Riada Products Review

While McLuhan was discussing the impact of television, the impact on web sites using any of three Riada mediums - RiadaMelt, 1stRiadaHeadline, and RiadaBillboard - can be more than a little impressive.

What separates the products from similar Java^TM products is their flexibility, speed, dependability, and price. That doesn't leave a whole lot to criticize.

While there does seem to be some overlap in the products (mostly because of the large variety each offers), each has its own unique functions that may make you want to get all three. Here is a look at the products:

This is the newest of the trio and is good choice for delivering messages that require either words or graphics or both. As with all three products, you start a RiadaMelt project by determining how much space you want the applet to take on your web page.

From there, you work your way across the tabs, choosing the style, timing (amount of delay between screens), backgrounds, foregrounds and borders (none, raised, beveled, flat or pointed) for the applet.

The next step is selecting the first "Melt" - or message - you want to show, including the in-and-out transitions (there are 12 to choose from), the text, font, color and link.

You then can add as many "Melts" as you wish, choosing those same options for each. When you finish, choose the "Publish" button, and the program will give you the option of copying the HTML code to the clipboard to paste into a page, or you can create a new HTML page. Either way (and with all three products), the appropriate Java class codes must be in the same directory as the HTML page for the applets to work online.

RiadaMelt can be used to make banners for the internet in the standard size, but you can also make them about any size you want, horizontal or vertical. Users also have the option of using animated graphics, having the applet read from an external data file, and many more possibilities.

Headline also allows users to use words, graphics, or both for their message. Need an animated banner? How about a scroller? Perhaps a slide show with both graphics and words? This is the choice for you.

Its basic operation is like that of Melt (and Billboard). Begin by choosing the flexible global features, such as size, borders, colors, and then make the choices necessary for each headline.

Like RiadaMelt, Headline's applets can include dynamic features, such as time and date that can update live while the headlines are being displayed. Headlines can also be programmed to run on certain days of the week.

Headline offers a plethora (in this case, that's about 10) of scrolling styles, an unlimited number of headlines, random or sequential order, and many other options.

This is a great program for presenting news about your site, your company, or your product.

If you haven't figured it out by now, all three of these products function in about the same manner, which, fortunately, is easy. Like the others, Billboard lets you preview what you are building at any time during the construction process.

The difference in Billboard is that it is strictly a graphic presentation instrument. Rotating banners are a snap, and the program offers more than 20 types of transitions and styles.

It also allows users to set the size, enabling the use of horizontal or vertical billboards. As with all of these products, appearances and transitions are smooth, and links to frames are supported.

This is perhaps my favorite of the three because it makes rotating banners about as easy to create and put into use as is possible.

Here is a look at some details about these products:

	RiadaMelt	1stRiadaHeadline	RiadaBillboard
Screenshot of Sample Output
Space Required	3 MB	3 MB	3 MB
Applet Size	13K	16K	13K
One-Site License *	Free	Free	Free
Standard License (up to 5 domains)	$20	$22	$22
Unlimited License	$37	$42	$42
Worth having?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Where can I see live samples and buy the programs?	http://www.riada.com
* Free licenses display a Riada advertisement. Note: Prices may be subject to current exchange rate.