trends

Tech News: Google’s Getting a New Homepage for the First Time in 20 Years

Posted on | by moocow

At Moocow, we pride ourselves on having the most up to date knowledge on the hottest tech trends and web news. With technology and techniques developing daily, we’ll make sure you’re getting the latest info on what’s happening in the world of web.

Google’s famous search engine was launched in 1997, and since that day its iconic homepage has yet to change – minus a few animation tweaks to the logo when a celebratory holiday pops up. Despite boldly clinging to its design for 20 years, Google has finally announced that it will be giving its home page a brand new makeover, with the launch of a personalised news feed added to the browser version of the original Google search bar. 20 years is a long time to wait to make such a change, which makes this pretty big news for the company. So why now? You might be asking. The change comes after a massive surge in the amount of AI being used to predict search queries which is fast becoming a replacement for traditional search engines, a trend that is expected to continue to rise considerably in the future. According to recent statistics released, 99.9% of Google’s revenue is from the use of “search and video advertising”, and with search engines becoming a dying format, Google needs to up its game to stay ahead of its competitors. Google’s plan is to develop a news feed style homepage similar to how Facebook and other sites operate, with predictions of searches, latest news and what’s trending. So if you’re a Google user, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for some significant upcoming changes.

Web Trends: The Rise of M-Commerce

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At Moocow, we pride ourselves on having the most up to date knowledge on the hottest web and marketing trends. With technology and techniques developing daily, Moocow are continuously working hard to help find new ways to market your business.

When it comes to tech, bigger isn’t always better, and with new developments constantly progressing for smaller devices, mobile is once again leading the way for businesses – making it even more important to make sure your company website is up to date with mobile first. With most of us spending 90% of our time glued to our phone, it’s no wonder more and more transactions are happening from mobile devices. Whether it’s giving Amazon a browse, or shopping for clothes online in time for Spring, more and more people are turning to smartphones to make the transactions they need.

Our previous blogs have mentioned that in the last couple of years, there’s been a giant leap in what we call ‘internet browsing behaviour’, with thousands of people swapping from desktop to mobile technology. Well the same is happening for e-commerce businesses, with m-commerce trends leading the way for changes to how sales transactions are being made. Statistics predict around 50% of business transactions will be mobile in the next 2-3 years. And with options like single-click payments with PayPal One Touch, Apple Pay and Amazon Pay, it’s no wonder people are picking out the easiest options available.

Apps are now being designed with features including Augmented Reality options to view the products you are wanting to buy in your own home or on yourself before purchasing, with some apps even offering ‘smart bot’ personal shoppers helping you to gain a more personalised shopping experience – all added novelties that are exclusive to mobile. Messenger apps have been voted as a more popular choice when it comes to customer queries, with pop up chats and apps being picked over email or phone call to respond to customers quicker. With modifications like these set to become more and more accessible, it’s worth getting ahead of the game and taking a look at what benefits m-commerce can bring to your company.

Tech News: Angular 5 Update

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“Easier, Smaller, Faster”

Our favourite JavaScript framework for creating desktop and mobile apps is set to reach yet another landmark this September with the Angular 5 update.

Formerly introduced in 2012 as AngularJS, the upgrade comes following 2 previous modifications in the last year, with the new release set to be the 4th update to the framework (despite being numbered as 5) after changes following the 1.0 version.

Angular 6 is Scheduled for production release on September 18 with some nifty new features, including improved code and far greater reinforcement for Google’s Material Design. Other attributes include:

-Simplified methods for creating progressive web apps, where apps can be cached in the browser

-A “build optimizer” that gets rid of unneeded code, in turn making the app more compact in size

-Creating material design elements that are well-matched with server-side rendering

And the news doesn’t stop there…

Plans for the release of Angular 6 are already on the horizon. Google has apparently already set a release date for Angular 6 for Spring 2018. The team have stated they will be continuing on from the design for Angular 5, making minimal changes to its themes, focusing on improvements in speed and usability with the key aim of helping to ease the stress for web developers.

Moocow: Representing Brighton in Web Design

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Moocow is an interactive website design agency, based in Brighton & Hove. Since opening its doors in 2006, we have been working hard growing and developing our client base & expertise, offering a dynamic blend of creative thinking, experience and technical know-how. We are proud to be able to represent so many of the fantastic businesses local to Brighton, take a look below to get a taste of who we work with and what we do.

 

Boardriders Guide

Local to the city, Boardriders Guide is a family run business established in 1990 and is one of the UK’s largest and most established surf, snow and skate websites. Living by the coast has its perks, and Brighton is well known for its legendary water-sports events. With the help of our expertise we devised a site that’s oozing with style, showing off some of the hottest trends Boardriders has to offer. A perfect blend of ice cool graphics and bold typefaces, Boardriders are the ultimate in sun, sea and surf.

 

The Chilli Pickle

A nationally-acclaimed regional Indian restaurant in the heart of Brighton, fanatical about Indian culture, local produce and traditional cuisine. Our Moocow designers wanted to create a site that was bursting with colour and creativity, showcasing the passion and flair the team at Chilli Pickle strive to achieve. We finished up with a design that’s both decorative and daring and really represents the The Chilli Pickle brand and style.

 

Pizzaface

Brighton is home to a fantastic array of restaurants and bars that leave us really spoiled for choice, so naturally we jumped at the chance to represent one of the city’s most loved pizza companies. Pizzaface is an independent and award winning pizza and delivery service in Brighton, Hove and Worthing offering first-class food fresh on your doorstep. We created a site that was reliable, clean & pristine, easy to use with a simple and retro feel, supporting the outstanding customer service Pizzaface provides.

 

Cafe Coho

Cafe Coho is an award winning espresso bar & cafe with three locations in Brighton. Founded by James and Joanna Wilson in 2010, the cafe has fast become a sought after hang-out with its laid back and friendly atmosphere (and not forgetting some of the best coffee Brighton has to offer) When crafting the Cafe Coho website we went for a refined, well-polished, site that was sultry and smooth with a modern twist.

 

Food For Friends

Food for Friends are Brighton’s award-winning vegetarian restaurant in the historic South Lanes. Their ethos is tasty, affordable and home-made food using the freshest produce. The company are all about supporting local suppliers, something Moocow are dedicated to doing also and we wanted to help create a site as sumptuous and mouthwatering as their food. We went for sublime and sophisticated, hoping to show off their artistic flair.

 

We love working and supporting local companies in Brighton, Hove and surrounding areas. If you have a project you’re looking to get started on, get in touch and we’ll see how we can help your business grow.

Becoming a Web Developer: A Guide for Beginners

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Jobs within the creative industry are fast becoming more and more popular. Our knowledge and awareness of new technologies are developing on a daily basis; and a far greater percentage of young people are moving into the world of web development on completing their studies.

 

So what exactly is web development?

Web development is a blanket term for the work involved in creating a web site for the internet. There are several different roles within the world of web development, enabling you to expand on your knowledge and explore new technologies from day to day.

 

What roles are there within web development?

Front-end web developers: They design what you see visually when you click on a web site or web page, the graphics, the layout and the styling of your website, they are behind how all this comes together. These guys deal with what’s called the ‘user side’ of the website. Making sure your website is easy to use, looks great and works properly is their main priority. Using HTML, CSS & JavaScript, they turn your static web page into a flashy new site from scratch, transforming your web page into what you see now when you click on a page.

 

Back-end web developers: These are the behind the scenes techies, they deal with the bits you don’t see and help with the smooth running and security of your site. Their job is connecting the server to your database and website. They use programs such PHP, Ruby & Python. They might not be in the limelight, but their job is vital to making your site function correctly.

 

So where should I start?

If you’re interested in a career in web development or are even just a bit curious and are looking to create your own website, below are a few tips and tools of the trade to help get you on your way.

 

  • Practice your skills and read up on coding 101. There are some great sites out there that can teach you everything you need to know from scratch. Codecademy is a great place to start and is completely free or give Google’s Developers Training a go. There’s plenty of online forums you can join for advice as well.

 

  • If you’re fresh out of university, internships are a great way to gain experience in a professional environment as a web developer. Plenty of companies offer internships and they’re usually advertised on general job search sites such as Indeed. Although many don’t offer a paid income, the expertise you can gain is vital. It’s also a great chance to network and gain industry contacts.

 

  • Put your skills into practice, use sites like GitHub to help experiment and generate code examples and test problems with your HTML/CSS with other programmers or developers. You can stay up to date on tips and trends by following web development blogs such as HTML Center, Code Visually, Codrops or Developer Drive. Codepad is also handy if you’re in need of fixing any common HTML/CSS issues.

 

  • Once you’ve built up enough confidence, considering looking into helping out with freelance projects where you can put some of your skills into action. There are some excellent sites aimed specifically for freelancer looking for work including Upwork, GetACoder and PeoplePerHour. Glassdoor is also a really handy site that allows you to search for jobs as well as research potential employers.

 

  • Finally, have a go at building your own website. Whether you’re brave enough to give creating a site from scratch a go, or want to opt for using a website builder such as WordPress, there’s lots of options available and online tutorials that can help you customise your site and use your own CSS styling. Once you’ve reached this stage you’re well on your way to being able to present good quality work to potential employers or clients.

Web Trends: The Launch of WordPress 4.8

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For WordPress users who have been counting down the days to the launch of WordPress 4.8, your wait has finally come to an end. WordPress 4.8 has been launched this June, the official update to the WordPress 4.7 base version. If you’re left feeling disappointed to see no jaw-dropping visual changes, hold tight and take a closer look as there are several smaller modifications that could come in handy to current WordPress users or developers. Changes include a few front-end extras, some snazzy new widgets and a couple of fancy new features to the WordPress Editor.

New Widgets and Improvements

The biggest changes seen in WordPress 4.8 are improvements to existing widgets topped with a handful of new media widgets. While not major updates, these changes will enable users to upload visual and audio media with ease.

The Image Widget

First up is the new Image Widget. Prior to the update, inserting an image would mean dragging across a Text Widget and adding an HTML link to your image. The new version, however, now enables you to directly upload images. Simply drag the widget over as before, but this time you can access the option of directly uploading a new image or selecting one from your media library. Add an image title and you’re all set. Only downfall is the widget doesn’t yet allow you to add an entire image gallery, only single images.

The Audio Widget

This new little widget works in the same way as the image widget, but instead allows you to add audio files with the click of a button. Currently you can upload tracks from a URL or upload from your media library. Once complete, the widget will show as playable audio content on your website.

The Video Widget

Once again, the Video Widget works in exactly the same way as the previous two widgets, except this time directly uploads video content directly to your web page. You can insert video files again straight from your media library or a URL to external video links from Vimeo, YouTube and so on.

Rich Text Editing for Text Widgets

More of an improvement to an existing widget than a new one, however an extremely handy one. No more are the days of having to add HTML to a text widget to style font. The editor inside the text widget will now enable you to be able to create bold or italicised text, add bullet points and lists and insert media files.

For Developers

– Changes to CSS rules making admin panel headings more convenient
– A brand-new JavaScript API enabling developers to observe the TinyMCE text editor once a page has loaded. The editor can also be added to all text areas
– A brand-new widget REST API schema allowing for greater improvements and new possibilities for current media widgets to soon be able to have extras such as playlists, image galleries and so on

MooCow – What We Do

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MooCow is an interactive website design agency, based in Brighton & Hove. Since opening its doors in 2006, we have been working hard growing and developing our client base & expertise, offering a dynamic blend of creative thinking, experience and technical know-how.

We are a small agency made up of 10 people, equipped with a ninja approach to creating amazing websites. We have a passion and energy about our work which shows through in the results we produce. We are truly enthusiastic about creating fresh, original website solutions that really work for our clients. MooCow’s dedicated team has just the right measure of experience, talent and passion needed to create a site you will be proud of.

Our processes to a successful website:

DISCOVERY – Your requirements are unique, so we make sure we take time to understand your business; your brand, your products so that we can build you the best website and brand for your company.

DESIGN – We now assign one of our top notch designers to start their magical work on creating you the finest looking website. Our designs are created with your customer in mind.

DEVELOPMENT – Time to release the geeks. Using best practice techniques we develop your site to be user friendly & engaging. From desktop to mobile we develop across a range of platforms to optimise customer engagement and conversion rates.

SUPPORT – Once you are live we are here to help – a successful site is an evolving site. We like to stay involved after launch to provide strategic input and help you achieve your full online potential.

So start the ball rolling, let’s work together. Get a FREE Quote

 

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Web Trends: #ThrowbackThursday

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At MooCow, we pride ourselves on having the most up to date knowledge on the hottest web trends. With technology and techniques developing daily, take a look at what 2017 has in store for the world of web design.

With many of this year’s trends in web design solely falling on graphics, one trend we are loving is the increase in fresh takes on vintage and retro web designs. From contemporary twists on Art Deco to a more homely, rustic feel, we’re seeing a rise in changes to visuals and typography for many businesses. With customisations ranging from intricate floral detailing & decorative twining to glamorous graphics & decadent 1920’s styled typefaces, vintage layouts offer a softer approach to website design that still shows of your brand in style. At MooCow we are experts in all things WordPress, and WP itself currently have several fantastic vintage themed layouts to get your creative juices flowing. Pure Retro, Life Gate, Ephemera & Writsy are just a few of our favourites.

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Web Trends: The Move to Mobile First

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At MooCow, we pride ourselves on having the most up to date knowledge on the hottest web trends. With technology and techniques developing daily, take a look at what 2017 has in store for the world of web design.

Let’s face it, most of us spend 90% of our time glued to our phone, whether it’s updating your Facebook status, catching up on celeb gossip, or browsing online for that perfect pair of shoes, more and more people are turning to smartphones to get the information they need. Over the last couple of years, there’s been a giant leap in what we call ‘internet browsing behaviour’, with thousands of people swapping from desktop to mobile technology. With 2015 paving the way for ‘Mobilegeddon’ Google now gives preference to mobile friendly sites, and by the end of 2017 it’s predicted that 60% per cent of online shopping traffic will be mobile. Part of our job here at MooCow is to make sure your business is reaching the audience it deserves, this includes optimising your site reach so your website reaches its full potential. With more and more technology available in the palm of your hand, it’s hard to say no right?

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