October 2005 - Posts

One second to lose the user's thought
19 October 05 01:08 PM | devi | 2 Comments   

Brian Goldfarb , my colleague on the ASP.NET team recently attended a web design conference. One of the things that stood out in his report was the following data: · Response time limits: · 0.1 seconds. Limit for having a user feel that the system is Read More...

1024x768 rules
18 October 05 05:39 PM | devi | 7 Comments   

The W3Schools site reports that more computers are using a display resolution of 1024x768 pixels or higher. 53% users had 1024x768 in Jan 2005 but the number rose to 55% by July 2005. As a web designer, what resolution do you use as the target to optimize Read More...

CSS & XSL -- Can they be friends?
17 October 05 08:51 PM | devi | 1 Comments   

I was wondering how I would explain to a designer when to use CSS versus XSL? It’s not enough to say that CSS is for styling HTML while XSL is for styling XML. XML can be styled by both CSS and XSL. One major difference of course is that XML can be used Read More...

IE7 -- Clean up your hack!
14 October 05 01:20 PM | devi | (Comments Off)   

Prior to IE6, browsers built in non-standard rendering, without conforming to W3C recommendations With wider acceptance of standards, browsers began to operate in two modes – a ‘quirky’ mode called Quirks mode and a ‘standards’ mode. The former was used Read More...

Job opening: Program Manager
14 October 05 12:40 PM | devi | 3 Comments   

Program Manager - Microsoft Expression "Quartz Web Designer" Do you want to create the next generation of tools for professional web designers? Do you want to empower professional designers to create compelling user experiences? We are looking for a Program Read More...

Test Manager - Microsoft Expression "Quartz Web Designer"
14 October 05 12:32 PM | devi | 1 Comments   

Test Manager - Microsoft Expression "Quartz Web Designer" Do you want to lead the test team for the next generation of web authoring tools? Do you want to empower professional designers to create compelling web experiences? We are looking for a “hands-on” Read More...

Software Development Engineer - Microsoft Expression "Quartz Web Designer"
14 October 05 12:21 PM | devi | 1 Comments   

Software Design Engineer - Microsoft Expression "Quartz Web Designer" Do you want to create the next generation of tools for professional web designers? Do you want to empower professional designers to create compelling user experiences? We are looking Read More...

Can PNG be king?
13 October 05 09:16 PM | devi | 1 Comments   

I was wondering why PNG has not managed to knock-out GIF images. The PNG home page offered an excellent summary of the reasons. For those still wondering why we should be bothered about PNG, here is an executive summary: The W3C has had a recommendation Read More...

Why do I blog? What will readers get out of my blog?
13 October 05 03:02 PM | devi | (Comments Off)   

Why do I blog? To get customer input on features How will readers benefit from my blog? Readers will get a channel for providing direct feedback to the Microsoft Expression Quartz program management team I also use my blog as an outlet for my own creative Read More...

IE Developer Toolbar
12 October 05 10:09 PM | devi | (Comments Off)   

I downloaded the IE Developer Toolbar beta a few minutes ago. It is very cool. Lots of goodies... My favorite tools so far are: the ability to outline table cells and the quick validators Download the toolbar Read More...

WCAG - Click the orange button!
12 October 05 04:59 PM | devi | (Comments Off)   

I typed click orange button in my search bar to see how many sites point to a button by its color. I was disappointed to see several results. Sec 508 of the United States Access Board recommends that all web pages shall be designed so that all information Read More...

CSS - Moving to CSS based layout
11 October 05 02:14 PM | devi | 2 Comments   

I am in the midst of reading ‘ More Eric Meyer on CSS’ . The first chapter talks about the move to CSS based visual design. For example -- “…for years upon years – about eight of them as this is being written – we’ve been using tables and spacer images Read More...

Let's hang out at Gap tonight!
10 October 05 05:01 PM | devi | (Comments Off)   

A few days ago Business Week featured a story about Gap’s new chain, Forth & Towne. The company is betting that design – store design, will attract customers and make them happy. Gap’s goal is to create an environment where customers want to spend Read More...

XHTML -- The clock is ticking…
07 October 05 11:00 AM | devi | (Comments Off)   

The drum beat is getting louder for moving into the world of strict HTML or XHTML . Sites that get complacent with poor HTML will risk a poor user experience in modern day browsers, especially those on mobile hand-held devices. Mobile devices do not have Read More...

"Experience Designers"
06 October 05 05:10 PM | devi | (Comments Off)   

Hello World! I work as the Group Program Manager for Microsoft Expression Web Designer (code named “ Quartz ”). A few days ago a five year old asked me 'What does a W eb D esigner do' ? The definition of a Web Designer swirling in my head was far too Read More...