Monday, 10 March 2008
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Online Status
Over the years, we've gotten a lot of requests to show online status - a little icon that displays when you're signed onto Xanga. We've never been able to figure out how to do it though - from a tech perspective, it's tough stuff!But we've been investing a lot in software to speed up the site, and recently Mikey had a brainstorm: we could use some of this same software to show online status! It'd be easy for us to do, and we could do it in such a way that building this feature wouldn't take much time at all, which was perfect because we've gotten so many requests for it over the years.
But first, of course, we want to bounce the concept off of you guys and provide a pre-emptive opt-out:
Essentially, a little icon will appear next to your username if you've been signed onto Xanga recently. We'd start off showing if you've been on the site in the last five minutes...and maybe increase that depending on feedback. Any thoughts on what a good amount of time would be?
Edit: To clarify, here are a few more details . . .- The icon is based on your last active time on the site.
- If you have been active in the last 5 minutes (read: you've loaded another Xanga page), you are considered online. If you're just reading posts on one page and not moving around the site, it won't think you are online and the icon will not show up.
- This will go into effect on Monday.
- You can opt out at any time!
Would also love to hear your thoughts in general - thanks!
-John
UPDATE: This is live! If you'd like to opt out and haven't already, you can do so here:
- The icon is based on your last active time on the site.
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Comments (283)
I stay logged into Xanga 24-7. I never log out (to where I have to enter my login and password information). So would this show that I am always online? Or is it somehow based on whether I have been active (blogging, commenting, clicking links?) in the last 5-minutes or so?
But then everyone will know what a TRUE XANGA ADDICT I am... I'm not sure that's a good thing. lol
Sure, why not.
wow, um..
it's really myspace-y. i dunno.. i'm not a big fan. (plus, i'd have to turn mine off anyway, as i am literally always signed into xanga. 
)
Sounds good to me.
ooo great, brilliant feature!
Please, you guys, seriously. I love xanga, and I hate that it is becoming another myspace. I loved it the way it was two years ago. Simple, easy, pretty. It was about writing then, but anymore it's really turning into another myspace site, with the kind of bells and whistles that a lot of us came here to avoid. I'm not alone in this.
And lest you think I'm an "old person" and just complaining because my generation doesn't appreciate it, I'm not. I'm eighteen. Thanks for listening.
I think it's an interesting idea but for me personally, just because someone is on xanga doesn't mean that will change if I comment or post. I just wouldn't have a use for it so if it's too much trouble I don't see why you guys have to work so hard!
I think it's a good idea...as long is it can be shut off by the end-user.
I'm on the fence about it. It does seem really myspacy and I don't like that but sometimes it would be nice to know if someone has been online recently.
But what if we never sign out of xanga?
Sounds like a good idea... and if I don't like it, I'll turn it off!
I love this idea. I'd love to know which of my friends are on Xanga, so I can send them a message or simply chat! Please do this! Oh, and 3-5 minutes would be great!
online status iconn might be ok - but no more colorful fluff fluff please.
I would prefer if you instead spent time working out how to enable e-props for photos, to simply highlight photoas a bit more
I
A good idea.
As long as users can choose to activate or disable the feature I think I sounds like a good idea.
I can see this being a problem if you stay signed in all the time. LOTS of spamming I am sure and as I get enough already in my regular email, no thanks.
If you have the option to turn it off, why bother with it in the first place?
JMO!
And yes also, way too myspace-y! Liked this site better before you started with all the pulsing and chatboards etc.
if people have requested it, I don't see why not, as long as there's a clear way to opt out (as I will be doing right now). as long as you're not personally forced to use it i don't see why having another little icon on some users' comments will upset anyone.
i think itrs a great idea but like snoochface commented, something like been ACTIVE in the past 5 minutes, cause yeah i'm always signed into xanga 24/ 7 too!
I think it's a GREAT idea!
Don't mean to throw a water balloon on your parade but question honestly why would anyone need this? I mean its not like a chat room or an instant messanger where the person could just instantly respond to you back. So why would we need this function to begin with? Sorry just being the devil's advocate. I mean most people wouldn't respond back quickly anyways even if this was implimented. Anyways this is just my two cents. Thanks for your time.
-AnubisWerewolf
Yeah I never sign out of xanga either.
I still totally want my MILF badge, please!
I wouldn't mind the active status, but it's myspace-y to me too, oh well!
nice.
i like it.
thank you.
All of these xanga addicts are trying to say in advance they never sign out so it doesn't appear they are on all day.
I think this is an awesome idea so people can connect with their friends that are online.
This site is becoming another cluttered myspace. I don't particularly mind the online status idea, but it's just another feature on top of other feature on more features that really don't enhance the *blogging* focus of this site. I don't come to xanga for social networking as such, I come here to blog and read other blogs. I think a lot of the users who have been here for several years agree with me. (yes I know my site isn't that old, I've had several other blogs before this one.)