The BBC have redesigned their homepage, in a much more web2.0, widgetized theme. You can drag modules around like iGoogle. They’ll also soon be adding the iplayer to the new page (which in case you didn’t know let’s you view the last 7 days worth of BBC programming online for free - streamed online).

From a purely design point of view, I feel the design is too “chunky”, large text, large buttons e.t.c. Overall, for the BBC’s audience, I think they’ve done a great job. Even the current BBC’s homepage hasn’t had it’s shortage of praise for it’s usability and functionality. The overall color scheme on this new design (green in the below screenshot) also changes when you switch between the 4 feature items which is a kind of interesting choice.

The homepage is in BETA right now - screenshot below, click it to preview..

31CW has announced it will acquire web design and development firm CreativeSTL.

CreativeSTL will provide clients with a lower cost alternative to gaining an online web presence, and specializes in Blog, Forum and basic website design and development on open-source platforms such as Wordpress and vBulletin.

Further details to come..

Like several people I know, I have accounts with Gmail, Yahoo and MSN - and just use them for receiving junk or, more often, to use the chat service that goes with each (i.e. Gtalk, Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger). Every so often I open up MSN Messenger (the mac version), and a few times it’s asked me to upgrade (you can’t use it without upgrading). Annoying - but at least they make the upgrade pretty straightforward.

But they’ve seriously managed to make the application pretty heavy - adding a user is a few step process, then the user online statuses seem delayed - and then there’s the sound effects.

And finally, there’s availability. At least it alerts you politely when kickin’ you off:

Software maker’s need to take a lesson from “web 2.0″, and make stuff simple, usable, yet powerful. It’s not hard to do, just think in the right mindset, and don’t forget about your users.

/ok I’m done. And I use skype day-to-day if you’re wondering…