Today when I logged in my google mail account a change alert greeted me. Google mail has kept improving its interface in 5 years since its inception, to add functionality or improve the user experience. This time it has introduced the Lable drag option. This feature lets you assign the lable to any and many messages in your mail box by simply dragging the lable onto the messages.

A very cool usability feature. When you are on your inbox or on a message screen you can drag a lable to assign that lable to the message(s) in question. From your inbox you can also drag message or multiple messages(press “Shift” Key while selecting, to select multiple messages) to assign a specific lable to these messages. But on assigning the lables this way (dragging message to the lable) will move your message from the inbox to the folder specific to your lable.

This functionality eases the task of assigning lables to your communications especially if you have a longish Labels list. Google also has thought the functionality well from usability perspective and moved the Lables above the chats widget. This means just drag and drop no Scrolling up and down for finding the lables (or communications) while dragging. Another thing that They have maintained is the Lables drop down. So when I am at the end of a loooooong mail, I can assign the lable to this mail the conventional way (from the drop down). Google sure knows the nerves of its users.

2001-Feb – Deja.com – Google Groups
2001-Sep – Online Information Retrieval Technologies
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2003-Feb – Pyra Labs – Blogger
2003-April – Neotonic Software – Technology for Email Customer Support (CRM)
2003-April – Applied Semantics – Advertising Technology
2003-Sep – Kaltix Corp – Personalized and Context Sensitive Search Engine Technology
2003-Oct – Genius Labs- Blogging
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2004-May – Ignite Logic – Web Templates for Law Firms and Small Businesses
2004-July – Picasa – Digital Photo Management
2004-Oct – Keyhole Corp – Digital Mapping (Google Earth)
2004-Oct – Where 2 Technologies – Digital Mapping (Google Maps)
2004-Dec – ZipDash – Maps and Traffic for Mobile Devices
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2005-Jan – 2Web Technologies – Google Spreadsheets
2005-Mar – Urchin Software – Web Analytics Software
2005-May – Dodgeball – Mobile Social Networking
2005-July – Reqwireless Inc – Java ME Browser
2005-July – Current Communications Group – Broadband over Power Line
2005-Aug – Android – Software for Mobile Phones
2005-Sep – Transformic Inc – Search Engines for the Deep Web
2005-Nov – Skia – Graphics Software Engineering
2005-Nov – Akwan Information Technologies – Operations Centers
2005-Dec – 5.0% Stake in AOL
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2006-Jan – dMarc Broadcasting – Digital Solutions for Radio Broadcasting
2006-Feb – Measure Map – Web Analytics for Blogs
2006-Mar – Upstartle (Writely) – Web Based Collaborative Document Editor
2006-March – @Last Software – SketchUp 3D Modeling
2006-April – Orion – Referential Search Engine
2006-Aug – Neven Vision – Automatic Information Extraction from Photos
2006-Oct – Jotspot Inc – Wiki Technology for Collaborative Websites
2006-Nov – YouTube Inc – Consumer Media (Watch and Share Videos)
2006-Dec – Endoxon – Geo Mapping Software
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2007-Jan – Xunlei (Partial) – File Sharing Website
2007-March – Adscape Media – In-Game Advertising for Video Games
2007-March – Trendalyzer – Presentation Software
2007-April – Doubleclick – Advertising Technology Platform
2007-April – Tonic Systems – Presentation Creation and Document Conversion Technology
2007-April – Marratech – Video Conferencing Software
2007-May – Green Border Technologies – Secure Connections for Web Browsing and Email
2007-May – Panoramio – Community Photos Website (Works with Google Earth)
2007-June – Feedburner – Feed Distribution and Management Tools
2007-June – PeakStream Inc – Multiprocessor and GPU Software
2007-June – Zenter – Online Slide Presentations
2007-July – GrandCentral Communications – Services for Managing Voice Communications
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Pls note: This list is only a compiled and suggestive list.

This sure is a very insiteful article and prompts me to pen (Type) down the following points that are relevent in the abouve context:

1. Cost is the primary consideration when an Indian company is being approched for work.
2. People are looking at niche expertise while outsourcing. Like someone with an expertise in creating SOcial networking sites (i.e www.itcombine.com ).
3. People are looking at strict adherence to timelines.
4. People are looking for immediate response to communication.
5. Companies are looking for getting precise, flawless codes.
6. Companies need simple and complete technical documentation.
7. Companies are looking at design novelty.
8. People are willing to implement any value added suggestion that you give, for a price ( say you offer to implement a virality module as a bonus to a content rich website)

These are simple things to follow if you are serious about your business. Then you rock!

‘From’ must be able to connect directly with the user. More than 50% of the Emailers that I recieve have “the company.” as the from component. Uniformity in this aspect is important to the usres. It is always better to use the From part as the begining of the engagement.
For example; you can have a different set of emailes that go out on a regular basis and hence rather than having ‘From:itcombine.com’ all the time you can have varients like ‘Itcombine deals’ or ‘Itcombine schedules’ to start the communication with the user.

‘Subject’ must have a message that is clear and concise and short. It must also be relevant to the call-to-action in your email.
For example; using a subject line ’3 books for 399′ is better than using ‘offers on books’

‘Body’ of the emailer is where the soul is. It is important for the marketing and the production team alike, to know about the factors that go into increasing the impact of the mailer and thereby the propensity to clik on the call for action. Following factors need to be kept in mind:

• Make sure that the design is catchy and sweet
• Maintain a clear hierarchy of message
• Make the call-to-action conspicous
• Maintain a balance between the amount of text and images in your email
• Create a simple layout that is free from complex tables
• Videos etc must lead to a landing page through a call-to-action button
• Keep the copy easy with simple short sentances
• Create HTML emails as they have the ability to display images (remember the alt tags)
• Leave an option for the reciever to click on a link to Contact You or Unsubscribe.

Further you can also use information on reading pattern by users from sources like trustpass.info that suggest that the mailers must be desinged in a “F” pattern.
Users first read in a horizontal movement (the upper part of the content area i.e the F’s top bar)
Users then move down the page and read across in a second horizontal movement covering a shorter area than the previous movement(the F’s lower bar).
Finally, users view the content’s left side in a vertical movement (the F’s stem)

I will try to list out the Mailing tools in a different post.

What does one look for while choosing a project to customise from all the options available? You must look at the follwoing parameters as the top pripority:

Ease of Installation
Ease of making Additions
Ease of Upgrade
User friendliness
Owner Friendliness
deleloper Friendliness

Based on the above parameters, the 3 Opensource E-commerce platforms are:

osCommerce        Download here

PrestaShop            Download here

Zen Cart                  Download here

1. Customer exchanges
2. Business 2 Business Systems
3. Business to Customer selling

Product development plays a very critical role in any Internet application. This assumes more significance when peoples money is involved. An e-com platform is supposed to facilitate transactions through internet using credit cards, Net-banking, web wallets and some offline modes like physical instruments and Cash.

Companies are known to have invested a huge ammount of money into development of E-com Platforms. It has been a learning process for most. The technology developer has always profited in this bargain.

The main Modules that make an effective E-com platform will have the following;

1. Store front
2. Store management (Admin and Vendor)
3. Accounting Management
4. Technology management
5. Loyalty and customer acquisition program management
6. CRM

What are the key Features, Functionalities that one needs to build into a smoothly operating Ecom Platform?  The following list is a good reference point;

Supports multiple types
     E-Retail Store
     Virtual Marketplace
     Franchise Model
     Hosted E-Shops
     Media independent shopping
Database Independent
Application server independent
Integrating with 3rd Party / ERP
Web Services integration

Comprehensive Information Capture
Cross platform search
Dynamic Storefront
Seller Interface
Dynamic pricing, promotions
Work flow based order management
Supports various payment modes
Mailers, loyalty, cross/up selling

Further if this application is a Modular Application that has been Load tested in high traffic scenarios and is Deployable on clustered technology architecture.