The new Aljazeera website has a web 2.0 influence which is always refreshing to see but should  you look closer, you start seeing the cracks. Let me explain:

1. Any  broadcaster will tell you that the number one goal of their online presence is to increase TV ratings, so as a web person you will understand that what you are trying to do is convert online views to TV views. And in adopting this sort of strategy, you begin to leverage of both media which makes business sense. The  new Aljazeera website doesn’t want to make me jump up and tune into the channel, what is does is give me a piece of content to read and that’s about it.
2. The site has got 6 features which if highlighted a bit better, would really make this website usable for its users. I am referring to the yellow bar at the bottom before the footer content. The fact that you can watch Aljazeeera online, listen to podcasts, add their RSS feed to your reader, view the site on mobile  or follow them on twitter is a BIG DEAL and probably one of the cooler features of the website. Why is it so small.
3. The first thing I did when I saw the FB connect widget was glance to see how many likes Aljazeera’s facebook fan page had, 118,909 as of 30th August 2010. I was expecting alot more than that which brings in my next point, as a global brand, do you really want to be publishing the amount of fans / likes you have if its anything under a descent figure.
4. I recently read a blog online that provided some statistics on the percentage of click thrus that were generated from Twitter and Facebook for news content. Twitter generated more clicks hands down and in a recent poll that Mashable ran where users were asked “Where do you get more of your news, Twitter or newspapers” twitter again won with 52% of the votes. Taking this into consideration, twitter is looked at as a place where news happens and where news is made and therefore any news website  looking at unleashing the potential of online really need  to look at adopting a twitter strategy that integrates with your website as opposed to just sending your users to your twitter page and asking them to follow.
5. On the homepage there is the TODAY’S SCHEDULE block, which first looked like a title with the content above it and then I worked out it was a link. As  someone who has done a few concepts for TV media, one feature I find rather funky is the feature that shows what’s show on TV now. In my opinion it  is one way to get users from your website to your  TV channel. What works better is adding a featured show in the same area. The functionality is there but its poorly presented.
6. The top right image in the header doesn’t work for me at all. The peeve stems from both the creative that’s been applied and the fact that that piece of content doesn’t work there at all. My first impression was that it was an AD for Netanyahu (the current banner) only to realize that it actually was a good piece of content.
7. The Video within content doesn’t stand out enough for me. Yes there is a video section but I am referring to video in context of a story as opposed to a separate section and feature on your website. Coming to a broadcasters website, I come with the knowledge that you have lots of video available to you and if there is one thing I have seen from TV sites is that should you work at using video as your first choice of visual media then pictures you will begin to see an increase in the time that users spend on your website.
8. In understanding where the web is right now, I would have thought that Sharing content on the website would have been relooked at when it came to a redesign. The SHARE THIS service is fantastic but I feel that using it as  a main stream sharing mechanism doesn’t get you the amount of share’s that you could have should you use the power of brand association and straight forward functionality.
9. One thing about the TV channel  is that it encourages dialogue on stories, interviews and other content they show on  TV. To the point where some of that user generated content is televised and mentioned by anchors / presenters. I don’t see that understanding carried out on the new website. Where is the user generated content that is usually  tactfully added to your content and gives users an alternative to understanding that news piece from the  traditional long pages of content news websites are known for.
10. My last point is something I am still working out but in theory I know I am onto something. One thing that I feel broadcasters are doing when it comes to online is that they are losing their core brand and business by trying to deliver fresh new content. Lets look at the programmes section of the Aljazeera website. I feel that when clicking  on any one of  the shows you are presented with a page that has a balance of new content and programme profiling content. So should I click on Frost over the world, I want to see the interviews and reports but I  also want to know about the show, the anchor and any other info that will help me identify with the show.

What I find most puzzling is that do a search online for Aljazeera and you will find some websites done by Aljazeera that look really good. Like the http://labs.aljazeera.net/ website. Not only is the  website built in Drupal but there is mindset there that works. One key thing to remember about online is that your brand values aren’t just determined by the sort of creative that you present but more in how you have adopted web trends, embraced web technology and hard wired usability & functionality into your online space to deliver your content in a user friendly way. It maybe a CMS that is managing and delivering  your content but it is a human that’s going to view and interact with it, don’t forget that.

Gone are the days when just displaying a news story for users to read was enough, today the importance of the experience that we provide our users will either result in an increased or decreased amount of brand loyalty.  Audiences who access news websites are not digital dinosaurs. Add to that bench marks like  the BBC and CNN websites to compare against and you will quickly see that its  not  just look and feel that makes your impact but how content is delivered & presented and now more than ever what users can do with your content.

Yes Aljazeera have a new website but not much consideration has been given to usability or improving interaction with their content. The site lacks attention to detail and isn’t very inspiring which to me is a complete opposite of the values that I get  from the TV channel.  My theory is that  this is the product of a developer with the need to get content out, a creative department that don’t understand web front-ends and unfortunately very little influence from fundamental areas of web that essentially help you deliver an online presence.

Cheers for the read :)

Take care:
Yasin Ansari

As gripping and mind blowing as the game was, this blog isn’t about the fact that on the 22nd of May Inter will step to play a final against Bayern Munich in the first final that they have made it to in over 30 years. This blog is about a Kenyan (yes another one but not just anyone) who last night walked onto the field with about 15 mins to go in the game and  not only was I impressed but mighty proud that he stood his ground and played well earning him the right to play for one of the most successful coaches of our time, Jose Mourino.

McDonald Mariga is his name, playing in a number 17 jersey as a midfielder. Watch this guy, he will be remembered as one of the stars from Africa. It is rather sad that the Kenyan government hasn’t yet managed to get beyond their egos, corruption and bureaucratic crap to be able to help an individual develop and realize their true potential. As a Kenyan I can absolutely assure you that if there is a kenyan out there that is making waves, its not with the support and help of his country but his/her pure determination to be the best he can be.

What Mcdonald has done for me is build a soft spot and love for Inter Milan and I am pretty sure that last night, Inter managed to win themselves a whole load of support from Kenyans across the globe. As the spectable drew to an end and the sprinklers were switched on to encourage the Inter team to boycott their celebrations and get off the field, I watched Mr. Mariga shake hands and hug some of the legends of the game. All i can say is that I CANT wait for the 22nd when i will watch Inter Milan do what they have been trying to do for years and more importantly get a glimpse of this midfielder.

Thank you Mr. Mariga for giving me that feeling of being proudly Kenyan.

As passionate as I am about the web and all the is possible online, truth be told working in agency as a designer is hard grueling stressful work, more so as a designer you know deep down inside that the website you go live with is only a small portion of the overall online campaign / strategy and the true genius is in taking that website and turning it into online magic aka visits.

Having worked as a designer, done some front end and back-end development, familiarized myself with the CMS offering in the market, worked through loads of projects and dealt with a variety of clients, being quite confident with web principles and a determination to build some quality work online getting a job as a designer or a developer just wasn’t going to cut it. So armed with passion for the internet, a belief that I could really contribute more and with 12 yrs of hard labor I hit the market with the a very clear mission, to find a job in the corporate market as a web guy.

Then one day thanks to a lead I stumbled upon ETV and after a few months of some hectic interview process, I finally got a job. My designation says web developer but if the last 3 months are anything to go by then WEB DUDE would be a more appropriate role. With the job comes all the perks of corporate along with all the challenges of corporate.

Over the last 3 months I have built internal sites, implemented a collaborative web based system to manage projects, introduced people to the power of CMS with wordpress & drupal leading the way, I have sat in meetings talking about site architectures and strategy’s and most importantly made the possibilities of the internet very much a reality. Sure coming in from an agency put my miles ahead with most people absolutely confused at what I am talking about most of the time which has resulted in me having to re-look at how I communicate what I know into corporate speak.

Overall its been a fun educational journey that has setup the stage for building an awareness and understanding of online and then translating that into results online. From photoshop layouts to presentations, from site structures to site architectures, from getting briefs to writing briefs. This is going to be one of the most interesting years of my life and career.

To online infinity and beyond.
Yasin Ansari

Its been years since I have been to see a dentist (shamefully admitting that I haven’t taken care of my teeth) but there is good reason. Truth be told, I knew things weren’t all so merry, and more than the fact that health wise it was only getting worse, it was the excruciating cost that awaited me the day I said Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh to a dentist. But that was until I met an angel from dental heaven. And for this simple reason I am writing this post and giving you her details with the hope that I can do a small part in introducing you to a truly fair, honest, upfront, good affordable dentist.

The Scenario: About 10 years, being young and stupid, I had become quite adapt at being able to open coke bottle tops with me teeth. It was like magic, didn’t have an opener … NOT A PROBLEM, and a few seconds later, bob’s your uncle. Until one fine day, as I attempted to show this dashing damsel in desperate need to quench her thirst with a cold coke how versatile I was, only resulting in me holding a piece of that tooth and realizing I needed a new trick. So for the last 10 yrs I have had half this tooth, which worked effectively until a few months ago when I started experiencing this pain like never before.

My life had gotten to the point where eating was a mission, so one fine day I get my procrastinating ass up and head out to find a dentist on NO medical aid (apparently suicidal if you live in SA). So i started my search in fourways and let me tell you what a mission, and when it wasnt a mission it was just a down right RIP OFF. As my Wify works in Morningside Medi Clinic and I was in need of someone to hold my hand as the dentist reduced my molar composition from 32 teeth to 31, I chanced it to see if I could find someone in the hospital with very little expectation. I mean this is Morningside medi clinic, one of Johannesburg’s top hospitals in the center of Sandton, THE lifestyle and business hub of jozi … cheap just wasn’t going to work out. I asked around and found out about this dentist who works from a building next to the hospital. Calls and inquiries are made and all seemed above board and fair so I booked an appointment.

That morning I brushed for 10 minutes extra just to make sure. I show up and the lady welcomed me with a smile and before she said anything else I explained to her that I had been a BAD BAD boy and that I was not only ashamed but nervous to hear what her diagnosis would be once she took a look. She was chilled, explained that all will be fine. So I lay down, say Ahhhhhhhhhhhh and she starts checking each tooth out. Now there is her assistant that stood there with a pen and paper, and as the dentist checked each tooth what she felt was not ok she called out and gave it a rating between A and C. I kid you not when I tell you she called out atleast 10 times. It reached a point where I just chuckled to myself in complete fear of the cost that await me.

Once she finished checking she sat back in her chair and in the most amazing way explained to me where I was at, what needed to be done, her recommendation, the cost and the best way to approach it medically and financially. I WAS SOLD. So it turned out to be A root canal or extraction, about 5 fillings and one treatment. As I smoke and drink coffee like its free at the end of the process a bleaching would be required. This I could handle. She then proceeded to extract one tooth with week by week appointments to do the other stuff.

Considering that I had a tooth removed, the entire process was painless infact she was gentle. Sure the left side of my face was numbed out completely, but as she stood there and yanked to get this MOTHER tooth out, you could see that she was doing everything she could to make sure that I was ok. Between her constant explanations of what was going on there was the this calming reassurance that I was in safe hands.

Start to finish I was done in about an hour and walked out of there feeling a whole lot better. In an age and city where there is a constant effort to screw people over, get as much as you can irrespective of who you trample upon and values on how we treat people don’t exist, it is truly refreshing and heart warming to go through an entire process like this and walk away feeling great.

So in doing my part, if you are looking for a fantastic private dentist in Johannesburg North (Sandton, Fourways, Bryanston, Morningside) then give this lady a call and I assure you, you WON’T be disappointed.

• Dr. Raheema Suliman
• Dental Practitioner (Private Dentist)
• Phone : 011 883 – 9728
• Tel / Fax: 011 883 9622
• Email: drsuliman[at]vibe.co.za (You know what to do)
• Rochester place, Block G, 173 Rivonia Road, Morningside – Johannesburg.(Map below)

From my 31 happy teeth … Have a wicked cool one.

Yasin

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As if having a variety of screen resolutions and multiple browsers wasn’t enough spice to design, has the time come when we need to start taking mobile browsing experiences into serious consideration?

Below is a breakdown of what market share web browsing phones have:

1. iPhone 64.81%
2. Android 8.42%
3. Java ME 8.09%
4. Symbian 7.39%
5. Windows Mobile 5.52%
6. Blackberry 3.47%
7. Palm 1.80%
8. BREW 0.50%

Without question iPhone would be the leader of the pack with Safari on iPhone being the most popular web browser. I have had the opportunity to attend a few mobile marketing presentations lately and one reality is that in the African continent more people have mobiles then computers. And now with mobile technology only vastly improving web browsing capability, a large segment of users who once used computers are now using mobiles more for personal and general browsing. This isn’t taking into account the power mobile apps bring to your handy little device. The good news is that most mobile browsers will renders your website relatively well as long as you were smart enough not to have a flash based site. I have found that using iframes and some javascripts doesn’t really work. Surely if we start using a strategy of eliminating script use on our websites because the same site won’t work on a mobile could be very limiting but maybe this is the call to start building mobile sites along with main websites for companies.

With CMS solutions like wordpress, joomla, drupal and a few more, there are plug-ins available that will transform your website into a much simpler format when viewed from a mobile. But not all sites are built using CMS, in our case we build in xhtml and css which not only delivers a powerful customised branded web experience from your computer but an equally functional.

The sterkinekor website (although powered by flash) is one of the sites that I’ve always enjoyed. The web experience works for a cinema brand. It’s really easy to use, delivers content well and best part they have a mobi site that doesn’t use flash but delivers the same content.

The good news is that mobile browsers render most html and css sites relatively well as long as you keeping to what’s considered best practise. Frames, flash sites, full image sites will only continue to access a specific market on a time limit of 8 to 5 market that is getting quite intelligent about sites that are built to deliver content.

So whether its building a mobi site along side with your main website or simply a section that has your site reworked for mobile (ideally dynamically displaying content across both platforms) and accessible via an easy to find link in your layout, its quickly becoming imperative that the facility is made available.

References :

• http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/articles/mobile-web-browser-usage-statistics.php
• http://www.techstartnews.com/229/state-of-the-mobile-web-in-south-africa

The day I received this phone, I found myself going to bed with a couple of questions on my mind…

• Where have I been living,
• How did I ever survive without my berry
• And my life is never going to be the same

A device that was once a bother has now become the only tool that I use for facebook, twitter, email and now blogging. Who would have thought that the idea of using a laptop for everday online stuff now seems like such a bother. Sure my reliable old hp still has its use but I am finding myself moving more towards using my mobile for everything except design related stuff.

Interestingly enough I am actually spending more time reading up and catching up on stuff online. Being in front of myl laptop now is nothing more than when I need to design or really get into some work. One of the things that I’ve tried to adopt over the last year has been when friday comes, laptop goes off and I take time out. But that meant total xcut off from everything of meaning to me. Now with my BB I can cut off from work and still do everything I love online. All this excitement brings me to one question?

The definition of the right company for me is one the lives & breathes the internet, not just in the work they do but more by the kind of work they involved in, the kind of environment they facilitate for, a company that applauds education and lends you the opportunity to grow and become better. I have worked with and been interviewed by a few agencies but it was when I stumbled upon Quirk when I found home.

It was working for Quirk that I fell in love with the internet again and all the possibilities it makes available today. It was working at Quirk that I was forced to go back and perfect my ability to code. At present the company has an odd 70 people in it, with satellite offices in London and Johannesburg but I promise you that each one of the "QuirkStars" are unique, brilliant and smart. The main operation is down in Cape Town with majority of the staff working from there, I work in the Jozi branch.

Quirk’s approach towards the internet is one that leaves most of the agencies far behind. The company fosters innovation, creativity and belief in all things possible. As a QuirkStar, we are contributing towards creating one of South Africa’s best full service online marketing agencies and having worked in the industry for a bit, this company is destined for great things.

To infinity and beyond – the Quirky way

On Monday this week I went to my first 27 Dinner in Johannesburg and wow what an experience. I booked my seat the hour that the bookings went live on the 27 dinner website and sure enough by the end of the day 120 people had done the same and it was booked out. Since then its been serious anticipation for an evening that held so much promise. This one was held at the FTV cafe in Sandton and much to my pleasant surprise despite the freezing cold, went very well thanks to the organization of MelodyMaker. The evening was casual with the main objective being getting to meet as many people as possible. One of the cool things was how you are recognized by your IM or Twitter name, your real world identity really means nothing.Jozi dinners are known to go on to odd hours of the night, but considering the cold we have had this year and the fact that most geeks are smokers (which means standing outside) we were all done by 11.

We were fortunate enough to listen to presentations from Justin Spratt (ISLabs) and Stephen Newton Country manager for Google with some interesting insights on Google’s approach to Africa and what sort of facilitation is available for innovation. The presentation that I found rather interesting was from Justin, his take on South Africa is one that deep down inside I believe and was a big motivation to why I moved to South Africa. This country is the USA of Africa, its the land of opportunity and Jozi is where its happening and the amount of knowledge and talent that exists within this border makes SA one of the best places to be in Africa. IS labs is a company that is geared towards providing you with the platform to launch an innovative, creative and commercially viable idea online.

It was good to put faces to the twitter names and was awesome meeting some new people. So my advise to any passionate aspiring geek who eats, breathes and lives the internet – go for one of these dinners, will make you fall in love with the Internet in SA.

I am not one for shopping but by far one of my favorite hang outs has to be the Essenwood Flea market. It’s one of those places that make the weekend so much better. I was fortunate to first stumble upon this gem when I lived in Durban, only then it was much smaller. Today the Essenwood Flea Market has become the place to hang out with easily about a hundred stalls, food market, kids area and ample shopping in the outdoors.

Open from about 8 to 2 every Saturday morning the market is filled with stalls that offer you something different from the retail outlets we are used to in South Africa. Set in one of the local Durban municipality run parks, the market offers the discerning shopper a selection of creativity in so many forms. From gifts, to to clothes, music, incense, candles, palm reading, fresh flowers, art from local lads, massage and scented oils, picture frames  and the list goes on and on… what stands out is the uniqueness of each stalls offering.

The food area has grown to now offer alot of snacks and nibbles perfect for a mid morning snack seated in the park under the shade of trees that have been there for decades. Parking is a bit of a hassle as the park is in a residential area and you have to find parking between the streets surrounding the park. Tip get there before 930 and make a morning out of it.

What I love the most is the ambience. Between the musicians gently doing their thing, to the occasional sway of the trees, chirps of birds and the kids in the background having a blast in the kids area … its an absolutely intoxicating feeling.  So next time you in Durban, make sure you check it out – carry cash, you don’t want to have to swipe your card, its a mission.

Pictures from the market

Directions to the Essenwood Flea Market

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Recommended Coffee Shops in Durban – South Africa

Antique – opposite Windermere Centre on Churchhill Rd.

The place is actually an Antique shop with some stunning stuff but its the coffee shop that I go there for. They use Buondi Coffee which from my experience is one of the better coffee brands around. From the road, its rather deceiving as it looks like a small shop and the security gate outside only lends to the deceit but once you are in, welcome to a whole new world. There is a garden at the back that has most of the seating. Not a place you will find kids running around in or music blaring. Infact as I blog this (being winter) all I can here is the wind in the trees and the group of Afrikaans ladies sitting on another table after a bit of wine and brunch.

My Rating: Cappuccino – 7/10 | Ambiance – 8/10 |  Service – 6/10

Cafe Al Bacio – Florida Road.

Be warned this is going to be biast for no reason other than I know the owner and he is a fantastic guy. Claudio took over this coffee shop a few years ago after a few failed attempts from previous owners. Some people have it in them to run a restaurant well, and between Claudio, his wife and sister they have done a fantastic job. Consistent, friendly and a passion for food. If its great Italian food, a spot to hang out in and absorb Durban over some great food and conversation or a quick bite then I would highly recommend Cafe Al Bacio. The coffee shop also serves The Florida Park Hotel.

My Rating: Cappuccino – 9/10 | Ambiance – 9/10 |  Service – 9/10