Friday, December 2nd, 2005
Google Yahoo! Challenge: Maps and Mail
Jon Aquino has done a cool demo with Google Maps side by side with Yahoo Maps, with Yahoo’s Ajax and Flash versions. Although this doesn’t really have much practical day-to-day use (especially because you can’t search for an address), its could be valuable for comparing the source code for the three different APIs. Note that when you click and drag one map the other two will sync up with it.
Post your comments to John at this blog entry.
Jeremy Compares Yahoo! Mail and GMail
Yahoo’s Jeremy Zawodny has been squaring off the new Yahoo! Mail beta against good old GMail. (The Yahoo! Mail beta was mentioned earlier).
GMail wins the battle for now – that’s what he intends to keep using, while continuing to auto-forward onto his server for Thunderbird access. Regarding Ajax usability, there are a few interesting messages here:
- “Gmail is fast, mostly easy to use without a mouse, stable, and reliable …
The (Yahoo!) UI is more mouse intensive than Gmail, so it simply took longer to move messages around. With a lower mail volume (think “typical home user”), I’d likely never notice.” - “The (Yahoo!) interface is more like a traditional mail client, giving me a 3 pane view and folders. I’m still quite fond of living that way and suspect that the larger population is well. It just ‘feels right.’.”
- “No threading. The team is well aware of this need, trust me. :-)”
The real difference here is that Yahoo! has opted for a desktop-like UI (not unlike Oddpost, which Yahoo! acquired), whereas Google has effectively followed more web-like conventions. The common wisdom says that Ajax apps should be designed with the web in mind, rather than slavishly following desktop conventions. By the same token, users can take to applications in surprising ways – perhaps Jeremy has a point here when he speculates most people will feel more comfortable with a desktop-like client.
good
wow..Google still owns man, owns! #1 :)
The mail comparison was more:
Yahoo! Mail Beta vs. Thunderbird (for business mail)
Gmail vs. Thunderbird (for private email)
I’m not sure if any conclusion can be drawn about Gmail vs. Yahoo! Mail Beta.
In a four-point bullet list, it might be pertinent not to quote this entry twice, to the letter:
»The (Yahoo!) UI is more mouse intensive than Gmail, so it simply took longer to move messages around. With a lower mail volume (think “typical home user”), I’d likely never notice.”«
Johan, I felt it was emphasising :-). It’s gone now, thanks.