Secret Weapon Notes: Volume 8

So here’s the eighth volume of Secret Weapon Notes, and I’m reaching out to you readers as to your thoughts on such posts. Are they worthwhile for you? I love them in that they nicely consolidate a diverse and random set of links into a nice digest format and half the time I use them as my own version of bookmarks, in addition to Del.icio.us. More importantly, if at least a small number of you find them interesting or useful, then I’ll be sure to keep doing them in addition to the various posts about blogging, FileMaker, WordPress, and GUI & web design. Please let me know! (emile [at] secretweaponlabs [dot] com)

Now for your (I hope) reading pleasure:

• The first Ajax/Web 2.0 Worm [Found via MacWorld]
• Why Apple Won’t Open-Source Their Apps [via Daring Fireball]
• I don’t necessarily like propogating the rumor-mill but this one, being FileMaker-related, is worth noting. FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced should be arriving soon, with Intel support (YAY!!!). (I would love to read some benchmarks on how FileMaker performs under Rosetta. Anyone have this info?). Here’s what’s supposedly new:“Other new features that have been incorporated into version 8.5 include a Web Viewer that allows information on Web pages to be put directly into a FileMaker database, as well as accompanying Custom Web Addresses that will automatically add support for mining data from FedEx, Mapquest, and other popular Web sites into databases, as well as enabling the creation of custom Web Viewer links. Web integration has also been expanded to Web-enabled applications.
  
  The ability to name specific objects, long desired by FileMaker developers, will finally arrive with FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced, sources said, while novices should appreciate the new Learning Center, which ties together online resources for FileMaker users. ” Surely this will be expanded and announced at DevCon. [via Think Secret]
• On the note of FileMaker, email, and small business communication – which I brushed upon last week – Darren Rowse of ProBlogger fame is providing some more insight and research with mention of a study on how email newsletters are more emotionally engaging than websites. Some more reading here, here, and here.
• 43 Folders also has an interesting article on writing sensible email messages. O’Reilly Radar has something similar in terms of email to blog etiquette. Both are worth the read.
  
• Mark Boulton’s Five Simple Steps To Web Typography is a can’t miss [Found via Hicks Design]
• Likewise, the PDF presentation of Good Design vs Great Design (PDF) is available and worth a download.  Jon’s post on the presentation at @Media with Moll and Veerle is a great read as well.