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Post by Rob on Dec 22, 2010 17:40:19 GMT -5
wow, it's gorgeous
other admins: comment on this with anything else that should be added/changed before implementation
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Post by Insane_Zang on Dec 22, 2010 18:37:38 GMT -5
I'm hoping mods count too cause here's my opinion:
I still think a check box should be implemented for people who are already active. This is more for new members (even if we aren't really getting any right now). The about us obviously has to be more than Lorem Ipsum
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2010 18:39:05 GMT -5
Maybe integrate the SPOTM/Pogotribe YouTube and/or Twitter accounts in some way? Could you try uploading it to a Dropbox? like this, so we don't have to download it. Is the one extra click to open it with your browser too much effort?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2010 19:30:47 GMT -5
Twitter has API's that allow integration, so it shouldn't be hard. I'm certain it is possible to fetch an RSS feed from an user's videos on YouTube, so that shouldn't be a problem either. The biggest problem will obviously be fetching the threads' titles and links from the forums, but an alternative is to make it manually and update the thread's list (perhaps weekly). Of course, for that, instead of a 10 items list, only 1 or 2 projects or other thread specifics should be "featured" on the front page, with perhaps a small resume, making it look nice. (btw, which are the YouTube and Twitter accounts?) Have in mind that all I made is 100% static code which does not update in any way. I don't have enough knowledge in the area of PHP nor JavaScript to be able to make this page dynamically. Nonetheless, having in account the requirements of the page, it should be easy for someone to make a script in php which automatically fetches RSS feeds or uses the Twitter API. If you make a nice replacement for the Lorum Ipsum text, I'll add it to the mockups. Regarding the check box, if everybody wants it, I'll try and make a nice design for it, but this is not like a welcome screen from an app, it is more of a landing page, for both new and old users (at least as I've designed it so far). Info about the tribe to new users, the latest updates for old users. The most correct thing to do in this case would be to bookmark the forum's main page instead. The forums would have a link to the main page and the main page would have a link to the forums. Separate pages with separate functions, you bookmark the ones you need. At least it's how I see it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2010 19:44:33 GMT -5
There are quite a few actually... for Twitter twitter.com/SPOTheMoon as it has cool updates from SPOTM. YouTube... we're not especially active but youtube.com/thepogotribe. Keeping the thread list updated weekly shouldn't be a problem... provided someone reminds us if we forget.
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Post by Freddy on Dec 22, 2010 22:01:27 GMT -5
Could you try uploading it to a Dropbox? like this, so we don't have to download it. Is the one extra click to open it with your browser too much effort? It's actually easier to upload too. And you don't have to reupload new versions. The link auto-redirects to the new version. Try Dropbox. Really. It's one of the few really awesome things you can get for free on the internet. </off-topic> I also think there should be a checkbox. Probably in the profile settings (can you do that?), or even better, only show this page for non-registered visitors.
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Post by qooqǝɯɐƃ on Dec 22, 2010 22:49:08 GMT -5
Yeah, my impression of Zang's idea was specifically a n00b information page, to give them the right idea about SPOTM before they start posting and such. What you made though is more of a page to update old members and to inform new members. I think it's trying to do too much, it's a little cluttered with all the new posts at the bottom and that may take away from the n00b guide. And yeah, someone should write a "What we're about" description. Zang perhaps?
[/my opinions]
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Post by Insane_Zang on Dec 22, 2010 23:19:29 GMT -5
I'll get around to it when I get home
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 8:54:59 GMT -5
Made a new update, it has a more detailed structure for forum threads posted (thus reducing the amount of threads too), integrates the YouTube RSS feed into the footer bar (theoretically) and has a less cluttered look. Is the one extra click to open it with your browser too much effort? It's actually easier to upload too. And you don't have to reupload new versions. The link auto-redirects to the new version. Try Dropbox. Really. It's one of the few really awesome things you can get for free on the internet. I will consider using Dropbox, but currently I have no account, nor any use I think I'd give it (although I do know about some uses it can be used for). I usually spend a lot of time considering things before doing them, and making a Dropbox account won't be an exception. I also think there should be a checkbox. Probably in the profile settings (can you do that?), or even better, only show this page for non-registered visitors. Unfortunately that is hardly possible as it would be necessary to make one domain (southpoleofthemoon.com) read a cookie from another domain (pogotribe.proboards.com), and that is incredibly hard, if not impossible. For this to work, it would be a checkbox in the front page, which would set a cookie in the user's browser. Nothing else. Yeah, my impression of Zang's idea was specifically a n00b information page, to give them the right idea about SPOTM before they start posting and such. What you made though is more of a page to update old members and to inform new members. I think it's trying to do too much, it's a little cluttered with all the new posts at the bottom and that may take away from the n00b guide. I am making a landing page based on what I see everywhere. Landing pages are made both to be (only slightly) informative and to provide all the news to the users. I'm making this page accordingly. In my opinion, a "n00b guide" shouldn't be on the main page, but instead in a place where it can be more complete and detailed. Of course this page should be clearly linked from the main page, so new users clearly see it, and that is what I did in the mockups with the "Learn more about us on the FAQ!" link after the little resume of ourselves. Attachments:
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Post by Freddy on Dec 23, 2010 10:50:27 GMT -5
It's getting awesomer by the minute ;D
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Post by Rob on Dec 23, 2010 18:28:17 GMT -5
Regarding the checkbox issue: we could just put a note on the landing page somewhere saying "Don't want to see this page every time you want to go to the forums? Bookmark pogotribe.proboards.com instead!" Or I could talk to some people and/or myself figure out some clever trick to do the checkbox deal. But radicallyBlue is quite correct about it just being a cookie. But... maybe Patrick could help us out with integration.
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Post by Freddy on Dec 24, 2010 0:44:49 GMT -5
Regarding the checkbox issue: we could just put a note on the landing page somewhere saying "Don't want to see this page every time you want to go to the forums? Bookmark pogotribe.proboards.com instead!" Or I could talk to some people and/or myself figure out some clever trick to do the checkbox deal. But radicallyBlue is quite correct about it just being a cookie. But... maybe Patrick could help us out with integration. My favorite cookies apart from #cookies are internet cookies :3 Although that'd be a nice solution. southpoleofthemoon.com = landing page, pogotribe.proboards.com = forums.
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Post by Rob on Dec 24, 2010 3:15:40 GMT -5
Yes, Freddy, but many people don't realize the difference due to instant redirect. It would just need to be made clear, that's all.
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Post by newschooled on Dec 24, 2010 9:58:56 GMT -5
This is some amazing work, guys. Well done, chaps! ;D
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Post by Ferrrrrre on Dec 24, 2010 14:44:55 GMT -5
IT LOOKS AWESOME ... nothing to add
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Post by SwimFellow on Dec 24, 2010 15:28:22 GMT -5
IT LOOKS AWESOME ... nothing to add
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Post by Sean on Dec 24, 2010 16:19:10 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2010 20:41:12 GMT -5
As everybody is pleased with the appearance, I decided to give you a late Christmas present and started making the back end. Basically, it grabs the content from currently 4 xml files, and displays them in a single web page. I'm not satisfied with my crude code so far, but I'm glad to say it is working (which is far better than anything I have done so far with xml in php). You need apache and php to run this, but you don't need any database whatsoever. Try it and tell me what you think. Next will be grabbing and displaying Youtube's and Twitter's RSS feeds and to decide on a system to display the news. If you have any ideas, tell me so. Attachments:
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Post by Kevak on Dec 26, 2010 10:23:47 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2010 10:01:31 GMT -5
New major changes on the back end. The featured projects and debates listed are now stored on RSS feeds. The back end now fetches Twitter and YouTube feeds "automagically" so there is no need to work on manually updating those lists. I also took templating apart from the main php, so it can be more easily switched and maintained. At last, I implemented a basic caching system I found. What is missing is simply to decide on a way to store and show the news on the page. Once again, I'm considering to use RSS feeds. Perhaps I'll also implement an administration page for the admins, although that might bring security risks. If you have no problem in managing xml files manually, tell me so. If you know php take a look at the code and give me ideas on how to improve it and optimize it (I really need someone to give me tips on how to optimize it). Tell me what you think. Attachments:
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