Discussions

BlogCatalog August Updates!

Posted by thegoodknife • 8/28/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: announcement, blogcatalog, maintentance, update

Hey Everyone,

We just rolled out a whole bunch of the updates we have been quietly working on this month and i though i would quickly go through and explain whats new until I get a chance to write a blog post for tomorrow.

Updates include:

* Updated Blog Listings - we've cleaned up the blog listing pages to put more focus on your blog's content and similar blogs.

* Neighborhoods are now Favorites -- Since the creation of blog neighborhoods there has always been some confusion over just what that means, we've changed neighborhoods to favorite. Like a blog? Add it to your favorites!

* Manage Blogs -- We have updated the Manage Blogs page to give you more information about the status of your blog as well as the ability to sort the order they appear on your profile. just drag and drop to change the order. its that easy!

* Discussion Editing -- tired of seeing typos in discussion titles? we've finally added the ability to edit the title and tags for a discussion you have created.

* Mobile -- did you know there was an iPhone version of BlogCatalog?! learn more at www.blogcatalog.com/mobile/

* Default thumbshot images -- we've created a graphic for those thumbshots that we just havent gotten to yet. no more blank white boxes.

So there you have it. Take a look around and then le us know what you think about the updates? love them? hate them? let us know in the comments below!

User Comments

8/28/08

clioandme

Still exploring the first two items in your list. I notice in the fans view for a blog (a page I had never seen before) that the button to remove selected users still refers to neighborhoods, not favorites. (But I'm not really sure why one would remove someone in this way.)

I also see that the comments and reviews really stand out now.

[reply]
1. 8/28/08
  
  thegoodknife
  
  There are a lot of reminants of the neighborhoods we are still cleaning up. There are a lot of nooks and crannies in the site that stuff gets lost in.
8/28/08

AngieA

Fabulous Darling, Just Fabulous

[reply]
8/28/08

DrowseyMonkey

Cool, I like the neighbourhood name change. And being able to move your blogs around in the 'manage' section is a good idea.

I'm going to miss the typos in discussion headings tho. That was often some of the best stuff. Remember "I'll cooment on your blog" ??

I'm easily amused, obviously.

[reply]
8/28/08

AngieA

www.blogcatalog.com/mobile/ is most amazing.

[reply]
8/28/08

clioandme

I like the "manage your blog" page. Reordering is cool. Just tried it. I'm not sure I would have figured out that it's drag and drop, if you hadn't explained that here. Maybe you need a note somewhere on the the page?

I can imagine the new discussion editing features will be handy.

[reply]
8/28/08

weemundo

Fantastice , but my thumbshots get updated after weeeeeeeks

[reply]
8/28/08

weblogian

thegoodknife
"Manage your blog" was one of my request to you
Thanks alot

The drag and drop is fantastic!

[reply]
8/28/08

voodooKobra

[* Discussion Editing -- tired of seeing typos in discussion titles? we've finally added the ability to edit the title and tags for a discussion you have created.]

Now if only we could use <blockquote> to quote authors, or perhaps an auto-parsing quote. (Such as a tag like this: [QUOTE:551891])

[reply]
1. 8/28/08
  
  clioandme
  
  I just use a text editor to produce something that looks like old school quoting in emails.
2. 8/28/08
  
  voodooKobra
  
  I use []s around the post I'm quoting, but fancy quoting is something I use frequently elsewhere on the internet.
8/28/08

HelloAnnie

Discussion editing: very nice touch - there are already 1024 threads in here.

[reply]
8/28/08

Rich

"An iPhone version of BlogCatalog?!?"

Really, you need to remind Tony to tell me these things! I've been on the road enough that I feel like I've missed out! Now, I don't have too.

[reply]
8/28/08

PetLvr

I laughed .. I cried ..

Updated Blog Listings - we've cleaned up the blog listing pages to put more focus on your blog's content and similar blogs.

Where exactly is this blog listing page again? Is that the one where people can RATE people and their blog? // I thought you were planning to remove the rating, and based on yesterday/today's thread - certain people don't want to be rated.

Of course, you can always add those other ratings I suggested on your September upgrades

[reply]
1. 8/28/08
  
  PetLvr
  
  PS: after future upgrades .. can you set that downtime.php page to autorefresh to the front page? I know I could have clicked the image on that page - but, in the background I was working while I was waiting .. and clicking refresh .. refresh .. refresh ... refresh ... and all that refreshed was that downtime page! lol blogcatalog.com/downtime.php
8/28/08

DrowseyMonkey

So...who are my "fans" ? People I add to my favourites or people who add me to their favourites? Or neither of those things.

[reply]
8/29/08

jan4insight

I just want to say, I think BC Admin is doing a great job! In the few months I've been on BC, not only have I gotten thoroughly hookedbut I've also gotten spoiled ~ BC is my gold standard for networking sites & discussion forums. When I go to other discussion sites I'm part of, I'm usually disappointed - I've even suggested their admin's come over here to learn how to set up a great site. Maybe that's why i haven't gotten too many friends on those other forums:-D

Any way, that's just a long way of saying Thanks for doing a great job!

[reply]
8/29/08

timethief

@thegoodknife
You were right.
I ♥ the changes!
You guys rock!

P.S. I agree with absolutely everything that Jan4insight has said above.

[reply]
8/29/08

ChicaX

Awesome work ya'll!

[reply]
8/29/08

crawler

I don't think there has been much changes frankly speaking that doesn't mean BC has lost its charm, it is one of the best out there, I am speaking about the latest put up THIS THING there and put up THIS THING here things, besides the add editing button to the DISCUSSION posts and the mobile part I like it, you are always in touch in case you need to be.

You need to really feel the difference than being getting explained what features you have changed, but I appreciate the efforts behind, I know it's a tough Job.

[reply]
8/29/08

Theresa111

Well ... I can see the hard work and critiquing that you all have been brainstorming. It looks a bit more organized and cleaner. Thank you for your endeavors to make our BC even more user friendly.

Now, if I could just remember what Oscar taught me about how to add a widget to my wordpress. Hum... perhaps he will call me sometime tomorrow and refresh me memory? (said with an Irish accent) Say around EST afternoon?

[reply]
8/29/08

crawler

One more thing I would like to add, the tag cloud has been placed far below on the @html page that is just above the adsense, instead of showing related blogs higher up the order, it's better the Tag cloud is pushed up, coz it explains further what actually the blog comprises of.

[reply]
1. 8/29/08
  
  thegoodknife
  
  you're right the tag cloud should be higher up. We will get this fixed soon.
8/29/08

fated82

cool!!!!

[reply]
8/29/08

crawler

Thanks for your reply, I am happy Cheers !

[reply]
8/29/08

thegoodknife

bumping this for the morning crowd

[reply]
1. 8/29/08
  
  voodooKobra
  
  So, what do you think of my [QUOTE:552527] idea?
2. 8/29/08
  
  bladeaxe4
  
  thank you for such care of bumping it for us !
3. 8/29/08
  
  voodooKobra
  
  I'll take that as a "It sucks."
4. 8/29/08
  
  thegoodknife
  
  it super sucks. Not really, its great but i'm wondering how many people would actually know how to use it.
5. 8/29/08
  
  voodooKobra
  
  You could make another javascript link
8/29/08

ThriftShopRomantic

We can edit the titles now? Oh THANK YOU Tiger.

Proof as we might, sometimes those typos creep in, and there was nothing we could do.

[reply]
8/29/08

Anok

I awoke this morning to a pleasantly updated BC - I love the changes guys and gal!

[reply]
8/29/08

kdawg68

Hey, why isn't this in shameless promotions?

Just kidding - love the blog listings/blog management updates. Very cool indeed. And those of us with dyslexia thank you for the ability to edit discussion thread titles.

[reply]
1. 8/29/08
  
  thegoodknife
  
  I actually found the discussion title typos entertaining, which is probably why it took me so long to change that feature.
2. 8/29/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  I miss the typos too.
  
  I asked a question above about 'fans' ... anyone know the answer?
3. 8/29/08
  
  thegoodknife
  
  fans are people who added your blog to their favorites, hence fans of your blog.
4. 8/29/08
  
  kdawg68
  
  Edit: The tiger beat me to it.
5. 8/29/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  Ahhh...thank you
8/29/08

katscandles

Thank you for the updates!
These will be great!

[reply]
8/29/08

melindaville

I have not been here long but I have to say, I love what I see of the new updates!

[reply]
8/29/08

Arcticulates

Thank-you!

[reply]
8/29/08

PlantBuddy

I'd like to know why my thumbshot is black. Looked for information in Help
but there was no explanation about black thumbshots. Please advise.

[reply]
1. 8/30/08
  
  timethief
  
  @PlantBuddy
  I see a photo avatar now. Is it possible that the avatar you refer to was transparent or contained a portion that was? Transparency will sometimes render as black.
8/30/08

polishedu3

Am I just missing something here, or did you move the rankings section. And if so where did you put it?

By the way the new changes so far have been great!

[reply]
1. 8/30/08
  
  timethief
  
  Click the "manage blogs" button to find the rankings.
8/30/08

RecycleCindy

Everything looks cleaner and a bit easier to find things now. Thanks for all the hard work you do here to make BC great for all of us.

[reply]
8/30/08

sayzlim

I am using my k810i with opera mini to access blogcatalog mobile, but whenever I want to view the "main discussion", it always end up with error. I wonder why, and BC likes to time out lately. It always ask me to have a drink, and I have get 3 drinks already.

[reply]
8/30/08

polishedu3

Thanks, Timethief!

[reply]
9/03/08

beautysecrets

great stuff

[reply]
9/03/08

owengray

Terrific changes. Keep up the good work, folks!

[reply]
9/03/08

PlantBuddy

My thumbshot which was showing as a black square is now fixed. Thanks.

[reply]
9/03/08

CrystalRaven

Great changes!
Now as a newbie I can just re-start wandering around lost lmao (this is a good thing, serendipity)
ok trying to find the fans thing

[reply]
9/03/08

netbobz

Again a great job!

Thanks, I'm loving it!

[reply]
9/07/08

ruzi123

Thanks you

[reply]
9/07/08

wilbau

Thank you very much for this upgrade

[reply]
9/07/08

gosmelltheflowers

Cheers for the update and keep up the great work, gang.

[reply]
9/10/08

ghnam

Thanks

[reply]