Web Techniques Magazine is no more -- it's now called "New Architect". I have to congratulate them on doing one thing right that many other similar sites have done wrong in the past: their old URLs still work. Yes, that's right. They chose NOT to break the thousands of links to their old content. Why am I surprised? Because for some reason, many businesses don't think twice about revamping their site's file structure when they redesign -- they "clean up" things on the server, only to make a mess of it for their users, advertisers...and any associated revenue streams.
Resources on URLs -- why and how to not break them in a redesign:
- InfoWorld: Redesign 404 -- how InfoWorld did it all wrong
- Doc Searls on "Rotten Linkage" caused by some redesigns
- Merges Theory: How to make URLs user-friendly
- Keith Instone's tactics for preventing the dreaded 404 message
- Jakob Nielsen on linkrot
- Moving pages is #6 on Jakob's Top Ten New Mistakes of Web Design
As far as the new magazine goes, if you're curious about what's the same, and what's different...well, according to the editor:
"We've held on to many of Web Techniques's unique ideas. For instance, we still believe strongly that the cornerstones of any Internet project are strategy, infrastructure, development, and interface. This structure lets you see all sides of the problem, and its solution, before you devote your time and money to it."
"We've added two completely new sections to the magazine: Critical Decisions and Case Studies. Each article in the Critical Decisions section is written with the intent of helping you answer a strategic question."
Web Techniques has regularly covered topics on design and usability in the past, and judging from the first issue of New Architect, it looks like they'll continue that into the future.
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