I don’t even remember when was the last time I rented a DVD. Why? It just doesn’t seem logical to do it. You need to search, order, pay, go get it or be home to receive it, take it back, and so on. What’s the point?
If I want to watch a movie, I want it now. If not, I’ll just go to the cinema. The solution? On-demand, downloadable dvd-quality movies. There are some services going in that direction, and I can’t wait to see it really happen.
The biggest challenge for web designers is the unthinkably huge number of possible ways to solve any given problem. Do this, do that, make it web 2.0-ish, use vivid colors, don’t use vivid colors, and so on.
Patterns enable users to create strategically, knowing exactly what goes where, and why. Our friends at 37signals have written a really nice article called “An Introduction to Using Patterns in Web Design“.
Nice!
How far can you push a widget? YouTube video embeds, quite possibly the most successful widgets of all time, are seriously failing these days. Click on most any embedded clip, it seems, and you’ll get a “This video is no longer available� warning. Perhaps this is a fatal flaw of widgets; maybe they are best used for delivery of information that is time-sensitive and forgettable, like the weather or the stocks (more on newteevee)
I believe it’s a two sided story:
1. the widgets that have great functionality embedded in them and limit the amount of information required from a server have very much chances to be the next big thing.
2. the information-based widget that simply pull data from a database / website are going to die if no-one comes up with a smart idea to solve this…
meanwhile, I’m having a lot of fun with new and interesting widgets from all over the web 
It seems that the hottest thing to discuss about these days is web 2.0. Is it a bubble, is it not? Is it gonna burst soon, or not, and so on…
Well, I want in too… so here’s my opinion:
What is web 2.0? Well, I think it’s the trend/culture that started scratching the surface of the internet. There’s so much more to be done, and if you ask me… Internet services are going to drive the world’s economies for the foreseeable future.
To me that doesn’t spell bubble, it spells opportunity.
1. Define a previously unrecognized niche
2. Strong ability to leverage natural search as the primary means of user acquisition
3. Service that empowers people to make a living
4. Free (or near free) alternative for a previously high cost service
5. True viral distribution potential
6. Ability to jumpstart user acquisition through distribution partnerships
7. Story that lends itself to mainstream PR
Yup, seems that the author got it right. More details here.
I was reading the Romanian Biz magazine yesterday evening and I suddenly found myself looking for the “Home” button and the “Add a comment” form.
Really disappointed ’cause I couldn’t find them, I went back to my trustful Google reader and continued my lecturing…
So… I believe traditional media will slowly die, to make room for the new guys that provide real-time information and get real-time feedback from their viewers.