September 4, 2007
Most people would agree that GMail is a superb mail application, however no application is beyond improvement. This post suggests some potential improvements to GMail, and asks readers to submit their own.
August 8, 2007
The new iMac launched very recently. While the uber-sleek design is nothing short of what we’ve come to expect from Apple, they’re still throwing digs at their competitors. Last time it was Bill Gates and Microsoft. This time it’s Michael Dell’s turn.
July 12, 2007
Because of the way products are marketed and presented, when we buy anything, we’re generally dazzled by the product’s features. The longer the list of features, the more attractive the proposition. This applies to mobile phones, dishwashers, smoothie makers and even prams.
It takes a lot of discipline to say no to this convincing sales pitch and instead, think of the context in which you will use any of these products.
Take the modern pram as a simple example. Initially, we could be first attracted by the sleek lines that resemble a Philip Starck design or an Apple iPhone. But how are we actually going to use it? Will it quickly and easily fit into your small car along with your screaming baby and your groceries?
Wheeling prams to one side, the big question for us at iQ Content was, in the context of picking a coffee machine, do we practice what we preach? Here’s how we got on…
July 9, 2007
Linking your Google AdWords account to your Google Analytics allows you to gather detailed information about the behaviour of your AdWords visitors on your website. You’re paying for the traffic, so make sure you get the best value you can by building your future web and AdWords strategy around real visitor data.
But, getting the two interacting together properly and getting real value is a little more complex than you might think. Despite the fact that it’s not that hard to do, we’ve seen several clients who haven’t properly linked them up, or even who haven’t linked them up at all. So, here are some pointers to help you get these two Google products working together like well oiled cogs in a machine!
May 31, 2007
Something probably taken for granted in some quarters, particularly stateside, is being always connected (wirelessly), or being always on. This isn’t necessarily a bad assumption. Indeed, were it not so, we may not have seen the explosion of web-based applications over the last couple of years. Everything from email, calendars, project management to invoicing is now being done online.
But what if we want to use these online applications that we’ve become so reliant on when we’re not connected?
May 10, 2007
When I’m creating a typical standards based design I often use a standard collection of css properties to do very common things, so I don’t have to write classes or do as many browser hacks as I would have to do normally.
Here’s some that I find particularly useful
April 16, 2007
Simplicity wins everytime. We refer to it mostly as usability.
Yet, some of the biggest, most profitable companies get it very wrong. David Pogue, technology columnist with the New York Times, gives an entertaining talk (and song) on user interface design and simplicity (via the new TED website).