Take 2: OnTheMap.ie - ready for launch ?

[OnTheMap]

Hi Folks,

Got some great feedback the last time, much obliged. After a few months of toil, incorporating that feedback (and more) I reckon I'm ready to go live with the site ... but once again ... I'd really appreciate some fresh feedback.

I've spent a bunch of time on the eye-candy and added some missing functionality since last time. I've also attempted to play nice with most modern browsers, and even try and play nice with JS disabled (or non-existant) browsers ... though it does degrade the experience quite a bit.

The site is a Business Review site, and will in time (if it catches on) become a directory. It's main focus is on reviews, rich information about a business and to act as a micro-site for silver and gold members. It's free however to register as many businesses as you like, and you even get a few complimentary edits for free for standard registrations.

Let me know what ye think :0)

Thanks,
Attila

 

[paul]

here be a fancy live link : www.OnTheMap.ie

 

[mneylon]

It looks a lot better than what I remember of the previous version

 

[Bell]

Search function appears to be faulty and business listing is very limited.

 

[Briask]

Its a bit Google like in its so called "privacy policy"

OTM may however sell the reviews and rating themselves and non-specific demographic information, such as gender and age group to third parties.

and Terms of Use...

By posting Posted Content on the On The Map Site, you agree to and hereby do grant, and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, On The Map, its contractors, and the users of the On The Map Site an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, fully sublicensable, fully paid up, worldwide license to use, copy, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, and distribute such Posted Content and to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into other works, such Posted Content. This license is non-exclusive, except you agree that On The Map shall have the exclusive right to practice this license to the extent of combining your Posted Content with the Posted Content of other On The Map users for purposes of constructing or populating a category-based, keyword searchable database of registered places and reviews

 

[OnTheMap]

Search function appears to be faulty and business listing is very limited.

The search has a tendency to cast a wide net, mainly because there's still too few registrants. So I figured better to return whatever is listed, by specifying a large search radius by default. The map then zooms and centres around whatever hits its found ... unless of course you override the search centre (by clicking on a point in the map) or using the pulldowns to set the search radius and/or the location.

Does that cover it ?, or were you saying something different ?.

Cheers.

 

[OnTheMap]

Its a bit Google like in its so called "privacy policy"



and Terms of Use...

Yeah, I suppose it does, however ... all it's saying is

a) any material submitted i.e. photos, opinions, news & event details (the copy) automatically becomes the property of On The Map

b) any material submitted must be owned by the submitting party in the first place, so that they have the right to transfer its copyright, i.e. the material is yours to give and not ripped off from someone/somewhere else :0)

... both of which I believe is a pretty standard stance on such things.

However, I have to admit I'm struggling with a 'laymans' version of Terms, Privacy Policy, etc. How does one say in a more plain English, legally binding, unambiguous way all the things that need to be spelt out in such things ? ... without that version becoming a rehash of the original ?.

 

[cgarvey]

a) any material submitted i.e. photos, opinions, news & event details (the copy) automatically becomes the property of On The Map

Madness! Did you have someone look at that for you? What you want is a royalty-free license to use the material however you see fit, etc.; but claiming ownership is a step too far.

If any company bothered reading the small print, they couldn't, for example, give you their logo.

 

[Bell]

Cgarvey is dead right!

 

[mneylon]

Madness! Did you have someone look at that for you? What you want is a royalty-free license to use the material however you see fit, etc.; but claiming ownership is a step too far.

If any company bothered reading the small print, they couldn't, for example, give you their logo.

Ouch! Is that even enforcable?

 

[cal]

I'm not mad on the google ads on the side. They drag the look down.

Also, this is a small one, but your listing on the right hand side looks like a top ten with everything going down a place i.e. the numeric icon is a pointer put also looks like a down arrow... small point (which may be stupid).

Good site name

 

[OnTheMap]

Well ... I suppose ye might have a point, if it comes across that way (though it might be just my simplistic summary of it ?). I hadn't intended the policy to be anything draconian. The intention was to simply stop someone ripping off a photo or other material from the site and using it themselves to re-publish. It is very easy to scrape a site for content .. sure anyone could just simply write a bot to crawl the yellow pages or somewhere else and just republish it, photos and all ... but I'm guessing the original publisher of same might be a little peeved ?.

I did look for someone to look over these things locally, and to be honest it is quite difficult to find someone who has any experience. I'm open to suggestions if anyone knows a good authority on such things ?.

The terms and privacy statements are pretty much boiler plates which I was happy reflected the general concepts necessary to protect the site from those not so squeamish about simply taking stuff.

As for someones logo or such ... I don't see how that applies ?. I didn't think I implied I owned the logo ... that's preposterous. However, I would expect to have some rights over the image of the logo ... if only to stop someone from re-using the logo in a non-authorised way. In effect, the ownership of the logo, or photo is ultimately I suppose the person who submits the photo (or whatever) ... but I'm sure they would not be too enamoured if that image was misused by someone who decides to borrow it from the site ?.

Suggestions as to who would be worth talking to re: these issues would be welcome :0)

 

[OnTheMap]

Google ads and arrows ...

I'm not mad on the google ads on the side. They drag the look down.

Also, this is a small one, but your listing on the right hand side looks like a top ten with everything going down a place i.e. the numeric icon is a pointer put also looks like a down arrow... small point (which may be stupid).

Good site name

Yeah, google ads are there currently as place holders mainly. Once the thing gets some traction, I'd imagine the real-estate will be used by ads registered directly with the site. For now though ... what would you suggest be done with the google ads ?. Colours, size, ???

As for the numeric icons ... I was actually contemplating switching the google map markers over to the same type of icon .. for consistency. I dunno ... I thought the arrows in the list looked better than the ones I created for the maps ?.

 

[cal]

I think you are correct that your icons on the right are nicer than the ones on the map.

In relation to the map, maybe you should but a bit of spacing around the edge of it? I like the way that menupages does it. Its just a taste thing though.

Not sure what to suggest with the google ads. Maybe stick the away at the bottom rather than in a prominent position. Have never looked into how they work.