Structure

[Rich Edmonds]

Righto chaps, time for team discussion. Got your cups of tea and crumpets? Jolly good, let's get started. I have been in talks with Dan and Paul (our Xbox Live guru) to get a games dedicated forum so we can have a more dominant presence for gamers and developers alike (also would match the new "games" category on the main site).

I got thinking, while we're at the gates of adding a new forum, we could take a look at the forum structure as a whole. Is there need for a slight re-order? I had this development forum up and running a while ago where I was showing Dieter the delights of IPB 3.2, and I had a good forum layout that I approached Paul with to see about adding in the games forum. This is what I got:

Windows Phone 7
- General Discussion
- Marketplace
- Gaming
- Devices
-- Dell
--- Venue Pro
-- HTC
--- Arrive
--- HD 7
--- HD 7 Pro
--- Mozart
--- Surround
--- Trophy
-- LG
--- Optimus 7
--- Quantum
-- Samsung
--- Focus
--- Omnia 7

Windows Mobile
- General Discussion
-- Project Pink
- Marketplace
-- Developer Forum: Celio Redfly
-- Developer Forum: Vito Technology
- Devices
-- HTC
-- Motorola
-- Palm
-- Samsung
-- Sony

wpcentral
- Bulletin Board
- General Banter
- Windows Phone Accessories
- Staff Room
-- Reports & Infractions

Compared to the current layout of:

Windows Phone 7 General
- Windows Phone 7 OS Talk
- Windows Phone 7 Apps
- Upcoming & Rumored Devices

HTC Windows Phone Devices
- HTC Arrive
- HTC Surround
- HTC HD 7
- HTC Trophy
- HTC 7 Pro
- HTC Mozart

LG Windows Phones
- LG Optimus 7
- LG Quantum

Samsung Wndows Phone Devices
- Samsung Focus
- Samsung Omnia 7

Dell Windows Phone Devices
- Dell Venue Pro

Windows Mobile 6.5 and earlier
- Windows Mobile Chat
-- Windows Mobile Software
-- Windows Mobile 6.5
-- Windows Marketplace for Mobile
-- Project Pink
-- Developer Forum: Celio Redfly
-- Developer Forum: Vito Technology
- Windows Mobile Devices
-- HTC Windows Mobile Devices
-- Motorola Windows Mobile Devices
-- Palm Windows Mobile Devices
-- Samsung Windows Mobile Devices
-- Sony Ericsson Windows Mobile Devices
-- All Other Devices

Other forums
- Off Topic and Chit Chat
- Windows Phone Accessories
- wpcentral
- Staff Discussion Forum
- Reports and Infractions

The proposed new structure will reduce the clutter and improve fluidity across the board. So, whad'ya think? Changes, alterations, etc. I would like to get a final decided plan before I re-approach Dieter (if you agree that we could use a slight structure alteration of course).

 

[Dave Blake]

I agree a rearrange is in order the current looks like it was put together in a rush when WME became WPC. I like the order and look of your proposed layout. Nice job! I would also like to see a bit of description added to each of the devices like under HTC Arrive tell the processor screen size the fact that this device has a keyboard etc... People looking for a phone don't want to have to research much IMHO the description helps get them interested in the device. I can help with descriptions if you would like.

Also some forums could go away forever like Project Pink and Developer Forum: Vito Technology those never went anywhere they should probably be archived.

Developer Forum: Celio Redfly isn't far behind but I would wait on that one until it hasn't seen any activity.

Should there be an app developers forum for developers to discuss app development the tools of the trade etc...?

and I like that Samsung is on the bottom...lol

 

[ronbo2000]

Can you just consolidate the Marketplace into one forum instead of splitting them into two?

 

[Dave Blake]

One more Home brew?

Off topic statement:

My wife thinks I should tell y'all. I am dyslexic OCD and highly motivated so if my thought process seams a little scattered and splattered don't freak out just go with it.

 

[Dave Blake]

Okay one more not promising this will be the last.

I made this thread:

http://forums.windowscentral.com/showthread.php?p=1544742#post1544742

Dedicated to the developers that have chosen to post threads on this forum. Should we have dedicated forums Games, Apps where we showcase the developers who are posting here? I see this as a strong sell point for the forums and the more developers we can get to post there apps here the more people will want to look in to the forums. Just a topic of discussoin I am not sure how to implemint this or how to make it fair to all the developers that post. Suggestions?

 

[Rich Edmonds]

I agree a rearrange is in order the current looks like it was put together in a rush when WME became WPC. I like the order and look of your proposed layout. Nice job! I would also like to see a bit of description added to each of the devices like under HTC Arrive tell the processor screen size the fact that this device has a keyboard etc... People looking for a phone don't want to have to research much IMHO the description helps get them interested in the device. I can help with descriptions if you would like.

Also some forums could go away forever like Project Pink and Developer Forum: Vito Technology those never went anywhere they should probably be archived.

Developer Forum: Celio Redfly isn't far behind but I would wait on that one until it hasn't seen any activity.

Should there be an app developers forum for developers to discuss app development the tools of the trade etc...?

and I like that Samsung is on the bottom...lol

Yes, descriptions will definitely be re-written, everything will need to be crystal perfect. Good call on the forums which could be scrapped, any loose weight should be cut, and I'm up for a dedicated developer section, we could take this further and have a usergroup for developers? Only for a few decent apps/games anyway, then we can grant them access to a developer category which has all the discussion, or should we have it publicly available?

Can you just consolidate the Marketplace into one forum instead of splitting them into two?

For both WP7 and WM? Would mean we would need some way in deciphering what topic is what in terms of relevancy?

One more Home brew?

Off topic statement:

My wife thinks I should tell y'all. I am dyslexic OCD and highly motivated so if my thought process seams a little scattered and splattered don't freak out just go with it.

I have OCD too so I know your pain, I've been toying with all the little things that just bug me whenever I visit the forums (like in the menu before the "Forums" wasn't green to identify selection - ah I hated that), just keep firing all your opinions over!

For homebrew, that's a great idea, been a lot of talk and usage so would seem logical.

Okay one more not promising this will be the last.

I made this thread:

http://forums.windowscentral.com/showthread.php?p=1544742#post1544742

Dedicated to the developers that have chosen to post threads on this forum. Should we have dedicated forums Games, Apps where we showcase the developers who are posting here? I see this as a strong sell point for the forums and the more developers we can get to post there apps here the more people will want to look in to the forums. Just a topic of discussoin I am not sure how to implemint this or how to make it fair to all the developers that post. Suggestions?

We could have a sub-forum in the proposed "Marketplace" and "Gaming" forums? They could be called "Application Spotlight" and "Games Spotlight" respectively? We could have a stickied topic in these forums detailing the submission process so developers could submit their apps (via PM to us), we post a thread in the staff room (maybe have a new sub-forum for us called "Submissions") where we paste the submission and decide if it should be showcased and then we could create a topic in the designated forum?

The permissions on these would need to allow everyone to reply the threads we create of course for app and game discussion.

Updated structure taking into account the ideas above:

Windows Phone 7
- General Discussion
-- Homebrew
-- Developers
- Marketplace
-- Applications Spotlight
- Gaming
-- Games Spotlight
- Devices
-- Dell
--- Venue Pro
-- HTC
--- Arrive
--- HD 7
--- HD 7 Pro
--- Mozart
--- Surround
--- Trophy
-- LG
--- Optimus 7
--- Quantum
-- Samsung
--- Focus
--- Omnia 7

Windows Mobile
- General Discussion
- Marketplace
-- Developer Forum: Vito Technology
- Devices
-- HTC
-- Motorola
-- Palm
-- Samsung
-- Sony

wpcentral
- Bulletin Board
- General Banter
- Windows Phone Accessories
- Staff Room
-- Reports & Infractions
-- Submissions

 

[ronbo2000]

Re: Marketplace

For both WP7 and WM? Would mean we would need some way in deciphering what topic is what in terms of relevancy?

We need to put guildelines on what to put up on the ads to clarify. Buyers need to validate what they are buying as well. I just don't see the need to split the Marketplace despite the platform differences.

The other issue I am concerned about is that spammers love the posting on the marketplace. It is their main target although they have branch out to the regular forums as well.

 

[Dave Blake]

Yes, descriptions will definitely be re-written, everything will need to be crystal perfect. Good call on the forums which could be scrapped, any loose weight should be cut, and I'm up for a dedicated developer section, we could take this further and have a usergroup for developers? Only for a few decent apps/games anyway, then we can grant them access to a developer category which has all the discussion, or should we have it publicly available?


For both WP7 and WM? Would mean we would need some way in deciphering what topic is what in terms of relevancy?



I have OCD too so I know your pain, I've been toying with all the little things that just bug me whenever I visit the forums (like in the menu before the "Forums" wasn't green to identify selection - ah I hated that), just keep firing all your opinions over!

For homebrew, that's a great idea, been a lot of talk and usage so would seem logical.



We could have a sub-forum in the proposed "Marketplace" and "Gaming" forums? They could be called "Application Spotlight" and "Games Spotlight" respectively? We could have a stickied topic in these forums detailing the submission process so developers could submit their apps (via PM to us), we post a thread in the staff room (maybe have a new sub-forum for us called "Submissions") where we paste the submission and decide if it should be showcased and then we could create a topic in the designated forum?

The permissions on these would need to allow everyone to reply the threads we create of course for app and game discussion.

I like the idea and the look of the developer forums as you suggested. I have a suggestion about the implementation. Rather than having the developer PM one of us I think we should just put it in the forum description that these forums are only for developers and that any post that's not a developer posting will be deleted or moved to the correct forum but worded better. Here is why I wouldn't want a developer to skip posting because he thinks its a PITA to do the approval process. We could also post a global announcement telling people about the forum change and the intended use for these forums. It wont be hard to fill them up ether there are already a bunch of developers posting in the apps forum.

We need to put guildelines on what to put up on the ads to clarify. Buyers need to validate what they are buying as well. I just don't see the need to split the Marketplace despite the platform differences.

The other issue I am concerned about is that spammers love the posting on the marketplace. It is their main target although they have branch out to the regular forums as well.

I agree with this but maybe a WP Market forum and a WM market sub forum. Posting both in the same forum will get way confusing I think. Any of the lesser user forums seam to get slammed with the spam from time to time honestly I hate SPAM!

 

[Rich Edmonds]

Good call on the dev forums, that sounds good. The announcement should explain the forums will be offline for a few hours, since it will be easier and members won't randomly see forums being moved. We should perhaps decide on the best day to make changes (should Dieter approve) where we're all online and available?

Only problem combining the marketplace is that it will be under WP7, anyone looking for the WM Marketplace won't click on the WP7 one as they might assume it's solely for the newer OS?

 

[ronbo2000]

Only problem combining the marketplace is that it will be under WP7, anyone looking for the WM Marketplace won't click on the WP7 one as they might assume it's solely for the newer OS?

That is why you don't put it another a specific platform. Plus a specific guideline about how to put ads there to be clear to all.

 

[Dave Blake]

That is why you don't put it another a specific platform. Plus a specific guideline about how to put ads there to be clear to all.

Are you thinking of a market for people to sale stuff because that's not what we are talking about we are talking about the WP 7 app market verses the WinMo app market?

I think Rich is correct it will have to be separate one in each forum for it to make sense.

We could talk about opening a market place for people to sell WP and WM related items but I think we should save that for another day. That will take some setup figuring out the rules etc...

 

[Rich Edmonds]

Can I just say that I'm confused, are you both having a conversation in another dimension?

 

[Dave Blake]

Can I just say that I'm confused, are you both having a conversation in another dimension?

On the other SPE sites the Market Place forum is a forum for people to try to sell cell phones or other items related to that forums OS. Like a miniature Ebay for example. I think Ronbo is thinking we (You and I) are talking about having 2 of these miniature ebays one for windows Mobile and one for Windows phone. You and I are talking about the App Markets one for Windows Phone apps and the other for Windows Mobile Apps which are 2 completely separate App Markets so I agree with you that they should be separate.

Or I could be completely wrong?

 

[Rich Edmonds]

Oh, I see! Yes that we should keep together

 

[ronbo2000]

I missed that you added developer forums under marketplace. Can I ask for clarification why are developer forums considered to be under marketplace?

 

[Rich Edmonds]

I thought it would suit being placed there since it's not a main place of activity here and the Marketplace covers apps and games. Do you feel as though it would be better suited elsewhere?

 

[ronbo2000]

I was thinking of trying to put more the developers to put their support forums this site. A marketplace classification is not exactly an incentive for them to be in that group.

 

[Dave Blake]

I added some color and descriptions for clarity. Any ideas when we will get started on this guys?

Windows Phone 7
- General Discussion
Discussions about the amazing Windows Phone 7 OS

-- Homebrew
Apps and how to?s for the hacker community

-- Developers
Developers welcome, discuss app development the tools of the trade and how to?s

- Marketplace
Discuss available Windows Phone 7 apps

-- Applications Spotlight
This forums is to spotlight our community of developers and there apps
Developers please support your apps

- Gaming
Discuss those Windows Phone 7 Games

-- Games Spotlight
This forums is to spotlight our community of developers and there games
Developers please support your games

- Devices
-- Dell
--- Venue Pro
1GHz processer/ 4.1 WVGA AMOLED capacitive, multi-touch display/ 5MP, Auto-focus, LED flash/ Slideout keyboard
-- HTC
--- Arrive
Qualcomm? QSD8650 1 GHz processer/ 3.6-inch WVGA capacitive touch screen/ 5 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash/ Slideout keyboard
--- HD 7
1 GHz processor/ 4.3-inch WVGA with capacitive touch screen/ 5.0 megapixel with auto focus
--- HD 7 Pro
Qualcomm? QSD8650 1 GHz processer/ 3.6-inch WVGA capacitive touch screen/ 5 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash/ Slideout keyboard
--- Mozart
1 GHz processor/ Size: 3.7 inches 480 x 800 WVGA screen/ 8 megapixel color camera with Auto focus and Xenon flash
--- Surround
1 GHz processor/ Size: 3.8 inches 480 x 800 WVGA screen/ 5 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash
--- Trophy
1 GHz processor/ Size: 3.8 inches 480 x 800 WVGA screen/ 5 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash


-- LG
--- Optimus 7
3.8? WVGA/ 5.0 Megapixel digital camera, which includes Intelligent Shot mode
--- Quantum
262K Color TFT, 480 x 320 Pixels, 3.2"/ 5MP Camera with Flash & 720p HD Video Capture
-- Samsung
--- Focus
4" Display Touch Screen/ Auto Focus 5.0 Megapixel Camera 4x digital zoom LED Flash
--- Omnia 7
1 GHz Scorpion processor/ Super AMOLED 480 x 800 pixels 4.0 inches screen/ 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash

Windows Mobile
- General Discussion
- Marketplace
-- Developer Forum: Celio Redfly
-Devices
--HTC
-- Motorola
-- Palm
-- Samsung
-- Sony


WPCentral
- Bulletin Board
If you need to know it, it will be here!

- General Banter
Just for fun games welcome

- Windows Phone Accessories
Find something cool let us know

- Staff Room
-- Reports & Infractions
-- Submissions
/\Rich what is this one?/\

 

[Rich Edmonds]

The submissions forum was for the idea of the spotlight approval etc., but I think we disagreed on that? I can't remember, was more than 10 seconds ago. I like the descriptions etc., looks good.

I'll send the final structure to Dieter and ask for his approval then it's all systems green to set a date for a few hours of forum closure when we're all online at the same time to get the structure implemented quickly?

@ronbo: But isn't WM slowly dying? That's the impression I'm under anyway.

 

[Dave Blake]

Can we do this on a template so we can edit and adjust everything then just flip a switch to make the changes. That is what they did last week on Android Central. I have no idea how this was done but maybe ask Dieter when you email him unless you already know.