That is all very cool, thanks everyone. Looks like I will be busy checking these things out. Next question… how about the same type of things for forums? So far I have found http://www.sebflipper.com but it is for PHPBB which I really hate due to security problems.
And then Wordpress has its multiuser version- which still sounds like it’s finding its legs, but it’s the backbone for Wordpress.com’s blog hosting service.
Take a look at the MacinTouch report. It covered just about everything including outsiders like UM.siteMaker (WO) and Webcrossing. Has some links to CMS review sites as well.
I also agree that Bloghoster would probably be much better than Wordpress MU. I can relate to the quality of open source solutions VS proprietary solutions that are leveraging open source. Drupal and Expression Engine both use PHP which is freely available, but the proprietary EE simply blows away any open source competitor.
I really wish EE had the Bloghoster capability, and indeed it may come, but I am sure this is not a priority at this time.
Thanks for the links EE lover, I think Bloghoster is going to work well for some applications that I have in mind.
Yeah… but Lisa wouldn’t have anything to do with a punk such as myself. I agree though… we would never trade in our Lisa for Bloghoster’s Lotte… unless we were paid alot of money.
Thanks for the links EE lover, I think Bloghoster is going to work well for some applications that I have in mind.
Although I introduced blog hoster here but I’m not convinced with it myself yet. I know blog hosting is not a common desire, but their community has only 700 members.
Also I’m not sure about the developers. Are they reliable?
So I prefer to wait a few more weeks to see if EE’s own module would be released or not.
Keep us informed about your final decision and your experience with blog hoster (if any ever).
Thanks for the links EE lover, I think Bloghoster is going to work well for some applications that I have in mind.
Although I introduced blog hoster here but I’m not convinced with it myself yet. I know blog hosting is not a common desire, but their community has only 700 members.
Also I’m not sure about the developers. Are they reliable?
So I prefer to wait a few more weeks to see if EE’s own module would be released or not.
Keep us informed about your final decision and your experience with blog hoster (if any ever).
I feel the same way. I would like to include it in a much bigger system in which my development has not even started. I am not in a hurry to get the software, so I will monitor the progress.
One of the problems I see is I am not sure it is designed to allow domain mapping. That is I am not sure when people sign up for a blog, they will be able to use their own domain addresses. I am not sure this would be a big obstacle. They also don’t have alot of basic features such as multiple authors. I would also like to see if they will offer a free developer copy as EE does.
In any case, this still looks like the best available. I am sure it blows away Wordpress MU.
Another main fact is that hosting blogs is a risky step which you must be very watchful at it.
If your site or blog breaks you should blame tour self, but when your blog service breaks you may have hundreds of users shouting at you. I can not take that =)
I think the system would be solid. The software has only been out for a year, but after browsing through I did not see any complaints. The system also seems somewhat simple, which means less that might break. Really my main concern is more security than anything. Broken software sucks, but having people wipe out your system because of a security hole is a total nightmare.
Heh… honestly I am falling in line with you guys. I think Bloghoster would be the ticket as long as they allow one installation to work multiple domains which it sounds like they do.
I would love to use an EE module… but the community module is probably at least a year out there. I suppose you could possibly create your own module, but this is not going to address the licensing concerns.
I understand there’s a lot of pressure on the head developers of EE/Drupal etc. but it’s not without a good reason. A lot of companies, developers and other people are just waiting to launch a succesful blogging community like Myspace themselves. The sooner the module arrives the better!!!
Isn’t it a good idea to have a ticket system at Pmachine where people from the community can make requests and follow the progress of the software until a new version/release?
I think community blogware and webshop functionality should be listed #1 and #2!
An aside…Just saw a news article today that MySpaces has been label’d a “sexual predator” hangout…hard to monitor…kiss of death…big problem for “community” sites (depending on the target age group of course)
I think community blogware and webshop functionality should be listed #1 and #2!
I’m sure I saw a note from Rick stating the community blogging was not an objective of EE and users looking for a solution of that nature should look elsewhere; there’s even a stipulation in the license - but that’s another matter.
I agree with you on the subject of the webshop (a PayPal module would be a nice start) but I would also like to see more tools to support the price-hike to the Commercial license; for example I think the absense of a credible adserver should be addressed asap.
As soon as they get that ticket-system going that’ll be my first entry.
I wasn’t really looking to EE to be a community blog, it’s much too robust for this. I could imagine a ‘pocket’ version of EE that harkens back to Pmachine for use as a WP-style MU blog, but anything beyond that is too feature intense.
As for the myspace comment - while true in a hand full of cases, comments like this don’t support themselves well without fact. Those working to encourage closed and/or controlled community blogging for and educational settings have an uphill battle already from the luddites in academia. Knowing what these tools are capable of and how they can improve pedagogy and agency in students, it’s no easy task dealing with academics who hear one interview on NPR about myspace predators and think the technology is at fault. EVERY community (online or otherwise) has myriad people involved, and every community member needs to practice vigilance to keep things safe and supportive. While it’s important to address weaknesses, it’s also important for us technologists to discover, support, and advocate the need-meeting utility of these tools (in capacities beyond ‘cruisn’ myspace). If we don’t, we run the risk of advertising how the technology is missused rather than supporting the good uses, of which there’s many more!
I wasn’t really looking to EE to be a community blog, it’s much too robust for this. I could imagine a ‘pocket’ version of EE that harkens back to Pmachine for use as a WP-style MU blog, but anything beyond that is too feature intense.
As for the myspace comment - while true in a hand full of cases, comments like this don’t support themselves well without fact. Those working to encourage closed and/or controlled community blogging for and educational settings have an uphill battle already from the luddites in academia. Knowing what these tools are capable of and how they can improve pedagogy and agency in students, it’s no easy task dealing with academics who hear one interview on NPR about myspace predators and think the technology is at fault. EVERY community (online or otherwise) has myriad people involved, and every community member needs to practice vigilance to keep things safe and supportive. While it’s important to address weaknesses, it’s also important for us technologists to discover, support, and advocate the need-meeting utility of these tools (in capacities beyond ‘cruisn’ myspace). If we don’t, we run the risk of advertising how the technology is missused rather than supporting the good uses, of which there’s many more!
I agree!
Has anyone seen the Wikicities site yet? I wonder what you think of it…...
