Update - Iteration 2!

We've recently updated the yaytrail extension code with some new features.

In order to get the new code you may need to refresh your browser, or failing that, clear your browser's cache and refresh again. With future updates, clearing your cache should be unnecessary.

This update replaces the previous code with a whole new set of code we've been working on over the past number of weeks.

So what’s the difference?

The biggest difference this update brings is behind the scenes - the new code is based around an entirely new foundation. The net result of this should be much faster and easier updates in the future, as our code is now built for extensibility rather than as a quick-and-dirty prototype.

Although most of what's new is in the plumbing, there are also some changes to the user experience we'd like to highlight in this blog. These include:

Blinking cursor

Most text-input on computers is guided by a little blinking cursor, and we don't think yaytrail should be any different! Now when you double click, a blinking cursor will indicate where you are typing. You can move this cursor to another part of the page by clicking on another word, and can move it within your edit using the left and right arrow keys too.

Copy & Paste

Another important 'must-have' in a text editing system is copy-and-paste, and this update adds this functionality to yaytrail.

Save indicator

As before, you double click a second time to end your editing session and save your edits. Now when an edit is saved it will momentarily flash yellow to confirm to you that it has indeed been saved.

Better control over where you can type

A lot of you have asked some good questions like - why can't I insert an edit between a word and a full stop or after a space? Why can't I create a new paragraph?

Now you can do all these things. You need no longer be constrained to the paragraphs already in a webpage - bring the cursor to the end of a paragraph and hit enter, and you're in your own little space underneath. We don't yet have full punctuation detection, but the cursor now also can see where there's a fullstop, a space, and a number of other special characters to let you edit in and amongst these on a page.

Identity

An obvious shortcoming of the old code was the lack of any identification on edits. It was impossible to see who wrote what! We're still working on the best way to present this information while keeping a light visual presence, but in this update we've added a user's profile photo to the start of an edit. Mouse over the avatar and the author's username will pop up, or click on the picture to go to the author's Trail page.

You can change your picture in the Settings page. We've had feeback to say that the upload system hasn't been working for some users, but we're currently working to fix that, so hopefully soon you'll all have your own profile picture for handy identification of edit authors. Stay tuned for more on that soon.

Notes on other differences and usage

Please do note the following differences from our first iteration:

Usage of the new interface is quite similar to the previous iteration, but there are a couple of differences to bear in mind.

When you first double-click on a page now, it is more akin to turning on the page's edit-mode, so to speak. Rather than just opening up one space within which you can type, a double-click will bring the cursor onto the page and allow you to move it around elsewhere on the page with a single click of your left mouse button. So now, you can double-click, type an edit in one place, and then click to move the cursor somewhere else on the page and make a second edit there, and so on. Then, when you are finished, double-click the page again to turn edit-mode off and save your new edits. Also, be sure that when you double-click to save that you double-click anywhere on the page outside of any edits you have made (clicks on edits are currently disabled so a double-click on an edit to save will go unrecognised!).

Work in Progress

This update represents a work in progress. As always, we need your help to test and refine yaytrail. Undoubtedly there are bugs to be found and fixed with this updated code, so give yaytrail a whirl and let us know what you think. Heck, invite your friends too and let them experience the power of having their own personal web!

If you need any help at all in using yaytrail, don't be shy about letting us know, no matter the problem. And questions, comments, bugs and feedback are welcome at feedback@yaytrail.com or you can just drop us a comment on this blog below or better still, an edit with yaytrail.

Have fun!

Introducing YayTrail and our blog

A couple of weeks ago we launched our first preview of YayTrail to a small group of testers - a communication tool that allows our users to open up the web around them and to edit it in new ways, creating a web experience is that is more personal and customised, and to share this with their friends.

YayTrail has been developed in the context of a web that is now all about participation and creation. More and more people are adding their stamp to the web - through blogs, YouTube videos, Twitter feeds, comments, message boards and so much more besides. We all leave a trail of content behind us - ideas, thoughts, insights, brilliance, silliness and everything in between.

With that in mind, we'd like to give you more control over how you can create and share content on the web around you. We want to break open the webpage to allow you leave your mark where you want and how you want. Our users can edit news stories with their own contributions right in line with the journalists, embellish recipes with their own twist on cookery sites, add corrections and additional tips to how-to guides, voice personal experience with products at online stores and company websites, breathe new life into out-of-date information, add notes and summaries to online learning material...and so much more. Every webpage becomes open to your contribution, your ideas, your voice. Importantly, your content is a first class citizen with YayTrail - your comments need no longer be buried amongst a sea of strangers. Type your content where you see fit, and when your friends visit that page, they'll see your writing right there where you left it, cleanly in-line with the structure of the page. Follow your friends too, and turn your web into a social and personal one to see what the people you care about think, quickly and easily.

Our current release is early, and by no means feature-complete. For the purposes of this preview, all users are following each other through their inbox, but soon you'll be able to pick and choose the people you want to follow. The software is early too, and currently available for FireFox only.

If you'd like to try YayTrail out, we're still taking new signups here. This is just the beginning, and we'd like you on board to help us create something special! The feedback so far has been amazing - thanks to all those who've signed up already. We hope to deliver on your feedback as the service matures, and hope we can continue to enjoy your ideas and recommendations. To help open up feedback channels further, we're starting this blog to provide a space where we can share news, announcements, development updates and hints and tips on getting the most out of YayTrail. Further posts will appear here to keep you in the loop, so check back soon!