Aesthetics are always considered highly important on nearly all web projects I participate in or see from other developers. I have myself always set out a list of important factors that should be considered before even contemplating building a web presence; simply put CONTENT IS KING. Unfortunately there are many examples of websites that overlook this very factor and go for a more eye pleasing alternative.

So are there any good examples of highly successful websites that rely solely on Content and not just looks, well yes there is. Just point your browser to www.craigslist.org and drawl over the classic 1990’s look to the site and then take this into consideration, this is at the time of writing the 36^th most visited site on the internet. This site receives more than 9 billion page request each month and has a higher visitor number than Amazon.com.

Thankfully as you take a peek at the homepage I think it’s safe to say CONTENT IS KING here, although a little aesthetic improvement here and there would be nice.

New Time Media is proud to announce the official opening of the Geoff Burch Business Guru site. This has been an ongoing development resulting in Geoff completely revamping his original site for a more modern looking/functioning portal for his work and discussion. As a internationally recognized Business Guru we have had great pleasure in advising Geoff on the best approach for his internet presence while enjoying discovering the many aspects of his own work.

The site consist of dedicated book pages giving a micro site feel to each publication while adding a blogging facility to the site to enable Geoff to pass on his professional (and at times priceless) wisdom.

Visit Geoff Burch Business Guru

So whats been going on? Well New Time Media is proud to announce in association with Clifton Design Studio the release of the World Boxing Champion Amir Khans Official website. This is an ongoing venture allowing Amirs fans to interact with him while having an official site for his merchandise and media.

The initial reactions from both Amir’s Team and his fans is encouraging and brings a sense of achievement to all those that were involved in the project. We wish him all the best in his up and coming fight with Paulie Malignaggi.

It’s been on the cards for some time now but it seems Youtube’s decision to drop IE6 from its supported browsers has seen a significant shift in popularity for the aging browser. Statistics compiled by w3schools show IE6’s popularity dropping month by month since the start of the year; although this has been the case for a couple of years now it has never been as substantial as the current decline. This is a relief as this aging piece of software technology seems to have finally seen its day. When users considers the security risks and the amount of high profile sites that have disregarded any form of support for the browser; it now seems user sensible to upgrade or change browser.

Firefox now clearly dominates the race and seems to continue to attract new users offering a wealth of additional add-ons and plug-ins to complement nearly any conceivable internet experience. The Internet Explorer (IE) team (headed by Amy Barzdukas) have not been completely oblivious to these changes, introducing add-ons similar to Firefox; allowing the browser to be extended beyond the normal functionality expected from an internet browser.

Unfortunately for Microsoft this may be a case of too little too late, what should have been a hard fought war between the two internet browser manufactures has become a bit of a one horse race. If the decline in users continues we may one day see Microsoft pulling the plug altogether on browser development; although that may be some time away.

Chrome from Google continues to attract new users as one of the newer arrivals; this may yet become more popular depending on how Google’s Operating System of the same name performs. One other browser to watch for is Opera. Opera has been around since 1996 to the public and has grown from a trialware browser to a free piece of software. The only drawback for Opera is that it is entirely funded by Google who have a contracted agreement requiring Opera to use Google’s search facility by default.

Screen shot of Apples Safari History panel

Finally if none of the above mentioned browsers take you fancy then Safari may have the feel you’ve craved for. To a Window’s users the interface looks as you would expect from an Apple product, like a Mac piece of software. There is however one addition to the browsers arsenal that appeals to myself, and that’s its history panel. Although dangerous to state for fear of being inundated with facts, the others browsers just don’t seem to a approach this area with the same style and elegance.

The increase in support for Firefox does elevate the pressure slightly on companies insisting on IE6 support. It’s won’t be until the browser is completely eradicated that complete ignorance can be given to the age old piece of software. I’m sure however the problems and stories attached to this incarnation of the Internet Explorer will become stuff of legends amongst web designers and internet historians.

This week New Time Media has been delving into the most hyped product in years Google Wave. After watching the introduction video that explains the logic and thinking behind the product, I myself like many others have been itching to try the new piece of kit. Although at the time of writing Google Wave is only available by invitation there is already a bucket load of plug-ins and advise floating around on the internet; just type Google Wave WordPress in a Twitter search and you’ll see what I mean. After a few trial runs and option scanning the first thought where positive, however as with all new concepts cautions is always taken; am I looking at something I’ve already got, only served differently?
By far the most exciting aspect of Google Wave for me was the integration into blogs; a concept that I’m sure will open new avenues for social networking ideas. Searching WordPress.org I stumbled across this rather useful plug-in from Lucas Caro which allows WordPress to use the Google Wave Embed API. As Waves is still in Beta format, so is this plug-in, so caution should be applied. Once Google Wave has been fully released in a stable format a more serious attempt can be made at creating simple integration for WordPress, until then I’m sure this plug-in will do just fine for those looking into this exciting product.

Leicester Web Design and Media

Welcome to our new website. New Time Media an innovative Web Design and Media specialist Agency based in Leicester, East Midlands.

Visibility is important to enable the team to begin the work of making people aware of the new services offered by New Time Media and its affiliated partners. which include Web Design, internet Media and consultation

With over Ten years experience online New Time Media offers clients a new approach to marketing and managing websites on the internet. Unlike other agencies New Time Media also offers audio composition and video post production both of which are becoming common elements to media rich web projects.

We offer excellent prices with each job negotiated individually from large organizations to small individual websites. New Time Media can also access some of the most sort after names in modern Business and Media to help relies the internet presence you have longed for.

For more information on any of the services offered contact New Time Media Web Design and Media on

Tel: 0784 7314572

Reach the summits of your online ambitions

New Time Media

Web Design and Media Specialists

Leicester, East Midlands.

Being a conscious web developer, seeing designs that work on any conceivable devise that can view web pages is a goal set as standard on any design project. However it seems a shame that the unwillingness to allow Flash on Iphones is not favoring the designer or arguably the consumer. In an earlier post I suggested that Flash may see difficult times ahead with HTML5 already emerging in some popular browsers. So the lack of support on Iphones does not help either.

There may however be some good news on the horizon for Adobe on the mobile front. The extremely popular business phone Blackberry has announced a deal that will see Flash on their devices.

However reports suggest that Microsoft have sealed rights to develop Silverlight for use on Blackberry phones as well. This should prove an interesting pairing as Microsoft show no signs of slowing down with Silverlight; details have already beginning to emerge on what will be in Version 4. One thing that seems to be in Microsoft’s favor is their determination to create a Flash type of application that is also SEO friendly.

Something that people should be aware of is that Microsoft has invested heavily in the Search Engine aspect of the internet. If they do succeed in making a sandbox format application SEO friendly, then they are in a powerful position to force the likes of Google to conform to the standards it decides to implement. Not doing so would leave Bing in an unusual position of being able to locate aspects of the internet that Google can’t.

Returning to the Iphone, as Apple seems in no mood to change its market position regarding Flash support; it will just have to hope that the market continues its love affair with the device. From a web design perspective the Blackberry looks the most promising, as it intends to leave the choice of what technologies to use down to the client and developer.

I’ve been looking at the new HTML 5.0 specifications; set out by the W3c standards. It seems that finally the very things that have driven the internet forward since the last update of HTML specifications in 1997, are now going to be catered for in a more logical fashion.

Two of the most exciting elements that await web designers are Video and Audio. Although not implemented in all new browsers yet, the initial signs are promising. However as developments in video and audio playback move forward further still, some designers will begin to see limitations in these tags.

Taking away any possible limitations that may or may not emerge when unleashed to the world of web developers, this must be worrying times for Adobe, as Flash is primarily the chosen source for video on the internet.

Seasoned developers will no doubt never forget the 101 different roads traveled down attempting to add Flash and make designs still SEO and W3c compliant. Although there are still issues when adding flash, on the whole this has been covered. But how easy will HTML5.0 make the adding of video? Will Flash become nothing more than an encoder? Have JavaScript libraries finally reached a point where developers can consider the use of them over Flash? Only time will tell. However as mentioned in my last post the versatility and SEO friendly nature of some JavaScript libraries have made the choices between Flash and JavaScript that little bit more easy.