Chris Rudnicki

Development for the next version of IP.Gallery is well underway and we're excited to tell you about some of the new features you can expect.  Please keep in mind that this is only a sample of the new features and not a complete list.

Friendly URLs

Categories, Albums, and images are now integrated into the global IP.Board 3 FURL system.

Category/Album Covers

It is now possible to specify one of the images in a category or album to be the cover of that category or album.  If a cover image is specified, it will always be displayed for that category or album, instead of the last image thumbnail.

Sub Albums

Albums now support unlimited sub albums, which work exactly like gallery sub categories.

Profile Picture Album

You can now create a new kind of album, a 'Profile Picture' Album.  After this album has been created, any images that you upload to it will be displayed on the change picture page in your User CP, making them easy to select as your profile image.




New Slideshow

The slideshow has been completely redesigned, you can see the new style in the screenshot below:




More to come

We'll have a lot more to show you in the coming weeks, from new features to an improved interface, we hope that you will enjoy this new version!

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Also, I know there are many Vbulletin members either considering moving to IPB 3 or are in the process of doing so, but want to make the move as painless as possible. Especially since they may be adjusted to their current forum software. A few suggestions that always helped me. (You'll always get some people that grumble no matter what. They too will go quiet after awhile.)

1. Promote the things IPB 3 has that VB 3 and even VB 4 do not have or do not yet have. Such as a more community friendly member profile. Or improved PM and User CP options. Basically, you know your members. Push the things that IPB has by default that you know your forum members will like, but may be afraid of losing with the switch. Then promote the positives of that. Simple, yet effective.

2. Also let them know they will NOT lose their posts, pm's, threads, attachments, etc.. And if they love the skins they have, show them some IPB 3 ones you know they'll probably love even more.

3. While some are always against change, most from what I have seen usually adjust and end up liking some of the new features better. Such as IPB 3's improved attachment system.

4. If they ask if a certain mod or feature will be brought over that you either know or think is not yet available for IPB 3, let them know that if it isn't, you'll put in for a request for someone to make that mod. Many times this will pacify them.

5. If they ask what the pro's vs. con's are, let them know you will leave it up to them. But that you have come to find that IPB 3 is a far cry from previous IPB versions they may be aware of and is in no way close to Invisionfree forums. That it is above them in every way and has features that at this point it appears not even Vbulletin 4 will yet have.

6. And for the mods and admins, let them know that IPB 3 has many of the same banning (and even improved) features that VB has.

Long story short, push the pro's. (IMO there are quite a few.) Focus on hyping them up. That will make the transition easier. What I always did, was found an IPB 3 forum that had a skin I knew they would like. I would then have them visit that forum to get an idea of what IPB 3 is like. (That included pointing them here.) By the time it was said and done, most were hyped for it and things went great. In fact they never wanted me to go back to Vbulletin again after that. They liked IPB 3 way too much. To them VB seemed like a step down. (Which IMO it is anyways. But I digress.) Once they start playing with their profiles (which is what I pushed them to do), they loved it and started spamming each others comments. It was great. It wasn't some bland profile anymore. It was a robust social network for them. And the longer they stay on your forum, the better.

IPB 3 is just as robust if not more so than VBulletin 3 and even what's known of Vbulletin 4. Does Vbulletin 3 or 4 have a built in virus scanner? Does it have community friendly profiles? Simple answer, no. And that's an EXTREMELY short list.

In the end it's up to you as to what you want to do for you and your members. But I'm confident most of them will enjoy what IPb 3 has to offer.

We are pleased to announce IP.Content 1.1 is now available

IP.Content is our community content system for managing the content of your community and publishing everything from a simple portal to a complete web site.

IP.Content 1.1 introduces support for custom dynamic databases. You can create databases, manage categories, fields, moderators, records, comments, revisions and more, all from within your admin control panel. You can also allow your users to submit, edit, rate and comment on records in databases, with a plethora of other options available on a per-database level. Please read our previous blog entry for a more in-depth outline of the new functionality in version 1.1.0.


Those with a license to IP.Content can download it in the client area now!

The special offer referenced below has expired.

Community Suite Promotion

The current Community Suite package offered for sale on our web site has been available for quite some time and features a bundled deal to purchase IP.Board, IP.Gallery, and IP.Blog all at once. It has been a great way for customers to purchase those products at once for a discount. However, the package was introduced before we had other products like IP.Downloads, IP.Content, and more.

The downside is that some clients want to mix-and-match from our various product line yet the Community Suite is the three products listed with no other options. It also becomes difficult as IPS adds more to our product line.

Therefore, starting November 2, 2009, we will be discontinuing the Community Suite purchase option. On that date it will be replaced with a discount option based on the simple premise of the more products you purchase at once then the greater your package discount grows. It's only fair to offer a greater discount based on your purchase volume while still offering you flexibility to choose which products you want. We will have information about this on our web site when available in November.

Last Chance to Purchase Community Suite

If you are interested in our Community Suite be sure to order before November 2 to lock in the price and the renewal offers.

Pricing Benefits

Ordering products (Board/Blog/Gallery) separately: $264.97 up front plus $100 per year for support/services/upgrades
Ordering products through Community Suite: $249.99 up front plus $50 per year for support/services/upgrades

Special IPS Product Line Offer

Until November 2, we are also offering a special for those wishing to purchase the entire IPS product line. If you are interested in all that's offered under the Community Suite (Board/Blog/Gallery) plus IP.Downloads and IP.Content you can purchase all of these products for just an additional $50 (total of $299.99 for all) on top of the Community Suite price. That's a savings of $50 compared to buying separately. Standard renewal terms apply. Purchase special offer... it is only available by reading this announcement - not mentioned anywhere on our web site!

We are pleased to announce Invision Power Board 3.0.0 Beta 5 is now available.  Additionally, the following development releases are available in your client area to test:

• IP.Blog 2.0.0 Beta 3
• IP.Downloads 2.0.0 Beta 3
• IP.Gallery 3.0.0 Beta 3

  The fifth beta release of IP.Board 3.0.0 is now available for download to those with current, active licenses to IP.Board. This fifth beta is only available to active license holders.
  
  This is the fifth beta release so please take a moment and read this entire announcement before downloading.

• As this is a beta release there will be bugs and issues with the software. Please report any issues using our bug tracker. Before reporting please first quickly check to see if anyone has already reported your issue.
• This beta is encoded using IonCube. Beta releases are encoded so we can better control the release and ensure any reported problems are code-related and not due to modifications. Please ensure you are familiar with how to install IonCube encoded PHP software. The final version will not be encoded.
• Technical support is not available for this beta software.
• Do not use this software on a public install. Wait for the final series for your public installs.
• There may be no upgrade path between beta versions.
• You may upgrade from IP.Board 3.0.0 Beta 4, or from any pre-3.0.0 version of IP.Board all the way back to version 1.1.
• In general, only download and participate in the beta test if you are comfortable working with beta software.

  System Requirements
  
  This beta version of IP.Board 3.0.0 requires PHP 5.1.0 or greater and MySQL 4.1.22 (5.0 or greater preferred) to operate. We have included the Ioncube loaders with the download for 32 bit servers. If your server is running a 64 bit operating system, you will need to visit Ioncube directly to download the loaders.
  
  Testing Help
  
Please thoroughly test the skinning system, importing, exporting, creating new skins, editing templates,
  
  
  Download IP.Board 3.0.0 Beta 5
  
  If you have an IP.Board License:
  
  To download, log in to your client area. You will see the beta download information by clicking into your license purchase. As stated above, technical support is not available so please only download if you are comfortable beta-testing software.
  
  If you have IPS Hosting:
  
  Shared hosting customers can download by clicking into their hosting package. Forum hosting customers can also download but will not be able to install in their hosting account as Forum Hosting packages are limited to one install. Feel free to use another hosting account for this.