Sudoku in Google Plus

I look forward to trying out all the games in Google Plus, but I suppose my favorites will be Sudoku and Diamond Dash.

Hi, I'm ofwdin.  Wanna play?

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Friendster 2011

Simple interface. Bookmark your favorite game and it goes at the top.
Shoutouts and friends' status are way below the fold.
So yeah, it's a games world.

Every now and then, I get restless with my favorite social networking sites and want to try something new.

Last weekend, I nearly gave my son a heart attack when I blurted out, "I want a Friendster account!"

"Whutt???" He gasped, as though I said something really scandalous/ immoral. I suppose for an 11 yr old, having anything to do with a social suicide site IS scandalous and immoral.

For the life of of me, I didn't know why I suddenly wanted one, only that I'm bored and heard that the new version is out.

Even if Google+ came out, I wasn't too hot about it since it's on limited invitation basis only. I remember being burned with Google Wave, etc. Desperate to get first dibs then for what? A bulky, slow-loading interface, etc.

Anyhoo, so I signed up for Friendster the other day, and what I found was: It's early Facebook! (Well the early version 3 or 4, I think.) Version 2 of fb was amusing with the pokes and sending gifts and drinks. Version 3 grabbed people with the cute games like Pet Society, Mafia Wars' etc. Because of users' daily pre-occupation with games, eventually fb was able to grab Friendster's throne (here in the PH at least, Myspace elsewhere) of listing friends, from right under Friendster's sorry ass.

So Friendster is now a games site, where you 1). Play games, 2) Make friends with people you play with and 3) invite all your real-time friends and collect your newly harvested gaming friends. This is exactly how I did my early Facebook v3. And by the time fb was established as a real friends' site, I've stayed away. Sorry, was bored. To backtrack even earlier than that, that is exactly how I did with my Friendster v1. By the time everyone was in Friendster, I was playing games and poking in FB.

BUT! I noticed Friendster's flash games load much quicker than fb's flash games. The reason why I stopped doing fb's games were the horribly impossible loading times of pet society, chocolatier, etc etc. The Friendster games also have a chat window. It's suitable for those who want to make new friends. I don't know about the coins to keep playing the games though. You can buy pre-paid cards in 7-11 etc plus there's (groan) Paypal, so I hope I don't lose sight of my sense and splurge on online sudoku. Booo.

Back to my pondering on FB vis-a-vis Friendster: Everything's just a VICIOUS VICIOUS cycle eh, and whoever gets the social networking throne, we the users are ALWAYS in the line of fire. You think?

They can all grab each other's thrones, back and forth. I don't care. I just want my cute games. And yes, I always go home to Plurk after I tire of all the drama and switching sides.


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MMDA Traffic Navigator

I am so excited with this website, the MMDA Traffic Navigator (tears of joy forming). I have always wanted to write about MMDA and commend their pro-active use of the internet, just haven't gotten around to it yet.  The different online avenues they use are always so helpful and easily accessible.

And now, this. The Traffic Navigator shocked and awed me. Happies!!! :-D
I have not fully used it, but so far, I have found that the usability of the site is excellent.

• Areas are easy to find
• Color coding of degree of traffic is simple so it will be quick to see at a glance.  This is especially handy when people tend to check their mobile phones for traffic.
• The 2 items in the Navigation is a top need (south/ north bound and areas)
• No. of minutes ago updated is shown
• Plus a map of the area is provided and easily seen

Still in beta, so works only in the mornings, for now. But two thumbs up!

Monitors 6 areas:
- EDSA
- Quezon Avenue
- Espana
- C5
- Roxas Blvd.
- SLEX

Just click then it will show more specific areas, and whether traffic is light, moderate, heavy.

See http://mmdatraffic.interaksyon.com/system-view.php

This is the type of work I expect from the government and all its agencies.
Kudos also to ABC-5 for this joint project.  

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Cheap Gadget Review: China Android Tablet

Someone gave me an i-pad clone for my birthday, which I fondly refer to as I-dap, I-dep, I-dop.

At first I wsn't sure what to do with it, as I am content with my speedy mobile net and the desktop.

I've had it for 3 weeks now and all I can say is it's nice to have one.

If you use your computer for simple internet and office tasks, I can vouch that this China I-pad clone is more than enough for your needs.

- You can easily check emails (most email sites have a mobile version and will automatically revert to it)
- Facebook, twitter, etc. comes in the mobile version, so it's easy to use.
- Youtube - quick, continuous upload.
- Blogger is okay, I'm using it now.
- Has a docs, spreadsheet and presentation software, so you can also give one to your child for school work. (Assuming your child takes care of things properly.)
- PDF reader. The main use of this gadget for me. I've finished one e-book this weekend. I wanted to read the book from my phone but couldn't, and now I was able to. Yehh!

The tablet clone I got can be used with a keyboard. It has a hub thingy for 2 USB ports and a modem connector.
Keyboard is of course too small to what you're used to, but it's supposed to fit in an 8-inch wide board.
Batteries last for about 2 hours, based on my own usage of using wifi, brightest lcd display, etc. I haven't timed how long to charge it.

Oh, yeah, I still don't have Angry Birds! The Android version of this baby is 5.0 lolz. But my friend Troy got a tablet too, his Android version is 2.2 and he immediately was able to put in one. I don't care too much for games, so it's okay with me.

All in all, for the price of this 'game and watch' (kids, ask your parents what that is, lolol) for around Php3?4?5?K (another friend got hers for only Php2,700 at 999 Mall in Divi, while Troy got his for about 4k? in Ortigas), this baby is 2 thumbs up.


Overall satisfaction? Very content
Sturdy? Mine seems so, brand is MID
Speed? Of course, slow to middle only. If you're expecting more, spend for a laptop.
Laptop or clone tablet? Clone tablet
Why? Lighter, does the same things, touch screen too.
Okay to have even if you have the other gadgets? Yes.
Do you recommend this to friends? For the non-brand conscious with simple computer needs, yes. But if you feel you are a better person because you have the i-pad, I suggest get the I-pad. Apps are also easier to get, obviously.

(Omg, I honestly did not realize this was in the style of Orange Monster's Quick and Dirty Notes. lolz.  Oh well...) 

If you have your own China Android thingy, please tell us your experience with it so that our readers can judge better if they should buy or not. Don't be shy, leave a comment below.




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Check for 'False Right Margins'

It used to be web conversion/ usability people had to check just for 'false bottoms'. You know, when there's this considerable space just somewhere below the "above the fold" on your monitor. And people think it's the end of the page and they leave. If your Buy or Sign Up bottom lies below your false bottom, you'll be in deep trouble.

Today, I was surfing on my phone and came upon a page where I had to register. I was used to this phone being able to fit pages. So I registered, and wondered why the form only asked for my first name and not my family name. Attributing this to design error, I filled in my whole name in the First Name field and proceeded to click 'Register'. After waiting for some time and nothing was loading on my phone, I realized the page was incomplete. I scrolled up and down again, and everything looked fine. Later, I found that if I scrolled to the right, the other fields were there, such as Family Name.

Fed up, I left the Registration Form.

This got me thinking, with lots more people surfing the net compared to 3 years ago, conversion and usability people should now also monitor the right margins, since yes, phones are narrower than your trusted computer or iPad. Maybe this can be adjusted too by not putting too much space apart for each field? Or you can also do the stuff you used to to avoid 'false bottoms' only this time apply it to the right side of the page. Just do this sparingly since people do not usually care to scroll to the right, especially from a phone.

And of course, always check how your web page looks like from the different mobile units. You lose valuable conversions, like sales or sign-ups with this tiny oversight.

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Currently reading "Mastering Online Marketing" and I super like this quote for online businesses (and everything else, in general):

"Manage the system, not the people."

I'll always remember this, even for family matters.



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Web redesign for a development org site

Our website is undergoing a major redesign and I can't help but be excited. Obviously, geeky me tingles on matters related to these.

When I first heard of the redesign, I immediately looked up the group contracted to do the redesign and I found a simple white website with forms. Most people might think why would I hire these people with a plain white website? Me, after checking their rather spartan landing page, I grew excited and knew this group would know exactly what to do in giving our site a much needed rejuvenation.

I saw the designs today and wasn't disappointed.

1. Besides the initial professional, modern look, the first thing your eyes will wander to are the prominent nav bars for the types of users that visit the site. You will immediately see buttons for journalists, NGOs, academe, etc. People can immediately click whatever group you're from and from there find options what your groups needs.

2. Search button more prominent at the right. People instinctively look for it at the top right. Great thing is after clicking there are scrolldown filters according to country, item needed, etc.etc.

3. Landing pages now have stories right up at the top of the nav bar. Even for a worldwide development org, stories on how help is extended to countries are always welcome. People understand stories more so that's a big plus. Hyfalutin project documents are also easily available for groups whose main interest is to look up projects.

4. Top traffic landing pages, aka most in-demand pages, were prominently linked also at the top of the nav bar.

5. New items are easily seen, such as newest articles, publications and events.

Overall, I am very pleased that the site not only looks great, but is easy to use for visitors to get what they need. i noticed there isn't a favorites box, but I expect it'd look really hodgepodge with the assortment of opportunities, media releases, etc. that different groups of people need. Great design is when web owners are happy with their site, plus users are happy because it is easy to get what they need. Yup, great job!



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Lawsuit against bloggers?

Even if you aren't paying attention, the obvious is stark. Bloggers and other quickie social media have arrived in influencing public opinion. You know this format of messaging has arrived because the people using these media vehicles are now getting lawsuits from posting their opinions.

With our kind of justice system, (plus the relative power of new media) I do not believe any kind of landmark decision on blogging will happen anytime soon. But I kinda like this happened to remind people to be more conscious about their accountability. If you want to say something, say it as you want to say it with apt caution.
These kinds of things are not for the weak of heart. Now the truly passionate ones will be separated from the flock.


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Office Newsletters: Simple cuts it.

I recently made a very plain office newsletter and received feedback about it.

- Everything in plain white
- Color highlights for contrast are deep blue for the masthead at the top, and a rich pacific blue to outline highlights right below it.
- Text and photos in plain horizontal layout
- Sections separated by light gray dots
- Lots of white space
- Fonts used are plain arial, georgia and verdana

Everything else was black text on white space.

Interestingly, one of our readers emailed the next day. She thanked us for the very easy to read newsletter and said it was a very friendly way of communicating updates. (Thank you also for writing in.)

So yeah, we all agonize how a newsletter should look like. We experiment with all these designs and boxes and fillers, looking for that perfect combination of colors, fancy fonts, etc.

But really, it is the reader who will tell you what that perfect combi is, so listen/ intelligently guess what is easiest for them.

Sample screenshot:

Yes, the look really is just email  with pictures.

I intentionally made the pic small, for privacy reasons.

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What to Eat for Holy Week - Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta and Kani Sandwich at Figaro

I'm not Catholic. Since most of you are, I'm just sharing this because I know you'll be looking for yummy food on no-meat Fridays. Visit Figaro for their yummy Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta or Kani Sandwich. You'll surely enjoy these filling meals. It may be no-meat but maybe you'll still sin because you'll surely find pleasure eating it.




I love sardines pasta. I cook it when I get the chance. Figaro's Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta though, is the way I envision how my sardines pasta should taste (which I never get quite right, btw.) The amount of olive oil is just right. The pasta is not dry or greasy. The spiciness from the Spanish sardines and the chili flakes is mild enough for everyone, I suppose. Plus the combi of the olives, parmesan and parsley are will leave your restless tastebuds satisfied. Ah yes, angel hair is the perfect pasta used for this little beauty. I always use spaghetti when I cook sardines pasta. The thickness of the noodle in my own version takes away some of the flavor.

Anyway, why tire yourself to cook pasta? You can just hop on over to Figaro to get a nicely cooked, warm and perfect sardines pasta, right.

The Kani Sandwich is okay. I love kani salads, so this sandwich is okay for me. I just wish the bread had a rougher texture (like wheat or rye) to balance out the softness of the crabstick and vegetables. That's just me though. It's overall yummy.

Prices are also reasonable - P180 for the pasta and P179 for the sammich. It's okay because it's a meal in itself and satisfying.

P.S.  My officemate (also an avid pasta cook)  and I ate at Figaro again last Wednesday.  She tried out the Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta.  The verdict from this pasta fan:  Thumbs up.  She wanted more.  

Go on over to Figaro and try out these lite meals today! 




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