WTC 3.0: The Legend Continues

Posted by Mr. Pink

As you can see, I did more than just update the server during our brief downtime earlier this evening. I decided that it was as good a time as any to roll out WTC 3.0, which I’ve actually been working on since before the largely cosmetic 2.0 launch not too long ago. My reason for upgrading so quickly after the 2.0 launch is simple: this version is superior.

Here’s a complete list of “what’s new” with the latest iteration of the site.

  • Cleaner, Faster Design – Every element of the site has been cleaned up and streamlined to make things easier to find, easier to read, and easier to follow. Things should also load a lot faster on slower connections and we’ve even eliminated some nagging bugs and glitches.
  • Post Count Optimization – I decreased the number of posts per page from ten to eight. Dropping 20% of the attempted connections to our content server at any one time significantly improves overall site performance for everyone. However, there will still be at least ten new posts each and every day.
  • Similar Posts – Every post now has a “similar posts” component that should make it much easier to find more of the exact type of content you’re looking for. I’m also hoping that this function will give new life to some of our older content.
  • Tag Cloud – The tag cloud function on the right-hand side of the site should make it much easier to filter for specific post types. The way it works is simple – the bigger the term is in the cloud, the more posts there are associated with it.
  • Dynamic Search – Many of you have complained in the past that the “search” function sucks. Not anymore! The new dynamic search function, also on the right-hand side of the site, performs an intelligent search of the entire site and returns everything it finds.
  • VIP Upgrades – The VIP section has received the 3.0 treatment just like the rest of the site. With that change comes several upgrades that we’ll be rolling out in weeks to come. If you don’t already have a VIP account, now would be a good time to think about it. I dropped the cost on lifetime access to $25. Permanently.
  • Advertising – We now have an integrated, unobtrusive banner ad system that will help us to cover the bandwidth costs associated with operating the site.

Still to come are the following functions.

  • Submit a Link – I’m working on a component that will enable you guys to easily submit links to things that you think we might want to post. (You’ll get credit and we’ll enter you in a regularly held drawing for cool rewards.)
  • Image Gallery Upgrade – We’re finishing up the customization on a new embedded image gallery component. Look for that in the near future!
  • Featured Posts – I’m testing a “featured posts” component to help showcase some of our more popular content on a longer cycle.
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23 Comments »

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  1. Site looks great! Now only if some of my posts start showing up. ;) Just kidding!

    Comment by Mr. Red — 10/29/2009 #

  2. Red – You’re in the update batch. ;)

    Comment by Mr. Pink — 10/29/2009 #

  3. Wow, looks great!

    Comment by Principe — 10/29/2009 #

  4. Ah, FML! So I’m not just supposed to hit “Submit for Review” and leave them under “pending Review”? LOL, I must be missing something.

    Comment by Mr. Red — 10/29/2009 #

  5. Red – You’re doing it just fine. No worries.

    Comment by Mr. Pink — 10/29/2009 #

  6. hmmm….looks goood indeed, but I’ll check it out tomorrow for sure since i’m a little too drunk to make an official call. hehe…see you tomorrow around 11 am…plus wont remember this post fo sho!

    Comment by rockstartim — 10/29/2009 #

  7. Gotta admit, everything looks absolutely great. There’s only one thing wrong though – the ad banner next to the site title. It sort of… ruins it. The ad’s down the side are fine, it’s just that -one- that irks me.

    But nonetheless, nice upgrade guys.

    Comment by Mr. Six — 10/29/2009 #

  8. Six – I completely understand. If not for the CPM that banner brings in, I’d drop it. It’s just too much cash to turn away, though. ($5.00 or so a day.)

    Comment by Mr. Pink — 10/29/2009 #

  9. Also, no “Forums” button. =[

    Comment by Mr. Six — 10/29/2009 #

  10. Fixing that. Thanks for pointing it out.

    Comment by Mr. Pink — 10/29/2009 #

  11. Nice updates, but I think the Similar Posts component looks a bit messy on the frontpage. Perhaps you could put it on the comments page, just like the tags.

    [/$0.02]

    Comment by Mr. Gold — 10/30/2009 #

  12. Your site has started to resemble those you made fun of just a few short months ago.

    http://www.whatthechrist.com/?p=11242

    I get that you need to pay for the site, but maybe you should look into doing away with the VIP section and just implementing a method for removing ads for people that donate. Take a look at Slashdot or ScrapeTorrent for example.

    Comment by Yogi — 10/30/2009 #

  13. Yogi – Things change fast when the cost to operate is high enough and income levels out. It basically came down to ads versus closing.

    Comment by Mr. Pink — 10/30/2009 #

  14. Impressed! Site’s lookin good!!
    Only wanted to comment on the Similar Posts feature, but I guess Mr. Gold beat me to it. Its a great idea, but besides what Gold has already mentioned it seems like the shorter/smaller posts on the site lose their significance, since in some cases the new feature is far larger than the actual post, for example http://www.whatthechrist.com/?p=16363

    perhaps shrink it?

    Comment by Nic — 10/30/2009 #

  15. I’ve dropped it from five to three. That ought to help a bit.

    Comment by Mr. Pink — 10/30/2009 #

  16. I don’t know how it is in other countries but here in sweden our advetisement isn’t very tasteful at all… seriously just look at this. http://www.pici.se/pictures/NQFAZbAnw.jpg

    I don’t mind them but this is just too much :/

    On the other hand, the new layout seems nice :)

    Comment by Lie| — 10/31/2009 #

  17. Well, check what im looking at now..

    http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4303/screenshotog.png

    Comment by Qm — 10/31/2009 #

  18. Maybe there’s a different product which you can advertise, Mr. Pink? Or do the porno ads bring in more profit?

    Comment by Mr. Six — 10/31/2009 #

  19. Adblock FTW!

    Comment by HeavyHanded — 10/31/2009 #

  20. Oooh man. Something else instead of these closeups pretty please :/

    Comment by Lie| — 10/31/2009 #

  21. I’ve gone through and rejected the ads in those screenshots. I also switched to manual approval, which means that ads like that won’t end up on the site again. (I wasn’t even aware they were in the mix – thanks for the heads up.)

    Comment by Mr. Pink — 10/31/2009 #

  22. It’s great. One thing that has been bugging the tar out of me is the whole share this button. Not the button itself, but on a lot of the videos it’s right next to the play/pause button and if you accidentally put your mouse over it it pops up a window over the player. Should be that you have to click on it for that to happen.

    Comment by rockstartim — 10/31/2009 #

  23. Thank you Mr. Pink! :)

    Comment by Lie| — 10/31/2009 #

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