We are happy to report that the site upgrade went on as planned without major hitches. We have most of the base features functioning. We only have a few items that we shall work on in the coming days. They are not major and can be addressed while the site is online. Once we have finished working on all the features, expect us to put a permanent link on the menu bar on how to use the features in order to extract the maximum benefit from your LusakaTimes experience.
1). Features and enhancements
We have added a number of features and enhanced the site’s alignment with the social networks like facebook and twitter
Am sure a lot of people noticed our increased activities on facebook last week. Many of the features are on the toolbar shown at the bottom of LT home page/browser window. From there you can facebook, tweet, search the site content, translate content. Going forward, expect a lot more features on the tool bar. We still have issues with RSS & posts and we are working hard to fix that.
There is also an issue if you are using Internet Explorer 6. The above tool bar will not show and we hope you upgrade your browser real soon. Its free to do so.
Translation Tool
The world is becoming flat and we thought we make it easier for other nationalities to be able to read LusakaTimes. They still wont be able to read your local language blogs as they don’t get translated. If you are a Geek and have a translator API for our local languages please get in touch.
2). Are we going to start Charging?
Oh boy! This is now becoming an urban legend. A myth basically. Maybe we need to seek help from the guys fom Discovery Channel to help us burst this myth. Anyway, lets say it again: Lusakatimes will NOT charge for its online content. The site will forever remain free and that is why our slogan is Keeping you informed for free. We are proud of the fact that a lot of others have realised this and made their sites free. Free online content works for us. Of course we are not the originators of free online media, we just liked the idea and decided to do some imitation, something we are good at. Our model is to charge advertisers. As a matter of fact we are busy entertaining the idea of printing the stories and comments and distributing them for free to the Zambia public. We just need to reach a critical mass of advertisers who can help us cover the printing and distribution costs.
3). 2009 LT Awards
Its that time of the year again were we celebrate the contributions of all Zambians to the process of keeping us entertained as we plough through the year. We did the same things last year and to jog your memory, visit this link on LT 2008 Awards.
We realised some things we did wrong last year and we want to make some improvements. This year we are asking you to tell us what category you want us to put in the awards and also tell us your 3 nominations for that category. In two weeks we shall publish the nominations for the readers to vote. So we have categories and nominations now open and you can click here to start the process. The link is on the white background top menu bar next to send pictures link
$50 talk-time to the best blogger
This year we have decided to award a $50 talk-time to the best blogger. The talk time we shall be giving will only be usable in Zambia. If you are not in Zambia, you can still nominate your friend or relative in Zambia to receive the talktime.
Lastly thanks for your never ending support to Lusakatimes and we look forward to your valuable feedback on the latest changes to the site.
LT Team
This is excellent LT. Well done. This is the progress.
Thanks Ba L.T. Job well done..
Although I have not used this site for very long, I’m starting to like the layout, it loads very fast.
The contents is dynamic enough for my liking.
The translator works well and the facebook fan page is very cool, I hope they will post cool stuff there as well.
It also appears LT FCBK is linked to twitter, how cool is that.
Keep up LT
Wonderful job LT, you’re really a great team of hard working Zambians and I’m proud of you! Plus I like the idea of printing the stories and comments and distributing them for free to the Zambia public.
Since I also have some experience in the publishing field, I think I a “Lusaka Times Magazine” would really be a success too. Maybe we can work together in future…
But you look like the POST!
LT well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep it up.
LT don’t feed us lies that you are the one who did all that facebook twitter and translator stuff..lol. You just downloaded that toolbar from WIBIYA and up loaded it, and that took you like 2 minutes actually all those apps are not even on your server they are all wibiya server..lol.. But anyways as long as the site looks cool thats what matters. I can also hook you up with some never seen wordpress plugins i work on myself.
Thank you Lusaka Times for the great work. We mostly appreciate it and hopefully this year I might be able to scoop an award once again :D.
#7 While I somehow agree with you, I however don’t feel you have to rip LT’s work to bits?
Quote “We have added a number of features and enhanced the site’s” does not in any language translate to mean LT created or wrote the FCBK /Twitter features.
BTW I’m NOT trying to get nominated for the blogger award!
#9 greetings. Maybe i came out strong in post #7 but that was done in a very friendly way. i would also like to quote “Going forward, expect a lot more features on the tool bar. We still have issues with RSS & posts and we are working hard to fix that.” Doesn’t this statement seem like they are working on fixing the app? How do you fix something you don’t have control over? But thats very trivial, as long as i can use the features they have i really don’t care if they try to come out like they developed these apps.
#10 it could be one of those “GLASS half full or half empty” thingy. gday
stop hating kaponyas…. as though you can do better than LT….
Ummmm ba LT you are sophisticated I’m impressed.I look forward to the Lusaka times magazine.Make sure you distribute it also to my village Chitokoloki .Never mind comments from Kaponya(he is as his name suggests) They all think they are geniuses and I’m sure they don’t even know how to use facebook and think twitter is some bird.Every person with an IQ above 90 knows that all applications free or not need to be customised. Thats probably why other Zambian websites do not have these features.But I’m sure the Post will soon copy.Thumbs up.
you have out done yourselves. You are inproving by the day. Am proud of your work so far.
#7&10 kaponya, when will you ever appreciate, “We still have issues with RSS & posts and we are working hard to fix that” all LT is trying say is the intergration of the toolbar and RSS. these applications are made by different pipo but use the same language, for it to work, yu still need to do some tweaking. Since yu seem perfect, why dont you start your own Online magazine or something like that. its agreeable to differ on something tangible rather than starting a fight in a room where you are just alone.
Buravo as in Bravo. Let the buloging as in blogging continue. Long Live LT Zambia’s numbera (1) one stop blogging site. Don’t be complacent though. Keep ya’ heads up!!!!! and be humble at the same time.
#8.. You wish!!
Job well done. Blogging on the streets with LT is becoming an in thing.
A very good set up and the site is much more visually and functionally appealing. I especially like the LT tool bar, quite innovative. The photo gallery can also be improved, like introducing an option for a slide show. Otherwise all in all, am loving the new-look LT. ..
You have definitely moved a notch in my book!
I still dont like the fact that we cant post our replies to a coment or picture just below it. we have to keep using reference numbers as if we are in court and doing some book keeping. Sort that out LT, structure it like face book or something its easier to follow the debates that way, i hate scrolling up and down just to follow an argument.
A good job well done ba LT. And also please don’t forget to work on the flags. Sometimes we get wrong ones. I miss those emicons too! is there a way you can re introduce them? A need for some humor.
I must say the new look is absolutely brilliant. Well done LT, now you need to work on the journalists reporting skills especially the grammar. Sometimes one gets confused when reading a given story – as for the captions under the pictures – they are just hilarious.
#20 has a point [using reference numbers is just not on…lol] worth looking into. Over all the improvements you have done on this site r excellent. Publishing the comments will definately be a step forward. LT thumbs up!!!
Ba York taking it personal there lol
Congrats LT you lead the way others follows like Fred Mmeembe.It’s a pleasure to blog on this site.Well done mwakoma!!!!!!!!!
Good to know we have innovative zambians,keep it up LT!
love it LT. Keep it up!
Good to progress, the sky will be your limit LT
Hi bloggers,
Long time, so many changes indeed…
Hello LT team, guys, where there are red hand drawn arrows on top..LT toolbars…….., there is a typo, please change it. It says Lusata toolbar…three times..
Cheers!
Dee
Here are some nominations for the LT 2009 Awards.
Award for Songs of Praise to the “Great Leader RB” – Veteran a.k.a Senior Citizen
Award for Songs of Praise to the “Great Party MMD” – Veteran a.k.a Senior Citizen
Award for Most Insults to PF/UPND, Sata and HH – Veteran a.k.a Senior Citizen
Award for Hatred for PF/UPND Supporters – Veteran a.k.a Senior Citizen
Award for Verbal Diarrhea – Veteran a.k.a Senior Citizen