steviewdr

Its alright of a website. Im generally not a fan of dark websites - but anyways. Your <a href's in the text need to be a different colour. Its very hard to differentiate between links and text in the main body. I know you are trying to get a specific typset across in your top logo - but Id prefer it a better font. It grows on me however. As mark said - you need a little more graphics IMO. Perhaps for the links I mentioned to provide a -> or a globe icon, as with <a href's in the wikipedia. Your Nav could be decorated/ differentiated a little better also. -steve

It looks good. User registration is broken. It keeps saying that "username is already chosen". It serves all your requirements, and quite well at that. Im wondering did you use SMF forums or another system. If you setup a demo acc. I'll do some more testing/debugging ;-) EDIT: on the login and register pages, the vertical line between content and nav moves to the middle of your website. -steve

[!--quoteo(post=368412:date=Apr 25 2006, 02:01 PM:name=jcombs_31)--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(jcombs_31 @ Apr 25 2006, 02:01 PM) [snapback]368412[/snapback][/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--quotec--] I didn't really notice it being big. You mean just the icons or text or the entire thing, including the bar? I changed the footer to include the links within and so that the color extends to the bottom of the page. [/quote] The footer looks better. As for the top Nav - ya, the whole height of the white and grey bars. Could you lightly hatch the white top bar? -steve

[!--quoteo(post=368070:date=Apr 24 2006, 06:37 PM:name=jcombs_31)--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(jcombs_31 @ Apr 24 2006, 06:37 PM) [snapback]368070[/snapback][/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--quotec--] THe problem is that it will be too stretched if the content went across the screen, and I'm tired of fixed width center aligned sites. I'll think more about what I can do, I'm using the same res and didn't notice it being much of a problem. [/quote] The white in your header div clashing/matching with the white on the right at large resolutions is just a little strange IMO. Its as if the grey bar (with the icons) is just hanging there. As for been tired of fixed width center aligned sites :: join the club! P.S. as for icons - do you have a library or do you know where is a good place to get some? Rgds, Steve

At my resolution - 1280x1024 the right side looks very empty. The whitespace in the top div also conflicts with the large whitespace on the right - at my screen resolution. The main website itself is nice - the logos make it. The quote area is very nice. Overall - it is nice. Just not sure whether it would be better with the content in the middle, or the header and footer divs at a set width (not 100%). Rgds, Steve

Humm... The text is coming way too fast in the video. Basically you are shoving a website (ton) of text into a video with sound trying to entice people. With all the text coming fast - the quality of the text is poor. If you are planning on having tons of text - I would move to flash and overlay the svg text over the video which would be way better. As for the logo logo stuff - it was a little overkill in your first video. The improved video is a bit better. You need to cut the junk out of the video still. Instead of having a ton of text and that soundtrack playing over and over - you should do some professional voice over. It would be way better. It looks a little cheesy yet. As for the presentation of your website containing the video - it lets you down. Your website with the "All Bold" text makes it look old and un-professional. I would get a professional website template - and do your proper advertising there and have your video/flash there. Rgds, Steve

In my opinion the website is still very fragmented. The "<a hrefs" in your page have different colours - changing from light blue to a pale green colour. Also on the fragmented part - you have the popular tags div out on its own, and un-integrated into the website. The same with the "Keep Share Find" div - its out on its own. It could be my resolution too - 1280 X 1024 which makes the Popular div very wide. I think its width should be fixed - with a slender width. Change the default blue colour on the <a hrefs and try and view your site at different resolutions. Rgds, Steve

With some modifications etc. this site has good potential. I see exactly what your friends mean about your website looking like a "domain parking" website with adds etc. What your site needs: Headings that Stand out and seperate the various areas. The orange div with the "Welcome to GetBoo" needs to be smaller in height - so your top header div (white) with your logo stands out more. There is also little reason for this orange div to be so tall. I think your website needs a little more, what myself and Ober call "containment". The bottom of your website doesnt have a proper footer area - just the Number of people registered. Also nothing sperates the search area, from the text content area, from the Keep, Share, Find text area. The popular tags area needs a little rework - the different font sizes on the items looks offputting. The various grey borders look strange and out of sync also. These of course are only my opinions and ramblings. -steve

With a little more work on the second one - Id go with it. IMO clients like to see a "Latest News" section also - well if is going to be updated a bit. Rgds, steve P.S. they are both nice. Have you any more to offer us some inspiration?

The video is very long 5-10minutes. I doubt business people would have the time to sit down and watch it. All I could see throughout the video was "logo logo logo". As for the website - your nice background image wont be seen at low resolutions - perhaps the background shouldnt be fixed and allowed to scroll with the page. Just a reminder incase you dont know - this is a "Website Critique" and not a video critique and/or advertising place etc. Good Luck with it. -steve

Hi All, Happy Easter - hope ye had a good one. I have to design and build an Information Portal for my research. I want to have the "best" user interface and experience for the user when using this Information Portal Application. [b] I want this Web Application/ Portal to handle like a Desktop Application, in terms of GUI/Design and Speed.[/b] First - Layout of Web Application. I have looked at control panels and I like the interface used by plesk ( [a href=\"http://freshmeat.net/screenshots/16671/63992/\" target=\"_blank\"]http://freshmeat.net/screenshots/16671/63992/[/a] ) They use FRAMES!!! to simulate and boast a "Desktop" experience with the Web App. [b]I have done out a mock-up of a layout (using css and divs) Im thinking of using. Its at:[/b] [a href=\"http://kartbuilding.net/misc/portal/\" target=\"_blank\"]http://kartbuilding.net/misc/portal/[/a] Dont worry about Colours and/or Text - its only the Layout Im worried about - scrolling and the such like. [b]Have ye got any ideas on what ye would consider to be the "BEST" layout for a Web App?[/b] Basically I want to reflect a Desktop Application which is Very Intuitive and Simple to Learn with a 0 learning curve. [b]Secondly - before I start doing loads of stuff I have a Question ->[/b] Situation: There are several pages with little content, with perhaps 1 or 2 images max. I want the FASTEST possible Switching time/Loading time. Method 1: Use DIV's which can be turned on/off with display: none | display: block via javascript Method 2: In the same page - use Ajax to pull the new text in and display it on the fly in the background. Hummm...Im thinking I will have to use a combination of both methods. What are your ideas? Any enlightenment would be greatly appreciated. Best Regards, Steve

Hi, Are you using php-fusion? I think so. And if so - what are you providing new. I spent 5 minutes at the photo gallery and uploading, only to realise down at the bottom of the main page that its "out of action". I dont like the big adds at the top of the page - it pushes your content too far down the page. People on a 1024X 768 screen will be scrolling and scrolling. Your adds should be thin and long - or like phpfreaks - integrated into the header etc. Is everyone trying to make money these days with websites and google. It seems that everybody wants free money for any sort of a website. On a upside - your graphics are nice and soft. Your logo needs major work. (imultimedia.com etc) So is your website just an implementation of php-fusion CMS with a photo gallery? If so fair enough, its not too bad. Rgds, Steve

Ya - get onto discussion boards and reply with information/answers that YOU have on your website. It really worked for me and kart plans ( [a href=\"http://www.kartbuilding.net\" target=\"_blank\"]http://www.kartbuilding.net[/a] ). Things take time also - so be patient. "Build it and they will come". Rgds, Steve

If you setup an account/username and password and login URL - then we will critique and test your website/ app. Rgds, Steve

I like it too. Just a few gripes -> 296kB - so be careful of them images - but they do make the website :) Theres a lot of stuff on the main page - but thats the nature of such a website. Could you have it - so that on your header image where it says: java | pascal | html | css that these are clickable, and return pages with individual code for java | pascal | html etc.? - Just an idea. But looks good - Blue is a nice colour to work with. Id give it 9.25/10 - in the category of a community & tools etc. (which is totally different from a personal page etc) -steve

I think it needs a little more edge definition. I would put a 1px black border on the right and left of the main div - it would focus the eye more on the content. Also - for the images - I would put a 1px black border around the images. A proper footer div would be good also - and give a little more colour to the bottom. -steve

As wildteen said - itd look better centered - I think. Also the top left image seems out of place. Perhaps if it was down underneath the header, and not part of it. Ya - good layout. With large text - as you are using - its best to create it as images - where you can put anti-aliased text (no sharp edges). You can also choose your own font in the images - and this will appear "as is" on every ones pc. Also - if you could keep away from the really tiny text. Your header needs to be better and perhaps integrate the image you had. Waiting to see how it turns out. Colour scheme = ok. Avoid the light greys etc. as mentioned by wildteen. -steve

It sure is quiet here on this Discussion board this week. Anyways, here are my few more comments: The borders around your images are too thick. A 1px light grey boarder (same on all the sides) may be best. On the home page - the image looks out of place. There is a TON of padding on the top and V.LITTLE on the left. In My Opinion (IMO) the padding on the top should be the same on the left. This is the same idea on the portfolio page. The padding on the top is WAY MORE than on the left. Also the BTH Ltd portfolio has a very thick dark border around this picture. The blog is good, and the faded inverted comma looks good. I still think you need more styling on the top (red area) and on the left (green) and the bottom. Perhaps a 3d background image with x-direction on it or something. -steve

I like your improvements. 1. The white division lines between your Navigation buttons - Lovely. 2. The dark blue and green line (1 px thick) on the left and bottom of the white content area - Lovely, [b]I think you need to do more of this - giving the areas & divs proper definition.[/b] 3. The blog - The background " looks nice - however dont over kill on it. I seen your earlier blog - with 5 entries and the " background was a bit too much. Perhaps a tone down in the grey (make it lighter) would be better. 4. The colours of the 1px lines in the contact form now look out of place on the nice coloured div & background. 5. The image on your Home page immediately make your site look better - it draws focus and attention. However as with the images on your porfolio - I think that all your images need proper placement and definition. It would be nice if you had a special div for images with a nice border (v.v. light grey, or perhaps a darker right and bottom line - giving shadow effect - I think you are at this as we speak) 6. Ya - your images in the portfolio need tidying up. The padding on the right etc. needs to be fine tuned. 7. use proper styled bullets in the About Me. 8. Yes - Your content is "out-styling" your website (colours etc) a little IMO. 9. obsidian/jcombs websites are very very sweet - well done lads.

Looking good. The different colours on a:hover for the menu - are different and sort of nice. Im glad to see you made it a little wider - does look better. Your portfolio page - looks nice with the divs and background colours. - One thing tho - The content (divs and layout) of that page looks nicer that the webpage itself. So the Divs with the borders and light haze of a background look cool. Its just that you dont want to "outstyle" your website with the content (not the actual pictures- the styles used in the content). Get the idea? - Same on the Contact Page. Perhaps a better matching of colours would be better. -steve

The gradient looks ok. Your website - with the top heading graphic looks similar across browsers - apart from lacking the opacity in Opera. I dont know if this will be any good - but its a similar design to your own: [a href=\"http://www.iccconcepts.com/FAIM16/\" target=\"_blank\"]http://www.iccconcepts.com/FAIM16/[/a] The dark green of your scrollbars which matches the a:hover is OK - only. If you *really* wanted (Id say its a bit ott) I think you can style or mimic scrollbars using DHTML for firefox. - Not sure if its worth it tho. Ive just one thing on my mind :- Like I know you have put a good bit of work into the positioning and layout - and a job well done. But currently it still looks like a "simple" (basic re. colours and DESIGN) website to the ordinary user. Id say you have 2 routes - a 3d effect with shadows or a "rounded DIV" effect/design. Your portfolio page is your most decorated and colourful page. Perhaps you need a dedicated "image position" on each page - where you can put a nice design'y image of something nice. Like on jcombs website -> [a href=\"http://www.jcombs.net\" target=\"_blank\"]http://www.jcombs.net[/a] he has a nice picture of a RJ45. Even on my own latest site -> [a href=\"http://www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/es/\" target=\"_blank\"]http://www.staff.ul.ie/sburke/es/[/a] I try to have a different graphic on every page. Ya - its currently nice. Some graphics will make it. -steve

Hi Again, First off - Dunno if you are currently at the website but here you go: 1. The background gradient (now rotated 180) is not long enough. There is a gap at the bottom of my screen. See kartbuilding.net/misc/mark2.jpg With your gradient upside down - your background colour is the same as with your horizontal nav - is this what you wanted? 2. The & sign should be done using the proper notation in xhtml on the About Us page. 3. The whole "This site is ......" Xhtml 1.0 Strict should do fine. 4. The green scroll bars are a little too green. Lighten them up or change colour. 5. Your portfolio is layed out better as alternating. I still wouldnt mind seeing some alternating row colours for each site. (each site would have a lightly coloured background) One question - I really like your "Inside" site in your portfolio. I have to create an Information Portal, and would like to base it on something. Did yourselves make it from scratch or sit it ontop of a CMS? Have you got a larger screen grab/ old demo site? I too am battling with usability - this is the hardest to do. Any help/ ideas would be greatly appreciated -cheers. Chat later, -steve

Hi Mark, Its amazing what little things can change the apperance. Anyways - I like your improvements. Here is the screengrab of your website in Opera: [a href=\"http://kartbuilding.net/misc/mark.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"]http://kartbuilding.net/misc/mark.jpg[/a] That background (website) is a WordPress template you know!? - so im sure that graident would be ok to use. Im not sure whether that gradient fits in totally - but it does make it look a little more "cool" etc. Making gradient backgrounds are super easy to do - the one golden rule however is to use .png to avoid the squares of pixles/colours. The portfolio page looks good with content - perhaps it would be better if you put in coloured bordered divs around your seperate websites. Oh ya - [b]Your header graphic looks WAY better.[/b] The crash and burn heading image could do with more padding on the right IMO. I see you removed the horizontal hairline blue - good good. As on your portfolio page - Id say you might have to look at styling the scroll bar - however this doesnt work in firefox - maybe, not sure, but your site with its colour scheme could do with a styled scroll bar. Oh ya - Im sure you will anyways - style your <a href's> Your Navigation Text is a little small. Perhaps Small Capitals would be nice, or a different font. Chat later, -steve

Tis allright. The layout works well - so congrats on your first table-less layout. There are a few issues - some of which you are aware of. Well, ober Im sure will point out that in Opera - your opacity etc. doesnt work and the colours are MUCH darker. There is a hairline blue line underneath your horizontal nav. The text at the top - crash and burn, only works in Firefox - not in IE or Opera - so maybe - ordinary text would do fine.......speaking of which -> The title text for a website - In my opinion, is best as a graphic to have anti-aliased text etc. As you are using a horizontal nav - I will be interested in seeing what you put in the green area. On a last note - as this is going to be your "design website" - Im currently finding, that design websites tend to be graphic intense with very styled Nav's and bells and whistles. Your site is nice and simple with colours etc. - Im just wondering how you are going to make it a showcase for your "design" stuff. Also - Perhaps your background (dark grey) would be nicer with a gradient fill? Perhaps something like: [a href=\"http://blogs.nonado.net/diamond/\" target=\"_blank\"]http://blogs.nonado.net/diamond/[/a] (wordpress) - Im not sure. Also - perhaps your website could be a little larger. A website for 800X 600 would be nicer. Yours seems a little small. Anyways - waiting to see its development. -steve

If your using windows - then you can easily specific a SMTP server in php.ini or in a htaccess In a .htaccess put php_value SMTP yourisp_server.com This *may* send you emails via this SMTP server and thus may not get marked as spam. What Im now looking at is this tutorial: [a href=\"http://www.phpfreaks.com/tutorials/130/0.php\" target=\"_blank\"]http://www.phpfreaks.com/tutorials/130/0.php[/a] Good Luck with it, -steve