If you have a website that has been developed some time ago or one that has been added to and added to over the years, then there may come a point where you really need to start again with a new site. This is not to say that you cannot keep the content and even the look and feel of the site, but the backend system may be far too complex to allow it to be updated efficiently and it may be that much of the code is outdated. When looking to upgrade your site, you should try and detail what on your current website has to be kept and what you may want to remove or change. You should also have a list of new functionalities you want to add to the site and ideally have this in an order of priority so if you are not able to have it all straight away, it can be added in at a later date when... Read More »
Should you even make changes on a live website?
If you are a website developer or programmer, then it is often very tempting to make changes straight on to a live site rather than on a staging area. This can make jobs much quicker, but it can also be very risky and not a very professional what to work. For some smaller jobs, making changes directly on to the site can be the best option. For example, if you just wanted to adjust the font colour or one banner or to change the font size of the text in the navigation then you may choose to do it directly on the site. Even smaller jobs however can benefit from being done on a staging area as it gives you the opportunity to spot issues that may arise such as your navigation then pushing on to two lines for example. It may be that your client wants changes done but they want to be able to see what they will look like or how an... Read More »
Are modern apps too pushy?
Most people have well over 30 apps on their phone or smart device. These include social media apps, retailer reward apps, games and food delivery apps. But with so many apps on our handheld devices that have access to a lot of our personal data and track our own browsing logarithms who’s controlling who? Many apps will send you notifications, these are called ‘push notifications’ and they ping up on your device from time to time alerting you of an offer or an update on something within the app. As well as this some will also send you emails and SMS messages to notify you. Many devices also show red badge icons next to the apps on your home screen alerting you to open up the app for the notification. With so many alerts, often containing targeted advertising it can sometimes make us feel a little hassled and overwhelmed. However, there is something that you can do if these notifications are starting to bother you.... Read More »
Are weight loss apps really helping us to keep healthy?
There is an app for everything now and more and more we are being encouraged to down apps to help us with different aspects of our lives. There are a growing number of apps available to download that purport to help us to keep fit and lose weight but how can these apps actually help us and are the websites behind these apps making money out of our desire to be healthier? For many people losing weight is a difficult challenge and so having an app where you can search for the calorific content of a particular food and record it is useful. Many of these apps require you to submit your details in terms of height, weight and gender initially then they will often recommend a daily calorie requirement for you if you want to lose weight. This can be quite motivating for users of the app as they feel that someone is taking control for them and helping them on their weight-loss journey.... Read More »
Talented website designers needed
Working in the computing industry in some form can be an exciting career which can be well paid and have good prospects for promotion. One of the roles that are in demand at the moment is that of a website designer. There are differences between the role of a web designer and a web developer and although often there is some crossover between the two roles they have distinct differences, but both are necessary for a successful website. A web designer is responsible for the appearance of the website, the design and layout of the pages and its attractiveness to the visitor. On the other hand, a web developer’s role is about the functionality of the site and the coding that makes the web designer’s ideas become reality. It is not always essential to have a formal degree qualification to have a career as a web designer as there are roles available for trainees who can learn on the job. Apprenticeships which are sometimes offered... Read More »