Showing posts with label Platforms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Platforms. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

HipChat Keeps Your Team Connected Across Multiple Platforms

Editor’s note: This article is brought to you by HipChat.


Communication can be a problem when it comes working online and remotely. Requirements, reminders and reiterations can get lost when a message gets passed from one team member to the next. There are also so many things that could impede the workflow or work process of your team, things like working in different time zones, or even working on different operating systems.


If this is you, then you might want to try out HipChat. HipChat is a group chat service that caters to most, if not all, of the major desktop and mobile platforms out there. It is also available as a web app, and provides written, audio and video conferencing tools to help you get your message across to your team members.



Getting Started With HipChat


To register, HipChat needs your name, work email and password. You can start inviting team members at this point or leave it for later. Check your email for a nudge by HipChat to confirm your email address. Once you activate your account, you will end up here.


You can download the native HipChat app for your Mac, Linux or Windows, or get it on mobile for Android (4.0 and above) and iOS (iOS7 and above), or if you aren’t at your own computer, launch the web app instead to begin chatting.


Note: This review will center around the web app.


Getting Around In HipChat


Once inside the web app, you will be at the Lobby, where you can find all the Rooms that were created and People who are on HipChat. Toggle betwen the two groups to get a more filtered list; or if the place is too crowded, the filter search bar can help narrow down your destinations.


Once you click into any of the rooms or any of your team member’s name, the item(s) will be added to the left sidebar. This makes it easy to jump from one chatroom to the next.


Availability


The availability status of each team member helps give you an idea of when is a good time to approach them. There are three statuses available: Available, Away and Do Not Disturb, depicted in the customary green, yellow and red signal colors. To change your own status, you can do so at the top right hand side of the interface, or use the commands: /away, /dnd, or /back (for Available).


New Chat


Click on any of the available Rooms to start chatting with your team members, or click on a team member’s Name to go into 1-on-1 chat mode. At any time you want to start a new room, click New Chat. Give it a name, and a topic and choose the privacy access (Open or Private) for the room.


Room Features


In the conversation threads (rooms), you can use emoticons, share files of up to 50 MB per file, links and even gifs (check the Integration section). With the native apps, you can also find support for video calls, audio calls and screensharing (only during the trial period).


In 1-on-1 chat mode, all shared files and recently shared links, on the right sidebar. In rooms with a larger pool of participants, you will find an additional list of participants for the chatroom, along with options to rename your room, topic and toggle access settings on the right sidebar. Here’s also where you can find the Integrations feature.


Integrations


One thing HipChat does that takes it up a notch compared to other group chat services is that you can extend its capabilities via add-ons. HipChat comes with 59 add-ons you can get including Asana, GitHub and Hip Gif (to add gifs with the /gif command). These integrations feed notifications from those services into HipChat. Now, you no longer have to pick a tool for all your team mates to migrate to – you can have them all.


Pricing Plans And Features


During the 30-day trial period, you will have access to all the features. The moment the trial period is up, you lose access to screensharing, audio and video calls, and searches on unlimited chat history (which will be capped at 25,000 messages for the basic plan).


The file storage capacity is also now capped at 5 GB unless you opt for its premium plan, HipChat Plus. Rates are at /user/month, and you can cancel at any time and will only need to pay for the last billing period. HipChat can also be deployed to your own server on special pricing rates (check out this link for discounts for academic organizations).


Limitation


During the testing period, I had a couple of connection problems.


  • With the web app, I kept getting disconnected and had to reload the page to get connected.

  • With the audio call feature, after I hung up, the call was not immediately disconnected on the receiver’s side. The receiver had to manually disconnect the call.

Nonetheless, the support HipChat provides looks solid, if its help center is to be taken at face value. The Help center even has a Suggestion and Ideas section which the team acknowledges and actively responds to.


Final Word


HipChat is a fun, simple, cleancut app to use and its wide range of support on popular desktop and mobile platforms make it a great addition to any organization, including those that operate remotely. The use of @mention, and the plentiful notifications via email, in-app, desktop and even via sms, does its part in trying to keep remote teams continuously updated and connected.










HipChat Keeps Your Team Connected Across Multiple Platforms

Monday, April 20, 2015

HipChat Keeps Your Team Connected Across Multiple Platforms

Editor’s note: This article is brought to you by HipChat.


Communication can be a problem when it comes working online and remotely. Requirements, reminders and reiterations can get lost when a message gets passed from one team member to the next. There are also so many things that could impede the workflow or work process of your team, things like working in different time zones, or even working on different operating systems.


If this is you, then you might want to try out HipChat. HipChat is a group chat service that caters to most, if not all, of the major desktop and mobile platforms out there. It is also available as a web app, and provides written, audio and video conferencing tools to help you get your message across to your team members.



Getting Started With HipChat


To register, HipChat needs your name, work email and password. You can start inviting team members at this point or leave it for later. Check your email for a nudge by HipChat to confirm your email address. Once you activate your account, you will end up here.


You can download the native HipChat app for your Mac, Linux or Windows, or get it on mobile for Android (4.0 and above) and iOS (iOS7 and above), or if you aren’t at your own computer, launch the web app instead to begin chatting.


Note: This review will center around the web app.


Getting Around In HipChat


Once inside the web app, you will be at the Lobby, where you can find all the Rooms that were created and People who are on HipChat. Toggle betwen the two groups to get a more filtered list; or if the place is too crowded, the filter search bar can help narrow down your destinations.


Once you click into any of the rooms or any of your team member’s name, the item(s) will be added to the left sidebar. This makes it easy to jump from one chatroom to the next.


Availability


The availability status of each team member helps give you an idea of when is a good time to approach them. There are three statuses available: Available, Away and Do Not Disturb, depicted in the customary green, yellow and red signal colors. To change your own status, you can do so at the top right hand side of the interface, or use the commands: /away, /dnd, or /back (for Available).


New Chat


Click on any of the available Rooms to start chatting with your team members, or click on a team member’s Name to go into 1-on-1 chat mode. At any time you want to start a new room, click New Chat. Give it a name, and a topic and choose the privacy access (Open or Private) for the room.


Room Features


In the conversation threads (rooms), you can use emoticons, share files of up to 50 MB per file, links and even gifs (check the Integration section). With the native apps, you can also find support for video calls, audio calls and screensharing (only during the trial period).


In 1-on-1 chat mode, all shared files and recently shared links, on the right sidebar. In rooms with a larger pool of participants, you will find an additional list of participants for the chatroom, along with options to rename your room, topic and toggle access settings on the right sidebar. Here’s also where you can find the Integrations feature.


Integrations


One thing HipChat does that takes it up a notch compared to other group chat services is that you can extend its capabilities via add-ons. HipChat comes with 59 add-ons you can get including Asana, GitHub and Hip Gif (to add gifs with the /gif command). These integrations feed notifications from those services into HipChat. Now, you no longer have to pick a tool for all your team mates to migrate to – you can have them all.


Pricing Plans And Features


During the 30-day trial period, you will have access to all the features. The moment the trial period is up, you lose access to screensharing, audio and video calls, and searches on unlimited chat history (which will be capped at 25,000 messages for the basic plan).


The file storage capacity is also now capped at 5 GB unless you opt for its premium plan, HipChat Plus. Rates are at /user/month, and you can cancel at any time and will only need to pay for the last billing period. HipChat can also be deployed to your own server on special pricing rates (check out this link for discounts for academic organizations).


Limitation


During the testing period, I had a couple of connection problems.


  • With the web app, I kept getting disconnected and had to reload the page to get connected.

  • With the audio call feature, after I hung up, the call was not immediately disconnected on the receiver’s side. The receiver had to manually disconnect the call.

Nonetheless, the support HipChat provides looks solid, if its help center is to be taken at face value. The Help center even has a Suggestion and Ideas section which the team acknowledges and actively responds to.


Final Word


HipChat is a fun, simple, cleancut app to use and its wide range of support on popular desktop and mobile platforms make it a great addition to any organization, including those that operate remotely. The use of @mention, and the plentiful notifications via email, in-app, desktop and even via sms, does its part in trying to keep remote teams continuously updated and connected.



HipChat Keeps Your Team Connected Across Multiple Platforms

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Useful Tools and Platforms for Creating Websites



If you find yourself thinking that your web design business is going too slow, then ask yourself how to manage your time better andsign more clients. Are you taking too long to build websites?


That depends on what it is you have to do on each project, in order to please your clients. They most likely want their websites to be responsive and to look trendy. Do you have to find web hosting, as well? Connect e-mail listing? Come back a few months later to add a blog?


There’s no need to bring in left-brained people, or invest a lot of your precious energy into manual coding. You are much better served by focusing on what you do best. And that is creative website design. Get a good WordPress plugin, CMS, or website building platform to ace all projects in a flash, and on your own terms.


Webydo



As a professional designer, you enjoy the design side a lot more than the development side of the equation. Webydo allows you to focus on what is most important to you, the creative aspect of website building.


Have you ever worked with an advanced web design platform that was made specifically for designers to build and manage websites for their clients? Give shape to websites in your browser with Webydo. Start from scratch with a blank web canvas, or use with a pre-set template or layout. Then it’s up to you and Webydo’s studio to create a beatuiful, responsive website for your clients.


Webydo also provides you with cloud-hosting and advanced features like a built-in CMS and the ability to bill clients from your dashboard.


Visual Composer



Do you think of web design as a hobby or as a business? It should be both. It should provide you with an income, as well as give you the pure joy to create something beautiful out of nothing. If you’re not visually-oriented, and you don’t take any pleasure in crafting unique designs, there are other ways to pay the rent.


Making websites with WordPress has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, when you create complex layouts, the classic editor is a pain in the neck. Visual Composer, on the other hand, is not. Save time and brain power by going from hours to minutes with a drag-and-drop function to build your page. Bottom line is that web designers are visual creatures by nature, and we like to work with visual-oriented tools.


Qards



If you have some level of programming knowledge, then you’re probably brandishing it with every chance that you get. And that’s OK, but it will cost you a lot of time when you’re working on a project. In the absence of development skills, you adapt. Next time you get started on a WordPress project, consider tile or card design. You can end up with a gorgeous website in minutes. Just use Qards.


Do you know how simple it is to add bits of content on cards, and use an in-line editor to modify them? Add text, images, media files, and when you’re done, lay your cards out to form the appearance that you want for your website. Designmodo gave us a code-free page building plugin that works with every installed theme.


Sidengo



Get out of your comfort zone. Take active steps to broaden your horizons this year, and find new ways to create websites. You can read as many blog posts as you can, but unless you actually apply the tips you read, you don’t move forward. See how it feels to work with a simple website builder like Sidengo.


Im Creator



If you want to get more work done this year, website builders give you all the shortcuts that you need. And you need shortcuts. The smoother the process, the better the results. You keep your existing clients happy, and you go looking for more (or you accept other projects from those who seekyou out). Im Creator cuts corners really well. Test it out, and see what it’s like to create a site from ground up, or base your website on a template for your client’s line of business.


Macaw



Not all time-effective solutions for website building are tied to the browser. And not all of them take some time to get used to before you can actually start working. Download Macaw, and you have a familiar environment to create websites. It’s familiar, because it takes after Photoshop. You don’t have to watch any tutorials, and you can store elements in a library to use in the next projects.


Themify Builder



You can also go the route of geometric design to strike up a page very quickly. If your goal is to make a WordPress website, then Themify Builder is a helpful tool. Grab it for your theme, whatever that happens to be, or just get one signed by Themify. Then, it’s part of the package. Proceed to adding modules on your page. It’s a piece of cake. As we mentioned before, the new generation of page builders is shooting holes in the classic WordPress editor.


MotoPress Editor



Do you know what else is great about sparkly new tools for WordPress? That they help you assess your work in progress. Shorten the amount of time you spend to size everything up and understand the impact of your each and every move on the overall design. Use a content editor like MotoPress, and get a live preview window for the work you’re doing. Besides, you set up video or parallax backgrounds in a split second.


AllYou.net



Market yourself well. Saving time during projects and using it to increase your client base is one thing. Convincing potential clients to convert into clients and then repeat clients is another. Strong partnerships are built in time. Let people know you have what it takes to make their websites come to life. Build your creative portfolio with AllYou. Fish out past works that got the most applause, and let them take center-stage. This is your first step to draw in more clients.


Zoho



Website builders don’t limit your options so you can finish faster. On the contrary, they give you the means to get creative. Take the Zoho Builder, for instance. You can build page versions to your heart’s content. Construct as many as you wish, let your client choose which one to publish, and the others are copyrighted to you. Keep them for other projects. Save time in the long run.


Surreal CMS



When clients come back asking for redesigns, that’s fine. It’s great, actually. However, when they nag you to handle something as simple as content updates, then it’s bothersome. You could be using all that time to build more websites. Just introduce your clients to Surreal CMS, and let them edit some areas of content on their own. Track changes from time to time, and undo potential blunders.


Moonfruit



Get behind website builders that have been confirmed by many of your peers. You want to make sure that you’re working with a reliable platform, after all. Don’t take your business to a builder whose customer support takes more than 24h to answer. For you, every minute counts. Moonfruit is a popular website builder, and it has a responsive customer service.


Onepagerapp



One-page websites are so easy to create. Try to fit more projects like this in your schedule. They’re also trending, especially for start-up clients. Explain the usability benefits of one-pagers to your clients (like the fact that they look and navigate really well on mobile devices). If they’re interested, enlist Onepagerapp and start working.


Webs



Speaking of start-ups, there are some website builders you can use specifically for this type of clients. Think about their needs. Think about your needs, for that matter, if you’re a budding freelancer. It’s crucial for small businesses to see how users engage with their websites. Reach out for a simple platform like Webs, with advanced analytics.


Website



Think about it this way: the more features you find in one place, the less time you spend combing the markets for other assets you may need. Move forward with Website. You get a platform that is both easy to use, and equipped with a sizable collection of 1K stock photos.


Conclusion


So, can you tweak your working habits to become a better web designer? As long as you have a good tool or platform in your corner, you create splendid websites faster – and so have the time to work with other clients. Use these designer shortcuts to get more productive, and then reap the financial benefits.




The post Useful Tools and Platforms for Creating Websites appeared first on Speckyboy Web Design Magazine.



Useful Tools and Platforms for Creating Websites

Saturday, February 7, 2015

15 Prime Tools and Platforms for Creating Websites This Year

When you take on web design projects, do you think twice about the tools that help you build websites for your clients? In 2015, freedom looks like a lot of choices. Regardless of your personal working habits, it’s always in your best interest to secure the most useful platforms and tools on the market.


To help you with this, we have rounded up several cloud-based website builders and page-building plugins for WordPress. Have a look at the list below and decide which of them is most likely to suit your needs.


More on Hongkiat.com:


Webydo


Looking to build and manage code-free, pixel-perfect responsive websites for your clients or yourself? Join Webydo to start designing on the cloud-based studio from scratch or with a template or preset layout. Its parallax srolling animater will also allow you to add captivating motion paths to elements to help visually captivate your audience. Joining Webydo, you will be come part of an active community of 125,000 freelance designers, agencies and studios.



Visual Composer


If you have come across Visual Composer on many premium themes, it’s probably because at only a piece, Visual Composer can truly revolutionize the WordPress editor. No more constructing sophisticated layouts via shortcodes, just drag and drop any of the 40 or more elements where you want them to go straight from the frontend, and publish your site.



Qards


So your site is done but your client isn’t happy and is itching for a redesign. If you are thinking about quitting on your current theme, hold your horses. Ever heard of tile or card design? Designmodo has a page-building plugin that is based on the concept where you just slide cards in place, tweak your content with a simple in-line editor and keep on rocking your design. Best of all, it works for you even if you aren’t a fan of codes.



Pikock


Want to be able to choose from over 100 switchable themes when creating your websites? As a last-minute solution, you might find ready-to-start templates very attractive. Use Pikock, and again you won’t have to touch a single line of code. You can even create a one-page website for less than . There is no harm in trying the 30-day free trial before signing up.



Voog


Do you know that guilty feeling when you’re scouting for some gorgeous templates to jump-start your creative process? We’ve all been there, though not everyone cares to admit it. Voog, or formerly known as Edicy, has all the inspiration that you need. And you can save up to 28% with an upfront year-long payment.



IM Creator


While we’re on the subject of stunning templates and incredible ease of use, one of our favorite website builders is IM Creator. It has a stash of nice-looking templates that are organized by category. This doesn’t mean that you can’t work on a blank canvas if you already have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish. The browser-based studio is very straightforward. You can even test it out without signing up first before deciding.



All You


2015 may be the year when you create an amazing design portfolio for yourself. I’m not saying that your professional experience isn’t already impressive, but this year you should showcase it using a brand-wise builder for creatives. Seek out the platform All You, which rounds up more than 1000 optimized web fonts for your convenience. You’ll have a delightful and cross-device responsive portfolio website up in no time.



Jimdo


If you ever find yourself looking for highly approachable website builders, this year’s list continues with Jimdo. What we like most about Jimdo is the fact that it allows users to edit websites on the go. That’s because free apps for iOS and Android are part of the package. Add photos, text, galleries and even track site statistics via the mobile apps.



Themify Builder


Let’s veer back towards the world’s most popular CMS for a moment. When you base websites on WordPress, you definitely want to use a comfortable page builder. One such builder is native to all Themify themes, and yet it’s also up for sale as a standalone plugin: Themify Builder. Use it with confidence if you fancy the module system for piecing a web a page together or changing it just as easily.



MotoPress Editor


Looking for live preview editing? It’s no surprise that that feature is an industry standard now. With MotoPress, you get full view of your work during the editing process, long before it hits the site for your end users to see. With this plugin, you can throw in your shortcodes freely in the mix. It’s also child’s play to add videos and parallax scrolling backgrounds in with MotoPress Editor.



Microweber


Perhaps you’re interested in creating websites with a CMS other than WordPress. While there are plenty of alternatives out there, you should also look into Microweber. It’s fun to work with, and particularly suitable for eCommerce sites. Plus, you can also use Microweber to set up beautiful blog sites in a snap.



Macaw


The future belongs to website building platforms that inherit the same functionalities as our favorite image editor, Photoshop. Macaw is available on this premise. It never fails to provide clean code to support your website designs. Plus, it allows you to store elements in your library and reuse them on any page.



LightCMS


Speaking of alternatives to WordPress, wouldn’t you like to do away with the dashboard, and manage your website content directly? If your answer is yes, then move forward with LightCMS. You’d be one more voice in the crowd of 275,000 users. Resellers also get 80% off the Unlimited Plan.



Yola


Nowadays, most ads are being ignored by end users. We’re all accustomed to flashing ads, and automatically discarding them. The name for this pervasive effect is "banner blindness". Unlike other website builders, Yola helps you build client websites that won’t suffer third-party advertisements. From a usability standpoint, this feature may be just the thing you are looking for.



ZOOM Builder


Here’s a handy layout builder for WordPress websites. ZOOM Builder is essentially wired to function with any existing theme. You might also appreciate its compatibility with native WordPress widgets, as well as theme-specific widgets and plugins. Craft a page layout from scratch, or take your pick from 10 pre-set options.



Editor’s note: This post is written by Kate Daglifor Hongkiat.com. Kate enjoys writing roundups for web dev and technology websites. She is currently a staff member of the-webdesigner.co.



15 Prime Tools and Platforms for Creating Websites This Year

Friday, February 6, 2015

15 Prime Tools and Platforms for Creating Websites This Year

When you take on web design projects, do you think twice about the tools that help you build websites for your clients? In 2015, freedom looks like a lot of choices. Regardless of your personal working habits, it’s always in your best interest to secure the most useful platforms and tools on the market.


To help you with this, we have rounded up several cloud-based website builders and page-building plugins for WordPress. Have a look at the list below and decide which of them is most likely to suit your needs.


More on Hongkiat.com:


Webydo


Looking to build and manage code-free, pixel-perfect responsive websites for your clients or yourself? Join Webydo to start designing on the cloud-based studio from scratch or with a template or preset layout. Its parallax srolling animater will also allow you to add captivating motion paths to elements to help visually captivate your audience. Joining Webydo, you will be come part of an active community of 125,000 freelance designers, agencies and studios.



Visual Composer


If you have come across Visual Composer on many premium themes, it’s probably because at only a piece, Visual Composer can truly revolutionize the WordPress editor. No more constructing sophisticated layouts via shortcodes, just drag and drop any of the 40 or more elements where you want them to go straight from the frontend, and publish your site.



Qards


So your site is done but your client isn’t happy and is itching for a redesign. If you are thinking about quitting on your current theme, hold your horses. Ever heard of tile or card design? Designmodo has a page-building plugin that is based on the concept where you just slide cards in place, tweak your content with a simple in-line editor and keep on rocking your design. Best of all, it works for you even if you aren’t a fan of codes.



Pikock


Want to be able to choose from over 100 switchable themes when creating your websites? As a last-minute solution, you might find ready-to-start templates very attractive. Use Pikock, and again you won’t have to touch a single line of code. You can even create a one-page website for less than . There is no harm in trying the 30-day free trial before signing up.



Voog


Do you know that guilty feeling when you’re scouting for some gorgeous templates to jump-start your creative process? We’ve all been there, though not everyone cares to admit it. Voog, or formerly known as Edicy, has all the inspiration that you need. And you can save up to 28% with an upfront year-long payment.



IM Creator


While we’re on the subject of stunning templates and incredible ease of use, one of our favorite website builders is IM Creator. It has a stash of nice-looking templates that are organized by category. This doesn’t mean that you can’t work on a blank canvas if you already have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish. The browser-based studio is very straightforward. You can even test it out without signing up first before deciding.



All You


2015 may be the year when you create an amazing design portfolio for yourself. I’m not saying that your professional experience isn’t already impressive, but this year you should showcase it using a brand-wise builder for creatives. Seek out the platform All You, which rounds up more than 1000 optimized web fonts for your convenience. You’ll have a delightful and cross-device responsive portfolio website up in no time.



Jimdo


If you ever find yourself looking for highly approachable website builders, this year’s list continues with Jimdo. What we like most about Jimdo is the fact that it allows users to edit websites on the go. That’s because free apps for iOS and Android are part of the package. Add photos, text, galleries and even track site statistics via the mobile apps.



Themify Builder


Let’s veer back towards the world’s most popular CMS for a moment. When you base websites on WordPress, you definitely want to use a comfortable page builder. One such builder is native to all Themify themes, and yet it’s also up for sale as a standalone plugin: Themify Builder. Use it with confidence if you fancy the module system for piecing a web a page together or changing it just as easily.



MotoPress Editor


Looking for live preview editing? It’s no surprise that that feature is an industry standard now. With MotoPress, you get full view of your work during the editing process, long before it hits the site for your end users to see. With this plugin, you can throw in your shortcodes freely in the mix. It’s also child’s play to add videos and parallax scrolling backgrounds in with MotoPress Editor.



Microweber


Perhaps you’re interested in creating websites with a CMS other than WordPress. While there are plenty of alternatives out there, you should also look into Microweber. It’s fun to work with, and particularly suitable for eCommerce sites. Plus, you can also use Microweber to set up beautiful blog sites in a snap.



Macaw


The future belongs to website building platforms that inherit the same functionalities as our favorite image editor, Photoshop. Macaw is available on this premise. It never fails to provide clean code to support your website designs. Plus, it allows you to store elements in your library and reuse them on any page.



LightCMS


Speaking of alternatives to WordPress, wouldn’t you like to do away with the dashboard, and manage your website content directly? If your answer is yes, then move forward with LightCMS. You’d be one more voice in the crowd of 275,000 users. Resellers also get 80% off the Unlimited Plan.



Yola


Nowadays, most ads are being ignored by end users. We’re all accustomed to flashing ads, and automatically discarding them. The name for this pervasive effect is "banner blindness". Unlike other website builders, Yola helps you build client websites that won’t suffer third-party advertisements. From a usability standpoint, this feature may be just the thing you are looking for.



ZOOM Builder


Here’s a handy layout builder for WordPress websites. ZOOM Builder is essentially wired to function with any existing theme. You might also appreciate its compatibility with native WordPress widgets, as well as theme-specific widgets and plugins. Craft a page layout from scratch, or take your pick from 10 pre-set options.



Editor’s note: This post is written by Kate Daglifor Hongkiat.com. Kate enjoys writing roundups for web dev and technology websites. She is currently a staff member of the-webdesigner.co.











15 Prime Tools and Platforms for Creating Websites This Year