Try having a look around the internet today (Wednesday 18th January) and you’ll soon run into a few roadblocks; especially if you’re trying to reach one of the most popular and arguably best encyclopaedic resource around, WikiPedia.

Big media and its allies in Congress are billing the Internet blacklist legislation as a new way to battle online infringement. But innovation and free speech advocates know that this initiative will do little to stop infringement online. What it will do is compromise Internet security, inhibit online expression, and slow growth in the technology sector.

As drafted, the legislation would grant the government and private parties unprecedented power to interfere with the Internet’s underlying infrastructure. The government would be able to force ISPs and search engines to block users’ attempts to reach certain websites’ URLs. In response, third parties will woo average users to alternative servers that offer access to the entire Internet (not just the newly censored U.S. version), which will create new computer security vulnerabilities as the Internet grows increasingly balkanized.

And don’t think that its just the US that will be affected by this – business worldwide is going to be strangled by this US Internet Sanction, read more and show your support here https://blacklists.eff.org/

The Dock Office

Manchester has been looking pretty impressive at nights recently; all the more so now we’re looking at it from our new office. After three years at Exchange Quay, we said farewell and have now moved on to a bigger and better premises, the Dock Office.

We’ve got enough room here to swing a lot of cats; all the more space to fill up with additional staff. Which leads us on to say,

we’re hiring again …

So if you are a developer with a good working knowledge of PHP, eager to learn more and work with a creative, smart and talented team – then get in touch!

http://www.sonassi.com/you-me-and-sonassi/recruitment/recruitment-manchester-web-developer-wanted/

We have an enthusiastic team and we are looking for another developer to join us!

Role

• Construct new standard compliant websites for our customer based on existing/bespoke designs
• Assist in the visual and interface design of sites that we develop
• To keep abreast of current best practices and emerging web technologies
• Assist in maintaining and enhancing existing customer websites

Proficiencies

• Proven experience in Web Development and Design
• Good Object Oriented PHP5 knowledge
• MVC frameworks (particularly Magento)
• Excellent (X)HTML and CSS knowledge, with an eye for web standards
• Good PHP knowledge (ideally OO PHP5)
• Good JavaScript knowledge (ideally jQuery and/or Prototype)
• Working knowledge of Photoshop

Key Skills

• Enthusiasm for Web Development and Design
• Excellent attention to detail
• A flair for graphical and interface design
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to build and maintain effective customer relationships
• Able to work effectively as an individual and also within the team

Experience

A minimum of 1 years experience and able to produce a strong portfolio of work.

Salary

Negotiable salary plus benefits

We have contacted all our customers individually to alert them of the change of account number and sort code, it will also be reflected on the bottom of all invoices sent out.

The old details will continue to be available for 6 months from today, after which the account will be permanently closed.

Due to the unpredictable nature of these events, we cannot confirm opening hours at this point.

We aim to be open between 10am and 4pm every day – should we be unavailable and you have an emergency request – please use the facility in http://theclientarea.info

We’ve had a few different revisions of sonassi.com throughout the years, aiming to keep our brand fresh – usually with a change about every 6 months. But looking back, although at the peak of design at the time, they look awful to look back on!

• Revision 1 (July 2008)
  
• Revision 2 (Dec 2008)
  
• Revision 3 (Feb 2009)
  
• Revision 4 (June 2009)
  
• Revision 5 (Nov 2009)
  
• Revision 6 (Feb 2011)
  

Christmas opening hours

We will be closed between 24th December 2010 until 5th January 2011.

Do you still offer support?

Yes. Any tickets sent in via theclientarea with an “Emergency” status will be processed within the 1hr response window as normal.

… but feel free to come back”

HTC dropped by today as expected to give us the world-wind tour of the HTC HD2 Windows Mobile Smartphone. Given I’m a Nokia fanboy, it was a hard sale, but I have to say I was pleasantly impressed. If not a bit iPhone-esque with its pinch zooming and kinetic scrolling, it worked well and didn’t feel slow or laggy at all. But given its 1GHz CPU – I should hope not! The photos were also particularly impressive with its touch-focus and 5MP camera.

But who cares about the phone

… what goodies did we get? Well, we can’t deny that bribery is the preferred method of business, and with food as the currency – you can’t go wrong with our team. Today’s bizarre gift from HTC was a Windows Mobile battenburg cake (featured left) – which I have to admit, was pretty creative. Also, one of the guys here are likely to win a free HTC HD2 just for participating!

All in all, it was a welcome break from the hard graft (don’t tell the clients though!) and nice to see a clever new gadget!

… well, you aren’t, but we are! HTC got in touch last week via Kreate Sales Promotion Consultants to offer Sonassi a promotional day to demonstrate the new features of the HTC HD2. We are eagerly waiting for the 30th March to see what the new handset has to offer.

We got sent out some promotional goodie bags with HTC branded noodles to complement the forthcoming event, don’t worry – we are equally confused as you are, we can’t see the link between phone and noodles – but who cares, they have become the new in-house currency in Sonassi.

the HD2

HTC HD2 delivers an experience your senses have been waiting for. The unprecedented 4.3-inch pixel-packed display is stunning. The world’s first capacitive touch technology on a Windows® phone along with 1 GHz processing power ensure a smooth and lightning-fast response to the lightest touch of your finger.

Most importantly, it is our first Windows phone to embody HTC Sense™ – a holistic experience that focuses on making phones work in the most intuitive way. HTC Sense is based on three core principles – make it mine, stay close, and discover the unexpected.

… for our SonassiHosting customers

As a gesture of goodwill – for the first 10 customers to drop us an email, we are willing to install our Magento WordPress extension FREE OF CHARGE.

We’ll even theme it a little where neccessary.

We are going to try and continue the trend by offering exciting free extensions installed free of charge to our Magento hosting customers.

Be quick though, it is strictly first come, first served – create a support ticket via theclientarea.info to get the ball rolling.