View Full Version : Pocket PC Thoughts Weekly Newsletter Launched
Jason Dunn
08-22-2003, 03:35 PM
Some of you will have already seen this in your Inbox, but I'm very pleased to announce that, after four weeks of false starts, we've finally launched our weekly newsletter! It's been in development for months, but we kept having trouble with our mailing script timing out. Fabrizio got it nailed down, and the newsletter went out today. You've all had an option in your preferences to turn on/off the newsletter for the past couple of months, but strangely enough no one asked me what this was for. :wink: <br /><br />The newsletter will be sent out every Friday morning at 8 AM MT, and it will dynamically take a snapshot of the news of the previous seven days and give you a summary of all the headlines. We've also created some slick code that looks at all the stories of the past week, and how many comments people made on the stories, in order to list the "hot" stories of the week. The funny part is that the off-topic stories tend to generate the greatest number of comments, so the hot stories will quite often be off-topic stories as well.<br /><br />We'll be evolving the newsletter over time, and I'm eager to listen to feedback about it. What else should we include in it? One of the primary goals of the newsletter is to make it as automated as possible. Other than the editorial introduction that I have to write every week, everything else there is automated.<br /><br />I hope everyone enjoys the newsletter! It's free for everyone, <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/subscribe.php">subscribers</a> and non-subscribers alike. I've chosen to make it banner-ad free (there's a sponsored item and featured download zone however), so you can focus on the content instead of flashing and blinking graphics.<br /><br />Constructive comments welcome!
butch
08-22-2003, 03:45 PM
It is too bad we can't read it on our Pocket PC :-(
You should at least include a link to the message on the web in the text body of the mail ...
Except for that it is a nice thing :-)
Ed Hansberry
08-22-2003, 04:15 PM
Is anyone getting a TEXT version? I am supposed to be but it still comes through as HTML. I'm wondering how many text subscribers there are.
Jason Dunn
08-22-2003, 04:17 PM
It is too bad we can't read it on our Pocket PC :-(
You should at least include a link to the message on the web in the text body of the mail ...
We're looking at bundling a plain text version of the newsletter alongside the HTML version. The biggest problem with that is that it almost doubles the size of the newsletter. We'll look at some options, but I don't know if it's feasible for us to blast out two separate versions of the newsletter. One option would be to include an URL to the newsletter online, then Pocket PC/Smartphone users could go visit the page on the site. I don't know that we're generating a static page though, so that may be difficult.
Thanks for the feedback, we're new at this and eager to learn more. :-)
Ed Hansberry
08-22-2003, 04:23 PM
Thanks for the feedback, we're new at this and eager to learn more. :-)It would be cool if we could automate this process into a Repligo .RGO file.
dean_shan
08-22-2003, 04:25 PM
I like it. You guys are full of surprises. Thanks! :D
Jason Dunn
08-22-2003, 04:27 PM
It would be cool if we could automate this process into a Repligo .RGO file.
It would, but Cerience has no server-side components. They're considering developing something, but nothing so far for us to use.
Jeff Rutledge
08-22-2003, 04:31 PM
Just got mine. Very cool.
Nice job!
Sweet - well done.
You need a link from the home page to the weekly digests - or at least the editorials as you can get to most of the rest from archives.
Looking forward to the long weekend here in the UK. Why Banks need holidays I will never know; but I welcome each and everyone. (For those that don't know - most public holidays in UK are called Bank Holidays).
Rgds,
Theo
WillyG
08-22-2003, 04:50 PM
+
+ Summary of the week at the bottom!
+ Free (also for non subscribers) & Banner Ad-free
+ "Push tech"
+ Delivered on friday (another thing to look forward to on fridays ;))
+ Add's some new things for people who already visit daily.
+ Clear whats sponsorship and whats editorial
+ Easy to set up filters/rules based on the subject field (Pocket PC Thoughts Weekly Digest: mmmm dd, yyyy
+ Easy to read, great choice of colors
+ Makes clear how to stop recieving the newsletter (bottom)
-
- No TXT version/No PPC "version"
- Miss a freeware download section (alà Lockergnome)
- Miss a "This weeks Q&A" section (look to Lockergnome Windows daily)
- Online version? (ability to sync via Repligo/Avantgo/Other)
Total verdict
8.5/10
welmoed
08-22-2003, 04:59 PM
I guess I'm going to be in the vast minority... I was unpleasantly surprised to find this in my inbox. First of all, I didn't ask for it... if I want to read PPCT I will go to the website when I want to. Second, I hate having to scroll past the ads. Yes, you need to pay your bills.
So I'm immediately going to my preferences to opt out of this. And, quite frankly, I'm disappointed that I have to take that step... couldn't you have made it an opt-in rather than an opt-out?
--Welmoed
Jason Dunn
08-22-2003, 05:16 PM
Hah! Great feedback, thanks!
-
- No TXT version/No PPC "version"
- Miss a freeware download section (alà Lockergnome)
- Miss a "This weeks Q&A" section (look to Lockergnome Windows daily)
- Online version? (ability to sync via Repligo/Avantgo/Other)
1) Text version will be included in the next version that goes out.
2) That's not something we currently have on the site, so it's a manual thing to add, but it's something we can think about.
3) That's not something we currently have on the site, so it's a manual thing to add, but it's something we can think about.
4) Good feedback...I'll think about how we can do that.
Can you tell I'm trying to make this as low-maintenance as possible? ;-) What I WOULD be interested in doing, possibly, is finding someone who would want to takea on the task of, on a weekly basis, publishing a featured freeware application, and possibly the Q&A as well.
entropy1980
08-22-2003, 05:51 PM
It is too bad we can't read it on our Pocket PC :-(
You should at least include a link to the message on the web in the text body of the mail ...
We're looking at bundling a plain text version of the newsletter alongside the HTML version. The biggest problem with that is that it almost doubles the size of the newsletter. We'll look at some options, but I don't know if it's feasible for us to blast out two separate versions of the newsletter. One option would be to include an URL to the newsletter online, then Pocket PC/Smartphone users could go visit the page on the site. I don't know that we're generating a static page though, so that may be difficult.
Thanks for the feedback, we're new at this and eager to learn more. :-)
Couldn't you add a field for subscribers to check to recieve a plain text version?
Jason Dunn
08-22-2003, 06:18 PM
Couldn't you add a field for subscribers to check to recieve a plain text version?
I think the reason we don't want to send two versions is the added strain on the server. I'm not sure though - I'll see if this is possible.
entropy1980
08-22-2003, 06:21 PM
Couldn't you add a field for subscribers to check to recieve a plain text version?
I think the reason we don't want to send two versions is the added strain on the server. I'm not sure though - I'll see if this is possible.
You could set a cron job to run one batch at a time..... for instance subscribers get it early morning friday everyone else later in the day or a different day (ie Saturday or Sunday) or even off-peak hours...
Thomas Foolery
08-22-2003, 06:37 PM
I guess I'm going to be in the vast minority... I was unpleasantly surprised to find this in my inbox. First of all, I didn't ask for it... if I want to read PPCT I will go to the website when I want to. Second, I hate having to scroll past the ads. Yes, you need to pay your bills.
So I'm immediately going to my preferences to opt out of this. And, quite frankly, I'm disappointed that I have to take that step... couldn't you have made it an opt-in rather than an opt-out?
--Welmoed
ditto on that. defaulting to "opt in" is a bit lame, to put it mildly. :(
dammitjim
08-22-2003, 06:44 PM
Pleasant surprise!!!
Thanks for the effort put into this. That's all I can say... For getting a free newsletter about something we are very interested in, this is awesome!
David Prahl
08-22-2003, 06:47 PM
Wonderful! I think it's great!
I suggest leaving it "opt-in", and have a link on the top of the e-mail to the user's Prefs so they can "opt-out" quickly.
Video11
08-22-2003, 07:02 PM
Whoops, my spam filters moved the news letter to my Junk Mail box. Found it just as I was about to post a whine :bawl: about not getting the news letter. :roll:
I like it. As for opting in / opting out I think the front page post will be enough notice for most people to update their profile. In hindsight, perhaps something could have been posted earlier to allow people to modify their profile before the newsletter went out.
Steven Cedrone
08-22-2003, 08:22 PM
I like it. As for opting in / opting out I think the front page post will be enough notice for most people to update their profile. In hindsight, perhaps something could have been posted earlier to allow people to modify their profile before the newsletter went out.
Well, it was only one mail message. People get it, they don't want it, they go and opt-out...
I really don't see the big deal. It seems as if some people feel as if they had been violated... :roll:
Steve
dean_shan
08-22-2003, 09:34 PM
I really don't see the big deal. It seems as if some people feel as if they had been violated... :roll:
Same here. I for one like it. It was a good surprise to start the day off with. How many more secret things do you guys have planned?
Crash Biker
08-22-2003, 10:00 PM
The big deal is I like this:
(a) This site a great deal, visit it often and it is one of the few virtual "homes" I have on the web.
Meanwhile, (b) my inbox is choking from spam, I'm very anti UCE and run various filters and rules to try and make sure I see as little of it as possible.
When I site I admire and trust as in (a) starts behaving in manner I associate with (b) lets just say it is very disappointing and leave it at that.
I don't intend to throw a hissy fit over this, and I still very much appreciate what you guys do here, and I still intend to subscribe as soon as you get the Visa option online, but this was unsolicited in that at no point when I signed up did I believe I was opting into a mailing list, the email address I used I don't use for mailing lists, I don't want the mailing and it is commerical due to the adverts. That makes it unsolicited commercial email.
Don't want to make a big fuss, but I am sympathetic to the "should be opt-in" opinion and as Steven didn't see what the big deal was maybe this explains it.
Best regards
Crash
Jason Dunn
08-22-2003, 10:14 PM
Don't want to make a big fuss, but I am sympathetic to the "should be opt-in" opinion and as Steven didn't see what the big deal was maybe this explains it.
I do understand why it's a big deal to some people, and it's not a choice I made lightly. But in the end, I made my decision and I'm prepared to accept some flames for it. So far the feedback I'm getting is about 99% positive and 1% negative, which is better than I thought it was going to be. :wink:
Ed Hansberry
08-22-2003, 10:42 PM
It would, but Cerience has no server-side components. They're considering developing something, but nothing so far for us to use.
That will be cool.
Marc Zimmermann
08-22-2003, 11:42 PM
1) Text version will be included in the next version that goes out.
Please provide an option to get a plain text alternative to the HTML version, not a combined HTML and text version. That should keep the server load down to about the same level as the current HTML version and appeal even more to the text preferring users.
ctmagnus
08-22-2003, 11:51 PM
:way to go:
The only complaints I have are the limitations of pocket Inbox.
David Prahl
08-23-2003, 01:35 AM
I wonder if this thread will be note-worthy enough to be in the next newsletter! :lol:
Jason Dunn
08-23-2003, 06:09 AM
Please provide an option to get a plain text alternative to the HTML version, not a combined HTML and text version.
Assuming we have the development resources for that, certainly. But combining them is the fastest way to get a text-only version out to you.
sfjlittel
08-23-2003, 10:52 AM
Don't want to make a big fuss, but I am sympathetic to the "should be opt-in" opinion and as Steven didn't see what the big deal was maybe this explains it.
I do understand why it's a big deal to some people, and it's not a choice I made lightly. But in the end, I made my decision and I'm prepared to accept some flames for it. So far the feedback I'm getting is about 99% positive and 1% negative, which is better than I thought it was going to be. :wink:
I do not think the term flame applies here. As I see it you label it something negative to say that you do NOT like opt-out and prefer opt-in.
An article on your website should have been enough. Customers can then choose for themselves if they want to be subscribed to it or not. You would probably not get as much subscribers as you have now, but the people who would be interested would get it, people who have a spam box they do not check would not (the mail server load would be decreased) and you would not get angry customers who would not be interested.
My signature is "I will adapt" but I will not do this this time, because in the Netherlands we say "De uitzondering bevestigd de regel" (The exception confirmes the rule).
Sorry Jason, as soon as I saw that nasty Sprint ad, I was straight in the preferences to opt out. This site is one of the very few (maybe only one) I've used my main email address for and I've kept it unwanted ad free until now.
I really like all the other changes to the site since the launch of subscriber services so it's not a big deal that there is one I don't want. But hey, no worries. If you want it great, if not, it's easy to opt out.
As already mentioned in the thread, a link on the site to a weekly update page would be a nice idea. I personally would rather this than something in my inbox that I have to delete.
Hi
Althogh I have read some comments on issues to correct with the news letter I can say nothing but to admire the way you guys work at the site.
You have managed to make it the bible of PPC.
Speed of loading, thourough articles, unbiassed reviews and now this.
Keep on the good work
:D
vBulletin® v3.8.9, Copyright ©2000-2019, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.