London Riots Map, based on Google Maps was created when the riots broke out to chart the London riots from a first person perspective by plotting tweets with the hashtag #londonriots that have an associated postcode. Cravify, a service for mapping events has also been used in a similar way.

We decided to put together a simple visualisation of how the events in London have unfolded – both in terms of web traffic that we monitored on GoSquared (we provide real-time web analytics after all – perfect for events like this), and from our first hand perspective being based in London.

Real-time monitoring proven useful again.

We reached out to Ben Fishman, soon after he created such a topical application. The challenge was on to map and analyse the audience and the interest in the app and the riots themselves. GoSquared’s real-time monitoring proved extremely useful in understanding how the worldwide audience were discovering and understanding the London riots as they were happening.

GoSquared is enablng the LondonRiotMap to get an in-depth and professional insight into a variety of information including:

• Referrers to the site.
• Search terms being used to reach the site.
• Tweets related to the riots.
• The locations of specific visitors and the time of day they were finding out about the riots.

GoSquared’s features have shown that in just the first evening there has been a huge international interest with over 26,000 web visitors from North America, Europe, East Asia and Australasia.

The GoSquared team has thankfully been largely unaffected by the riots in London and the rest of the UK this week. We wish the best of luck to everyone recovering from such a difficult week in the UK.

Please let us know if any stats or details are incorrect – we’ll do our best to fix them as soon as possible.

Try GoSquared now – free for 30 days!

Thanks,

James Gill, Geoff Wagstaff, James Taylor, Saul Cullen, Gerhard Lazu and Micky Blackburn (our new intern!)
A.K.A. The GoSquared Team

Chances are you may have heard that the EU is introducing a few changes to legislation around cookies and internet privacy. Not everyone, if anyone, fully understands the new laws coming into effect, but we thought it’d be wise to share what we know and understand so far.

The uncertainty around these laws has caused the UK to delay enforcement for a year to fully comply. There’s a very useful document (PDF) provided by the UK ICO that helps explain what is changing in plain English.

What are the new EU cookie laws?

• EU Directive 2009/136/EC requires prior consent for “storing of information, or the gaining of access to information already stored” – Articles 5(3) and 6(3).
• Article 29 WP Opinion 171 states that all data read from a device is protected (3.2.1.): “Article 5(3) requires obtaining informed consent to lawfully store information or to gain access to information stored in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user.”

When do I need to start worrying about these new laws?

The new EU legislation was supposed to have been passed by all EU countries by 25th May 2011. The only countries to have responded so far are the UK, Denmark, and Estonia.

The UK has given site owners another year to get their sites in order before enforcing the cookie laws.

Enforcement of these laws in unlikely any time soon. However, as a precaution, it is encouraged that all sites review their policies on privacy and understand which cookies they are asking their visitors to store.

How does GoSquared currently use cookies to provide real-time analytics?

We currently have very little dependence on cookies. GoSquared’s cookies are stored on the end user’s device as if they were created by the site that is using GoSquared itself.

The only reason GoSquared uses cookies is to identify each of your visitors as a unique visitor, and to determine whether they have been to your site before.

We do not use cookies to transfer data about individual visitors between multiple sites.

We do not use cookies to enable our customers to adapt content on their sites based on browsing patterns and history across other sites using GoSquared.

We do not share any analytical information that we collect with any third parties without prior consent.

We store all information on our secure servers hosted by Amazon Web Services. We backup all files securely and redundantly. We have strict internal policies on staff access to the analytical information we collect.

View GoSquared’s Privacy Policy.

How do the new laws affect GoSquared?

We’re still assessing how the changes to EU privacy law affect GoSquared’s ability to enable you to monitor your website’s traffic in real-time. We are confident that GoSquared will continue to be just as powerful, useful, and fun as you know it right now.

We do not rely on cookies to detect information about your site’s visitors – knowing which browser, which operating system, screen size, and the location of your visitors (and much more) is all possible whether cookies are present or not.

We are working on a number of different technologies behind the scenes right now, and our reliance on browser cookies is decreasing all the time.

What is GoSquared doing to help explain this complex issue to my site’s visitors?

We are working to provide you, our customers, with an easy-to-read set of text that you can copy and paste into your own sites to help explain what you are using GoSquared for. This text will explain how we use cookies, and how we store, process, and secure all information that we receive.

It is likely that you will need to actively notify your visitors about the cookies they need to accept. It is important to stress that if you are using other analytical services and advertising services, then you will need to notify your visitors of the cookies these services are using and relying on – they may be very different to GoSquared.

Previously, if a visitor’s browser was set to accept cookies then this was classed as “obtaining consent” from your visitors. However, we all know that isn’t really the case – there’s a lot of nasty services out there that store cookies on individuals’ machines for harmful or dishonest reasons, and a lot of internet users don’t realise this. That’s why the new laws state that you must obtain prior consent in one of a number of unsubtle ways:

• The UK ICO site has a PDF on how you can legitimately gain consent from your site’s visitors.
• The ICO site itself has an example of how you can ask for permission to store cookies (along the top).
• All Things D also has a notice that shows when you first visit (you may need to clear your cookies to see it) that clarifies which cookies are being used.

Have questions?

GoSquared is continuing to evaluate the various laws and directives from the EU Commission. We want your feedback on this, and we want to hear from you if you have any concerns. Please feel free to keep this discussion going with us on the blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, or send us an email.

View GoSquared’s Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This stuff is tricky

Because it’s so tricky, and you’ve taken the time to read up on this, here’s a good recipe for some chocolate chip cookies.

Don’t design for early adopters – brilliant piece by @chockenberry: http://bit.ly/cCSbkq

Apple seems to be as leaky as a sinking ship right now – at this rate we’ll be able to write Steve’s WWDC keynote for him.

Seth Godin at his best – The last 10%, that’s what people pay for: http://bit.ly/d9wFia

When the question being asked is “Windows XP or 7″ you know Microsoft screwed up horribly somewhere in between. (via @mattpat)

Facebook redesigns privacy centre: http://bit.ly/diyz2p

Another beautiful site using #LiveStats: http://thebrandingfarm.com/ Welcome on board @thebrandingfarm!

MobileMe Mail Beta, a Visual Walkthrough by @spiralstairs – beautiful: http://bit.ly/c1FHYs

It’s reassuring to see that even Steve Jobs has to deal with these kinds of email rants: http://bit.ly/cC9Zzn (via @sophiestication)

Loving how this modern software company have integrated Twitter into their sexy website: http://bit.ly/cJ3kuD (via @leigh & @Si)

New on Smashing – CSS 2.1 and CSS 3 Help Cheat Sheets (PDF): http://bit.ly/bA7Sx6 (That’s us! Thanks again @smashingmag)

“http://www.gosquared.com/ #canofawesome” – thanks so much @th3hamburgler!

An absolute abundance of quality, free vectors for download on @lovevectorfree: http://www.lovevectorfree.com/

Developing with #Wordpress? Get this awesome Help Sheet-as-a-wallpaper by @quicklycode: http://bit.ly/ax6Crw

Really liking the Lobster font by @pabloimpallari: http://www.impallari.com/lobster/

Beautiful piece of writing by @zeldman: http://www.zeldman.com/2010/05/11/life-is-beautiful

Follow us

@GoSquared
@JamesJGill
@TheDeveloper
@Floopily

We’re pleased to bring you the 3rd version of the GoSquared CSS Help Sheet, and a brand new CSS3 Help Sheet.

With the VI Help Sheet we released last week, we redesigned our Help Sheets for a much better result when printed on paper, while ensuring they still don’t look too shabby on the screen of your Mac, PC, iPhone or iPad.

We’ve put together a Help Sheet specifically for CSS3. We’ve covered most of the basic options now possible with CSS3, but there’s a ton more we couldn’t fit in, so we’ve linked to a couple of handy articles such as this post by 456 Berea Street on CSS Selectors, and this piece by Paul Irish on Font-Face.

So what are you waiting for? Download them. Print them. Stick ‘em on the wall and get creative!

New to GoSquared?

For those of you new to GoSquared – we help people improve their websites. GoSquared real-time web analytics enables you to understand what’s happening on your site right now. We run this blog, on design, technology and marketing to share our thoughts and content with wonderful people like you in the hope that you’ll also try GoSquared.

As always, if you find any errors or typos or anything like that, please drop us a note in the comments.

Get the CSS2 Help Sheet PDF (230KB)

Get the CSS3 Help Sheet PDF (221KB)

The CSS2 Help Sheet. We made the original based on the wonderful work of Leslie Frank. Never forget those basic and vital styling options with this at your side, or on your wall.

The CSS3 Help Sheet. All that’s coming to CSS, and all that’s already here for Chrome, Safari, WebKit, Firefox, Opera, and, erm, IE9?

We hope these are helpful to you.

Enjoy!

We don’t often write about other sites, but this month on Elite by Design, there’s a series of interviews that are simply too good to miss. So to ensure you check them out – we thought we’d dedicate a post to them.

There’s a massive collection of interviews from some of the greatest, more influential designers in our industry right now including:

Elliot Jay Stocks
Adelle Charles
Jonathan Snook
Jon Hicks
Fabio Sasso

and over 50 more awesome designers.

Some of my favourites so far are the interview with Fabio for his advice on how to establish yourself as a designer, David Appleyard for letting us in on how he manages so many sites at once, and Jacob Gube for talking about his experience writing a book on Moo Tools while also managing the Six Revisions blog.

I don’t think enough people realise how much effort has been put into organising so many interviews with so many inspiring members of the design community. It’s like getting the top 50 music acts in the chart right now to perform live on your own radio station. Go visit Elite by Design and read a couple of these wonderful interviews – learn from their success stories and their mistakes and take all the free advice they’re willing to share.

Here’s a selection of some of our favourite design related books. Find out more or buy any of them on Amazon via the links on this page.

Don’t Make Me THINK

Steve Krug

It’s been almost 10 years since the first version of Krug’s ultimate usability guidebook first hit the shelves.

Since it launched, this book has achieved its goal of bringing far more usable sites to the web, with legends like Jeffrey Zeldman giving it the highest praise possible: “It has done more to improve my abilities as a web designer than any other book.”

If you want to maximise the traffic you already have, get your visitors buying your products, or reading more of your posts, you need this book.

101 Things I Learned in Architecture School

Matthew Frederick

101 concise lessons in design, drawing, the creative process, and presentation that provide a much-needed primer in architectural literacy.

Written by an architect and instructor who remembers well the fog of his own student days, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School provides valuable guideposts for navigating the design studio and other classes in the architecture curriculum.

The Smashing Book

Smashing Magazine

From arguably the best design blog on the internet comes The Smashing Book. Packed with the great tips, tricks, and inspiration we see on Smashing Magazine everyday, you can now enjoy such fantastic content on printed paper.

The Smashing Book shares technical tips and best practices on coding, usability and optimization and explores how to create successful user interfaces and apply marketing principles to increase conversion rates.

We hope you like the selection of books. We also hope Santa brings some of them down the chimney for you. If you’ve got any suggestions for books that simply can’t be missed by any self respecting designer, drop a note in the comments.

Note: When you buy any of the books we’ve linked to here on Amazon, we’ll get a little kickback. You don’t have to click these links, but, you know, it would make us happy if you do. Also, whatcha think of the more “Blogazine” style format?

• Carsonified – 10 Vital Lessons for Web Start-Ups: http://is.gd/2oAT4
• Sketchbook specifically for iPhone UI design: http://is.gd/2oPyS
• Twitterrific 2.1 now available!
• Can you grill a bratwurst? – another extremely useful iPhone app: http://is.gd/2oRkL
• Walt Mossberg Mosspuppet lost in time warp (made me laugh): http://is.gd/2oT9s
• The Anatomy of a Corporate Site – by Build Internet: http://is.gd/2p06p
• HeyZap now giving publishers a cut of earnings – these guys are definitely going places: http://is.gd/2p4ln
• Wow is that what a Chinese lesson in Marketing looks like? http://bit.ly/2y9bNW
• Mark Boulton – new shoes, new blog: http://is.gd/2q4vk
• Beautiful typographic inspiration – from old signs: http://is.gd/2qfvH
• Listen to your music from an old school cassette? There's an app for that: http://bit.ly/LDets (itunes)
• Some laughable fake Apple tablets from TUAW: http://is.gd/2rUpY
• Can't wait for Rework – the new book by 37signals: http://is.gd/2rWPH
• A Showcase of Fantastic Footer Designs: http://bit.ly/neSOc
• Wow – look at all the different preference panes in Firefox (large image): http://is.gd/2s5HW
• Preview of the unreleased Coudal.com redesign: http://is.gd/2s7Yx (Click "Cornify")
• Some really nice icons and other tasty goodies to download here: http://is.gd/2sg4K
• Carsonified – 5 Advanced Photoshop Techniques for Web Designers: http://is.gd/2shO1
• Ramp Champ – beautiful promo page: http://is.gd/2sjhJ
• 50 of the best ever web design/dev/application icon sets: http://is.gd/2srHT
• Apple answers FCC's questions (qu 6 gives some juicy details on App Store approvals): http://bit.ly/S8mCP
• Pleased to release our latest set of 72 vector buttons – Monochromatic: http://is.gd/2szq1
• Wow this is an amazingly beautiful wooden chair – made from a single piece: http://is.gd/2sAQO (via @azaaza)
• Incredible vector drawing tool from 1963 – Ivan Sutherland's Sketchpad: http://is.gd/2sD1Q
• Ajaxload – Pretty sweet AJAX "loading GIF" generator: http://is.gd/2sEA5
• Extremely useful article on Good Call-To-Action Buttons: http://bit.ly/AGKz
• 30 High Quality Paint & Pastel Textures: http://bit.ly/5mbQq
• Nice site – Quotes on Design: http://is.gd/2tzQN
• I check everyday for the Facebook 3.0 update. And everyday I'm disappointed. I should just assume it'll take 6 months to be approved.

If you found any of this vaguely useful, you may want to follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/gosquared

Stay up to date with the team:

James Gill (and all GoSquared news) – twitter.com/gosquared
Geoff Wagstaff – twitter.com/TheDeveloper
James Taylor (and the iPhoneFAIL blog) – twitter.com/iPhoneFAIL
Liquidicity (posts and news) – twitter.com/liquidicity

We know it’s been too long since our last icon set, but to fulfil your growing appetite for vectors, we recommend you check out Vectors on Fire, a new blog that’s got a nice line up of free vectors that I haven’t found on many other sites.

We like the site, and we wish them the best of luck in growing their worthy destination for vector resources. If you missed our iPod vector icons from a few weeks ago, they’re available on Vectors on Fire right now.

Introducing GoSquared’s latest world changing project – iPhoneFAIL.org. If you’ve ever suffered from a failing iPhone, a stupidly buggy app, or just come across an error that you thought was laughable, you can now share your angst with the rest of the world.

If you have an account with GoSquared (including Liquidicity) then you can sign in and comment with the same username and password etc. We like to make things easy for you.

All in all, we’ll let you check it out for yourselves – we’ve kept things nice and simple so you can just focus what’s important – the FAILs.

Hope you like it,

The GoSquared team.