Easy Error 404 page Creation Using Google Webmaster Tools

The error 404 page is the webpage you’ll normally see when you can’t find the article or item you were looking for in an author’s website. Here’s a quick example of my error 404 page I tuned up.

Now, because the error 404 terminology is commonly understood by tech-savvy users, it’s approach has been made to be more user-friendly. Such as the error 404 page example you saw when you clicked the link.

From simple functional error 404 pages, other designers and developers with strong beliefs in web standards have made entertaining error 404 pages. Here’s an example from Abduzeedo.

This has been done to lessen tension and the immediate confusion of a non tech-savvy user through humour. Plus, it makes planning and designing error pages for users now more fun.

If you’d like to create a simple error 404 page as the one I did, you’re going to need Google webmaster tools. It’s free and all you’ll need is a Google account.

Does your website have a user-friendly or humorous error page yet?

The Big And The Beautiful Headlines

If you’re an Internet surfing junkie like me, you already may have stumbled across websites with the mentioned characteristics. Their headlines are bold (emphasized), large but beautiful in its unique way.

Some website owners or designers do it because it fits the company branding.

Some blog designers or blog authors love it because it makes clear good reading experiences. After all, a website today is really about the user experience.

But I don’t see it as only enhancing the reader’s experience anymore. I see it as a method to communicate a statement from the big and beautiful headline. It screams out loud without having to give it strength (pun intended). It stands tall and large proudly as if it’s there knowing its purpose. This right now is pure beauty on a large scale.

But, do you see it as beauty or a beast?

P1 Team Fixes and Enhances Malaysia Wimax Coverage Map

Few weeks ago, I received my promotional code for a 6-months free subscription of P1 Wimax. This was when I last visited the P1 Wimax booth at the third-leg of the PC Fair – along with the PC Fair booth babes. Naturally, first thing I wanted to know was if my area was covered. Plus, I didn’t want to find out I’m only at the fringe of coverage.

During this ordeal, I tried almost all available options to find out my coverage. I viewed the coverage map online, submitted an online enquiry, SMS them, call them and lastly, visited the P1 Wimax centre. I was forced to visit their customer centre because the previous coverage map (also using Google Maps) wasn’t reliable. But I guess my personal complaint lodged whilst at the centre was taken seriously.

Behold, the enhanced P1 Wimax coverage map using Google Maps.

What I love about it right now is the coverage areas are highlighted and there’s a compass you can move to see if your area is covered. Plus, I think the compass acts as the direction to where you face your P1 Wimax modem!

Finally, a coverage map which is easier and more accurate as compared to most coverage maps developed by any other network company.

Do you think P1 needs to have a weather forecast come network report in the coverage map?

Forum Designs Simplified

It’s all about the content. Not only for blogs, but for forums too. I was reading 10 Clean Forum Designs and noticed forum theme designs are becoming more simplified. No more real need to see who’s online or how many users are online at the moment.

This is good because many designers are starting to think and question what information is more relevant to the user. Sure, seeing 1,000 members online as an owner gets you off, but it’s worthless to the active user of the forum.

Even in the Low Yat forums, I have only bothered looking at the who’s online portion once in my entire membership. That was because I was bored even.

So if you’re a community forum owner, you might want to reconsider what information is important to your members – not you.

The US Whitehouse Website Trumps All Our Government Websites

Pictures speak a thousand words. In this case, one website screenshot of the official US whitehouse website trumps not only all our government websites but I’d literally say, put all of them to shame and embarassment.

Why is it so difficult to understand and educate Malaysia politicians we need government websites which are more user-friendly and functional? Even without mentioning web standards, I’ve literally not seen a Malaysia government website which even feels on par with something like the whitehouse. Pfft?! Talk about having the excuse, you don’t want to replace what’s not broken. And, here’s our Malaysia parliament’s website.

Well, there’s your benchmark. So stop being idiots and start doing it right – for once.