Posts

What a shame and a genuine shock.

Originally Posted by Barney

“Maybe you could do a poll?...........I'll be clicking no just in case your wondering....”

Well the blog post has gone live and have included the 1975 Yes and No links.

Welcome any feedback: The EU – Information for the floating voter

We have a poll functionality but it doesn't work on the blog  So just asked our ever patient coding genius to get his tool box out and have a look 

Not from research we did before we moved from vbulletin. The default nature of umpteen emails arriving through out the day was a standard moan, which is why we consciously decided to keep it to no more than a maximum of 1 a day, regardless how many threads/forums you subscribed to.

But I do like the idea of voluntarily subscribing to a forum, which should be relatively straight forward.

Originally Posted by ITGeek007

“Not been on here for a while, but it would be useful (I've got this feeling you might have to upgrade the forum software to do it?) to be able to subscribe to a forum (or subforum), so whenever a new post is made (like this one maybe  ), then I can receive an email notification?

I subscribe to a number of forums and receive email notifications, and it's quite handy, because they act as a reminder that the forum is there (i.e. I don't forget about it).”

Thanks for the feedback 

If you subscribe reply to a thread, then you are deemed to have subscribed to it. Anyone who adds a comment after yours will then trigger a single notification email which goes out at 12.00 each day.

If you add a respond to a number of threads, and subsequent posts are made after yours, then these will be listed in the daily email. But you will only be notified once.

Then on a Friday, we will send a round up email that will highlight any threads that have you have contributed to in the past, have had replies, but you haven't visited.

Now if you visit a thread that you have previously commented on, then we capture this and don't email you. You can actually turn off notifications completely by going to your admin settings.

Previous feedback was that people were sick of getting bombarded by forum emails everytime they visited a post (even though you can normally tune these in your account settings). So we went for the option of a single email a day, and only for posts that have had interaction after yours.

But we don't have an option to voluntarily subscribe to a forum or thread, that you haven't commented on, and that's an interesting point.

We are actually in the planning stages of a full site rebuild and facelift, as the current look MLS dates back to 2012. The forum is much more recent and we plan to keep it pretty much the same, but looking to add in any ideas or better functionality, so will certainly consider that one.

We wrote the forum software inhouse after moving from vBulletin and not being a fan of any the current off the shelf solutions. So although more expensive than a plugin and pray platform, it does give us the ability to add, tweak, tune or do whatever anyone wants. 

I'll be doing a ideas and enhancements thread shortly, but that's certainly an idea worth exploring so thanks.

Hopefully you should receive an email after 12 today notifying you there has been a reply 

Originally Posted by Barney

“As it happens in 1975 the Government paid for the publication of both the YES and the NO referendum campaign leaflets. Which was fair.....Just a shame more people didn't spend more time reading the NO campaign.... as it seems to be factually correct....”

Didn't know that! Just doing a blog post about the referendum, so will add that nugget in there 

Oh my word! It'll be very stylish with lots of functionality but you'll need to charge it up every few hours 

Mind you, the thought of automated Google cars driving round relying on Google maps terrifies me!

Just for a laugh, googled Microsoft Car, and didn't realise they already power Fords!

Partnering with Microsoft, Ford created SYNC, its best-selling infotainment system to date. At the heart of SYNC is Windows Embedded Automotive, which delivers a powerful and reliable platform with numerous connectivity options and turns SYNC into a gateway for phones, digital music players and more. SYNC not only helped sell more Ford cars, but it strengthened consumer perceptions of Ford as a leader in safety, quality and smart technology.

So you really do need to reboot your Mondeo? I can't take the mickey as I've got a Ford Ranger on order, and was quite impressed with the SYNC system, until now  Wonder if it has to download patches every Tuesday and then runs out of memory...

A great piece in Marketing Week today about the dangers of big organisations handing over brand management to crowd sourcing and the public

If you haven't heard, all the fuss is about naming a new very expensive scientific research vessel. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) thought it would be great to launch a campaign to get the public to name their ship. Knowing what the UK population are like when it comes to humour and online irony, are they really surprised with the results?

The poll is now closed leaving the board with an awkward decision to either go with the public vote or face the anticipated social media and reputation backlash. Here are the results:

So the new £200m ship will be called Boaty McBoatface  Outstanding. Also liked Usain Boat  

You can read more about the story and other examples of crowdsourced brand disasters in Mark Ritsons piece: Boaty McBoatface proves the public would rather humiliate your brand than engage with it

Hmm I wonder what the board will do? Suspect a PR driven climbdown...

Maybe optimistic noises finally for the steel industry? Or is it a stay of execution?

China has "absolutely recognised that it is a problem of overcapacity in their country", Mr Javid said.

"They're committing to do something about it and I think that's a very positive step forward."

However, he admitted that there was no "overnight solution" to the issue of excess production

China commits to cutting steel production, says Javid - BBC

Maybe we will see sub £1 again soon? 

Oil prices dive after producers fail to agree output cap - BBC

Superb link Barney. This is my favourite page

9 members in 1975 versus the current 28. In another 30 years, maybe the EU will include Africa, Asia and America 

The original aims and ideals are think are sound. I'll confess to thinking we should stay in but the argument for leaving is getting stronger and stronger.