Current Blog UK
- Closed Topic: Look around, vote and respond but you need an invitation to add
What on Earth’s going on around here? Just because the Current team is busy beavering away and drinking lots of cups of tea, it doesn’t mean we can’t keep you updated on what’s happening on the channel and the website here in the UK and Ireland. This is the place for you to stay in the know about all things Current. It’s also the place for you to speak up when you've got a complaint or a suggestion, or give us a hearty round of applause if you think we've earned it. Let the dialogue begin!
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Celebrating the long weekend like a gold medal!
A week in news moves fairly fast and this week has been no different. Olympic records have been shattered, humans have been helping computers read books and sexual imagery has been everywhere.
The UK Current community has been clipping some great stories this week, generating a wealth of discussion and definitely getting ever closer to that awesome swag hidden away in the Current vault. Jealous? You don’t need to be, get clipping and you to could be opening a parcel from Current.
*** TIP OF THE WEEK ***
Want to get the most comments on your story? Avoid duplications, be first!
The best place to start when clipping is to do a quick search on Current.com to see if anyone else has already clipped a version of the story. If it's a popular news item, you have to be quick to be current. No one wants to see the same tired story repeated so if someone has already added a version of the story, but you feel your link has new and better information, try adding it as a comment on the original item instead.
As always levelling up on comments and clips is your fastest way to swag and Mr_Costello has kindly provided us with some handy clips (see below).
*** Also on CURRENT ***
With all the wet weather it may come as a shock that the UK has been exposed as one of the biggest importers of water. With the dramatic shortages of water across the world this is vital resource should be something we all treasure.
http://current.com/items/89219262_revealed_the_massive_... (posted by Toshiba)
Usain Bolt is the pride of Jamaica after grabbing gold in 100m and 200m.
http://current.com/items/89208327_man_runs_fast (posted by Owwwmykneecap)
http://current.com/items/89219886_thundering_bolt_smash... (posted by Mr_Costello)
Team GB picks up 18 golds, making this the most successful Olympics for over 100 years.
http://current.com/items/89226448_team_gb_now_has_18_go... (posted by rwylie)
Did you realise that you have helped to scan hundreds of books?
http://current.com/items/89221254_if_you_use_the_web_yo... (posted by DeliatheArtist)
Sex sells. The imagery is certainly everywhere but how does this effect our culture and behaviour?
http://current.com/items/89221007_widespread_sexual_ima... (also posted by DeliatheArtist)
and finally…
The Empire is coming, run for your life…..
http://current.com/items/89204971_death_star_over_san_f... (posted by mhorn)
Got something you want to share with us? Post below or drop me a line....
Richard – Beta_Boy
Still dancing like Usain Bolt!
Online Community Team
www.twitter.com/Beta_Boy A week in news moves fairly fast and this week has been no different. Olympic records have been shattered, humans have been helping co... more -
It is never too late to make it count! Are you a sinner or a winner?
The Olympics are not the only massive event drawing to a close. The inaugural UK, VC2 Leaderboard winner is due to be selected this week!
What is VC2? Well for those of you who missed the recent blog post http://current.com/items/89175574_the_return_of_the_vc2... here is the lowdown. The VC2 Leaderboard features all Viewer Created Content (VC2) uploads to Current.com. You, as a valued member of the community can vote and comment on the pods and as you do they move up or down the Leaderboard based on popularity.
Each month, a Leaderboard winner is selected and they will win a whopping £1000 if their pod is broadcast to the nation on Current TV.
So what are you waiting for? Grab a camera and get shooting or head to the Leaderboard and make your opinion count.
Stay Current!
Richard – Beta_Boy
www.twitter.com/Beta_Boy
Online Community Team The Olympics are not the only massive event drawing to a close. The inaugural UK, VC2 Leaderboard winner is due to be selected this we... more -
Another exciting week here at Current TV towers…
Being British I find it easy to view the Olympics with more than an air of cynicism (mainly due to our lack of medals for decent events). However, it has been impossible not to have been sucked in to the sheer drama in and around the event. The opening ceremony is exposed as fake, Michael Phelps dominates in the pool, Hungarian weight lifters hurt themselves and China continue to try and keep Tibet out of the news.
Elsewhere this week it has been hard to ignore the ongoing issues with Russia and Georgia with every Western leader giving their opinion. Finally, closer to home, news has been just as eventful with the Tories telling everyone to move down south, A-Level results continuing to improve and Prince Charles criticising GM food again.
The community has welcomed more than a few members this week so I find myself compelled to hand out some tips on how to get the most out of Current. Many of you have asked questions about your profile and how you can personalise it. The first place to start is the top right hand corner of the page. Click on “account” and follow it through to “edit picture” under “public profile”, then simply change it up!
If you have any suggestions on where to get some awesome avatars I’d love to hear from you. Why not share your links with everyone below?
If you want to make the news rather than just being a voyeur there is a wealth of swag available to you. Mr_Costello on the UK Community Team has put together some clips and added them to last week’s blog:
http://current.com/items/89182094_blag_the_swag_it_ain_...
That’s about enough from me this week, as always if you have any questions, queries or tips I’m here to answer. This is an open thread so feel free to ask below.
Fake Ceremony
http://current.com/items/89193852_olympic_ceremony_sing...
http://current.com/items/89190548_were_the_fireworks_in...
Michael Phelps:
http://current.com/items/89196761_michael_phelps_has_do...
Hungarian Weight Lifter
http://current.com/items/89200648_olympic_weightlifting...
Tibet protests
http://current.com/items/89200125_protests_elicit_less_...
And finally….What the hell is Steve McClaren doing?
http://current.com/items/89204667_schteve_mcclaren_turn...
Richard – Beta_Boy
UK Community Manager
Follow me on Twitter?
http://twitter.com/Beta_Boy Being British I find it easy to view the Olympics with more than an air of cynicism (mainly due to our lack of medals for decent event... more -
Blag the swag it ain't no drag!
As a recent newcomer to the Current:News family, it has taken some time for me to get to grips with all the amazing possibilities this site presents. I can think of no better way to introduce myself to you all than to provide a brief recap of all the reasons Current.com is my (and should be your) home.
Current.com is the home for viewer influenced and created content. Current.com presents the opportunity to shape the news by contributing news stories, blog posts, videos, and other influential content that you find on the Internet. Through these contributions and votes, VC2 uploads, and VCAMs, you can play an influential role helping us determine what gets aired on Current TV.
Still not enough for you? We appreciate that the glory of TV is not everything but who can turn down some free swag. On Current:News, we have a variety of levels for you to achieve. These levels all come with a wealth of incentives and prizes for those who become community leaders. Mario, our community wizard in the US has kindly written a detailed blog post on how these levels can be achieved.
http://current.com/items/89169526_leveling_up_is_your_t...
The higher the level the better the swag, so don’t delay.
*** TIP OF THE WEEK ***
We have some handy tools to help you get started with clipping, so why not give them a try. My favourite is the browser button:
http://current.com/s/make_current.htm
Simply drag and drop the button on to your browser and you can clip any story, any time!
*** POD OF THE WEEK ***
As a massive Sigur Ros fan, I really can't look much further than this fantastic pod.
http://current.com/items/89173668_sigur_r_s_moma
This is my favourite, but what about yours?
*** Also on CURRENT ***
The fabulous UK leaderboard has finally arrived, giving you an opportunity to turn your skills in to cash.
http://current.com/items/89175574_the_return_of_the_vc2...
As always if you have any questions do not hesitate to drop me a line or even post below!
Richard – Beta_Boy
Online Community Team
www.twitter.com/Beta_Boy
Photo by Vidiot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vidiot/69075298/ As a recent newcomer to the Current:News family, it has taken some time for me to get to grips with all the amazing possibilities this... more -
The Return of the VC2 Leaderboard!
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for - the new and improved VC2 monthly UK Leaderboard has finally returned! What’s more, we’re also throwing in the bonus gift of a brand-new and advanced upload tool.
// So what’s the deal with this Leaderboard I keep hearing about? //
The VC2 Leaderboard features all the Viewer Created Content (VC2) uploaded to Current.com. You, the Current community, vote on these videos and they move them up or down the Leaderboard based on their popularity.
At 5pm (GMT) on the third Thursday of every month, the uploaded video ranked #1 when the countdown hits 00:00:00 will be offered £1000 for the purchase of the video and which will be aired on Current TV.
Want more details? Check out our FAQ: http://current.com/s/faq.htm#what_is_the_vc2_leaderboar...
// You mentioned a new upload tool… //
That’s right. We’re also launching a brand-new, advanced upload tool. Our new uploader features a streamlined design, and will upload videos up to 60 minutes in length. Just like before, you’ll need to use Safari if you’re a Mac user, or Firefox or Internet Explorer on a PC.
You’ll also be prompted to download a Flix plug-in the first time you upload. If you have any problems, please let us know by emailing us at support [at] current [dot] com.
Richard – Beta_Boy
www.twitter.com/Beta_Boy
Online Community Team It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for - the new and improved VC2 monthly UK Leaderboard has finally returned! What’s more, we’re ... more -
Current voting: Something…is…not…right. (Part 1)
Introductions to new companies are always an experience and I can safely say the one I have received for Current has been unforgettable. I have been forced to pretend I own a sex robot, witnessed my first earthquake and had a near death experience with a tramp. If this is a sign of things to come I have truly landed at my spiritual home.
As the new UK Community Manager for Current, I hoped to start off with something light and friendly and in time I assure you I will. However, it would appear something has been brewing in the community for some time and when the community demands answers, we really must respond. Fellow community colleague Mario from the US has written an excellent riposte to recent issues within the community.
As with all things Current if you have any feedback, questions or simply want to say hello then please feel free to drop me a line.
Beta_Boy
Online Community Team
Current voting: Something…is…not…right. (Part 1)
Members of our community have noticed peculiar behavior involving stories in the Current:News popular stream. As a result some concerns have been raised regarding staff censorship, corporate shills, and other nefarious plots to corrupt our dear community.
The specific points of contention are:
- Current staff appears to be censoring stories that are critical of government, conspiracy focused, or about touchy subjects
- Specific community members are under fire, being singled out, or are being persecuted by staff or other community members
- Corporate stooges are infiltrating Current.com to silence specific stories from being seen
Before we respond to the concerns directly, we want to make sure everyone is on the same page in regards to the ethos of Current:News.
Current:News is a collaborative effort between all members of our community. This includes you, your connections, even Current staff members.
We’ve discussed this in a previous post, please take a minute to read it: http://current.com/items/89036777_
Another point of reference here is our FAQs: http://current.com/s/faq.htm#What_is_Current_News
// What do you mean by collaborative? //
You guys submit the stories, everyone votes them around, and our online programming team shapes the popular stories into an hourly Current:News television product.
While we all want Current:News to change the way information is reported, we also must produce a product with integrity. Current: News must contain information that is credible, timely, unbiased and diverse. It should also, ideally, represent the interests of a broad group of people, and act as a carrot for enticing new users into participating with us.
To help in this, we have a team of online programming editors who help check the credibility of sources, timeliness of stories, and availability of broadcast-able content before cutting together a new Current:News pod for TV.
// So, you censor then? //
No. We occasionally take stories out of the running for Current:News, but nothing ever disappears from the site unless it has violated our community standards.
As we’ve mentioned before, we will take stories out of the running if: the story is not timely, the story is a repeat of something we’ve already covered, we can’t confirm credibility of sources in time, or we can’t get rights to air a clip.
We can’t always air media on TV that we don’t have the rights to rebroadcast.
// But some older stories were ignored by mainstream media, and they are still relevant, I say! //
You’re right. These stories may still be relevant – especially if widely ignored by mainstream media. However, without a timely new peg these stories do not belong in a product called Current:News
Want to talk about specifics? Of course you do! Let’s move on to Part 2
http://current.com/items/89151998_current_voting_someth... Introductions to new companies are always an experience and I can safely say the one I have received for Current has been unforgettabl... more -
Got an iPhone? Make it Current!
Since the launch of the iPhone, and the crazy cool App Store, we've been fielding questions like, "Hey, where's the Current.com iPhone app?" and "What's up with Current on the iPhone?"
Well, we're not quite ready for an iPhone app, but we're working on it. In the meantime, you can still use your iPhone to contribute to Current.com by adding a "Make Current" bookmarklet to your Safari bookmarks, and then syncing your bookmarks to your iPhone.
Simple, right? Well, just in case I threw together a quick how-to. Take a gander and get set up to contribute to Current from anywhere your iPhone has signal.
Speaking of Current.com iPhone apps -- what would your ideal app do? Would it be able to shoot video while streaming to Current.com? What about voting and commenting on the latest rising stories in Current:News? Or, would it make coffee and balance your check book?
Tell us your ideas in a response below.
Mario
Online Community Team Since the launch of the iPhone, and the crazy cool App Store, we've been fielding questions like, "Hey, where's the Cur... more -
Updated profiles and a brand new level -- Picked for TV
Howdy Current community, our latest release brings a few updates to profile pages and a brand new level to Current.com – Picked for TV. Community members can now level up based on the number of times their submissions have been picked for TV, in addition to leveling up as a commentator with comments and votes, a producer with VC2 and VCAM uploads, and a contributor with link submissions from blogs, news sites, online videos, etc.
Head over to your profile and check out the new layout in the upper right corner. There you will now find three tabs worth of goodness – levels, achievements, and activity.
Here is a quick rundown of our levels:
// Picked for TV //
Picked for TV is tracked with pink squares – each time you make it on TV in Current:News, VCAM, or VC2 you’ll increase your chance of leveling up!
// Producer //
Producer is now periwinkle blue – level up by uploading VCAM or VC2 eligible videos!
// Contributor //
Contributor is sticking with orange squares – submitting news stories, blog posts, and other links move you up in level.
// Commentator //
Commentators are represented with teal squares – comment and/or vote 5 times in one day, and you’ll earn a kudos point. The more kudos you collect, the more you level up.
You'll also notice that the level badges next to avatars on the homepage and in responses have been updated to show four tracks instead of three. The corresponding color for each level will light up for each bar, so it is easy to tell where other community members are in terms of leveling on Current.
We've added an achievements tab on the profile tab to call out which of your submissions made it on TV by type, whether it be a VC2 pod, a VCAM, or a Current:News item or response. Think of achievements as your own personal trophy case for your TV accomplishments. Once something you’ve submitted makes it on TV, your achievements will update in this tab. Check it out!
We’ve received several requests for a better way to look at your personal activity on Current.com. The community wants to keep track of what they've done, and it also helps to see what someone else has contributed. So, we added the Activity tab to track how many total contributions you’ve added, responses you’ve left, videos you’ve uploaded, webcams you’ve recorded, and votes you’ve submitted. Take a look and let us know what you think.
// So, I got an email...What's going on with level 2 swag?? //
We’ve got some good news! The swag train is just about loaded and ready to leave the station. We’ve run into a couple hold-ups along the way, but things have been sorted out and we are poised send some Current goodies your way.
One of the cool things heading your way are Current laptop stickers made by StickerGiant. You can check out the design on their blog: http://www.stickergiant.com/blog/?p=323
Let us know what you think by leaving a response below.
Best,
Mario
Online Community Team Howdy Current community, our latest release brings a few updates to profile pages and a brand new level to Current.com – Picked for TV... more -
So you wanna be a homepage hero
There you are, surfing the internet, and you finally find it. That great story, the one that makes you laugh/cry/cheer. You want to share it with all your friends and post it to Current.com—but how to make your item stand out from the crowd?
Here are some tips to help you make your posts to Current even more eye-catching.
1) Give it a catchy title
The title is the first thing people are going to look at, so make sure yours is a good one. You want to give enough information to lure someone in, but you don’t want to tell the entire story. Something short and witty that sums up the story is always good. (And we won’t turn down a good pop culture reference either.)
2) Find the best link
Let’s face it, the Internet is repetitive, and you’ll often find the same story posted a lot of places. Check around to see if there are different or more complete versions of the story you’re linking to; sure, a short story pulled from a newsfeed is great, but an in-depth piece from a local paper is even better. Some of the places we look for breaking news are CNN http://www.cnn.com/ and NPR http://www.npr.org/. If you have other great sources for breaking news, share them in the comments!
3) Did someone already add this?
Do a quick search on Current.com to see if anyone else has already clipped a version of the story, especially if it's a popular news item. Let's face it, 20 stories in a row about the same thing would be pretty boring. If someone has already added a version of the story, but your link has new or better information, try adding it as a comment on the original item instead.
4) A picture is worth a thousand words
Make sure you’re using the best image to go with your item. If the image that is selected automatically isn’t the one you want, use the “choose other media” link under the preview image to browse for more, or add an image from elsewhere on the web. If you’re adding a video, make sure you have the image that shows the player selected. Can’t find an image? Flickr is a great source for images that are available to use under the Creative Commons License. Find Flickr Creative Commons here: http://flickr.com/creativecommons/
5) What makes this interesting?
That’s what we want to know! Don’t just copy and paste the entire article; sure, that tells us what’s going on, but it doesn’t tell us why you think it should be on Current. Instead, summarize or quote the most interesting parts and then let us know what you think about it.
6) Tag it!
A great way to get your story seen is by adding topic tags—but choose wisely. Add as many relevant topics as you can think of, but resist the temptation to add topics just because they’re popular. Make sure that the topics really are related to the story, and be as specific as you can. Something like news is a pretty big topic, so you might want to consider adding more tags—is it entertainment news? International news? Politics? Just make sure the topics apply; no one wants to find the entertainment topic cluttered up with science news, or to head over to the WTF topic looking for something bizarre only to find endless stories on politics. Add topics wisely!
So, what are you waiting for? Go out and start clipping!
Photo by Randy Son of Robert http://flickr.com/photos/randysonofrobert/1154746963/ There you are, surfing the internet, and you finally find it. That great story, the one that makes you laugh/cry/cheer. You want to sh... more -
Let’s talk staff participation, algorithmic soup, and Current:News
Hey everyone. Concerns regarding staff participation and perceived “selective censorship” in Current:News have been bubbling up, and I’d like to try and clear the air a bit. We’ll need to work together to get things running smoothly, and this boils down to a boatload of time spent discussing the issues in play. So let’s dive in!
// Staff Participation on Current //
Current staffers are a part of the community. We vote, comment, and contribute stories. Some staff submissions become popular. Others fall into obscurity like many others. In the end, Current:News is about participatory news, and we all work together to determine what gets reported.
Current staff includes our large broadcast team and our online team of developers, designers, product and community teams, and most importantly for the purposes of this conversation, an editorial team.
// Why did this story jump up / get featured over another? What gives? //
Whenever major news breaks across the world, we get flooded with similar submissions on Current. Our editors focus on making sure that the same type of story doesn’t get reported several times over, that what we report makes interesting television, and that the items reported are credible and accurate.
They only intentionally place a story on the home page in rare cases of breaking news. When I say breaking, I mean major political decrees, losses of human life, convictions and other jury verdicts, etc. When we do this, you’ll see a bright red “Breaking News” badge next to the story. We promise to use this power responsibly.
Does Current staff ever push content down? Yes. Because popular stories on Current make it to TV, we take an active role in making sure that each newscast comprises of compelling news based on your contributions. Sometimes stories cannot be aired on TV – not because we don’t like the story, but because some have already been reported, don’t make gripping television, or are inappropriate for TV.
We don’t do it often, we’d like to do it even less, and our intent is to reduce this practice as our algorithm improves. Still, we should do a better job communicating this—and we will.
// What is this “algorithmic soup” you speak of? //
We hear this all the time: “Why does this item have X number of views, Y number of comments, and a higher % of green votes over red votes, yet it still hasn’t made it into Current:News?” Well, our algorithm takes many factors into account when determining item popularity. I can’t give you the whole recipe, but the ingredients include everything from comments to votes to community reputation and story freshness.
Sharing activity counts, too. If you find a story you think others should see, send it to connections by using the share feature. Or, post it to Twitter, your blog, Facebook, etc. Get the word out and get people to vote and comment on the story.
Take note: Sometimes less is more. If a Paris Hilton submission doesn’t feel right for Current, don’t post comments expressing how inappropriate you think it is. These spark discussion and could inadvertently give the story a boost! Instead, voice your input by voting it down, and then move along.
// Vote Up/Vote Down buttons //
We’ve weighed the option of ditching the red voting button, but we felt it was more important to clarify voting instead. It’s less about whether or not you like the content of the story and more about whether or not you feel more people should see it. A one-button voting mechanism is OK, but getting both positive and negative feedback helps us more in the long run.
We hold daily reviews, and we spend a lot of time poring over everything that is going on and trying to find ways to improve both our human and algorithmic processes. We’re far from perfect, but we’re working really hard to get better.
I realize that this is a lot to process. Soak it all in, and let’s discuss. Our goal is to improve and your feedback is pivotal, so let me know what you think.
Mario
Online Community Team Hey everyone. Concerns regarding staff participation and perceived “selective censorship” in Current:News have been bubbling up, and I... more -
Vote Up, Vote Down, and Rising News
Hey there, it's release time once again here at Current.com, and this time around we have several new features to recap, so let's jump right in.
// Yellow Bar //
If you're reading this, chances are you've already met our new home page message bar. This cleverly named yellow bar gives us the ability to easily inform our community of system news and recent Current.com blog posts. When we have updates, the trusty yellow bar will appear with links to help guide you on your way.
// Voting Buttons //
How many times have you wanted to vote on a story, but hesitated when faced with the decision between I Like It and Nope? Too often? We know. Voting I Like It for a story like, "Albinos hunted for their body parts" just feels so...wrong.
Confusion over our voting buttons has gone on for too long, so we've decided to try something different on our home page. Current community, meet our new Vote Up and Vote Down buttons. Now voting up a story like "Albinos hunted for their body parts" no longer implies that a voter thinks hunting Tanzanian albinos is a good idea, it simply means that this is a story they think should be seen by more members of the Current community.
// Featured Videos //
Have you noticed the Current TV tab at the top of the page? This tab is a one-stop shop for checking out and voting on pods that have aired on Current TV. The most popular Current TV pods now have the chance to show up on the home page in our new Featured Video slots found in the home page stream. Featured Videos are not eligible to get picked for Current:News, and they will change with each refresh of the home page. Try it out!
// Rising News //
Looking for more stories to vote on? Check out the new Rising News section. Think of it as an on-deck circle for stories that are starting to pick up steam and gain some traction on the popularity front. Place some votes, refresh, repeat.
// Wait, those look suspiciously like ads... //
OK, you caught us. In an effort to afford keeping our servers running and our team fed, we'll be introducing ads on both the Current.com home page and our topic pages. For now we’re simply displaying Current-related house ads, but our plan is to keep things clean and friendly once we start introducing offsite ads.
As always, these are some significant changes to Current.com, so please don't hesitate to shoot us a response on this post sharing your thoughts and feedback. If you don't feel like sharing publicly, you can always fire off an email to feedback@current.com.
I look forward to hearing what you have to say,
Mario
Online Community Team Hey there, it's release time once again here at Current.com, and this time around we have several new features to recap, so let&#... more -
Items rebooted -- response threads and sharing
Howdy,
Release day is upon us once again, which means new features on Current.com. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new:
A new look for items
- You may have noticed that the “keep browsing” section has packed its bags and moved across the page to the left. We think this will help draw attention to other Current.com items worth checking out.
- We’ve moved the views and response counts up to make way for longer titles on your items.
- The launch of Current:News brought heaps of feedback about picked for TV items. We’ve added tabs at the top of picked for TV items, so switching between the item and it’s Current:News counterpart is easier than ever.
- Our send button has been re-incarnated as an email button, which in retrospect makes much more sense.
- Have thumbnail woes? If you’ve ever uploaded a video that resulted in a lackluster screenshot, this one is for you. Our uploader now lets you select and edit screenshots to your heart’s content.
Improved responses, now with threading!
- Item pages were getting some redesign love, so we decided to toss in some improvements to responses as well. Now when you include an image or video in your response it will display in-line, in all its glory. Try it out!
- But wait, there’s more! We know discussions on Current.com can get confusing, so we’ve added the ability to reply directly to another community member’s response. These create threaded discussions that can be expanded or collapsed. Go post a response to a response, it’s fun!
Tired of receiving share emails?
- Shares are a great way to, well, share with other members of the community. While these emails can be informative, too many shares can quickly become overwhelming. Our first step is to add the ability to customize share email preferences. You can choose to receive shares from anyone, just your connections, or no shares at all. In addition, when you receive a share email, you will now be able to prevent that individual from sharing with you in the future. We’ll be expanding this in our next release, so let us know what you think.
User generated content? No, user generated logo!
- A short while ago, a member of the Current.com community sent us some feedback regarding our header logo. Needless to say, the feedback was critical, but it was also spot on. Thankfully, he offered some helpful tips, and lo-and-behold, a much-improved version of our Current.com header logo was born. You can read his original post here, complete with screenshot comparisons: http://www.nivas.hr/blog/2008/05/12/optimize-your-logos.... Thanks, Daemon!
Our team has been working feverishly on these updates, and they’re eager to hear what you think of them. Suggestions? Feedback? Post a response below, or pour your thoughts into an email, fold it into a digital paper airplane, and send it flying in the direction of feedback@current.com.
Best,
Mario
The Online Community Team Howdy, Release day is upon us once again, which means new features on Current.com. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new: ... more -
Current:News – Beat the clock, get on TV
Are you uninspired by the way news is reported these days? So are we, and we’re looking to do something about it with Current:News – an hourly open source newscast aimed at redefining the way news is reported.
How does it work? It’s simple. You already contribute news stories, blog posts, and videos to Current.com from all over the web. We toss these contributions into our algorithmic soup along with the votes and comments from the rest of the community, and the most popular items make it onto our newly redesigned homepage.
From there, our community continues to vote on the popular items in a race against the clock. Our new homepage features a voting section for items that are in the running, a countdown timer letting you know when the next item will be selected, and you’ll find the most recent Current:News pod and the stories it features at the top of the page. So, if something you posted makes it onto the homepage be sure to rally your connections to vote on it.
Participation in Current:News is open to everyone in our community, and since Current staff is a part of the community, the chances for staff contributions to make it onto the homepage (and ultimately get picked for TV) are very real. We're not going to lie to you. It's going to happen. But that doesn't mean we determine everything that makes it into a News pod.
In an effort to be open about our activity within the community, we've decided to make our staff badges more visible. Ultimately, there are more of you than there are us, so consider this a challenge. Tell us what is most interesting, popular, and relevant, and do it in a timely fashion.
Alongside the launch of Current:News, we are also rolling out the first phase of our user incentives program. There are three different tracks you can level up on:
1. Contributor (Orange): Post news stories, videos, and blog posts on Current.com and get noticed for your contributions.
2. Commentator (Blue): Post responses and vote on items to level up as a commentator. Each day you visit Current.com you have the chance to earn one commentator kudo by voting or commenting five times (in any combination).
3. Producer (Pink): Upload a VC2 or VCAM video and level up as a producer on Current.com.
You’ll notice badges next to everyone’s avatars on Current.com. As you level up, your badge will illuminate with a color indicating your level in each track. Make it to level two and we’ll send you some sweet Current gear. Don’t worry, we’ve been keeping track of activity since the launch of Current.com, which means many of you may already be at level two and beyond.
So, I’ve rambled a bit, but there was a lot of ground to cover. If you haven’t already, jump into the fray and start participating. Who knows, you might make it onto TV by the end of the day.
Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.
mario Are you uninspired by the way news is reported these days? So are we, and we’re looking to do something about it with Current:News – a... more -
Don't be shy...leave webcam comments!
We don't just want to read what you have to say, we want you to tell us how it is. Leave a webcam comment. It just feels good.
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Post the Current love
It's time, once again, for another release on Current.com. This time around we mostly made some behind the scenes tweaks to make Current:News run a little smoother, and of course, we fixed a few bugs in the process. Most notably on the bug front, some of our community members have reported issues when contributing items on a Mac using Safari 3.1. We think we've resolved this one with a hefty dose of bug spray, but let us know if run into any issues by shooting us an email at support@current.com.
It wouldn't be a release without a feature thrown into the mix, right? Well if you tweet, Digg, or StumbleUpon, then you might be happy to learn that sharing your contributions made to Current just got a little easier. Let's give a big round of applause to our latest addition -- the post button.
Sharing Current items with your connections on social bookmarking sites like Delicious, Google Bookmarks, and Newsvine is now super simple. So whether you tweet on Twitter, Reddit, or just prefer to update your status on Facebook, it's all just the click of a button away.
As always, post your responses or shoot us your thoughts at feedback@current.com.
Mario It's time, once again, for another release on Current.com. This time around we mostly made some behind the scenes tweaks to make ... more -
Wanna be a video star? Who needs a webcam, anyway...
I hear this all the time, "I want to webcam comments, but I don't have a webcam."
Truth is, a webcam is just a dedicated camera for uploading short videos. Any camera will serve the same purpose -- even your digital still camera can do the trick if it has a video mode.
Sure, it's one extra step. You have to record your video, then copy it to your desktop, and then upload it. Webcams roll all of that into one step, but it can still be done. As Duncan points out in his post, even many pro live streamers use a pro camera or an old digital camcorder to do this sort of thing.
But that's just the basics. He also covers everything from streaming to distribution, while tossing in some interesting software suggestions.
Our Current:News team is looking for webcam...scratch that, video responses to feature in Current:News pods. So fire up your webcam/digital camcorder/still cam and upload your responses is video form. You just might find yourself in an upcoming Current:News TV broadcast.
this photo used under creative commons 2.0 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
photo by gahdjun: http://flickr.com/photos/gahdjun/2006752680/ I hear this all the time, "I want to webcam comments, but I don't have a webcam." ... more -
Don't blink or you'll miss Current.com
The previous 500 items from Current.com (as of about a week ago) edited into about a minute of video by a little computer program. Images stay up on screen longer based on comments and voting. The previous 500 items from Current.com (as of about a week ago) edited into about a minute of video by a little computer program. Ima... more
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Open thread for community feedback
Have a question or comment about the new site? Post it here!
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Re-Introducing Current.com
We've made a lot of changes to Current.com, so here's a tutorial to get you started!
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What’s all this then?
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