Technical Happenings

Why are Web Applications Superior to their Desktop counterparts?

I recently needed to convince a client not to build an application in Excel and deploy throughout Europe on CD. To do this i provided the following list of advantages of web applications.

No need for an install or to ship updates

The application lives in the cloud and is centrally managed, when you launch the application you will always have the latest version. This leads to a single point for updates and fixes with the user receiving the updated version the next time they use the application. You remove any chance of legacy applications being used

No admin rights or approval required

There is no software install, which means that as long as the user can access the site they can use the application. There is no need for a network administrator to approve the installation.

Anytime, Anyplace, no distribution network

You don’t have to be on your office computer to access the application, you can use it from any computer with an Internet connection. Which also means you can distribute globally for zero cost.

Build Once, Run Anywhere (Platform independent)

The browser becomes the platform and developing for that allows users of any underlying operating systems (Mac, Linux, Windows) to access the application.

More Robust and Faster to fix

Developing for one platform reduces the risk of environmental bugs. Also even when a bug does get found it can quickly be rectified and deployed to all users see (No need to install of to ship updates). Makes maintenance and support simpler.

Enables social functionality

The world is becoming more social and people want to collaborate and work online together, having a web application allows you to add this functionality.

Lower cost of deployment

No boxes, printed manual, expensive shipping costs, CD’s, distribution channels,etc.

Usable from inexpensive computers

If your user base has a variety of hardware of differing specification then a web application is for you. The browser is very lightweight in computing power terms and your application will run just as well on a Net-book.

Piracy-proof

can’t be cloned in a DVD Writer.

Instant payment, no need to invoice

If you are charging for you application payments are simple, they can be collected through the application so as long as the customer pays, the account is active

No Viruses

No installation, means no viruses.

Simpler mobile deployment

If you decide you require a mobile version you get a high degree of application re-use; re-purpose key functionality via an alternate interface i.e mobile.

Widest potential audience

For all the points above, this basically unlocks markets for software vendors that previously were inaccessible due to technical reasons.

Make use of a users existing knowledge

It’s safe to assume that nearly everyone is familiar with a web-browser and your application can be designed to take advantage of this knowledge i,e forward, back buttons and bookmarking.

Qu-s desktop notes

Qu-s is a simple desktop organistation tool which allows you to keeps what you need at your finger tips but out of your way!

It has some great features usually reserved for word processing applications which allow you to bring better  bring organization to your ideas and your notes.

Features include:

• bullet, check boxes and numbered lists.
• File and internet links with previews.
• A built in browser with capability of zooming web pages.
• An automated system for storing and clearing completed tasks.
• Multiple ways of organizing and displaying information.
• Export content to use with other applications.

I use Qu-s as a Getting Things Done (GTD) tool, as i find it allows me to better organise my tasks than some of the tailored packages you can buy in this area, such as Things.

iLife 09, IPhoto Review

I have had iLife 09 for 5 days.  I’ve been using IPhoto and the new features are well integrated and the faces technology is very impressive.  I started testing by uploading to  flickr, facebook and the mobileme gallery, all worked first time and the process was (as you would expect) very simple.   I had downloaded the 3rd party add-ons to Aperture, which do the same processes, but these were just not as slick.  I then wanted to test faces, but needed to leave my computer on overnight to process my pictures (12,000).  You then just select a picture and name a person.  Even without any learning the faces algorithm does a great job, but its real power comes when you train it a little; it displays a selection of faces, that it thinks match and you just click to say correct or incorrect.  Once i had it trained it displays 100’s of photos it thinks the face is in and on the whole it is correct.  Its a great way to see your pictures, but, also makes you feel a bit old when you pictures go back years.  I’m sure an aging timeline could be easily integrated.