Statistically Speaking

Google released a new beta version of Google Analytics yesterday. It has a cleaner, crisper, more flexible interface. And, you can schedule report releases prepared in formats and layouts to your specifications, which may save you time wrangling reports. The new interface utilizes informatics influenced by Edward Tufte’s sparklines.

Superficial or Fundamental?

Google alludes that the changes are limited to user interface issues only, but the beta version of the hourly report seems to lag the original by about 2 hours. Coupled with the added emphasis on Google AdWords measurement, there may be something more fundamental in the way of upgrades here.

Moving and Grooving

A dashboard view with movable modules (think NetVibes) makes for easy layout and view changes. Dropping panels in and out of the interface and shuffling them around should prove beneficial when preparing reports for different audiences.

The new reports lack an hourly view in the day’s executive view chart but you can still access it via the conveniently located “Previous Interface�? link. Google reports that they’re working on adding it back in.

All in all, it’s a nice step up. Oh, and did I mention it’s still free? Thanks, Google.

A Mind like a Steel Trap

If you don’t have a mind like a steel trap, or fifth grade math concepts are getting a little fuzzy, there’s always Google.

I needed to determine how many milliliters a particular cylinder would hold for a promotional project. Thanks to Google I was able to compute all the necessary calculations and conversions without using a calculator—or pen and paper.

The Formula

I knew the formula for determining the volume of a cylinder is:
π • r² • height = volume (where r = radius)

Had I not known the formula, I could’ve easily found it (and generator sites) by simply Googling: cylinder volume. The same is true of pi; Googling: pi generates a number accurate to 8 decimal places.

The cylinder has a radius of 1.5″ and an overall height of 10″. In this case, a basic 3.14 round off of pi sufficed. Based on the formula, I typed the following directly into the Google search field (*=multiplication; ^=exponent/power of):

3.14*1.5^2*10

Google returned with: 3.14 * (1.5^2) * 10 = 70.65

The cylinder has a volume of 70.65 cubic inches, but I need the volume in milliliters.

Converting Results

Typing directly into the Google search field, I entered:
cubic inch to milliliter

Google returned: 1 cubic inch = 16.387064 milliliter

I entered the number of cubic inches (70.65) multiplied by the conversion factor (16.387064) into the search field: 70.65*16.387064

Google responded with the answer:
70.65 * 16.387064 = 1157.74607 or about 1158 ml.

Realizing Results

Using Google as a calculator can be a time saver. For a legend of symbols and much more on using Google as a calculator, check out Google’s calculator page.

Then read our latest Great Marketing Ideas for 2007 article and calculate the ROI you’ll likely realize by reading .think.

If you’d like to significantly decrease your broadband load time in Firefox, follow these simple instructions to change defaults originally set to accommodate dial-up users.

Step 1: Open Firefox and type about:config in the address bar where you normally type a web address.

Step 2: In the filter bar below the address bar type network.

Step 3: Double-click on network.http.pipelining to change the setting from false to true.

Step 4: On the line below network.http.pipelining double-click on network.http.pipelining.maxrequests and change the number to 10.

Step 5: Two lines below network.http.pipelining.maxrequests double-click on network.http.proxy.pipelining to change the value from false to true.

Step 6: Several lines above network.http.proxy.pipelining you’ll see network.http.max-persistant-connections-per-proxy and network.http.max-persistant-connections-per-server. Double-click each line and change the value to 8.

Step 7: Two lines up locate and double-click on network.http.max-connections and set the value to 48.

Step 8: Now right-click (control-click on a Mac) anywhere in the configurator (the area where you’ve been making the changes). Select New then Integer. When prompted, copy and paste or type the following into the field provided: nglayout.initialpaint.delay.

When prompted to add a value, enter the number 0.

Step 9: Close all windows and tabs. The changes will take effect when you restart Firefox.

These changes allow Firefox to make multiple server connections and will speed up page downloads for better, more efficient use of your broadband connection.

Gone are the days of colorimetric analysis of Munsell tetrads and triads to find that perfect color scheme. Enter, Color Schemer Studio, an application tool developed to help professionals find the perfect palette for every palate. Available for OSX and Windows. Check it out at colorschemer.com

Art at Hand

Chances are if you work in an office there are a number of recycle bins sitting around full of paper. If you happen to work in the design industry, those recycle bins are probably full of beautiful pieces of art. So, if you see something you like, pull it out and use it to wrap a gift or frame it to create a new piece of art for your office or home.

Trash to Treasure

Inspiration and ideas surround us and there are countless ways to turn trash into treasure. To find out more visit Danny Seo’s website for more suggestions on creating wrappings, tags and gifts from everyday materials. Seo is the author of Simply Green Giving and Simply Green Parties.