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Two weeks ago we implemented some big changes for MMATorch, in particular a change in the content available on this app and a shift of our full daily array of long-form articles to a new mobile website for phone browsers and tablet browsers.
Whether you are dropping by for the first time in a while because of the UFC PPV this weekend or have been visiting us over the last two weeks, I want to revisit a pertinent issues regarding MMATorch and update a few things…
THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE, WE THINK YOU WILL APPRECIATE IMPROVEMENTS MADE THIS WEEK
-The mobile site that launched two weeks ago has a number of BETA glitches that have been worked out for the most part. The majority of our long-form content is now available at www.MMATorch.com. It is optimized for Safari on iPhone and the default browser on Android. If you are a Chrome user on iPhone or Android, you might still experience a few bugs on layout and navigation that we hope to iron out soon. If you have any issues at all with the layout or the site functioning properly and smoothly, please let us know. Email us at mmatorch@gmail.com and let us know the phone model, OS version, and browser you are using.
-If you tried our mobile site before today and ran into navigation or layout issues or excessive ads that caused clunky scrolling, please give our mobile site another look. Our dev team has been hard at work making sure it is a premium-level experience both in terms of form and function, and I think you will be pleased with the improvements. Your feedback has been invaluable in pointing out issues that needed to be addressed.
-The new mobile site was created, and much of our app content was shifted to it, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, mobile web is more lucrative when it comes to ad revenue. So in order to survive as an independent voice in MMA coverage, we needed to find a boost in our revenue. Without corporate backing, we are reliant on ad revenue to fund the site and pay the staff, including full-time editor-in-chief Jamie Penick. Even if you preferred having the long-form daily array of articles on the app, we simply needed to make this move to survive and grow.
-If you previously had created a home page button on your iPhone or Android home screen, please delete it and re-do it. Because some of the previous versions of our mobile site - which had some navigation and coding issues - might be cached in that link, please delete it and re-do it. Please check out our three-step tutorial for creating an app-like home button elsewhere near the top of the main listing on this app.
-If you are experiencing any issues with the mobile site’s navigation or layout, please clear your Safari or Android Browser cookies and cache in the Settings menu. Then quit the browser or, ideally, restart your phone. Readers have had success with clearing old versions of the mobile site from the last two weeks and, with the latest version, have had a great experience with Mobile MMATorch.com.
-The new Mobile MMATorch.com website has some benefits over the app, including a more dynamic use of our original commissioned art and photography. It also now features our Disqus comment feature, so you can leave comments after every article or read what others are saying. That will also lead you to other hot-topics on the site that are receiving the most reader comments. When you read an article on MMATorch you like, it’s easier to spread the word using our social media links on Mobile MMATorch.com than it was on the App, as the link you post leads directly to everyone’s browser whether or not they have our App on their device yet.
-The content of the App has changed dramatically, but for many, it will be a more efficient and convenient way to keep up on news during the day. The App features 2-3 bullet point style updates per day with all of the latest news and key excerpts of feature stories on Mobile MMATorch.com. If your time is limited, you can more easily get the gist of the breaking news and smaller items of interest throughout the day. The App also still features our daily polls, plus Breaking News alerts. Soon we will introduce some Flashback articles and Reader Reax articles into the mix on the App. So the MMATorch App will still have a lot of content, some exclusive to just the app. It will be just the right amount of quick coverage for many of you. If you want to dive deeper into our longer articles with Penick’s Analysis after news stories, feature columns, roundtables, and our unmatched live event coverage and analysis, you’ll want to also bookmark Mobile MMATorch.com on Safari or Android’s default browser (it also is compatible with the latest Blackberry phones) or create a home page button, as described below.
-We appreciate everyone’s patience the last two weeks as worked through some bugs and glitches. Your feedback and your understanding and patience were invaluable during this exciting transition which ultimately will be better for our business model and enable us to survive and grow, plus ultimately provide a better user experience for many of you with a beautiful, functional new Mobile MMATorch.com site with features never before available on the app.
-Finally, the Mobile MMATorch.com site also works brilliantly with iPads and Android tablets. The grid layout works both in portrait and horizon views, which is new. It also has bolder art, graphics, and photos, plus access to our Disqus reader comment area and links to other hot-topic articles on the site.
I invite you to email me with any suggestions, comments, or reactions to these changes.
Thanks, everyone, for your loyalty!
Wade Keller
MMATorch editor/founder
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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/torchtoday/article_21210.shtml
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