I was hoping that these pages would be a Bulletin board, of referrals to links. I suppose there always is the risk that users either know of, or disagree with the concept of try before you buy. My stand point was that there are many Free to use, no strings attached elements available on the www. I find myself copying relative links to associates whilst on Skype of FaceBook, like an instant referral. Passing on the non important has little purpose, but I saw this as the digital version of 'Hey Don't go to TireMart, Monsieur Picasso down the road does an excellent job for half the price'.
I'm not sure if this will run as thread or if it will stay up for too long, but I would revisit myself if we can build a library of handy links.
I subscribe to many such showcase sites and I did make a purchase recently. It was a 500-700? dollar package for 55 US dollars. It comprised 4apps. One was a tool to convert Mono pics to colour, how that works I've no idea.
But it is fun to use, a simple on screen mouse over and click app. Call up a pic, change any colour background, guys shirt or whatever, in an instant, an absolute hoot, real con-tone too, not just a tint overlay. The second was a security tool, which masks your IP address for every app you open. Some other thing, can't remember what, but the most exciting was the following.
If I can describe it. A website/blog/Wordpress/etc.template builder. So you can create your own template.I have only spent a little time with it. But I was astounded.
So you can create any page any size, drag in your elements, pics, logos etc. Therefore truly customisable to your spec. No not a template lookalike.
But here is the amazing bit, what you play with is WISIWIG. Click a button, and you get the machine code. Plus a wad of pre established windows in code, where you can drag in anything you want, XHTML5 is it CSS3? Form builders, Drop downs, scrollers et etc. Click back you are back to WISIWIG and everything is functioning live and in real time.
Unless I am mistaken, and I'm no programmer. You have a fully functioning, customisable Site builder, with all the code snippets that are available. I retails at 399.00 USD I think, the deal and licence I purchased was 28 dollars. It's out of Beta and is billed as the Dreamweaver KiIler.
Why would they give away a tool like this at such a knock down price? PR...The development costs are dealt with, the dispatch cost nowt, it's a download, no packaging, shipping etc. The users will Tweet and LIKE and tell their mates. Not unlike the guy in the market who offers you a chunk of stinky blue veined cheese on a knife. 'Hmm' you say 'C'est trés bon,gisa slab.
I do believe I'm right but would be happy to be corrected. I think it means that with no coding knowledge at all, you can design and use, an also sell your own templates. I was in the web game from the outset, we employed many designers and programmers, I spoke an ex employee the other week, who's current firm does the lot, Ruby, Drupal, Joomla, SEO etc etc. He said he hardly codes anything at all now. Sorry if the description was a bit woolly, but it's 3 am. I'm off to ma bed.
Merry Crimble all.