It’s a simple and brilliant concept. Get people to install a plugin on internet explorer, add a meta tag to your source code, then Google Chrome Frame will render the page using Webkit and its Javascript engine instead. It sounds like it could save the internet. But will it work?
WebAIM: Screen reader survey results
Web accessiblity in mind (WebAIM) have published results of their screen reader survey. While reports are often boring, they are often very useful, and this is one of those reports. Screen reader use is often forgotten during the build of a website in the jungle of SEO and the like. The report graphs things like how people browse sites (i.e. whether headings are useful), how often they find skip links and how often other usability good-practices are encountered. Give it a read and improve your web build process.
Defenders in tights
I’ve just stumbled across a fine advert for Google’s Chrome browser. I’ve never seen any ads for it before other than text links suggesting that you might possibly at some point maybe want to try a different browser. I hope that you enjoy the Defenders in tights ad as much as I did.
A eulogy for IE6
I couldn’t decide if this was more suited to the sensible or the new fun side of slightlymore, but in the end have decided that it’s probably going to find more friends in the light relief section. We all love to hate IE6, it’s way past it’s death-by-date, but it’s unfortunately still lingering around like a particularly bad smell. Luckily, with the birth of IE8, the stench of 6 might soon pass, and Paul Boag has recorded an absolutely genius Eulogy for IE6 on audioboo – you’ll likey!
What is a browser?
Google went to Times Square in New York and posed (what we believe to be) a simple question – What is a browser? The answers were quite interesting – some people had no clue; others were painfully close, it just seemed like they didn’t have the right words to explain what they meant. Either way, it’s an interesting watch, and goes to show that what we take for granted isn’t always common knowledge.
2 Javascript lectures you need to watch
I can’t believe that I’m actually building one of those ‘XXX things you XXX about XXX’ lists, but I am. Although I’m letting myself off because this is not just (what I consider to be) filler material, but some links to some lectures which have genuinely improved my understanding and use of Javascript.
Don’t leave post slugs as the default
This post is mainly aimed towards Wordpress, Textpattern and (probably) a multitude of other CMS driven website users. ‘Smart’ web software will automatically create a ’slug’ for your new article, but it’s not always best to trust the CMS to come up with the best URL for you.
Useful glossaries for web designers and developers
Another glossary I’m afraid, but you can never have too many of them. This one on Smashing Magazine covers everything from typography to marketing, CSS to print design and Twitter to even higher level things such as software development. There are loads of links to all over the intertubes, so if you’ve got a spare moment, head over to this article and get reading!
8 Tips for Maintaining a User Friendly Site in One Hour a Month
I’m sure it’s happened to you. It’s always happening to me. How easy is it to build ‘My awesome website’ which is beautifully SEO’d, completely accessible to everyone and everything only to find that after launch, it quickly turns into ‘My messy website 3.0′. It could be broken links or images, spelling mistakes or pages which somehow magically stop working. The UX Booth has written a brilliant article with suggestions as to what to check for and why it’s important. And hey, an hour a month isn’t that much time, is it.
Everything you need to know about the !important CSS declaration
It’s all too easy to use !important in your CSS to override styles. But do you really know what it means, or more importantly how and why it works? When will it not work? This great write up will try to explain all of the nuances of this overused and (in my opinion) seldom properly-used declaration.
