Few NEW/IMPORTANT Features Request...

[w2n]

Hi Everybody!

I am just checking out the demo section of NewsTopica and thinking about the following new features, which could be implemented by NewsTopica guys...

:arrow: • 1. Unlimited level of categories and sub-categories.

:arrow: • 2. Individual page for each news link. As we all know, it will help all the SE to get more information from our news site. That individual page will have more information about that news, Title, Description, Fetch Time, News Site, Hits (from our site), Star Rank, and so on...

:arrow: • 3. In a category (or sub-category), as we can add multiple feeds, so, all those feeds should be sorted by time, regardless of feed source. That means, if the first news link is from CNN (as an example), the second link can be from BBC, if those 2 links are sorted by timing, not by RSS sources.

:arrow: • 4. While creating the individual pages for each news, using Mod_Rewrite, it should look like "1234567890_The-News-Title-Goes-Here.html". When adding the news to our MySQL database, it should create an unique numerical ID (like 1234567890) for each news, and access the individual page using that ID only, where, the descriptive text in the link (The-News-Title-Goes-Here) is JUST for search engines. It means nothing. Our script should only need the unique ID to access the individual page. I think, it's quite easy to implement. Just need to have an unique ID for each news, in the MySQL database, and access the page, using that ID, while the script will also add the news title in the URL, so that the SE will love to crawl those, as keywords.

:arrow: • 5. In the individual page of each news, there should be Hit Counter for that news, and a simple star ranking, if possible. If we will have hit counter, then, the actual news URL should be replaced by either like this "redirect.php?url=http://www.actual-news-url-goes-here.com". But, personally, I would suggest to use our own unique ID (that we have created in our MySQL database, for each news, to access their individual page). It's not too tough to create a redirect script, which will log the hit in a file, retrieve the corresponding actual news URL for that ID, and redirect to that URL. Like this "redirect.php?id=1234567890". It's short, more professional and most importantly, it will hide the actual news URL from users.

:arrow: • 6. Another great feature would be to have a 'Featured Box' at the top of each category and sub-category. Many NewsTopica users may need to put some of their affiliate text links or so, in various categories and sub-categories. So, why not make it like this way? It will look more professional, I think. Just a page in Admin, where we could add suppose 2 text links for each category or sub-category.



For now, I have these above features in mind. When I have some more, I will definitely add them here. Any other person is also welcome to share their ideas about these features or some new one.

Also, another request to NewsTopica owner. Please PM me the link to Admin demo, as I want to see it, before purchasing NewsTopica script.

And, I have 3 questions, before buying NewsTopica script.

--1. Will I get every update in the future, if I will buy the script now? Unlimited updates?

--2. Is the script is encrypted in any way? Or comes with 100% full source code?

--3. For our OWN site, can we add/modify something in the script (not only in the template) to make our site unique? We won't resell the script or use in another domain, apart from our licensed domain. But, we want to add some more features or modify the existing one a little.


Thanks a lot for reading the whole thing...

:D


SWAGATO GANGOPADHYAY
Founder/Owner/CEO
The Rozaleenda Group, Inc. (http://www.w2n.net)

:)

[David]

Hello, I will grant assess to updates to the 1.0 version at no charge. Should we do a major overhaul of the script, I may request a small fee. Your ideas for feature enhancements are good. If I can get phpLD 3.0 finished, NewsTopica would be a good candidate for the next major project. I will PM access now.

[w2n]

Hi David,

Thanks for the reply, and admin demo link in the PM. I am playing with the admin demo now. :D

Also, I wrote many things in my earlier message, and want you to comment, whether these features could be implemented by YOU, not for us, but for a new version of NewsTopica, so that, everybody can have these features. 8)


Please answer my questions of the previous post, as I am looking forward for your reply. Also, as I will buy NewsTopics script very soon, just want to be confirm about the last 3 questions of my previous post. :)

Thanks in advance.

Have a nice new year...

:lol:

[w2n]

Hi David,

Can you please tell me, when you will start working on the next NewsTopica version? And, please let me know, whether the above features could be implemented in that version?

I also like to know, whether I should buy the script now, or wait for the next release? Because, the above features are really needed according to my vision. Plus, I want to see, what are the other features that will come with the next version.

Please let me know.

[David]

My situation right now is I have a lot of customers who need work completed. I need to catch up on these projects. My next priority will be the release of php link directory 3.0, which I hope will be 2-3 weeks from now. Then I will start into newstopica. The only thing that would help me to start me to start sooner would be an offer for additional funding ($200+). I WILL be updating! (just have to get a couple other things done first.

Thanks,
David

[David]

Update:

I'm assessing the situation with getting these items done.
I also have to address the character encoding issue and atom feed compatability. I'm going to consider restarting the project development. I don't suppose I have any volunteer investors? :shock: :P

[IQroniK]

David, i can say that faster implementing in life of highlighted by w2n features will bring you more possible customers you can imagine, hehe :)

Speaking of additional funding ($200+).... :) i can invest 100U.S. for working news topica with implemented features in shortest time. :) And I certainly will have some more interesting ideas in the near future, so... :)

So, what you think? :)


W2n, welcome to my ICQ, i think we have some questions and thoughts to discuss. :)

[David]

Cool, I will PM you my ICQ and we can talk soon.
Doing fast...as I have to leave right now.

[tariqali]

Hi David,

I am willing to invest another $100 to get these feature added ASAP and some additional ones I have.

Let's talk

T.A

[David]

Hey, I'll PM you my email address.
I'm definitely interested, and this is a good time too, because we have a window to work on it just now.
(meanwhile phpLD is also moving along)

[w2n]

Hey all the posters in this topic, specially IQroniK and tariqali,

I am glad to see that you all have liked the features proposed by me. Also, I am haveppy that David has decided to start NewsTopica development again, because, he has some donations now. :lol:

Anyway, what I suggest to all the existing customers and some great persons like IQroniK and tariqali to post their proposed features here, or they can also PM me, so that, if possible, David will implement all those features (by me and IQroniK and tariqali) in the new version of NewsTopica script. It would be great in that way! What do you think guys? :wink:

One more thing to you 3 guys (David, IQroniK and tariqali). If you want to talk to me online, please add my Yahoo (w2nnet) or MSN (w2nnet@hotmail), because, I don't prefer ICQ that much. Yahoo is the most preferred one for me.

I really hope, if we could all team up to produce new ideas and suggestions to the great people like David, he will surely feel more enthusiastic towards further development of NewsTopica script.

So, let us join here, in this topic, and post all of your great ideas, so that, everybody can post their comments about those ideas. It will certainly help David to decide whether any particular feature is really needed or, it can be omitted for the new release.

:D

[David]

Hey, I do a have working beta with some new features.
I'm sorry it has taken this long, but I do intend to make it available to buyers of NewsTopica shortly.
(just let me get through this 3.0 release) :D
Thanks

[w2n]

Hi David,

Thanks for the update here! :)

Can you please PM me, the new features you have already developed in the next version? Also, I would appreciate, if you can allow me to test that beta version. I really am looking forward to use new version and certainly buy the script very very soon, as we are just waiting for these features (said by me) in the script, so that, we can use it in our site.

:D

[David]

Well, it is not too exciting yet, but you can see the new Calendar feature here:
http://www.newstopica.com/testnewstopica/index.php?c=1
And there is also a new feature that allows you to delete topics that are older than a certain date (to prevent the database from getting too large)

[w2n]

Hey,

Thanks for the quick reply. :) I have just seen the Calendar feature and a NEW feature came into my mind. :D

Instead of an URL like "/index.php?c=1&date=15-02-2006", why not make a mod_rewrite rule in the .htaccess, which will show this date (15-02-2006) as a folder, in the 'Archive' folder? Just like "/archives/15-02-2006/Category_Name/index.html"... What do you think?

Also, you can have two more small features in this Calendar issue.

1. You can have all the news pages 'archived' automatically, once that day is past. That means, all news pages, that are NOT of today, will go to 'Archive' folder, with respective date as the folder names.

2. In the Calendar, user should not be able to click any future date, after today. Because, this is a news site, we CAN'T have future news, right?

Thanks...

:D

[w2n]

Oh yes,

Just forget to tell you few important things, for ALL NewsTopica users. :) As far as I think, there should be ability to do the following things...

1. In the functions, and .htaccess, the script/site owner should be able to change the default file extension, from '.html', to anything they want. Maybe '.php' or anything else, of their choice. It will help them to have an unified file extension with the other parts (Non NewsTopica) of their site. Also it will be a little helpful for search engines to mark all the NewsTopica sites as the duplicate sites.

2. Also, in the Admin sectio, where we will add the category details, there should be an additional textbox, where, we can mention, what should be the category name in the URL. Like suppose, I have a category called 'United Kingdom'. Currently, the script will create an URL like '/United_Kingdom/'. But, I think, if we can have a field, where we can mention 'uk' as the URL name of that category, it would be a great help for ALL of us. That means, even the actual category name remains the same '/United_Kingdom/', but the URL to that category will show as '/uk/'. I am sure, many people will want it like this way.

3. Also for some reasons (specially, to avoid duplicate URL type in search engines), we should be modify the default method of adding space, in a category name. Currently, the spaces are replaced by '_' (underscore), like 'United_Kingdom'. But, if we can change it to '-', or anything of the site owner choice, I am sure, they will love the script.

Thanks...

:D

[26global]

Basically Topica should be a cloned version of Topix.net. Am I right? Isn't that what everyone wants? I know it's what I want.

Right now Topica is far from it, so basically building in the features of topix.net would do. I'm sure this is no simple feat and would require more funding then $200.

The basic features of Topix.net is that it pulls rss news from many different sources into one category. The category being the main keyword from which it searches its sources.

So if a perfect script was available what would be the work needed to build a large news site?

Well first off is gathering rss feed links from sites. Instead of manually doing research this could possibly be done by scraping technorati, or blogger.com or any number of rss sources.

Many categories are needed so this could be built off a predetermined list pulled directly from Topix.net. When doing a scrape or import of rss sources these category names could be used as the search term when the initial import feature is activated.

Another feature of topix.net is that it reconstructs its own rss feeds from it's categories. So when someone wants to use their rss feeds the feeds actually use dynamic links like:
http://www.topix.net/r/0uodSfcEcwU9rlv8XAntpt4oVRcThyr442oIBkT instead of pointing directly to the actual news source. This is an important feature for not bleeding off pagerank.

Anyway, that's stuff I'd like to see. If something like this were available it would definetely be worth more then $500+ a copy.

Peace,

Jeff

[David]

That's a good idea about the dynamic links. We are working on it now.
thanks for your input.

[w2n]

Hi David,

Is there any news about the features I have posted in the first post of this topic and few more later?

I would like to know, whether you are working on those...

:?:

Please let us know it, because, one of our big project got stuck because, we want those features. Very soon, we will buy NewsTopica script.

Thanks...

:)

[David]

I believe your #2 at the top of this page is already possible.
#3 is pretty easy to do, and if you buy the script, we can guide your through doing it. #1 would not be difficult to implement and has been done by several phpLD users.

[w2n]

David,

Many thanks for the quick reply! :)

But, however, I wanted to ask, what about the other features I have posted in the FIRST post here, not in this page! So, please check the first page of this topic and let me know.

Thanks,

8)

[David]

I would say just about everything is done already.

Have you seen www.newstopica.com/demo2 ?

[w2n]

WHAT??!!??!!!!

You meant to say, this 2.0 version has ALL those 6 new features that I have mentioned in the first post?

Also, what about the other features that I have mentioned in the other posts in this same topic?

Thanks...

:)

Content visible to registered users only.

[David]

Maybe if a few more people will buy the script, we can help with that too.
(hint, hint) :lol:

[w2n]

:D

David, may I know, what are the exact list of features that are NEW in this 2.0 version? Is there a list of all the features (new) for this version? If you can provide this as a list, I will see, what has been done already, and what are the things left. 8)

Thanks,

:P

[David]

Hi, I don't think I will be able to get to this right now (listing features). If you want a demo of admin, just PM me.
Thanks

[w2n]

Hi David,

Please PM me with the access of the admin of this new version! I'll check everything and I will buy the script soon! :lol:

Content visible to registered users only.

[Ferro]

I'm interested in Newstopica, can I have access to admin demo?
If I buy the script, this is encoded or not? If not, may I modify it (of course, not to resell or redistribuite it)?

There are some special requisite? PHP version? MySQL version?

[David]

I have PMed access to both of you.