myFOXdfw.com Web Staff Blog

Have you noticed yet? Now you can search myFOXdfw.com.

We are really excited to now offer you a Collarity search engine that not only searches the site, but does it pretty well. Here are a few features of the Collarity search engine that you can take advantage of.

1) Collarity runs what the call a "relevancy search." It works hard to make sure it finds exactly what you are looking for.

2) Type in a search keyword, but don't hit enter. Do you see the little pop-up window? This will help you narrow down your search.

3) The first module offers you additional search terms based on what other users are searching for. If you click on a term it's added to your query.

4) The second module offers you a preview of the top search results. You may see what you like in that window. You can click on it and go straight to the page. Or modify your search terms to get a different preview.

5) Let your mouse over over a preview link for just a few seconds. You'll get the full description of the link before you click on it.

6) Finally, click on GO to see a full screen of results.

7) Once you find the story you are looking for, you may also notice a blue box at the bottom of the page. The search engine suggests related stories and related searches... just in case you still haven't found what you are looking for.

8) Couldn't find something on myFOXdfw.com or want more information outside of the story? You can use the same search to search the entire Web. Simply select the Web search instead of Site search above where you typed in your keywords.

We should note that currently the search does not search the blogs. However, that function is part of Phase 2, which will be coming in the next few months.

We are really excited. How about you?

Many of you know that we are in the process to upgrade the myFOXdfw.om Blog page.

That process is nearly complete. We have had some technical glitches as our programmers work to complete the process.

Please be patient, we hope that everything will be resolved shortly.

So please pardon our construction, but we soon will have great new features to enhance your blogging experience on myFOXdfw.com!

We want to let the blogging community at myFOXdfw.com know that the blog pages will be down for maintenance on Tuesday, Jan. 2 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. For about 24 hours following that time, developers will also be on standby for possible bugs. FOX Interactive Media will use the time to transition to a new blogging platform.

On Wednesday, you should notice the first of several upgrades to the blog pages -- a "what you see is what you get" tool for editting text in your posts (font, size, alignment, color) and tools to embed links, photos or videos. Other new features are expected throughout January and February.

On a less formal note, the myFOXdfw.com staff has the ability to turn the video, photo and link embed tools on or off. When they are turned on, users can embed external web content and it will appear without waiting for any approval. Do you feel the community is mature enough to handle the priviledge?

Also, we know we promised a internal site search a few weeks ago. While the first deployment attempt flopped (search results weren't really coming back complete), the second build will be included with one of the upgrades in January or February.

- myFOXdfw.com staff

I know many of you have been waiting for us to fix a few things and add a few things to myFOXdfw.com. Well... between Thanksgiving and the new year the waiting will finally end. We are excited to announce the follow features coming soon.

1) Google-powered internal site search - Launching in the week after Thanksgiving, myFOXdfw.com will finally get a search engine to search the site for stories, blogs and videos.

2) Live steaming video - We now have the ability to stream video live online for breaking news events, press conferences, special occasions and more. To see live coverage of the Thanksgiving day Turkey Trot or to see what's on the schedule, visit http://media.myfoxdfw.com/live/.

3) my Voice - While you all have the opportunity to voice your opinions on the myFOXdfw.com blogs, we've also recently added a feature called my Voice. It allows users to call in and leave an audio recording to be published online. Currently there is a story titled my Voice: Giving Thanks located on the News page. Click for instructions on how to record your audio. Also, let us know if you have suggested topics.

4) School closings - As winter weather draws near, myFOXdfw.com will be your source for school and business closing information. During times of severe weather, check out our Weather page for school closing information.

5) Interactive: Radar Hot Spots - Visit http://media.myfoxdfw.com/KDFWMISC/Speeding/ for an interactive map which allows you to see the top 12 places in the metroplex where you are most likely to get a speeding ticket. The feature resides on the Traffic page.




And finally, the follow features are currently being developed by FOX Interactive Media for myFOXdfw.com and are expected to be released sometime in the next few months:

1) Desktop Widgets and RSS feeds

2) Breaking news alerts and newsletters

3) Improved Weather graphics and a winter weather tracker similar to the current tropical weather tracker

4) Improved Community blog features (I can elaborate more on specific plans after they are finalized. For now I can say many of your requests were heard and you should all be very pleased.)

It has been a mild hurricane season so far for the Gulf Coast. However, myFOXdfw.com wants you to be prepared when storms do approach. The myFOX Tropcial Weather page and My Tropical Tracker offer better hurricane tracking information than any other place on the Internet.

1) myFOX Tropical Weather page (http://tropics.myfoxdfw.com/?siteID=1005) is located in the left-hand navigation rail of the Weather page. It includes features such as high definition radar, wind and wave reports, real time lightening reports, and of course the standard advisories and satalite loops.

2) My Tropical Tracker is part of the myFOX Tropical Weather page, but utilizes satelite mapping technlogoy to allow you to zoom in and out around a storm. Various levels of hurricane tracking data can be toggled on and off of the map.

We hope it helpful the next time a major storm approaches.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

We are working to fix the problem that caused the text in all blogs to appear centered. Please be patient as we correct the error.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

myFOXdfw.com is happy to announce several new enhancements and features on the site.

1) myFOXdfw.com will be your portal for FOX movie and television downloads beginning Tuesday Aug. 15. Shows like “24” and movies like “X-Men” will be available for download. Click here for more information.

2) In connection with a recent business deal between News Corp. (our parent company) and Google, myFOXdfw.com will soon see Google-provided search functions. Click here for more information.

3) myFOXdfw.com is now compatible with Internet Explorer 7 and Opera 8 browsers.

4) Users can now simply click on the main image on the homepage to either view a text story or begin playing a video story.

5) Two new portals now populate the myFOXdfw.com homepage for easier access to specials and off-beat news. Stay tuned for more information about these areas as they continue to develop.

6) FOX 4 is getting a new set. Regular updates on the construction progress will appear on myFOXdfw.com, including photo galleries and video. Click here for more information.

7) myFOXdfw.com is your home for local American Idol and Prison Break news. Click on the Entertainment tab and look on the right-hand side of the page for access to each.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

FOX Interactive Media will deploy an udate to the myFOXdfw.com site beginning sometime between 9:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday night. The site is schedule to be down for about an hour. Blog pages should not be affected by the maintenance.

Thank you for your patience while we work to continously improve myFOXdfw.com.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

We are experiencing technical difficulties tonight. Although news is constantly being updated, no new video has been uploaded to the site since 3 p.m. Please be patient as we work to fix the problem.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

Want to make the most of our your blog on myFOXdfw.com? Our Web staff takes time throughout the day to read posts and look at photos to decide which ones should be featured on the main page. Here are a few tips that can help you get your post or pictures featured.

1) Blogs with avitars will likely be chosen before those without an avitar for the featured profile in each category. If you have something to report on and you've uploaded an avitar, look for your blog in the featured spot.

2) Post your blogs and photos in the category they best fit in. Currently most people post into the default News category. Fewer posts in the remaining categories naturally means they have a higher chance of being featured and for much longer.

Finally, many people have asked about the best way to search for specific bloggers. While that feature is not available yet, another feature can help. By clicking on the Subscribe to This Blog via E-mail button at the bottom right corner of each blog you can receive e-mail notifications of when your favorite blogger is active.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

Looking for a particular anchor's blog? Click on any of the links below.

Evan Andrews
Lari Barager
Todd Caruth
Steve Eagar
Mike Doocy
Good Day
John Hammarley
Heather Hays
Megan Henderson
Dan Henry
Ron Jackson
Baron James
Steve Noviello
Richard Ray
Tim Ryan
Tell It To Tim
Scott Sayres
Maria Sotolongo
Clarice Tinsley
Chip Waggoner
Nita Wiggins


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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

Work continues to make www.myFOXdfw.com the best it can me. The following features and enhancements were added this week.

1) TxDOT traffic cameras link - This link was added to the portlet on the right-hand side of the Traffic page. It takes you to all of TxDOT's Dallas and Fort Worth traffic cameras.

2) Video forecast - As you've requested, we've started to include video forecasts on the site from broadcasts throughout the day. The most recent forecast video is always in the top right-hand corner of the Weather page.

3) Airport status - Look in the left-hand navigation on the Traffic page for this button. It takes you to a map which includes delay information for all major airports, including DFW.

4) Tropical weather interactive - This isn't really a new feature, but its the first time its been active because of Tropical Storm Beryl. The button for this interactive feature is on the right-hand side of the Weather page. It includes advisories, radar images and charts for any tropical storm activity.

5) Datelines - Thanks to a successful update by Fox Interactive Media, all dates and datelines on stories and the blog should reflect Central Time rather than GMT.

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Tracy DeLatte
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

Despite it only being the first week for the new Web site, several new features are already available for visitors.

1) Before You Go - This Web-only video newscast appears on the homepage every weekday from about 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Anchor Heather Hays gives you a quick and informal run down of the day's news, traffic and weather before you go home. Don't miss it each day!

2) Health and Weather Almanac - Per your requests, this feature on the right hand rail of the Weather page has the day's weather almanac information. It includes records, a pollen count, rainfall information and more.

3) Find It Here - Confused as how to find your favorite segment? Always look for the Find It Here button for easy access to segments such as Deal or Dud, Viewer's Voice and Good Day.

4) Good Day Information - Missed a recipe yesterday morning? Look at the very bottom of the Good Day page for a button called Good Day Information. It's your source for anything you missed on Good Day.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

Fox Interactive Media plans to conduct a series of upgrades to the back end of myFOXdfw.com on Monday, July 17. The upgrades may disrupt service for a minimum of 30 minutes sometime after midnight and early Tuesday morning. We appreciate your patience during this period as we work to improve myFOXdfw.com.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer

MyFOXdfw.com's launch was success Monday. However we will operate in beta mode for the next few months. During that time we welcome bug submissions to the following e-mail address: website@kdfwfox4.com

Known bug:
The site experiences some text and image overlay problems and spacing problems with the IE 7 beta browser. Currently myFOXdfw.com is optomized for IE 6 and Mozilla Firefox 1.5. As final versions of new browsers are released, the FOX Interact Media development team will work out site compatibility issues.

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Tracy DeLatte,
myFOXdfw.com Web Producer