I'm working hard at making the Almost Georgetown code better in version 2.0, and I wanted to take a couple minutes to discuss the some of the coolest features that I'll be introducing.

Audiences
One of them is called the concept of "audiences." When I implemented Almost Georgetown I assumed that I would have a number of entries that I would want to post to certain groups of people only. The problem is that this isn't exactly how a blog works; also, it didn't give me enough control over who got an entry and who didn't.

I wanted to make your user account more relevant, and provide new tools. In the next revision, I will revolutionize the concept with a new feature called audiences. With audiences, I'll be able to group people and target specific blog entries based on their grouping. Also, you will be able to add or remove yourself from certain groups, meaning that you'll be able to decide what entries you want to read and what entries you'd rather leave for others.

The benefit is that entries will become more relevant to you, the reader, than they would have been before. You can block out certain entries, for example the PHP entries (if you're not a coder), or read everything. It's up to you. Also, it will let me get a little bit more personal in my entries, since I can target them to specific readers, rather than worrying about the whole world seeing them.

User Profiles
Lots of modern blogs let users customize a little profile for themselves. In the next version, I will allow you to do the same thing. You'll be able to display (or opt not to display) your location, a small icon (usually called an avatar), and some other information. You'll also be able to use this personal profile as a way to follow and be followed by other commenters - much like the Twitter model. So, if you like what my mom says or what Cale says, you'll be able to track all those user's comments on your personal page!

Anonymous Comments
This isn't directed at my known readers, but at my unknown readers. A lot more people read than just those who comment, and I want to give the anonymous readers a chance to express their thoughts too. With just an email address and a comment, people from around the world will be invited to post their comments (subject to approval to prevent spam) and express their ideas.

Why the e-mail address? Even if the comments are anonymous, I'd like to try and build some sort of relationship with my readers. It won't ever be published and I'll never use it for illicit purposes. Also, it's part of my effort to prevent spam comments (I can block certain e-mail addresses if they're consistently linked to spam posts).

Georgetown Planet
I have a lot of blogs that I read and enjoy. And I want to see that you have an opportunity to read them too. So, I'm working on a blog feed aggregator that will take parts of blogs from all over and let you have access to them. See Planet Chris (http://shiflett.org/planet) for an example.

I haven't finalized a release date yet, but I will be talking about it more as we get closer. I'm excited, and you should be, too!

4:31 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Blog Administration, New Features

Occasionally I'll get a few e-mails from people asking me to implement a specific feature here on the blog. When I get them I do everything I can to implement the requests, because usually it makes things easier for people who use the site.

However, I have determined that it is time to close revisions on this codebase, and I will be rewriting the codebase using skills I have acquired over the last year. My goal is to produce a product that can be implemented cross-platform for blog administration on not just my website, but on any website of anyone who wishes to use it.

Starting on Friday, new feature requests will be implemented into the new code, which is slated for release sometime mid-June. Since the release on here will coincide with a major website redesign it will be obvious that the code has been redeveloped.

Please make any final feature requests prior to Friday. Feature requests recieved AFTER Friday will be integrated into the new code, but this codebase will not be updated except to provide critical fixes for bugs. I look forward to the release of the new code.

11:20 pm | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Blog Administration, New Features

A couple of months ago I bought a Macbook, which meant that I had my iBook that wasn't doing much. Solution? I installed a copy of Mac OS X Leopard Server on it. The experience was a lot of fun because I got a chance to learn how server services operate.
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10:44 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Apple, Continued Learning, How-To, New Features, Technology

Per your suggestions and recommendations, I completed the first of my new features, adding a photo album application that will let me post photographs of my adventures back east.
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6:30 pm | Comment (2) | Print | Categories: New Features

I am soliciting input on the next feature I should construct!
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8:56 pm | Comment (3) | Print | Categories: New Features

Just wanted to everyone know that I have modified the blog to include time zone settings. Previously the server time (east coast time) would apply to all times listed on the site.
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5:08 pm | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: New Features