http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/feeds/rss/comments/135 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:56:13 +0000 Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1909 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1909 www.campaignmonitor.com which shows examples of just how far Microsoft have taken us back. Progress? Microsoft apparently doesn’t want it.]]> www.campaignmonitor.com which shows examples of just how far Microsoft have taken us back. Progress? Microsoft apparently doesn’t want it.]]> Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:32:30 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1910 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1910 Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:35:55 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1911 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1911
Why not take my color vision away?
Vision should be black and white! Consarnit!]]>
Why not take my color vision away?
Vision should be black and white! Consarnit!]]> Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:48:25 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1912 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1912
“I like text, html email just means fluff for the sake of fluff.” ]]>
“I like text, html email just means fluff for the sake of fluff.” ]]> Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:34:56 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1913 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1913
Don’t get me wrong, I like building templates, for web pages and newsletters alike, but both hotmail/windows live and outlook going down, together with gmail’s hmmdidIsaycrap engine (and the other big corporate pile of doodoo, Lotus Notes)... I thought we’re all pretty much grown out of the age of building and rebuilding html for one client at a time?]]>
Don’t get me wrong, I like building templates, for web pages and newsletters alike, but both hotmail/windows live and outlook going down, together with gmail’s hmmdidIsaycrap engine (and the other big corporate pile of doodoo, Lotus Notes)... I thought we’re all pretty much grown out of the age of building and rebuilding html for one client at a time?]]> Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:35:59 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1914 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1914 Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:38:05 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1917 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1917
Both mediums have evolved to meet our needs and desires to present information with graphical presentation. Don’t you think it’s ironic that you, the owner of a web site called “Content with Style,” should object to being able to deliver your e-mail content “with style”? ;-)

Of course, there are plenty of people who abuse the HTML capabilities of e-mail, just like those who abuse animated GIFs and JavaScript on web pages. But as any graphic designer can tell you, the presentation is often the most important factor in the effectiveness of your content.

It’s much easier to read a nicely formatted HTML e-mail with headings, bulleted lists, bold text, and colors, etc. than a text e-mail limited to using strange ASCII characters to indicate formatting.]]>
Both mediums have evolved to meet our needs and desires to present information with graphical presentation. Don’t you think it’s ironic that you, the owner of a web site called “Content with Style,” should object to being able to deliver your e-mail content “with style”? ;-)

Of course, there are plenty of people who abuse the HTML capabilities of e-mail, just like those who abuse animated GIFs and JavaScript on web pages. But as any graphic designer can tell you, the presentation is often the most important factor in the effectiveness of your content.

It’s much easier to read a nicely formatted HTML e-mail with headings, bulleted lists, bold text, and colors, etc. than a text e-mail limited to using strange ASCII characters to indicate formatting.]]> Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:12:53 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1920 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1920 In my mind that’s relating to what accessibility and standards are about, and the reason why XML based formats like SVG are more accessible than SWF for example is because of their text-based nature.

However, my personal opinion (an I repeat, this is my VERY personal opinion) is that there is just no increase in information submitted in HTML emails that justify the increase of data.

Another issue I see is that HTML formatted emails allow spammers to hide things in the email that allow them to gather data (images with query string for example) or disguise links for applying phishing techniques, and while you have more control over which websites you browse you cannot really control
the emails you get.

However, this is just my opinion and maybe I am a grumpy german straight out of the way back machine. I always turn HTML off in all email clients I install and I avoid sending HTML emails to anyone.

BTW: My understanding of “with Style” always has been that it means primarily good coding and markup style, not good looks ;)]]> In my mind that’s relating to what accessibility and standards are about, and the reason why XML based formats like SVG are more accessible than SWF for example is because of their text-based nature.

However, my personal opinion (an I repeat, this is my VERY personal opinion) is that there is just no increase in information submitted in HTML emails that justify the increase of data.

Another issue I see is that HTML formatted emails allow spammers to hide things in the email that allow them to gather data (images with query string for example) or disguise links for applying phishing techniques, and while you have more control over which websites you browse you cannot really control
the emails you get.

However, this is just my opinion and maybe I am a grumpy german straight out of the way back machine. I always turn HTML off in all email clients I install and I avoid sending HTML emails to anyone.

BTW: My understanding of “with Style” always has been that it means primarily good coding and markup style, not good looks ;)]]> Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:44:05 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1922 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1922
The bit where I turn unreasonably annoyed is where designing a web-page and designing for email is seen with equal expectation, e.g. something that used to be called “pixel-perfect”. But that's a different story altogether, I guess.

I believe there is a trend that goes more and more towards using web based email.
The huge market-share between them and outlook could form a critical mass that would, ironically, work in favour for both Pascal (reducing fluff), AND Richard(still styling up content in order to make it easier on the eye). What it doesn't do is to help web-standards in HTML emails.

Does anyone know if outlook express will be affected, too? ]]>
The bit where I turn unreasonably annoyed is where designing a web-page and designing for email is seen with equal expectation, e.g. something that used to be called “pixel-perfect”. But that's a different story altogether, I guess.

I believe there is a trend that goes more and more towards using web based email.
The huge market-share between them and outlook could form a critical mass that would, ironically, work in favour for both Pascal (reducing fluff), AND Richard(still styling up content in order to make it easier on the eye). What it doesn't do is to help web-standards in HTML emails.

Does anyone know if outlook express will be affected, too? ]]> Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:51:28 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1963 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1963 Mmmmmm, pointless analogies…
Almost as good as using color and “style” in my text-based communications.

I get a lot of junk mail. Maybe everyone should only ever send pure text mail in pure white envelopes on 8.5×11 paper.

No postcards! Packages are ok, as long as they don’t have any sort of wrapping paper.

The future is now.]]> Mmmmmm, pointless analogies…
Almost as good as using color and “style” in my text-based communications.

I get a lot of junk mail. Maybe everyone should only ever send pure text mail in pure white envelopes on 8.5×11 paper.

No postcards! Packages are ok, as long as they don’t have any sort of wrapping paper.

The future is now.]]> Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:26:02 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1965 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-1965
Maybe I just refuse to understand why so many people are trying so desperately to make fast communication slow, like lot of people that I have encountered throughout my work life?
If you say “loading time” they say “all of our targeted audience has got fast connection”, I say “accessibility” and they say “who do you think will buy this, blind people?” and if you ask “So what we send out is just one sentence?” they reply “yeah, but we do that in an HTML email and send a logo with it!”.]]>
Maybe I just refuse to understand why so many people are trying so desperately to make fast communication slow, like lot of people that I have encountered throughout my work life?
If you say “loading time” they say “all of our targeted audience has got fast connection”, I say “accessibility” and they say “who do you think will buy this, blind people?” and if you ask “So what we send out is just one sentence?” they reply “yeah, but we do that in an HTML email and send a logo with it!”.]]> Fri, 09 Feb 2007 05:05:25 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-2009 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-2009 I believe that communication is more than just words.

When I talk, I flail my arms all around like a madman. I also move my face and inflect my voice. Eyes communicate more in a single tiny movement than could be expressed in a paragraph of text, and more accurately express your emotions.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for words. It’s impossible to communicate complex ideas and specific details without them. But there’s way more to communication than just words.

With HTML email and custom printing and flowery stationary and glitter pens, etc… we have the ability to communicate with words using inflections like bold and italic and even color. We have the ability to communicate with pictures and graphics.

If I were deaf, it’d be fun to have email conversations with pictures using ASL or even video. Or have you ever gotten a love letter from your wife that was written with cute handwriting on cute stationary and a subtle whiff of her perfume?

I also believe that branding and style have an important role to play in business communication. When I do business with a company, I want the entire experience with that company to be top notch. I want every communication with them to feel good. Branding helps to communicate subconscious ideas like trust and respect.

It also helps to be able to get tabular data in a table element with the confidence that the layout isn’t going to break, etc…

Lastly, think of the children. Don’t take our glitter pens away :’(]]> I believe that communication is more than just words.

When I talk, I flail my arms all around like a madman. I also move my face and inflect my voice. Eyes communicate more in a single tiny movement than could be expressed in a paragraph of text, and more accurately express your emotions.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for words. It’s impossible to communicate complex ideas and specific details without them. But there’s way more to communication than just words.

With HTML email and custom printing and flowery stationary and glitter pens, etc… we have the ability to communicate with words using inflections like bold and italic and even color. We have the ability to communicate with pictures and graphics.

If I were deaf, it’d be fun to have email conversations with pictures using ASL or even video. Or have you ever gotten a love letter from your wife that was written with cute handwriting on cute stationary and a subtle whiff of her perfume?

I also believe that branding and style have an important role to play in business communication. When I do business with a company, I want the entire experience with that company to be top notch. I want every communication with them to feel good. Branding helps to communicate subconscious ideas like trust and respect.

It also helps to be able to get tabular data in a table element with the confidence that the layout isn’t going to break, etc…

Lastly, think of the children. Don’t take our glitter pens away :’(]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:12:00 +0000 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-2010 http://www.contentwithstyle.co.uk/content/outlook-2007-and-those-bloody-html-emails/#comment-2010 I just don’t like them, even though there might be a million of reasons to have them!

But for the sake of all children … ohh well, go on!]]> I just don’t like them, even though there might be a million of reasons to have them!

But for the sake of all children … ohh well, go on!]]> Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:24:53 +0000