McFadden Place » Tech

Web optimization - Pingdom

Michael McFadden — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:13:20 +0000

This post is not as exciting as pictures of Campbell but it does highlight a pretty cool tool anyone can use to test the speed of a web page. Go to http://tools.pingdom.com

How it works

The Full Page Test loads a complete HTML page including all objects (images, CSS, JavaScripts, RSS, Flash and frames/iframes). It mimics the way a page is loaded in a web browser.

The load time of all objects is shown visually with time bars.

You can view the list of objects either in load order or as a hierarchy. The hierarchy view allows you to see which objects are linked to in for example a CSS file.

Every test also shows general statistics about the loaded page such as the total number of objects, total load time, and size including all objects.

Note: This version doesn't load objects included in JavaScripts. We have also put a limit on the number and size of the objects that are loaded (to prevent the tool from downloading movies, for example).

This Full Page Test was inspired by the OctaGate SiteTimer. We liked what they did and wanted to take the idea one step further.

Pingdom - The Uptime Company

Visit Pingdom Tools and test your website.

Testing ScribeFire

Michael McFadden — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:06:02 +0000

I just loaded a new Firefox plugin called ScribeFire. It enables bloggers to post directly from their browser. I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime you can learn more here:

http://blog.scribefire.com/help/getting-started/

Technorati Test

Michael McFadden — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 06:15:47 +0000

I've switched from Blogger to Wordpress (hosted on small business Yahoo!) for my bloging tool. I was able to convert mcfaddenplace into the blog and move away from managing both a site and a blog. It's had it's hang ups thought. The plugins are a pain and adding widgets is not the easiest. I even have to post this Technorati Profile in a post in order for it to be recognized. Enough complaining. I do like the new look and feel.

Resource for bloggers

Michael McFadden — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:48:00 +0000

Check out problogger for some useful tips on blogging. The tips range from design to promotion, voice to affiliate programs. If you blog, this site is worth reading and subscribing to the RSS feed.

Make Money Online with ProBlogger Blog Tips

Enjoy.

How far did you walk/run?

Michael McFadden — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 06:52:00 +0000

So Kelly and I have been trying walk/run/bike more this year. Well, let me rephrase that, Kelly has a great track record of taking walks and runs. I have a slightly more vacant excercise chart. However, in the last month I have 4 runs, 1 bike ride, and several walks. We'll see if I can keep it up. If you're wondering what kind of walks/runs/bike rides are going on check out the links below. I think you'll enjoy the program.

The walk/run route around Balboa Island is 2.6185 miles.
ht tp://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=655635

My first bike ride of 2007 was about 9.0527 miles.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=655800

How did we know the exact mileage? Check out the website http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ and find out for yourself.

Best Web 2.0 Acquisition Bait

Michael McFadden — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 02:03:00 +0000

Check out WIRED magazine's recent top 10 web 2.0 acquisition bait.

Wired 15.01: START

1. FACEBOOK This social networking site is gaining on MySpace as the hipster destination. Reportedly, it spurned a $750 million offer in hopes of netting $2 billion.

2. DIGG Claiming 20 million users a month, Digg is the Mack Daddy of news filters. News Corp. is rumored to have flirted with a purchase, but Rupert rejected the reported $150 million asking price.

3. TECHMEME Think Google News for tech blogs. The well-trafficked aggregator also has drill-downs for gossip, politics, and baseball. A deep-pocketed owner could easily extend it to dozens of other niches.

4. WIKIPEDIA You know it. Heck, you prob-ably contribute to it. The crush of traffic would be a financial windfall for any buyer, but the site is famously independent. Founder Jimmy Wales won't even accept banner ads.

5. ZILLOW Thanks to this real estate data hound, everyone can know what you paid for your house, give or take a few grand. Accuracy is questionable, but every savvy home buyer has the site bookmarked.

6. TECHNORATI How else do you find out what the blogosphere is saying? The site tracks 59.7 million blogs, a few of which might even be talking smack about you.

7. WORDPRESS The new de rigueur blog-management software, WordPress is favored by the majority of high-traffic posters. One caveat: It's open source and unlikely to accept a corporate come-on.

8. FEEDBURNER Probably the largest, most reliable provider of RSS services, FeedBurner cleans up and reformats RSS for blog sites. It then channels the feeds to nearly 30 million subscribers.

9. 37SIGNALS With its vaunted collection of Web-based collaboration and shared productivity tools (to-do lists, calendars, and so forth), 37signals offers the most genuinely useful service here.

10. RIYA This photo-search engine's signature site, like.com, helps shoppers find celebrity-look-alike fashions. Still in alpha, it might change the way we sort through images.

I'm familiar, and a user, of 7 of the top ten. I've heard of Riya and Wordpress but have not used either and I've never heard of Techmeme. I'll have to check those out soon.

Kudos to Facebook though. I would agree that they are next up in the major web 2.0 acquisition game.

Odeo

Michael McFadden — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:29:00 +0000

I have found myself listening to a few podcasts on ODEO. It's so much easier than subscribing to the podcast on iTunes. Granted I can't take it with me on my iPod but it is nice to search and find with such ease. It's worth a shot if you haven't checked it out. I've included a link to an interview from the Economist entitled «Wide World of Wikis».

This interview was hosted by Brendan Greeley, the blogger-in-chief for the US public radio program Open Source, and the author of The Economist's survey on new media, Andreas Kluth.