It might be nice to have an AI stats page. Maybe the most accessed forums, or the top ten posters, or the number of members, bandwidth consumed, number of messages archived, average age, system owned, and all kinds of things. It would be neat I think.
Comments
Maybe we can help the admins come up with a nice list of Apple hardware (going back 5 years or so, just so it's not totally impossible (imagine all the Performa junk! Yeesh!))
<img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
<strong>It might be nice to have an AI stats page. Maybe the most accessed forums, or the top ten posters, or the number of members, bandwidth consumed, number of messages archived, average age, system owned, and all kinds of things. It would be neat I think.</strong><hr></blockquote>
No statistic to give you the top one poster : it's the moderator spammaritus alias EmAn
I understand that it may never return to its rumor-mongering heyday, and that's fine. But I'd love to see AppleInsider be a bit more than it is.
- We should have a cool member profile/pic area (photo, personal info, computer set-up, etc.).
- A separate, standalone gallery of mockups and other art (lots of artists, illustrators and graphics people here...give them a place to showcase their stuff).
- SOMEBODY needs to get serious and design a cool-ass T-shirt or something and make it for sale.
- A section for member-written reviews or "state of the Mac" opinion pieces/columns.
- A Macworld Expo pool, where everyone contributes $5 and posts their predictions. Whoever gets closest, wins the money
-All this, in addition to (of course), the awesome boards would make for a KILLER, one-stop Mac site.
BTW, is it hard to be a Mac news site? Is it possible to incorporate that? Instead of going to 3-4 sites (maccentral, macminute, etc.), I'd love to just come here, get all the daily news on the front page, then proceed to the forums or galleries.
The community is here. The passion, talent, brainpower, creativity, technical know-how, amusing characters, etc. are all here.
Too bad there's only a message forum. It could be so much, much more. Forget the rumors...just do the other stuff (T-shirt, profile/pics, gallery, reviews/opinion pieces, etc.).
The whole "cats and watermelons" thing, Kormac, workerbee, and various other little AI-specific tidbits that newbies (or old-timers alike) might be interested in knowing about and learning the inside story on various jokes, comments, members, controversies, etc. related to AI.
Kind of a one-stop place for the quirkier, funnier aspects of AI.
Member profile/pics- Leonis has been working on a new one. Personally, I love it, and will (pending Leonis' approval) throw a link up at the top of the page to it.
Gallery: Good idea. I'll look into it.
T-shirts: check your mail, again, I've been working on it, but need help with design.
Member Reviews: I floated this idea back when the front page died, and didn't get much positive response. Again, if there's response, the server space is there.
Pool: I don't see a problem with members starting this. If you want me to run it, let me know, although, i think it'd be better if it were member-run.
News: Can't compete with the parent company. I hope you understand.
And I forgot: MacNN is the Big Daddy of this place and already does news! Oops.
<img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
[ 07-24-2002: Message edited by: Spart ]</p>
all would include polls.
[quote] Rumor-mongering can't happen, due to legal concerns with our parent company. I'll leave it at that. <hr></blockquote>
Is this new policy or long standing? Surely discussing and digging around the future products Apple may or may not produce is the raison d'etre of AppleInsider... The name says it all.
I think many of the ideas fielded are excellent and a lot of latent talent awaiting the call to arms. But if the cut and thrust of 'Future Hardware' is pulled it would diminish the site as a whole.
Would it perhaps then cater for the 'AI Community' rather than the wider public?
In many ways the simplicity of a message board only site keeps it fresh and uncomplicated. or does Macnn see a more commercial role for AI?
The danger is trying to be too ambitious, full of initial enthusiasm and then seeing a lot of deadwood down the line.
I am not saying as I said that some of the ideas are not great and exciting. But that what made/ makes this site tick are the 'Apple' and Inside' bits.
If you want some proof of what I say then look no further than at your own forums:
[quote] \tNew PowerMac pictures leaked - Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 \tToofeu - \t655 - \t07-24-2002 07:03 PM <hr></blockquote>
Just my 2 euros worth.
[ 07-24-2002: Message edited by: Moonraker ]</p>
<strong>Jonathan
Is this new policy or long standing? Surely discussing and digging around the future products Apple may or may not produce is the raison d'etre of AppleInsider... The name says it all.
I think many of the ideas fielded are excellent and a lot of latent talent awaiting the call to arms. But if the cut and thrust of 'Future Hardware' is pulled it would diminish the site as a whole.
Would it perhaps then cater for the 'AI Community' rather than the wider public?
In many ways the simplicity of a message board only site keeps it fresh and uncomplicated. or does Macnn see a more commercial role for AI?
The danger is trying to be too ambitious, full of initial enthusiasm and then seeing a lot of deadwood down the line.
I am not saying as I said that some of the ideas are not great and exciting. But that what made/ makes this site tick are the 'Apple' and Inside' bits.
Just my 2 euros worth.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I mean, AI can't officially publish rumors for the time being, like we used to.
Long story, I can't really explain.
Long story, I can't really explain. <hr></blockquote>
OK. I assume it has to do with the parent company ( Maccn) under pressure from Apple and as a commercial operation they must consider not only the potential legal action but aso their relationship with Apple as very important to future business. That's totally understandable. Of course it does not mean it's right to curb any opinion other than the official line from Apple but that's an Apple issue not an AI one.
I have noticed the same situation with quite a few other Mac related news sites recently beyond the ' if you are naughty and let post 'rumours' then you will not get a media pass for MWNY. It really looks like Apple are turning the screw hard now behind the scenes.
If it spells the end for AI as a 'rumour' site ( of course it was always more than that) it is indeed a sad day.
Should AI continue beyond any business led decision ? Of course.
I guess you know the true meaning of 'a rock and a hard place'. right now..............
and there are listings of people with the most points, posts, longest members, newest members,
just a lot of stats....
BUT YEAH,, Make it more of a communtity <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
There fore if Apple Insider conducts itself in a manner consistent with divulging Apple's trade scerets.. whether they are images or not.. then Ai has in effect renigged on the cease and desist letter and has open them selves up for liability....
Man.. Apple has these guys by the short and curly's....
Or the parent company was scared and is just being heavy handed....
MSKR
Viva le cease and desistance!
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />