Template Monster’s just added a new ‘Family Bar’ where all the projects of Template Monster are presented: TemplateTuning.com, Web Design Library, MyTemplateStorage.com, Site2You.com.

To check out the bar just vist http://www.templatemonster.com

It’s something like ‘Network Bars’. The difference is that TM’s bar is developed in Flash which is better in my thinking than the usual network bars (they typically consists of nothing more but some-keywords-for-search-engines) as you may see with the millions of other sites.

Not sure what was the aim of it though… Is Template Monster is going to bring additional exposure for its daughter projects? Is it connected with the fact that TM was banned by Google (I really doubt about it but anything’s possible, though I far away from understanding on how it can help to restore TM’s positions with Google)?
Any other variants?

Gordon from Silly Things is about to redesign his site. He’s ready with the sketch. You are welcome with your comments on the new variant of the site…

As for me. I can’t say that I like it. I think that the header is rather overloaded with graphics. All in all it’s my opinion only…

One of the biggest players with template market has disappeared but… they are still alive. Template Monster released 7 Flash Site templates today and a Flash Intro.

Actually, no simple website templates were released. Is it a coincidence or… Template Monster’s decided to take revenge on Google releasing Flash Templates as we all know that Flash is hardly indexed… {joke}

There’re no changes with Template Monster’s positions with Google… But the questions remain: What for has Google banned Template Monster? If they changed their definition of a ’spam site’ then why the only site banned is Template Monster? What is Template Monster going to do?

I do not believe that such a situation can be critical for Template Monster but it gives some additional chances to their competitors… Even if Template Monster be back in some time it will take it lots of time/efforts/money to get the same positions and restore the reputation or is it Google who has to restore it?

I’ve managed to find an interesting discussion on ‘Google banned my site!’ problem with Webmaster World forum. There’re lots of assumptions there on what is the reason for being banned by Google (for ‘white hat’ projects only) but none of the assumptions can be trusted ‘cause can’t be tested.

P.S.
Btw, I like the idea to ban Google in exchange! I wonder what Template Monster think about the idea.

It seems that Google has banned Template Monster completely. If you look for templatemonster with Google now you will get a list of some of their affiliates. But no real Template Monster there!

I’m not sure what has happened as there are no comments on the situation from TM’s team.
For those who do not remember the right URL here it goes: http://www.templatemonster.com

I don’t know really… I’m not a designer neither musician but Cameron Moll (from Authentic Boredom) is going to find out…

So if you are a designer and a musician at the same time e-mail him some info about you to help him with his research.

He promised to share the results.

This is the article by David Hogue, released by Macromedia and published with their site actually.

There’re some basics on how to start developing a project using Rich Internet Applications (Flash or Flex). All the points are basic but they are rarely followed especially by newbs.

-To read it or not?
-It depends… If you would like to get some promotion with WebPagesThatSuck than you’d better do not read it.

By Kimberly Krause Berg

Realy good article! Worth reading before launching a web page of your own. If you already have a website it may make you redesign it!

The questions:
What is your real aim when starting a web site? Are you honest with your visitors? Do you really care about them? Do you want them to come back? etc. etc. etc.

All the questions discussed are the basic ones BUT they still need to be answered before starting a web page…

I’m not sure if it’s a team or the only developer. Anyhow, with this project you can find about 18 templates with rather simple design but with good coding and they are free…
With each template you will find some comments describing on how to use the template and what features or disfeatures it has.

I especially liked the design of Sweet’ N ‘simple and Pastel Dreams.

Just came across with Gordon Mackay’s project. He is an aspiring web dev from Scotland and he offers some really nice (and simple) templates with his site (blog).

The templates go with HTML, CSS and Macromedia Fireworks (PNG). CSS is perfect. Though there are some mistakes in HTML files they are not critical and can be fixed easily.