Template Monster Themes
July 6th, 2006
Back in Feburary, I stumbled upon some free templates from Template monster. I made some comments here on this blog about how ironic I found it that they were table based. The irony was that one of the tables based designs were based on Cameron Moll’s design. The same Cameron Moll who expounds on the virtues of CSS and XHTML. I summed up with a snide comment, “get with the program”. Little did I know, that they came across my comment, and have indeed attempted to step up to the plate and make their WP designs CSS and XHTML based. Before I get into the details and observations about that aspect of things, a little more about the themes, and how I came about them.
I was contacted by their marketing department to gauge my interest in reviewing the new designs. I was given the opportunity to browse their catalog, and choose one, which then I would be given a key to download and use. I’ve done so, and since then it appears several other nice looking themes have been added. All the themes range right around $50 for the off the shelf price. If you want the unique design for yourself, that is, no one else can download it after you, the price jumps to around $720. The $50 price, isn’t bad, considering you get the photoshop files that were used to produce the theme, which all are very graphics based. I’m assuming you can alter those files for your own, which means you can tweak the $50 design to not look exactly like an another. The caveat being you can not redistribute the theme or files.
For the most part, all the themes are the standard two column design, with either a left or right hand sidebar. So far nothing jumps out as being in the vein of the newer, no sidebar, big footer designs. One thing I’d suggest to Template Monster is to incorporate the use of the widgets plugin if you are going to produce those type of designs. The big thing all bloggers want is the ability to customize their blog, add content to the sidebar, etc. All the designs I looked at, including the the one I downloaded, simply have a list of categories, archives, and links. The widgets system would give the most basic user the ability to easily customize their blog, and would be a good selling point in my opinion. Would also help cut down on support help, I’m sure.
Now, onto the the move from tables to CSS/XHTML. On the surface, it does appear they have created valid XHTML designs. But upon closer inspection, the style sheet rings of tables still, with the main wrapper a class called .table, with a resulting class .table_row. In addition, all the wrapper divs are classes, despite being unique divs (which, from my understanding of CSS, should make them #ids, not .classes). Not to mention, from my inspection, all the containing divs do a display:table, which, does validate, but for an end user trying to customize their theme, will be confusing, IMO, and smacks of a short cut. I have coded enough WP themes myself without the use of display:table to think it’s not a necessary part of the design.
Another missing element of the designs is the use of style for heading tags. For instance all headings are using inline style fonts sizes, as well as the strong tag, vs setting h2 tags around post titles and sidebar headings. Not to mention, there’s no h1 tag for the title, which, again, in my understanding, is a bad thing when it comes to search engines. Ultimately, the end user is being forced into using the style as is, or editing the template pages, versus the style sheet where it’s meant to be. It also is limiting in the content, as one persons blog is not another’s. In general, I think much more effort could be made to separate the style from the templates, and give the end user a little more control over fine tuning how their content is displayed, especially the posts themselves. I short study of either the default or classic theme that comes packaged with all WordPress downloads would easily expose the many options WP offers in post output and style.
Let me be clear, I’m not a CSS expert, I have honestly only been using it on a regular basis for about a year and half, and have not learned the intricacies of proper semantic mark-up and separation of style. But I have spent a generous amount of time studying the argument, and believe I have a firm grasp of where the WordPress community generally is taking such design. Not to mention, I’ve seen time and time again in the support forums request for help for such issues with other, similar type themes. So in summation, I believe the Template Monster team will continue to develop their WordPress designs to fit the needs of the community, and in the mean time, if you are looking for a basic, well done, graphic oriented theme, and haven’t found one of the multitude of free themes to fit your eye, they are a very good choice. Particularly if you are starting a blog with a theme in mind, they have quite a few designs meant specifically for DJs, bands, and other niche topics
Popularity: 100% [?]
Thank god for someone like you who writes so extensively about this. I read their response and it’s extremly unprofessional in my opinion. You can read it there.
I hope they stop finding excuses and do what it takes to make their templates comptible to all, XHTML valid and easy to maintain.
How come every other theme creator that does it for free can do it? The guy who created the theme is just plain lazy or not too good at it, IMO.
Thats because they rarely do any actual coding.
Just make the layout in photoshop, slice it up, and then use imageready or something to chuck out the finished product.
Thanks. I’ve been wondering what TM designs were up to. I.e. no good.
Colorful, though.
I do not want to think that I was implying they are up to no good. I simply gave thorough review off ALL aspects of their themes. I think for the cost, to a new user who can’t afford to hire a designer, and want a themed design, they are great. I do think the use of CSS and WP code could be improved though.
I love your designs and even bought one of your Wordpress templates. Sadly it did not meet my requirements and is unlikely to ever be used as a result.
ya rite but some times its not work yaar. Give me some more info http://www.metrovillez.com
Natural Herbalz – We Care Your Health
An America’s Best Online Natural herbal health care products Review Store On Mens and Womens health, Skin Care, General Health, Sexual Health, Hair Care, Weight loss and More Health Care products, Treatments, Articles and Information. http://www.naturalherbalz.com
We provides best natural herbal health care products and reviews on mens health, womens health, general health, sexual health, skin care, oral care, vitamins and nutrition, colon health and beauty products at http://www.herbalproductsreview.com
Penis enlargement medicines and best natural
male enhancement ways to enlarge penis size in girth and
width to enlarge penis naturally. A Review website on penis
enlargement pills, patches, devices, exercises,
pumps and oil at http://www.penisenlargementmedicine.com
Hello, i am glad to read the whole content of this blog and am very excited and happy to say that the webmaster has done a very good job here to put all the information content and information at one place, i will must refer this information with reference on my website i.e http://www.weightlossproductz.com
http://www.weightlossproductz.com
Online Pharmacy with FDA Approved Generic Viagra, Natural Gain Plus, Enlast Formula, Virility Ex Pills, Acnezine, Natural Pain Relief, Hoodia Gordonii, Breast Actives, Lip Plumper, Anti Aging Solution, Acnezine, Acne Spot Treatment at Lowest Prices. Visit : http://www.theherbalproducts.com
VigRX Plus™ has been clinically proven to be an extremely effective and successful penis enlargement pill. With more than 90% of individuals reporting a significant increase in the length and the girth of their penis after 3 months, VigRX Plus™ has an incredible success ratio.
At home penis enlargement methods seem to be a topic that has taken on a life of its own, almost to water cooler type gossip status. The reasons for this are several, starting with the taboo nature of it all, mixed more prominently with the fact that male enhancement is a very real issue for most men. The health and research involved in the methods are more accessible than ever, and because of this it is wise to peek inside to that world for those wanting a larger penis.
penisenlargement products reviews by consumer best choice to select one of the best penis enlargement system to get longer, larger and harder penis size with powerful erection and long time penis result and permanent straight and big penis at http://www.penissizeenlargement.net
i will really all this spam links to google band tool, because webmaster makes blogs for making discuss and for solving each other problems. I am glad to post my views and points in this blog, but I must say that webmaster of this blog has done a very great job to make his blog more informative and more discussable but unfortunately everything is same here that more than 80% in this and other blogs post their comments for making spam!!! thanks http://www.penisenlargement-vigrx.com/
These natural capsules contain 100% herbal ingredients. The right pills taken in the right way can restore your sexual function without unpleasant side effects. You do not require a doctor’s prescription. Most leading brands have been formulated by professional teams of medical doctors with many years of experience and research. Avoid any herbal pill that promises instant results the minute you take them as they are likely to contain less than 100% natural ingredients.
penis enlargement pills products reviews like vigrx plus, vimax, prosolution, penis enlargement extenders, devices and penis enlargement pumps that enlarge penis size naturally up 3-4 inch in a month. http://www.bestpenisproducts.com
Vimax, Vigrx Plus, and Prosolution may be up best penis enlargement pills available, and can increase the size of the penis between 3-4 inches with as little as 2 weeks. http://www.pill-penisenlargement.com
I am glad that the blog owner has chosen a very interesting matter in order to spread huge knowledge among people.I would like to congratulate for this hard work to the blog owner and would like to be part of his blog by submitting comments.We our selves is an Online Store for Natural Products which contains a wide variety of Herbal products such as Penis Enlargement products, Weight Loss Products, General Health Products. Please visit us and get yourself one of the best Herbal products which does not have any kind of side effects and which will solve your problems.thanks
http://www.naturalherbalsinc.com
Discover the best penis enlargement products, that reviews by best penis enlargement consumer review result to get the best penis enlargement products that really works. get the real penis enlargement truth at http://www.penis4enlargement.com
Want Enlarge Your Penis Fast and Safe?
Order The BEST Penis Enlargement Pills NOW
Vimax – 100% safe and natural penis enlargement!
Just a few weeks and your woma’ll thank you!
Attention! Special Offers only this week! Check it NOW!
Look at Penis Enlargement pills prices HERE. HUGE DISCOUNT!
more information : http://www.penisenlargement4male.com