Contest: Speak Your Mind, Win A Prize
Posted by: dgoldring on Jun 25 2008As I promised earlier, we wanted to celebrate our second birthday with a bang. We thought about having a bowling party at Ragart’s house, but frankly, no one wanted to go all the way to Canada. So, we thought it would be even more fun to just empty out the prize vault here at JAMM.
In my previous post, I told you my thoughts about JAMM, where I wanted to take it and how I wanted to get there. I also took you on a tour of the new theme. So, now you all know what I think of JAMM. Let me know what you think. Give us an opinion. What do you love? What do you think needs improvement? How is the new theme and logo? What would you like to see in this space? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with an opinion about anything on the site and you will be entered to win. Feel free to enter as many times as you like. I will select a few winners each day until the prizes are gone.
We have some great prizes lined up, so you will want to comment early and often (you may enter and win as many times as you like). Hit the jump to see our amazing list of prizes.
Prizes will be coming from:
- Invisible Shield
- Ilium Software
- Birdsoft
- Astraware
- SplashData
- Electric Pocket
- Phatware
- DDH
- Pocket PC Techs
- SBSH
- Vito Technologies
- Proporta
So, leave us your comments. Be sure to put each opinion into a different comment for extra chances to win (and if you prefer a particular prize from this list, then please feel free to speak up. No promises, but we’ll try our best.)
Contest ends whenever we run out of prizes!
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What is the format,...
I’m really surprised that no one has commented yet. To be perfectly honest, when I first visited after the relaunch I actually didn’t know that anything was different. Of course, I still couldn’t really tell you what was different (guess I’ll have to go read the last entry). I don’t know why, but for some reason the double column of ads on the right bugs me. It just seems cramped or something. Otherwise, I think the site looks pretty decent. Maybe I’ll have more to say after I read the other post about where the site is going
LOL, PointOfLight, you are the first. But the post has only been there for an hour or two. So, I am sure there will be more.
As for the changes, the old theme had a dark black background, with just the name of the site. No logo. It also had a double sidebar all the way around. I don’t have a screenshot of it or I would show you the two side by side. Almost everything has been changed: the logo, tagline, theme and background, even the fonts.
Doug
This is my first post, so I’ll just go for the logo. Its original, and I really like it. A lot of sites just have their name in bold, and don’t put a lot of effort into style. So, bonus points in that department. Plus, JAMM just sounds good. ‘Like, hey, I have a minute, I’m going to check in on JAMM.’
Of course, now I have the Bangles, “Its just another Manic Monday” stuck in my head.
However, that will get me to not forget about the site, especially since I like the song.
Hi, Heatwave…and welcome to JAMM. It is certainly our intention that you never stop singing Bangles songs.
In fact, a looooong time ago, we actually had a reader who submitted a comment in which he had rewritten the words to Just Another Manic Monday to fit our site. 
I’ll have to hunt that down.
And thanks for your comments on the logo. The folks over at Talon Communications Group are great friends of JAMM, and I think they did a fantastic job.
Doug
I like that it is still easy to navigate the site.
Easy to find stuff, and get back to where I started.
The logo is nice, not too crowded, not too colorful, simple and I like the wording at the bottom.
I like the tag cloud and nice front page search that get me where I want to go. I must admint I don’t come to the site as often as I might because I get the info on RSS feeds.
Hmm suggestions… The logo might be at the top instead of at the side, I generally like that more with sites. I look for the logo at the top, it helps identify the site easier. (Prize preference: Astraware / Proporta)
Maybe we can get the threaded commenting here which Tariq started on EtenBlogDotCom? It helps organizing conversations. (Prize preference: Astraware / Proporta)
And one more: please avoid advertisements INSIDE posts. Some sites have those and they annoy me a LOT! If I read a post, I just want the content, and I don’t want to ask myself if something is content or advertisement. (So good job on keeping the ads at the top/side bar!) (Prize preference: Astraware / Proporta)
Being a owner of a tech website like you, I love clean designs and white space. I do not like dark sites esp dark blog sites. This design looks more professional. Logo looks pretty and matches the theme
I really don’t see any room for improvement. Keep the things simple. umm.. Prize preference: proporta+PPCtechs
A tab heading for “Contests” at the top would be nice.
Also nice would be to introduce avatars for us “members” to appear with our posts, together with updating Post Counts …
What do you love about JAMM?
Honest reports, and interesting reviews. They’re not forced, and they’re not boring and template. They’re just someone’s honest opinion based upon what they need, not what they project that the readers might need.
The RSS feed for the site includes whole posts rather than a cut off summary. That means that I can read JAMM daily on the train in the morning via my RSS reader.
The store accepts Paypal! I buy my stuff from your store because it’s the run by the only major one (Mobihand) to accept Paypal and I do not have a credit card.
What do you think needs improvement?
Not much. You’ve got a good format going here and the site itself works.
Maybe a little increase in the amount of content or reviews, but I can understand how much time the existing work takes to release and would rather that quality did not suffer.
How is the new theme and logo?
It’s good. Nice and clean.
Two things…
For the Home/Contact Us/JAMM Store/About Us links and in some places on the right, the bullet image isn’t quite aligned with the text (the text appears dropped from the image). You should be able to fix this by adding the CSS “vertical-align: top” to the images affected.
Also, the “Subscribe” link in the upper right points to the wordpress RSS feed. The counter below it points to the feedburner feed. Is there a redirect on the main wordpress link? 2000 doesnt seem like many people. The subscribe button itself is kinda big too.
I understand the need for ads, but that banner at the top is kinda huge. Maybe put a logo on the left, move the banner to the right, and move the RSS details down to where the logo is now. Having an ad as the first thing you see on the page doesnt quite seem right.
Apart from those small suggestions the new design is great!
Cheers
James
I really like the new “clean” look. For some reason, it looks like all the clutter (if any!) is gone. THis clean look reflects the feeling I have always had when visiting hte JAMM website. It offers practical “clean” information about the mobile world withouth any clutter or useless information. For that reason, JAMM is one of the most visited sites for me each day
Thanks, guys. Great feedback.
@ SPM. I am also not a fan of ads inside the posts. I doubt we will increase advertising much beyond what you see, and it will always be in designating advertising areas. Also, when Brandon first came up with putting the logo on the side like that, I thought he was nuts. But give it a chance. It really does grow on you and I think it works great.
@provost, I agree that the contests could be more visible. We’ll look into ways we can do that.
@iphitus, more content is always preferred (though not at the expense of quality). We are looking into ways to increase the amount and frequency of content.
Doug
I love the new look and the new logo! One thing, and this is silly, but I’d like you to change the FavIcon (that goes in the address bar) to the new logo. I just recently started using Firefox, so all of my favorite websites are lined up at the top of my browser so nicely. I Like the new logo way better than the old one and it will look much better at the top of my browser … then I will only be missing 2 sites who don’t have FavIcons! Yea!
I also like the logo to the side. I don’t need it to be at the top … I know where I am after I clicked the bookmark!
Thanks Meatgel. Favicon is definately “on the list”
Doug
You gotta admit it’s cleaner and easier to find stuff. I’d like to see SPM limited in competitons to one post, cause He’s won everything else! :azz:
No Offence Stefan
You know, it’s interesting because this latest incarnation reminds me of the early 2007 version. I actually have a screencap that I’ve posted at http://www.parliamentofowls.com/misc/jamm_old.jpg. In a way I kind of miss the top tabs, but I think the sidebar-centric layout has a more, well modern isn’t really the right word, but maybe a more consistent look with many other blogs are laid out. Are you going to consider using gravatars or some such? I get confused when I see spmwinkel bereft of ying-yangishness and Doug’s simpsonoid profile.:) The logo looks great, plus the play on the radio-like tower via the “A” I think is clever. It really conveys the mobile-centric nature of the site.
@ Peter - that made me laugh.
However, one post is enough normally, so your suggestion wouldn’t solve a lot!
Oh, one more thing: can you implement a timed edit feature so I can click on my entry posts after I submit to fix them if needed? Typing one-handed of late tends to increase entry error. Well, at least for me.
I like the new logo. JAMM is one of my favorite sites to visit. The contests are great. Keep ‘em going. Today’s my birthday.. so, pick me , pick me!
Personally, I don’t like the ad at the top - it doesn’t come across as “clean” as the rest of the site. Just my 2-cents, and I am eliminating myself from the contest because we’re giving away some of the prizes!
Fireman54, it’s one of our staff’s birthday today (ok, mine!)
My 2¢ worth… I didn’t/don’t notice the change.
I am primarily a RSS reader (I use Ilium NewsBreak). But the content as provided JAMM is useful and functional for my needs.
Fireman and PPCTechs, HAPPY Birthday.
@Peter…sorry, we do not have special rules for SPM. He is just very lucky.
We’ll see how he fares this time around.
@Iphitus, sorry I missed your last comment before. I’ll add those items to the list.
Thanks,
Doug
I can break this post down to several comments to maximize the chances of winning, but I think I’d just lump them all here… here goes! Forgive me for rambling seemingly aimlessly - I write them as I see them:
- Looks like the big honking ad top and center has been taken out already - thanks!
- If not an ad, what would be in the top blue bar aside from the subscribe and the reader buttons? If nothing, those two buttons could probably be placed somewhere else. Maybe underneath the JAMM logo?
- The Sponsors and the Google Ads on the sidebar is probably getting worked on.
- I’d love to see alternating colors in the Comments section for better readability.
- The footer could stand to be smaller or more compressed.
- There’s still that annoying high load/SUSPENDED page popping up from time to time. Is that really true? If so, isn’t it time the site gets moved somewhere else other than a provider based in Hungary?
- I’d also like to see the author’s whole name (as opposed to their handle) displayed underneath their posts - just looks more polished that way, and that’s how they appear on the sidebars anyhow.
- I’d just like to say I love the new About section… where’s Charlie?!
- The Contact Us page could be distilled to one contact form with the subjects made available in a drop down…
- Looks like the store haven’t been updated yet…
More to come as I see them. I’m afraid I’d lose all these and have to start over again.
Ray
I also like the quantity of information in the RSS feed.
I love this site. Although I have been a PDA user since my first Palm more than 8 years ago, I just found about JAMM abut 3 months ago. I read the RSS feed everyday using my Dell Axim. The reviews are great. Keep up the great work. P.S. I really like the new logo.
@Iphitus
Thanks for the tip on the links. The recommended CSS was added - while it made a minor difference - something is better than nothing and it looks better. I fixed the subscribe link to point to feedburner. I agree the numbers are low… but I figure for a couple years there’s been multiple ways to grab our RSS feed. Trust me the visitor numbers are quite a bit higher. As for the ad … just hang tight… more to come.
@Meatgel - Its not perfected … but there’s an updated favicon for you.
@Breley - I was going for that kind of look. Glad I came close enough to have it at least jog the memory. I remember that theme… lots of ajax. I don’t think the bars will make a comeback however. I’ve come to really like the links where there are, but there’s no saying for sure. Maybe the bars won’t come back … but the links may move. Who knows - maybe I’ll just move everything around! Also … I added the ability to edit comments for 30 minutes. Let me know if it isn’t working (Contact Us link above)
@PPCTechs … I agree the ad doesn’t look clean. But I’m sure Doug would be happy to talk to you about putting a clean ad on the site.
… I’m working on some better locations for that particular ad after reading some of the comments though. Doug and I had talked about other options… looks like he might have been right on this one.
@i-Bystander - The suspended because of CPU thing is complete BS. Its not us… I’ve checked our mysql logs and we’re not the problem. I’ll look into the author name thing in the posts in the morning. Charlie has decided to pursue other interests. Really … that’s not just a line. He’s just decided things outside the site needed more attention.
Everyone should thank Brandon and TJ, the effort they have made to do this makeover is incredible. There is so much you can’t see behind the scenes that make this a joy!
I like that it is still easy to navigate the site.
Easy to find stuff, and get back to where I started.
The new logo is very nice, I would move it to the center.
I am looking forward to some of the other mobile content that has been hinted at. I have been a reader of the site for a little over a year and a windows mobile user for almost as long.
It will be interesting to see what else is covered here.
I have 2 more little suggestions.
1 = put the login at the top of the page instead of towards the middle on the side.
2 = On the main page, you have the articles, and then ads and other info on the side. I think you need a little more white space between the 2. They seem to run into each other.
Other than that, I’m enjoying the site.
something I also noticed when I first visited the new and improved Jamm was the improved sidebar. Often, blogs have sidebars which are simply to small and contain way too much “widgets”. JAMM has a sidebar which is just right, good width and good selection of what should be one a sidebar in order to improve “overview”
Wow.
I’ll add to what I like and say the contests. Awesome prizes & friendly staff.
As for the CPU load thing, I’ve heard that Wordpress installations can be pretty heavy, particularly if there’s a lot of addons in use - It might be php triggering the load rather than mysql.
@Iphitus
Yep, staff here is friendly.
@PPCTechs
A belated happy birthday to you!
@Iphitus … and you would be correct. Wordpress is pretty heavy in CPU. I think I’ve got it narrowed down - but in our case something like wp-cache isn’t likely to fit the bill, and besides it breaks too many things. Personally I’d rather have a CPU load issue every now and then - but keep all the little site functions running normally.
I think I’ve found the problem … but I have no idea how to fix it. I’ll be googling the day away now trying to figure it out.
Brandon:
I use WP on my blog http://chiefshepherd.net
I use the wp-super-cache to speed things up. It uses wp-cache plus another form of cache and seems to help. I like the looks of the site and it is one of those that I check out every day. Thanks
Hey Ray … sorry for the delayed response. I’ve checked WP-Supercache, but the big issue we have is that a couple key plugins (like the mobile sites) don’t really support it. I wish we could run it, but at this point there’s not much we can do.
@Heatwave316 - Although you may not have noticed - I did increase the spacing between the articles and the sidebar. Hopefully you find it a little easier to distinguish the text between the two.