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It looks like Network Solutions just launched a new look to their website. A quick glance at the code shows the layout is mostly done without tables… (and it almost validates as HTML 4.01 Transitional) …but I’m not sure I like the new direction.

I liked the simplicity of the previous design. The new look seems forced. The gradients used in the top nav remind me of Office XP. The mouseover menus seem half done. I think the layout would work a little bit better if it were centered. I’m going to assume they needed to force a left-align to get some of the menu stuff to work.

The new layout is definitely cleaner than before. They’ve consolidated the homepage significantly, and it works in their favor. The homepage is much more organized too. I think clutter is what kills sites like GoDaddy.com… They try to jam way too much onto the homepage. NetworkSolutions definitely did the right thing by taking the “less is more” approach here.

Overall, I think the new look is okay… but I’m not overwhelmed by it. I’m most happy to see that they are adopting standards in this new layout.

It’s definitely a benefit to the Web Standards cause to have high-profile sites such as NetworkSolutions.com adopting web standards in their layouts.

Not sure when it was posted, but just saw that ActiveSync 3.8 is now available for download from the Windows Mobile website.

Download ActiveSync 3.8

Macromedia announced a new version of its Studio suite of application that will soon be available. This suite, which contains Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, Fireworks, Contribute and FlashPaper is available for preorder now, and will become available mid-September.

“The new release improves workflow features and includes new video encoding tools, new CSS enhancements, visual authoring tools for XML, and new tools for authoring and testing mobile content, said Jim Guerard, VP of Product Management for the tools business at Macromedia.

For more information on this announcement, check out this eWeek article, or hop on over to Macromedia for more Studio 8 goodiness.

From CNN.com: Nearly four months to the day since he announced in a hoarse voice on his evening newscast that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, longtime ABC “World News Tonight” anchor Peter Jennings died Sunday, according to the ABC News network. He was 67. Read more…

Rest in peace, Peter.

I mentioned last night that changes were coming. I wanted to show off a small glimpse of a design I am working on for a new version of cdharrison.com. It may be a while before it gets implemented, because I still need to work through some technology considerations before I take the plunge and invest in building out this new layout.

I am going to take a new approach with this new design. Traditionally, I have isolated my blog away from my content. This new design sets the blog as its primary focus, because, let’s face it – I’m not really trying to get new business from my site anymore. I haven’t bothered to update the portfolio in God knows how long. You get the drift.

Herzogenaurach / Canton, MA – The Boards of adidas-Salomon AG and Reebok International Ltd. decided that adidas will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Reebok for US$ 59.00 per share in cash. The offer price represents a premium of 34.2 percent over the closing price of Reebok’s stock on August 2, 2005. The transaction value is approximately €3.1 billion (US$ 3.8 billion) including the assumption of net cash of €69 million (US$ 84 million). The transaction is subject to the approval of Reebok’s shareholders as well as to the regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Both companies believe that the transaction will close in the first half of 2006.

Apple just announced a new mouse – The Mighty Mouse (trademark infringement anyone?), and it’s quite cool. What isn’t from Apple? It looks a lot like the current mouse offered by Apple with a catch. It now has a roller ball, and dual zones to emulate having two buttons while still maintaining one. You can also squeeze the sides of the mouse to call up Expose. Cool shtuff.

After spending a year in the boardroom, the National Hockey League decided it needed a little facelift.

As part of a marketing plan to revamp its image with the ratification of the collective bargaining agreement, the NHL unveiled an updated logo on Friday.

The new mark maintains its time-honoured shape of the original shield, but changes its dominant colour from orange to silver. It also “uses upward-reading letters to project a vibrant, optimistic image.”

The colour change, according to the NHL press release, is in homage to the sterling silver of the Stanley Cup.

NHL design director Paul Conway created the new shield. It is part of a comprehensive brand identity initiative launched last year.