Blog
Outlook 07 Preview and Code Analysis Update |
|
11.22.2009 We are excited to announce that we have recently made some drastic improvements to our Outlook 07 preview. We are hoping that this will give developers a better understanding of how to design and construct HTML and CSS emails that comply with Outlook's often frustrating MS Word engine. Get connected with Email on Acid for up-to-date news and information on the subject of email design, development, and testing!
|
Email on Acid Updates and New Features
We are excited to announce that we have just completed some enhancements to our email testing platform!
An Email Marketer’s Guide to Previewing Your Email Before You Send It
How to test your HTML email if you are not a programmer or web designer.
We have had a few people ask us how they can use our email testing simulation tool if they do not have access to their URL or HTML code. If you are an email marketer and you are using a third party service or application to create and manage your email campaigns, this article is for you.
Email Simulation API
Allow your customers to see an instant preview of their email in the top 15, most popular email clients using Email on Acid's API (Application Programming Interface).
Our API is completely customizable and you can utilize any or all of the features provided. Such features include the email preview in any of the email clients we support, our code analysis, the plain text generator, image blocking, and future spam analysis tools.
We currently offer two distinct integration options:
 |
Reseller Program The first is a reseller program designed to help you generate additional revenue from your current member base. As a reseller, you can mark up our flat rate per scan as much as you want. The flat rate is discounted based on monthly volume. Resellers have the option to private label or, for a discounted rate, they may use the existing Email on Acid brand header and footer. |
 |
Monthly Subscription The second integration option is a monthly subscription allowing for unlimited email tests (or scans). This program is designed to help you provide a value added service to your existing members. Monthly API subscribers pay a royalty fee based on volume of scans per month. |
At this time, we are open and flexible regarding our API and would be happy to discuss the best possible integration solution for you. You may even consider using a blend of the two options if it better suites your pricing model.
Read more about our api technology and usage ideas...
Announcing the Official Launch of Version 1.0!
After much anticipation, we are proud to announce that our online email testing tool is no longer in Beta! Our new and improved email simulation now includes the following enhancements...
Outlook 07 Preview and Code Analysis Update
We are excited to announce that we have recently made some drastic improvements to our Outlook 07 preview. We are hoping that this will give developers a better understanding of how to design and construct HTML and CSS emails that comply with Outlook's often frustrating MS Word engine.
What is an Email Testing “Discrepancy?”
In our email simulation tool, we use this terminology in two different ways.
1.) Acid Test Result Discrepancies - designed to identify exactly which lines of code are not supported for each email client.
2.) "Report a Discrepancy" Feature - intended for customer service and support. If you run an acid test and find inconsistencies between our simulation and actual email client results - we want to hear about it!
Click here to learn more about our email testing terminology and features regerding "discrepancies."
Simulating Errors in our Virtual Email Simulation
To avoid problems with your HTML/CSS email, we recommend that you test in the popular web browsers first.
When we initially built this tool for developers, we decided to include a "Code Analysis" feature which identifies which lines of code are not supported by each email client. This feature is not to be confused with a code validator. A code validator would identify issues with your HTML or CSS such as unfinished or invalid div and table elements.
Email Simulation - Web Browsers within Browsers
HTML email testing challenges...
As we faced off with the beta version of Email on Acid, we knew some challenges would be harder to deal with than others. The simple fact is that when our users run an email test in Firefox (for example) it is difficult for us to perfectly simulate a client like Outlook 03, Windows Live or Windows Mail because each of these examples are using an Internet Explorer engine to render emails. Unfortunately there is no clear solution to this issue aside from simulating some of the more obvious differences.
Default CSS in Web & Desktop Email Clients
It's important to beware!
It comes as no surprise that web clients use their own style sheets to render their pages. In the new version of Yahoo Mail and AIM Mail, emails are rendered inside an I-frame allowing for a fairly clean slate. However, in clients like G-Mail, Hotmail and Yahoo-Classic, they seem to make an attempt to reset browser defaults but several of their self-imposing styles are still carried over.
This issue may actually challenge the notion that you are always safe using the basics when it comes to tables and divs. In fact if you didn't know that you needed to overwrite certain styles using embedded or inline CSS, your end result may look much different than expected.
Get connected with Email on Acid for up-to-date news and information on the subject of email design, development, and testing!
