links for 2008-09-18

"I've been thinking about making websites mobile-friendly lately. It's been brewing for a year and it registered as a major issue back in March when I got a new mobile phone and actually started using the web while mobile. Let me tell you this: most sites, mine included, suck when viewed on a mobile phone. It's a horrible experience, and given the astonishing rise in mobile use, you and I, the people who build websites, better get our act together."

"Thinking about writing is like thinking about planting, watering, and weeding. Sure, creative noodling time can make your writing better. But noodling is not writing. Wii, Twitter, Solitaire and long walks in the rain are also not writing".

"Google has announced that they have started to index content from various YouTube channels. They're starting with the US Presidential election, which is understandable. The new system uses speech technology to find the term(s) spoken in a video, display the video, the place(s) where the terms are used and to allow users to jump to them".

"Fans searching for Brad Pitt have nearly a one in five chance of encountering a potentially risky site, according to the research. Around 18 per cent of searches lead to wallpapers, screen savers and photos that carry some sort of malware. Beyoncé was rated the second most dangerous celebrity query." [via Phil Bradley]

"From today, whenever internet users type the word 'abortion' into Google, a link appears on the right-hand side of the page with the words: 'UK Abortion law. Key views and news on abortion law from The Christian Institute'". I should point out that there is no law in the UK against clicking adverts you disagree with just to waste their money