New site development is continuing well.
We're pretty much into bug fixing and things like data imports, creating the news archive and admin functions now.
There's no doubt, blogs and forums took longer than Toby estimated. So the reality is the launch is going to be rather later than I had led you all to believe - for which I apologise.
We're now looking at middle of next month for everything live and online.
My understanding is that this is a cast iron certainty - further drift ain't likely to get tolerated by any party!
What this also means is there is a short lull in the requirement for my full-time focus on the new site development. For this reason I feel I am able to answer a call from MCN (I am officially still on secondment from motorcyclenews.com) to bail them out of a pretty deep and unavaoidable hole. From Monday I'll be heading up the production team on MCN.
I've agreed to help out for just two weeks, to give them breathing space to re-organise.
I will be staying in minute-by-minute contact with the LRO new site development via all the usual routes. I may not be able to update the current site as often as I'd wish (but it won't be entirely neglected, I promise).
In the meantime, please keep testing the new site, I will see, and make the most of, all feedback you have to offer. And I'll still be looking in here, too.
The worrying thing is how little you might notice I'm gone!
Friday, October 20, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Forums ready for testing
Click the headline above and you'll be able to trial the new LRO forums.
Currently I see one or two errors - the most critical of which is the fact that the jump-to drop down doesn't work.
Names/passwords are also a bit jumbled up after a recent import.
To test them you'll need to set up your own temporary registration on the test site.
Have a go and let me know what you think here - or by posting on there in the general forum.
There's no guide yet but you can do pretty much what you can with the blogs - ie add pics, links, html snippets (and therefore video hosted online) and you can rate poster, report abuse, send private message and other good stuff.
I also note we've drifted again on a finish date - best estimate now is end of next week (approx Oct 27)
Currently I see one or two errors - the most critical of which is the fact that the jump-to drop down doesn't work.
Names/passwords are also a bit jumbled up after a recent import.
To test them you'll need to set up your own temporary registration on the test site.
Have a go and let me know what you think here - or by posting on there in the general forum.
There's no guide yet but you can do pretty much what you can with the blogs - ie add pics, links, html snippets (and therefore video hosted online) and you can rate poster, report abuse, send private message and other good stuff.
I also note we've drifted again on a finish date - best estimate now is end of next week (approx Oct 27)
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Share function added to blogs
Those of you who have been following developments re the new site will be pleased to know we're close to completing the blogs.
We've now added a 'Blog Watcher' function which allows you to invite friends and colleagues to read and contribute to your blog.
They will get an email alert when you add new posts, so they'll never miss something you think they might be interested in.
A few tables seem to still be breaking but the developers are on that.
We've extended the range of categories and keywords you can choose from when creating your blog.
Let us know if there's something you think we are missing.
WANT TO TRY OUT THE NEW BLOGS FOR YOURSELF? CLICK THE HEADLINE!
Regards
dc
david.cushman@emap.com
We've now added a 'Blog Watcher' function which allows you to invite friends and colleagues to read and contribute to your blog.
They will get an email alert when you add new posts, so they'll never miss something you think they might be interested in.
A few tables seem to still be breaking but the developers are on that.
We've extended the range of categories and keywords you can choose from when creating your blog.
Let us know if there's something you think we are missing.
WANT TO TRY OUT THE NEW BLOGS FOR YOURSELF? CLICK THE HEADLINE!
Regards
dc
david.cushman@emap.com
Monday, October 09, 2006
Now you can test video!
We've made it possible to show videos on your LRO test blog now.
There's an explanation of how on my 'how to use these blogs' blog.
Please give it a try and let me know what you think.
Start here: http://lro.stage3.rmg.russellsharpe.com/blogs/viewblog.ehtml?i=1052212482
Many thanks
There's an explanation of how on my 'how to use these blogs' blog.
Please give it a try and let me know what you think.
Start here: http://lro.stage3.rmg.russellsharpe.com/blogs/viewblog.ehtml?i=1052212482
Many thanks
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Archive function added
Our blogs have now had an archive function added, the search thing is in full effect and the developers are creating a limitation on the size of image that can uploaded.
Because so many people have been kind enough to help us test we've rapidly discovered flaws and elements which can make our blogs bother more user-friendly and easier to share.
Our latest estimate of completion of the whole site has had to be slightly revised as a result - but we're keen to get this stuff as right as possible before we inflict it on you!
So now, our guestimate is end of next week for the whole site, with a go live date of the early part of the following week.
Please keep your feedback coming. Volunteer testers will be recontacted again on Friday to be invited to test the updated blogs. Many thanks
Because so many people have been kind enough to help us test we've rapidly discovered flaws and elements which can make our blogs bother more user-friendly and easier to share.
Our latest estimate of completion of the whole site has had to be slightly revised as a result - but we're keen to get this stuff as right as possible before we inflict it on you!
So now, our guestimate is end of next week for the whole site, with a go live date of the early part of the following week.
Please keep your feedback coming. Volunteer testers will be recontacted again on Friday to be invited to test the updated blogs. Many thanks
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Blog search and picture sizing
We're adding an element to the blog image uploader to resize images if they go beyond a certain size - thanks to your feedback.
We're also in the process of adding a search to the blogs home page. We will also be adding a 'featured blogs' element.
Keep the feedback coming please.
We're also in the process of adding a search to the blogs home page. We will also be adding a 'featured blogs' element.
Keep the feedback coming please.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Classified ads online
Hello all,
I'm looking for some feedback and your brilliant ideas here.
If and when you are looking to sell your Land Rover, or some parts, how would you like to do it. How would you like LRO.com to help.
Is it important to you to have your ad in print in the mag as well as online? Does being able to add video to your classified ad turn your head?
What's the fair balance between the price you pay and the response you get? By which I mean, do you find free ads work - (if they aren't also listed in print). Where do you get the best response.
When you are looking for things to buy where do you prefer: in print, on a website, which websites? How do you like to ask questions about what you want to buy? text, email, phone, face to face?
What are your fears when you put anything for sale on line - or when you try to advertise it?
Is LRO a magazine/website you turn to when making your buying and selling decisions?
Do we just help you make decisions and then you make your buying choice elsewhere? If so, where do you go and what would make you finish the job on our site? What would you like us to do more of - and less of in the process?
Do you like to be able to haggle? Do you prefer a fixed price so everyone knows where they stand? How important is a quick sale to you?
Would you be prepared to pay more for your ad if your item sold at the right price in a shorter time?
What else matters when you are looking for a land rover to buy? What bothers you about adverts? Anything you have to say in this field is very, very welcome positive or negative.
It is of course, really useful market research for us, but it could also make the difference in making the items you want to sell, sell fast, or in finding the items you want to buy as efficiently as possible.
Many thanks
I'm looking for some feedback and your brilliant ideas here.
If and when you are looking to sell your Land Rover, or some parts, how would you like to do it. How would you like LRO.com to help.
Is it important to you to have your ad in print in the mag as well as online? Does being able to add video to your classified ad turn your head?
What's the fair balance between the price you pay and the response you get? By which I mean, do you find free ads work - (if they aren't also listed in print). Where do you get the best response.
When you are looking for things to buy where do you prefer: in print, on a website, which websites? How do you like to ask questions about what you want to buy? text, email, phone, face to face?
What are your fears when you put anything for sale on line - or when you try to advertise it?
Is LRO a magazine/website you turn to when making your buying and selling decisions?
Do we just help you make decisions and then you make your buying choice elsewhere? If so, where do you go and what would make you finish the job on our site? What would you like us to do more of - and less of in the process?
Do you like to be able to haggle? Do you prefer a fixed price so everyone knows where they stand? How important is a quick sale to you?
Would you be prepared to pay more for your ad if your item sold at the right price in a shorter time?
What else matters when you are looking for a land rover to buy? What bothers you about adverts? Anything you have to say in this field is very, very welcome positive or negative.
It is of course, really useful market research for us, but it could also make the difference in making the items you want to sell, sell fast, or in finding the items you want to buy as efficiently as possible.
Many thanks
Some fixes some errors
We've now added keywords so that users can select which categories they want their blog to appear in (a bit like tags) but the list hasn't been completed. If there are other bits that we should add, tell us so.
We're also working up the classified ad model. What kind of things would you want to see from your classified ads online? Would be great to hear your comments.
Back on the blogs, still having trouble with the first description field. Other faults we noticed on day one have been fixed and it's all getting a little easier to navigate.
Please keep the feedback coming.
We're also working up the classified ad model. What kind of things would you want to see from your classified ads online? Would be great to hear your comments.
Back on the blogs, still having trouble with the first description field. Other faults we noticed on day one have been fixed and it's all getting a little easier to navigate.
Please keep the feedback coming.
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