Web Apps

The Rise Of JSON

May 23, 2011

An interesting perspective on why JSON has become so popular compared to XML from MIX Online: The Rise Of JSON: There is the simple fact that JSON is smaller as a payload than XML. And no doubt JSON is less verbose than XML.  But there’s much more to it than just size.  The crux has to [...]

Boxed Ice on Running a Successful Beta

April 24, 2009

Boxed Ice, creators of Server Density, wrote up a nicely detailed post on how to run a successful beta program for a web application. Knowing when to release a product is difficult. The maxim “release early, release often” certainly applies but that has to be balanced against making sure you have a minimum viable product [...]

The formula for building web applications

June 30, 2008

I read this article on Mashable (via Fred Wilson‘s tweet) and had to post this quote on building web applications: Determine a basic need -> Create a service that satisfies it in the simplest way possible -> Open it up. It sounds simple, but it’s not; determining a basic human need, like the need to [...]

Hulu first impressions

December 15, 2007

I recently received a beta invite from NBC Universal and News Corp’s new video venture, Hulu. After watching some videos, I’m impressed with what they’ve done for a beta release. Hulu offers both full-length shows and clips from current programming as well as classics from its back catalog. In their words, Hulu offers current primetime [...]

Pricing web applications and services

October 3, 2007

One of the toughest marketing issues for any business, let alone a company providing web services, is pricing. I recently found a link on Brian Oberkirch‘s blog to On Pricing, a site describing itself as “an ongoing discussion of web app pricing strategies.” Using Tumblr, a popular tumblelog service (I use Tumblr as well here), [...]

NetBank closes after failed deal

September 30, 2007

Wow, talk about good timing. I just closed my accounts at NetBank two weeks ago and moved them to EverBank. Now I see that NetBank has officially shutdown. NetBank has steadily declined over the years, but I had been with them so long (7 years) it just wasn’t worth the trouble to move my accounts. [...]

Web analytics services and Performancing’s mistake

July 26, 2007

Center Networks has a great overview of the available options for web analytics. I’ve tried many of these services, but each of them have been lacking in some way. The following services are briefly covered: Clicky, eXTReMe Tracking, Google Analytics, Mint, and Quantcast. One service I tried recently that wasn’t mentioned was Performancing Metrics which [...]

Apple’s Safari to Windows is a brilliant move

June 12, 2007

I watched Paul Kedrosky on CNBC yesterday shrug off Apple’s release of Safari for Windows and was quite surprised by his reaction. This is a really big deal for a couple reasons. Yes, as Kedrosky says, the browser war is an old topic and not as sexy as the iPhone story or new Leopard features. [...]

Micro-blogging with Tumblr

June 5, 2007

I’ve been experimenting with Tumblr for a little while now and I really enjoy the service as a solution for micro-blogging combined with Twitter. I’ve previously discussed Twitter as a solution for lifeblogging, but it lacks the capability to post links, pictures, and videos. Tumblr enables the importing of any feed in addition to posting [...]

Twitter distractions

May 18, 2007

I realized my Twittering has temporarily slowed down my blogging. I’m not really sure whether this is good or bad, but I know I have less Twitter followers than blog and feed readers so I’m going to try to even all my posting out between my blog, Twitter, and my tumblelog. I’m finding that Twitter [...]