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Wirefresh! Interested in writing for a new tech website?

That may end up being a blessing in disguise, a chance to start afresh with no baggage or audience expectation...
 
OK, thanks to the prompt technical assistance of the ever-helpful Lazy Llama, wirefresh.com is beginning to take shape!

I'll try and get the framework of the site up pronto and then start nagging you lot for articles, comment and feedback.

Start writing folks!
 
Is there space for a nostalgic look at the gadgets that people loved but have fallen out out favour? The gadget that was?
That would make good reading.

I'm not techy but I make great tea... :)
Best of luck with it you enterpising thing!
 
ShiftyBagLady said:
Is there space for a nostalgic look at the gadgets that people loved but have fallen out out favour? The gadget that was?
That would make good reading.
Click to expand...
That sounds good too!

I'm looking at creating something like a turbo-charged version of the tech part of urban, with news, opinions, rants, tutorials, help, offbeat comments etc, and like urban I'm going to get it grow organically to see what stuff works.

It's going to be focused on current computer/mobile/photography developments, but I'm happy for it to take in all sorts of other interesting tech too: new bicycles, kitchen gadgets, space - basically anything that people get enthusiastic about and want to share.
 
I would be happy to lend a hand in some way with photography related matters. I am a free agent during the day. I can usually explain photographic technical terms and jargon to those who are new to it.
 
Beta version 0.01 is now up! http://www.wirefresh.com/

I need to sort out a better layout, change the theme, add a custom header, add more categories and generally do a load of tweaking, but it's slowly taking shape. It's nice to be back tech-blogging too!
 
Site looks good, Ed.

I'm taking delivery of my Asus Eee 1005HA at the end of the week. If you're interested, i'd be happy to write a review from a fairly non-technical, this-is-my-first-netbook-and-this-is-what-i-use-it-for-and-here's-what-i-think viewpoint.
 
That looks really really great, nice one. :)

I'm thinking of an article about uses for an old pc, or maybe something about a cheap multimedia pc or about streaming media. Something along those lines anyway. I may kick it off with a thread on here.
 
My only writing experience is my canal boat blog but I'll happily contribute a few bits and bobs.

My 'interests' are mostly web programming related, but I'll be writing some stuff about solar and wind power soon enough.
 
I'm still fiddling about trying to get the layout sorted and tech bits tweaked so it will be in beta for a short while yet.

As soon as it's all settled, I'll work out a guide so people know what format the articles should come in (i.e. ideal number of words, image sizes, how reviews should be 'rated' etc) and then we can get the thing underway.

If folks are planning on writing anything, now's a good time to start typing! I'm hoping we can create a really interesting new site that we can all be proud of!
 
That looks great, bang up to date and easy to navigate. I love clean, simple sites. Great design. :)
 
yeah!

my own website is on wordpress and has a similar feel..it also means that it will be a doddle to include embedded youtube vids as part of an article/review...

I've got all the kit to make pro vids so I'd be v happy to do one of them
 
Wordpress is very slick, although I'm still working out how to break free from the template and customise bits. I'll start a thread in the the forum and see if anyone can help out.

Mind you, it already looks loads better than the 'professional' site I was working for!
 
I've just been asked about the 'style guidelines' for the site by a poster, so I thought I'd share my reply here.

Reviews:

Anything from 200-500 words (or more) is fine. You can go on longer if it's an important app.

The first paragraph should give an overview of what the app is all about, and then you can get stuck into the rest of the review. This is so I can run a snippet on the home page with a 'more' link to the rest of the story.

It may seem a bit strange, but it's customary to write reviews in the third person (e.g. . "we liked the new interface...")

I would be good to rate apps too, so could you give them marks out of five stars (with half stars):

Interface:
Ease of use:
Value for money: (if paid app)
Overall:

We'll need images too - at least two, 500 pixels wide and preferably not as high as a LOLcat.

Oh, and just to make it clear at the start - everyone keeps their copyright and on the remote chance that someone wants to syndicate your content, I'll put them directly in touch with you and you'd obviously get all the dosh too.
 
editor said:
Wordpress is very slick, although I'm still working out how to break free from the template and customise bits. I'll start a thread in the the forum and see if anyone can help out.

Mind you, it already looks loads better than the 'professional' site I was working for!
Click to expand...

I thought about doing a style from scratch but just handpicked a template from the many thousands out there.
 
editor said:
It may seem a bit strange, but it's customary to write reviews in the third person (e.g. . "we liked the new interface...")
Click to expand...
Nitpick:

That's not the third person; it's the first person plural (as opposed to "I liked..." which is first person singular).

Personally, i think the first person singular is better. Using "we" smacks of The Royal We, and sounds a bit silly, IMO. Or you could just talk in the third person about the product itself. For example, instead of "I/We liked the new interface," you could write "The app has a clean and simple interface that is easy for a beginner to understand."
 
mhendo said:
Nitpick:

That's not the third person; it's the first person plural (as opposed to "I liked..." which is first person singular).
Click to expand...
Yeah, that as well :D

mhendo said:
Personally, i think the first person singular is better. Using "we" smacks of The Royal We, and sounds a bit silly, IMO. Or you could just talk in the third person about the product itself. For example, instead of "I/We liked the new interface," you could write "The app has a clean and simple interface that is easy for a beginner to understand."
Click to expand...
I take your point (I switch between the two, to be honest) but it can be quite hard sustaining a long review that way, especially when you're offering opinions and not absolutes.
 
Kid_Eternity said:
Bloody good review, almost convinced me to get one instead of waiting for the TomTom!
Click to expand...

TomTom software on the App store is showing some pretty poor results. Mainly because the features people have come to expect from TomTom are missing. Still a work in progress and for 60 notes, quite poor if you ask me.

The CoPilot Live 8 software has got nothing but praise. For 26 quid, hard to argue with that price. Been having a play, seems fully featured if a little slow.
 
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