Advice, plugging, weirdos
10 August 2007, 8:36 pm. View comments. Filed under Internet, Rants, Web-related.
I've been tracking my site's visitor data, and I've come up with the top five screen resolutions: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1280x800, 1152x864 and 800x600.
Now if I was going to provide desktop wallpapers, what sizes should I offer? All of them? That's a massive download list. I also thought of zipping all sizes up in a single *.zip file but I also know there should be a number of people out there like me who prefer loading the wallpaper in the browser and clicking "Set as Desktop Background..." So now what?
Another question: Do you use WordPress to run your site? Or another CMS? Do you prefer the whole manual updating work or coding your own CMS?
As for the plugging today, Veve has a new layout for DigiCreation. I've waited for her to upload the new design for so long and I'm loving the whole new format.
Also, if you like filling in surveys and the like, you might like to do this Psychology Survey thing for Belinda and be in to win a US$30 Amazon gift certificate (yeah, that's the best part).
I now drift away from all that nice general web-related talk and proceed onto my Internet weirdos rant. Have you ever come across stalker-like weirdos on the Internet trying to hook you up on random sites? For example, I joined Zedge for cellphone resources and StumbleUpon to surf sites, and I get very, very weird guys bugging me. The latest weirdo sent several messages. Warning: following material is strongly disturbing:
... do you know anybody who want to marry me?
dear i dont have any girl friend, will you marry me?
seriously what you think? if you are staying over here then i give you a merry kiss.
Thats i am doing will you merry me? i love you my sweety
There. I deleted my profile photo so at least now I seem like I'm so ugly I'm ashamed of putting my photo on a public profile. This friend cracked up so much over these messages and another friend said he probably just wanted New Zealand residence. (How offensive. I'm still yet to punch this guy.)
On the other hand, I've encountered less buggy weirdos on friends-making websites like Bebo and Facebook. Seriously though, I have too many web profiles. They're all over the place and I sign up because people send invites to me. MySpace really kills my eyes but sadly, I still have a profile there.
35 Comments »
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For wallpaper sizes, my friend and I decided that these would be the best for our upcoming site: 1024x768 [4:3], 1280×1024 [5:3], and 1280×800 [16:10]. Just like Amanda said =) I know that it's better to include all three because I think almost all new laptops have the 16:10 ratio, many people still use the 4:3, and newer monitors are coming in 5:4.
I use Wordpress for my blog, but if it wasn't just a blog, I would definitely just write my own from a tutorial. I managed to use DDG's blog tutorial for my past websites and it worked just fine. If you really take time, you can make it look as good as Wordpress minus the admin panel. I didn't take time to do that... not that experienced in PHP xD
Luckily, I don't get any internet weirdos simply because I'm a guy o.O But yeah, that sounds so creepy. I have a facebook also, and the way it's set up is made for not running into those weirdos. -
Tell them you're secretly a transvestite. Then put up a photo of a really scary cosplayer who could easily be a man or a woman.
That should solve the problem. -
Thanks for linking to the survey! You've been plugged back on my entries.
I use 1280x1024. I would say 800x600, 1024x768 and 1280x1024 would be the ones you should have. I've seen many wallpapers out there only available in 1280x960 and smaller and that's annoying to people with my resolution because there's not enough on the top and bottom if the wallpaper is centered. However at my size, at least you can just crop off the extra bits at 1280x960.
I use wordpress! I don't know php well enough to write my own CMS, though I do entertain the idea of trying every once in a while.
Eep, sorry to hear that you've been harassed by internet people. Best to just ignore them. -
I third 1024x768, 1280x800 and 1280x1024 — I think those ratios would cover most people.
I use Wordpress. I don't really see the point of coding your own unless you just want the practice (and the bragging rights
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I would say 1024*768 and 800*600, if you have the resource and time, do 1280*1024.
I think wordpress is better for spam prevention and such, but I prefer to coding my own, just because Wordpress has so many options that I'll never need. -
Wallpaper: I would go with 1024x768 & 1280x1024 Because at those two sizes they look ok in the other sizes.
WordPress: I use WP, though I would rather be able to code my own CMS. I am unable to.
Surveys: I enjoy filling them out, but I hate the emails that I usually receive from filling them out, lol.
Internet Weirdos: That is exactly why I am not part of sites like Facebook, MySpace, etc. All my friends know not to send me invites to those sites. I just tend to stalk my friends like you, hee hee. -
I currently use Wordpress as a CMS because like Julianne, I don't see a point of coding your own CMS unless you want bragging rights, or if you're a l33t PHP Ninja like Jem.
I've had my fair share of 'internet weirdos' as well. I started playing Maple Story (yes, childish, I know) a few weeks ago and the first time I logged on, I was ambushed by an internet weirdo who wanted to get married. I guess it's partially Wizet's fault for implementing a feature that allows users to get married.
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My desktop has resolution 1280x1024. My laptop is 1280x800. Monitors are becoming cheaper. I'd ditch providing for 800x600 in a year or so. I would provide for 6:4 ratio. It's better than the top and bottom chop off than to have the top and bottom empty. (Or I'm totally misinterpreting how computers stretch wallpapers.)
Thanks for the plug! I was wondering how people found out about it so fast when I haven't plugged it myself and the site has been dead for months.
I use Wordpress over at Sensorial'Org because it provides so much functionality that would take my eons to code myself. I'm entertaining the thought of writing a CMS for DigiCreation, but there will be so many things I need to tackle like security, file overwriting/creation, image uploading, HTML formatting... And even before that, I'd have to familiarize myself with objects and classes in PHP. I want to self-satisfaction but it's such a pain. But it's up there on my "Things to do Before I Die", haha.
Sorry to hear about the freaks you're stumbling upon. The only weird people I've come across are on Facebook. People still have this fascination with A/S/L. -
Veve @ I'm not sure if there is a 6:4 ratio... I may be wrong, though. Here's a list of common ratios: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_resolutions
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I absolutely love the colours you used for this layout
as for desktops, hmm.. I think the bigger res's are more common. -
I use WordPress because I find it less annoying than CuteNews (oh the good old days). I guess I would write my own CMS for practice and full-on control of everything. But that wouldn't happen for another decade, lol.
And those messages are uber-creepy. Most of the times, I use stock images or... anime pictures for profile pictures because they're so much fun-ner to stare at. And they ward off creepy beings like that.
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Thanks for the suggestions for screen resolutions!
Also, I don't see why you guys think WordPress makes life easier? I have trouble creating themes for it that I decided to give up and code my own CMS. But I'm a noob when it comes to PHP security measures so oh well, I'll tackle those when I get attacked.
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Looks like I'm behind everyone else, I still used 1024x768 and most of the screen at school are this size. But screen resolution's the problem with wallpapers
Anyway, you know that I use Wordpress. It's stable and unlike CuteNews, blocks out all the spam that comes my way.
lol, I'm looking at your profile picture on the sidebar and thinking: well, that's one pretty, mature, thoughtful person, isn't it? -
I think you should offer 1024x768 and 800x600..only because i've seen other sites offer those two lol.
I used to use wordpress and then just gave up and stick to php haaha.
Wow there are some pretty crazy, desperate people these days. I love facebook because you get too pick who's able to see your profile
Great site btw
take care xoxox -
1024 x 768. I think more people have this resolution. Just a hunch!
I use wordpress. I can't code so I have no choice.
Oh God, weirdos. I once conducted an experiment at lovehappens.com. I created a profile and put up my picture. I get tons of marriage proposals every day. lol It was so funny! Most teenage guy are from Turkey, Pakistan, while those 50 and above are from USA and India. See the pattern here? lol -
For wallpaper sizes, I think some of the common ones are proportional. IE 1024x768 and 800x600. So you can just make the wallpaper for the largest of the proportion group, and then resize for smaller.
I do use Wordpress, it works wonderfully. I don't get why many people hat it all of a sudden.
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@Jessica: It's always been 1024x768 and 800x600. But if we never move away from the trend who's there to recognise that there are more people using larger screen resolutions now?
@Skye: Lol yes I saw the pattern too. Exactly what I had gotten.
@Belinda: I haven't noticed any WordPress-hate trends actually. I just decided not to use it because changing themes on it drives me nuts and I don't know how to use it to build my pages. -
When having downloadable wallpaper on websites, a lot of people just have 1024x768 and 800x600. My advise would be to ask a bunch of people what screen resolution they have and just put up the most used sizes. As for the whole downloading thing, just use thumbnails that you click and then the bigger image pops up and then you right click. It's easier, I think. But downloading's easy, too. Whatever uses less bandwidth, then? ;)
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Do 1280x800 because it's my screen resolution
I'd prefer to make my own CMS but I use WordPress because mine's not superbly what I completely need so far, so yeah.
Veve's design is lovely Green and yellow blended in nicely with the bamboo -
Oh wow. I thankfully do not get weirdos. Perhaps I'm immune, make friends with them, don't think they're weirdos? I don't know, but for this, I am thankful. Hah. When it comes to desktops, I think you should have a nice-sized thumbnail with all of the sized listed underneath, so the visitor can choose which resolution they want to download.
I use Wordpress, most people use it, I think, or that's what I have seen in my experiences. I love it, except for when it decides it doesn't like the way I coded something and just changes it for no, real apparent reason. Damn self-righteous CMS. -
When I offered wallpapers, I used to make 1280x800 (my resolution) and 1024x768. That last one is proportional to 800x600 and even smaller sizes, so people who have smaller monitors get a non distorted image if they use it, or an easily resizeable one
I'm not sure if 1280 is proportional to other widescreen resolutions though.
I use wordpress for my blog, since it was released. I used b2 before WP. I'm a fan, like that At first it was a mess to make the pages, but now that I figured themes out, I can easily do wp magic, hehe.
And uuugh... that message from the weirdo is disturbing. I only get that type of things from myspace -
I use WordPress. I've been using WordPress for about... five years?
Hmm. I think I'll give that survey a try. I don't have much to do anyway and there's that $30 Amazon gift certificate (although I doubt I'd win).
I've started to steer clear of social networking sites. The profiles that I have are on private, and aren't updated much. =| -
Ahhh I guess I'm the small minority w/ a widescreen 1280x768 resolution...but I think Akash had the right idea; I was pulling out my calculator and doing ratios before I realized he already had. =]
And as much as I would like to code my CMS, I'm too lazy and I'd have to learn all the security measure and such, like you do. So I just use Wordpress for blogging and phpMyAdmin/hard-coding for the other stuff...but if you're up for making your own CMS, good luck!
I don't join that many web network things (just Facebook, and ugh...MySpace...and back in the day I had a Xanga) so luckily, I don't get such weird requests. -
I think you should offer the largest resolution so that people can resize it if they have to. If you offer the tiny sizes like 800x600, people with 1280x1024 (like me) will have a heck of a hard time getting it to a suitable size and quality.
I use Wordpress =P
Oh, online weirdos. The WORST ones are those who play MMORPGs like Ragnarok Online. Once I met this seemingly nice guy who claimed to look like Orlando Bloom (whom I don't even like) started to follow me everywhere and saying things like "*kisses you softly*" and "*picks you up and carries you*". I'm like, *barfs*. Once, after an intense War of Emperium, I was sitting there healing when he said, "*licks your wounds*" and I very insensitively replied, "Uh, it's okay, I've got potions." When I had finally had enough of him, I complained to my guild leader, who replied, "Want me to make him cry?" lol.
And that guy wasn't even the worst. At least he kept his language rated PG. I met a LOT of guys who come up asking for sexual favours, or to marry me, or other disturbing things. And they don't bother keeping their language clean, either. Shudder. -
I choose to use Wordpress for my blog, and manage my other content (which is at the moment not up) manually. It's not necessarily as convenient, but it does allow me to have the greatest amount of flexibility when I design.
As for the creepies? You think that's bad? At least it just reeks desperation. I don't know if I can say the same for this guy: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1253/855746182_890ce467f7_o.gif -
If I were to make wallpapers for people, I'd personally make them in all the sizes... but then again, I have craploads of (unused) space and bandwidth O_o. And yes, I use WP.
Re comment on my blog: yeah, you guessed the right school... although I lived in south auckland for most of my life and on my macleans file my form for out of zone acceptance said "I decline". XD which school did you go to? -
Wallpaper resolution? LOL. That's such a hard thing to decide with so many different sizes. Either way, I wouldn't make one for all sizes, maybe just one for different proportions (or is that the same thing? I'll need to look into this). I would second Skye's 1024x768 just because it's big enough to shrink and (I think) statistically popular.
As for zipping them? I certainly wouldn't. The extra steps kill my mood...not to mention the time-limit I have to surf online...
LOL. I've abandoned a email address due to freaky "notifications" from one site or another...
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Re: whoo, what a coincidence! Yeah, i was reading your page before and you're only a year and a half older than me, so i was all "woaaah, she got put up a year", lol. Urhm, I'm in Hillary, which is great and crap all at the same time cos it gets soooo crowded.
What's first year law at UoA like? I'm probably going to do a conjoint with BA, but it'll be hard work? :S -
Ahh, I see. But woah, how good did your grades have to be for you to skip a year?
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Having a whole zip file for each WOULD be annoying. One, it'd be a big file. Two, I like being able to right-click/save-as.
I use WP for my updates but my own coding (almost CMS but not quite there yet) for everything else. I'm planning on making a CMS and integrating the updates into it as well but not there yet. Need to read more on login scripts, security, etc. -
[Despair]
I'm always amazed when I look at your layout... it's awesome, none that i have ever seen before.
I personally use wordpress because I love it and I'm able to do a lot of different layouts.
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For the desktop wallpaper problem—I'd just make them all 1024x768. Most computers should have a function to shrink or stretch based on the size..
And yes, I use WordPress to run my site.
Works rather well, too, might i add :] -
Personally, I would lean toward the higher screen resolutions since they are on the rise, at least according to this article I was Googling when I was considering the size of my layout. I haven't come across 800 x 600px browsers as often as the default 1028px by 764px set on the computer. Actually, I am indeed one of those using the highest resolution possible (1280px by 1024px baby!). Aim for the higher resolutions ;)
I personally use Wordpress, but I too have heard of others. Makes managing become an ease.
I made an account at StumbleUpon (Firefox add-ons referred me) and was afraid of posting my picture. Who knows how many predators are on the prow for innocent members... locally! This just calls to be wary. The marrying incident sounds like a guy too desperate to try online dating?
I've been meaning to set up accounts at Bebo and Facebook, but sadly, Myspace is taking over America and it's almost a rarity to see someone have a Bebo OR Facebook where I live =/ *sigh* I'm chained to Myspace like a starving puppy at a post. -
OMG I LOVE YOU CHERYL ME LOVE YOU LONG TIME HOW WE HOOK UP NICE VERY GOOD?
ahahhaha sorry man I have my own share of weirdos on facebook and games. You just gotta live with it, there are desperate morons out there who just need sex to live. But, do try to minimize your online profile. There are some crazy ass stalkers out there...(if you really wanna know msn me) haha.
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1280x800 (for the simple fact that that's what I use).
I'd go with 1024x768, 1280x800 and 1280x1024...I think the ratio of these three sizes resize to almost all other resolutions.
I use WordPress because I blog very regularly, but I used to hand-code everything when I just had a static site. If I didn't blog...I'd still be hand-coding. (And there's no way I'd ever be 1337 enough to write my own system.)
And yay for Facebook! I think I'm officially addicted.