Last week, my brother-in-law sent me a link to a couple photos he posted on imageshack. After clicking on the link, I was treated to one of the worst photo sharing sites I have ever seen. There were three pictures setup as a slideshow. As each photo appeared, the slideshow application would zoom in on a random part of the picture. At the end of the zoom, there was a fade transition during which the next picture would appear and start to zoom in before it finished fading in. At no time was I able to view a full sized, stationary picture. There were no controls to pause the slideshow, navigate the pictures, make picture large size or view them in any normal fashion. ImageShack, you get an F-.
Most other photo sharing sites have a normal user interface that allows to view the pictures, instead showing off the programmer's "coolness." Some of these sites, however, have a very annoying feature. When you click on a thumbnail, the picture slowly enlarges. I find these transitions very annoying. It's a waste of time and only looks cool the first time, on the first site. The process of going from thumbnail to full picture, should have no delay, preload them in the background.
Online slideshows can have transitions, however, these must be fast. A fast fade or slide, as long as it doesn't waste time. Each picture should stay on the screen for a few seconds. Lastly, it's very important to include controls that allow the user to pause and to traverse the presentation forward and back. The internet is a big place, there's lots of things to see. Making users waste their time looking at your "cool" transitions in a fifty photo album should be a crime.
There is one place where transitions and viewing time can be slower. That place is digital photo frames. I have such a frame and leave it for Shabbat so that my family and my guests can look
at pictures of my son. Everybody is sitting, eating, drinking, relaxing, nobody is in a rush. This is the most appropriate place to have one to two second transitions and around five second pauses, allowing people to view the photos. The programmer must always remember, they're not there to show off their skills, they're these to make the user's experience as pleasant as possible.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Free, as advetised
Last week I got a DS Lite. Because I was looking for bargains, I bought it separately from the game, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, that I wanted. The DS Lite arrived first, without a game. I knew this was going to happen and had in mind to ask my friend for some games. Unfortunately, by the time UPS brought the game, my friend was already leaving for work. I decided to see if I can do anything without any games. I went through the initial setup and found something curious, DS Download Play.
DS Download Play, as I read in the manual, is a service for downloading free content like demo games and movies to your DS Lite. What the manual failed to mention was the details. I clicked on DS Download Play and watched it trying to connect. Fruitlessly waited a couple of minutes. Deciding that the problem is my basement, I tried different location and event went outside. All for naught. I tried searching on Google and that's when I found out how deviously evil and ingenious Nintendo is. Turns out that though the service is free, and even though all other games require at most an internet connection, for you to use DS Download Play, you actually have to go to a store. The only way you can get free content for your DS, is if you go to a game store and download it there. This is a great marketing tool, forcing people to look at what's new and perhaps buy a game while they get their "free" stuff. Like I said, incredibly evil.
On a side note, I consider the fact that for 15 plus minutes, the DS showed a looking for software available for download message, is a major bug. The correct message would be "trying to establish connection." And the correct way of handling a lack of that connection is not to continue displaying that message, but rather to time out, perhaps, after 60 seconds and display an error message that connection could not be established. An even better solution would be to include instructions on how to use the feature, both in the error message and in the manual.
DS Download Play, as I read in the manual, is a service for downloading free content like demo games and movies to your DS Lite. What the manual failed to mention was the details. I clicked on DS Download Play and watched it trying to connect. Fruitlessly waited a couple of minutes. Deciding that the problem is my basement, I tried different location and event went outside. All for naught. I tried searching on Google and that's when I found out how deviously evil and ingenious Nintendo is. Turns out that though the service is free, and even though all other games require at most an internet connection, for you to use DS Download Play, you actually have to go to a store. The only way you can get free content for your DS, is if you go to a game store and download it there. This is a great marketing tool, forcing people to look at what's new and perhaps buy a game while they get their "free" stuff. Like I said, incredibly evil.
On a side note, I consider the fact that for 15 plus minutes, the DS showed a looking for software available for download message, is a major bug. The correct message would be "trying to establish connection." And the correct way of handling a lack of that connection is not to continue displaying that message, but rather to time out, perhaps, after 60 seconds and display an error message that connection could not be established. An even better solution would be to include instructions on how to use the feature, both in the error message and in the manual.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
No one's faster than USPS
When people hear "Government Employee" what they see in their mind is long lines and workers barely doing anything. I've seen DOT, on a daily basis, come to work at 10AM, leave at 4PM or 4:30PM and probably take at least an hour for lunch. I've seen five MTA workers install floor displays, where two of them were doing the work and the other three were standing and looking at what their co-workers were doing.
Today, I'd like to talk about the fastest of the city employees, the USPS package delivery. Yes, I did in fact say USPS. The Postal Office has lines whenever you come there and at least a 30 minute waiting period. When I needed to pick up a package, I tried coming there at 9AM, 10AM, 12PM, 2PM, etc. with the exactly same result. No matter when I came, there was a line and I had to wait for 30 minutes or more to get my package. You may ask, "now hold on, you just said that the USPS package delivery is the fastest of the city employees." You're right, I did say that. The problem is, their speed is in how fast they run from your door after ringing the bell.
I live in the basement and my door is not at the front of the house, but rather on the side and close to the back. Whenever I get a delivery from UPS or FedEx, I have ample time to walk upstairs and open the door. The delivery person is always there waiting for me. Not so with USPS. It seems that the USPS delivery guy, as a kid, used to be one of those pranksters who would ring your bell and run away. Unlike UPS and FedEx, when the delivery is from USPS, when I open my door the driver is either getting in the truck or driving away. It takes me 30 seconds to a minute to come to the door and as I mentioned before, my door is towards the back of the house. The only way that the delivery guy would have enough time to ring the bell and be in his truck by the time I get to the door is if he waited 5 or at most 10 seconds before leaving.
Next time you hear someone say that all government employees sit around and do nothing, you can confidently say that there's one exception, the USPS delivery guy.
Today, I'd like to talk about the fastest of the city employees, the USPS package delivery. Yes, I did in fact say USPS. The Postal Office has lines whenever you come there and at least a 30 minute waiting period. When I needed to pick up a package, I tried coming there at 9AM, 10AM, 12PM, 2PM, etc. with the exactly same result. No matter when I came, there was a line and I had to wait for 30 minutes or more to get my package. You may ask, "now hold on, you just said that the USPS package delivery is the fastest of the city employees." You're right, I did say that. The problem is, their speed is in how fast they run from your door after ringing the bell.
I live in the basement and my door is not at the front of the house, but rather on the side and close to the back. Whenever I get a delivery from UPS or FedEx, I have ample time to walk upstairs and open the door. The delivery person is always there waiting for me. Not so with USPS. It seems that the USPS delivery guy, as a kid, used to be one of those pranksters who would ring your bell and run away. Unlike UPS and FedEx, when the delivery is from USPS, when I open my door the driver is either getting in the truck or driving away. It takes me 30 seconds to a minute to come to the door and as I mentioned before, my door is towards the back of the house. The only way that the delivery guy would have enough time to ring the bell and be in his truck by the time I get to the door is if he waited 5 or at most 10 seconds before leaving.
Next time you hear someone say that all government employees sit around and do nothing, you can confidently say that there's one exception, the USPS delivery guy.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Lighthouse Pro and Web 0.20
One of the concepts associated with Web 2.0 is using AJAX to refresh data on a page, instead of refreshing the page. JavaScript is used to sort and filter the data and and load any changes. Today, I'd like to bring an example of how horribly wrong this can turn out when a developer has no understanding of what he's doing.
The company I work for uses Lighthouse Pro by Raymond Camden. Lighthouse Pro is an online bug tracking application written in ColdFusion. Before the move to Web 0.20, Lighthouse Pro suffered bad UI design and usability problems. One of the worst problems, and one which is still present, was that all notes got added to one very narrow textbox. The ideal way would be to use a separate table where each note would be a separate row with its own status, owner, attachment, etc. Why the notes were not implemented this way I have no idea, however, the complete lack of understanding of UI design is unacceptable. The notes textbox seems to be at default width and height making it unreadable. There are many other small annoyances. Two other problems I had with it is the 30 minute session timeout and filter settings being stored as session, instead of client, variables.
Recently, a new version of Lighthouse Pro was released. The planned move was to web 2.0, the result, web 0.20. As I mentioned earlier, filter settings were stored originally in session, now they're not being stored at all. Each time you open a bug and change status, you're brought back to the task list with all filters removed. I usually set 2 filters, one for status and one for owner. Now, I need to do that every freaking time I submit a change. Not only that, the current version of Lighthouse Pro shows bugs in reverse chronological order, so each time you loose your place and have to click through to wherever you were working. Besides the lack of persistent filters and page, the list is not actually updated live and requires a refresh to see any new bugs. The latest version not only doesn't improve the usability, but whatever usability there was is now gone completely.
If you're a developer and want to implement AJAX and web 2.0, remember, you're doing this not for bragging rights, but to improve usability of your product and to make the user's job easier. If you're adding AJAX to make your data sortable without refresh, make sure you're also using it to at least fetch data. If there's 5 filters and 10 sorts, make sure the user doesn't need to set them every time he does something. Stop designing for 800x600 resolution, either make everything scalable or at least use 1024x768. If you can't implement a scalable interface and you must have backward compatibility for 800x600, use settings and separate stylesheets for each resolution. I'm sure the user would prefer to set the resolution, even if it has to be done at each login, than having to read 2 pages of text inside a box the size of their cellphone.
The company I work for uses Lighthouse Pro by Raymond Camden. Lighthouse Pro is an online bug tracking application written in ColdFusion. Before the move to Web 0.20, Lighthouse Pro suffered bad UI design and usability problems. One of the worst problems, and one which is still present, was that all notes got added to one very narrow textbox. The ideal way would be to use a separate table where each note would be a separate row with its own status, owner, attachment, etc. Why the notes were not implemented this way I have no idea, however, the complete lack of understanding of UI design is unacceptable. The notes textbox seems to be at default width and height making it unreadable. There are many other small annoyances. Two other problems I had with it is the 30 minute session timeout and filter settings being stored as session, instead of client, variables.
Recently, a new version of Lighthouse Pro was released. The planned move was to web 2.0, the result, web 0.20. As I mentioned earlier, filter settings were stored originally in session, now they're not being stored at all. Each time you open a bug and change status, you're brought back to the task list with all filters removed. I usually set 2 filters, one for status and one for owner. Now, I need to do that every freaking time I submit a change. Not only that, the current version of Lighthouse Pro shows bugs in reverse chronological order, so each time you loose your place and have to click through to wherever you were working. Besides the lack of persistent filters and page, the list is not actually updated live and requires a refresh to see any new bugs. The latest version not only doesn't improve the usability, but whatever usability there was is now gone completely.
If you're a developer and want to implement AJAX and web 2.0, remember, you're doing this not for bragging rights, but to improve usability of your product and to make the user's job easier. If you're adding AJAX to make your data sortable without refresh, make sure you're also using it to at least fetch data. If there's 5 filters and 10 sorts, make sure the user doesn't need to set them every time he does something. Stop designing for 800x600 resolution, either make everything scalable or at least use 1024x768. If you can't implement a scalable interface and you must have backward compatibility for 800x600, use settings and separate stylesheets for each resolution. I'm sure the user would prefer to set the resolution, even if it has to be done at each login, than having to read 2 pages of text inside a box the size of their cellphone.
Monday, July 30, 2007
I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords
Google search, besides searching for content in websites, incorporates various functions that activate either based on a prefix or on the form of the search request. I knew that these functions were present and used some of them at one time or another. The functions I used was address lookup by entering the phone number, calculator, maps, site information, word definition and currency and measurement conversions. Now all of these functions are not really related to any outside company and are not something unexpected.
Recently, I tried a new kind of search with surprising results. Having in mind the different functions that at incorporated into Google search, I decided to type in a UPS tracking number. I was quiet surprised when Google redirected me to the UPS tracking detail page. Usually, when I want to lookup the progress of my package, I have to go to UPS website, enter tracking number, click agreement box and click submit. I very much don't enjoy all that typing and clicking. Now, with the power of firefox and Google, I can just type in the UPS number into the search box and press enter. I looked up on Google's search help what else can google do. Google can give you weather if you search for "weather zip". You can enter FedEx and USPS tracking numbers for tracking information. You can look up UPC codes, vehicle ids and patents. Besides these there are also unlisted search patterns.
Some may say that these services are evil in some way or another, that Google is becoming a monopoly, I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords. The more services are integrated into Google search, the better.
P.S. as I was writing this, I tried to search for "show times transformers". Above the search results, Google presented me with a link to the Transformers trailer, movie length, average rating and link to collection of review from different sources and a form input to enter my zip code. After I entered my zip code and clicked submit, I was presented with a page within Google that showed 13 closest movie theaters and show times for the movie. I love Google!!!
Recently, I tried a new kind of search with surprising results. Having in mind the different functions that at incorporated into Google search, I decided to type in a UPS tracking number. I was quiet surprised when Google redirected me to the UPS tracking detail page. Usually, when I want to lookup the progress of my package, I have to go to UPS website, enter tracking number, click agreement box and click submit. I very much don't enjoy all that typing and clicking. Now, with the power of firefox and Google, I can just type in the UPS number into the search box and press enter. I looked up on Google's search help what else can google do. Google can give you weather if you search for "weather zip". You can enter FedEx and USPS tracking numbers for tracking information. You can look up UPC codes, vehicle ids and patents. Besides these there are also unlisted search patterns.
Some may say that these services are evil in some way or another, that Google is becoming a monopoly, I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords. The more services are integrated into Google search, the better.
P.S. as I was writing this, I tried to search for "show times transformers". Above the search results, Google presented me with a link to the Transformers trailer, movie length, average rating and link to collection of review from different sources and a form input to enter my zip code. After I entered my zip code and clicked submit, I was presented with a page within Google that showed 13 closest movie theaters and show times for the movie. I love Google!!!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Three weeks
Finally the three weeks are over. Now I can go back to listening to kawaii radio, eating meat and being able to trim my moustache which is getting in the way of my eating.
Tisha B'Av was ok. After coming home from shul, caught up on my webmanga and read Komanda by Yuriy Pogulai. After ma'ariv, we had some cake and drinks in shul. When I came home I had a beer, just like last the fast. I like being different. I wonder, am I the only person who thinks the tune of Eli Tzion is that of a war hymn. Each year, when we sing it, I imagine an army of Jews walking down the streets and killing anti-semites.
Of all the prohibitions during the three weeks and omer, the hardest for me is music. I don't shave and only trim my beard Fridays when I'm not too lazy. Music, however, is my daily companion. I'm listening to kawaii radio or some other music when I'm at home or working and I have my Creative Nano for when I'm outside.
Tisha B'Av was ok. After coming home from shul, caught up on my webmanga and read Komanda by Yuriy Pogulai. After ma'ariv, we had some cake and drinks in shul. When I came home I had a beer, just like last the fast. I like being different. I wonder, am I the only person who thinks the tune of Eli Tzion is that of a war hymn. Each year, when we sing it, I imagine an army of Jews walking down the streets and killing anti-semites.
Of all the prohibitions during the three weeks and omer, the hardest for me is music. I don't shave and only trim my beard Fridays when I'm not too lazy. Music, however, is my daily companion. I'm listening to kawaii radio or some other music when I'm at home or working and I have my Creative Nano for when I'm outside.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Ike Ike
My son Shlomik loves music. When he was less than a year old, Бременские Музиканты (Bremenskiye Muzikanti) was all he needed. He could watch over and over and really loved music and singing. A couple months ago I found the cartoon По Дороге с Облаками (Po Doroge s Oblakami) about which he's also now crazy.
Recently I introduced Shlomik to something different and the result is amazing. I often listen to Kawaii Radio on Winamp. Unlike other Japanese radio stations, they only play songs from anime. One song in particular that I decided to look up on YouTube was Ike Ike by Hinoi Team. The moment Shlomik saw the video and heard the music, he was hooked. He learned how to pronounce Ike Ike and is asking for it constantly and after he finishes watching the music video, it's around three minutes, he says "more." He loves the video so much that he even tries to mimic the moves, or at least claps. If he dares to learns more of the lyrics than I, no more Ike Ike.
Hinoi Team have another song, Night of Fire, which is fun to watch but not as good. I saw some of the other music videos, but they weren't even as good as Night of Fire. Shlomik also responded well to Shangri-la and Asu e no Brilliant Road by Angela, though nothing comes close to Ike Ike.
Recently I introduced Shlomik to something different and the result is amazing. I often listen to Kawaii Radio on Winamp. Unlike other Japanese radio stations, they only play songs from anime. One song in particular that I decided to look up on YouTube was Ike Ike by Hinoi Team. The moment Shlomik saw the video and heard the music, he was hooked. He learned how to pronounce Ike Ike and is asking for it constantly and after he finishes watching the music video, it's around three minutes, he says "more." He loves the video so much that he even tries to mimic the moves, or at least claps. If he dares to learns more of the lyrics than I, no more Ike Ike.
Hinoi Team have another song, Night of Fire, which is fun to watch but not as good. I saw some of the other music videos, but they weren't even as good as Night of Fire. Shlomik also responded well to Shangri-la and Asu e no Brilliant Road by Angela, though nothing comes close to Ike Ike.
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