New browser: Google ‘Chrome’
So Google have just announced that they’ll be launching their own browser at some point today: Google ‘Chrome’. So what does this mean for us (’us’ being the vigilant, awesome, honourable and every-so sexy web users)?
Well, I can’t speak for everyone but - upsettingly, perhaps - my first reaction is one of suspicion. The browser will provide unfettered access to user habits that Google were perhaps missing from monitoring the performance of Adwords, Google Analytics, Google Toolbar and iGoogle. I’m not sure if I want them to know all that!
But…well, they already know all that stuff. So one could argue that giving them this final bit of insight is rather a moot point, surely? And if it helps give us better results, then that’s not a bad thing…is it? Read on!
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Instant social network? Elgg 1.0 has been released
Just a quick update to say that I’ve downloaded and installed Elgg - an off-the-shelf open source social network that seems pretty packed full of rather awesome features, and is accessible!
I suggest you take a look if you’ve been thinking something along the lines of “Hmm: you know what’d be a vibrant online network? Discussions about whether bees need slippers!” or something along those lines.
Browsers and design - Photoguard.co.uk
Whilst looking for camera insurance, I stumbled across www.photoguard.co.uk. And I bet you can just guess what’s coming next …
A (short) critique of www.photoguard.co.uk
Firstly, this is clearly quite an established business - and a very niche one at that. Photographers have a lot of expensive kit to lug around, and need a specific policy to cover the various aspects of their equipment and travel. And being photographers, it’s reasonable to assume that they’ll be a) creative, and b) have a good eye for composition and design.
So why, then, is the homepage of this site - the first entry point for users, the first impression they’ll get…why is it a bit broken?! Read on! Read more
Wot, no updates?
Hello - I’ve moved house, and have no internet connection. Rest assured, all will return to normal once BT have pulled their collective finger out of their arse.
We are SO British.
“Stormy weather forms funnel cloud!”
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7492301.stm)
I think this News article sums up Britain wonderfully. A funnel CLOUD (singular) was spotted in the sky: instantly warrants BBC News report. Quote:
Nigel Bolton, a weather forecaster with the Met Office added: “We have about 30 to 40 touchdown tornadoes a year in the UK and if this funnel cloud had touched down it could have badly damaged a tree or a shed roof.
Oh no: not a tree! What about that shed roof?! Watch out now.
Don’t have nightmares.
Google to index Flash content
So, a recent update by Google announced that they’re to start indexing Flash content. This is good right?
Well, at first glance yes - since generally speaking, it’s better to index content than not. But there are other more worrying ramifications.
That’s a good word, that: “ramification“. RAM-ification. Sounds like a vetinary term.
The problems I foresee are thus:
- This Flash content will show up in the SERPs, but Flash sites are usually built in one giant file - making deep-linking impossible. So a user will search for a phrase, see a match, click it - and then be dumped at the entry point of the Flash site - nowhere near the information they wanted to find. Great user journey there.
- It could encourage more online design agencies to build more Flash sites. Expensive Flash sites…
- …which will have content that is still inaccessible to screenreaders and similar.
I just hope this doesn’t signal the start of a deluge of agencies recommending to their clients that Flash content is suddenly fine to use. The only way it’ll work is if Google works out a way to deep link into this content - or site developers build start building Flash sites differently to allow it.
Don’t get me wrong: when used properly, well-executed Flash content is invaluable…just don’t build an ENTIRE site in it.
(White)Space: The final frontier - Routeone.co.uk
This week, I’ve decided to take a look at the website of one of the most well-known skatewear retailers: Route One. I’ve long been a fan of skatewear in it’s various incarnations, so a recent visit to this site left me in a bit of shock. Don’t misunderstand me: it’s not a BAD site by any means, but it’s definitely in need of some heavy-handed reworking of the navigational priorities and the graphic elements.
Fascinating, I’m sure you’ll agree. I clearly need to get out more!
A critique of www.routeone.co.uk
So, from a high-level, it’s fair to say that graphically it’s quite nice…but it’s somewhat lacking in decent site templates to make the most of the colour scheme, products and logos that are currently stacked all over the place. The navigation could also do with reworking a bit. Read on…
Layout, design and customer service
Just a quick site review, since I’m off out in a moment! Yes, I do actually see daylight occasionally.
So, after my recent raft of shoe e-Tailer site reviews, I thought “Why break the habit?”. After unsuccessfully trying to find some specific trainers in the Schuh site, and subsequently finding further frustration on the Raw Shoe site, I found success on the Team Hell UK site.
I may as well call this The Unashamed Shoe Fetish Critique Centre, quite frankly.
A critique of www.teamhelluk.com
After a relatively choppy and truly tumultuous journey trying to find somewhere that sold what I wanted, I stumbled across what was an all-round good e-tail experience. Read on! Read more
Still need convicing of the benefits of usability?
Just a brief post to say that, should you still need convincing of the need to do usability on your website (or any other visual media, for that matter), then here it is: our very own WordPress blogmeisters are carrying out usability studies on their WP interface.
They’re doing it. So should you if you’re serious about design!
Ads in computer games
Stepping away from my online shoe retailer fixation for a moment, I thought I’d talk briefly about ads in computer games. Whilst reading The Register, I came across an appropriately scathing piece about videogame ads…an opportunity to share my love of computer games and cool eye-tracking technology! It does also have relevancy with regard to design and placement. Excited? You should be. Read on! Read more
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The Boston E-Party is a blog written by George Rosier about web design, usability and anything else that takes his fancy
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Recently Written
- New browser: Google ‘Chrome’
- Instant social network? Elgg 1.0 has been released
- Browsers and design - Photoguard.co.uk
- Wot, no updates?
- We are SO British.
- Google to index Flash content
- (White)Space: The final frontier - Routeone.co.uk
- Layout, design and customer service
- Still need convicing of the benefits of usability?
- Ads in computer games
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