Validating the Qantas Media Awards' inaugural web site winners is more of a proof of concept for additional "criteria" for the annual netguide awards test (2004, 2005 and 2007). The additional tests I've added are as follows, including a basic rational
- Accessibility
- Given the complexity of accessibility testing, I've just used an automated test, it is by no means a comprehensive test!
- Layout
- Could have been slightly subjective, but most fell into one layout type or another.
- Encoding
- Interesting from the point of view of displaying macrons used for Māori.
- Page Size
- Thought it would be interesting to see commerical sites vs. the old NZ government guideline (Web document size).
For a full explaination and a chance to comment see my blog entry 'Validating the 2007 Qantas Media awards'.
News Website
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| NZ Herald |
Failed HTML 4.01 Transitional validation, 196 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 15 errors |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
286 kb |
| Scoop |
Failed HTML 4.01 Transitional validation, 128 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 13 errors, 281 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
348 kb |
| Stuff |
Failed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation, 128 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 11 errors, 6 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
iso-8859-1 |
436 kb |
Website Best Single News Report
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Stuff |
Failed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation, 128 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 11 errors, 6 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
iso-8859-1 |
436 kb |
| NZ Herald |
Failed HTML 4.01 Transitional validation, 196 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 15 errors |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
196 kb |
| Runway Reporter |
Failed XHTML 4.01 Transitional validation, 21 errors |
Passed CSS validation! |
Failed |
Table and Flash based |
iso-8859-1 |
26 kb |
| Scoop |
Failed HTML 4.01 Transitional validation, 128 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 13 errors, 281 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
348 kb |
Feature Website
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Hot Science |
Failed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation, 326 errors |
Passed CSS validation! |
Failed |
Table based |
iso-8859-1 |
436 kb |
| First Four Ships |
Failed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation, 23 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 15 errors |
Failed |
CSS based |
iso-8859-1 |
65 kb |
| Runway Reporter |
Failed XHTML 4.01 Transitional validation, 21 errors |
Passed CSS validation! |
Failed |
Table and Flash based |
iso-8859-1 |
26 kb |
Columnist-style Website
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Spare Room |
Failed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation, 37 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 2 errors, 87 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
356 kb |
Blog
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Public Address |
Passed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation! |
Passed CSS validation! |
Failed |
CSS based |
iso-8859-1 |
129 kb |
Sports Website
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Stuff |
Failed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation, 128 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 11 errors, 6 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
436 kb |
Web Design
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Radio New Zealand |
Passed XHTML 1.0 Strict validation! |
Failed CSS validation, 1 error, 231 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
117 kb |
Subscriber/Special Interest Website
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind |
Passed XHTML 1.0 Strict validation! |
Failed CSS validation, 1 error, 34 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
91 kb |
| GeoNet |
Passed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation! |
Failed CSS validation, 6 errors, 398 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
125 kb |
| Met Service |
Failed HTML 4.01 Transitional! |
Failed CSS validation, 184 errors, 189 warnings |
Failed |
Table based |
utf-8 |
144 kb |
Public Information Website
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Everybody |
Failed XHTML 1.0 Strict validation, 98 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 4 errors, 539 warnings |
Failed |
Table based |
utf-8 |
202 kb |
| Be There |
Failed HTML 4.01 Transitional, 24 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 3 errors, 164 warnings |
Failed |
Table based |
None! |
166 kb |
| IRD |
Failed HTML 4.01 Transitional, 4 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 3 errors, 492 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
121 kb |
Columnist-style Website
| Who |
HTML |
CSS |
Accessibility |
Layout |
Encoding |
Page Size |
| Spare Room |
Failed XHTML 1.0 Transitional validation, 37 errors |
Failed CSS validation, 2 errors, 87 warnings |
Failed |
CSS based |
utf-8 |
356 kb |
Please note
- Only the sites' frontpages were tested on 26 of May 2007.
- Just because a site's HTML and/or CSS validates does not necessarily mean that the site is "well built".
- Many complex issues can stop a site from validating e.g. a legacy CMS's, Ad systems, or silly things like forgeting to encode ampersands.
- Automed Accessibility testing is not a comprehensive test
- The page size a rough estimate, due to some sites using javascript/flash to load additional data (e.g. Ads).
- Comments and criticisms are very much welcome at the blog entry 'Validating the 2007 Qantas Media awards'.