Archive For August 2009

Web development execs divided over mobile applications

14th August 2009

Developers at the recent OpenSource World conference in San Francisco appeared to be divided over how to best go about building a mobile app considering the wide range of handsets now available on the market.While Adam Blum of open source framework provider Rhomobile advocated the use of frameworks...

How-to articles 'can boost ecommerce website traffic'

14th August 2009

Online retailers may do well to look into publishing how-to articles to attract web visitors and custom, it has been suggested.According to Jan Riley of Practical eCommerce, such articles can boost search engine optimisation while also increasing the amount of time visitors spend on the website in...

Ecommerce website owners 'should consider wider trends'

14th August 2009

Ecommerce firms can no longer expect shoppers to only want to purchase goods via their own websites.This is according to Internet Retailer editor Don Davis, who said that it is "inevitable" that shopping on social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter will soon become the norm as...

New YouTube website design places focus on search

13th August 2009

YouTube has made a tweak to its website design to emphasise its search function.The video-sharing site has overhauled its masthead to simplify its design and, according to Matt McGee of Search Engine Land, the new masthead looks very similar to that seen at the top of Google's web search results...

Experts debate merits of free and paid mobile applications

13th August 2009

Experts discussing the mobile application market at a recent event in New York appeared to be divided over whether free or paid apps work best.According to Econsultancy, those attending the Digiday:APPS conference earlier this week seemed to be unable to agree on the best way to approach mobile app...

Fennec 'offers new web development opportunities'

13th August 2009

Web development professionals stand to gain from the forthcoming launch of Mozilla's new mobile browser, according to one executive at the company.Speaking to Lifehacker, Mozilla vice-president for mobile Jay Sullivan explained that current mobile web trends tend to be very much based on similar...

Expert casts doubt on use of Facebook as an ecommerce website

12th August 2009

Online retailers may want to think twice before using Facebook as an ecommerce platform, it has been suggested.Siim Vips, chief executive of software firm Modera, claimed that using Facebook to sell goods online is likely to result in retailers relinquishing a certain level of control over their...

Social networking website popularity still high among young Brits

12th August 2009

A new report has indicated that social networking websites are still popular among British 15 to 24-year-olds, despite recent reports to the contrary.The study by comScore revealed that the number of web users in this age group accessing social networks rose by 14 per cent in June compared with...

Checkout accessibility "crucial" in ecommerce web design

12th August 2009

Ecommerce web design professionals must ensure their checkout processes are as accessible as possible to avoid losing custom.This is the suggestion of Joseph Dolson of Practical eCommerce, who notes that shopping baskets and checkouts are particularly complex website elements that offer a high...

Mobile application downloads predicted to boom

12th August 2009

A new forecast has predicted that the market for mobile applications will continue to expand over the next five years.Compiled by Frost & Sullivan, the report suggests that 6.67 billion mobile apps will be downloaded through smartphones by 2014, driven by the market for free apps.Vikrant...

Ecommerce websites most popular among men, says PayPal

11th August 2009

New statistics have revealed that online shopping is more popular among men than it is among women.The research by PayPal showed that 12.9 million British males shop online at the moment, compared with 10.3 million females.Men were also found to spend nearly £700 more than women on purchases from...

Ecommerce websites 'should look to Facebook'

11th August 2009

Ecommerce websites should consider making Facebook a part of their online strategy, it has been suggested.US florist 1-800-Flowers recently became the first retailer to set up an ecommerce store within Facebook and according to Brian Howe of Alvenda, other companies should think about following the...

Google invites web development execs to try new architecture

11th August 2009

Google has announced that it is working on a new architecture to power its web search offering and is inviting those involved with web development to test it out.Dubbed Caffeine, the new architecture has been in existence for several months and is not yet finished.It was designed with the aim of...

Degree in social media websites mooted

10th August 2009

Knowing about a website such as Facebook or Twitter could be one of the requirements of a new degree subject in the US.The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is looking to offer a social media degree to students from spring 2010. Jakob Iversen is a professor in Information Systems at the university...

How Twitter can improve web development

10th August 2009

Using micro-blogging website Twitter can do more for people than just keep friends and colleagues updated with their latest news, it has emerged.According to the Econsultancy.com blog, the portal is an ideal method of helping with search engine optimisation (SEO).In addition to being able to...

Ofcom: Mobile internet becoming more popular

7th August 2009

The popularity of mobile broadband is on the rise, according to an Ofcom report that revealed one in ten UK households currently have a mobile internet connection.Overall, uptake of mobile broadband increased by 17 per cent between 2007 and 2008, with Leeds identified by the watchdog as having the...

Young people "passive" when it comes to social media

7th August 2009

Young people are becoming more "passive" when it comes to using social media sites, a web magazine editor has suggested.According to Ben Camm-Jones, news editor of Web User magazine, younger people may be moving on from social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook, although...

Social media 'could lead to improved travel'

7th August 2009

The far-reaching implications of social media mean the technology could help to improve people's travel experiences, according to Tribune Media.Social media has helped travel firms become better at customer service, as they can provide customers with instant responses to questions and...

Photoshoot mishap inspires mobile application

6th August 2009

A disastrous photoshoot resulted in a new mobile application being developed for the iPhone, the app's designer reveals.Kris Gebhardt, creator of FotoMuse, explains that his camera jammed while shooting cover art for a book.He grabbed his iPhone and used its built-in camera as an emergency...

Mobile application includes free map updates

6th August 2009

Purchasers of mobile application iGO My way are told that the cost of the app includes map updates through until the end of 2010.Developer NNG Global Services claims that its mobile application is the only one to include true three-dimensional representation of landmarks and geography.Meanwhile,...

Cross-platform mobile application launched for fitness fans

6th August 2009

A cross-platform mobile application brings fitness training to Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry handsets.Pocket Trainer is described as "a fitness trainer in your pocket" and is the latest mobile application to be released by Core Interaction.It begins with a questionnaire,...

Future web design 'to drive importance of video'

5th August 2009

Developments in web design are to help maintain the pace of online video adoption, according to eMarketer.The analyst explains that more support for high-definition content is among the factors driving online video viewing.More incorporation of video into blogs, social networks and emails is also...

Mobile application launched by OpenTable

5th August 2009

BlackBerry users can reserve a table at their favourite restaurant using a free mobile application from OpenTable, it has been revealed.The mobile application searches local venues for the desired dining time and party size, giving users the chance to quickly find a suitable restaurant and book a...

Words With Friends mobile application released

5th August 2009

A new mobile application, Words With Friends, provides iPhone users with the chance to challenge "dozens" of their friends to a game of wits.The mobile application has been developed by Newtoy, previously known to iPhone users as the company behind Chess With Friends.Words With Friends is...

NME Radio launches iTunes-linked mobile application

4th August 2009

NME Radio has launched a new mobile application for the iPhone that lets users buy music from iTunes when they hear it being played on the station.The app enables listeners to instantly purchase music the moment they hear it and makes use of the latest audio compression technology to ensure the...

Website access 'key' to European digital growth

4th August 2009

The European Commission (EC) has published a report revealing that web use in Europe is on the rise.According to the study, 56 per cent of Europeans use the internet on a frequent basis, compared with 33 per cent in 2004.Consumers aged between 16 and 24 were found to use the internet the most, with...

Web 2.0 'influencing intranet website design'

4th August 2009

Intranets are increasingly incorporating Web 2.0 and social media elements into their design, it has been suggested.According to web design usability expert Jakob Nielsen, the use of such technology makes for a more person-structured information architecture, as opposed to one focused on specific...

Car firms 'need better website product comparison tools'

3rd August 2009

New research has suggested that automotive web design executives need to do more to improve their product comparison tools.The study by Econsultancy and Global Reviews found that many car websites tend to perform poorly when it comes to the provision of car comparison tools, with one common problem...

Spotify iPhone mobile application 'a double-edged sword'

3rd August 2009

It is likely that the launch of an iPhone version of the Spotify mobile application has resulted in something of a dilemma for Apple, it has been suggested.Spotify announced last week that it had submitted its music streaming app to Apple for potential App Store inclusion.According to Tom Newton of...

UK firms to invest more in website marketing, says poll

3rd August 2009

UK businesses' spending on website marketing will increase by nine per cent by the end of 2009, according to a new survey.Undertaken by the ad:tech London show, the poll found that almost half of firms intend to spend more than 30 per cent of their marketing budgets on internet-based initiatives,...