Sebs Studio

What a better way to transform a previous piece of code to something much easier to use for WordPress users. I recently wrote a script for the new Google Translate API which allows you to translate your content with out leaving the site using jQuery and Ajax. Now I am doing the same only with a UI and a more professional way to handle the translation with ease. The plugin allows you to translate your posts right then and there with out leaving the site. You can select the languages that Google support on there translation service and hit translation. Simply put the content editor in ‘HTML’ mode before translating. Release date of this plugin will be tweeted so follow me @sebsstudio

Update (27.01.2012) More details on the plugin here.

I was asked the other day in a comment on my shop site the following quote.

Do you also have php version of Google Translate API v2 ?
I’m asking because i need to hide somehow the api key from public or do you know another way of doing it ?

Well even if that person didn’t hide the API key it wouldn’t matter because you need to set what sites are allowed to use the API key. No one can use it but the owner of that API key. It’s fixed for only the domains that are on the white list in the owners Google account.

Since before the 1st December 2011, Google Translate API use to be free. It’s a great tool for many web developers out there. Now since version 2 of the API has been released you have to pay to be able to use it and some data has changed in able to fetch the translation results.

I used Google Translate using jQuery before on a small code project to automatically translate documents upon load but the method has now changed slightly and I spent the past 3 days figuring how to make it work for version 2, again using jQuery.

I have succeeded in doing so and would like to share it with you for the cost of a small fee of $4,99. Documentation is also provided on how to use it.

Just click on the PayPal buy now button and once payment is successful, you will get a zip file called gtapiv2jquery.zip from sebastien[at]sebs-studio.com within 24 hours. If any queries please contact me using the contact page.

I have purchased a new separate domain ( WPSetup.org )to host the free service site for the WordPress Online Installer. The sub domain ( http://www.wponline.sebs-studio.com ) that use to host it now redirects to the new domain.

I have tested it again to make sure that it still works and it does with no faults. I’m still saving enough to add SSL to make it more secure. Any donations would be most appreciated.

One year security added to the domain costs $70 and I have $40 put a side so far. You can donate on the site it’s self in any amount and currency. I’ve been very busy getting Ocean-Themes.com underway so the Custom Setup has been put on hold for the moment.

When I have some more free time I will get back on to it. I might just upload the first stage for configuring the ‘wp-config.php’ file so that at least I can give you something so keep an eye out for the new feature.

Yes you read the title correctly, I have finally launched Ocean Themes, well at least the progress blog. It runs on the framework that I am still developing. There are some things that need debugging but the majority of it all is ready.

Unfortunately because I have been so busy on the framework and the progress blog to test it out on that I haven’t had that much time to design any themes to run the framework on.

So I decided while I am finishing the framework and report the progress on it I could have other web designers build the themes for me in a competition. The prize is a new iPad 2 (16GB WiFi Only) and a single license for Gravity Forms plugin. Got your attention didn’t I well, you can read more about the competition on the site at http://www.ocean-themes.com .

Have fun!

This is the third post from the WordPress Post-Series. I know it’s late but I have been busy this past week. Hopefully I will be back on schedule for next weeks post.

This is going to get a little technical for this post and is one many of us who use WordPress a lot wish there is an easier way to do it, especially when setting up WordPress for clients. We just want to get it up and running in a flash so that we can start to add content, setup the theme and plugins as soon as possible.

We all like to work quick, get the task done and move on to the next. This is one of the reasons why I developed a service site that allows us to install WordPress quick and easy to our server or the clients so we don’t have to go through the hassle of doing it all manually.

[...]

I finally got my store up and running. I had a little trouble with getting my current site theme working with the shopping cart so I did a fresh installation just for the shop. I have added two digital products so far. To access the shop click here.

It’s time for a few screen shots to be shared with you guys of some of the work that I have been doing for my WordPress Online Installer service site.

It is not complete to be put up yet but it is getting there. So far I have the ultimate ‘wp-config.php’ file setup process complete which is the main part of this custom setup process.

The next part is creating the database structure, insert the default values and insert a fake administrator user ‘admin’ as the username set as a subscriber.

[...]

This is the second post from the WordPress Post-Series.

Finding the right host to publish your site is the most important part. The majority of hosts out there offer the same but the two things you need to really look for is first obviously the cost and easy to use control panel.

Your first instinct is how much are the hosts charging and how much you are willing to pay for that service. Select a few hosts and do a comparison table for your self.

WordPress requires at least a minimum of:

• PHP version 5.2.4 or greater
• MySQL version 5.0 or greater

That’s really it. It is also recommend that you choose a host that supports either Apache or Nginx for the server to run WordPress, but any server that supports PHP and MySQL will do.

It is always best to check WordPress.org for a more up to date requirments.

Once you have got that down and out of the way look at what control panel they have. Having the right control panel makes it so much easier for you to manage your database and site content. Some provide there own control panel the majority of them use CPanel.

CPanel to me is the far most professional and easy control panel out there and if you choose a host that has CPanel then you are golden.

I have worked on some other web hosts when working with my clients and have found it hard to work around, loading time is slow and support can some times be bad so it is very wise to find a host that provides the requirements that WordPress requires and a control panel that you can feel comfortable with.

Here is a list of some great host providers.

• A2 Hosting
• Bluehost
• MediaTemple
• Laughing Squid
• Dreamhost

What host do you use and do you find it easy to manage your site with ?

Previous Post <- Why WordPress is Awesome

Next Post -> How to upload WordPress to your server ?

Tomb Raider: Official Trailer (E3 2011)

‘My YouTube Videos’ is one of my plugins that I have created and is in need of a bit of an upgrade.

Above is an example of a YouTube video inserted by a shortcode which I am still experimenting with. You can either manually insert a video you like from YouTube or from the menu in the visual editor, you can select one from your account, uploaded or one you have added to your favourites.

This is a new feature that I am inserting into the plugin. This would be version 2 and will not only include this but allow you to view any YouTube video in the sidebar as a popup using lightbox once you click on any of the thumbnails.

Still not sure which one I am going to use and would like your input on the best lightbox plugin (or what others out there are called) to use for this ability that displays videos.

I hope this will be a great upgrade, I know a lot of you have been asking for these features and I hope to bring them to you in the near future.

If you have any other additional ideas that you think would be great to add to my video plugin. I am happy to receive your ideas or suggestions if you leave one below.

Thank you.

You can download the current version of this plugin at WordPress.org here .

This is the first of many posts about WordPress to come from my WordPress Post-Series.

WordPress has been and probably be the best CMS platform out there to this day. There are millions of users around the world using it and has even inspired many of us who did not know how to blog or code to start doing so. WordPress has been the biggest and easiest tool to use for creating websites on for you personally or for business purposes. Many web developers and designers have come together to build themes and plugins for all of us to use weither they are free or premium.

So why is WordPress so Awesome ?

Well if the small post above was not enough here are 10 reasons why WordPress would be great to use for your site.

• Easy to use control panel
• Can control your content easily
• No usage restrictions
• Light and Fast
• Free Updates for WordPress
• Great Support by a Worldwide Community
• Can be used for any type of site
• Unlimited to what you can customise on the front or the backend
• Huge range of designs to choose from
• Free and Professional plugin tools to help you

What are the down sides to using WordPress ?

There is ONLY ONE flaw WordPress has and will always probably have is the fact that it is Open Source, which leaves it exposed for people to find a flaw in the system and will do anything to damage one’s site who has WordPress installed. This doesn’t mean for you to go and change your CMS, you will find the same results for any other free CMS out there. Just make sure that you have the latest version of WordPress installed at all costs and follow a few simple security tweaks that could help prevent hackers cause any harm.

Do you use WordPress and if so what are your thoughts on why WordPress is Awesome ?

Next Post -> Choosing a Great Host to Support WordPress

Ever wonder why we feel that there is just not enought time in the day. Do you end up staring at the clock for a moment making each tick get louder and mute everything else around you ?

There are questions that you ask yourself everyday. How much time should/do I spend …

• … getting ready for work ?
• … working ?
• … on my break ?
• … for my self ?
• … eating ?
• … preparing my meals in advanced ?
• … with my friends and family ?
• … shopping ?
• … playing ?
• … sleeping ?

Today I would like to talk about time and how we divide our time out as much as we can each day. This is not an easy task to achieve because time is never on your side. It can’t be stopped, only slow down or speed up and as much as we all like for time to be slower to make the day longer, planning your day can mostly take that extra time you wish you had away from you and before you know it, the morning has already passed.

We loose track of time wither we are in view of a clock or have a watch strapped on our wrists or not, time just keeps on ticking and before you know it, the day has gone.

We PANIC and because of this the world is always in a rush… like the economy having to meet deadlines, places to get too for delivery and so on. You can easily over step your mark and end up loosing control. If you are able to catch up with time and pace your self with it, then your winning time for yourself to do other things as a bonus… if your lucky !

Even the simplest of things can be time consuming… like cooking a Sunday dinner, it takes hours to prepare and cook but only minutes to eat it. I know I went slightly off topic there but you get what I am talking about.

As a web developer time is important and can be costly. It also beats the hell out of you on mind and your body. I set my self simple tasks each day (a to do list) to get them done and out of the way ready to tackle the next one. Even when I’m working for my clients I am having to keep track on how many hours I have worked for them before I can send them an invoice when the job is done. Planing time to talk to one of my clients while still have time left to work for another is also important.

One of the things that I like to do when working is listen to some music with my headphones. This helps me stay calm and focus at the task in hand. When I take a break I either go and watch a little TV or play on my PlayStation 3. It also gives me the time to think what I need to achieve next on my list of things to do. It specially helps me if I’m stuck on something and I end up getting worked up and I get a headache in return (a hammer and a chisel banging at my brain) .

I can also think of other things that would help me and others (that are interested in the same topic) like the WordPress series that I will be starting next week.

Sleep is one of my biggest problems I have and can cause serious time lack. I always like to use 3/4 of the entire day at least, no matter how late at night or early in the morning it is. When I get stuck into something I find it hard for me to get out of it and just want to keep going. If by at the end of the day I can manage it before passing out into my bed, I make a to do list for the next day.

So how do you divide your time in the day ?