The RubeTube

If you've accidentally discovered that labels will still be listed for a post with the old templating system (like I have), then you must be a bit annoyed that you can't change the way they look. A closer inspection of the Blogger-generated HTML reveals that the labels (e.g., "Labels: Blogger Beta, hacks") are enclosed in a paragraph (p tag) with a CSS class of "blogger-labels".

If you know how to edit your blog's template (I've written a short how-to here), it's a simple matter of handling the blogger-labels class by editing your stylesheet. This is how I made the labels look just a bit smaller than the entry text:

.blogger-labels { font-size: 0.86em; }

Next hack: How to change the way the labels are listed. I want to change the header from "Labels: " to "Filed under: " and get rid of the comma delimiter. Haven't found a way so far.

Labels: Blogger Beta, hacks

I screwed up big time in my Blogger beta testing. I thought I had layouts all figured out, but at one point it was so bad that my blog started generating "404 Not Found" errors. Conclusion: Blogger Beta's layouts system sucks. It'd be awesome if someone was kind enough to write an easy-to-understand tutorial, but as it stands, trying to customize it is just not worth it.

Heck, I wouldn't even have bothered with layouts if I knew that the labels worked with the old templating system. I was surprised when I reverted back to my old template and I saw that the labels that I tried out were still there! Notice that I went back through all my blog entries and retroactively labeled all 50+ of them. Whew.

What I could've used from the new layouts is the widget that lists all the labels I've used. I haven't figured out a hack yet but for now, you can head over to the RubeTube on Technorati to explore my tags/labels; it's there on the upper-left. (It's not updated in real-time though)

Labels: Blogger Beta, rant, RubeTube, Technorati

Currently experimenting with the new layouts feature in Blogger Beta, so please do not be surprised if The RubeTube's appearance keeps changing every other minute.

Thank you for your patience.

Labels: Blogger Beta, RubeTube

This handy-dandy tip is for Blogger users who want to get rid of the Blogger NavBar that pollutes the top of your blog. If you've decided that you simply cannot live without the NavBar, then turn away before things get messy.

Edit your blog's template and add the following HTML code in between the <head>...</head> section of your template. It should be near the top.

<style type="text/css">
#b-navbar { height:0px; visibility:hidden; display:none; }
</style>

For Blogger beta users, use #navbar-iframe instead of #b-navbar:

<style type="text/css">
#navbar-iframe { height:0px; visibility:hidden; display:none; }
</style>

If you already have an existing CSS stylesheet, then simply add the above rule for #b-navbar (#navbar-iframe for beta users).

BTW, I am not saying that you should remove the NavBar. I believe that you should have a choice in whether or not you want a NavBar on your Blogger blog, especially if you think that it affects your site's aesthetics (like I do). Consider that having a NavBar can be a benefit to your readers, especially to those who like to blog-hop.

Also, another thing to consider. I'm not a lawyer, but after carefully reading through the Terms of Service, I don't believe that removing the NavBar counts as a violation. Take a closer look at point #10, which states that you can't remove Blogger's advertising. I don't think the NavBar counts as advertising; they don't make any money from having it displayed. However, be a nice fella and provide a link or a button back to Blogger somewhere on your blog.

Labels: Blogger, Blogger Beta, hacks

Three minor changes to my blog over the past day:

• A button to Pinoy Top Blogs over there on the bottom of the sidebar. Keep on hitting my blog to boost my ego, or at least get me to the top 150. Also click on the button to vote for the RubeTube. I don't know if the voting system actually works though.
  
  
• 
  A nifty favicon, hosted online at MyFavatar. Image courtesy of Wikipedia. Looks kickass, doesn't it? I got sick of that crummy Blogger "B" icon. If you can't see a tiny Rubik's cube icon in your address bar or browser tab, clear your browser cache and reload.
  
  
• 
  Finally, an upgrade to Blogger Beta. Saw the invitation to switch to the beta on my Blogger dashboard and didn't hesitate to click. I want to start using labels, but since they're not yet supported by the old templating system, I'll have to wait awhile.

Man, that favicon really looks kickass.

Labels: Blogger Beta, RubeTube

It's been a while since Blogger's had any new features. There's good reason to believe that Google's been ignoring the Blogger community while the rest of the blogosphere (e.g., WordPress, LiveJournal) has been steadily moving forward.

Google has recently rolled out "Blogger Beta". Check out the new features here: a blog designer, more feed options, and of course, labels (didn't I predict they would use the term "labels"?). Kudos to Google for listening to their users and finally getting back on track in the free-blogs competition.

Like any Google beta, not all existing Blogger users have been given an invitation to migrate their blogs to Blogger Beta. However, unlike your usual Google beta, anyone is free to try it out.

Thank you once again Google, for all your hard work, but where's my invitation?!?

Labels: Blogger, Blogger Beta