ANN's Latest Generation Gets Another Test Flight

A few weeks ago, we showed you an early look at the Next-Generation update of the Aero-News Network site... it was a very good test... both in terms of what we learned from you as well as identifying some performance issues that we think we've solved in this latest iteration. And while it was a good test, it wasn't quite ready for Prime-Time... we think, we hope, maybe, this version is.

We did make some changes a number of you asked for right away... and as promised, if you look just atop the search box to the right of the page, you'll see three initial (of many more to come) customization settings that allow you to build the ANN that YOU want. 

YES, you can select to the ability to read the Whole Day's stories, en masse, if you SELECT to do so... YES, you have the ability to read just the Headlines of the day, if you select to do so... and we have a few more ideas up our sleeve -- dozens, in fact. but... one thing at a time... OK?

We warned you... and we weren't kidding. Just in time for a possible full-time deployment in advance of Oshkosh 2011, and ever-dependent on the spirits and whims of the interwebs (it may take a number of hours for the new server to propagate world-wide), you should be reading/viewing the latest version of the Aero-News Network, and its associated entities... Aero-Casting, Aero-TV and the ever-so-mysterious FAA² -- any time now. We call the whole works ANN-NG.

Keep in mind that we may still have some bugs to work out, there may be some issues here and there... and if you see problems, or other things that we need to know about, please be sure to send us a note... we've tested the site for a number of months, but no site is truly tested until it goes live and faces the public for the first time. Remember that no plan survives contact with reality...

The Next Generation of ANN will be deployed in layers and capabilities, but the main thrust of this iteration is its ability to grow with a greatly expanded mission profile for aviation's first 24/7/real-time online news and information service. ANN-NG signals a major change in what we do and how we do it, while maintaining our core competence as a real-time news organization BUT while also paving the way for additional capabilities and mission parameters. We've played with a number of ideas in the past and never felt we were on the right track until recently... but this new ANN will serve as the FOUNDATION for many great changes and additions to the ANN mission.

As previously noted, we're starting simple... we're unveiling the basic site now and will turn on a number of new functions and features as we get a feel for how the new site handles server loads (wtih Oshkosh traffic being a serious test, for sure)  AND as we adapt to the new operational requirements. PLEASE keep in mind that what you will see is nothing more than a FOUNDATION site and that many other additions and accessories are in the works to make sure that THE site that defined the aviation online news and information business over a decade ago is even more relevant in the future than it has been in the past.

Also... this is a different kind of site... SO -- it will act differently, it will take a little bit to get used to, and while we want as much of your input as we can get, do give it a thorough test drive and look the whole thing over before reporting back to us (but please be gentle, we've been working our buns off on this). I assure you that we'll be listening and reading with great interest -- and better than that -- you ain't seen nothing yet. There is FAR more yet to come.

FMI: I Have Thoughts and Comments About ANN-NG