• A Publicly-viewable topic can only be listed on the main topic list (http://www.grupthink.com/top/) if non-grup members have full participation permissions in that topic (commenting, voting, adding answers). This was done to ensure a consistent experience for users when browsing topics in the main lists. Topics in your grups are still available to you by clicking the "Grup Topics" link on that page. We are working on a more elegant solution for this.
• Fixed: Topics were reporting an incorrect number of answer comments
• Fixed: New or recently edited topics were not appearing or getting "bumped" on the main topics list.
• Activity lists in profiles no longer link to inactive or deleted content

Downtime should only last a few minutes. Thanks!

- Steven

– Steven

As always, please help us by reporting bugs. Just click the “Report a bug” link at the bottom of every page. Thanks!

** RSS Feeds are currently broken. We’ll have them fixed by the end of the day

Here are the notable changes:

• Significant performance improvements to pages all across Grupthink, especially home page, topic pages, and topic listings.
• Significant UI changes to topic pages and header link layout
  • New "Next topic" area does a better job of showing you where you are and allows you to easily get back to your original search or topic listing.
  • Adding answers is no longer a click away on topic pages.
  • Answer search and sort options are no longer hidden
• "People who voted on this also voted on…" added to answer pages
• Line breaks are once again preserved properly in Grup descriptions
• Registration flow improved
• Private grup topics will no longer show up on main grup pages when viewed by a non-member.
• Ballot ranking now shows a subtle fade effect and loading cursor to indicate it’s loading state.
• Improvements to search results
• Grupie "quilt" works as intended once again
• Fixed broken link in bottom of notifications
• "Next topic" within grups works properly again
• Fixed some incorrect error messages caused by dragging answers inside the ballot
• Fixed incorrect error when incorrect password was used during sign in.
• Major improvements to back-end administration
• Minor bug fixes and UI enhancements too numerous to mention

The layout of topic pages in Grupthink has grown somewhat organically since we launched in 2006. As we’ve added more and more features, the pages have grown a bit more complex and, shall we say, "rich". Feedback from new users has suggested that the topic pages can be a little overwhelming for first-timers. Additionally, feedback from some long-time users has suggested that important features have gone unnoticed, possibly due to the design.

To address those issues, we made an effort to improve the UI of topic pages in Grupthink 2.4, so that:

• The most important functions are easier to find and use (adding answers, voting, browsing answers)
• Infrequently used or non-critical information is made less prominent
• "Complexity" is removed wherever possible

Any time a developer messes with UI, we run the risk of tripping up existing users. Even in cases where UI changes are undeniable "improvements", they are often a pain in the butt for users who are used to the way things were before.

Tomorrow, for example, you’ll  probably be annoyed by the fact that the sign-in link and "welcome [user]" message is moved to the upper right of the green banner instead of the upper left of the page. This was done to take as much information off the "page" area as possible, and really helps to clean up the topic pages. However, it took us a day to get used to it, internally. Now, though, it just feels right, and I think you’ll have the same experience.

Here are some of the benefits of the UI updates:

• Adding answers will no longer be a click away: Just start typing in the new answer field and click submit.
• Fields for searching, sorting, and filtering the answers are now right out in the open. (Currently, you have to a click a "search & sort" tab to get there.)
• The "Next Topic" function will be incorporated into a new "cookie-crumb-style" navigation in the upper left. This single area will tell you which search you used to get to the present topic, or which Grup it is in. You can click the link to get back to your original search or Grup page, too.
• The other topic actions, like bookmarking, emailing to a friend, and viewing the voting timeline will all be accessed in an easy-to-find list of links to the right. (no more green tabs at the top and bottom of the list)

I’ll be posting soon with a complete list of improvements as we upgrade sometime tomorrow.

– Steven

• White tab in the green navigation bars was not showing up
• Couldn’t use thumbs up/down on any topics
• Some topic and answer thumbnail images appeared stretched in Internet Explorer 6
• Ballot now loads faster
• Links inside topic and answer descriptions showed up incorrectly when muiltiple URL’s were contained

- Steven

• Significant performance boosts to front page, grupies page, and topic lists
• Grupie point award: Members with over 1,000 points will not be subjected to ads
• You can now delete comments on your own profile page
• New tools to manage style of site on the back-end
• Put member class in Grupie Badge tooltips
• Fixed: Couldn’t deny friend requests
• Timeline wasn’t working for some topics
• Addresses problem where a special character could disable the ballot
• "View anyway" content overlapping lower answer
• Grups are sorted alphabetically again
• Profile: "Hide swear words"was not working
• Grupie Points: Nothing was earned after successful invite
• Dropdown Boxes Show Through Full-Screen Images on Topic Pages for IE6
• Topics: Next topic filter doesn’t work correctly for Sponsored Topics
• Notification emails contain opt-out instructions again
• Registration: Incorrect grupie points given for registration.
• "Next Topic" Filter: Don’t include grup topics that can’t be viewed
• Deleting a Grup topic taking users to /top/
• Grups: Can’t add a grup topic after joining
• Grup admins couldn’t edit answers
• Answers: Can view inactive answers
• Sign In: Wouldn’t show username/password error when using dropdown
• Registration: Required fields wouldn’t show the first time the page is loaded
• Answers: "Finish and view the answer" fixed
• Topic List: Busiest topics presenting inflated numbers
• Added maintenance mode functionality
• Profile: Adding a comment on profile gave JS error
• Grups: Confusing flow for leaving private grup
• RSS: Error trying to view RSS when no answers exist
• RSS “live bookmark” icons available again for topics and main topic list.
• RSS: Private Grup Topics Can now be seen if you are logged in
• Thumbnails saved as PNG’s to support alpha transparency on different backgrounds
• Many images recreated as PNG to support varied background colors
• Many fixes, and minor enhancements too numerous to mention
• Cake and refreshments for all

I think that’s about it. Please help us find bugs by using the “Report a Bug Link” on the bottom of every page. Thanks!

I’ll be posting release notes shortly!

If you’re reading this story, you’re probably Internet-savvy enough to know that the hottest thing online is “social networking.” Facebook and MySpace are the kingpins of this phenomenon, but social networking happens in all kinds of ways and in all kinds of places on the Web. And if you think social networking is mostly about flirting and dating, well, you’d be surprised.

Here in Missoula, Hank Green of EcoGeek, Steven Sundheim of Modwest and Grupthink, and our very own Courtney Lowery have been at the forefront of the social networking phenomenon. In addition to the highly successful EcoGeek blog, Hank has created a hugely popular social network called Nerdfighters. Steven and his compatriots at the Web hosting company Modwest have built a unique social Web site called Grupthink. Courtney, for her part, is in charge of all things community here at NewWest.Net and has dipped her toes in almost everything new on the Web.

Please join Hank, Steven and Courtney for a discussion and, yes, networking reception on what online social networking can mean for you, your business, and your social circle. It happens May 13 at 5:00 p.m. at the Missoula Art Museum. Please call 406-829-1725 for more information, or email info@newwest.net We look forward to seeing you there.

http://www.newwest.net/city/article/the_secrets_of_social_networking/C8/L8/

See you there!

– Steven

*UPDATE*
The upgrade went smoothly and the site was only down for 30 minutes as we fixed broken ballots. Thanks for your patience.