Fastest Fingers Friday - InnoPocket iPAQ 4100 Metal Case

[Derek Snyder]

We're up to the 2 month point! This is week 8 of the Fastest Fingers Friday giveaway, so here's your big chance to win.

To win:

Reply to this thread by clicking Discuss and answering this question.

What single thing should be improved at pocketnow.com?

Out of all those who reply between now and 4 pm (EST) on Saturday, March 13, one will win a InnoPocket iPAQ 4100 Metal Case (http://www.innopocket.com/EShop/Main/product.php?ID=101&name=iPaq).

You must be a registered user, and we'll send you the software to the email address associated with your account (so make sure its valid).

**Winner will be randomly selected from all who reply.**

Good luck! pocketnow.com contributing editors are not elligible to win.

[1abc]

My improvement suggestion is to have fastest finger monday, tuesday, wednesday and thursday as well!

[trophyofgrace]

I would have more contest and polls, reader interaction.

[Skyfox2k]

I beleive the best improvement to the site would be more tutorials on how to do certain things with your pocketpc. Different things with the art programs, or even basic mods to your ipaqs/pocketpc's (Perhaps sent in by users).

[asavard]

An avantgo channel or a RSS feed would be great!

[jolam97]

I believe that longer introductions (therefore less clicking of links) with more enticing commentary (with editor's point of view) in the news postings would help attract readers to stay on the website longer. I usually browse the front page and doesn't click the corresponding link unless it really piqued my interest, meaning that I pretty much only read what's on the initial page.

[markhammill]

More Hardware reviews would be great.

I like software reviews but if there is a trial available, all I need to know is that it is worth a look and I can go see for myself, unlike hardware.

All the current movie trailers in the video library would be great.

Some rotated 90 degrees especially for smartphones would be even better.

[BlazerW]

I relly like pocketnow and the news and reviews you guys do, but the one area I'd like to see improve is the forums. I don't know how, or why, but for some reason the forums around here seem pretty inactive compared to others such as brighthand or pocketpcthoughts.

Its weird since you guys generally have all the latest news and much better reviews and content too.

[BradG]

add more ebooks, or at least links to some of the best free ebooks

[Pony99CA]

Originally posted by jolam97
I believe that longer introductions (therefore less clicking of links) with more enticing commentary (with editor's point of view) in the news postings would help attract readers to stay on the website longer. I usually browse the front page and doesn't click the corresponding link unless it really piqued my interest, meaning that I pretty much only read what's on the initial page.
Well, the benefit of the shorter home page stories is shorter loading times and less scrolling over stories you aren't interested in.

That said, I would like to see more than 10 stories on the home page. I'd suggest at least 20, but maybe a few days worth would be better. If somebody goes away for even a few days, they have to visit the archive to see the stories.

I know Derek only wanted one idea, but I'm not eligible to win (and couldn't use the case even if I did), so here's my Top Five list:

More home page stories
Better search (when I try to find a home page story I posted, search doesn't seem to find it, either by keyword or author)
A Pocket PC FAQ section
Pocket PC tips and tricks
No 1000 character limitation on Private Messages (and only one check -- the current system seems to check the message itself when you try to send it, then, if that passes, checks again in a different place after adding your signature)

Steve

[Pony99CA]

Originally posted by BlazerW
I relly like pocketnow and the news and reviews you guys do, but the one area I'd like to see improve is the forums. I don't know how, or why, but for some reason the forums around here seem pretty inactive compared to others such as brighthand or pocketpcthoughts.
Well, the problem is likely two- or three-fold.

First, pocketnow probably doesn't have as many registered users. Getting more users will likely generate more activity.

Second, I know Pocket PC Thoughts posts more news than we do, in part because they have more contributing editors. Derek has helped by bringing a few new people aboard in the last year or so, but maybe we need more.

Third, perhaps readers here just aren't as active. Many times there are stories posted on the home page that don't get any replies, while most stories on Pocket PC Thoughts seem to get a lot of replies.

Also, quite often the most active forums seem to be the official support forums -- SnoopSoft, IA Style and NYDITOT.

Do you have any suggestions on how to get more activity in the boards? Remember that we can only do so much -- it's up to the users to help, too, by posting questions and cool things they find.

After a while, I think you get a feedback loop -- there's more activity on one board, which causes it to get more readers, which causes more posts, and so on.

I tried to do something about it last year, when it seemed like pocketnow was slowing down. I started posting here more, answering questions, and eventually Derek asked me to join the team.

Even with that, I still have almost four times the number of posts over at Pocket PC Thoughts as I do here, even though I hardly post there any more. (In fact, I'm still the #1 poster there who's not on the staff, even after six months of inactivity.)

Steve

[rexbot]

More reviews, both hardware and software. And a pocketnow list of best software in different categories.

[BlazerW]

I do agree that having a vibrant forum is a difficult and tricky thing to accomplish, but I some thoughts on the matter:

1) PocketNow's already does great reviews, with plenty of content and screenshots, and the quantity / quality of these reviews already surpasses the other sites, but when, for example, pocketpcthoughts publishes a review, it is a front page item, but it seems that here it is relegated to the side bar. IMHO, new reviews should also be included in the center "main" content area. I believe this will drive more people to read the reviews, and perhaps comment on them. It'd also be a good idea if the reviewers answered or commented on posts made about the review, as time permits.

2) Perhaps some sort of forum reorganization ? I would think the main focus areas should be on "General PocketPC Discussion", and the device specific forums should come after that. Also, considering the traffic some of the forums are getting, I think consolidating "Pocket PC Hacks and Modifications", "Pocket PC Hardware", "Pocket PC OS Chatter", and "Pocket PC Software " into one "General Discussion" would be a good idea. Also this forum should be at the top of the list. The "Smartphone Devices" and "Pocket PC Phone Edition Devices" have little to no traffic and could be combined into one.. I don't if its just me, but I find it disorienting to see so many sub forums. It makes it difficult for the users to find out exactly where to divert their attention, especially when the forums that should be getting the most posts (the general forums) are hidden in the middle of the list.

While getting only about ~10 replies for a hardware giveaway such as this may be great for people like me :), it'd be much better for the site to have far more people involved. Anyways those are my (long winded) thoughts on the matter, and I wish you guys the best of luck.

[Pony99CA]

I've put a response to this over in the "Improving Forum Activity" thread (http://discuss.pocketnow.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15345) in the Site Improvement forum, because it really belongs there. Click the link to see my suggestions.

Steve

[Derek Snyder]

Congratulations to pocketnow discussion user markhammill for winning this past Friday's Fastest Finger giveaway. We hope you'll enjoy the deluxe metal case!

Thanks to everyone who participated, the suggestions and comments you provided will not go unheard!

[markhammill]

Wow thank you Derek, that's fantastic.