Chris
01-18-2004, 11:42 AM
I thought I would take a moment to discuss new software which will be coming in about a month or so. JW brought up some of the features that Eve employs in the other thread located... here (http://checkmate-boats.com/groupee/forums?a=tpc&s=8626072361&f=1406095561&m=716006226). These are features that a number of you have also been asking for so we might as well start the discussion, and see whatever everyone thinks.
So JW and everyone, we will soon have the ability to add some of the most requested features in the not too distant future. A new message board platform "Eve" is scheduled to be released on January 26th. Infopop said it will take them a week or two to convert all the sites to Eve but the bottom line is that in less than a month we will be converted. And all sites will be converted to the new software, we have no choice. But the good news is that things will more or less look and function exactly as they have in the past.
What the "Eve" platform will give us the ability to do, is create a Premium membership service which is called "Thrive". What Thrive does is allow us to create a package of features that members could get for a small fee. Features such as a chat function, a photo album, maybe even a members only forum.
Here is a few of the features and how they would work.
The photo album feature would allow a member to have their own piece of space on the server which they would have the ability to upload files to. Each member would control/manage their space, so what you use it for, would really be up to each member. You could upload pics, avatars, custom photos or even a small movie. The space wouldn't be unlimited, so it would be up to each member manage their space as they see fit. And it would be up to me to determine how much space each member would get.
There is also a chat option coming called "Chime". A chat room is something people have asked for in the past. Although I must say that from my experience, I've never seen message board yet that has a chat function, where people actually use it.
So the photo album and Chime would be the two main pieces a member would recieve for a membership. Collectively, we could also come up with some other perks to go along with it. For example a members only forum. Which would allow premium members a place of their own to post. Another feature that MIGHT and I stress the word MIGHT, be possible for you to get is a @Checkmate-Boats.com email address as part of the membership. Infopop have also indicated that there are more features coming, but only after they get these key modules functioning first.
Payment for the premium membership/features would be done through a payment system which would be part of the board itself and administrated through Infopop. They would simply deduct any donations/payments received from our monthly bill.
My opinion about the program is that I'm easy. If you guys want these features then we'll look at implementing them. If you don't, then we'll continue as is.
I KNOW, people would like the ability to upload photos, the question has always been about how to pay for it. We have no sponsers and we don't sell merchandise or accept donations. When we host photos and then display them it eats up TONS of bandwidth. And bandwidth is expensive. When I post photos I always see a spike the first few days when everyone goes into the thread and (downloads) views them. Then once they have seen them and the files are on their hard drive the bandwidth goes back down again. Part of this is also that people tend to look at threads that have new replies, but I digress.
Anyway, that is what's coming in the next few weeks to a month. If enough people want the features then you'll probably get it for a fee. If you don't then we'll continue as we have albeit with updated software called eve.
Please feel free to ask any questions, make suggestions or give feedback about what you think about Eve.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.checkmate-boats.com/images/avatars/Forums4.jpg
Webmaster
Checkmate-Boats.com-The Fanatics Home!
[This message was edited by Chris on January 18, 2004 at 11:19 AM.]
So JW and everyone, we will soon have the ability to add some of the most requested features in the not too distant future. A new message board platform "Eve" is scheduled to be released on January 26th. Infopop said it will take them a week or two to convert all the sites to Eve but the bottom line is that in less than a month we will be converted. And all sites will be converted to the new software, we have no choice. But the good news is that things will more or less look and function exactly as they have in the past.
What the "Eve" platform will give us the ability to do, is create a Premium membership service which is called "Thrive". What Thrive does is allow us to create a package of features that members could get for a small fee. Features such as a chat function, a photo album, maybe even a members only forum.
Here is a few of the features and how they would work.
The photo album feature would allow a member to have their own piece of space on the server which they would have the ability to upload files to. Each member would control/manage their space, so what you use it for, would really be up to each member. You could upload pics, avatars, custom photos or even a small movie. The space wouldn't be unlimited, so it would be up to each member manage their space as they see fit. And it would be up to me to determine how much space each member would get.
There is also a chat option coming called "Chime". A chat room is something people have asked for in the past. Although I must say that from my experience, I've never seen message board yet that has a chat function, where people actually use it.
So the photo album and Chime would be the two main pieces a member would recieve for a membership. Collectively, we could also come up with some other perks to go along with it. For example a members only forum. Which would allow premium members a place of their own to post. Another feature that MIGHT and I stress the word MIGHT, be possible for you to get is a @Checkmate-Boats.com email address as part of the membership. Infopop have also indicated that there are more features coming, but only after they get these key modules functioning first.
Payment for the premium membership/features would be done through a payment system which would be part of the board itself and administrated through Infopop. They would simply deduct any donations/payments received from our monthly bill.
My opinion about the program is that I'm easy. If you guys want these features then we'll look at implementing them. If you don't, then we'll continue as is.
I KNOW, people would like the ability to upload photos, the question has always been about how to pay for it. We have no sponsers and we don't sell merchandise or accept donations. When we host photos and then display them it eats up TONS of bandwidth. And bandwidth is expensive. When I post photos I always see a spike the first few days when everyone goes into the thread and (downloads) views them. Then once they have seen them and the files are on their hard drive the bandwidth goes back down again. Part of this is also that people tend to look at threads that have new replies, but I digress.
Anyway, that is what's coming in the next few weeks to a month. If enough people want the features then you'll probably get it for a fee. If you don't then we'll continue as we have albeit with updated software called eve.
Please feel free to ask any questions, make suggestions or give feedback about what you think about Eve.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.checkmate-boats.com/images/avatars/Forums4.jpg
Webmaster
Checkmate-Boats.com-The Fanatics Home!
[This message was edited by Chris on January 18, 2004 at 11:19 AM.]