The best of the Best in Website Design
There’s a very simple ethos to getting website design right. Keep it simple. It’s not hard to make a killer website, though time and time again you come across a great example of how not to do it. And it all comes down to that simple phrase. Keep it simple.
Website design is absolutely crucial to the success of your website, and ultimately you. Good website design is efficient, streamlined, pared down to the absolute minimum, with no gaudy, gimmicky flashiness distracting your users from the essentials. Website design is about enhancing the online experience, not detracting from it. Avoidable clutter and mess is inexcusable, and you’ll find that more often than not, your users won’t give you a look in if there’s over the top animation, cheap tricks and annoying graphics. So, to make the most of your online presence, take a look at the list below.
Simplicity
Consider the 80-20 rule. Cut everything down to the barest essentials, to the magic 20% that will sum up the 80% of your content. This applies to everything; keep your writing style efficient and most importantly human. Use only the barest, most minimal graphics and animations, and reduce the total number of pages used in your site and will not use up much bandwidth stored by your web host company.
Make a splash
As a general rule, make sure you have as much of your essential message on your homepage as possible. Remember too, to get as much of that essence into the bit that’s “above the fold,” or in other words in that first bit of space before your user has to scroll down.
Navigation
It’s important that your user knows exactly where they need to go for what you provide. Don’t hide the way – guide them, hand in hand, where you want them to.
Color
Gaudiness and tacky flash is an instant turn off. It’s far easier to get it right by only keeping to a few mild tones.
Fonts
The same rule applies. Go for simple font that’s easy on the eyes. No Wingdings, obviously.
Links
A great tip is to make sure you include helpful links back to the homepage, and to your contacts, on all the pages of your website. It’s incredibly helpful for better site navigation.
Adverts
Advertising can be done right, if it blends well into your site. An absolute killer are pop up advertising, however, and you should avoid them at all costs.
Simplicity is what it comes down to, plain and simple. It is more efficient, and respects the time your followers put into reading your message, learning who you are, viewing your work and products, which all pays major dividends in the end. It makes it feel more personal, more inviting and more interesting. It’s always tempting to overload your site with the coolest gadget or the flashiest animation you can get your hands on, but take a step back and ask if it’s really necessary. If something’s not absolutely essential, your site will eventually thank you for not using it.
Bill Gates weighs in on the new Microsoft, philanthropy and leaping over chairs
Bill Gates plays bridge, washes dishes each night and prefers In-N-Out to McDonald’s and Burger King (as any sane person would). The Gates Foundation chairman offered up those tidbits and more in another Reddit AMA today, an hour-long dialogue that unearthed a few gems.
Let’s consider the Microsoft situation. We already knew Gates would play a more prominent role in the company now that Satya Nadella is running the show, and he confirmed that he’s going to spend about one-third of his time on “product work” for the company. Pretty vague stuff, but he clarified just a bit:
“I make sure we pick ambitious scenarios and that we have a strong architecture to deliver on them. I encourage good work (hopefully).”
Speaking of Nadella, Gates seemed appreciative of the new CEO’s fresh set of eyes as Microsoft fights in an age when desktops are dying and mobile has become a top priority. Steve Ballmer laid out a strategy for Microsoft that involved pushing devices and services to consumers and enterprises, and now it’s Nadella’s turn to execute it. Gates seems bullish on that vision, though TechCrunch points out it may be because he was around while it was still being shaped.
Naturally, not all of the questions fawned over Mr. Gates. When asked if the Gates Foundation’s philanthropy ever went awry, he pointed to a school lunch program that sadly didn’t pan out.
“One thing that is tough is when you think the government will take over something you start but they don’t,” he said. “It might have been better if we hadn’t done it.”
Gates didn’t shy away from the really tough questions either. When asked if he could still leap over a chair in a single bound the way he did in front of Connie Chung in 1994, Gates came clean:
“No I cannot. I can still jump but not over a full sized garbage can like I used to be able to. Be careful — it can hurt if you don’t succeed.”
He hasn’t totally lost his hops though: He can still bound over small chairs. Oh, and his wife would probably watch a Gates biopic starring Samuel L. Jackson as the man himself. Really though, who wouldn’t?
FreedomPop debuts $4.58 unlimited calling, messaging plan
Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) FreedomPop has rolled out a $4.58 rate which is essentially half its former price. Indeed, you can take advantage of the plan which allows for unlimited calling and unlimited texting. What’s the catch? FreedomPop operates on Sprint’s CDMA and WiMAX networks and utilizes only a few, outdated smartphones. Specifically, the carrier sends voice calls over the data network (VoIP). For those of you who can’t be bothered with a monthly bill, FreedomPop provides a free plan of 200 voice minutes, 500 texts, and 500MB of data.
Joining the carrier’s handset roster this week, the Samsung Galaxy S II, can be had for $169.99. Yep, conceivably, this is all you might spend over the life of the plan. FreedomPop, for its part, expects to roll out LTE coverage later this quarter which is when we expect new devices to debut.
The post FreedomPop debuts $4.58 unlimited calling, messaging plan appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Never fear, Flappy Bird is still available — on eBay, for a thousand bucks
Less than a day after the explosively popular game Flappy Bird vanished from the App Store and Google Play, it’s become available on eBay — for hundreds of dollars. Lucky owners of the Flappy Bird app have put their phones and tablets up for bidding, with prices ranging from $460 for a black iPhone 4s with an “updated” version of the game to $1,000 for a Galaxy Tab 3 with the app pre-installed.
It’s unclear if any devices have sold, though there are a few bids in the running. Maybe wait a day or two before pulling the trigger, though; some say this is all a huge publicity stunt and the app will be back up soon, while others say the developer is avoiding being sued by other game makers. You could also check out Flappy Bird clones such as Ironpants. It’s free; it offers similar gameplay, if you can live without the bird character; and it doesn’t require remembering your eBay password.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Mobile
Via: Slash Gear
Source: eBay
Data Mashup: A Key Role in BI
In a conversation with the CEO of InetSoft, the unique features of data mashup within a Business Intelligence (BI) Network were discussed. Some hot topics were discussed in the world of business intelligence and he offered to provide key insights into the industry. The CEO went on to inform us how formal data is often represented as data warehouses and data marts, which function as well-designed and thought-out repositories for data. Informal BI, occurs in everyday business life, and is not as well designed. Both formal forms of data management (i.e., data warehouses) and informal data mashup are expected to blend to create a more eclectic system for data analysis and retrieval.
InetSoft believes that data mashup must be coupled with business intelligence tools in order to fully explore and exploit data assets. Before we get into that there are tools that need are required. The tools required: reporting, analysis tools, and visualization – are all business intelligence tools. Ineto offers a data mashup that connects to various data sources and is coupled with their visualization and reporting tools (BI) that draw out the full potential of data mashup. To do that, data infrastructure must be built out that supports easier data incorporation and transfer between mashup and data warehouses, critical to integrating new data sources (Source: http://www.inetsoft.com/company/pressr/data_mashup_unique_in_BI.jsp).
A new report by the Aberdeen Group reveals that companies that use mashup are more likely to retrieve information they need when they need it. New data sources used in ad hoc analysis, or for specific queries, have, as a rule, time-sensitive integration cycles. The average 31 days required to integrate a new data source into an existing data warehouse amply prove the need for more agile alternatives. Data mashup provides such an alternative, due to their faster integration time and this in turn will help companies operate efficiently.
The ability to retrieve any dataset online, from various sources, make it difficult to determine which will actually most effectively serve a company’s best interests in terms of time and cost. InetSoft’s Visual Composer provides a shortcut in the discovery process, enabling managers to rapidly assess whether or not a new data source should be integrated (Source: http://www.inetsoft.com/blog/2013/10/new-report-aberdeen-value-of-inetsoft-data-mashup/). Data mashup is going to continue to be an ever-expanding role in business intelligence and companies have begun to notice its importance.
If your company isn’t using business intelligence software they should start by first looking to build a business intelligence strategy. The first step is to start by building a business intelligence roadmap, which in turn will ease this process and create value for their business. For more information on building a business intelligence strategy, here’s a useful guide online: Building a Business Intelligence Strategy for Your Company. Implementing a business intelligence strategy will require a great deal of research and will not happen overnight. Take the time to weigh the pros and cons and find the right software for your company. Just remember the importance of data mash up and the key role it plays in business intelligence.
Apple Loses Appeal to Delay E-Books Antitrust Monitorship But Gains Boundaries [iOS Blog]
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York today ruled that Michael Bromwich, the lawyer assigned to monitor Apple’s antitrust compliance policies, may continue with his duties while Apple continues to pursue another appeal to remove its monitorship all together.
Back in early January, Apple requested that U.S. District Judge Denise Cote disqualify Bromwich from his monitorship because he had demonstrated personal bias against the company. Apple asked for both a stay on the original order requiring an external monitor and the removal of Bromwich, both requests that Cote denied.
Apple did manage to win a brief emergency stay as the Appeals court examined its request for a longer stay, but with today’s decision, Bromwich will be able to continue on as monitor.
The ruling did, however, limit some of Bromwich’s power, suggesting that he is not able to demand access to any document or interview Apple executives with respect to any subject.
Thus, according to appellees, the monitor was empowered to demand only documents relevant to his authorized responsibility as so defined, and to interview Apple directors, officers, and employees only on subjects relevant to that responsibility.
We agree with that interpretation of the district court’s order. In addition, we take counsel’s statement as a formal representation that appellees also accept that interpretation, and that the monitor will conduct his activities within the bounds of that order, absent further action by the district court or by the panel that will in due course hear the merits of the appeal
Apple’s antitrust monitor was originally put in place after the company was found guilty in July 2013 of conspiring with five publishers to raise the prices of e-books. Since then, Apple and Bromwich have engaged in several back and forth disputes stemming from Bromwich’s fees and his insistence on interviewing key Apple executives.
Bromwich, for his part, has said he has seen a “surprising and disappointing lack of cooperation from Apple and its executives.”
Apple’s second appeal, which requests the removal of Bromwich entirely and questions Cote’s decision to appoint a monitor, is ongoing.
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Tips for Choosing the Best Facebook Timeline Cover Photo
By now, everyone who uses Facebook is on the timeline format. One of the main changes in the timeline format is the inclusion of the cover photo. A cover photo is the rectangular banner-like image that is at the top of your page. The photo is the first thing people see when they get to your page so you need to take some time to make sure it looks good. There is no need to panic about what to put on the area – it will remain blank (actually gray) until you place a photo in position.
Timeline Photos Are Public
It’s worth mentioning that your timeline cover photo, along with your personal icon image, are visible to everyone on Facebook. There is no way to make it private, so you just need to be aware of this when deciding what to place there. Keep in mind that both your timeline cover photo and your profile icon will be on the page, so you can’t simply use the same photo. In fact, it’s best if you choose photos that are compatible with each other.
Choose What You Love
Picking a cover photo doesn’t need to be stressful. Think about what you love and choose a picture based on that. Did you take a wonderful vacation last summer? Use that as your cover photo. Are you crazy for your pet dog or cat? Choose a cute photo of them to use. Are you a nature lover? If so, pick a photo of the great outdoors. Whatever you like, you can show it on the top of your Facebook page. You can use a photo that you already have, but you’ll need to make sure it’s sized correctly before you post it.
Sizing the Cover Photo
The cover photo is quite large; it extends across most of the width of your page. If you’re able to use Photoshop, or a similar program, you can properly size your image. The size of the cover photo is 851 x 315 pixels. You should choose the 72 dpi setting. If you don’t resize the photo, it will be stretched to fit into the space. This will result in some distortion. Those who aren’t technically inclined may prefer to choose photos that are already created just for use on timeline covers.
Getting Photos to Use
You can use your own photos for your cover image; however, there are other, easier options. One such option is to choose from thousands of premium Facebook timeline cover photos online. You’ll find a wide range of choices in numerous categories. If you prefer, you can start with your own photo and use an online program to make changes to it. This will make it unique and at the same time crop it to the perfect size for using on your Facebook page. If you see a photo that you like on someone else’s page, you can’t just take it without permission, so be careful.
Choose Wisely
When you’re choosing a photo as your cover image, be sure to choose wisely. Look for a unique and interesting image that will brighten up your page. People create a first impression within the first seven seconds. Online, this means that a person visiting your page will determine whether they like you (or your business) immediately when they click on your page. You only have one chance to make a first impression, so it’s essential that you use your cover photo to make your page look as inviting as possible. Change your photo often so that you can continue to bring attention to your page.
No Google Core Apps for the Nokia Android Device
A Nokia built Android device has been a rumor for a while now. It has unofficially been confirmed a multitude of times. Various leaked images, leaked specs and talks of it being an entry level Android powered device set for emerging markets has everyone in huff. Many of us would like to see a high-end Android powered Nokia device come to market, but it certainly doesn’t sound like that will happen anytime soon.
A recent report from the Wall Street Journal does lean to a launch of the Nokia Normandy, or Nokia X, or whatever the final production name will be, sometime this month. It is fully expected that Nokia will have it on hand and make the official announcement at Mobile World Congress later this month. Don’t expect the Nokia Android powered device to be much though. Talks now push towards the device being free and clear of Google’s core apps like the Play Store, Gmail and everything else we live and die by on our devices. Instead expect a more forked variant of a custom Android build much like that of the Kindle Fire line from Amazon. It will be housing Android as the base but being loaded up with a Nokia app store and powered with Microsoft and Bing.
While we know that the developing community could and probably will break into the device and clean things up, the overall specs of the device that leaked out at the end of January don’t necessarily mean it would be worth it. As Eveleaks mentions “2 x 1GHz Snapdragon, 4″ WVGA, 512MB / 4GB / microSD, 5MP Camera, 1500mAh battery, Nokia Store + 3rd party, dual-SIM, 6 colors.” At the time of the tweet we didn’t even give a thought to the mention of the Nokia Store + 3rd Party. Samsung has their own store on their devices as well. Heck, even the leaked screenshots don’t have any core Google apps in them.
With Microsoft behind the helm none of it is really all that surprising. Microsoft already makes a killing on licensing when it comes to Android devices anyways. Testing the waters with something affordable and forked is a pretty safe bet, but it sure won’t be looked upon or be very well received by the majority of Android users.
Source: WJS via 9to5Google
HTC to Focus Efforts on Developing Mid-Ranged Phones
HTC has certainly seen its ups and downs…mainly downs. In 2013, they made a bold statement that said they were going to focus on their high-end HTC One line instead of making mid-ranged phones that were more budget friendly. They then threw Robert Downey Jr. in the campaign (paying him $12 million) and it ended up not being a good choice in marketing at all. Now HTC is singing a different tune.
We took our eyes somewhat off the ball
That was said by HTC CFO Chang Chialin while talking to Bloomberg, mentioning how the decisions they made last year lead to an overall decline in revenue for the Taiwanese company. So HTC is going to start focusing on mid-ranged devices as well as keeping their HTC One line going. Hopefully it work out for them this year, because they dangling on a very thin thread. Let us know your thoughts about this.
Intel’s new low-power graphics could boost battery life in your next laptop
Graphics hardware can rapidly drain a laptop’s battery — there’s a good reason why many Ultrabooks ship with nothing more than basic integrated video. If Intel brings a new low-power graphics core to market, though, high-performance visuals and long battery life won’t be mutually exclusive concepts. The experimental design boosts the voltage of those components it needs the most, letting it aggressively reduce the voltage of unused circuits; it can even put the entire core to sleep for brief moments. The result is a GPU that’s 40 percent more efficient than what you’d otherwise get. The company isn’t saying just what it will do with its discovery, but it notes that the part could either extend the longevity of a mobile PC or improve its performance without sapping any more energy. If you can eventually buy an ultra-thin laptop that easily runs Crysis all day long, you’ll know who to thank.
Via: PC World
Source: Intel Labs
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