Infield Parking Status
Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a great Valentines day and enjoyed Daytona weekend. Sorry, it has taken longer to get back to you than I had hoped. The Infield Team spent all of last week working with the front end team in NYC and meeting to discuss the issues raised because of the interruption of service caused by our hosting provider.
As the saying goes, I have good news and… other news.
First things first. We spent a long time reviewing the new site and going over it with the design and engineering teams. We feel that the main features of the site are ready for beta testing. We are going to do an open beta for all of you to participate in. Even as a beta, the new site has many more features than the old one and is superior in every way (the new hamsters are on the BALCO plan). The Infield Parking Beta will be up this week – Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. Sign for the beta will be at this address (www.infieldparking.com).
For those of you who joined during our first beta, you will recall this means that while the site will be up and running and ready for action, not all of the features are complete and you may encounter some funkiness (issues) here and there. We will have a special forum setup for discussing the features, any issues and general questions.
The main features that will be available at beta are:
- the forums
- private groups
- private messaging
- media upload via desktop and mobile
- my parking space (about 60% of the features)
We are planning to continue to insert features during the course of the beta. These include:
- drivers parking spaces (yes, you get access before they do)
- blogs for parking spaces
- Events Calendar
- Facebook Connect
- News Feed
- other enhancements to main features
In the beta forum, I will post a full list of up coming features and announce each one as they are ready for use. Once we are ready to launch the beta site, I will post more about how to join the beta and use the site.
As for the other news. We have not been able to gain access to the old site. We have decided not to let this stop the transfer to the new site. This will have the following effects, some users may need to re-register, friends lists will need to be recreated and any archived photos, posts or comments will not be migrated to the new site. This was not our original plan, but we know in time that the new platform and the opportunity for a fresh start will make the short term pain completely worth it.
Several users have asked about their customizations or “code” for their parking space/profile. Profiles on the new site are not as customizable as the old ones. The new profile will have a multitude of new features and tools that the old one just did not have. To accommodate all of the features it had to be completely revamped. I will write more about this tomorrow, but I wanted to answer several users questions regarding the design of their old profiles. Trust me, the new profile will rock when it is finished and it has “awesome” features.
I am getting really excited about seeing everyone’s reactions to the new platform.
Fire up the comments,
-Mike
February 17th, 2009 at 08:28
MY COMPUTER WILL BE KEPT ON STARTING WED. MORNING UNTILL IT’S READY !!!!
February 17th, 2009 at 08:44
It’s good to hear some news about the site….thanks. So, how customizable is the new platform or do we just have to wait and see? And what happened to cause this disruption of service and loss of all of our old stuff? It may be none of our business, but I’m sure I’m not the ONLY one who wants an explanation. I hope for all your guys sake that there are enough people left or sign up for IP to make it worth the effort you have put into it. I will see what the Beta looks like before I make a decision…..I’m pretty bummed with some of the news. Thanks Mike….enjoy your week.
February 17th, 2009 at 10:12
@TURTLEDOVER thanks for your enthusiasm! It was great to see your post first thing this morning.
@PJ thanks for your comments. I know that some of the news was not great but I really think in a few weeks the new platform will more than make up for the problems we have now. I will write another post about the profile and its features and customization. I had been waiting to see how it would turn out before going to deep into it.
To your point about having enough users. I am hoping and counting on everyone’s support in bringing their friends to the new IP once they have had a chance use the new platform. IMHO it is going to rock!!
February 17th, 2009 at 11:00
Are we going to still have a home page, like we did on the old one? Also are we going to be able to put up layout backgrouds on our new parking spaces? I also wanted to know, will I have to resign up again & what the new web sites name is going to be so that I can go there. Please write me back.
Melanie
February 17th, 2009 at 13:11
Thanks for the info Mike…..I appreciate it. Anxious to see what the week brings
February 17th, 2009 at 15:36
Thank you for letting me know. But I need to know if I can still put backgrounds & graphics up in my profile. I want to be prepared for it. Please let me know.
Melanie
February 17th, 2009 at 15:41
HI Mike,
I am really happy to hear all of this news. I have all the codes from my old page saved. Will I be able to use these codes or will I have to start from scratch? Also. Since we have to sign up again. What about our user names? Is it going to be first come first served? I dont want someone else taking my username. Also.. Will the people that were permanently banned from the old site be allowed to sign in to the new site?
Thanks for all your hard work. If I can help in anyway just let me know.
BTW… speed weeks in Daytona was a blast !!!
Jeannie
February 17th, 2009 at 16:02
@ILoveJr88Fan and @Jeannie The old codes will NOT work on the new site. You will not be able to decorate your profile in the same way. There will be one page that is part of your profile that you can do free form HTML styling to, but it is not the main page of your profile. This page is called “the pit”. It will not be ready for beta, but come towards the end of the month. Believe me, it is a major engineering feat to create “the pit”, but we wanted you to be able to have an area for free expression.
I am working on the screen shots of the profile now and will post them as soon as I can.
-m
February 17th, 2009 at 16:40
Hi, I was just wondering if Dale Jr knows anything about this new system. I know alot of people are wondering why he hasn’t even been on since September. Which I find odd. He usually keeps his fans up to date with what’s going on in his life. Also, I am excited about the new IP. But I do have a few questions:
Will there be separate drivers pages in Drivers Discussions?
Will it be easy to redo our pages, cause I’m not the greatest at doing codes and stuff. lol
I really miss being on IP, and I’m looking forward to the new site. Thank you for working so hard on it, so we can come on here and talk about our love of Nascar. We appreciate all you do.
February 17th, 2009 at 17:07
@Joycie thanks for your support (and everyone who has written in). Dale Jr’s team has seen a preview of the new platform and will be adding content once the driver pages are completed.
In the Driver’s discussions we have one top level forum for now. Once the conversations start taking place, we will look at how to sub divide the sections. The moderator will have the power to create sub forums based on the number of posts on a given topic.
The pages will carry a standard design with some pre-built “skins”.
thanks,
-Mike
February 17th, 2009 at 17:29
Is there a way we can contact the old site for our photos. I had photos there that I do not have anywhere else. My computer harddrive crashed a week after my dog passed away, and they are very meaningful to me and I would like to get them
Thank you
February 17th, 2009 at 17:32
@Arleen I’m sorry, but we don’t have access to the site. If that changes, I will let you know so you can grab your photos. I am sorry to hear about your dog.
-Mike
February 17th, 2009 at 18:28
Woooo Hooooo…. .Can’t wait til we get to see the new site
February 17th, 2009 at 19:20
Wow, I am soooo excited. Infield Parking seems like its going to be pretty sweet. Can’t wait for the Beta. I just want to get back with IP, I am really starting to miss it. Keep up the good work everyone!
February 17th, 2009 at 20:30
Thanks for the updates.
Lee
February 17th, 2009 at 20:50
Glad to hear there will be a testing come up soon. Thanks for all the hard work ya’ll have been doing. Hope you did at least enjoy watching Daytona anyway.
February 17th, 2009 at 21:57
Thanks for the update! I can’t wait….that is, if I am allowed back lol
February 17th, 2009 at 23:21
Will I be able to run my group like I want to and kick people off who don’t agree with me and follow my rules? Will we still be able to tattle on others?
February 18th, 2009 at 08:47
Nice to see the sarcasm is alive and well Misfits Leader. How about getting a life? Mike, thanks for keeping us in the loop with your updates. Looking forward to the new site!
February 18th, 2009 at 09:28
Mike, thanks so much for the updates. I’m ready for the upgraded IP!
February 18th, 2009 at 11:54
I sure hope that you hit the nail on the head this time, because if you don’t, then I can’t help but think that the original 5 or 6 members who are left, will soon join the rest who have had it with empty promises.
Tom,bobby43dodge.
February 18th, 2009 at 15:44
I am sure they are working on this as fast as they can, so everyone just be patient. I am sure they do have lives outside the computer that they have things to do in too, they aren’t at the computer screen 24 hours a day just so you can be happy. Just because you don’t have a life outside IP and can’t wait for your answers to the repeated questions that have been answered over and over. Try reading the other posts before asking again and again. Just deal with the fact that IP is down for now and let them do their job instead of having to come and check here every day to answer stupid questions. Wait for the new and improved IP to come alive and then see what you have to do. Get a life until then, who knows, maybe you will actually find one.
Take your time and get the site right, dont rush it just to make some people happy.
February 18th, 2009 at 16:34
Misfits Leader Says:
February 17th, 2009 at 23:21
Will I be able to run my group like I want to and kick people off who don’t agree with me and follow my rules? Will we still be able to tattle on others?
FYI - THE ABOVE COPIED MESSAGE WAS NOT LEFT BY ANYONE IN THE MISFITS MUCH LESS “MISFITS LEADER”
1. There is NO “Misfits Leader”
2. We don’t “kick people off” for disagreeing with us or who don’t follow the rules.
3. We do not “tattle on others”
We do defend our right to be on IP, our right to our Semi-Private Forum on IP, and our right to have rules if we so desire - all of which were approved by Ed Collins.
The Moderators are the ones who “kicked” people off our forum.
Obviously there are those in IP who just eon’t get the fact that the Misfits are there and intend to stay there until the powers that be say otherwise.
The Misfits have held true to IP through the off season with threads every day and have welcomed many of those who in days past had unkind and untrue things to say about us in other threads.
The Misfits are all looking forward to the “New and Improved” Infield Parking and hope that we will be permitted to have our Private Misfits Forum in Infield Parking.
To the jokester who posted “Misfits Leader Says” - thank you kindly for keeping the home fires burning in Infield Parking, if it weren’t for people like you continuing to stir the pot your followers would have nothing to do. Have fun and when the tables turn - well……..
February 18th, 2009 at 16:45
@ Misfit Leader and @Pati - thanks for you posts. However, I am not going to approve any more comments regarding the Misfits. Sorry that I approved the first one.
February 18th, 2009 at 17:05
Here’s a question…will the pit crew members be allowed to answer questions too? Not just the drivers?
Please let people know that Junior’s posted at his other web page, dalejr.com and has photos from his trip to Aspen with relatives…
February 18th, 2009 at 17:46
It is like Jeopardy, patiently waiting for IP….LOL
February 23rd, 2009 at 15:57
Thanks so much, so far the beta version is so much better. Can’t wait to see what else is in store for IP. Have a good one =)