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WordPress Theme Showcase – Fall 2010 Edition

Posted on November 18, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

With about a month until Christmas and the end of 2010 I wanted to take some time to showcase 3 of the hottest Premium WordPress themes around today.  As more and more people adopt the use of pre-designed themes it only makes sense to showcase these themes.  You may be a designer considering developing themes for a platform like WordPress, Joomla, ExpressionEngine or any one of a number of other options but regardless here are some excellent options for those of you looking at a pre-built WordPress theme for your website.

Theme Name: “Venture”

Theme Developer: StudioPress

Theme Type: CMS

Compatible with: WordPress 3.0 and up

Framework: Genesis Theme Framework

Points of Interest:

Cost: $24.95 for the child theme (if you already have the Genesis Theme Framework) or $79.95 for the Venture Child Theme and the Genesis Theme Framework

Theme Name: “Prose”

Theme Developer: StudioPress

Theme Type: CMS

Compatible with: WordPress 3.0 and up

Framework: Genesis Theme Framework

Points of Interest: With this theme, they’ve developed what they refer to as “point-and-click” design controls which basically make it easy for you to make changes quickly to fonts and colors.  What this means is that even novice people wanting to develop their own website can do so without having to know and understand a lot of coding to make changes to this WordPress theme.

Cost: $34.95 for the child theme (if you already have the Genesis Theme Framework) or $84.95 for the Prose Child Theme and the Genesis Theme Framework together

Theme Name: “Foodilicious”

Theme Developer: Templatic

Theme Type: CMS

Compatible with: WordPress

Framework: None

Points of Interest:

Cost: $65 for a single use license (if you only want to use this theme on one website) and $99 for a multiple use license (if you want to use this on multiple websites).

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WordPress Theme Showcase – Summer 2010 Edition

Posted on July 17, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

Ah July! The summer here in Canada and just like the summer heat the WordPress Theme Development companies have been releasing some of the hottest WordPress themes that WordPress theme development companies like StudioPress, Templatic and WooThemes have been coming up with lately.  Depending on what you are looking for in a WordPress Theme there is a lot of choice out there so it’s time to showcase what’s the latest and greatest.


Theme Name: “Hospitality”

Theme Developer: Templatic Themes

Theme Type: CMS, Portfolio

Compatible with: WordPress

Cost: $65 for the single site license; $99 for the multiple site license


Theme Name: “Emporium”

Theme Developer: Templatic Themes

Theme Type: E-Commerce

Compatible with: WordPress

Cost: $65 for the single site license; $99 for the multiple site license

Theme Name: “Store Front”

Theme Developer: Templatic Themes

Theme Type: E-Commerce

Compatible with: WordPress

Cost: $65 for the single site license; $99 for the multiple site license

Theme Name: “News Flash”

Theme Developer: Templatic Themes

Theme Type: Magazine

Compatible with: WordPress

Cost: $65 for the single site license; $99 for the multiple site license

Theme Name: “Rejuvenate”

Theme Developer: Templatic Themes

Theme Type: CMS

Compatible with: WordPress

Cost: $65 for the single site license; $99 for the multiple site license

Theme Name: “Coda”

Theme Developer: WooThemes

Theme Type: Magazine, News

Compatible with: WordPress

Cost: $70 for the standard license; $150 for the developer license

Theme Name: “Inspire”

Theme Developer: WooThemes

Theme Style: Business, CMS, Portfolio

Compatible with: WordPress, Drupal and ExpressionEngine

Cost: $70 for the standard license; $150 for the developer license

Theme Name: “Education”

Theme Developer: StudioPress

Theme Style: CMS

Compatible with: WordPress 2.9.2 and higher

Cost: $24.95 for the child theme; $79.95 for the child theme + Genesis Framework

Theme Name: “Freelance”

Theme Developer: StudioPress

Theme Style: CMS

Compatible with: WordPress 2.9.2 and higher

Cost: $24.95 for the child theme; $79.95 for the child theme + Genesis Framework

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Product Review: Going Green WordPress Theme

Posted on May 6, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

StudioPress_GoingGreen

Maybe it’s because its spring or maybe it’s because it was recently earth day but whatever the reason is behind StudioPress releasing its “Going Green” Premium WordPress Theme it’s just a really fresh and funky kind of website theme.  It was designed by one of StudioPress’ all-star designers by the name of Josh Byers.  Josh Byers comes to StudioPress with over 13 years of web design experience working with major universities, a-list movie stars and small businesses.

Big Selling Points of the Going Green WordPress Theme

Large Featured Post Area – This is something that theme development companies sometimes seem to miss or simply forget.  When you think about real estate on a website having a featured content area gives your content a lot of “eyeballs” on the page.

Widgetized Footer Area – Widgets are all the rage in WordPress theme development and I like the way that StudioPress has tied the three footer content areas into the overall look and feel of this theme.  That combined with the stylish fonts and visual effects bring it all together nicely.

Lots of variations on page layout – There are a number of page layout options available with the “Going Green” theme.  From “Content/Sidebar”, “Sidebar/Content”, “Content/Sidebar/Sidebar”, “Sidebar/Sidebar/Content”, “Sidebar/Content/Sidebar” and “Full Width Content” all allowing you options as to how you want to layout your website or blog.

Our Product Rating

Cost

10.0

Cost Comments:  The cost of the child theme is more than reasonable at $24.95 and the option to buy the theme with StudioPress’ Genesis Theme Framework at $79.95 is a great deal

Support & Documentation

8.0

Support Comments:  StudioPress provides access to its support forums which is great for those people who buy this theme and others that StudioPress owns however it would also be great if they included formal documentation with each theme.

Usability

9.0

Usability Comments:  I just like the navigation components, the font sizes and non-confusing jargon.  The theme is an eye catching and easy to use and read.

Web Browser Compatibility

7.5

Browser Compatibility Comments:  I personally had some issues with the theme in Internet Explorer but overall it’s a very solid theme

Overall Rating

8.6

SpicyWebDesigners.com rates products on a scale from 0 to 10 with 0 being the worst and 10 being the best. A typical product review includes looking at Cost, Support and Documentation, Usability, Web Browser Compatibility (using Google Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer).

Final Comments about this theme:

The “Going Green” Premium WordPress Theme is well worth the money if you are looking for a theme to start your blog that offers a lot or a website that you are looking to give a fresh style to.  If web browser compatibility is a big issue than you may want to conduct your own tests to ensure that this theme is for you.  Lastly, the support that is provided is good but offering a user guide with the sale of a theme could help newer and less experienced users customize their themes.

Website Theme Specs:

Framework: Genesis Theme Framework
Layout Options: 2 or 3-columns, fixed-width, theme-options, threaded-comments
Theme Vendor: StudioPress
Requirements: WordPress 2.9.1 or higher
Web hosting Requirements: Linux / UNIX based web hosting

How much is “Going Green” going to cost me?

The “Going Green child theme” option sells for $24.95 and includes access to the latest and greatest theme tutorials, limited customization and support available through StudioPress’ private forum. The child theme option requires the Genesis Theme Framework to function as designed.

Click here to buy

The “Going Green child theme & Genesis theme framework” option sells for $79.95 and includes the “Metric” child theme and all mentioned features above and the Genesis Theme Framework

Click here to buy

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Hello Premium WordPress Theme by Templatic

Posted on April 29, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

The “Hello” premium WordPress theme was developed by Templatic. This theme is a magazine style theme that allows you to create a magazine website.

The Hello theme includes some features like a one click – automatic installation option, PSD file included to allow you to customize the look how you want it, breadcrumb and drop down navigation options, built in Ad monetization so that you can sell ad space and a host of other features that Templatic develops into each of its premium WordPress themes.

Website Theme Specs:
Framework: None
Layout Options: N/A
Theme Vendor: Templatic
Requirements: N/A
Web hosting Requirements: Linux / Unix based web hosting

Pricing Options:

The “Hello” Premium WordPress Theme sells a single use license for $65.00 including theme support a special member area and an installation guide for use on one website

Click here to buy

The “Hello” Premium WordPress Theme also sells multiple use license for $99.00 including access to the original PSD (Photoshop Document) files, theme support a special member area and an installation guide for use on an unlimited number of websites

Click here to buy

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Diarise by WooThemes

Posted on April 23, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

The “Diarise” premium WordPress theme was developed by Mark Forrester, one of the guys behind WooThemes. The theme itself was designed to help showcase events and may help those of you or run a business that is event-based like an event planner.

It includes a number of great features like an event calendar, a featured post scroller, a completely modular homepage design, Woo Custom Navigation and WooFramework2 just to name a few of the great features this theme has.

Website Theme Specs:

Framework: Woo Framework2
Layout/Themes Options: Event Calendar, Woo Custom Navigation, 8 alternative color styles
Theme Vendor: Woo Themes
Requirements: N/A
Web hosting Requirements: Linux / Unix based web hosting

Pricing Options:

The Standard “Diarise” Premium WordPress Theme sells for $70.00 but does not include the associated PSD files and only allows you to minimal customization.

Click here to buy

The Developer “Diarise” Premium WordPress Theme sells for $150.00 and includes the associated PSD files so that you can customize your theme

Click here to buy

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Customize your StudioPress Theme

Posted on April 23, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

If you’ve had the chance to get a StudioPress premium WordPress theme to run your website then you should know that it’s possible much like with any other website theme you buy. For the “Do It Yourself” web designers, one of the things that I like is that StudioPress posts articles from time to time about how to use their themes, how to customize them and work with their Genesis Theme Framework.

Recently they posted an article on “How to Customize the Background with CSS” that speaks about customizing a StudioPress theme using the Genesis Theme Framework. Now for those of you who know the ins and outs of web design this probably won’t appeal towards you because it’s a little basic for a highly skilled web designer but for those of you looking for some help with your StudioPress theme it’s worth reading so click here to read more.

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Metric WordPress Theme by StudioPress

Posted on April 19, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

The “Metric” premium WordPress theme was developed by StudioPress and designed by one of their creative professionals by the name of Lauren Mancke from Columbia, South Carolina.

This is just an all around great WordPress theme that allows users to develop a slick website using StudioPress’ Genesis Theme Framework, the various theme options available and the ability to customize.

Website Theme Specs:
Framework: Genesis Theme Framework
Layout Options: 2 or 3 columns, fixed width, theme options, threaded comments
Theme Vendor: StudioPress
Requirements: needs at least WordPress 2.9.1 or higher
Web hosting Requirements: Linux / Unix based web hosting

Pricing Options:

The “Metric child theme” option sells for $24.95 and includes access to the latest and greatest theme tutorials, limited customization and support available through StudioPress’ private forum. The child theme option requires the Genesis Theme Framework to function as designed.

Click here to buy

The “Metric theme & Genesis theme framework” option sells for $79.95 and includes the “Metric” child theme and all mentioned features above and the Genesis Theme Framework

Click here to buy

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WP Store by Templatic

Posted on April 16, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

The “WP Store” premium WordPress theme was developed by Templatic. Templatic has done some development to help you turn WordPress which is primarily a content management system into an ecommerce system.

It includes some great features like a one click auto install option, different modes of shopping cart including the traditional shopping cart, a digital shop and catalog mode.

Website Theme Specs:
Framework: None
Layout Options: N/A
Theme Vendor: Templatic
Requirements: N/A
Web hosting Requirements: Linux / Unix based web hosting

Pricing Options:

The “WP Store” Premium WordPress Theme sells a single use license for $65.00 including theme support a special member area and an installation guide for use on one website

Click here to buy

The “WP Store” Premium WordPress Theme also sells multiple use license for $99.00 including access to the original PSD (Photoshop Document) files, theme support a special member area and an installation guide for use on an unlimited number of websites

Click here to buy

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Boast by WooThemes

Posted on April 15, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

The “Boast” premium WordPress theme was developed by WooThemes to be very web browser compatible with the major browsers like Safari, Internet Explorer and Firefox. The theme itself was designed with business in mind by giving users a glossy and shiny layout.

It includes a number of great features like a featured slider, widget scrolling, WooFramework2 and a whole host of other features allowing you to get online with a solid website.

Website Theme Specs:
Framework: Woo Framework
Layout Options: N/A
Theme Vendor: Woo Themes
Requirements: N/A
Web hosting Requirements: Linux / Unix based web hosting

Pricing Options:

The Standard “Boast” Premium WordPress Theme sells for $70.00 but does not include the associated PSD files and only allows you to minimal customization.

Click here to buy

The Developer “Boast” Premium WordPress Theme sells for $150.00 and includes the associated PSD files so that you can customize your theme

Click here to buy

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Landscape by StudioPress

Posted on April 13, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

The “Landscape” premium WordPress theme was developed by StudioPress. This theme has a clean and very visual layout and makes excellent use of the space on the page.  This WordPress theme allows users to develop a website using StudioPress’ Genesis Theme Framework.

Website Theme Specs:
Framework: Genesis Theme Framework
Layout Options: 2 or 3 columns, various theme options, threaded comments
Theme Vendor: StudioPress
Requirements: needs at least WordPress 2.9.1 or higher
Web hosting Requirements: Linux / Unix based web hosting

Pricing Options:

The “Landscape child theme & Genesis Theme Framework” option sells for $79.95 and includes access to the latest and greatest theme tutorials, limited customization and support available through StudioPress’ private forum.

Click here to buy

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