Moving from Squarespace 5 to Squarespace V6

So I finally found a theme that I kinda like at Squarespace 6.

At least it’s the best that I’ve seen so far. Like WordPress, Squarespace is really in the CMS/full website building business and is moving away from blogs. With that in mind, I was hesitant to make the switch.

There’s that, and Squarespace won’t let third party apps like Blogsy work with version 6.

I have no idea why this is. I’ve asked, heard nothing. fomola (Blogsy dev) has asked numerous times… nothing.

Seems stubborn.

But after spending some time looking at the UI and figuring out what does what, I’ve figured out something really, pretty important. SIX is damned powerful. It absolutely blows FIVE away. Tons of little things that I’ve wanted to do here, things that I’ve wanted to add that requires custom code, are just built-in options with SIX.

Now I just need to figure out the best way to move my content and move over to SIX.

There are still a lot of things that I don’t care for with SIX, but I think I can tweak most of it. Basically, it’s just not that readable and usable. I don’t like the typography. It still feels more like flash and style than substance. Also, I can’t seem to get autocorrect, text replacement and substitutions to work in the SSV6 editor.

But I guess people like that. I like this theme that I’ve been playing with. It’s a lot of work trying to get the new, old site up; meanwhile, I’m trying to plan out the rest of my writing. I’m going to add an entertainment section to talk about video games and anime. My personal stuff will be elsewhere, entirely (at the moment, it’s called “Bradtastica”), as well as politics. I don’t think I want to deal with all of those insipid comments insults.

By the way, is it just me, or is this Spacecraft website builder look a lot like… Squarespace 6?

New blogging platform Squarespace 6

I've been blogging with Squarespace for several years and it's been a great experience overall — especially so because my focus is on content instead of code. Squarespace is well organized and uses a clean, robust interface (complete with step-by-step guides) for adding widgets, pages and content. It also has a detailed traffic analyzer built-in. Squarespace has great customer service, too — businesses could learn a lot from them.

Oh yeah, Squarespace is also really pretty.

For Says Brad I use Squarespace 5, a platform tweaked and improved over the years that offers customizable templates, fancy modules and flexibility. The templates are gorgeous — much better looking than stock TypePad and WordPress offerings — sites look great from the get-go, and from there, unlimited tweaks and changes can be made to the themes. I like pretty and unique… I don't like to code. I like code itself, I'm just not that great at it. I don't study it, practice it, or keep up with its latest trends. I focus on graphics, design, branding and English. Programming isn't my forte.

Thusly, my website style options are fairly limited and updating the site's visuals is a significant endeavor. Squarespace 6 might be the answer.

Squarespace 6?

Squarespace 6 is a new platform, independent from 5. It uses templates and a beautiful WYSIWYG UI. Adding content is drag-and-drop, colors are chosen from a wheel — the demo I saw made it clear that 6 offers design flexibility that 5 cannot match without custom coding.

So I am thinking about switching. Right now, I enjoy blogging from my iPad using Blogsy; presently, Squarespace 6 is only compatible with the Squarespace app and desktop web browsers. I really like Blogsy — it's a beautiful app made by a dedicated team in South Korea run by Lance Barton — and I don't think I'd switch to SS6 until Blogsy is compatible. The iOS SS app has always had issues: faulty image uploads, lost images, blank posts, crashes, lost content — I don't trust it.

Other factors.

I can't really edit colors, layout and themes from my iPad as is (using Squarespace 5) so I don't expect that 6 will be different in that regard. However, SS6 themes have built-in mobile versions for smartphone and tablet browsing, potentially offering a better experience on the devices I love most. Maybe if/when I get a new MacBook Pro (with Retina display, maybe? *wishes*) I'll reassess.

If I were to switch, it won't be completely seamless and simple. It's not like updating an app on an iPhone; Squarespace 6 is incompatible with SS5 and some things might get lost in migration, as currently, the two lack parity. I read something about an import/export tool, but it sounds… frustrating, like more complications, stress.

I need to really study the themes and perhaps play with them first. Says Brad won't migrate anytime soon, but I want to get a portfolio site up to showcase my artwork and graphic design and Squarespace 6 might be the solution.

I'm looking for opinions and feedback on Squarespace 5 versus 6

I haven't tinkered with version 6 yet so I have no idea about its flaws or bugs, if any. I'm planning on moving away from TypePad because it's ugly and I get a lot of spam comments there, and I'm thinking I could ditch WordPress as well. I'm not actively using WP, but because it's practically an industry standard, I thought I should know how to use it because I occasionally get asked if I can design for it. However, if Squarespace 6 is what I think it is — it could be a fantastic small business solution — I'll eventually work on graphics for those SS6 sites, so…

Perhaps the better face-off is Squarespace 6 v. WordPress?

Brad uses Blogsy

Editing Squarespace on iOS

Used Zen Brush to create this little fisheye, top-down, big-eyed, sad-face crying-boy... why? Because I can't really edit my site using the iPad.

Perhaps for many people, this is no big deal. For me, it is. I do just about everything computer-related on my iPad or iPhone, because basically, I have to.

Squarespace has an iPad app, but it isn't great.

For the quick post (like this one), it's fine. You can check site stats from it as well, and it's far better than it was last year (in its early days, the Squarespace iOS apps would crash, lose content, post random stuff, delete images, and constantly notify "new comments" that weren't new). Both iPhone and iPad versions of the Squarespace app still have issues beyond missing features and lack of flexibility (like the comment issue — that still exists) but both are usable. I guess.

I'd really like to add/edit pages from the iPad

The poorly named The new iPad is just days away, and it's most remarkable feature (retina display) will make content creation and art a lot easier. Maybe Squarespace doesn't want to remake its iPad app... (I hope they do, I hate those old, blurry, pre-retina display iPhone apps) they could at least make their web-based UI mobile Safari friendly. It's impossible to consistently add content to and modify Squarespace site pages on iOS. Trying to edit the layout or change the site theme is even worse.

Thus, sad face.

Hey, people are allowed to be emo about Apple stuff. It's not like thing are any better on Android.

Helping people

My shoulder is throbbing and aching, my body is twitching, but the following is important to me.

I'm too tired and hurting too much to be eloquent and concise, so I hope this makes sense. (I want to write more about dealing with disability instead of taking time to edit this later)

I don't know where I'd be or how bad things would get if I didn't have tons of help and support from family, friends and even strangers. Tiny acts of kindness (that I used to overlook) now seem incredibly significant and even life-changing to me. I don't get out of the apartment much anymore, but I know that many people are even more isolated. I sincerely want to help and connect those people, and hopefully pay it forward, offering some kind of tip, tool, or encouragement that makes life better for someone else.

A lot of my knowledge comes from what I've read.

This "project" is work-in-progress, ever-changing, evolving... and massive — not something to be accomplished alone. If you'd like to help, please do; let me know — you don't have to help directly — maybe you have your own disability blog or know of one, can refer someone or link something beneficial. The Internet offers amazing accessibility but is also filled with scams and misinformation that create fear, uncertainty and stereotypes. The web is part of our legacy, and good people shouldn't stay silent and idle.

Closing comments: some stuff I use to share and stay (somewhat) sane.

Some of my iOS favorites: Noteshelf, ThinkBook, iA Writer, Evernote, SketchBook Pro, Infinite SketchPad and Wunderlist. It'll probably take awhile, but when I'm able, I'll setup a page to list my favorite iOS & Mac apps (with reviews/notes) — particularly apps that I think can help disabled people. I'll try to link tutorials as well.

I use Tumblr and Clibe, Instagram and now, MUJI Notebook. I like Hipstamatic as well, and iPhone photography with the olloclip (available online or at Best Buy). Let me know if you want an invite to my Clibe notebook.

Join Zurker, a social network you can own

Join me at Zurker!

Zurker is a new social network that I was invited to today, and a concept that seems very interesting. Unlike Google+ and Facebook, Zurker gives its users partial ownership of the network through vShares.

The concept seems like crowd-funding (like kickstarter) applied to a social network. Their intro video asks if you use social networks, or do they use you? Facebook sells user data to businesses, and while on the surface, this means better targeted, more relevant advertisements for users, it could be much more invasive. Just take a look at the Facebook user agreement, and tell me, do you know how to delete your account?

That's just the start. Facebook allows many applications developed by small firms to access most of your information, even when you aren't using the app. Facebook has privacy issues and has had security problems... and will again.

Zurker doesn't own your content or control your information. You can create pages for projects and businesses. The only caveat: you can only have the one account. But if you get in early, you can get more vShares, and get a nice username!

Join me.

It takes a few minutes, and hey, Zurker could be the next big thing, and you can own a piece of it! That sounds like smart long-term investing to me... and the entry fee? A few clicks, email validation, and account setup. Simple.

Six degrees of separation.

Just think, if I invite you, you invite your friends, and they invite theirs, a few more steps, and voila! everyone has a new online playground. Zurker feels like LinkedIn and Facebook together, and is designed for adults. Members will be able to vote on the direction of the network and its features. Sounds cool to me.

Whatever you decide, please let me know what you think.