Comments for Blair's Brain http://theunfocused.net And Other Unfocused Things Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:25:33 +1300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Firefox 3.6 knows when your plugins are out of date by makkar http://theunfocused.net/2009/10/06/firefox-3-6-knows-when-your-plugins-are-out-of-date/#comment-6534 makkar Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:25:33 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=296#comment-6534 you are the best thank you mozilla :-) you are the best thank you mozilla Smile

]]> Comment on Firefox 3.6 knows when your plugins are out of date by FireFox 3.6 Release Candidate 1 for FREE Download | Road 800 A http://theunfocused.net/2009/10/06/firefox-3-6-knows-when-your-plugins-are-out-of-date/#comment-6527 FireFox 3.6 Release Candidate 1 for FREE Download | Road 800 A Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:34:54 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=296#comment-6527 [...] 3.6 will alert users about out of date plugins to keep them [...] [...] 3.6 will alert users about out of date plugins to keep them [...]

]]> Comment on My status updates – what can I improve? by Robert Accettura http://theunfocused.net/2010/02/24/my-status-updates-improving/#comment-6525 Robert Accettura Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:48:07 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=407#comment-6525 We (the planet team) should really put together a "tips" blog post or something on what we've seen works best for folks who want to use a blog as part of their communication. Some things I've personally noted over the years: 1. Repetitive titles stink as noted by other comments. Theming titles, or prefixing with "status update:" work better. Mention what it's about in the title. People scan those to decide if they will read or skip in their feed reader or on planet. 2. Include links to bugs, wiki's, and other places for folks to join/participate/feedback when applicable. It goes a long way. 3. Avoid just mentioning a bug # without mentioning what it is in context. Also avoid mentioning a bug and not giving the bug # (or link to bug). Don't tease ;-) . 4. Some more technical discussion can sometimes be much more engaging and encourage readership. Robert O'Callahan demonstrates this more than anyone these days. 5. Pictures get folks attention. Screenshots, mockups, wireframes, cats (preferably in humorous situations with captions). 6. Demo's get peoples attention (see hacks.m.o, aza's blog has that tendency). I read virtually every mozilla dev blog for the past several years. I've also noticed on my own that the above really makes a distinction between what gets passed over and what gets read/commented on. Just my $0.02 We (the planet team) should really put together a “tips” blog post or something on what we’ve seen works best for folks who want to use a blog as part of their communication.

Some things I’ve personally noted over the years:

1. Repetitive titles stink as noted by other comments. Theming titles, or prefixing with “status update:” work better. Mention what it’s about in the title. People scan those to decide if they will read or skip in their feed reader or on planet.
2. Include links to bugs, wiki’s, and other places for folks to join/participate/feedback when applicable. It goes a long way.
3. Avoid just mentioning a bug # without mentioning what it is in context. Also avoid mentioning a bug and not giving the bug # (or link to bug). Don’t tease Wink .
4. Some more technical discussion can sometimes be much more engaging and encourage readership. Robert O’Callahan demonstrates this more than anyone these days.
5. Pictures get folks attention. Screenshots, mockups, wireframes, cats (preferably in humorous situations with captions).
6. Demo’s get peoples attention (see hacks.m.o, aza’s blog has that tendency).

I read virtually every mozilla dev blog for the past several years. I’ve also noticed on my own that the above really makes a distinction between what gets passed over and what gets read/commented on.

Just my $0.02

]]> Comment on My status updates – what can I improve? by Brian King http://theunfocused.net/2010/02/24/my-status-updates-improving/#comment-6523 Brian King Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:08:02 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=407#comment-6523 Mitcho's suggestion is spot-on. Perhaps the date in the title, instead of/as well as keywords. Mitcho’s suggestion is spot-on. Perhaps the date in the title, instead of/as well as keywords.

]]> Comment on My status updates – what can I improve? by shadowbat http://theunfocused.net/2010/02/24/my-status-updates-improving/#comment-6522 shadowbat Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:09:12 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=407#comment-6522 I think some more personality to the updates would be nice. Adding what you like or dislike about the project, some more background, things that could change with your work, whether you liked doing it, about working with your teammates, etc. I think some more personality to the updates would be nice. Adding what you like or dislike about the project, some more background, things that could change with your work, whether you liked doing it, about working with your teammates, etc.

]]> Comment on My status updates – what can I improve? by mitcho http://theunfocused.net/2010/02/24/my-status-updates-improving/#comment-6521 mitcho Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:35:41 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=407#comment-6521 I always see your status updates on twitter, but the post title is always so generic... just look at it, even your website says "related posts: status update, status update." Maybe you could add a few key words to the title? :) Thanks. I always see your status updates on twitter, but the post title is always so generic… just look at it, even your website says “related posts: status update, status update.” Maybe you could add a few key words to the title? Smile Thanks.

]]> Comment on Status: Jetpack and Content Scripts in Firefox by My status updates – what can I improve? « Blair’s Brain http://theunfocused.net/2009/08/09/status-jetpack-and-content-scripts-in-firefox/#comment-6520 My status updates – what can I improve? « Blair’s Brain Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:28:13 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=243#comment-6520 [...] been posting weekly status updates for awhile now (since August 9, 2009). I think they’re an important part of communicating exactly what it is I (and the rest of [...] [...] been posting weekly status updates for awhile now (since August 9, 2009). I think they’re an important part of communicating exactly what it is I (and the rest of [...]

]]> Comment on Firefox 3.6 knows when your plugins are out of date by Firefox updated to 3.6 (PC) | www.arthurtooy.com http://theunfocused.net/2009/10/06/firefox-3-6-knows-when-your-plugins-are-out-of-date/#comment-6518 Firefox updated to 3.6 (PC) | www.arthurtooy.com Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:03:29 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=296#comment-6518 [...] from out-of-date plugins to keep users safer as they [...] [...] from out-of-date plugins to keep users safer as they [...]

]]> Comment on Status update by Blair McBride http://theunfocused.net/2010/02/16/status-update-21/#comment-6515 Blair McBride Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:12:16 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=396#comment-6515 Alfred: Thanks :) I have a few extra CSS goodies still to add (like @font-face, and maybe border-image). There are 3 projects there without their own page, as well as a couple in inactive projects and future projects (which my status dashboard doesn't index yet). I think at the very least, a bug number should be referenced. I'll be sure to annoy the relevant people this week and at the next team meeting. Alfred: Thanks Smile I have a few extra CSS goodies still to add (like @font-face, and maybe border-image).

There are 3 projects there without their own page, as well as a couple in inactive projects and future projects (which my status dashboard doesn’t index yet). I think at the very least, a bug number should be referenced. I’ll be sure to annoy the relevant people this week and at the next team meeting.

]]> Comment on Status update by Blair McBride http://theunfocused.net/2010/02/16/status-update-21/#comment-6514 Blair McBride Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:01:33 +0000 http://theunfocused.net/?p=396#comment-6514 Goolic: Yes, that sounds like something that should be solved in the new extension manager. And regarding the model dialog (yuck!), there's also a project that has plans for providing better notifications: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Projects/Doorhanger_notifications Goolic: Yes, that sounds like something that should be solved in the new extension manager. And regarding the model dialog (yuck!), there’s also a project that has plans for providing better notifications: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Projects/Doorhanger_notifications

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