail, we designed their course to be almost entirely content-managed so they can go in and edit the front-end to their hearts' content.

And the cherry on top? The admin dashboard allows Ethos to access all the stats involved by user and organization--who goes to the e-Learning site, certifications and user tests, and e-commerce transactions.

It's a complete system, and it works. With all the right technology behind him, Chas and his team are sure to be the U2 of business and government training in no time.

Ethos CRS Website

Monster Australian Wasp Attacks Spider!

2010-02-02T13:16:00.000-05:00

Imagine stepping out of your house in the morning, only to walk straight into this rumble on your front doorstep.
Just another day in Canberra for Lis.

Leaning heavily on our Aussie team for content as we work on several top secret projects.

Chris Tarry - Always Fresh

2010-01-29T16:49:00.002-05:00

Our favorite Canadian bassist and all-around creative force, Chris Tarry, is at it again - we just pushed the latest website update live and you should go there right now to check out a LIMITED TIME OFFER to name your price for downloads!:

Still here?

Let's continue this conversation over at Chris' site - where you can soak in the new layout and get all the news and features you can handle in one big Tarry-sized gulp.

GO!

christarry.com

Guest Blogger Concert Report: Big Day Out, Australia

2010-01-28T15:20:00.011-05:00

You say your 25 minute drive to work this morning took an hour and forty-five minutes because it was snowing?

Then you might be slightly jealous to hear it's summer in Australia.

And slightly more jealous to hear the Big Day Out music festival in Sydney rocked and you missed it.

But all is not lost.

Artgig has a team on the ground down under and our guest blogger, Hallie Bruce, has filed a report from the trenches to satisfy your craving for vicarious sensory overload.

Big Day Out - January 23rd 2010

The heat didn’t stop the masses from storming the second day of Sydney’s Big Day Out music festival and it certainly didn’t stop the bands from tearing the music scene up.
The lineup was crazy. The performances were totally awesome. The crowds were crushing. (Thankfully the heat broke halfway through the afternoon with a downpour that drenched Olympic Park.)

Karnivool, Aussie progressive rock band, belted out smooth lyrics to deep alternative guitar riffs, Hilltop Hoods rapped out their famous harmonic hip hop, and Rise Against rocked out to some bone-shaking punk rock tunes. Even Lily Allen, not my favorite, sounded great, borrowing fellow Brit Dizzee Rascall, another Big Day Out-goer, for a song or two.

An attraction frequented by my brother was the Silent Disco, which provided headphones and different music to each participant who entered an interesting throng, each dancing to a different set of tunes.

The Mars Volta for sure was a huge lure for Big Day Out crowds, and the pit was filled to the brim as they entered on stage and began their famous improvisational set, delivering an amazing hour-long show. Cedric writhed like nothing else on stage, and the improv was completely on par with--if not better than--the original tracks. It was not a gig to miss.

But by far the set that took the cake was Muse, who entered playing “Uprising”, their newest and greatest single, projected up on three split screens set up alongside the stage and accompanied by a fierce laser lights show. Although the arena was enormous and the acoustics suffered greatly for it, the power of their sound was unmistakable. Performing hits like “Time Is Running Out”, “Hysteria”, and “Starlight”, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy. But who wouldn’t be, when Matthew Bellamy and crew are standing right in front of you, serving up some of their best music? They were joined by Jet’s Nic Cester for a cover of AC/DC’s “Back In Black” in homage to Australia’s hosting of the 100th Big Day Out since Nirvana first played in 1992.

The night ended with a spectacular fireworks show, the colors and thundering explosions bringing to an end a most fantastic Big Day Out indeed.

Twenty-Ten: Welcome to the Future!

2010-01-08T16:16:00.007-05:00

I hope in all of your New Years celebrations you didn't take a big swig from a beer only to find it was someone's ashtray because that's just disgusting.

But in all likelihood, you didn't, because people don't smoke in the future.

How else do I know 2010 is officially the future?

My dad just got a shiny, new Ford with a built-in satellite radio and he's not afraid to use it.

He even called me from his cell phone yesterday to tell me he was listening to an English soccer match in the car.

Later that night, he emailed me to tell me "The Hurt Locker" is playing at Jacob Burns.

It wasn't too long ago that I got him a shiny new portable satellite radio–minus the car.

The look on his face as I extracted the tangle of radio, antenna, wires, and plug from the box said it all–I may as well have pulled a little green martian out because it was entirely alien to him and he surely wasn't about to touch it.

He was positioned squarely at the perimeter of the technology boom, sensing the shockwaves emanating from the youthful, geeky core, but still peering in safely from the outside.

No more.

My five-year-old nephew has the Disney website bookmarked on the family computer.

My four-year-old son beats my ass in Wii Tennis.

Technology is woven into the very fabric of our daily lives.

3D TV, your car reading your tweets to you on the morning drive, flexible paper-thin e-readers–oh my!

Seamless integration.

Now where's my Apple Tablet?

Looking forward to twenty-ten.

Lake Trout Concert Report

2010-01-07T22:48:00.004-05:00

The concert report has been postponed due to weather.

Here's a picture instead.

Happy Holidays - From Artgig Studio

2009-12-21T09:46:00.004-05:00

Yet another fun holiday game to keep you from doing whatever it is you should be doing right now.

Play Now!
(Hint - you can duck)

Hopefully, I'll actually get to the Lake Trout concert report sometime before next year.

Here's a bite to hold you over - LAKE TROUT KICKED ASS.

Ghosts of Artgig's Christmas Past...

2009-12-11T15:21:00.006-05:00

Time to dust off the old blog and give something back to you, our friends and clients, for the holidays are upon us.

How do I know?

Well, it's bitter cold and we've been hard at work on our 2009 Christmas card.

We're just about ready to rip of the wrappers in a frenzy of anticipation and let you have some fun with it.

But you'll have to wait (yes, you too, Mr. Tarry) because it must be properly tested by our team of Australian elves and graded for interactive goodness before it can be yours.

In the meanwhile, let's take a trip back...to the gifts we've left in Christmas past...

Who can forget this classic - a typical day at Artgig and yes, the kid can act:

Holiday Card 2005

And this heartfelt, bundle of warm wishes and fun:

Holiday Card 2007

And this - when in doubt, blow something up:

Holiday Card 2008

I try to forget the handwritten holiday cards of 2006 - still getting over the cramps.

Enjoy.

Artgig Launches 6 Flags "Wild About Reading" Website

2009-11-19T10:05:00.010-05:00

When our client, Weekly Reader, showed the Wild About Reading website to their client, Six Flags, the first comment we got back was “The site looks amazing.”

“Amazing” – that’s pretty good.

The companion website to the Six Flags Read to Succeed program (also produced by Artgig), Wild About Reading is designed to get kids excited about reading and writing while providing valuable resources to teachers and parents.

We were paired with Illustrator Sam Ward (samwardart.com) for this project and his style and natural artistic pop is really a perfect fit for the “wild” jungle theme. Add a dash (okay, more than a dash) of Artgig animation and you’ve got a website that practically leaps off the screen.

Lis took the reigns as the lead designer and animator for this project and she came up with the dynamic site navigation – why not make it like a ride?

So we did.

As the user navigates, they “ride” the vertically constructed Flash site up and down.

So the site looks cool, it’s got an inventive navigation and valuable resources. What else, you say?

The website focal point is the Theater in the Wild, featuring three original animated shorts–each in a different style:

Captain Tallnuff – Little Jenny wants to ride the Log Flume at the theme park but she’s not tall enough – as seen through the eyes of the height inspector, a wooden Pirate named Captain Tallnuff.

Incredible Critters – A game show in search of the most amazing animals.

Out of the Box – Cleaning the garage turns into a mysterious adventure for 12-year-old Max.

Artgig did everything for the shorts - complete design, animation and sound production.

The animations are designed to get kids thinking about writing and prompt them to write more about the stories.

Go ahead–check it out. Be wild:

Wild About Reading

Cue Sinatra - The New York Yankees are World Series Champs!

2009-11-05T14:09:00.005-05:00

The Yankees are World Series Champions again!

The Yanks beat the scrappy Phillies last night 7-3 on the strength of a giant performance from Godzilla himself, Hideki Matsui, to end the east coast slug fest at six games.
It's good to bring the title back to the Bronx.
Too bad we won't be at the victory parade tomorrow.

I'm only a casual fan, and to be honest, it's been a while since I've cared much about the Yankees but this Postseason at the new stadium has brought all the good times and good memories rushing back.

What New Yorker could forget the magical Yankees of the late 90's, led by their fearless manager and Harrison resident Joe Torre, winning four World Series titles in five years?

The fourth title was actually in 2000 against the Mets.
I was in the bleachers at the infamous Clemens bat-throwing game but I always forget that was a World Series game because it felt more like another Subway Series to me.

And I was there for the start of it all, in 1996 at the center of another controversy - the Jeffery Maier game. The Yankees were down in the bottom of the eighth against the Orioles when Rookie of the Year, Derek Jeter, hit a ball that made it into the stands with a little help from a 12-yr-old fan. The Yankees went on to beat the Orioles and win the World Series against the Braves. Their current manager, Joe Girardi, was the catcher back then.

I remember my first Yankees victory parade that same year.
The experience of walking up the stairs from the subway to the street above into a giant New York street party with people and confetti everywhere was fantastic!

I remember watching the '99 Yanks, at an apartment with my roommate and friends - glued to the television for three weeks in October as the Yankees steam-rolled to another title against the Braves. We had these individual player posters ripped from the Daily News and when a player wasn't hitting - we put them out in the hall until they started hitting again.

And I vaguely remember the Randy Johnson/Giambi/A-Bust years when I could care less.

But this one, the inaugural year in the new stadium, is special - again.
Rivera, Posada, Pettite, Jeter, Damon, Matsui - this one's for the old guys and old times.
Rivera at 39 is older than me!

I've grown up with these Yankees.
And along the way, we've learned some valuable lessons:

Money is no guarantee of success.
A team is built on chemistry - not individual accomplishment.
It's not easy to get to the finish line and it's even harder to win.
And if you get there, if you do reach your ultimate goal...savor it - it's not something to take for granted.

These are the lessons.

And yes, A-Rod is forgiven.

Thanks for the memories.
I get to share this one with my son.

Let's Go Yankees!

2009-10-28T13:22:00.000-04:00

Miza.com Adds to Trophy Collection...

2009-10-20T17:45:00.005-04:00

Make room in the trophy case!

Found out today Miza.com won a W3 Best in Show Award, honoring outstanding websites in the category of Environmental Awareness.

Best in Show is the highest mark of distinction, awarded only to the top 1% of all work entered.

The W3 Awards are sanctioned by the Academy of Visual Arts.

Nice!

miza.com

Introducing...

2009-10-14T10:16:00.004-04:00

Mr. and Mrs. Bail.

Quite possibly, the best wedding photo ever taken.

Congratulations Jim and Nicole!

Artgig - Swimming With the Dolphins

2009-10-05T10:21:00.006-04:00

Little known fact – when I was a kid growing up in the 70’s, I was a huge Miami Dolphins fan. This is when I was living Albany and there was no clear hometown team (Bills? I don’t think so) so I naturally went with Csonka and Griese all the way down in Miami.

Shortly after moving to Westchester my dad took me (in full Dolphins uniform) to see their hated rivals, the New York Jets, at Shea. I think I blocked the abuse from that day out of mind. All I can say is it’s a good thing I was wearing a helmet.

I may not root for the Dolphins anymore but it’s with special pleasure that I announce two games we recently wrapped for the brand new Miami Dolphins website, produced by our friends over at Crossborders in Manhattan:

Field Goal Frenzy - challenges players to kick field goals through the moving goal posts as they race the clock. There are five levels of play and the goal posts get faster with each round. Hot streaks are awarded with bonus points.

Red Zone Photo Hunt – users pick a category and race the clock, comparing two similar photos in an attempt to identify the differences. There are five rounds per game, and the clock gets faster as the user advances. Players can request a hint in a pinch.

With these games and the launch of Winter’s Tail, I think we’ve met our September marine mammal quota.

Now let’s go play some football!

Play Field Goal Frenzy

Artgig Launches Turtle Pond Website Portal

2009-09-29T10:55:00.004-04:00

When we first sat down with Craig Hatkoff and ESI Design at the Turtle Pond Tribeca offices over a year ago to discuss the Turtle Pond family of websites, miza.com, owenandmzee.com, knute.com and now winterstail.com, one thing became abundantly clear – they needed a central web location to link the family together and a general hub to broadcast news, provide resources and sell their products.

And, in keeping with Craig’s dynamic personality, it needed to be flexible so Turtle Pond could update news and events on the fly in a number of categories.

And it had to be modular and ready to expand, as the ever-growing Turtle Pond family continues to branch out in new areas of story and product development.

We think we’ve accomplished all of the above in the new Turtle Pond Website Portal.

The Classroom is awaiting some final adjustments before we open it up but the News categories are live and the Store is open for business.

Read all about it:

Turtlepond.com

Chris Tarry Includes Artgig In His Plans For World Domination!

2009-09-24T14:38:00.006-04:00

He's at it again.

Our musician-slash-author friend, Chris Tarry has gone and written a book, "The Wedding King of Vermont," and we've created a companion website to go with it.

There's no limit to the madness of Tarry–he's even gone and recorded original music in the voices of fictional characters from the book. Crazy.

Unfortunately, we can't show you the website just yet because you need a special decoder ring to get in and he's only giving the ring to hand-picked prospective publishers. So, you'll have to take my word for it, the "Wedding King of Vermont" Drupal site is dope. Or better yet, take Jim's word for it, because he's the guy laughing his ass off with Chris in the trenches.

And if you don't believe Jim, well, there's always the man himself...

"When I needed a company to invent a hilarious, easy to navigate, functional, and fictional world for my novel "The Wedding King of Vermont", I called the Website Kings of New York—Artgig. No one does it better."

–Chris Tarry

A quote that good deserves to be big.

Thanks, Chris–now go sell that book!

Mars Attacks!...Australia

2009-09-23T11:02:00.001-04:00

Lis sent these pics of the dust storm in Sydney - she says it's red all the way to Canberra.

Artgig Launches Psynergy.org Website Redesign

2009-09-21T11:27:00.006-04:00

It's always nice when our hard work finally gets to see the light of day–I'm sure the good folks at Psynergy, a California-based community living solution for individuals with psychiatric problems, will agree.

And I'm sure you'll agree this isn't your typical bare bones institutional website.

We designed the new site front to back, so Psynergy can showcase their different options for community living at three unique locations–each with specific content detailing the services offered.

This site is deep!

We made a real effort to balance all of the information in design with the generous use of images from the actual programs and properties. Believe me, Psynergy has been working hard to make sure there is no shortage of information for people seeking out community living options in the San Francisco Bay Area and California's Central Coast.

The entire site is backed by our custom CMS so Psynergy can manage their own content and update their website as needed.

Check it out:

Psynergy.org

Winterstail.com Joins Turtle Pond Family

2009-09-14T11:55:00.005-04:00

Miza.com, OwenandMzee.com and Knute.com have a new aquatic cousin–Winterstail.com, the latest website to join the Turtle Pond family.

After working on webby award winner, Miza.com with our good friends at ESI Design and Turtle Pond Publications last year, it was only natural that we dive in again when Turtle Pond laid out their plans for the companion website to the children’s book, “Winter’s Tail.”

“Winter’s Tail” is the true story of a baby dolphin who, after being seriously injured in a crab trap, learned to swim again with the help of some dedicated folks at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and a custom-made prosthetic tail. That’s right – Winter is practically a bionic dolphin.

The book and website are designed to educate and inspire adults and children alike, especially children who are amputees themselves. Interestingly, the same technology used in Winter’s Tail is also being used to develop prosthetics for Iraq war veterans.

The interactive Flash website features activities and games that include:

Interactive video maker that lets kids make audio/video mash-ups of their favorite dolphin clips
Fish pattern matching game
Ocean Jammer activity where kids combine music and elements to create underwater scenes
A live Winter webcam, videos, resources, sing-along activities and much, much more...

Of course, no Turtle Pond site launch would be complete without a big game reveal:

The Winter’s Tail game is a multi-level horizontal-scrolling game where users compete for high scores by helping Winter to navigate an ocean maze, avoiding obstacles and racing the clock to get to the whirlpool finish line.

The website is live but we’ll be updating and adding features as we go.

Check out Winter’s website here:

Winterstail.com

Tune in for a live Winter Webcast on October 7th at 1PM EST with partner, Scholastic:

Live Winter Webcast

Artgig History Lesson - The Constitution

2009-09-08T11:50:00.004-04:00

When we met with the Weekly Reader News team back in June to discuss their idea for an educational website to teach the Constitution to kids all we had was a basic concept and high expectations, this being the first in a planned series of digital e-issues for a business traditionally rooted in print.

Today, just 12 weeks after our first brainstorming session, I’m happy to announce the release of the Constitution e-issues for Weekly Reader–and they got not one, but three different websites for three different age groups.

The look of each site is essentially the same but the content changes specifically for each audience.

Our animated host, the Town Crier, leads users into five primary activities: the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Framers, Time Line and the “Constitutional Challenge” Game. Each section offers a different interactive activity to engage learners and helpful tools like a hot glossary reinforce learning as kids discover embedded terms and definitions while they explore the content. Each of the five activities also includes an assessment component relevant to each section.

The activities are designed for maximum fun, like the Framers, where one can’t help but pick up interesting facts about each of the Constitution’s creators as their portraits come to life, or the Constitutional Challenge game where users earn points as they test their knowledge of the Constitution in a Jeopardy-style game show format.

Artgig created the general UI design, produced the Flash animation from supplied art, created all of the functionality to specs we developed, and we took care of all audio production & VO.

If early testing and feedback is any gauge of success, we’ve got another hit on our hands.

Check out one of the three versions here:

The Constitution

Artgig Launches Bilingual Business Website - Quetubuscas.com

2009-08-24T10:07:00.006-04:00

Que Tu Buscas? – In Spanish it means, “What are you looking for?”

When we were approached by Fannie Lanch, a New York entrepreneur and President of the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, with her idea to build a bilingual community website portal to service the skyrocketing Hispanic marketplace, well it sounded like a no-brainer to me.

First and foremost, the website is designed to connect Employers and independent contractors, “Experts,” using a custom secure communication system. Employers may register to post jobs and Experts may register to respond to jobs. Employers may also rate and comment on Experts.

The website also features a Classified Ads section where users may register to post ads in a variety of categories and interested buyers may contact sellers using the secure communication system we designed.

The Expert’s Gallery and the Classified Ads are linked with a secure e-commerce system and there are a variety of subscription and pay-per-ad options for use of the website.

Additionally, there are a variety of business resources available on the site via live feeds from across the globe for breaking news and travel deals.

The entire system is built on our custom CMS platform and Fannie has all of the content and system management control at her fingertips in the website Administrator Dashboard. The site is integrated with Google Analytics and AdSense and we’ve also given her a custom advertising feature to target users with category-specific ads and even target users in specific countries by IP address, if she wants to.

We rolled out the soft launch today.

I think she’s offering some special pricing (translation – FREE) for new users to get people registered and using the site.

Check it out here:

Quetubuscas.com

Anvil! Live! Pleasantville!

2009-07-30T11:24:00.007-04:00

My buddies went to see a screening of "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" at Jacob Burns last night and all I got was this t-shirt (that's Steve talking).

Me and Jim caught the special engagement of this rockumentary which was followed by a Q&A session with the two stars of the film, front man Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Rob Reiner ("the original") of 80's metal blink-and-you-missed-them sensation–Anvil.

It's a great film.

I've seen it referred to as "the ultimate metal bromance" and the "real life Spinal Tap" - both are accurate. Anvil! is also a "Rocky" movie - the tale of two friends who met at fifteen and refuse to give up their dream of making it big as Anvil–despite the fact that they're now fifty. These shaggy lovable Canadian underdogs are up against incredible odds and you just can't help rooting for them.

As the guys themselves said last night, there aren't too many bands that stick together over 30 years - there's The Rolling Stones, The Who, and...Anvil.

The Anvil story is remarkable enough but the story of the film is also pretty incredible.

The Director, Sacha Gervasi, was a roadie for the band when he was only fifteen years old himself. After a few tours, they split but Steve and Sacha reunited twenty years later. It just so happens that Sacha has gone on to become a successful screenwriter (among other things) since they last saw each other, and Steve has just been offered an opportunity for a European Anvil tour that looks slightly shady from the start to say the least. Sacha knows there's a movie in this and he drops everything to make it.

I'm happy to report:
The film is getting rave reviews.
Anvil is playing with AC/DC at Giants Stadium tomorrow night.
Things are looking up.

Just see it when you get the chance.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Artgig -Psycho

2009-07-25T00:50:00.006-04:00

Lis sent me this video by Miles Fisher last night and it really made my day. Miles nails the "American Psycho" movie and gets Christian Bale, who is fast becoming one of my favorite working actors, smirk perfect.
Fisher is so good and talented (it's his music too)–it's scary.
For the first seven or eight seconds I thought it was Bale and someone had cut scenes from the movie into the video.
Then, I saw a close-up & I thought "that's not Bale", it didn't look like him–more like Tom Cruise.
Fisher also does a drop dead Tom Cruise.

Getting back to "American Psycho"...

Have you read the book by Bret Easton Ellis?

When "Psycho" hit shelves in 1991, critics recoiled in horror.

There was controversy before the book even saw daylight– Simon & Schuster had dropped it due to graphic content before Vintage picked it up.

It was pretty much banned in Germany.

In Australia, it's only sold shrink-wrapped and selling the book to anyone under 18 is a criminal offense.

It's not an easy read for a lot of reasons including extreme violence and mind-numbing detail - but that's the point.
The 80's were mind-numbing and violent.
At least it was for me.
And I think that's why I liked the book so much.
I read it for a college literature term project.
There was an older retired woman in my little book group, who was taking the class for fun.
She dropped out after a few weeks because she was so appalled by my project.

I didn't love the movie when it came out nearly 10 years later but it's probably because I was too loyal to the book.
But watching this video makes me want to see it again - now.

I also happen to know the writer of the sequel - "American Psycho 2: all American Girl."
We met in a Gotham Writers Workshop screenplay writing class - her specialty was horror and mine was crime so there was some natural overlap.

She already had some buzz going in LA.
She sold one of her screenplays and rewrote it–banging it into the American Psycho sequel.

They basically just slapped the name on it.

It didn't seem to matter that it had nothing to do with the original.

She ended up moving to LA and I started Artgig.

Karen, wherever you are, I hope you're doing well.

It was good writing with you.

Artgig - Gotcha!

2009-07-22T13:17:00.006-04:00

Just finished a new game, "Gotcha!," for our friends at Weekly Reader. The game is designed as a payoff to a lesson and quiz on Mark Twain's short story, "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calvares County."

Based on our standard shooter engine, "Gotcha!" is essentially a better looking "Bug Assassin." We created a custom skin to match the swampy theme and made the shooter a frog (who happens to be a Mark Twain lookalike) who's after any bug fool enough to fly into range of his quick-draw tongue.

You can tell by the look in their eyes, these bugs know this frog ain't playing games.

But that shouldn't stop you:

Play Gotcha!

Website Launch Into the Stratosphere...

2009-07-15T15:48:00.005-04:00

Just launched this slick little brochure site, for local Westchester marketing biz–Stratosphere Research. Daryl Bressler, the owner, has worked with some impressive brands, including SeaWorld, Budweiser, and Hasbro.

In discussing her work in market analysis and evaluation, Daryl shared a story about how a research project for SeaWorld led to the creation of sister park, Discovery Cove–the first park in Orlando to allow park visitors to swim with the dolphins. Discovery Cove has since gone on to become one of Orlando's most successful park destinations. The idea to open a dolphin experience park interestingly came as a direct result from Daryl's careful analysis of market data in response to a simple question - "What new attractions would you like to see most at Sea World?"

Check it out:

stratosphereresearch.com

Media Activate! How Video is Giving a Voice to the Poor

2009-07-14T17:18:00.012-04:00

A family member turned me on to the VideoVolunteers project. The concept is simple and quite brilliant–empower poor, illiterate people living in slums in places like India, by teaching them to become their own community producers.

Armed with a relatively cheap video kit, each producer goes out into their neighborhood and talks about the issues their neighbors are up against. It's much easier to teach someone to use a video camera than to teach them to read and write and the results are igniting the sparks for real change.

videovolunteers.org

The Man in the Red Shoes

2009-07-07T10:35:00.006-04:00

Just catching my breath and dusting off the blog after a fantastic Fourth of July weekend in Montauk at my dad's beach house rental.

We drove out late Thursday and got there just after midnight.

My wife and son crashed almost immediately but I stayed up with my dad, sipping a tasty Honey Moon Summer Ale, and we watched most of the PBS American Masters episode featuring Garrison Keillor - The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes.

If you don't know Garrison Keillor, he's been around since the 70's and he's most famous for his "Prairie Home Companion" live radio show - a quirky program that mixes humor, storytelling and music–aimed squarely at America's heartland.

Now if you know me, I'm not exactly a Chevy and apple pie kind of guy, but I was hanging with my dad and he's a fan of Keillor and I also happen to know one of Keillor's crew, having worked with Fred Newman on a kids home safety video for Weekly Reader, so I went with it.

The show is an absolutely fascinating portrait of Keillor. The man is a natural storyteller and he's got the kind of voice that makes you want to listen. Before I knew it, I was pulled right in to his world. I was talking to Steve about this and his parents are also Keillor fans and he says whenever he's visiting he gets sucked in to the radio show. Such is the universal appeal of Keillor–he manages to draw you in, whether you like apple pie or not.

As we were watching, I explained to my dad that I'd worked with Fred Newman and next thing you know I hear Fred's voice and he's being interviewed on-screen.

Good stuff.

Check it out:

Garrison Keillor on PBS

Awesome Time-Lapse Photography

2009-06-19T13:22:00.003-04:00

Bathtub V from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

So here I am thinking I gotta lay down a fresh blog post but we're so busy I just don't have any time to collect my thoughts.

Enter Jim who drops a sweet score right in my lap.

Theme is tilt shift lens time-lapse photography, created by Keith Loutit, an artist based in Sydney, Australia.

The style makes the real world like little surreal models.

Presto - instant post.

And from an Aussie, no less.

Steve is already planning to rent the lens...

Enjoy!

Miza.com a Technology Day Hit!

2009-06-09T13:40:00.006-04:00

Last week Steve made a special guest appearance at his daughter's third grade class in support of "Technology Day."

His goal was to wow them with Flash by leading the class through an actual game we're working on.

He showed them how the functional game looks with and without the final art to demonstrate the difference between appearance and functionality in development.

Afterwards, they spent some time looking at Miza.com to illustrate how it all comes together in a completed website.

Later that same day, Steve returned with his daughter for the afternoon presentations–this time it was the kids turn to show off what they've been cooking in the computer lab.

And now for the payoff - as Steve took a seat in a row of Macs, he says he couldn't help but notice all of the machines had Miza open in the browser.

The kids had been exploring the site and playing the games during the break.

I think it's safe to say Steve (and Miza) was a hit.

The kids have already started lobbying to have him back next year.

Artgig - Stop! And enjoy a short (or three)...

2009-06-03T17:36:00.008-04:00

A laughingsquid tweet on the old Twitter yesterday lead to a fantastic stop action short, "Sorry I'm late", and reminded me of a Oren Lavie video that Lis sent a while back, and then Jim chipped in with another that looks like it translates to "Stop Motion With Wolf and Pig" that is truly the work of a madman.

Before CGI, the only way to do a proper monster movie, like the 1933 classic, "King Kong," was using scale model miniatures and sometimes not so miniature animatronics and/or guys in costumes, along with painstaking stop action photography to bring the world to life.

It's an art form that exists only for those with incredible vision, dedication and endless patience. As a kid, I remember shooting really cheap stop motion shorts with my dads Super 8 camera and the principles are the same as they are for any animation - move everything in your frame a little bit. Shoot a frame. Repeat. When you're done, string the frames together and watch it all come to life.

When done properly, it's really quite magical.

See for yourself–and be sure to check out the links behind the videos to see how they were made:

An Arsenal Fan Salutes Barcelona...

2009-05-28T16:10:00.008-04:00

As an Arsenal fan, it's been an exhausting season that felt like a drunk behind the wheel of a Ferrari–accelerate! Slam on the brakes! Accelerate! Run over something and lose a tire! Accelerate! Hit the brakes! Run over something sharp that punctures another tire! Accelerate...Crash! Accelerate! Crash again!

Of course our European dream ended with a Manchester United bodyslam.
And that was immediately followed by a Chelski piledriver in the league to put the razor sharp exclamation point on the end of our season.

So forgive me if I wasn't exactly fired up for the Champion's League Final.
In fact, I almost forgot to set the DVR to record the match as I was leaving for work yesterday morning.

Still, the choice of who to root for was a no brainer.
I got behind Barca without hesitation.
It comes down to three reasons:

First, I've spent time in Barcelona and it's a great city loaded with personality.
I went on a whirlwind tour of Amsterdam, Spain and Portugal with my wife in 1997, before we were married and it was a fantastic adventure.
Somewhere along the way, I remember waking up in a Sevilla hotel to the sound of car horns blaring and general excitement on the streets below.
My wife asked around and found out it was a celebration–a Spanish side, probably Real Madrid, had won some important soccer match.
That's all I knew.
Mind you, this is just before I took my leap back into the world of football as a full-fledged Arsenal fan.
The idea that anyone would celebrate soccer with such gusto was so completely foreign to me.
And I loved it.

Second, as an Arsenal fan, you have to admire Barca's commitment to attacking football and that's exactly what tempted Arsenal's all time greatest weapon, Thierry Henry, to join the Spanish side two years ago.
Henry realized his playing days were winding down and he wanted one last grab at glory.
Unfortunately, he found himself surrounded by a gang of kids at Arsenal, who despite their talent, were clearly not quite ready for prime time.
The fact that Henry had come within touching distance of the CL trophy with Arsenal in 2006, only to lose it cruelly to Barcelona, made for a juicy backstory.
So, I thought, let's win one for Henry.

My third reason for choosing Barcelona over United should be obvious–for Barca to win, Manchester United would have to lose.

Still, like most, I thought United would simply overpower the smaller Barcelona and exploit their patchwork defense the same way they so easily discarded Arsenal.

I saw the result while at work but I didn't get to watch the match until I got home last night.

United started in the same formation they did against Arsenal and again dominated the first nine minutes of play.

It was all going according to plan until BANG! Barcelona punched United right in the mouth. To be exact, Samuel Eto'o punched United in the mouth after undressing Vidic.

And just like that, Barcelona was in control.

Ten minutes later, the mighty United already looked panicked and out of sorts.

And they would never recover.

Barcelona attacked and attacked and attacked.

In the second half, Henry turned Rio Ferdinand inside out on a move that nearly made the score 2-0.

So close.

The kill shot would come at seventy minutes from Barca's creative wizard, Lionel Messi, who launched his tiny five feet seven inch body into the air, twisting to direct a perfect header over the United goalie, Van Der Sar, and into history.

This Barcelona team, with their first year coach, Pep Guardiola, has achieved what no other Spanish side has done before–they've won the trifecta of the Spanish League, the Spanish Cup and the European Champion's League.

And in the process, they made United look positively ordinary.

Congratulations to Barcelona.

Now keep your hands off our Fabregas.

More Summer Fun...

2009-05-22T16:01:00.005-04:00

Tim sent me this ill 360 degree inside-the-tube surfing video, made possible by a special 25 lb camera and lens kit.

Yes, someone had to actually surf Teahupoo, one of the gnarliest waves in the world, while carrying the camera.

Mahalo.

Summertime!

2009-05-22T10:37:00.010-04:00

It's been a long week at Artgig and I know we're all welcoming the holiday weekend with open arms.

What better way to celebrate the unofficial kick-off of summer than a return to one of last summer's major highlights–Thievery Corporation at Central Park's Summerstage.

It was a perfect summer day and night of good friends, good vibes and great music.
I've recently stumbled upon a YouTube treasure chest of live shows I've attended over the years and I'm happy to say, this was one of the best.

The video doesn't do it justice, of course.
The frame is simply too small and the technology too primitive to capture and share the overall experience.

But here goes anyway.
Go fire up the grill and crack a cold one–this one's on me.

Best Job in the World...

2009-05-18T11:35:00.009-04:00

Artgig is a pretty good gig but I'm afraid Ben Southall's got me beat.

The 34 year-old Brit was recently appointed the caretaker on an Australian tropical island for the next six months.

Lucky Ben was chosen from over 34,000 applicants, competing for the job in a reality TV-style promotion by Tourism Queensland.

The job responsibilities include: feeding the fish, cleaning the pool and collecting the mail...
oh, and blogging about it.

And he'll pocket $110,000 for his trouble.

Lis sent me the application a while back but sadly, it got lost in the pile of work on my desk.

I checked out the official website, and it's a big flashy thing that takes a bit to load.

It also looks like they concentrated most of their efforts on the contest and have very little to say right now.

But there should be more to come on July 1 when Ben reports for duty.

Don't work too hard, Ben...

My Favorite Bitch

2009-05-15T12:40:00.011-04:00

Today is a beautiful day.

As I near my one year anniversary with my iPhone (may I remind you, this is iPhone number two) I'm happy to say today is one of our best days together. Sure there have been some rocky patches, but every relationship takes effort and patience and it's navigating the rough stuff together that truly strengthens the bond. I feel like today is one of those breakthroughs–a milestone in our history. And yes, we came dangerously close to the edge before we stepped into this lush green pasture of appreciation.

I was going to title today's post "iPhone Bitch" because all I've been doing for the last few weeks is bitch about my iPhone spam problem. Sure, I've got spam filtering set-up at the Artgig server and the usual Junk filtering in my Mail client at work but I was still getting completely inundated with crap on my iPhone, which has no filtering, so much so that using mail on my phone was becoming a dreaded chore. Every morning, I'd begin my day, tapping away in edit mode, deleting all of the junk destined for non-existent @artgig email accounts, that accumulated overnight and somehow made it into my Artgig mail account. I was beginning to question the very sanity of Apple - how could the reigning champions of super friendly user design make something so unusable?

I scoured the internet for iPhone spam solutions and the best option I could find was a slight-of-hand trick that required a ghost Gmail account pass-through for junk filtering. It worked for most people but all I could see down that path was more darkness and quite possibly, my breaking point.

I bitched to Steve.
I bitched to Jim.
I bitched to our hosting company.
I bitched to everyone on Twitter.

They all said the same thing–anyone can spoof your email and make it look like it's coming from you/your domain. But of course, if a reply or bounce is sent it will only get to the actual domain holder (me). From the server's perspective, the emails are legit. Server-side spam filters won't work for the same reason.

I was at the end of my rope. "That's it," I said, "I'm taking this to the blog!" And as I entered that dedicated space of crafting words and thoughts for the page, in what was going to be yet another long bitching rant about the glaring obvious shortcomings of the iPhone, it hit me. The emails weren't bounces at all. They were going straight to the server to some phantom catch-all account.

So I rolled up my sleeves and opened up our hosting Control Panel, and what did I find? A little mandatory catch-all mail forwarder set to grab all @artgig emails, and guess who was designated to receive those emails?

In my haste to judge, I'd missed the obvious.

A single moment of clarity and one small adjustment later, and my spam problem was solved.

Me and my iPhone are just fine.

Now, if only it supported Flash...

AAPL - 122.42

Arsenal: Three to Go...

2009-05-08T22:20:00.008-04:00

It sure would be nice to sweep up the season with three victories in three matches.

Let's take a look at what lies ahead, shall we?

Sunday - Chelsea @ Home:

Arsenal meets the other Champion's League loser, Chelsea, this weekend.

As Wenger himself pointed out, Chelsea may be the only team feeling worse than us right now after seeing their dream of a historic Champion's League Final rematch against United absolutely blind-sided by a late Barcelona goal, crushing all hope with only 120 seconds to play.

I'm all for kicking a team who's already down and this Chelsea team is perfectly ripe.

I imagine it will take everything they've got to simply drag themselves out of bed to face us.

I mean, what do they have to look forward to?

Another season of managerial uncertainty, that's for sure, as their lucky Dutch rabbits foot, Guus Hiddink, return to the task of prepping the Russian national team for World Cup action.

In a show of solidarity and a symbolic gesture of support for misunderstood party-boy Nicholas Bendtner, I expect the entire Arsenal squad to take the field with their shorts around their ankles.

There's no doubt in my mind Arsenal can beat Chelsea with or without shorts...

As long as Arshavin takes the field.

But he's a huge doubt as he struggles to recover from the flu.

But wait, so is Arsenal's blue boogyman, Drogba, as he struggles to recover from a complete mental breakdown in the wake of their devastating Champion's League defeat.

No Drogba is bigger than no Arshavin at the moment.

And we don't have to do any tricky away goals math, which is a big relief.

Arsenal wins.

2-0

May 16 - Manchester United @ Old Trafford:

This one isn't so easy.

We've already seen the difference in class illustrated on the field and off.

As Bendtner was being dragged away from a nightclub with his jeans around his knees, the United crew were spotted wearing impeccably tailored suits, looking all about business in their respectable victory celebration.

What's to stop United from spanking Arsenal again, you ask?

Two things:

Arshavin and Arshavin.

That's right, I'm counting him twice because he's that good.

Arsenal weren't allowed to use him in the Champion's League and honestly, we were so poor maybe he doesn't make a difference but if anyone can change the game, it's Honest Arsh.

The Arsenal defense won't be mended in time for this match but maybe United takes us just a hair too lightly as their eye wanders ahead to their showdown with Barcelona.

And we pounce, seizing opportunity in a momentary lapse in concentration, hopefully with Evra and Berbatov turned inside out in the process, by none other than a rampaging Nicklas Bendtner!

I really want Nick to learn how to shoot because, for a big guy, he's good on the ball and he's certainly got no shortage of confidence but most importantly, he's not afraid to go out by himself and get so drunk his pants fall down.

I said Arsenal 3-1 in the Champion's League but that was before I realized it was opposite day.

I'm going to give this one to Manchester United, 2-1.

(Don't worry–another opposite day)

May 24 Stoke City @ Home:

Certainly doesn't have the sex appeal of the two previous matches but it's the last match of the season and if that's not sexy, well, I don't know what is.

Stoke is one of those very average teams that gave us trouble earlier in the season.

Well, Arsenal's not had much trouble with the likes of them, or anyone else in the last 21 games, and I don't think they'll slip on this banana peel.

Arsenal just needs to take a page from United (after beating them, of course) and go about our ruthless business with cold surgical precision.

Just keep an eye on the big Jamaican, Ricardo Fuller, and let the offense do the rest.

No contest.

Arsenal will be tasting blood after feasting on the remains of Berbatov and Evra in the previous match.

Victory Arsenal.

3-0

So that's it, nice and tidy.

Then we can get on with the business of constant speculation about who stays and who goes and the summer flirtation and courting of new players to fill the rather large gaps in our defense.

New Rudder Release and T-shirts at 19-8 Website!

2009-05-08T09:36:00.007-04:00

The boys at 19-8 are making a fashion statement with fresh new t-shirts to go with the new critically acclaimed Rudder release, "Matorning."

Here's what the Boston Globe had to say about the music - "Rudder's second album, "Matorning," nearly detonated in my stereo; it's that powerful."

Get yours today - the tees and the music available on the 19-8 website in the Catalogue and Artists sections under Rudder!

nineteeneight.com

Arsenal - Defeated and Deflated

2009-05-05T20:58:00.013-04:00

When Arsenal exited the Champion's League last year, it was the Quarterfinals and Liverpool had just stolen victory back from us in a wild match that dealt Arsenal a cruel blow in the final six minutes to leave me feeling gutted.

Last night's Champion's League Semifinal against Manchester United felt like it was over in the first six minutes.

It actually took seven for the first United goal.

Despite trailing United by one goal from the first leg, I believed we could summon the strength and character to give them a real fight.

Almunia's heroics at Old Trafford kept us alive and I was thinking there could be something really special and really big yet to come from Arsenal's "kids."

We started strong, with an unusually boisterous home crowd behind the team in full force.

For a moment, watching Arsenal zip the ball around in United's half, it all felt possible.

Then Anderson squeezed a ball upfield, a ball that Ronaldo chased down into our area.

And then, in what can only be described as a a tragic accident for poor Kieran Gibbs, our baby-faced deputy defender slipped and fell in what should have been a routine interception of Ronaldo's pass, gifting Park Ji-sung the ball right in front of our goal.

Almunia charged and Park timed his shot perfectly.

And just like that, we were trailing by two goals on aggregate–one of them a devastating away goal, which meant we needed three to win.

Really, a shame for Gibbs and for the entire team.

But all was not lost.

Not yet.

The game would go on for another two minutes before the fatal blow.
Ronaldo flopped, earning a penalty kick from forty yards.

He launched a screamer that unbelievably rocketed right past Almunia for goal number three on aggregate.

With eighty minutes still to play, the game was over.

Arsenal was done.

This morning I'm still feeling hollow–stunned from the fact that we never had a chance.

It can only be said that over the two legs, Manchester United was the better team - head and shoulders over Arsenal.

It stinks but it's the truth.

I read this morning that an Arsenal fan in Kenya hung himself after the match.
All I can say is I'm grateful my life doesn't hang on this team.
Over the last few years, we've been fragile, both physically and mentally.

I credit Arsene and the team for their remarkable comeback this season, orchestrating a 21 game unbeaten run to overtake Villa and secure fourth place in the EPL and another season of Champion's League football.

But surely, fourth place can't be good enough.

It's a broken record at this point–we need to buy some experienced players this summer and I wouldn't mind offloading Adebayor if we can get a decent coin for him. He's dead weight and he's dragging us down.

And yes, Arsene needs to rethink the overall composition–we're built for the sprint, not the long haul.

We play for pride now.
Pride and revenge.
Chelsea this weekend and Manchester United again next weekend.

And I can only hope that Barcelona goes through tonight and a healthy Henry stars in a Champions League Final blowout that wipes that cocky smirk right off Ronaldo's face.

Arsenal: It's a Bird, It's a Plane...

2009-05-03T12:07:00.015-04:00

It's Super Manny!

He rescued us in Rome once already this season.

If not for his heroics Wednesday in Man U's "shock and awe" assault on our Champion's League dreams, we'd be dead and buried right now.

Come Tuesday, we'll need Manuel Almunia suited up again in his lime green tights and flowing cape, and at his super-human best if we've any hope of edging United for a return to Rome and a chance to play for all the European marbles.

You just know it's gonna come down to Manny again.

United will come out, guns blazing, same as last time because they can.

Wednesday was so bad, I was thinking last year's 4-0 FA Cup embarrassment all over again.

Silvestre said it felt "like the Alamo."

The shots will come.

Manny just better be ready.

Arsene has said we will see a different Arsenal at home on Tuesday.

With our team further ravaged by injuries to players, we don't have the depth to change the faces on the field.

There's a slim hope that we may see a special guest appearance by RVP, which would certainly be a boost, but his return won't patch our defense.

It will come down to tactics and sheer blood and guts to change our game.

Wenger will no doubt pull Fabregas back in midfield where he can use his vision and creativity to dictate play.

He'll also need a hair trigger in responding to the shape of the game because we simply can't let United gain and hold any further advantage.

Any player on the field who is not giving 100 percent, should be substituted.

That means you, Adebayor.

It's true, you had little help against Ferdinand and Vidic, but you just gotta lay it out there and stick your neck out and get your lazy ass to work.

Bendtner scored two goals yesterday against Portsmouth, and you know he's dying to play.

Vela also scored and he looks hungry.

Our best defense will be our attack.

I'm feeling like we really have to strike first to have a chance.

And then we leave it to Fabregas to pull the strings and Super Manny to cover our ass.

Even in Tuesday's defeat, we showed we can deal with Rooney and Ronaldo.

And credit's gotta go to the kid, Kieran Gibbs, who recovered in the second half, showing great composure for a 19 year-old, after being thrown to the lions.

Speaking of recovery, it must be said that this young team has orchestrated a remarkable comeback late in the season to assure a fourth place EPL finish and Champion's League football next year, and that alone is an accomplishment worthy of praise. Add to that the brilliance of Arshavin, and the prospect of a full strength Arsenal team, and it's enough to get the mouth watering for next year.

And we've still got a puncher's chance to reach the Champion's League Final now, this year.

And our secret weapon–Super Manny.

I'll call it now–3-1 to the Arsenal and I'll see you in Rome.

Artgig Case Study - Healthykids-now.com

2009-05-01T14:17:00.006-04:00

Jim has some good news to share - we launched the healthykids-now.com website today.

Healthy Kids NOW (Healthy Kids in Northern Westchester) is a coalition of community, civic, educational, business, and healthcare leaders (including yours truly) who aim to make Northern Westchester the place to raise healthy kids by promoting good nutrition and a healthy environment.

Jim is especially proud because this website is his adopted Joomla baby.

"Why Joomla?" You ask.
And you don't stop there. "Aren't you a custom shop with your own CMS?"

Well, yes, we've got our own mature CMS and we love it. And more importantly, our clients love it. But there comes a time when you have to leave the comfort zone and see what's on the other side.

Enter Joomla, one of the most widely-used open source content management systems available.

As much as I love our CMS, I see the clear benefit of open source, which is primarily, you aren't tied to a single vendor because there's a broad community of developers and lots of documentation and support, should you decide to take your website elsewhere.

A common misconception of open source is that it's cheaper. It's not. In most cases, you still have to pay a developer(s) to do the work, just like any other job. Unless, of course, you're willing to donate your time (and blood and sweat and tears) out of the goodness of your heart for a worthwhile cause–like promoting health and well-being for our kids.

I got involved with the Coalition through a friend and agreed to take on an advisory role as they enlisted a team of local college students to build the website as part of a class project. Well, let's just say three months later, the website was barely a shell and the kids went home for the holidays. That's how we came to adopt the Joomla baby.

Now Jim has experience developing using open source platforms and they're generally good to get you 80% of the way, but it's always a wrestling match when you get down to the fine details of customization. It's the last 20% that gets you.

We got the website into shape and our friends at the Coaliton spent some time filling it with content. Along the way, we squeezed an extra 5% out of Joomla and decided it was time to go live.

Healthy Kids will live with it for a while, it looks good and it does everything they want it to do - there are regular columns and features they can manage and archive, a calendar of events, a newsletter and mailing list, and a search function.

Of course, I wish we had used our CMS because everything would look and feel more like one of our websites, but this was a good lesson for all of us and a necessary step. The folks we're working with at the Coalition have never built a website before and now they have. Next time around, it will be even better.

By the way, we’re looking for a sharp Drupal developer – anyone?

Check it out:

healthykids-now.com