R2 Is Here

Hi folks...here is a long-awaited update on some new Journals features.

As I mentioned in my previous post, this was supposed to be a heads-up letting you know about the changes ahead of time, but I got the dates messed up, so here's what we've got.

First off, I haven't said much about specific release dates previously because they always move. For example, this release had been significantly delayed due to problems found in testing -- the launch date had moved so many times, I wanted to wait until the day before we were sure to launch before I said anything.

It typically works better when you don't screw up the date.

As to specific R2 problems, here are some updates:

* Spellcheck: This is only supported for Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers, so if you're using another browser, you probably won't be able to use spellcheck.

* Owner/Edit Buttons Not Appearing: Some AOL in-client users aren't seeing their blue owner buttons for creating entries or editing their Journals. The tech folks are investigating. In the meantime, a workaround is using a standalone browser, like Internet Explorer, that's separate from your AOL client.

If you are experiencing other problems, please let me know.

Next, I know you're unhappy with the new 728x90 ad banners on top of all AOL Journals. I presented my best arguments to my management as to why we were better off leaving things as they were, but as you can see, I was not persuasive enough.

A tiny comfort is that since the ad infrastructure was already in place, it required very little work to turn them on.

Next, this release, called the R2 release, is the first of a series of releases that you will be seeing on close to a monthly basis. R3 is scheduled for December; R4 for January and R5 for February. All dates and features are subject to change, so I don't want to get too specific, but here is what we're working on:

Custom Skins - The ability to customize the look and feel of your Journal with graphic templates and a drag-and-drop interface
All About Me Character Limit -- The ability to have more characters in your All About Me area
Moblogging -- Mobile blogging, this will allow you to send pictures, text and eventually video to your blog
Shared Blogging-- The ability to have mulitple authors to a blog
A Whole Bunch of Other Updates -- Including a lot of infrastructure changes you hopefully won't notice; updates to give you better rostering for your Journals, and more

Now that the R2 release is out of the way (barring the pending fixes mentioned above), the following releases should go a lot more smoothly. I will keep you in the loop -- as I mentioned, dates move and features shift, so I will try to tell you a day or two before a firm install date.

I will also try to talk more about the new, shorter development cycles later today.

In the meantime, please keep sending me your feedback and problem reports. Thanks -- Joe

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This entry has 45 comments: (Add your own)

#45 Comment from smilzalot72272
11/21/05 3:24 PM | Permalink

Um yeah I cant seem to post a blog. Im sure I'm not the only one. Can ya tell me if there is something I can do to correct the problem myself or is this an AOL thing? Thanks alot
#44 Comment from lrttklly
11/21/05 8:33 AM | Permalink

I still can not post entries.

The blinking banners are difficult for me due to neurological problems from the lupus. I can't read my own blog.
:(
I am sure this is an even bigger problem for my visually impaired readers.
From a miserable AOL blogger,
Loretta

Life with Lupus
Loretta's Salon
Finding a Voice
Life with Lupus Resources
#43 Comment from stinaismami
11/20/05 3:13 PM | Permalink

My alerts are down to non existant~~and as for my own journal....I deleted it.Then when I called AOL to cancel,the guy acted like what I was telling him of the banner ads was the first he has ever heard of it.I made alot of my online friends through journals and hate to see this happening.......when and if a solution is found and made I would love to come back but now alot of AOHELL's best journals are gone or blacked out and I see no reason to stay.
#42 Comment from bhbner2him
11/20/05 5:18 AM | Permalink

I've sat back and watched this week...and looked around....and researched a little. Seems this could've been done in a way that would have caused much less controversy, heartache and division. (Does anyone at management know what a warm, sensitive and caring community they had in J-land?!) Why couldn't they have extended the courtesy of informing everyone that ads were coming? Why, if they think they are so very necessary, can't they at least give us a list to chose from or something? (I freely and blatantlly advertised AOL School because I thought it deserved it!) I guess what troubles me most on a personal level is should they one day flash a banner across my journal that directly or indirectly opposes my own world view, values and convictions will they replace it with something else once i complain??! - Barbara
http://journals.aol.com/bhbner2him/LifeFaithinCaneyhead/entries/1735
#41 Comment from narwood25
11/20/05 12:04 AM | Permalink

I am having an issue with the text in my journal. I can not use the ' in any of my words so if I was to type DON'T the ' will be a box. This is what the word don't looks like in my journal if I use the '. donÃ¢ÂÂt. Why? Can you please find out and let me know. Right now my grammer looks like I did not pass 5th grade! LOL

~Nicole
http://journals.aol.com/narwood25/Justsillyme/

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R2 Is Here