New mobile templates for reading on the go

Posted by Jiho Han, Software Engineer

We know many of you like to view blog posts on your smartphones. However, it can be difficult at times because of the small screen size. This is why we are excited to announce our first launch of mobile templates! Initially available as opt-in functionality on Blogger in Draft, mobile templates will re-format your blogs for smartphones to enhance your readers’ viewing experience. In order to activate mobile templates, simply go to Dashboard > Settings > Email & Mobile tab, enable the mobile template option and then save settings.

Feature highlights

• Preview: Get a glimpse of what your blog will look like by clicking on the Mobile Preview button. You can also see it on your smartphone by scanning the QR-code to the right of the options.
• Automatic redirection: All opted-in blogs will automatically be redirected to the mobile view when accessed from a smartphone*.
• Template support: We are initially supporting 6 variants of the Simple template and 6 variants of the Awesome template. If you have used one of these 12 templates through our Template Designer, your mobile view will be rendered in the same style as your desktop view (other template variants will be rendered as Simple). Some gadgets are also supported**.

• Mobile ads: Mobile AdSense ads will be displayed at the top of the post pages and at the bottom of the index page if the blog has an AdSense gadget or inline blog ads.

• Comments and videos: You will be able to make comments and watch videos.

We hope you enjoy the improved mobile experience. As always, we would love to hear from you so please feel free to tell us what you think through our feedback form.

*WebKit-based mobile browsers are supported for our initial launch.
**Supported gadgets/elements in this launch: Header, Blog, Profile, AdSense, Attribution.

INTERVIEW WITH JAMES

PJ1: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GROW DREADS?
JAMES: When I was in college I had cornrows, but when it was time to graduate and get a job, I wanted a style that was more socially acceptable without having to cut my hair. I was reluctant at first, because my mother and college roommate already had locs, so I wanted my own look. I had to put that aside since I didn't want to cut it.


PJ1: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN GROWING YOUR HAIR?
JAMES: I started growing it in 2000, I've had the locs since 2003.


PJ1: WAS YOUR TRANSITION DIFFICULT?
JAMES: Yes! My hair was already long when I started, so it didn't look too good in the very beginning. Also, I was going to a salon in Harlem where they were comb twisting it, which doesn't make for as neat a look. Now I go to a place where they palm twist, which keeps it neater and looking fresh longer.

PJ1: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOME WHO IS STRUGGLING IN THEIR TRANSITION?
JAMES: 1. Stick with it. It takes a while for your hair to actually loc (it took about 4-5 months for me), but once it does you'll be happy and have the look you want.
2. Find a good location who palm rolls. When I started, I was going to the wrong place, so I wasn't happy and I came close to cutting it.


PJ1: DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE HAIR STYLE?
JAMES: I'm not big into styling my locs. I've only done it once. I'm a low maintenance guy, so I just keep it in a ponytail. I like to be able to just pull it back and go.


PJ1: WORKING IN CORPORATE AMERICA, DID YOU HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ON GROWING YOUR HAIR OUT?
JAMES: I did have concerns at first, especially since they were new when I began looking for a job. Luckily, I found a place that was accepting and it hasn't been an issue.



PJ1: WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A ‘BAD HAIR DAY’?
JAMES: Because I keep it simple, I don't have bad hair days. Plus I get it done more often than most people. I workout so I sweat my hair out pretty quickly. That means getting it done every two weeks.



PJ1: DO YOU USE ANY PARTICULAR PRODUCT IN YOUR HAIR?
JAMES: I have no idea what they put in my hair lol. I know it's Indian hemp, but I'm not sure what type. Since I get it done so often I don't do any maintenance at home.


PJ1: DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO A WOMAN’S HAIR BEING NATURAL OR RELAXED?
JAMES: Without a doubt natural. I don't know why more women don't do it. It gives them the versatility to go curly or straight on a daily basis. What man wouldn't want a woman who can do that? I love natural girls!

BEFORE LOCS

ME NOW....

Search and Insert YouTube Videos

Blogger supports drop-dead easy video-blogging -- if you have a video file, you can just upload it to Blogger. But when it comes to video-blogging, we know a lot of you also choose to embed YouTube videos to your post.

Currently, adding a YouTube video to your post is fairly easy, but it still requires several steps of work: If you don't have the embed code already, you'd have to open a new browser window or tab, go to YouTube.com, search the video, and play the video to make sure it's the right video. Once you copy the embed code, you come back to your Blogger post and manually insert the code in your post.

We’ve just added a new Blogger in Draft feature that makes this process a lot easier. You don't have to open another tab or window; from your post editor, just click the Insert a Video button in the toolbar. In addition to the already existing Upload tab, you'll now see two new tabs: From YouTube and My YouTube videos.

In the From YouTube tab, you can search, browse, and play back YouTube videos all within the interface. If you have your own videos on YouTube, My YouTube videos tab will show them as well.

Once you choose the video, click on Select to insert the video to the post. You’ll then see a thumbnail image for the video, which you can move around in the post by drag-and-drop.

By the way, in case you didn’t know, it’s as easy to add a video to your blog from YouTube as it is to add a YouTube video in Blogger. While you are watching a YouTube video, click “Share” button, and you will see Blogger as one of the places you can share the video to. Click on Blogger, and you’ll see the familiar BlogThis! mini post editor -- all you have to do is to select a blog (if you have more than one blog, that is), fill out some content, and then Publish the post. Enjoy video-blogging!

MIX AND MATCH MONDAYS

I've been sitting here contemplating on posting this post because...well....it's not about hair. However, how I see it, my hair sometimes is an accessory and sometimes my hair IS my outfit. You CAN'T talk about hair without talking about fashion/makeup/beauty/etc...They all tie into each other...So just to spice things up a little, I'm going to add those topics in 'hair' and there. lol

So, this is more of an FYI for all of those MAC lovers....
Nicki Minaj has team up with MAC Cosmetics to design a limited edition product. Pink 4 Friday is the name of the lipstick that Nicki has designed and named to match her Pink Friday album.

The exclusive shade will cost $14.50 and Friday, Dec. 17th will be the LAST day you can purchase it.

So do you plan on purchasing Pink 4 Friday??
Drop me a line....
Signing off, CHAN, PJ1

WASH AND GO

Peace and blessings people,
So, you are probably wondering why I did a W&G on the middle of December.... Well, as I was updating the blog last night, my cousin (by marriage, whom I've never met before)walked in and the rest was a wrap. Rekita's hair is natural and she wears it in it's natural state. Her curls were so defined and health looking...so me being me began interviewing her (which I will be posting). -_-

One of the products that she uses to define her curls is Cantu Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment. I thought she was referring to the leave in treatment which is what I used in my hair for the braid-out that I have posted but it's another product of the Cantu line...So, seeing the results of her hair, I thought I'd give it a try.

So earlier today I watched her set her hair with this Cantu butter. She washed, towel dried and sectioned her hair off...Next she began taking pieces from the section, applying the product , and brushing it through with a denman brush. When she was done her hair was full of curls. Now I've seen this process done plenty of times but I've never seen results like this before.....So off to Target I went.... I purchases 2 Cantu Grow Strong Strengthening Treatments (one for her and one for me), and on my way to the register I saw an end cap full of ELF products on sale. Ladies, if you know anything about ELF, they have really nice makeup products for dirt cheap. I purchase and eyeshadow set of 8 color with an eyeliner/brush for $5...I said let me get out of here NOW before I go crazy...So I dashed back in the car and headed home to try this new product...you know how it is when you get a new product, you can't get home quick enough to try it.
So step by step, this is what I did:
-  EVOO/water mix first and let it sit for about an hour
- Cowashed hair with Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle conditioner
- Braided hair in 5 sections with 2nd round of conditioner
- Rinsed out and towel blotted hair
- Took one braid out, sprayed with EVOO/water mix ONCE
- Sectioned off pieces and began to apply product
- Brushed through with a denman brush
- Repeated last 3 steps until my whole head was completed.
I don't really agree with the whole 'number/letter' hair type chart but just to give you a visual, her hair type is 4A(blow dried) and 3C (wet) per Rekita. Now when my hair is wet its straight in some areas, curly in some areas, and puffy/frizzy in some...so with that being said, I don't know what my hair type is!

I will say I was impressed with the product but my hair is just uncontrollable in some areas, mainly the very center of my hair. It has a mind of it's own and it doesn't co-operate when I need it to. The product defined my curls with the help of the brush, but just couldn't get that middle under control. So I went back, rewet just the top of my hair, and applied Eco styler gel (Olive Oil) to the frizzy section to try to get more definition in my curls.
I will post pictures of the outcome....

Just applied product..still wet

Closer shot of curls (head hanging down)

75% Dry and sampling my new Elf products

So there you have it.....Now I will tell you, my hair looks better in the picture than in person.

I have NO IDEA what my hair is going to look like in the morning but I can already foresee I'm going to have a problem.

Product rating ~LOVING IT~

Signing off, Chan/PJ1