User Features: Don’t Be Like Thunderbird 3

Never miss an episode! Click here to snatch the RSS feed.

 

(Right) Click here to download the MP3

As a long-time (raving) fan of Mozilla’s Thunderbird 2 email client, my heart was broken with the release of Thunderbird 3.  No lightning at launch?  Tabs?  What the … ?

Don’t be like Thunderbird 3 and assume you – the developer or designer – know best.  As indie developers, we’ve gotta pay attention to the features our users want, and not take them away because we think we’ve come up with something better or newer or fancier.


The IndieNet Podcast, Episode 005: The Customer is Never Right

Never miss an episode! Click here to snatch the RSS feed.

 

(Right) Click here to download the MP3

After a week off, a rearranged office leads to a brainstorm on internet marketing; we toss around some ideas on spicing up our static web designs and then ignore what our clients are telling us … for the better.

Episode 5 of the IndieNet Podcast, ho!


Web Apps: Weighing Feature Customization with Worry-Free Maintenance

Never miss an episode! Click here to snatch the RSS feed.

 

(Right) Click here to download the MP3

A long-time client of mine has been using Survey Monkey to gather customer feedback and collect testimonials on their services, but is frustrated that a couple key features aren’t offered.

This client suggested scrapping Survey Monkey – a hosted app offered free of charge – and setting up an open source alternative on their own servers; is it worth it, though?  On this IndieNet Podcast: Bytes I think aloud over the line between time, money, and customization when comparing 3rd party-hosted services with self-hosted ones.


The IndieNet Podcast, Episode 004: Hopefully You Don’t Ever Have to Make Any Brightly Colored Funeral Home Websites

Never miss an episode! Click here to snatch the RSS feed.

 

(Right) Click here to download the MP3

The first episode of 2010, covering web development news, the potential status of Flash, and why you shouldn’t try to please your clients.

Also keep your ears peeled for a brief shout-out to CES 2010 in Las Vegas, Twitter profiles as a viable design product, and a mighty fall from the soap box.


Support Groups: Don’t Leave Your Clients Stranded

Never miss an episode! Click here to snatch the RSS feed.

 

(Right) Click here to download the MP3

While reflecting on some Windows 7 installation and driver woes, I’m appalled by an un-named company’s lack of support for their product.  We, the independent web designers and developers of the world, can’t afford to hang our clients out to dry amidst fierce (and cheap) competition.

What’s one got to do with the other?  Simple.

When we build something, we need to support it.  Here’s another edition of The IndieNet Podcast: Bytes …

(I’m above mentioning this company by name, as per the podcast … but here’s a link.)