PROPELLER IN A SMALL BOX

Today marks the first launch of a new Propeller module that we call "Propeller In A Small Box" internally. There are a lot of news modules out there, many of which are connected to user generated content. We have yet to see an example of one that does what PIASB does. It is designed to be installed on other sites, and gives the visitors of those sites the ability to submit links using the Propeller platform. The compact module view has two tabs, one (the default) showing the most popular links submitted by that site's visitors, and the other showing the most popular stories on Propeller overall.

Propeller has recently joined the MediaGlow unit of AOL, and our launch partner, Asylum.com, is also a member of MediaGlow. To view the module in action, simply go to Asylum and look at the right side rail (you'll need to scroll down a bit). The module is titled "Submit Your Favorite Links" and looks as follows (left is default tab, right is From Propeller):


To submit a link, you can use an existing Propeller.com account, an AOL Screen Name, or simply an E-mail address and password. Click on the "Submit A Story" link and paste in the URL (pictured). The Propeller system will suggest a title and description for the link, which you can edit. Pick a category and at least one tag (keyword), and click "Submit" -- that's it!


The expanded view is a full paginated list of all links submitted via the module, and can be seen here. Currently the module is optimized for the Blogsmith platform, but is by no means incompatible with major open source platforms such as Wordpress, Blogger or MovableType. If you are a website owner interested in a Propeller In A Small Box install, e-mail us!

COMMENT FIXES

We've also released a slew of fixes to our comment system. You have told us that viewing all comments for a story is harder than it needs to be, and that replying to a comment can be a jarring experience when the page reloads and the comment isn't immediately visible. We've fixed those items and have added a number of performance enhancements. You will now notice, on bigger comment threads, an option to "View All" comments. Clicking this link, as shown in the below screenshot, will bring you to a slightly stripped down page will all comments for the story represented.


Please let us know if we have fixed comments to your satisfaction. We've done a lot of good things with the release, but also look forward to your feedback on it.

TWITTER

You may have noticed a new section on the right side of the Propeller homepage titled "Recent Tweets From Twitter". Twitter is a microblogging platform that allows members to submit any form of text update, not to exceed 140 characters. We at Propeller have a twitter feed @PropellerDotCom, which you can follow directly on Twitter. For those who do not have an account on the service, you can view the latest five updates from the Propeller staff on the homepage section here -- or the whole list here. It currently looks like this:


We have great, great things in store for Propeller that we hope to share with you very soon. I want to thank all of the longtime Propeller members who have stuck by us -- it is much appreciated, and I hope that we are addressing any concerns you have about Propeller. If not, e-mail me and let me know.

Happy Propelling,
Tom