30 August 2011

71: Core Fonts




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_fonts_for_the_Web

Here's a demo I put together.

http://www.pagepipe.com/testx/

These are going to be the fastest loading. From my experiments with web fonts, they can really increase pageweight. Especially for extreme optimization for tablets. Some sites allow you to trim the web font set. like FontFonts. These are expensive fonts. Not worth the grief. Color and size is more important.

Ah! The shock of such a limited font palette.

18 August 2011

69: web aesthetics and credibility

http://mashable.com/2011/02/11/4g-faq/

The Effect of Aesthetics on Web Credibility -- a PDF download.

68: Optimizing the Front-end for Mobile and Tablet Sites

http://www.uxbooth.com/blog/how-to-minimize-load-time-for-fast-user-experiences/

http://www.uxbooth.com/blog/considerations-for-mobile-design-part-1-speed/

http://blog.yottaa.com/2011/03/monitor-website-speed-for-better-ux-and-seo-part-i

http://www.michaelgaigg.com/blog/tag/speed/

Great idea:
"More often than not, the mobile experience for a web application or site is designed and built after the [desktop] version is complete. Learn the three reasons web applications should be designed for mobile first instead: mobile is exploding; mobile forces you to focus; and mobile extends your capabilities."

***

How fast is 4G, really? Can I cancel my ISP subscription yet?

http://mashable.com/2011/02/11/4g-faq/

4G has the potential to be insanely fast. The various technologies should be able to deliver download speeds of 1Gbps when stationary (in the home), and 100 Mbps while mobile. Those kinds of speeds make cable and DSL networks look like dial-up.

In practice, neither LTE or WiMAX is going to offer that kind of speed. In the best of circumstances, users can expect around 10 Mbps from WiMAX or LTE. As coverage areas increase and networks grow more robust, that number could increase.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network already tops 21 Mbps in some areas. Realistically, users can expect about half of that. But T-Mobile and AT&T both plan to upgrade the HSPA+ offerings on their networks.

Most users will not be able to replace a home Internet connection with 4G, and that likely won’t change for several more years, at least. The exception is users in rural areas, where it’s often extremely difficult to get cable, fiber or DSL, and who have to rely on satellite Internet. For these users, even the first wave of LTE or WiMAX may be speedier than what they get from satellite — and at a lower price.

67: Documentation for Web Comments

Webnotes looks like a great way to annotate actual pages on the fly in your browser. Great way to document for clients.

https://www.webnotes.net/

66: Rapid Prototyping Definition

I don't do static wireframes. I'm an advocate of rapid prototyping in HTML and CSS. Then testing is done immediately online. This just makes sense and is more real-world than sketches of interfaces. It's a shortcut and goes hand-in-hand with fast site development. Read more about this idea:

http://www.uxforthemasses.com/rapid-prototyping/

65: Online Speed Measurement and Ranking

Yottaa is a great online tool for checking web performance. This link is a test of www.pagepipe.com. The home of PagePipe UX. 32.5K webpage!


http://www.yottaa.com/url/www-pagepipe-com-4e44800b4b6b2257b000002d

16 August 2011

64: Tablet Indigestion

The metaphor of indigestion compared to site bloat for tablets is just too perfect. They make you feel ill, uncomfortable, frustrated, distracted, and painful. These kind of sites really are hard to "stomach".