I am a huge Batman nerd. Anyone who has known me for more than a day can attest to this fact. So when I got the opportunity to work with a company that specializes in taking Movie Hero costumes and props and turning them into officially licensed high-end leather garments – including a functional leather and Kevlar Batman The Dark Knight Motorcycle Suit, I just about lost my mind.

David Pea, owner and creative mastermind at UD Replicas has been an absolute dream client to work for. We had a number of challenges to overcome, including an e-commerce system that had to simultaneously include PayPal Standard and Pro payments, accept Canadian currency, generate real-time UPS quotes and allow for complicated installment payments plans. And all this with multiple Movie Studio license holders checking up on us along the way.

Take a look at the site. I think it turned out great. And it’s an ongoing project with more products and studio licenses to come, so keep checking back for your nerd fix!

The fine folks at Thomas Harris Properties Inc. and Harris-Ainsworth Development Company Inc. needed an update on their site, ClassyRentals.com.  But the trick was, they only had a limited window of opportunity to get it done.  As a company that primarily rents to med school and MBA students at Wake Forest University, they needed a site built in enough time to market to the next class of incoming first years.

I finished the site on time, under budget, and also took all new photography of of their 50+ properties!

Take a look at the site’s before and after.  I think we made an improvement

Now take a look at the New Site.

We need to talk about your new product, the iPad.

I’ve waited patiently for the introduction of this new game-changing piece of tech.  We all have.  But now that it’s here, I’m afraid you have a little explaining to do.

As a devoted follower of the cult of Mac, I’ve been squirming in my shoes for months now, losing sleep over the idea of a Mac tablet.  As a working web designer/ video editor, the idea of having an ultra-portable device for portfolio presentations, web design meetings, etc… made me happier than a bird with a french fry.  But as things stand, I won’t be able to use this slick little beauty for anything but an oversized iPod Touch.  The reasons?

• No Support for Adobe Flash: You bill this as the ultimate web-browsing experience, but without Flash, a huge portion of the internet just isn’t available.  I know you need to protect your investment in the iTunes store and App Store… I mean, allowing Flash onto your platform would enable people to nicely avoid having to pay for content.  Hulu, Pandora, etc… not to mention folks developing web-based apps that you’ll never get a piece of… I can almost understand that.  But it also means I can’t ever access news videos, order a pizza online, or browse promotional websites for just about any form of entertainment.  As a web designer, I can’t demo a site for clients if it includes any manner of Flash.  Lack of Flash support is frankly, a deal-breaker.  Isn’t that right Liz Lemon?
• No Connectivity: I need a little USB in my life, if not Firewire.  Sure there’s some sort of adapter/dongle doo-hicky on the horizon, but would an out-of-the-box USB port have been too much?  I could even maybe deal with a male 30pin to female USB cord.  Let’s think about it.  USB would allow doctors to connect diagnostic equipment to measure and track vital signs for patients.  That right there is a massive market that you have shot right out the window.
• No Multi-Tasking: I do eight things at a time when I’m working, and when I’m surfing the web.  I have two screens on my desktop at home, and regularly have video playing in one window, news in another, email, etc…  That screen is big enough to have a couple windows open at the same time, and that would make cut and paste a lot more easy to use.  I understand that this device is geared towards the average Joe who wants a portable media device/e-reader.  But don’t leave us power-user pro-level tech nerds out in the cold.

Look, Apple, we’ve been friends for a long time. I’ve pulled so many people over to your team, I’m starting to lose count.  But you’re letting me down here.  I am completely willing to drop the cash on an iPad, as long as it isn’t just an over-grown iPod Touch.  I mean, I already have an iPhone, and a Macbook Pro.  I think I speak for most of us when I say we were looking for something a little closer to the middle of the iPhone – MacBook spectrum.

Charge me a couple hundred extra bucks for an iPad Pro.  Whatever it takes to defray some of the cost of enabling Flash, adding a connector port and beefing up the specs.  You know I’m still gonna buy Apps from the App Store.  I’m still going to pay for 3G service, even if I don’t really need it. Of course, I am gonna watch the crap out of some Hulu, but sometimes friends have to compromise a little to keep each other happy.  Right?

At the very least, give me some Flash and then we’ll talk.

Your Friend,

Ian

Click the photo of the sneaky ba***rd above to play the video.

For more info on this adorable weapons system visit http://www.cornershot.com

He takes the first bus to the farthest place he can go and ends up in a coastal NC town, waiting tables and trying to build a new life. But he’s broken the rules of his trade, and he can’t lie low forever. The Hitman finds friends in the least expected places and sets out with a brand new team to continue his work in the world of contract killing, this time doing things his way.

Visit MakeTheHit.com for more details.

Also, check out the nifty contact form overlay-jobbie I have going on.  It gave me a slight nerd-gasm.

Carolina Talk Network (CTN) is a website dedicated to the mission of engaging, educating and motivating Conservatives to become political activists. CTN is centered around its motto, “Transforming People into Patriots.” The website consists of its own community with blogs, a forum for individual members, an ‘Events Calendar’ and member “Calls to Action.” We invite you to sign up for a free member account and join our community by visiting http://community.carolinatalknetwork.com and clicking the “Join” link.  You can then build your own profile, post blogs use the forum, as well as connect with conservative individuals and organizations across the country.

The CTN website revolves around Conservative Radio Talk Show personality and Conservative activist Curtis Wright. The website posts daily audio updates of Curtis’ popular radio show with segments that are focused on various Conservative issues and political challenges facing our State and Nation. Carolina Talk Network offers its members an expanded scope of engaging and informative North Carolina and national political news sources through unique commentaries, blogs, videos and ”community’ discussions. Unlike many websites that are dedicated to political-based entertainment, policy education and political action, Carolina Talk Network is unique in the fact that it bridges the gap between all three different types of websites!

“Make The Hit,” is a TV pilot for an hour long action/drama about a hitman that decides to get out of the business.

He takes the first bus to the farthest place he can go and ends up in a coastal NC town, waiting tables and trying to build a new life. But he’s broken the rules of his trade, and he can’t lie low forever. The Hitman finds friends in the least expected places and sets out with a brand new team to continue his work in the world of contract killing, this time doing things his way.

Press For This Project: Star News

Front Street Brewery in Wilmington, NC needed a web 2.0 facelift.  I used their existing artwork and branding to create a dynamic new home for FSB on the internet.  I had a great time working on the site, and I’m proud of the finished product.

Dear Mr. Gullett,

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for the highly creative and cost effective work you have done for us regarding the design, implementation and maintenance of the Front Street Brewery website.

As the owner of multiple companies in multiple industries in both Eastern and Western North Carolina I have dealt with a number of web designers and web development projects for my various companies, and I can say with certainty that you excel at what you do.

Since turning over our website to you our traffic has increased over 60% in less than 8 months.  You have helped our “bottom line” with both increased sales and by charging very competitive rates for your services.

We appreciate your creativity and dedication to making our website something special.  If you have any potential clients who would like to speak with me about my experience in working with IMG Multimedia have them call me on my personal cell (number provided upon request).

Once again, thanks for all you have done to help make our business highly successful.

Sincerely,
Tom Harris
Tom Harris, Owner of Front Street Brewery (Wilmington Brewers LLC)