Site Design: Identifying the Footprints of Web Analytics Software
From: www.wilsonweb.com

"Describes the two approaches to web analytics -- log file analysis and page tags. When a site is using JavaScript page tags, you'll be able to see them when you View Source. Date: Dec 8, 2004, 15:42 PST"

Ads and Affiliates: How Soon Do Affiliate Cookies Expire?
From: www.wilsonweb.com

"The typical affiliate program's cookies don't expire for 30 to 90 days and don't allow later affiliate links to preempt the first cookie -- but programs vary. Check the merchant's affiliate agreement to be sure. Date: Dec 8, 2004, 11:12 PST"

Site Design: Using Maps on Your Site
From: www.wilsonweb.com

"Links from your site to interactive maps at Yahoo! maps and MapQuest are okay, but hosting their map images on your site could be copyright infringement. It's probably better to make your own map graphics with PaintShop, PhotoShop, or MapPoint. Date: Dec 1, 2004, 17:39 PST"


Sony Prepares For PSP Launch
From: www.webpronews.com

"Japan is preparing for the long-awaited launch of Sony's answer to the Nintendo DS, the PSP. The target for the PSP launch is this coming Sunday. This marks Sony's first venture into the mobile gaming field."

AOL to Use Copernic for Desktop Search
From: www.webpronews.com

"AOL is not very good at keeping secrets. News is out that AOL's desktop search solution will be powered by Copernic, which pretty much assures that an agreement is in place between the two companies."

Read People's Minds with Google
From: www.webpronews.com

"Google has launched a new tool called Google Suggest that will suggest search terms as you type them."

Beware of eCommerce's Riskiest Areas
From: www.webpronews.com

"In a survey taken by CyberSource, eCommerce merchants named New York the riskiest North American metro area for eCommerce."

Prominent Placement at Search Engine Strategies
From: www.webpronews.com

"Prominent Placement's chief strategist, Stacy Williams, will lead two SEM workshops during the Search Engine Strategies Conference 2004."


Disney Joins Blu-Ray Team
From: www.wired.com

"The entertainment company plans to release movies through Sony's HD DVD format. Also: France sells off stakes in Air France & hellip;. GM in Europe announces future cuts & hellip;. and more."

Download Tonight's Perfume
From: www.wired.com

"A Japanese firm pioneers a system to share fragrances over the internet. Also: A Bollywood movie makes its debut on cell phones & hellip;. Merck smarting from Vioxx pull & hellip;. and more."

IBM: Do We Have a Deal?
From: www.wired.com

"Speculation spreads that China's biggest computer maker will buy IBM's PC business. Also: Clinton attends launch of Chinese search engine powered by AI.... A new DVD can play on old and new HD technology.... and more."

Site Bars Black Box Voting Head
From: www.wired.com

"A politically progressive website at the forefront of discussions about electronic-voting machines and election irregularities is barring Black Box Voting founder Bev Harris from posting to its site. By Joanna Glasner."

Ferraris Made in India
From: www.wired.com

"A leading software exporter from India wins a multiyear contract to design Ferrari's Formula 1 engines. Also: IBM to become the technical adviser to British bank.... Orange unveils 3G phone for France and Britain.... and more."


Lifestyle 'governs mobile choice'
From: webword.com

" BBC -- "Instead, phone firms keen to get more out of their customers should not just be pushing the technology for its own sake. Consumers are far more interested in how handsets fit in with their lifestyle than they are in screen size, onboard memory or the chip inside, shows an in-depth study by handset maker Ericsson."

Read more..."

The Most Hated Advertising Techniques
From: webword.com

" useit.com -- "Studies of how people react to online advertisements have identified several design techniques that impact the user experience very negatively."

I don't think advertising is a bad thing. The problem is the how people advertise. I think of things this way. If I was looking for product XYZ and I saw and ad for product XYZ or product ABC (competitor), I might appreciate the ad. I would especially like the ad if it was factual, concise, and immediately relevant. Advertising as "branding" is what I don't like.

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Skeletal Systems of Cartoon Characters
From: webword.com

" Michael Paulus -- "Animation was the format of choice for children's television in the 1960s, a decade in which children's programming became almost entirely animated. Growing up in that period, I tended to take for granted the distortions and strange bodies of these entities. I decided to take a select few of these popular characters and render their skeletal systems as I imagine they might resemble if one truly had eye sockets half the size of its head, or fingerless-hands, or feet comprising 60% of its body mass."

Nice demonstration of analytical design. In many ways, this is like taking a web site and deducing the information architecture.

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Five Mistakes Band & Label Sites Make
From: webword.com

" 43 Folders -- "Admittedly, this is well off our usual fare, but please indulge me in a public service message on behalf of music fans across the Internets five mistakes that band and label sites make (and a few tips on how to fix them). One data point from a fan."

43 Folders? Eh? Too much like 37 Signals.

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Patterns in Web Site User Motivations and Questions
From: webword.com

" A Computerworld article tells about a recent study in which some repeating patterns in both user motivations and questions have been found. "When we saw the patterns of users' questions unfold, we realized that many of today's sites are only dealing with a small portion of what users need. This research gives us new insights on ways to meet and exceed the expectations of every visitor to our site."

Read the article..."