What if you want to create websites on your iPad? And they have to be stunning, almost like following Apple’s design language? Turns out, there’s a tool for it.
Blocs is a unique product: It’s for Mac and iPad users to build website for Mac and iPad users: People, who like and enjoy beautifully designed website. And so, the product too gives its user an aesthetic pleasure when working with it.
Why did you read so many times for Mac and iPad users? That’s because its Blocs is a native app for Mac and for iPad. You download and install it on your Mac or iPad. Then you work with Blocs to create your website. You design it with with a little dragging and dropping but without writing code.
Blocs was created by Cazoobi, a British, family run indie software company. It gets regular updates that add new features and irons out any bugs. It’s currently available in version 5.
Pros and cons of Blocs
With Blocs, you build websites by stacking pre-built blocks, like Lego bricks, into a website. Hence the name “Blocs” and the pre-built elements are “brics”.
To use it, you need to install it on your Mac or iPad. What makes it unique is that you can buy Blocs as a one-off purchase with no subscription or recurring fees – including future updates to version 5. Of course, if you want to upgrade to the next version, version 6. You’ll be buying the new version. But don’t worry, the prices are very reasonable.
You can try it for free with a limited feature set before you buy. This review was written using the free licence.
Pros
- Very easy to use yet makes great looking sites
- Cost effective with 1 time purchase without recurring fees
- No hidden fees
- No sneaky upsell
- No need for internet connection and you can work offline (like on the train)
- You can build as many websites as you want
- You can design for WordPress, that is, design the theme and use WordPress as your CMS
- Full control
- Extensive documentation
- You can export the code (with the paid version)
Cons
- Full control can also be a downside: You need basic web development knowledge because you need to know about hosting, domains, and so on because you’l be setting up everything.
- No built-in FTP manager
Who is Blocs for?
If you dream of having full control yet don’t want to lose convenience and speed, try working with Blocs. It’s fast and easy-to-use. That said, you need to be familiar with web development or ready to get to grips with it.
If words like, hosting, FTP, and the like gives you goosebumps but still like the idea of working with a native application, then check out Universe.
Blocs is like the classic tools Dreamweaver or Rapidweaver in that it makes “coding by hand” a lot easier and faster.
How easy is it to use Blocs?
As with all software and applications, you need to spend some time getting to know them. Blocs is no different. But if you’ve used any kind of website builder or know how to drag and drop, you’ll find Blocs super easy to use and you’ll be building in no time.
First you need to install the iPad or Mac version. Blocs is very well designed and well thought out, so it will ask you very practical things such as
- If you want to enable automatic project backups
- If you want Blocs to automatically embed assets (saves you an extra step).
Not unlike most website builders, you start by choosing your template. Then you get to work, stacking the pre-built blocks like Lego bricks until you have the structure you want. Use the visual styling controls to tweak the elements of your site.
Brics (individual design elements such as text and buttons) and Blocs make building your site less of a headache.
Blocs store
When you download Blocs you’ll see that Blocs doesn’t have what you’d normally call a templates library. It gives you only 5 templates to choose from.
You can however access its Blocs store where you can purchase blocs, bricks and templates. You can also find and buy tutorials.
Customer support
For an indie outlet, you can find all the bells and whistles in terms of customer support and self help that you may wish for. There’s the self help knowledge centre with articles, how to guides and videos. You’ll also find an active community forum. If you want to contact Blocs support, submit an email ticket.
Pricing and variants
You can get basic Blocs with which you can design all kinds of websites and in any number you want with the one time purchase of $99.99.
If you want to be able to make use of Blocs integrated support for a range of third-party content management systems; in other words, if you want to design a theme for the CMS WordPress, add another $49.99. In total, if you don’t happen to chance upon a special sales, you’ll be shelling out $149.98.
Is Blocs right for you?
If you design websites for a living, Blocs lets you create beautiful websites without programming. Imagine being able to quickly create (and sell) WordPress themes in Blocs. It’s an alternative to Rapidweaver, Sparkle and Dreamweaver.
If you just need a website for your organisation or project, or if you don’t want to worry about the underlying stuff like hosting or FTP and the like, have a look at Siter.
Original post here: Blocs review
No comments:
Post a Comment