You might ask: what is a Webslice? It is a chunk of information, allowing you to stay up-to-date with the latest news without actually needing open a website. They are added to special toolbars (special because they usually require a specific version of a browser, like IE 8). But otherwise, the content inside itâ??s just plain old HTML. When a WebSlice is added to the toolbar, it will be represented as a clickable drop-down area, allowing you to click on it and then see a specially designed small-scale version of the website. For example, my website provides a webslice for BNR exchange rates , allowing you to keep up with latest information available.
Usually, while hovering to an area webslice-enabled, the browser will show a specific icon â?? developed by Microsoft and symbolizing this technology. There are few design guidelines that you need to follow, quoted from Microsoft website :
- The icon must be used in its entirety as shown in these guidelines.
- The icon must appear by itself with minimum spacing (25% the height of the icon) between each side of the icon and any other graphical or textual elements.
- The (green) color version of the icon is recommended. If the color version is not practicable, you may use a black & white version of the icon.
- The icon may not be distorted, warped, or displayed in any aspect ratio except the 1:1 ratio.
- Do not flip or rotate the icon.
- Do not use the icon as a repeating pattern or background element.
- The icon must be represented at 100% opacity.
Today, it is unimaginable that a Web site not to provide content updates through Really Simple Syndication (RSS) news feeds. This feature, that became quite obsolete yet omnipresent, requires a Web site to duplicate some content as a special XML file in a certain standardized format, called a feed. To this feed a news reader application can attach, download and check for updates. Opposite to this, a Web Slice enables users, in my case, to subscribe to exchange rates directly within a Web page . Thus, a separate feed file is not required. This way, users can monitor the content changes and view only the important, the updated part of the Web page on which they are interested on directly from the Favorites bar (the improved Links toolbar) of Windows Internet Explorer 8.
The draw back is that Firefox doesnâ??t know by itself to read these Webslice, thus it requires a plug-in to do this.
