What I Say » Web

Making Websites Easy with hPage

Kinshuk Sunil — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:47:17 +0000

There is no dearth of solutions to create websites simply and easily, with great designs right out of the box. For the uninitiated, there are services like NeoSites, Weebly, Moonfruit etc; for the adventurous there are CMSs like WordPress and Drupal to set that up. Each of these services are very identical in their offerings and yet some have their uniqueness. So when I got the opportunity to review hPage, I appraoched with caution.

What is hPage?

In their own words, “We have a great number of unique design templates (more than 300), we offer over 300 MB webspace, and, what is totally different: We offer really a lot of extras for free to build a great website. This includes own forums, newsletters, a member area, counter, guestbook, survey, contact form, pinboard, galleries, link lists, password protection, gimmicks, etc.” So I decided to take them on a test drive.

Setting Up

Setting up is pretty easy. A simple registration form is to be filled and voila! you can log in to your admin panel. This is, however, standard with most website builders out there. With the idea being to minimise the effort required with getting started with a website. The plan from now on is to select a design, create your pages, upload your files and go live.

Choosing a design is a simple matter of visiting the Design > Choose a Design menu item and selecting one of the existing 385 templates, or one of 5 customizable templates or just work on creating your own theme out of 17 framesets. I tried an existing template and moved on. The handy getting started guide was very helpful throughout the process.

Adding content is a matter of creating Text Pages from the Pages > Add a Text Page option. The service offers a rich Flash-based editor for the content editing, which is really handy and includes what you’d expect from a rich WYSIWYG editor. Once done with adding a couple of pages, you are ready with your website. hPage pushes a guestbook and a contact form by default and also, to much of our dislike, a banner ad saying for hPage. That’s unfair, the domain name already carries their brand and bring traffics to them. Moving around to the Menu systems and Files Managements is fairly easy. So is adding and managing the aforementioned Gimmicks, which work more in a click-and-deploy fashion. With a little effort on our way, we were up and running with a website in less than 10 minutes.

Final thoughts

Making websites with hPage is swift and easy, but the designs are very old-skool. They fit the web as it existed in 2002-04, the web now is much more buoyant and vivid. But, you can achieve that vibrancy with your own templates with little effort in implementing the rest of the content and functionality. Another weakness is that your website, made in hPage, is not socially aware, and there is not much scope of you doing it as well. That might pinch some of us. The only silver lining is that these problems exist with pretty much every website builder out there on the web.

The bright side is the swiftness with which you can push out your website. And you know, old-skool is not always bad. Sometimes, old-skool is what you want. What we say is, though hPage will not blind you with uber-awesome Web 2-oey gooeyness, you can still use it to create a free website, with ease and swiftly – and for personal use thats what counts.

Scorecard

Relevancy
Quality
Uptime
Innovation
Value for Money

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FreeWeb.me

planet — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:25:22 +0000

What can you use the application for? FreeWeb.me is an application for producing a custom website easily without HTML coding experience. It can be created and edited via site editor or “live” right on the web page itself. What is the history and popularity of the application? FreeWeb.me appears to be relatively new. There is no information about its history available other than 1500 unique visitors in January 2010, declining sharply to 238 unique visitors in April 2010. What are the differences to other applications? The biggest selling point of FreeWeb.me is the huge gallery of design templates. There are themes that range from cooking and food to business and more. Abstract designs are also available. How does the application look and feel to use? FreeWeb.me allows users to edit via an editing interface or to edit live, viewing the page as it will be seen by site visitors. In live mode, page elements may be moved via drag-and-drop. The edit page mode is less intuitive and is more difficult to use – especially for users with limited web building experience. The live editor is very intuitive and simple. Inserting images is easy; however there does not appear to be a photo editor for resizing or cropping. Once inserted, there does not appear to be a way to alter the image in any way. Flash tutorials are provided, but in testing, editing did not work as described. Overall, FreeWeb.me is a good web utility in live edit mode with the exception of image management. Clearly, some updates need to be done to make this process more intuitive with easier to use image editing tools. How does the registration process work? Users begin by entering their desired site name. This leads to a sign in page where users enter a username, email, and password. The next step is to browse through template designs and choose one. There are several designs and themes to choose from. Users then enter their company information and choose what pages should be created (about, news, contact, etc). The site is immediately created and the user is given links to view it and for admin purposes. What does it cost to use the application? A basic website is free of charge. A PRO version is in development and will offer custom domains, FTP access, and ad-free designs. Who would you recommend the application to? For those users desiring a customized web site, but have no HTML experience or knowledge, Freeweb may be a good tool. If images are an integral part of the site, this may not be the application to use.

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Moonfruit

planet — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:24:15 +0000

What can you use the application for? Moonfruit is a website building application. It offers many templates that are fully customizable with multiple widgets and options. What is the history and popularity of the application? Moonfruit was founded in August 1999. It is owned and operated by SiteMaker Software Ltd in London, England. What are the differences to other applications? The ability to customize the templates makes this package special. Each piece can be edited to fit the needs of the user. Integration with social media and third party widgets really enhances this app. How does the application look and feel to use? The interface is uncluttered, but some features are more difficult to find. For example, the edit screen does not allow a user to alter the logo portion of the page. During editing, a window popped up announcing 14 days remaining in trial. There was no mention of this during signup. Presumably, all features are activated and some will end after the trial period is over. To keep the free site, users are directed to update at least every 6 months or it will be deleted. While not as intuitive as some website builders, Moonfruit does offer premium customization and an ad free website in all plans. How does the registration process work? Users first choose a design style and color. Next, users choose page templates and web address. Site name and search engine description are also entered at this time. A username, password, email address and email preferences are entered next. After confirming selections, the user is directed to the site editor. What does it cost to use the application? The free package offers 20MB of storage space, 1 site, 1GB bandwidth/month and up to 15 pages. Lite has 50MB storage and 6GB monthly bandwidth with unlimited pages for $33.99/year. Standard plans feature 5 sites, 250MB storage space and 10GB bandwidth with a free domain for $67.99/year. The Plus plan and Max plans, at $101.99 and $186.99/year respectively, have more space, bandwidth, and support features. All sites are advert free, even the free option. Who would you recommend the application to? Anyone who requires or desires a fully customizable web site builder will appreciate Moonfruit. Beginners may be overwhelmed by the features.

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Tinypay.me

planet — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:58:34 +0000

What can you use the application for? Tinypay.me is a site used for selling items. Users can enter a brief description and their item will be listed in about sixty seconds. What is the history and popularity of the application? Tinypay.me went live in February 2010 as an open service for selling items on a global scale. What are the differences to other applications? Unlike other selling sites such as eBay, tinypay.me is streamlined and easy to use. It is completely free to use and also has a charity program that can be supported by users. How does the application look and feel to use? Users simply enter a title, price, and quantity of items they wish to sell. Up to 3 images may be uploaded with captions and a brief description may be entered. Keyword tags may be added as well as a location via Google Maps. Users have the option of requiring a shipment address or file attachment to the listing. A name or company title and PayPal email address is required for payment. The listing may be linked to social networking sites and integrate the product into webpages with an embed link. How does the registration process work? No registration is necessary, but with each listing, users must provide a name and PayPal email address. What does it cost to use the application? The site is free to use. Who would you recommend the application to? This site would benefit anyone wishing to create a selling page quickly and easily.

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HyperWebEnable

planet — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:17:08 +0000

What can you use the application for? HyperWebEnable is a free website builder with an affiliate program in place. What is the history and popularity of the application? HyperWebEnable is located in California and offers web services and online advertising. There is very little information available about the site. What are the differences to other applications? The first difference seems to be the application process. HyperWebEnable actually requires users to complete an application to use their site builder. Users are asked to wait for an indeterminate time period for approval or rejection. How does the application look and feel to use? Users are unable to preview tools or sites when waiting for response from HyperWebEnable. During this review and for several days thereafter, no response was received despite multiple requests. How does the registration process work? Users must provide first and last name, email, gender, date of birth, mailing address, telephone number, website concept, current site or blog address, requested site or blog name, and any special messages. Users are then asked to wait for an email response. The computer generated response comes within minutes, stating that the user will be contacted soon. After 24, 48, and 72 hours, emails were sent to support asking about a timeline for acceptance and ability to build a site. No responses were made to any of the emails. What does it cost to use the application? The application is free to use. There is a reference in the FAQ section that mentions minimum traffic requirements, but this is not elaborated upon other than to say that if, after 45 days this minimum is not met the site will be deactivated and the domain reallocated. Who would you recommend the application to? This application is not for those wanting to create a website immediately. The delay for review of an application is not specified and customer support is unresponsive.

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Goplan

planet — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:45:47 +0000

What can you use the application for? GoPlan presents users with yet another way to manage their projects and collaborate online. The internet has proven to be a valuable resource for organizations and businesses to manage projects and get quick input from team members and other participants. GoPlan has created a long list of features that allow users to work more efficiently and save time through quick information sharing and powerful functions. Other tasks, from file sharing to scheduling and organization, can also be completed with the help of GoPlan. Rather than visiting multiple online resources to perform all of these activities, users can turn to a single website. What is the history and popularity of the application? GoPlan was originally created by We Break Stuff, a design, development and product strategy company. The goal was to put together a collaboration and project management tool that We Break Stuff could utilize internally. After experiencing just how valuable their newly created tool was, and identifying the needs of other businesses and organizations, the founders decided to make GoPlan accessible to more people. This was done by turning their once internal tool into a product that was available commercially online. Today, GoPlan still serves the same functions as it did when it was originally designed for We Break Stuff, but does so for many companies and groups. What are the differences to other applications? Many online applications and websites present numerous tools that can make collaboration and project management easier. However jumping from one site to the next can become difficult, especially when the project requires interaction from many people. GoPlan brings together all of those necessary tools into a single resource. That way, the entire team or group can be directed to one website and access all the features they need. How does the application look and feel to use? GoPlan offers user a very basic, clean web layout and attractive color scheme that doesn’t draw attention away from the content and functionality of the site. The colorful green and blue logo makes the site welcoming to all, including small business owners and non profit organizations on a budget. The navigation menus are logically placed and make it easy for a new user to navigate the site and get to the tools they need. How does the registration process work? Visitors who would like to become GoPlan members can click the white “Plans and Sign Up” link at the top right hand corner of the homepage. This will direct the user to the three available membership types. A fourth membership type is available, but not as prominently displayed. A light grey bar just under the three plans includes a short link that allows users to register for free if they prefer. After choosing the plan type, users are asked to enter company details, including a business name and alias, as well as a country location. Next, the user is asked to fill in their individual details, including a name, alias, email address, password, and time zone. After confirming the plan type using the drop down box, users can complete the registration process. What does it cost to use the application? GoPlan offers users four plan options that can easily fit into any budget. The first is the free membership, which is ad supported. Free memberships can manage up to three projects and include two users and two collaborators. The Startup plan costs around $10 per month and upgrades to include 15 projects, five users, 15 collaborators, and 10 GBs of storage space. The mid range Professional plan costs around $35 and raises that to 40 projects, unlimited users and collaborators, and 25 GBs of storage. The most expensive plan is the Unlimited, which costs around $80 per month and upgrades to unlimited projects and storage. Who would you recommend the application to? The features found on GoPlan are ideal for anyone who has to manage a project of almost any size. Through GoPlan, other team members or collaborators can be brought in without infringing on their daily schedules. The four account options, which begin at free, make it easy to fit GoPlan into a tight budget.

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Daileez

planet — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:53:56 +0000

What can you use the application for? Many people keep a daily journal or diary. With the introduction of computers and the internet, many people have decided to digitize their daily musings. Daileez has taken this concept and added a playful twist. Users can create journal entries using icons rather than words. If a picture speaks a thousand words, then Daileez journals say a lot. Each icon is specialized to specific activities and make writing and reading journals fun. Users are also able to share their journal entries with others, giving more dimension to the functionality found on the site. What is the history and popularity of the application? The founders of Daileez set out to create an application that was so much more than a written diary. Through icons, users can paint a picture of what they are doing or what they have done. Daileez incorporates elements of social networking so that users can share their entries or seek out the activities of others. Today, Daileez strives to give users full control and the ability to monitor their journal entries through statistics. What are the differences to other applications? If taken at face value, the idea of an online journal is far from unique. Many sites offer this functionality and it is safe to say that a basic blog could be used for the same purpose. However, Daileez makes maintaining a journal more interesting by allowing users to share through social networking and record activities through icons. Rather than reading pages of a diary, users can quickly see what their friends are or were doing. How does the application look and feel to use? A dark background helps set off the fun, vibrant colors of Daileez icons. Users are greeted with a well organized site that presents all the vital functions and links right on the homepage. A new visitor can also get a feel for the style of the icons used in Daileez journal entries by reviewing the stats found at the bottom of the page as well as the header image. Overall, Daileez is organized in a way that is fun and easy to use. How does the registration process work? A new visitor can click the gold “sign up for free” button found right on the center of the Daileez homepage. This directs them to the registration form, which is equally well organized. The form requires a username, email address, password, and time zone. Users are also asked to choose either a public or private profile and the option to remember their login information on their current computer. Daileez also allows users to connect through their existing Facebook profiles, which an later be used to send updates to friends on Facebook. After agreeing to the terms of service check box, new users can immediately access their Daileez account and begin posting. What does it cost to use the application? The goal of most social networking websites is to gather as many users as possible to enrich the site’s content and popularity. Daileez sees this and allows users to create accounts and post to their daily journals for free. There is currently no premium account or paid functions. Every user who creates a Daileez account is given access to all icons and features. The site doesn’t offer a significant value that would justify payment, especially considering how many free online journal and blog sites are currently available. That being said, for free, it is well worth the short time it takes to create an account. Who would you recommend the application to? Daileez is ideal for anyone who spends significant time online. Those who love social networking can really get into the site’s functionality however a public profile is not required. Anyone who enjoys connecting with others and sharing updates on what they are doing can easily get into the Daileez community.

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INeedTruth

planet — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:40:30 +0000

What can you use the application for? INeedTruth is a site dedicated to providing users with a means to assess what people feel about any given topic. Users login to post a photo and then state what they’re trying to gather from the community. For instance, a user posted a photo of two different ISP logos, the question being which one they should go with. I Need Truth aims for users to gather enough feedback from various people of differing backgrounds in order to get a general feel for what the prevailing opinion is. What is the history and popularity of the application? I Need Truth went live on July 17th 2010, so the website is still quite new, but the site will be used by people who wish to know what a majority of people feel about any given subject. The site allows for the posting of pictures, and the poster puts forward a question in regards to the photo that they wish to have answered. Users can then vote to agree or disagree with those who respond, and then like or dislike the topic in general if they wish. What are the differences to other applications? Opinions are easy to come by, especially on the internet, but often facts can be lost in the process. I Need Truth aims to cut through the opinions by essentially averaging out user’s feedback, the theory seeming to be that given enough feedback on a topic, one can gather meaningful feedback overall. The concept is unique in and of itself, as each person will bring their own opinions and biases to any given topic, but by taking that information in as a whole, users can get a satisfactory answer to their questions. How does the application look and feel to use? The color scheme of I Need Truth seems to clash in many ways, however in fairness, the site is in its beta stages, and is possibly still subject to change. On the left side of the screen there’s a feedback widget which follows the browser as the page scrolls up and down, which is more than a little annoying, and it makes one wonder why this couldn’t have simply been placed in a static location on the site. It’s likely a temporary measure to facilitate easily submitting feedback while the site is in beta, but it detracts from the experience nevertheless. On the site’s Twitter feed it appears that the site is going to undergo some major changes within the next few weeks, so it is likely that a lot of the design flaws mentioned above will be addressed. How does the registration process work? In order to sign up for I Need Truth, visitors can click on the green “Sign Up” link in the top right hand corner of the screen, upon which they are taken to the Sign Up form. The form requires a full name, email address, password/confirmation, and an optional year of birth, country, gender, and occupation. After confirming all this, the user will be sent a confirmation email. Once the email activation link has been clicked, the user can sign in and begin exploring I Need Truth. What does it cost to use the application? I Need Truth is currently free, and there’s no sign of that changing in the near future. Users have full access to all aspects of the site, including posting photos, and reviews. The site has no apparent advertising, but as it gains in popularity it is possible that this may change, although this too has not been mentioned. Who would you recommend the application to? Anyone who is interested in getting opinions on anything from a picture they’ve taken to a concept. Users currently use I Need Truth to gather information such as what people feel about certain electronic devices as well as information on where to go for good local food.

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Quizinator

planet — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:47:04 +0000

What can you use the application for? Quizinator is an online service designed to allow educators to compile questions from a large database on various topics and print them in order to be used in the classroom. Quizinator provides users with a simple click and drag interface which allows them to easily create and maintain their own custom collection of documents, and also provides them the security and convenience of having their data stored electronically in one central location, preventing them having to store stacks of papers and risk losing important or often used quizzes or tests. What is the history and popularity of the application? Quizinator was developed for a high school science team in order to provide them a more dynamic means to study. In order to solve the problem of having them go over the same tests from competitions over and over, a simple application was established in order to enter the questions into a database and create quizzes with a variety of questions from the various tests that they had worked with. Soon, it was determined that teachers and instructors could use this application, and after consulting with them, Quizinator was born. Quizinator is used by teachers and instructors to generate quizzes and tests using a database of questions and answers including pictures if desired of their own creation. What are the differences to other applications? From its humble beginnings, Quizinator has grown to fill the needs that teachers and instructors have in regards to generating unique and varied content with their existing course material. It provides teachers with the means to create and store quizzes so that they can simply login and generate a relevant quiz that is both unique and applicable to the classroom lessons being taught. The question database that each user establishes ensures that they only have to enter a single question and answer once, after which they can mix and match from their database as necessary. How does the application look and feel to use? The color scheme of Quizinator consists of a dark blue title bar, with the rest of the page light blue, tan and white. The graphics and animations are both effective and informative, giving the user a good idea at a glance as to what Quizinator is all about. Clearly a great deal of time and effort went into the site layout itself, as a new user can fully educate themselves on the functionality and features of Quizinator with only a few clicks. The site is fast and responsive, unencumbered by needless graphics and flashy colors. Overall the site is very professionally designed. How does the registration process work? In order to register for Quizinator, users start by clicking the green “Sign up for Quizinator” button located halfway down on the main page. The form requests a first name, last name and a valid email address, as well as a desired password. After which, check the terms of service agreement box and then click “Sign Up for Free”. Quizinator does not send a verification email, so after completing the short registration form, the user is free to login and begin using their Quizinator account. What does it cost to use the application? Quizinator is an entirely free application, which makes it easy for educators to employ in their work without having to incur any added expenses. Who would you recommend the application to? Quizinator is designed for teachers and instructors, but certainly due to its origins has uses as a study tool for educational based organizations as well. Teachers can experiment with Quizinator without needing to invest anything other than time, and eventually, the benefits of the site will make themselves apparent, saving them countless hours creating documents, rewriting the same questions and answers if they intend to generate unique quizzes, or hoping they can find the original copy of that same old quiz they give out every time a certain subject is covered.

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E2cargo

planet — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:21:28 +0000

What can you use the application for? e2Cargo offers professional users an easy, cost effective way to manage freight shipments. The site is designed for businesses to manage freight quotes, calculate shipments and create invoices. Small to medium size businesses may have trouble finding room in their budget to hire multiple people to manage all of these tasks. E2Cargo makes it easy for one person to oversee cargo movement in a way that is easily accessible and does not require an entire IT team to set up and manage. What is the history and popularity of the application? Kathrin Riemer founded e2Cargo in June of 2009. At the time, she was looking for a way to create an online product that would present a practical solution to the many issues that come with freight management. Calling upon her numerous years of experience as a freight forwarder in air and land freight, Riemer put together a number of tools that would simplify logistics and management for businesses. Riemer also used her experience as a support engineer and application consultant to ensure that the finished product was as effective as she wanted it to be. What are the differences to other applications? There are numerous business solutions available online that help professionals plan, schedule, and manage their businesses. However e2Cargo focuses on one very specific area: freight. Businesses that work with freight movement, invoicing, and monitoring can get plenty of use out of the tools offered by e2Cargo. While the site is not geared towards the everyday user, professionals can benefit significantly depending on the needs of their business. How does the application look and feel to use? The e2Cargo website has a very professional appearance that doesn’t dampen its personality. Black and dark green are offset by light gray. Even users who are not internet savvy can easily navigate the site using the prominent links at the top of the homepage. The site creates a clean, neat environment for users to find the tools they need. E2Cargo does not include any annoying banners or graphics, instead the user is greeted with information they need and want to get them started. How does the registration process work? Right on the e2Cargo homepage, a new user can find the green “Sign up for free!” button. After clicking the button, the user is directed to the well organized registration form. The form requests an email address (which will be the user’s login ID), a name, company name, and password. If the user has a promotion code, a field is available for that information as well. After filling out the form, the user can click the check box to agree to the terms and conditions before clicking the grey “Sign Up” button at the bottom of the page. After submitting the information, a green highlighted box advises the user to check their email to complete confirmation and finish account creation. Once this is done, the user can login and access their e2Cargo account. What does it cost to use the application? Regardless of which plan is selected, users are given a 30 day free trial. The Small plan runs about $35 and includes up to three users, 500 shipments per month, and 2 GBs of storage space. The Medium plan costs about $70 and upgrades to include up to 10 users and 1,500 shipments each month. The Unlimited plan runs about $145 and upgrades to unlimited users and shipments. Each plan also includes free online support, software updates, database, security, and regular back ups. E2Cargo does not charge any set up fees and users can cancel accounts at any time. Who would you recommend the application to? There is one specific group that would love e2Cargo, and that is the group the site was designed for. Those dealing with freight can utilize e2Cargo for all aspects of each shipment, including tracking and invoicing. The site allows multiple plan options that can easily fit into various budgets, so both small and large businesses can take advantage of e2Cargo tools.

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