www.ambisquad.com

What you guys think of it
(It's not me who made it, it's my friend I dj with, he studied IT..)

Wow.. very professional. Superb.

Requires Flash? No link to an alternate version, or a "skip intro" link?

* WDZ closes window.

It's a nice look site, but autoplaying music really gets on my nerves.

quote:

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Originally posted by saralk
It's a nice look site, but autoplaying music really gets on my nerves.

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quote:

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Originally posted by WDZ
Requires Flash? No link to an alternate version, or a "skip intro" link?

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ARGH why does the logo flash? i thought i was going mad for a while

Other than that and the auto playing music the sites pretty cool

Looks is fantastic, yet the text font is too basic.

well my first thought impression - "Nice fucking site!!!!"

very nice. I don't like how the logo flashes though..

could have been done easily without flash

Code freaks ^^ I still think it's about the content... flash codes much faster then javascript for the same purpose so why would he have done it that way..

I don't know why you should skip the intro though... clicking 'skip' should take as long as the introfades

Not everyone has flash though.

those ppl are behind any form of evolution

Not really, schools sometimes turn it off to keep their pc's fast.

Okay, so, why does the "AmbiSquad" header thingo keep flashing every  3 seconds or so?

To get your attention to their name.

Fair enough, but it's horrible.

Either make it fade in and out smoothly, or put a slight glowing effect on it.

Flash might be faster to code but javascript loads HEAPS quicker.  But I like to include javascript in everything, it saves learning anything else.

Oh and apart from the auto-playing music and the flashing logo it looked really good.

quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
Code freaks ^^ I still think it's about the content... flash codes much faster then javascript for the same purpose so why would he have done it that way..

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Good site anyway but thank god you can turn the music off Also I like how you don't have to scroll down its just all in front of you.

The only thing that made me close my browser straight away was the loud music

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton

Why is your designers site using the same layout?

http://xeeder.ambisquad.com/

Seems dodgy - and it is one whole image.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton

quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
Code freaks ^^ I still think it's about the content... flash codes much faster then javascript for the same purpose so why would he have done it that way..

---

Oh dear.

I could list 10,000 reasons why it should have been done in HTML/JS


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Why is your designers site using the same layout?

http://xeeder.ambisquad.com/

Seems dodgy - and it is one whole image.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton

quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
Code freaks ^^ I still think it's about the content... flash codes much faster then javascript for the same purpose so why would he have done it that way..

---

Oh dear.

I could list 10,000 reasons why it should have been done in HTML/JS


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Why is your designers site using the same layout?

http://xeeder.ambisquad.com/

Seems dodgy - and it is one whole image.

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quote:

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Originally posted by vaccination

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton

Why is your designers site using the same layout?

http://xeeder.ambisquad.com/

Seems dodgy - and it is one whole image.

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Indeed, seems like he made one design and is ripping it off as many.

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Nice Flash site, however I'm not a Flash-fan. I prefer the beautiful HTML+CSS coding.

But nicely done!

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
About those 10,000 reasons, why don't you list a few?

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• Search engine optimisation
  
• Usability
  
• Accessibility (legally, your site must be accessible by those with disabilities)
  
• Screen readers cannot read Flash content
  
• Mobile/portable browser access
  
• Flash files are larger
  
• You require people have flash installed to view anything on the site
  
• There's no reason for it to be flash - the layout isn't "interactive" - it is static content
  
• I can't use [Page down] to scroll through the content on the pages. Why should I need to use my mouse to view a web page?

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
Sorry but there's a clear difference between all my designs. I just like some unity in all of my creations. That's why the background and container are alike on all of my designs.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton

• Search engine optimisation
  
• Usability
  
• Accessibility (legally, your site must be accessible by those with disabilities)
  
• Screen readers cannot read Flash content
  
• Mobile/portable browser access
  
• Flash files are larger
  
• You require people have flash installed to view anything on the site
  
• There's no reason for it to be flash - the layout isn't "interactive" - it is static content
  
• I can't use [Page down] to scroll through the content on the pages. Why should I need to use my mouse to view a web page?

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• Your right about that, but for this site the title, meta description and meta keywords are enough
  
• 99% of our visitors have flash installed and the site isn't difficult to use.
  
• With all due respect for those with disabilities but we can't do good for everyone! We have to keep in mind that the people we are trying to reach love animation and flash websites.
  
• Same answer as the above question
  
• My mobile views the website perfectly and I'm working on a RSS feed that can be used by mobile/portable users.
  
• The total size of the swf file is 288KB, that takes about 0,5 seconds to load for people with a broadband connection and about 4,8 seconds for people with a smallband connection. Sorry but people who can't wait that long just aren't worth it to visit the site. Anyway if I had done it without flash it would certainly have been more than 288KB and it would be much slower because the visitor would have to load multiple files.
  
• 99% of our visitors have flash installed and 100% of the people we purpose to reach with this website have flash installed.
  
• There are fading effects wich cannot be done as fluently with any other technology than flash, i don't like seeing anoying page refreshes everytime I click a menu-item, it's better to stream music, ... the content is not static, there's a shoutbox, every tekst you see on the website comes out of a mysql database.
  
• Why do some people use a electric lawn mower and some a lawn mower driven by oil? It does the same thing so what does it mather? And if you don't like to use your mouse, why do you have one?

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
my feedback on your reasons in order:

• Your right about that, but for this site the title, meta description and meta keywords are enough
  
• 99% of our visitors have flash installed and the site isn't difficult to use.
  
• With all due respect for those with disabilities but we can't do good for everyone! We have to keep in mind that the people we are trying to reach love animation and flash websites.
  
• Same answer as the above question
  
• My mobile views the website perfectly and I'm working on a RSS feed that can be used by mobile/portable users.
  
• The total size of the swf file is 288KB, that takes about 0,5 seconds to load for people with a broadband connection and about 4,8 seconds for people with a smallband connection. Sorry but people who can't wait that long just aren't worth it to visit the site. Anyway if I had done it without flash it would certainly have been more than 288KB and it would be much slower because the visitor would have to load multiple files.
  
• 99% of our visitors have flash installed and 100% of the people we purpose to reach with this website have flash installed.
  
• There are fading effects wich cannot be done as fluently with any other technology than flash, i don't like seeing anoying page refreshes everytime I click a menu-item, it's better to stream music, ... the content is not static, there's a shoutbox, every tekst you see on the website comes out of a mysql database.
  
• Why do some people use a electric lawn mower and some a lawn mower driven by oil? It does the same thing so what does it mather? And if you don't like to use your mouse, why do you have one?

The way a website is maid depends on the people you make it for. The people we make it for just have flash installed, have a mouse they like to use, don't like the ugly standard scrollbars and just love to hear some music .

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
Your right about that, but for this site the title, meta description and meta keywords are enough

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
With all due respect for those with disabilities but we can't do good for everyone! We have to keep in mind that the people we are trying to reach love animation and flash websites.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
My mobile views the website perfectly

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Xeeder
The total size of the swf file is 288KB, that takes about 0,5 seconds to load for people with a broadband connection and about 4,8 seconds for people with a smallband connection. Sorry but people who can't wait that long just aren't worth it to visit the site. Anyway if I had done it without flash it would certainly have been more than 288KB and it would be much slower because the visitor would have to load multiple files.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
99% of our visitors have flash installed and 100% of the people we purpose to reach with this website have flash installed.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Xeeder
There are fading effects wich cannot be done as fluently with any other technology than flash, i don't like seeing anoying page refreshes everytime I click a menu-item, it's better to stream music, ... the content is not static, there's a shoutbox, every tekst you see on the website comes out of a mysql database.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
    * Why do some people use a electric lawn mower and some a lawn mower driven by oil? It does the same thing so what does it mather? And if you don't like to use your mouse, why do you have one?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Napbree
and people want to read and not concentrate on their mouse moving the scrollbar

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder

• Why do some people use a electric lawn mower and some a lawn mower driven by oil? It does the same thing so what does it mather? And if you don't like to use your mouse, why do you have one?

---

@Chris: you need to chill out dude, we already know you're the best

What about the sueing thing? That's the most stupid thing i've ever heard. Federal websites, medical website's or other instancy's should be indeed accessable by disabled people, because these websites are primary and civilians have the right to have an excellent care from every instance he PAYS for (insurance, state (paid by taxes), public libraries).
A website for a dj duo NOT... you're not obligated to visit it and sorry for people who can't, hell, we are not obligated to even HAVE a website, so how stupid is that. The website is for a promotional purpose and it extends all other promotional ways. And really, no one obligates us to make a design by rules, they don't even exist.
Oh wait: I'm going to sue you Chris because i'm curious of your home, but i'm a wheelchair patiënt and I can't access it because of the fuckin' stairs...

www.microsoft.com/surface => omg flash, let's all sue them!!!

If you think Xeeder would need to go back and relearn coding; you must be blind. He didn't graduate for nothing, in fact, he's just the same as you and many companies are willing to hire him because of the great work he deliveres.

So stop whining about rediculous things

quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
@Chris: you need to chill out dude, we already know you're the best

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quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
What about the sueing thing? That's the most stupid thing i've ever heard.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
www.microsoft.com/surface => omg flash, let's all sue them!!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
If you think Xeeder would need to go back and relearn coding; you must be blind. He didn't graduate for nothing, in fact, he's just the same as you and many companies are willing to hire him because of the great work he deliveres.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder

The total size of the swf file is 288KB, that takes about 0,5 seconds to load for people with a broadband connection and about 4,8 seconds for people with a smallband connection. Sorry but people who can't wait that long just aren't worth it to visit the site. Anyway if I had done it without flash it would certainly have been more than 288KB and it would be much slower because the visitor would have to load multiple files.

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BTW: I'm not having a go or critisising at all, the site itself I love, it's a great design, I'm just stating a fact is all, no insulting or any comment of the such meant by it

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton

quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
What about the sueing thing? That's the most stupid thing i've ever heard.

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It's discrimination.

Don't think it has happened?
Target Sued for Refusing to Make Website Accessible, Sydney Olympics Accessibility Complaint.

quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
www.microsoft.com/surface => omg flash, let's all sue them!!!

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---

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton
The Microsoft Surface site is a product demonstration site which requires that level of animation/audio/video provided by flash.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Boulton

quote:

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Originally posted by Exca
If you think Xeeder would need to go back and relearn coding; you must be blind. He didn't graduate for nothing, in fact, he's just the same as you and many companies are willing to hire him because of the great work he deliveres.

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He doesn't need to go back and re-learn. He just needs to be educated about this stuff and the teacher who taught him needs to go back and re-learn.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton
Also - you don't need to be smart to graduate. You just need to pass. I'm not saying his dumb - but just because he has graduated from something doesn't mean he is good. I know people who haven't attended any kind of tertiary education facilities who are more successful than myself and can deliver work of a higher quality.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Boulton
As for people hiring him - I doubt that is via his portfolio site.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
i don't like seeing anoying page refreshes everytime I click a menu-item,

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quote:

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Originally posted by .Lou

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
i don't like seeing anoying page refreshes everytime I click a menu-item,

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You could very easily use ajax.

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Sigh, stop whinging. There are plenty of flash-based sites out there and if they feel that flash suits them the most then let them use flash.

That being said the site looks great. I have my speakers off (other people in the house) so I can't comment on this properly, but considering that the site is based around music, I don't see why music can't be played in the background - there are plenty of flash sites with bg music and this is probably one of the only ones which has a good reason for it.

Personally I agree with Chris on all of his issues that he brings to the fore.

The disabled might be a minority but that does not mean they are to be excluded further and by posting a web page on the internet you are making it for EVERYONE to view, they did not choose to be disabled so you could at least show a little compassion and make it viewable by all (even if it means a little bit longer to code).

288kb is a large file size for any website with as much text as yours.  If it were 28.8kb then it might have been a different story but I could write enough javascript to replicate a fully, almost seem less looking, animated webpage (much like one in flash, but with a whole lot more animation than yours) using only PHP and Javascript.  Furthermore I believe anyone who has been serious about webdesign for more than 9 months should be at the same caliber.

Colours and logos are only a minor issue when it comes to webdesign as they are not what makes the website function, but are just the icing on the cake and can be changed easily if you decided to go in a different direction.  They should only paint on a house, it is the structure beneath that makes it a building.

There is nothing in that website that could not have been made through PHP/ASP and Javascript (with room for expansion) with an end result that is happy for any person and is compatible with search engines, online translators and the likes.

I did not mean to sound rude towards your work in any way, but want you to realise that there are other factors that you need to take into consideration when designing and coding webpages.

quote:

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Originally posted by markee
Personally I agree with Chris on all of his issues that he brings to the fore.

The disabled might be a minority but that does not mean they are to be excluded further and by posting a web page on the internet you are making it for EVERYONE to view, they did not choose to be disabled so you could at least show a little compassion and make it viewable by all (even if it means a little bit longer to code).

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quote:

---

Originally posted by markee
288kb is a large file size for any website with as much text as yours.  If it were 28.8kb then it might have been a different story but I could write enough javascript to replicate a fully, almost seem less looking, animated webpage (much like one in flash, but with a whole lot more animation than yours) using only PHP and Javascript.  Furthermore I believe anyone who has been serious about webdesign for more than 9 months should be at the same caliber.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by markee
Colours and logos are only a minor issue when it comes to webdesign as they are not what makes the website function, but are just the icing on the cake and can be changed easily if you decided to go in a different direction.  They should only paint on a house, it is the structure beneath that makes it a building.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by markee
There is nothing in that website that could not have been made through PHP/ASP and Javascript (with room for expansion) with an end result that is happy for any person and is compatible with search engines, online translators and the likes.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by markee
I did not mean to sound rude towards your work in any way, but want you to realise that there are other factors that you need to take into consideration when designing and coding webpages.

---

Your site looks nice, there is no doubt about that, from a professional point of view, you shouldn't make a site with just flash, for all the afforementioned reasons.

Why don't you also make a text only version much like JK Rowling's website has?

However, from a business point of view, I don't see a major problem with using flash for this kind of site. If you make a text only version too (it doesn't have to be amazing, really basic will do) then it negates pretty much all the search engine/screen readers/disabled access complaints.

This site is meant to be a marketing site, not a majorly functional site like facebook, and so the same design rules do not apply to the sites. It's all about knowing your audience, the kind of people who visit this site will probably like the "cool" MySpace-esque animations and tacky design, so from a "designer completing a project to the client's specification" point of view, the site is good.

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder

quote:

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Originally posted by markee
Colours and logos are only a minor issue when it comes to webdesign as they are not what makes the website function, but are just the icing on the cake and can be changed easily if you decided to go in a different direction.  They should only paint on a house, it is the structure beneath that makes it a building.

---

I have a different opinion about this, I think everything that has to do with colours, logo's, ... is as much as important than the code beneath. These are the factors that make a website nice to visit.

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quote:

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Originally posted by saralk
Your site looks nice, there is no doubt about that, from a professional point of view, you shouldn't make a site with just flash, for all the afforementioned reasons.

Why don't you also make a text only version much like JK Rowling's website has?

However, from a business point of view, I don't see a major problem with using flash for this kind of site. If you make a text only version too (it doesn't have to be amazing, really basic will do) then it negates pretty much all the search engine/screen readers/disabled access complaints.

This site is meant to be a marketing site, not a majorly functional site like facebook, and so the same design rules do not apply to the sites. It's all about knowing your audience, the kind of people who visit this site will probably like the "cool" MySpace-esque animations and tacky design, so from a "designer completing a project to the client's specification" point of view, the site is good.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Xeeder

quote:

---

Originally posted by markee
Colours and logos are only a minor issue when it comes to webdesign as they are not what makes the website function, but are just the icing on the cake and can be changed easily if you decided to go in a different direction.  They should only paint on a house, it is the structure beneath that makes it a building.

---

I have a different opinion about this, I think everything that has to do with colours, logo's, ... is as much as important than the code beneath. These are the factors that make a website nice to visit.

---

I have to agree with Xeeder here, whilst it is important to have a well designed site that works fast, again it is all about audience.

Obviously making a site like facebook in flash, would be a bad move. But for site that isn't too interactive, and is more a promotional tool than a social site: flash is perfect.

The average fan of Xeeder, isn't really going to care that the site is made in flash, or javascript. All s/he is going to care about is that the site looks cool.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
That's ridiculous, i know Americans are great in sueing other Americans for the most stupid things (see http://www.jodysgarage.com/lawsuits.htm) but that's just childish and not the way it's done here in Belgium. Like Exca said, we are not obligated to even HAVE a website!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder

The AmbiSquad website is a DJ Squad site wich requires that level of animation/audio/(and soon) video provided by flash.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
My personal opinion is that you could use some education in designing too, your MyBB logo for example or the colorpicking on your blog I would rather describe as 'not looking professional'. In coding you might be good (and you don't mind to mention that, as others here) but thats not all you know.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
That's maybe because there's a problem with the system of educating in your country.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
Where do you think the projects on the portfolio come from???

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quote:

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Originally posted by markee
I did not mean to sound rude towards your work in any way, but want you to realise that there are other factors that you need to take into consideration when designing and coding webpages.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Xeeder
Sorry but than I do not understand why your sig should be less disabled-friendly because I don't know any screen-readers that can read text out of images. After all they did not choose to be disabled did they? Then again why do we use emoticons? Blind people can't see any emoticons can they? But still we use them!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
I'd like to see that! What about the music player (streaming mp3) ?

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris Boulton

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
That's ridiculous, i know Americans are great in sueing other Americans for the most stupid things (see http://www.jodysgarage.com/lawsuits.htm) but that's just childish and not the way it's done here in Belgium. Like Exca said, we are not obligated to even HAVE a website!

---

So you're saying you don't care about people with disabilities and they deserve a lower/limited style of living than yourself? I think you'll find in Belgium there are laws regarding accessibility too.

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder

The AmbiSquad website is a DJ Squad site wich requires that level of animation/audio/(and soon) video provided by flash.

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Right, then you embed those components as Flash files - not the whole site. Why does the menu and text on the page have to be Flash? Surely you're not going to animate the text.

I can't even select and copy the text on the page if I wanted to. I can't tab to your input fields for the shoutbox. These are things which are even easy to implement in Flash.

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
My personal opinion is that you could use some education in designing too, your MyBB logo for example or the colorpicking on your blog I would rather describe as 'not looking professional'. In coding you might be good (and you don't mind to mention that, as others here) but thats not all you know.

---

I think you fail to understand my point - so instead you go and bash the MyBB logo - which is designed that way for a particular reason - people don't leave it on there forums.

As for the colours on my personal site - wow, you've stooped to another level here. Of course, could it be that you just don't know too much. Has your web designer ever heard of contrast?

So you're saying blue and orange are unprofessional colours? I'll be sure to mention that to the multitude of sites who employ those colours - just so they know they're unprofessional.

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
That's maybe because there's a problem with the system of educating in your country.

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It's the same everywhere. You only need to pass to graduate.

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
Where do you think the projects on the portfolio come from???

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They all look like DJ sites to me - so I'd say they're your friends. Of course, If I were looking for someone to design a site for me and saw your portfolio, "the inspiration I got from my girlfriend" and the "Girlfriend policy" then I'd turn my head and look elsewhere.

quote:

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Originally posted by markee
I did not mean to sound rude towards your work in any way, but want you to realise that there are other factors that you need to take into consideration when designing and coding webpages.

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Bingo - and not just shut down the comments & criticisms made.

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
Sorry but than I do not understand why your sig should be less disabled-friendly because I don't know any screen-readers that can read text out of images. After all they did not choose to be disabled did they? Then again why do we use emoticons? Blind people can't see any emoticons can they? But still we use them!

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That is why in HTML we have the alt tag for images to provide alternate text for screen readers. In the case of emoticons in Messenger - you'll notice it has the "disable emoticons".

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
I'd like to see that! What about the music player (streaming mp3) ?

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It is fine for content like that to be Flash/etc

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quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
By the way... how shoud someone who's blind pass this required field to register on your forum?

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I'm sorry to say guys, and don't take it meanly, but this is pathetic, and when I mean this, I don't mean the content of the discussion, I mean the way it is discussed. You both are adults, act like it.

First of all, I really don't agree with the discution!
And, about the site, it was a nice job...

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
I don't shut down comments, I accept them except for the one's I don't agree with.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by alby
I'm sorry to say guys, and don't take it meanly, but this is pathetic, and when I mean this, I don't mean the content of the discussion, I mean the way it is discussed. You both are adults, act like it.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by MicroWay
First of all, I really don't agree with the discution!
And, about the site, it was a nice job...

quote:

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Originally posted by Xeeder
I don't shut down comments, I accept them except for the one's I don't agree with.

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Don't want to fight, but about this, remember that the website was exposed to a public forum, as there are lots of diferent people on this forum, it's extremely normal that diferent people has diferent points of view, and of course, some of the ideas you will not agree with.... So, not considering then it's OK, but not shutt down the ones you don't aggre with...
Sorry about the way of telling this but: Who speaks what he/she wants, hears what he/she didn't wants...

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