Check out Qumana's new website. Slick and simple, just like the new beta Qumana release.

I'd like to open the floor for some usability feedback on our new font features.

The ability to change fonts and font sizes was our #1 feature request, so we were very excited to have it in our latest release (see Qumana is font crazy). However, the feature design was something we debated and, after the release, we are sensing some confusion.

We had two basic models to consider when integrating these features: blog editors or word processing.

In many of our design choices, we try to move towards the familiar word processing model rather than change behaviour patterns. Hence our integration of WYSIWYG image-wrap options.

Just like with the word processing model, we put Font and Font Size in pull down menus.

However, unlike word processing, we cannot display the font your blog is currently using. A blog design usually includes preset default font attributes in the CSS style sheet: this style sheet tells the blog what font to display and in what size.

Next problem: Qumana cannot tell you what fonts are in your CSS style sheet. The APIs Qumana uses to speak with the blog platforms does not give access to the style sheet. So, unlike in word processing, it cannot show you what you use now to see if you want to change it.

Obstacle #1: the CSS Style Sheet has default fonts already set
Obstacle #2: Qumana cannot access the CSS Style Sheet

Our solution was to use the word processing model but to have a shorthand reference to the fact that a font is already set. First we had only "Font" listed instead of "Default Font" - that ended up seeming as if no font were selected. We chose "default font" as being the shorthand for "Qumana will use the default font as set in your CSS Style Sheet".

Early feedback suggests we have not quite hit the nail on the head here. Some people think it means you have the ability somewhere in Qumana to set a default font. Others think that it means Qumana will override their Style Sheet settings.

Is this a problem of language or of the model (drop-down menu) we have adopted? So, if not "default font", what?

Tags: qumana, blogs, blog editor, usability

Have you ever been frustrated by how annoying it is to get images onto your blog? You have to download the image, go to the right tab in your blog, upload it, then stick it in your post. Ick. And if you want it wrapped in any way, you've got your hands full. Way too hard.

Qumana changes all that, starting today.

1. Drag an image straight from a website or your desktop into the DropPad or the editor window
2. Qumana prompts you to upload it with the window below and a preview
3. Choose how you want it to look
4. Click "Upload & Insert"

How easy is that?

The hot new feature of the Qumana image dialogue is the Wrapping Style. This is the first tab you see, called the Basic tab, and here you can instantly decide how you want the image in your post.

Maybe you don't want a wrap, or maybe you want the image to be at the left with the text wraping around and to the right. Just choose your option and if that's it, click Upload & Insert.

Now, if you want to change more things in your image, go to the Advanced tab. Here you can change the size, add alternate text, or any other style elements.

You can insert any image to your post by dragging it to the editor, to the DropPad (double click to open), or by clicking the image button next to the link button on the editor window.

We hope you find the new image dialogue as fun and easy as we do!

Tags: qumana, blog tools, blogging, blog editor, images, photos, pictures

Thanks to popular demand, Qumana now lets you change your font and font size.

How to use the font features:

1. Select the text you want to change
2. Use the pull-down menu to change the font and font size

Defaults:

If you leave the font menu as either "Default Font" or "Default Size", your post will use the font choices you have selected in your blog template.

Fonts:

If you choose a specific font, like Arial or Time's New, it will display to all readers of your blog the same way.

If you choose the "serif", "sans-serif" or "cursive" font options, the font will be displayed based on browser preferences - so, with these, the font may appear differently to you than to your readers.

----

Where is font color, you may ask? Well, it didn't quite make it in. We want it to be slick - you know, with a fancy color picker and stuff. We'll have it in the next release.

We hope you enjoy the new features! If you have not yet downloaded Qumana, go give it a try.

Tags: qumana, blogs, blogging, fonts, blog design, formatting, blog tools, blog editor

A new Qumana beta (version 3.0.0-b4) is available to download. This new Qumana is a step up from our last release - we have been working to squash bugs, add a couple of features, and make Qumana easier to use than ever.

We are, of course, extremely excited about this new release. It has been an exciting few months of plans and partnerships, and now we have something to give back to Qumana bloggers to make their lives easier.

One of the biggest advances we made is in the image dialogue. After banging heads for a while trying to figure out how to make it simple and fast, we borrowed some ideas and concepts from familiar word processing and email, and here is what you get:

Everything you used to see (title, size, etc.) is now hidden in the "Advanced" tab, and the "Basic" tab has the biggest time saver in pictures I've seen: Wrapping Style. This means you can click one button and your picture will wrap with your text, giving you tons of creative power without all the fuss.

The next big feature is Advanced Posting - letting you pick the day and time your post will publish. So, if you go on vacation, you can set posts to go up when you're away.

Of course, this means you can also post to the past, if you had news that you wanted date-specific.

This is not all we've done. Check out below for a full list of the changes in the new Qumana release:

New features:

• Post date can be set to any time (advanced posting) for blog platforms that support it
• Font list & font size
• Strikethrough
• New image dialogue with quick wrap options
• YouTube support ('embed' tag)
• Publish button changes to "Update Post" after first published
• Post status displayed as footer ("Draft", or "Last posted time")

Updates:

• Insert link dialogue now contains "http://"
• Q Ads dialogue reworded
• DropPad state (open/closed) is remembered
• 'ESC' key closes windows
• Dialogues can now be closed with "x" close button
• Double click tray icon in PC opens New Post
• Add Blog wizard will open each session if no blog is configured

We have fixed some other bugs, which take too long to explain in detail, but will thankfully make the user experience better.

Thanks for the continued feedback and go check it out!

What's Next?

We have received many requests for features over the last couple of months. Rest assured, we have an aggressive development plan for our next release, mostly focusing on features as well as other fixes. Let's just say we're excited about making it easy for people to publish multimedia rich posts, and to make money from them of course.

We're not going to set down a date, but it will be sooner rather than later ;)

Tags: qumana, qumana 3.0, blogs, blogging, blog tools, blog editor, offline editor, easy blogging

Meet Leora, Qumana's new intern, and one of my closest friends.

Leora was one of my bridesmaids (see us left) and is a crazy blogger like all the rest of us here at Qumana.

I can still remember the time when I tried to explain to Leora what a blog was - she's come a long way. When I started the Entertainment channel over at b5media, she begged me to start a Desperate Housewives blog. Leora took to it like fish to water - she now has 9 blogs and is one of the most successful bloggers I know. You can give Leora any blog and she'll find ways to make it interesting, to boost traffic, and to get more comments.

Leora has used Qumana since day 1 of her blogging, and has been instrumental in providing user feedback. Now, she'll be helping you with all your Qumana questions.

Leora will now be the primary point of contact for customer support emails, and will be hopping around talking to bloggers about their Qumana experiences. Don't be surprised if you get a comment from her ;)

Aside from front-line support, Leora will be joining me in helping to show bloggers how easy it is to use Qumana. We'll be posting more frequently to our how-to blog with tips on making your blogging experience easier, sharing our favorite blog tools, and showing you quick tips and tricks on using Qumana.

Welcome aboard Leora!

What seems like a long time ago, though it was only a couple of years, Jon Husband and Fred Fabro asked me to try a little knowledge management app that had been adapted to publish to blogs.  That app is now called Qumana.  It's very different than the app then.  Frankly you wouldn't recognize it.

While working on Qumana we had an idea, what if you could put an ad in your post?  What if you could earn money from the content you write?

Now what we'd like to know is, why don't you put ads in your posts?  What can we do to make Q Ads work for you?

What is interesting to you?  What would make it valuable to you?  Tell us, we'd really like to know.  We didn't come up with this idea for nothing, we came up with idea for you.  We really, truly believe that bloggers should be able to easily make a little coin from your content.

So ... let the commentary begin.

Tags: Qumana, Qumana Ads, Q Ads, blog-vertising

We finally have them! Chicklets! Here are a huge assortment of chicklets, buttons & whatnots you can put into your sidebars to show your support for Qumana.

Simply right-click, save, then upload to your server and put on your blog. Or you can drag it into your post if you want too! Don't forget to add a link to the chicklet as well.

We'll be adding these to our website too. Thanks to everyone who kept asking for these - it's great to have your support!

Personally, my faves are these ones:

I am a bit of a coffee addict, so the last two are quite fitting. Actually, come to think of it, there are several coffee addicts here at Qumana. I wonder if mass blogging + coffee are a common mix?

Robert Scoble (based on a post by Jonathan Schwartz) put up a very thought-provoking piece today entitled "The problem facing every tech company", which asks the question, how do you reach the unreachable masses to see and use your technology?

So, question # 1 is: how do you reach your customer?
Question #2 appears in a comment by Kirupa, asking, what everday problem does your product or service solve?

Kirupa rightly points out that the most effective marketing works upon existing wants, needs or problems of customers. They don't have to create a need and then fill it, but simply tap into something already felt by the customer. Thus, effective marketing can easily point out the problem and offer a solution.

Most technology companies fall into the rut of saying their technology is so fancy and has all these great widgets and features and lets you do everything in one easy way. It's an easy rut to fall into. You are proud of your features, and customers tell you they love your features. But the fundamental thing is that those features solve some sort of problem. It's just a matter of figuring out what.

In order to reach your customer, you must first identify what problem you can solve for them.

Here at Qumana, we are asking ourselves this question. We know many features of our product make blogging easier, but that is not the fundamental problem that we solve. So what is?

What problem does Qumana solve for you?