Shaun Mccran

My digital playground

24
J
A
N
2013

Misleading email-con about domain search engine submission

One of my domains was coming up for renewal recently, it was already renewed, I'd taken care of it, done deal. I'm guessing that this rather opportunistic company was monitoring domain renewals and spotted an opportunity.

Then I got a rather bizarre looking email. It looked a lot like an invoice, and was sneakily designed and worded to look like a domain related issue. It uses lots of semi scare mongering terminology and shock value statements about offers expiring! And last chance to make sure things are in place!

The whole thing is a con to try and get you to sign up to a 'search engine submission' service. Which anyone in web technology will tell you isn't managed in this way at all. I mean it can be, but only if you want to pay over the odds for a service that largely takes place by itself, or with minimal management from a web administrator.

Shocking behaviour from this company, its not very convincing if you are technically aware, but for 'Joe public' could cause a random outburst of knee-jerk payment. Warn your less tech aware relatives.

[Screen shot of email below]




07
N
O
V
2011

Removing the recommendation videos from Youtube after playback

You know when you watch a video on Youtube there are recommendations that follow it? Well you can turn those recommendations off if you want.

Here's how.

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14
S
E
P
2011

Confusing Form handling from the new www.Game.co.uk website

www.Game.co.uk recently re-launched their website. There is a new design and a they have changed the search and categories system.

One of the other things they have changed is the 'Your Account' system including the login screen. Login screens have long been both a requirement and a barrier to users on transactional websites and how you allow users to interact with them can have a massive impact on your usability and sales.

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15
J
U
L
2011

How best to approach introducing new development standards into a team

One of the issues I've been faced with is applying a hard and fast set of standards to a team of developers, whilst maintaining a balance of getting work out the door.

I can't just wade into the team with new process and Quality Assurance routines and not expect there to be a few bumps in the road.

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