About us forum

I know I keep rabbitting on about this, but just to give people a heads up on where I am with things.

Firstly, we've a considerable backlog of new material to go onto the site (primarily Ko Pha Ngan, Buriram, Chiang Mai, Vientiane, northwest Vietnam and a few bits of Indonesia) but they're all delayed 'cause some of the redesign has taken considerably longer to implement than I expected. So what we'll probably end up doing is launching the site sooner than later so I can get this new content onto the site, and some of the new features will be "dropped in" once the content is in. It's all a bit of a balancing act.

Anyway new stuff includes:

Forum
a) Forum preview √
b) Forum edits √
c) Flag spam threads (to help to get the growing spam under control) √
d) New, far more useful FAQ section √
e) Two new forum sections √
f) Ability to "subscribe" to a thread without posting on it √

New (and existing) members
g) Login with Facebook √
h) Login with Twitter √
i) Account deactivation √

Reviews (these are adding your opinion to content already on the site)
j) Add your reviews/updates for restaurants and bars √
k) Add your reviews/updates for sights and attractions √
l) Add your reviews/updates to transport √

Suggested itineraries
m) Better maps & layout √
n) Add your opinion to itineraries √

Accommodation
o) Far better layout and ease of use. Better prominence for member reviews √
p) Bigger pics √

Photo gallery
q) Better design, far bigger photos and better integrated across the site √

Totally new stuff
r) Lists - lists of whatever you want. √
s) Recommended websites √
t) Recommended blogs/blog entries √
u) Regular stream of features across a range of topics √
v) Revised version of the free PDF guides √

Member Centre
w) Much easier to use and manage your postings etc √

The content (the bit that matters!)
x) I've rewritten how all the content goes onto the site which "should" mean the stuff gets online quicker, we're also taking on an editor to help turn around content faster. √
y) We'll be dropping Google Maps and working with a different provider 'cause I'm sick of seeing nonexistent roads in Laos on the site! √
z) A completely revised site for smart phones (initially iPhone and iPod Touch only, but will be expanded to Android as soon as I get an Android phone - if you have an Android phone and are interested in helping in the debugging, send me a PM!) √

And much much much more!

Some of the above has happened as a direct result of input (a.k.a. extensive moaning) from you lot, so for that I say thanks and beers on me should we cross paths! We're very happy with how the new site looks and runs, and look forward to giving you all a run at it in the coming weeks.

Cheers