Category Archives: Content

Embedding Links Into Content

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Embedding links into your content encourages users to visit other sections of your website. Placing links into articles also gives more context and value to users.

"A common problem is that users do not understand where the link could go…"

It’s important to pay attention on the way these links are done. A common problem is that users do not understand where the link could go. On the example below, taken from News.com, it’s clear for most users that clicking on "struck licensing agreements" would link to an article about that. On the other hand, clicking on "Imeem", would take the user to the company’s website or to other news about it?

News.com Link Example

 

The New York Times goes one step forward making embedded links more understandable, predictable and user friendly. As the user hover over the candidates’ names in this politics article, the link label appears telling users that they would be taken to more articles about that candidate. Using proper link labeling improves usability and avoid confusion. (Mouse arrow is not displayed).

The New York Times Link Example

 

The Netvibes Ajax User Interface

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What’s your home page? I was using iGoogle for a long time but I decided to try Netvibes, an Ajax based personalized start page.

The whole thing is Ajax and it works perfect. You can add as many modules including RSS/Atom feeds and other widgets, then you can sort them in personalized tabs, for example, I have a tab for “Web2.0″ feeds, another for Web2.0 feeds in German language and another more for the ones in Spanish. Changing tabs is fast as the news are loaded and reloaded only from time to time, and not every time you go to that tab.

My Personal Netvibes Home Page

My personal Netvibes home page

You can also choose among many third party “universes”, those are like Netvibes home pages designed and customized by other companies. Like this one made by The Financial Times:

Financial Times Netvibes Universe

I like so much to have a module with my Remember The Milk tasks, another with my Gmail and another one with a Google/Yahoo! search box. clicking on a small arrow that appears on the module title as you hover over, allows you to open and close that module, an important feature for privacy reasons too.

Web Search on Netvibes

The whole design is very slick and adding modules is extremely easy. For example, to add a feed just paste the site address and Netvibes will list the available feeds for that site. It also has a very useful “In my page” search that searches only among your feeds. Fantastic.

Add Feeds on Netvibes

They also have a reasonable amount of documentation on their Netvibes’ Developer Network home page. Their Universal Widget API (UWA) from Netvibes allows developers to build widgets that will work on every platform or blog system. Your personal Netvibes home page is also reachable through your mobile device at m.netvibes.com

Netvibes Wap Version

Picture taken from the Netvibes blog

I really like the Netvibes User Interface and don’t have complaints so far :-)

40 Years Old BBC Radio 1, More Updated Than Ever

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The BBC Radio 1 is celebrating its 40th anniversary being one of the most attractive radio services on the net. They put online a new section for this special event with a lot of interesting content, like video interviews, old shows and stories, Myspace badges and a section where long time listeners can post memories.

Radio 1 Logo

The BBC and, specially, the Radio 1 have proved to be updated with the last technology and design. The Radio 1 site was recently redesign with a quite clean organization. For example, right at the top the current show information is displayed with very clear links to start the online radio listening and webcam:

Radio Show Info

Getting the information you are interested in is very easy as the shows and featured stories are sorted by genre.

Daytime Dance Indie Menu

There are also quick links to entertainment news, UK Singles Chart and to the Radio 1 Playlist. They know what the users want and they put it on top:

Ent Chart Playlist Menu

More Technology
They have a broad technology offer, with a lot of information about the BBC audio podcast sorted by show, digital, mobile and satellite radio. They also explain how to listen to the radio with the Freeview, satellite and cable television. It makes me happy that the feeds are organized by genre and board topics.

The Bad Thing
I wonder why the BBC put a widget in the main page displaying the most texted words. Why? Who cares? Well, nothing is perfect…

Anyways, the BBC Radio 1 site has nice design with a lot of information and they are celebrating the 40th aniversary with great technology and design. Cool.