I posted a question about a specific piece of software in the forum. While those who chose to respond were very patient with me ( I didn't explain myself very well) the ideas submitted showed a need that I think should be filled. I wanted to know if anybody knew of a .wma audio editor. Nobody did. But several very good suggestions were submitted.

New users of Lime Wire (and regular users of Lime Wire) occasionally ask about software to perform a specific function. What I propose, and would like to see, is a dedicated thread that would offer assistance to users. Instead of answering the same question over and over the user could be reffered to a collection of url's describing pieces of software that perform specific functions on mp3 files. I am aware that other sites offer what I suggest, but this collection would be exclusive to Lime Wire. I have been a member of WinMx, Ares, Shareaza, and KCeasy. And none of them had a collection of url's leading to software that could assist the user. The user had to ask their question and hope for the best. If Lime Wire had a collection of urls that would assist the user they could very well be the only file sharing program that offered links to users to software to make their audio collections something they could be proud of. And users would have Lime Wire to thank for leads to the elusive software. This collection of urls could, (or should) eliminate repetitive posts asking about software users might want to use.

None of the software would cost anything, be crippled in any way, or contain spyware etc. It would be tested before was it was posted.


My idea was to have a dedicated thread to which we all could contribute (if we wanted to) that would address specific areas of mp3 files. Sort of like this...

MP3 TAGS
http://www.mp3tag.de
Allows you to re-write mp3 tag, delete information you do not want, or add information you do want.

Controling the volume of mp3 file
mp3gain.sourceforge.net
For controlling or altering the gain (volume) of mp3 sound file.

Gnutella and Lime Wire does not endorse these applications in any way. They are mentioned simply as an aid that may be of use to you.

We could put apps under specific catagories, and provide the URL to the app.
I propose that this experiment be limited to the Windows operating system only. If somebody wants to duplicate this thread for a different OS (MAC, Linux, etc) thats fine with me, but I would like to see this as an experiment first. If it flourishes (and I hope it will) it will be a real boost to users of LW.

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Tom

Tom ..I applaud your sentiments ... there are one or two practical problem which might make it somewhat difficult to implement your idea.

Firstly, the majority of questions asked on these forums have been asked before. The problem is that many forum visitors fail to use the search feature, fail to read the stickies, fail to read the User guide, fail to realize that Google is their friend, and in short bypass all these useful items in favour of asking a question on the forums which some kind soul will answer ..either by repeating something for the hundredth time, or posting a pile of links to replies given elsewhere

Each forum member who might help will have a different idea of what they consider the best tool for the job. Further ... A mac section and a Windows section would be required .... and so on

Most importantly, in this computer world where new applicatations and methods are being introduced daily, any such list would be out of date before it was compiled, and updating it and weeding out the dead links etc would be a mamoth job if the list was to be of any use.

Also we do have the Tips and Tricks forum, which might have been designed rather for this purpose ... but rarely is.

Certainly you have given food for thought

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To get Phex Click on the Fox

Tom

That is not a bad idea, threads dedicated to one area rather than stickys which can have any and all subjects in them.

I'm in favour of this being implemented.


UK Bob

Tom

Do not double post, it is against forum rules and it causes confusion.

http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showthread.php?t=61875


UK Bob

While UK Bob is correct I originally posted it in the wrong area. It was a mistake and an error on my part. I wasn't wearing my bifocals at the time.

Only A Hobo wrote ...
I suspected sombody might say this. This is an attempt to stop the same question from being asked over and over. It's been my experience from over twenty years of teaching how to use computers and the internet that the majority of users who, for one reason or another, fail to search engines, stickies, User guides, etc., fail to use them because they are intimidated by something. A new user may avoid stickies simply because of the name. Somebody in this forum (the entire Lime Wire forum) was reluctant to ask what is a url. They probably thought is was a dumb question. I have seen two definitions for it, so it's not a dumb question.

If somebody sees a large collection of people who know more about a particular subject they will be very reluctant to ever ask a question. In newgroups this behavior is called lurking. A lot of newsgroups advocate lurking before asking a question. And because of some of the people already in NG's thats all a lot of people do - lurk.

I would like to see a forum where anybody can ask any question without fear of some ill mannered hot head responding.

Only A Hobo went on...
[quote] Each forum member who might help will have a different idea of what they consider the best tool for the job. /QUOTE]

That's exactly what I'm hoping for. Instead of having one or two software suggestions that would perform a specific function this library of urls could have ten suggestions per catagory. Instead of having a tool that does only part of the job the user might be presented with ten possible solutions.


I'm well aware of that. When I suggested this idea of a library of urls I also suggested making it an experiment, and making for Windows only. I want to see how many people would actually use it. If only a handful of people use it over the course of a month I would suggest it be discontinued and removed from the forum. If however (and it's a very large if) it's a roaring success than it's existence will be justified.

I'm simply proposing taking technology and making it more people friendly. When I was earning my MBA I had a professor who used to drone on, and make a very simple question sound very complicated. Many a student, including myself, said "Why did the old buzzard give us the answer in plain simple english". Thats all I'm proposing. Taking something thats sounds complicated as he** and putting the answer in plain simple english. And helping a user by providing a tool can help a great deal towards that end.

Sorry for being rather long winded.

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Tom

Sorry about that. Wasn't wearing my bifocals when I posted. And thanks for your support UK Bob.

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Tom

Sorry I am the cause of that. I asked Tom to move the subject here by PM. but OAH had allready posted before he got a chance

edit: See it has been fixed

I think that this is a great idea, but should be expanded on.

My idea would be a Forum FAQ just like a forum section at the top of Both the Limewire Forum and Gnutella Forum (the very first thing you see whether entering here from Google or through the Limewire app).

And should not be specific to Limewire in the one at top of the Gnutella forum. The Limewire FAQ should still have a Link to the discussed preffered app section.

Ill make a simple layout of what I mean one of these days and post it here

GOOD idea

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THe statements above I am not responsible for you are your own man now

Tom, Sleepless

First of all, as I said before, I like the idea because it would make things very clear for newbies, should be easier to extract answers from and for VMs and mods easy to refer to (especially for those newbies who refuse to read anything).

However Sleepless, I think your modification to Tom's idea would add an extra layer of complication that may undo the "user friendly" that Tom's idea is trying to achieve.

Simply put, I believe that the implementation of Tom's idea should be kept within the realms of Limewire until we are sure that it works. Afterwards, when success is established, we should expand the idea to include other Gnutella forums.

In other words, I do not think we should try to run before we can walk which I believe your amendments are trying to do.

However, I may be wrong in my interpretation of your "modification" and await your initial layout.



UK Bob

Sleepless - I think your suggestion has merit, but in not would I would like to see happen. If implemented your suggestion would add a level of complexity that users and newbie might shy away from. I want to make it it really simple for users and newbies alike.

NeWheN - thanks for your support. Now if a poll could get going this idea might even get off the ground. Any ideas on that front, because I have no idea how to do it from my computer.

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Tom

You are probably right, but I'll keep messin with the idea though. I am guessing at least a month though before anything concrete. Maybe longer. Just knowing the time that has to be put into something simple like a PowerPoint presentation to make it really good, tells me that this will take a while to think out, even though I already have a general idea in my head.

Juggling a few to many balls at the moment and need to lay some down, before adventuring into anything that will take time.

BTW like idea about the walking before running. This may very well be a good way to test the effectivity of additions to the forum.