My Article on "Getting Started with Creating our own Eclipse Plug-in" was Published in this Month [June 2006] edition of "DeveloperIQ" . It's really great feeling, to share what we know with others :).
Last week, we had Chennai Bloggers Meet at Ascendas ePark - Food Court. I could see good turn out then last year and more girls too. Some of the most interesting people who turned up are Kiruba, Kausik, Sheky, Baggy, Sharique, Nushi, Rama, Sagaro, Vinayak, Rekha, Rahul, Sandhya, Varun, Kartik Kannan, Raghu, Katheeja, Hamsini, Aishwarya, Varsha, Suraksha, Sarani, Nina, TK, Jammy. Hope I have named everyone ;).
CNET lists the top 10 Google Applications, they are listed based on their usage and functionality. Some of these applications integrate seamlessly with each other, while others stand alone. >>
Here is the list of some interesting websites to download Mac - based Utilities.
http://www.freemacware.com
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/
http://www.macupdate.com/
http://www.applelinks.com/
http://www.macshare.com/
http://mac.sofotex.com/Mac_Utilities/Compression/
http://www.macoszone.com/
http://www.macosarchives.com/
http://www.blackcatsystems.com/
http://www.yazsoft.com/
http://www.mac-heaven.com/game.html
http://www.ausmac.net/
http://www.yenco.com/
http://www.softobe.com
http://www.chaoticsoftware.com
http://www.darkeagle.com
http://www.goingware.com/freesoftware.html
BusinessWeek Info Tech 100 lists the top 100 IT companies of the year. Apple comes in No. 4, Bharti Airtel is in No. 10 only indian company in top 10 position, even Motorola is in 11 position and Google takes 13 th position, I think they must be in the top 10 position. Microsoft in 37 th position. >>
Virtual Replay allow us to reply all major goals of the current FIFA World Cup 2006 in 3D Mode. We can select different animation speeds in slow motion and allows users to explore the dynamic scenes from different camera angles. Do watch it and feel the moment!! >>
Last week, I created a new Mail account for one my personal use in Rediff.com’s Rediffmail.com. It is one of the most popular Mailing service used by most Indians all over the world since 1996. While I am browsing the site, I could see some of the basic Design and Usability Issues in Rediffmail. Here I am listing some of them:
In the Home page of ‘Rediff.com’, the header Icons on the top, can be used the web space more effectively. The blank space on the left [1] and right [2] side, seems to be bit odd to the user and they could be used to showcase other Rediff’s services like Rediff Bol, Rediff Blogs, Rediff Photos, etc, like we have in Yahoo! Mail.
[click to see the full size image]
When I am getting started with Rediffmail, to create a new account, the registration form seems to be breaking the order. In the ‘Password Reminder Information’, I could see the field like Country, City and in ‘Tell us about yourself’ section we have State and PinCode fields. They must have them grouped in ‘Tell us about yourself’ section. There no specification to the user, which is optional or mandatory field, by providing a ‘*’ near the mandatory fields. I ignored the Occupation filed thinking that would be an optional field, but that is mandatory field, I could know only when I submitted the form.
Copyright message in the footer, still with copyright to 2004. This is not a big issue but still it has to be changed.
Next, I started with composing a mail and tried with attaching some files. When I finished attaching the files, I couldn’t find the ‘Done’ button. Look I have attached only 3 files, but there are 4 files in the list. Look at the first one item in the list ‘List of attached file(s)’; actually it is label to the list, which has to be shown as label not inside the List item itself, but outside the item list. It confuses the user; I can even able to select that first item too!!
The Done button is just hiding; I have to scroll to the right to get the ‘Done’ button. New users obviously must find it difficult; have to search for the all the buttons. More over they also prevented the maximizing the page.
After I have attached 3 files and returned back to mail composer, I could see only one file. The attached files can be displayed in listed order to see all the attached files.
Distracting user mostly with frequent popup like this, this popup is of no much use as most of the browsers have popup blockers, which promptly stops them.
[click to see the full size image]
In the ‘My Settings’ page, the ‘Personal Information’ and ‘Manage your Mail’ strips color pattern at first looks like Google Adsense ads. I think the color pattern has to be changed to merge with the theme.
[click to see the full size image]
When I landed on the Customer Care page, it has two buttons in bottom of the page with two different colors; one button is in pink color and other looks like a normal button, I couldn’t understand what they convey to the user. Once again look at the Copyright still in 2003.
[click to see the full size image]
When I moved to Upgrade Rediffmail page, I could see two copyright messages in the footer, with copyright to 2004. I think they have to upgrade the year first and remove the extra footer next.
These are some of the issues, I could see very well in just a single instance of my analysis of the website. They just seems to be very simple, but they really matter to maintain the standard and quality of a website and could obviously reduce the sites reliability. I feel Rediffmail, has to improve their user experience, especially by improving their User Interface and expect their services to continue great like now, until then they can’t compete with other major players. Hope Rediff hear me ...
--
Balakumar Muthu
Update: I have sent this post to Rediff.com's Customer care and to the CEO of Rediff. Although I haven't received any official information from them, I could find the changes I have pointed out especially their Home page.
In the Home page of ‘Rediff.com’, the header Icons on the top, can be used the web space more effectively. The blank space on the left [1] and right [2] side, seems to be bit odd to the user and they could be used to showcase other Rediff’s services like Rediff Bol, Rediff Blogs, Rediff Photos, etc, like we have in Yahoo! Mail.
[click to see the full size image]
When I am getting started with Rediffmail, to create a new account, the registration form seems to be breaking the order. In the ‘Password Reminder Information’, I could see the field like Country, City and in ‘Tell us about yourself’ section we have State and PinCode fields. They must have them grouped in ‘Tell us about yourself’ section. There no specification to the user, which is optional or mandatory field, by providing a ‘*’ near the mandatory fields. I ignored the Occupation filed thinking that would be an optional field, but that is mandatory field, I could know only when I submitted the form.
Copyright message in the footer, still with copyright to 2004. This is not a big issue but still it has to be changed.
Next, I started with composing a mail and tried with attaching some files. When I finished attaching the files, I couldn’t find the ‘Done’ button. Look I have attached only 3 files, but there are 4 files in the list. Look at the first one item in the list ‘List of attached file(s)’; actually it is label to the list, which has to be shown as label not inside the List item itself, but outside the item list. It confuses the user; I can even able to select that first item too!!
The Done button is just hiding; I have to scroll to the right to get the ‘Done’ button. New users obviously must find it difficult; have to search for the all the buttons. More over they also prevented the maximizing the page.
After I have attached 3 files and returned back to mail composer, I could see only one file. The attached files can be displayed in listed order to see all the attached files.
Distracting user mostly with frequent popup like this, this popup is of no much use as most of the browsers have popup blockers, which promptly stops them.
[click to see the full size image]
In the ‘My Settings’ page, the ‘Personal Information’ and ‘Manage your Mail’ strips color pattern at first looks like Google Adsense ads. I think the color pattern has to be changed to merge with the theme.
[click to see the full size image]
When I landed on the Customer Care page, it has two buttons in bottom of the page with two different colors; one button is in pink color and other looks like a normal button, I couldn’t understand what they convey to the user. Once again look at the Copyright still in 2003.
[click to see the full size image]
When I moved to Upgrade Rediffmail page, I could see two copyright messages in the footer, with copyright to 2004. I think they have to upgrade the year first and remove the extra footer next.
These are some of the issues, I could see very well in just a single instance of my analysis of the website. They just seems to be very simple, but they really matter to maintain the standard and quality of a website and could obviously reduce the sites reliability. I feel Rediffmail, has to improve their user experience, especially by improving their User Interface and expect their services to continue great like now, until then they can’t compete with other major players. Hope Rediff hear me ...
--
Balakumar Muthu
Update: I have sent this post to Rediff.com's Customer care and to the CEO of Rediff. Although I haven't received any official information from them, I could find the changes I have pointed out especially their Home page.
6 Comments:
PC Gaming Mod or Modification adds extra dimension of replayability and interest. Here is collection of some Interesting Computer Gaming Mod sites, every Gamer must checkout and have fun!
http://pcgamemods.com/
http://www.gamesmodding.com/
http://www.moddb.com/
http://www.fileplanet.com/174/90004/section/mods
http://www.curse-gaming.com/en/searchwow-5588.html
http://mods.beyondunreal.com/
http://www.planetunreal.com/hosted/mods.shtml
http://www.rpg-mods.com/
http://www.twitchguru.com/2003/05/17/cheating/index.html
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:HL2_Third_Party_Mods
http://www.game-mods.com/
To fight the threats to our Wireless Network, there are few software tools we should keep handy. Following Wireless security tools are provided as Educative and for Administrative purpose to check the network vulnerability. Normal users please handle with care.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/wifiscanner
Black Alchemy's Fake AP generates thousands of counterfeit 802.11b access points. Hide in plain sight amongst Fake AP's cacophony of beacon frames. As part of a honeypot or as an instrument of your site security plan, Fake AP confuses Wardrivers, NetStumblers, Script Kiddies, and other undesirables.
http://www.blackalchemy.to/project/fakeap/
AirSnort is a wireless LAN (WLAN) tool which cracks encryption keys on 802.11b WEP networks. AirSnort operates by passively monitoring transmissions, computing the encryption key when enough packets have been gathered.
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=33358
Kismet, default wireless network administration tool, works with 802.11a/b/g that supports raw packets monitoring mode, can be used as Intrusion Detection System [IDS].
http://www.kismetwireless.net/index.shtml
MiniStumbler, from NetStumbler used on devices running on devices running PocketPC 3 and PocketPC 2002 OS.
http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/
Trifinite, download collection of Bluetooth, J2ME, RFID security tools and wireless security whitepapers.
http://trifinite.org/trifinite_downloads.html
Google's Picasa now extends to Web Albums which allows us to post and share our photos quickly and easily on the web. We can store and share approximately 1000 photos and can be automatically resized and optimized. Google is giving away the Invitation, so hurry... >>
Checkout this some interesting useful less known webSites about Linux:
Alphabetical Directory of Linux Commands with brief information, from O'Reilly.
http://linuxdevcenter.com/linux/cmd
A Great collection Technicial database about different distribution of Linux, from RedHat, Fefora, SuSE, and FreeBSD Documentation.
http://elibrary.fultus.com/technical/index.jsp
Linux Art and Design Resources
http://linuxartist.org
Google Search specific to Linux Technology
http://google.com/linux
Source of Linux related Security issues
http://www.linuxsecurity.com/
Linux Based Games and Codes
http://linuxgames.com
A active Linux Community to answer our questions
http://linuxquestions.org/
Collection of Linux based links for various platforms
http://linuxlinks.com/
Google Browser Sync is an Firefox extension that continuously synchronizes our browser settings including bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, and saved passwords across our computers. It also allows us to restore open tabs and windows across different machines and browser sessions. >>
Google Spreadsheets, allows us to create basic spreadsheets from scratch. We can start from scratch and do all the basics, including changing the number format, sorting by columns, and adding formulas, upload our spreadsheet files, upload spreadsheets or worksheets from CSV or XLS format and lots more... think Google is taking the whole desktop application to the web ... >>
Check out this interesting post on How to Deploy Windows Software on Sun Ray by Paul Murphy from zdnet. He explains different ways to provide access to Windows applications on Sun Ray smart displays. >>
Apple has canceled its plans for its offshore tech support in India. Times of India reports that Apple has laid off all 30 employees it had hired for its subsidiary, Apple Services India Pvt Ltd. in April of this year. However, it will continue to operate its sales and marketing arm in Bangalore which employs 25 people. The specific reasons for the pullout were unkwnon, Apple had planned a two-phase 300,000 square-foot tech support center with as many as 1,500 workers by the end of this year and a total of 3,000 employees by the end of 2007 in the new Bangalore facility. Excepting it very soon. >>
VeriSign's Personal Identity Provider (PIP) is an identity service designed to provide a “home base” for users who want use OpenID applications. Users who register with the VeriSign PIP get an OpenID a URL they can use to login and authenticate at sites that accept OpenID. In addition, the VeriSign PIP lets us to store profile information, and control how, when and with whom that information can be shared. When we register at the VeriSign PIP, our user name is used to generate a unique URL for our profile. For example, if we are reading a blog at LiveJournal.com, and want to leave a comment, we can go register for an account at LiveJournal, or just use your OpenID. Enter your OpenID URL, and the LiveJournal will authenticate us with the VeriSign PIP. All this is for free...>>
Yahoo! recently launched it's Yahoo! Video, which allow user to create videos on the site like YouTube. File size limit is set to 100 MB. Videos can be set to public or private, and viewers can search and sort videos by popularity, category, tags and can be rated by the viewers. >>
Check out this interesting, set of strangest custom gaming consoles... really great and looks cool collection of Gaming consoles ... >>
BenQ-Siemens Q-fi EF71 is one of the first mobile phones within BenQ-Siemens Q-fi range of music-focused devices. Q-fi products feature easy-to-use music entertainment with easy access to music functions and a plug and play, all-in-one solution for mobile music lovers. The music player of the Q-fi EF71 supports all current formats like MP3, AAC and WMA. Integrated 2.0 megapixel camera with 9x linear zoom and camcorder function lets you capture exciting moments spontaneously as photos or video. The Q-fi EF71 can even double as a webcam if connected with a computer via a USB cable. Expected to release in July 2006. >>
Advanced Installer is a Windows Installer for Java applications, integrating them fully into the Windows OS and making them look and feel just like a native application. It's really cool and easy to getting started with your Installer for Java for Windows applications... although my all time favourite is InstallAnywhere...>>
They need to learn a lot rather than earn a lot from those stupid pop-up ads !
Cheers,
Dreamchaser
Real tough test results to rediffmail.com. Did you send the results to Rediff CustomerCare? Any responses?
Rediff claims to be a top Indian website among all countries in the world.
They should treat this as a high priority and correct it, since otherwise it presents a bad image to the country too.