4sq Superuser: “With great power comes great responsibility”

Ever since the “Superuser” was introduced for 4sq users, many users all over the globe cribbed on blogs that they never received their “power” even after they did so much to control the quality of User Generated Content on their beloved 4sq database. It must be massive with the number of absurd places, tips & photos upload every day, minute or second on the 4sq servers.

Though Cafe Coffee Day, the first to offer “Specials” [India-specific] was introduced on 4sq, many managers/staff claimed ignorance of such offers. Not sure of actual numbers of them though. Lot more specials at other brands did get introduced later :-P

Why am i stuck on the app, even after a year? because of all the “tips” my 4sq friends update about food places & their discoveries. The ease of use, badges & mayorships do add up to the delight. The mayorships are sometimes funny though! [probably due to the territorial nature?]

Well to get back to the “Superuser”-ship, will the “Supers” be loyal, non-biased & retain their integrity to get rid of the “scum”? How long will they survive? Will they continue their righteous path in-spite of no benefits?

Contextual Aisles anyone?

Have you ever gone to a supermarket, picked up couple of cans of beans, gone home to find that you have forgotten to buy a can-opener?

Well, i definitely found one supermarket (a kind of a local chain) that actual organises products together contextually! yes, of course, using that word is getting a bit overrated but doesn’t it make sense? Can-openers sold at the same section with the canned food is easier to relate to than remembering to pick up the can opener from the hardware section where otherwise the can-opener would have been sold.

Surprisingly, “larger” chains of supermarkets have not really cracked this yet.

Too much security is a pain for the user experience

Had to help Dad reactivate his online trading account with PIPIP bank….boy oh boy…first we had received an activation process by snail mail. The instructions were not clear on how to reactivate, there was only activation info. Used the password in that reactivation process and logged in…it worked…grrrrr…
Then had to fill in rest of the info provided in the activation sheet…again there was no mention whether it was activation or reactivation.
On submission there was a link to login again without logging me out..how did that happen?
After I logged in….again there was no info whether my reactivation was successful or not!
Seriously who build such interfaces which is not humanized and keep you anxious throughout the process.
And don’t even get me started on the multi Browser compatibility…Come on this is 2010 :-(
Talk about virtual keyboard..yeah they are secure but Imagine i strained my eyes to get a look at the keys….imagine my Dad would have to Zoom-in and click on them :-(
Phew….I just logged in after an hour later to check and found the profile active.
Even after all this frustration if they hadn’t activated the account…I would have just closed that account for Dad :-P

Blogging from my iTouch

Checking out the experience of blogging through the iTouch (3G). I seem to be clumsy at first then realize the auto words that help correct the words so that I type faster.(have fat fingers!)
Better than most Android keypads so far.
Love the copy-paste feature.
Still not happy the way image selection happens.
Only wish they had the camera with the iTouch then I could completely use the augmented apps.
Bonsai Blast(all levels) is available for free in Android but I love the image rendering in Apple.
Downloaded lot of free apps and Games.
Facebook is not yet compatible with iTouch and I still can’t seem to sign into skype on it.

How to make your SmartPhone more Smarter.

Layar Reality Browser

Description

Layar is a free application on your mobile phone which shows what is around you by displaying real time digital information on top of reality through the camera of your mobile phone.
Layar is a global application, available for the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and other Android phones in all Android Markets. It also comes pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy in the Netherlands.
How do you use Layar?
By holding the phone in front of you like a camera, information is displayed on top of the camera display view.
For all points of interest which are displayed on the screen, information is shown at the bottom of the screen.
What do you see in the screen?
On top of the camera image (displaying reality) Layar adds content layers. Layers are the equivalent of webpages in normal browsers. Just like there are thousands of websites there will be thousands of layers. One can easily switch between layers by selecting another via the menu button, pressing the logobar or by swiping your finger across the screen.
Added features of Layar Reality Browser 2.0:
Layar has some cool features which include:
Unique layer specific icons/markers
Featured and Popular section
Search function
Add layer to favorites
Map view and list view
Enhanced AR view
Accuracy information
“Take me There” function
Who is the team behind Layar?
Layar is run by Raimo van der Klein, Claire Boonstra & Maarten Lens-FitzGerald.

Update: check out this post: Layar: See Beyond Your Surroundings

A piece of the Apple

Always thought the apple products were “over-rated”, “over-priced” & “exaggerated”….but not until i got not one but 2 products of my own!

Didn’t get the iPhone but got the iTouch instead. Registered for the App Store & totally freaked out on the apps i downloaded. Surprisingly there some available for Bhajans….downloaded them and Grandma liked them!

Aww this is addictive…..a bite of the apple is pure temptation….i can’t seem to get enough of the games developed by other 3rd party developers.

The stuff which differentiates the iTouch with my Android Tattoo is: i can download Full Free versions of the same apps (including games). Is this till Android gains a ground in the Smartphone market?

Do check out : Free App a Day

How to sell your ideas?

Right now, i working on getting my wireframes converted into ‘spectacular’ visual designs :-P and it is not Easy!!
Came across Can you rescue your ideas? by Eric Karjaluoto.

Excerpts from this post:
If you can’t effectively sell your idea, it will die.

Let’s face it; the risk is starting to set-in for the design buyer. I’ve seen it many times, and I have to say that even the most sensible people can lose their nerve at this stage.

If you can, arrive 30 minutes early to set-up the presentation and talk to people individually as they arrive. This can “loosen you up” and help you build rapport with attendees.

Here’s a secret about presenting creative that many designers find difficult to accept: it’s not about the visuals.

It’s also nice to begin with a review of the points to be discussed in the meeting. This allows people a clear idea of what they can expect from the talk. And by all means, DO NOT hand out any documentation until the end of your presentation. If you do, they’ll skim it quickly and leap to conclusions. I’ve seen entire projects get the axe from a person who’s having a bad day. Take your time and get them “on side” first.

Ensure that this remains a “business” discussion; avoid allowing it to become subjective and about personal preference. So, instead of, “Do you like this?” ask, “Does this meet the project objectives?” You’ll maintain your course by doing so.

It’s in your interest to remain open to good feedback and accept that you might not have it all quite perfect yet. This means avoiding the desire to defend and instead just listen. Take in all of what your client is telling you and make clear notes of their feedback.

Additionally, everyone’s a critic. Ask a hundred people for feedback on a film and you’ll get a hundred responses. But, is all of this feedback relevant? (I have lots of opinions about health, but you don’t want me performing heart surgery.)
Do what you can to keep the focus on the project goals and the informed responses of committed stakeholders.

Sometimes clients will try to “help” by building their own visuals; we call this “design by committee”. In our experience, this is always a bad sign and must be addressed immediately. You’ve been hired for your professional abilities. In turn, the client’s role is to comment upon whether your proposed solution works or does not.

Through all of this, it’s easy for a “client vs. designer” battle to result. This really shouldn’t (and mustn’t) happen. Talk to your client and explain that your goal is to help them do what’s best for them.

Always get documented approval to proceed, whether it’s in the form of a sign-off, or even an email asking you to continue. Either way, have this documented and stored safely; not doing so is perilous and will cost you at some point.

Frankly, ideas die all the time. I’ve seen it happen on numerous occasions, and often for the wrong reasons :-(