TweetFollow Us on Twitter

June 96 - Editor's Note

EDITOR'S NOTE

CAROLINE ROSE

A couple of issues ago, I told a story here about how my friend John had failed to find some song lyrics on the Web before I managed to locate them by old-fashioned, real-world means. A few of you wrote to say how easily you found those same lyrics on the Web. Maybe they were posted after the incident I related , or maybe John just didn't look in the right place, but my point was a general one: the Web is not the world.

At first I thought that editorial would be controversial, but before it was published I noticed similar remarks starting to appear elsewhere, along the lines of the Internet and the Web being overrated. Since then I've seen even more critical articles on the subject -- the inevitable backlash, I suppose. Now that such kvetching has become socially acceptable, I should probably turn to another subject, but alas...

My main complaint is with the quality of a lot of what's posted online. I don' t mind so much if someone's personal home page is a bit rough, but lar ge corporations that should do better seem not to be doing even minimal copyediting and fact checking on what they post to the Web. It's gotten to the point where, to some people, being published on the Internet is becoming synonymous with being low quality. I even came across this sentiment in a review of a book (not related to computers) in the New York Times: after criticizing the book for sloppy editing, the reviewer wrote, "If this is the way books are going to be published, we may as well just shove the typing onto the Internet and for get about bound volumes altogether."

Why is it that the highest-quality online publications are those that are also published in print? It's as if "committing" something to print makes it seem more respectable, more enduring. As a provider of not only develop content but also a newsletter of my own on the Web, I find this ironic. Ever since my publications have been made so easily available online, reader feedback indicates that many more people have been referring to back issues; they treat all the content -- past and present -- as a single, timeless body of information. This timelessness argues for the same attention to quality online as in the print medium, or at least for more efforts in that direction.

I think one problem may be the confusion about where to put Web publishing in an organization. Most Web-related job descriptions I've seen ask for a content provider, formatter/designer, and HTML expert all rolled into one. That's like having authors of develop articles design the page layout and produce the printed product. Ask one person to do it all and what do you expect?

You may not care about minor errors, but inattention to quality will extend, web-like, beyond punctuation and grammar into the more critical realms of coherency and accuracy. So please, take a second look at your Web pages and other online content with this in mind. The world will thank you.

CAROLINE ROSE (crose@apple.com, AppleLink CROSE) finds her most difficult editing job to be rephrasing her work history for her bio in develop. There are only so many ways to say she's been working in the computer industry for a very long time, in various writing, editing, and programming capacities. The good news is that, having edited develop for five years, she finally qualifies for a sabbatical, which she'll be taking by the time you read this. She's sorry to miss Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference but decided that springtime in Tuscany was a fair tradeoff. *

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Top Mobile Game Discounts
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links... | Read more »
Price of Glory unleashes its 1.4 Alpha u...
As much as we all probably dislike Maths as a subject, we do have to hand it to geometry for giving us the good old Hexgrid, home of some of the best strategy games. One such example, Price of Glory, has dropped its 1.4 Alpha update, stocked full... | Read more »
The SLC 2025 kicks off this month to cro...
Ever since the Solo Leveling: Arise Championship 2025 was announced, I have been looking forward to it. The promotional clip they released a month or two back showed crowds going absolutely nuts for the previous competitions, so imagine the... | Read more »
Dive into some early Magicpunk fun as Cr...
Excellent news for fans of steampunk and magic; the Precursor Test for Magicpunk MMORPG Crystal of Atlan opens today. This rather fancy way of saying beta test will remain open until March 5th and is available for PC - boo - and Android devices -... | Read more »
Prepare to get your mind melted as Evang...
If you are a fan of sci-fi shooters and incredibly weird, mind-bending anime series, then you are in for a treat, as Goddess of Victory: Nikke is gearing up for its second collaboration with Evangelion. We were also treated to an upcoming... | Read more »
Square Enix gives with one hand and slap...
We have something of a mixed bag coming over from Square Enix HQ today. Two of their mobile games are revelling in life with new events keeping them alive, whilst another has been thrown onto the ever-growing discard pile Square is building. I... | Read more »
Let the world burn as you have some fest...
It is time to leave the world burning once again as you take a much-needed break from that whole “hero” lark and enjoy some celebrations in Genshin Impact. Version 5.4, Moonlight Amidst Dreams, will see you in Inazuma to attend the Mikawa Flower... | Read more »
Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea lands on...
Aether Gazer has announced its latest major update, and it is one of the loveliest event names I have ever heard. Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea is an amazing name, and it comes loaded with two side stories, a new S-grade Modifier, and some fancy... | Read more »
Open your own eatery for all the forest...
Very important question; when you read the title Zoo Restaurant, do you also immediately think of running a restaurant in which you cook Zoo animals as the course? I will just assume yes. Anyway, come June 23rd we will all be able to start up our... | Read more »
Crystal of Atlan opens registration for...
Nuverse was prominently featured in the last month for all the wrong reasons with the USA TikTok debacle, but now it is putting all that behind it and preparing for the Crystal of Atlan beta test. Taking place between February 18th and March 5th,... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

AT&T is offering a 65% discount on the ne...
AT&T is offering the new iPhone 16e for up to 65% off their monthly finance fee with 36-months of service. No trade-in is required. Discount is applied via monthly bill credits over the 36 month... Read more
Use this code to get a free iPhone 13 at Visi...
For a limited time, use code SWEETDEAL to get a free 128GB iPhone 13 Visible, Verizon’s low-cost wireless cell service, Visible. Deal is valid when you purchase the Visible+ annual plan. Free... Read more
M4 Mac minis on sale for $50-$80 off MSRP at...
B&H Photo has M4 Mac minis in stock and on sale right now for $50 to $80 off Apple’s MSRP, each including free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – M4 Mac mini (16GB/256GB): $549, $50 off... Read more
Buy an iPhone 16 at Boost Mobile and get one...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering one year of free Unlimited service with the purchase of any iPhone 16. Purchase the iPhone at standard MSRP, and then choose... Read more
Get an iPhone 15 for only $299 at Boost Mobil...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering the 128GB iPhone 15 for $299.99 including service with their Unlimited Premium plan (50GB of premium data, $60/month), or $20... Read more
Unreal Mobile is offering $100 off any new iP...
Unreal Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering a $100 discount on any new iPhone with service. This includes new iPhone 16 models as well as iPhone 15, 14, 13, and SE... Read more
Apple drops prices on clearance iPhone 14 mod...
With today’s introduction of the new iPhone 16e, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14, 14 Pro, and SE. In response, Apple has dropped prices on unlocked, Certified Refurbished, iPhone 14 models to a... Read more
B&H has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros on sa...
B&H Photo is offering a $360-$410 discount on new 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Max CPUs right now. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 16″ M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/... Read more
Amazon is offering a $100 discount on the M4...
Amazon has the M4 Pro Mac mini discounted $100 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Their price is the lowest currently available for this popular mini: – Mac mini M4 Pro (24GB/512GB): $1299, $100... Read more
B&H continues to offer $150-$220 discount...
B&H Photo has 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros on sale for $150-$220 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 14″ M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB): $1449, $150 off MSRP – 14″ M4... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.