·         Most recent activity widget: a widget that allows users to show what is new in a given application feature (Forum, Calendar, etc.) When adding new applications, this widget is automatically included (it can be removed).

·          Idea Factory: an application that allows an Orb owner to solicit ideas from the community. Ideas are rated, and can be acted upon. Orb owners can configure whether or not ideas must be approved to be listed on the site.

·         Blog Enhancements: new views and additional settings are now available to the owner to better control their blog.

·         Ask an Expert Enhancements: When asking questions or getting an answer from a question, notifications are sent out.

·         Orb Offline: An orb community can be taken offline so that an Orb owner can make structural changes. When the owner is done, the orb can be re-enabled.

·         File Attachments: files can be attached to most pieces of data, including Forum Posts, Events, Textblocks, Calendar Events, etc.

·         Usability enhancements: Left navigation for nearly all features has been refactored to be consistent, and easier to use. Primary actions (such as asking a question in the Ask and Expert feature or posting a new post in the Forums) are larger buttons that more obvious to users. Managing categories/folders has also been made easier. In v1.6, users will have more control over how their navigation looks & feels.

·         Technical enhancements: storage for content was upgraded to make some searching functions easier. A fix was put in place to reduce the number of DNS look-ups on the home page.

·         Bug fixes: Approximately 75 other defects have been addressed.

Published 06 August 2008 - 0 comments

Orbius has reached yet another significant milestone, we have just released the new version 1.3 to production. It now contains more useful community tools and functionalities to our users and presents greater value for our target customers.

 

Here’s the summary of the new features:

• You can now rate content: in Library pages, Images, Blog postings, Ask an Expert Topics. Additionally, in some areas “wall” comments can be rated via a polar rating system (thumbs up/down or yes/no style). You can also select the rating options you want, such as stars or smileys.
• the ratings and sort by them too.

  

  

• Upload documents: Our Library now allows users to upload of files. However, we need to enable this function for an Orb so that you can use this feature.

• New Menus:  Now Orbius has enhanced menus so you can easily nest items.  Plus you can add a hyperlink right to your menu and point to an Orbius page or even an external site.

  And you can move menu items around.  In this example, a menu item for "Blogs" has been created and two blogs are moved underneath it.

                 
         

• ContentSpace implemented. ContentSpace allows Orb owners to upload various electronic assets to a location within their orb that they can link to from other places. These pages and images aren’t necessarily available from the menu.
• Featured Content. This feature has two parts: First, editors can mark content as “featured” for most applications except those on the blank page and in the library. Second, these featured items can then be referenced by a Featured Item widget that will show the featured content (either per category  or all combined). This widget can be placed anywhere, including the Orb home page.

•   Pop up menu for personas/profile When viewing a user or persona (essentially anywhere you see a thumbnail of a person) the user will have the option to connect with that user (be a fan or friend) through a pop-up menu.
  

               

            

 

• More search functions When viewing the membership list in an Orb, the left navigation side will provide search capabilities. This will include basic search parameters as well as searching by public membership persona questions/answers.

• Your private information is safe Indexing of content by search engines is not allowed on private Orbs.

• More Video uploading support: Support for new embedded video types: KickApps, Ning, and JustinTV. To do that, simply add a textblock and inside it, click on and you will be guided to insert the video.  You can choose a variety of video providers.

  In addition, you can choose a provider, search for your video (or put in a specific url) and you'll have embedded video in your Orb in no time at all.

                

Published 19 June 2008 - 0 comments

We have officially launched  www.orbius.com.

If you note the version number, we're at Version 1.2. Until now, Orbius has been in Private Preview mode (or beta).

We thank the users who have helped us vet our system during the Private Preview phase.

While we still have lots of work to take the system to the next level, we trust that we have provided a good set of functionality to begin inviting the general public to give us a try.

But we won't be making any huge annoucements for a while. We hope to get lots of feedback from more people and provide a series of quick iterative releases before we crank up or PR engine!

Thank You.

C.H. Low, CEO, Orbius

Published 12 May 2008 - 0 comments

Many Bug fixes.

In the future we will be providing better release notes.

Published 26 March 2008 - 0 comments

This is a key milestone. But we're not there yet but we're very close. You have been given access to this Private preview but please refrain from telling too many people about it just yet. It is OK to send invitations to people you'd like to invite to join your Orb.

We need all the help we can get. So please put the system through its paces and don't hesitate to let us know.

In a few more weeks (may be by end of March), we will invite a larger group of people to our private Preview.

Thanks.

Published 19 March 2008 - 0 comments