Admin

Hi All

For a few weeks now I have been working heavily on the next site update. It has included a lot of research in the current offerings of forum software, the technologies they use, their level of development both current and proposed to bring you more/better ways of doing what you want and the future of this site with the initiatives we have planned.

This has all resulted in a solution for the site update that will not be ready for quite some time, many months in fact however work has commenced on what I believe is going to be something great for everyone towards the end of this year (2012)...it will be great that is if I can get your input at various times throughout its development which will only ensure that it IS great for you.

Some of the enhancements are:

• As you create a post, a draft of it is saved every 60secs until you have posted it
   
   
  
• Apart from the "Likes" feature, you can also add a reputation comment, up or down, of a post
   
   
  
• A complete "Blog" system for you to have your own Blog with categories, pages etc
   
   
  
• A "Post To Blog" feature where you can add a post that is in the forums straight into your Blog by a click of a button
   
   
  
• A notice on posts if the post has been changed after 10mins of it being posted with a reason why it was edited by the poster
   
   
  
• A "Quick Links" block at the top of the right column for you to quickly see how many PMs you have, to your Blog, to your Photo Albums, your Videos, your friends list and a link directly to the list of threads that you have subscribed to.
   
   
  
• A dedicated Aircraft Section for everything about Aircraft including lists, ADs and ANs, Featured Aircraft, Rego Lookups and more all coming off a main section
   
   
  
• Dedicated sections, like the Aircraft Section for Clubs/Schools/Events with a multi calendar system, Pilot Supplies with a new Classifieds/Auctions system, Pilot Resources, Media Section that includes the Video Library, Photo Gallery, News, Podcasts, Radio Listening and more
   
   
  
• A new Video Library...the same one that is used on Aviation Enthusiasts that allows you to even browse YouTube from within the site and add videos to the library
   
   
  
• A revamped and far more powerful specific "User Groups" System
   
   
  
• A slightly revamped site style with more appealing rounded corners etc
   
   
  
• An Article System that looks like a magazine
   
   
  
• What's New is on the main menu and contains an "Activity Stream" so you can see what's really new across the whole site like new blog entries, new articles, new groups and public group posts, new events
   
   
  
• What registered site members have been online in the last rolling 24hrs
   
   
  
• A complete Help System that covers everything on the site
   
   
  
• Colour scheme changes to reflect what country you are in
   
   
  
• A better incorporated 'Instant Chat" function by using a new feature that shows if a user is currently online within the forums and their posts
   
   
  
• and much much more especially in the area of "Resources" for you
   
   
  

The main reason why this update is going to take so long is that this current site is working well as it is so the difference this time is that there is no pressing issue to force a quick update so this new update can be completely finished before it needs to go live.

You can watch its development progress, read about what is currently getting done (even comment on what is getting done at any time) in the Development Blog that is on the development site at:

www.aircraftpilots.net (note that is the final testing site where components undergo their final testing)...so don't forget to stay up to date and comment in the Blog over there.

Please use the "Report Post" function and they will get corrected pretty quickly

I have just added ipod to the list of devices that will automatically use the Mobile Style...if you have any requests for mobile devices please let me know...these are what I have included so far:

android,avantgo,blackberry,blazer,compal,elaine,fennec,hiptop,iemobile,iris,kindle,maemo,midp,phone,plucker,pocket,psp,symbian,treo,vodafone,iphone,ipod,windows ce,windows phone

One thing that ALL users can consider by using the "Style" method is that if you are on a very very slow/bad internet connection on your PC, you can select the Mobile Style to use on your PC thus making the site lightening fast on slow connections as you are only using a "lite" version of the site.

To do this, down in the bottom left corner of the site, in the footer, you will see a a link that says "Default Style". Click that and from the popup window click "Mobile". The site style will then change to the mobile style and will remain until you change it back to the full PC Default Style.

To change it back to the PC Default Style whilst using the Mobile Style, click the word "Mobile" at the very bottom middle of any page and again from the popup window, select "Default Style".

For those wanting to even just see the Mobile Style on their PC, use the above method...hope this helps those that are on really bad Internet connections

Thanks, I will look into that link to the unread post

So I take it with the comments that the "Style" version is better then Forumrunner and apart from the background colour of the posts, just leave the Mobile Style as it is...this will mean that you will not be able to access the PC version on a mobile device...please confirm that this is what you want...thanks

A big thanks to Air Creation for supporting this site by becoming a paid supporter...it is support like this from people in our Industry that help to make this site better for everyone so please get behind our supporters if you can...thanks again Air Creation

I have just purchased and installed some software that allows the automatic creation of threads in the "Aviation Videos" forum when you add a video into the Video Library we have here on the site.

Before we had a problem with two functions clashing which prevented this from happening so now with this purchased fix, you will be able to comment on videos added to the video library inside the forums themselves...hope you find this helpful and let's get the videos going in our Video Library!

[medio=full]190[/medio]

I hope you all know about the "Weather" page we have here on the site under Resources on the main menu bar

Seems good enough on the iPhone Ian. Will it have "push" updates??

The problem with this, and why I didn't turn it on earlier, is that the PC style can not be accessed by you at all on your device as it gets overridden by the code that automatically determines that you are using a mobile device.

Forumrunner (which is what we were using) is a 3rd party app which allows you to use the forums BUT doesn't allow you to access the other parts of the site and as it is a 3rd party app, I can't change it to allow you access to everything on the site. It is free if you just want to read but costs a small amount if you want to also post.

The Mobile Style method is a complete minimised way of using the site and I have full control on how to make the style look and feel and provide you with access to everything on the site BUT it needs an app that determines if you are accessing the site from a mobile device and if so, turns the Mobile Style on. This prevents you from using the PC style at all on your mobile device.

As you can see their are pros and cons with both methods which is why I need feedback from you to ascertain which way you want me to go. Personally, with my Samsung Galaxy 2, which has a large screen and tilt sizing, I have never had a problem with the PC style on it but understand we all have different needs which is why I always ask for your input.

So far so good. I've just had a look around with my Samsung (Google branded) phone and everything that I use works fine. One point is the appearance Ian. When I view on the computer, the background of the posts are white, and quotes are a darker colour. On the phone it is the opposite with normal posts in a dark background and quotes in a light background.

Hi Ian, does that mean any Mobile device? e.g. Ipad?Cheers

Hi All

I have just turned on a "not yet completed" mobile style for the site. To do this I have had to turn off the "Forumrunner" application that we were using on the site for mobile devices.

Now, I really really really need your input to what you think of it and how it can be improved so I can finish it to a standard that you want.

To use it all you have to do is just go to the full site on a mobile device (i.e. go to http://www.recreationalflying.com and not use Forumrunner) and it will automatically detect that you are using a mobile device and display the mobile style.

Then have a look around and post here your thoughts...what needs to be added, removed, enhanced etc etc etc...I can bring these great features to you but it relies on you telling me your thoughts...thanks

I am browsing/posting this using my mobile and Forumrunner...just checking that it is still working ok

Here are some screen shots of the new mobile style that is in the site update coming later this year...it was all working great till the other day when I added a new site section application that clashes with the auto detection of using a mobile style...the joys of site development...this and things like it are why it is going to take many months of work to bring it all together into an incredible site upgrade that you will all enjoy:

Is it for android only ian? still cant find it

http://www.forumrunner.com/

However, for the last few weeks I have been working on the next site upgrade and although it won't be finished for at least 4 to 6 months, it has its own mobile style that automatically detects the site being viewed on a mobile device

Edit: Well just shows how much I pay attention - the front page does have a section on the right side that tells you who is in the chat room. I've never seen my name there!!

We took a shortcut and have opted to use Forumrunner app

Sorry, but I have just found this thread...please note that the pilot of the drifter is NOT a CFI that was spoken about earlier...please let's ensure we are correct in circumstances like this when we post as it could cause a lot of problems to innocent people...if people are guilty of illegal or unprofessional flying, well that's another story...GO FOR IT

:peepwall:

At Toowoomba the other day after what I believe has just had a new Prop, crankshaft x-ray etc.!!

Well if he ain't the Captain of the ship, or the organizations' symbolic 'leader', why does everyone make it his problem when it all goes to shxx ??..........................................................Maj...

Hypothetically, if say a multi million dollar legal case that had been brewing for some time suddenly came out and it was found that there was no directors insurance, due to many mismanagement actions recently undertaken by management and they were now deemed "uninsurable" because of their mismanagement, you are a director and asked for this to be fixed and due to more mismanagement actions it wasn't...you wouldn't want to be anywhere near the ship at all...I am just saying there are many reasons why a board member may resign and this hypothetical example could be just one of many scenarios.

I would say that in that hypothetical situation, with all the mismanagement going on, the only way that they may become "insurable" again could be if the management stepped off the ship at the very first port of call so the ship could be "seen" as being "able" to rebuild itself. However the problem with military management is in my opinion, having a father from the military, they never believe they are the cause of the problem and that they are the ones in the wrong destroying everyone else.

I think to may best serve you is to bring to your attention to 8. Indemnity and Legal exemption of the site rules that users have agreed to when registering:

http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/site-rules-policies-etc-must-read.5325/

Also please take note of 10. Copyright Notice of the Site Rules as well