Currently, you can only register Malaysia domain names with MYNICs appointed resellers. And, not every company may apply to be a reseller (even if you are an MSC company). But I’m not here to rant about the MYNIC registration process. Instead, I’d like to discuss about their new website launched on June 25, 2008.

MYNIC, you guys are (I have to say this) arrogant fools - be it old or young. You are so arrogant you think having a Flash menu on the front is cool or neat. I’m already thinking of screaming “God?!” but it won’t do any help since I see we’re dealing with people on a limited mindset. So I want say this again.

Flash is NOT cool or neat every time.

Once you’ve managed to fit that into your head, here’s a thing I’d like to share with you. Did you know your (useless) Flash menu on the side could have been done with HTML, CSS and Javascript? Plus, not only will it load faster but will be accessible to even the blind users (if required). When the website launched, the entire banner was in Flash including the search option for domain names. Thanks to a sane person, they’ve amended it.

Technical details aside I wonder who’d agree with me the design of the Flash menu is horrendous from a user experience. It’s text is black on grey (which isn’t light) and it’s got an unnecessary glow around it. Are you trying to make your users think they’re in need of reading aid? As for the large banner space above the search, I hope you guys are planning to put it to good use.

Before I move onto the inside pages, I dislike the mini arrows in the Announcement because it doesn’t define the end of an item. A quick fix is include a line beside the arrow stretching to the left edge. And here’s a fundamental mistake, headings and date are blue and did you know links are also blue? I don’t want to say anything on the FAQ Quick Takes because the color of the links and the panel is making me frustrated.

When I was browsing the MYNIC inside pages, I wanted to return to the homepage but I couldn’t find the Home button. I ended up clicking the logo and thank goodness it had a hyperlink. Then I discovered the Home button was hidden on top with the site search. I don’t even want to ask.

I hate (so frustrating) the blue link text on light grey background. And here’s another idea for MYNIC instead of anchoring information, use a show/hide option. It’s not difficult to implement and it’s light if you leave out the animated stuff. Either that or fix the blue link text on light grey background please - see, I’m trying to be nice here.

I’m tired of complaining further about their website. If they’ve learned anything from this, I look forward to them approaching us at Simpleet Solutions in future. Now, on to the parts of the website I like using. Surprise!

First is the MYNIC Public Announcements page. It’s got a welcoming calendar navigation and archives area. But did anyone realize there are 3 options at the bottom?

Finally, I like the MYNIC domain names statistics page. I now have a way which tells me what’s the average number of registrations per year. Besides that, they should consider fixing the filename typo; stastic.

Before I leave, I have to say it’s the first time I’ve seen anyone use a scrollbar in a tiny panel for their website sitemap. This has been done so the boxes are constantly aligned and it retains the perfectionism of the layout. And I say, hogwash! Just break down the information accordingly without restricting its space so users can find the information easier. Why do you think HSBC or HLB sitemaps are broken up that way?

Now I’m starting to think the Malaysia Internet or website industry isn’t saturated but filled with complete opportunities.

p.s: If you’re wondering why some text links link back to this entry, I’m experimenting an optimization technique I found some blogger using in his entry. I want to see if it works though annoying.

The following requirements apply (NO exceptions):

1. Must own a blog. (not necessarily with personal domain)
2. Written in either English, BM or Chinese.
3. Minimum 6 MONTHS blogging.
4. Minimum 500 UNIQUE VISITs per month.
5. Must have a site analytics tool like Google Analytics, Sitemeter or others.

Submissions were closed on June 29, 2008.

Disclaimer:
Though you may fit the requirements, there is no guarantee you will be selected because [em]client will do final selection[/em] of blogs they feel most confident in awarding the advertorial too. And I apologize in advance if your blog wasn’t selected.

What’s cooler than meeting Will Smith? I’d say a superhero, namely; Hancock. If you’ve not heard, Hancock is the superhero character played by Will Smith. Though unlike any superhero normally perfect, the story starts with Hancock being a complete buffoon. He apparently is a homeless who drinks too much and sinks a ship in the attempt of saving a whale. Talk about things which can go wrong for superheroes.


Like every superhero movie, the superhero does prevail - Dragonfly not included. And in every superhero movie, a super-villain must be present. From the 2nd trailer, you’ll see a hottie (though not Paris Hilton) posing a threat to Hancock. What can she do? I don’t know. How did she come about? I don’t know. But catching Hancock’s pants down with her? That I know.

I presume Pamela Anderson didn’t fit the role cause she was already cast in the other superhero movie. Furthermore, since we’re on the topic of hot super-villains. Did you know even cartoons our kids watch have hot super-villains? Minus the low-slits, cleavages and other sexual prompting factors. If you’ve seen Kim Possible, I’m referring to Shego. Trust me, Google her image and you’ll know how hot she can be. Be warned, you might find Kim and Shego kissing too.

Alright, so back to Hancock - you can take out your hand now! What makes the whole story interesting is never in my life have I seen a superhero who’s a bum make a comeback, especially with the help of PR and marketing. I’m now wondering if this movie has a subliminal message to all heroes amongst us or the industry is trying to tell us something. Tell me once you get it cause I don’t.

Anyway, here’s a low grade VCD quality video trailer of the upcoming movie; Hancock.

And if you want to win a Sony Ericsson W660i (worth RM 750 each), you’re going to have to find out more at the All-Malaysian Bloggers Project.

p.s: And get your hand out of your pants for crying out loud?!

Updated: July 3, 2008
Despite effort of aiming to win a new handphone, I only managed to pull of a car sticker from the contest. Oh well…

You may think hosting a terrible portfolio is a mistake. Well, it is but I know of another mistake Malaysia freelance website designers should avoid. And that is, linking to websites which companies no longer use and it now belongs to some cybersquatter.

So what’s a cybersquatter?

It’s a user who is registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else. The cybersquatter then offers to sell the domain to the person or company who owns a trademark contained within the name at an inflated price.

Actually there’s a particular line I personally would like to rephrase:

The cybersquatter then waits to sell the domain to the person or company who owns a trademark contained within the name at an inflated price.

Honestly, cybersquatters do not sell the domain name directly to a person or company. Well, not anymore at least. Some cybersquatters will not park the domain anywhere. Some cybersquatters will park their domains with free online services so it hosts a makeshift website.

But the website is either filled with advertisements or links pointing to other related or unrelated websites. And that ladies and gentlemen, is one of the mistakes you should avoid if you’re a Malaysia freelance website designer.

Remove links to client websites which companies have already closed down or altered their names. By continuing to link back to makeshift websites, you are wasting your search engine rank and helping the makeshift website maintain their current ranking.

I know Malaysia has a number of cybersquatters. And I know there’s business to be made. The day the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act becomes more strict and punishments are delivered without mercy, we will have to register a domain name once we know its available for our use.

How do you feel towards cybersquatters? Ever encountered one so far?

The event started with the bloggers registration whether they were invited by The Star (AMBP) or others. And again, Star Jobs had a mini booth setup for bloggers who haven’t given up their day jobs just yet. The crowd was as good if not better than the last gathering held at Starbucks, Gardens Midvalley.

This time we had speakers like Peter Tan, Kimberlycun, Aizuddin Danian (PPS Founder), Chin Vin Sen (Cinema Online) and Rohan Thomas (Microsoft Malaysia). But enough talk, here’s an image to summarize what went down at the gathering. Click on it for a larger version.

Yes, that’s KY looking evil after winning a prize in the Q & A session. All questions should be directed to him of his intentions. LOL!

Overall, I enjoyed the gathering but I felt it lacked an ice-breaker at the beginning. Without an introduction game, bloggers tend to huddle with their groupies and leave only the strong to walk up and introduce themselves to the group. I know what it feels like and I still feel it. Especially when you have a groupie armed with cameras and they’re snapping away themselves while chatting.

Anyway Michael (AMBP Editor) said, they’re still new and learning. Well, I hope to see AMBP continue to become another supporter of bloggers in Malaysia. Most likely will work with you guys on something coming up.

p.s: I’ve Sashi’s photo so if anyone needs to blackmail him, let me know. *grin*

• Aizuddin Danian (Founder of Project Petaling Street)
• Kimberly Low (Malaysia blogger)
• Peter Tan (Malaysia blogger)
• Chin Vin Sen (Cinema Online)
• Rohan Thomas (Microsoft Malaysia)

So how do you get the free movie screening for the movie; Hulk?

Well, the movie starts at 3:00PM but I most likely won’t be able to make it. I wouldn’t want to waste the free screening and the time the AMBP team used up organizing this. Therefore, I’m opening my 2 seats to you (readers).

What I’ll do is inform Michael A. Fredericks I’m passing my passes on to someone else. Because I’m not releasing my phone number here or have time to check emails while I’m there, anyone can redeem the tickets. Therefore, it’ll be a first come first serve basis to whoever is at Outpost, Cineleisure Damansara and comes up to me later. So if you want to watch it, spot me and ask me.

Disclaimer: I’ll not be held liable on any account if Michael or anyone of the AMBP refuses me to pass my tickets to anyone unregistered with AMBP.

A perfect website layout is like when Indiana Jones was in search for the last crusade and lead him towards the Holy Grail. Movie metaphors aside a thought hit me one day; what if I created an e-commerce website layout which was near perfect?

How do I even consider an e-commerce website layout almost perfect? Well, user experience plays an important role for an e-commerce store. The primary task of any customer is to locate the product they wanted and purchase it. The other tasks following it are more like secondary intentions or spontaneous purchases or even better; impulse buying!

But yes, if the e-commerce website layout with accompanying user experience was near perfect then how are we to innovate it further? If we did try to innovate it, it may bring a bad side effect rather a good one because it’s already near perfect. Therefore, what can one do? I’m not going to progress on about this.

I want you to tell me:

• How you would feel if you created the perfect e-commerce website layout?
• Would you even try to innovate it?
• And, do you think there is even such a thing?

Alright, before I actually get down and dirty with all the details, be reminded that some of these are mere speculations, albeit rather obvious ones according to various sources, nothing in black and white directly from Apple. Here are some of the top rumours and discussion topics which have been spreading across forums worldwide regarding the recent developments in the iPhone scene.

#1 - The BIGGEST topic of all, is of course the 3G iPhone which has been long awaited since the iPhone itself launched back in 2007. Of course, Apple officials have declined to comment on this thus far, but many hints have led to the inevitable conclusion that Apple is indeed finally succumbing to the demands for 3G in its 2nd generation iPhone expected to be announced in June, such as mainland Chinese manufacturers revealing Apple’s bulk purchase of 3G radios and online images indicating an overhaul in the Apple iPhone’s exterior design to allow integration of the additional components. And of course, there’s that suspicious stocks depletion issue of the current iPhones throughout Apple Online Stores and retailing outlets internationally. Are these signs of a new iPhone to come? I’ll let you guys be the judge.

#2 - The iPhone SDK, nothing to gossip about here… Well, perhaps not about its validity, since it has very well existed and has been distributed since early March 2008. However, though with this in mind, many users still have yet to realize the significance of this matter. Simply said, the SDK is the mythical key to the gateway of 3rd party iPhone software development, LEGALLY. Right now, the suspense lies upon the thousands of developers, big and small, who will finally be unveiling their applications at long last, without legal issues and EULA restrictions, all distributed through the upcoming App Store which Apple has announced. Additionally, iPhone software developers will now have something to cheer about, with the venture capital KPCB (Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers) announcing the $100,000,000 iFund. Keep an eye out, guys! We have tonnes of new and LEGAL apps coming our way….

#3 - SINGAPORE’S GETTING THE iPhone!! Yeap, it’s official alright, recently revealed by Singtel. And if that’s not enough, it’s been said that the arrival of the iPhone in Singapore may be as soon as September this year! The past few months have been some very ones for Apple iPhone enthusiasts worldwide, as more and more telecommunications providers have successfully acquired the exclusive contracts from Apple to carry the iPhone. Currently, confirmed countries which will receive the iPhone within the next couple of months include Vodafone (Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey), Telecom Italia (Italy), Optus (Australia), Singtel (Singapore, India, Phillipines), Teliasonera (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), Le Matin Online (Switzerland), Rogers Wireless (Canada), America Movil (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay), T-Mobile (Austria)…… And the list goes on.

#4 - In addition to suspense over what Apple has to reveal at the upcoming WWDC, investigations by MacRumours have discovered some unusual activities in Apple’s shipping manifest. According to reports, some 188 containers of an unknown product type have been imported by Apple into Canada and the United States very recently. While this has been reported as an unusual major spike in Apple’s product imports, U.S. Customs Records describe these shipments as “electric computers”, which neither Apple nor its logistics partners have ever used as its product descriptions. Considering this, plus the deprivation of iPhone stocks worldwide, though I dare not say for sure that these are indeed the new iPhones everyone’s been waiting for, this clearly hints that whatever Apple’s bringing in those containers, they most definitely are not of Apple’s current product line. Sound rather fishy, don’t you think?

With all that to drool over, there’s always one rotten fruit to spoil the whole basket. Effective May 14th 2008, AT&T outlets worldwide have been instructed to limit each customer to ONE iPhone each, instead of the previous limit of THREE units. And just when we thought it couldn’t get worse, the fools at AT&T central command have also decided to only accept credit cards for iPhone purchases. I repeat, cash and cheques are no longer valid. How will this affect us? Price hikes, I assume, due to the increasingly difficult acquisation process of iPhones overseas. That is, if the iPhone doesn’t decide to touchdown here soon…

Well, that’s all the headlines I have for you guys right now. I’ll leave you guys to ponder upon the information above for the next few days leading up to June 9th, when all our guesses and suspicions will finally come to rest. I bid everyone good day for the next 2-3 weeks as I’ll be doing my mid-term. Hopefully by then I’ll be back with more goodies to share with you guys. Thus, what better way to end this entry with some drool-worthy images claiming to be the actual 3G Apple iPhone!

P.S. I believe that last 3 are obviously phoney photoshops, but hey, they look dazzling. Enjoy!

Sincerely to all,

Timothy Goh

Well, I believe the trend is slowly changing and the above trend is dying. As more users face advertisements daily, they’re tired of reading emails which are of no relevance and importance to them already. Here’s a quick example; I recently unsubscribed from a newsletter because it kept trying to sell me something over and over again. But no, it wasn’t the selling which drove me away. It was something more basic.

There was no more value in the content. Value not measured by dollars and cents but value in terms of knowledge I used to be able to gain. Value in terms of life experiences I used to share and sympathize along with the author. This email newsletter value he had was irreplaceable and it made me really disappointed to find out how it’s become an email newsletter mainly for him to sell his products now.

Therefore, the real reason your email newsletter unsubscribe rates are climbing is because its content isn’t meeting your reader expectations anymore. While the author may be happily gaining dollars and cents, their mailing list is being harmed in the long run. Slowly more readers will unsubscribe or send their email to the junk folder, never to be seen again.

If you offer email newsletters, you better do a rain check on the expectations its delivering now.

• Do the topics meet your subscribers expectations?
• How do your readers feel about your promotion campaigns via your newsletter?
• How do your readers feel about you promoting others products or services via their newsletter?
• What other possible content your readers want to read?
• Why is the unsubscribe rate slowly increasing?

Why do you have RSS subscribers? It’s because of the content.

Why would I subscribe to your email newsletter? It’s because of the content.

If you took away what I sought after and became interested from the start, I have no more reason to follow your life; your journey, your experiences and definitely, your sales numbers. Simple.

p.s: Please tell me what you’d like me to write about next in the poll on the right. Thanks.

If the webpage isn’t ready or prepared by the appointed deadline, they would say…

Nevermind, it’s a small matter. We could just put the message “Under Construction”.

The luckiest client I’ve seen avoid this pitfall replaced and suggested this message…

We are currently reviewing the content of this webpage.

but this also makes you and your company lose credibility.

As I mentioned, the 2 main things a Malaysia corporate website lose are:

1. Money (or business opportunities)
2. Credibility

Money or Business opportunities
The reasons of having a corporate website are simple. You want brand exposure, product information sharing and business opportunities established. For every hour, minute or seconds (for some) their corporate website is working around the clock assisting them to find business opportunities. So when a business opportunity views your under construction message, they’ll either assume your business isn’t ready to do business with them or you have no responsibility towards delivering a finished product.

Credibility
First impressions count and we’re not talking about the design aesthetics of even the website. Credibility could come in other forms like testimonials. However, if even your testimonials webpage is under construction than what credibility would be left for you.

End of the day, your corporate website is losing money and credibility whenever you have an under construction message. And, adding the image which blinks under construction doesn’t help. Which is why again I’m going to say, take it off or come up with a better message.

This is a chance for your marketing team or copywriter or even website designer to recommend innovative ways to lead your users away elegantly. Yes, lead them to another webpage within the website which could help them (and is not under construction) or add a call-to-action your users would jump on given the chance.

Here’s one of the examples I’ve recently found:

It is that easy! So start doing it already.

And if you’re thinking to revamp, rebrand or redesign your corporate website and want an intuitive alternative method besides the dead old under construction message then contact us at Simpleet Solutions.

At Simpleet Solutions, it’s made for users.