Free Ning 3.0 Sandbox Networks

[John McDonald]

UPDATE 3/3/2014

We're happy to start accepting requests for migration from Sandbox Group Members! All members were sent information for requesting migration of their networks. We are only opening requests to Sandbox Group Members at this stage to ensure that our team doesn't become overloaded with requests. 

At this time, we'll be closing this thread to new Sandbox requests and memberships. Any already requested networks should be converted by the end of the day Tuesday, March 4th. If you think your network has not been converted properly, message Crystal and we'll look into it.

Update 12.30.13 - To prevent confusion and streamline discussions, this thread has been closed to new replies, but Ning 3.0 Sandbox Networks are still available. If you have feedback on Ning 3.0, please start a new discussion either in the Sandbox Group (here's a great template) or in the Ning 3.0 Feedback and Issues category. If you have a question about sandboxing your network or the Sandbox process, please start a new discussion in the Sandbox Group or message Crystal. 

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Earlier today I appealed to all of you to start Ning 3.0 trials and give us feedback.  Many of you have already posted valuable feedback – a big call-out to Joseph, SP and Alex for detailed lists!  However, a number of you commented that a 14 day trial isn’t enough time to evaluate Ning 3.0.  And if you invest time in designing a Ning 3.0 Network now, you might want the option to use that design later on when an upgrade process is released.

We agree.  We will provide any Ning 2.0 Network Creator with one free Ning 3.0 Sandbox Network upon request.  There is one catch: you need to provide us with feedback on Ning 3.0. 

Here are the details.

• Limited term: You will have the option to upgrade your free Ning 3.0 Sandbox Network to a paid Ning 3.0 subscription plan at any time.
• 5 member limit and no custom domains: A free Ning 3.0 Sandbox Network is meant to be a sandbox – for you and up to 4 admins to tinker around with design and features.  Note, in the interest of giving you sandbox networks quickly, we haven’t built these limits into the product.  So at the start, it will be an honor system.
• Ning 2.0 Network Creators only: You must currently have an active Ning 2.0 subscription in good standing.  The objective of this program is get feedback from existing customers before they have the option to upgrade.

How do you participate?

1. Join The Sandbox group on Creators (https://creators.ning.com/group/the-sandbox).  Note, member moderation is turned on for the group, so please be patient while we approve your membership.
2. Create a new Ning 3.0 trial and post the trial URL in this discussion.  The Ning Advocacy Team will change your trial subscription to our new free Sandbox Plan.  Note, this may take us 2 to 3 days to process.
3. Post your initial evaluation of Ning 3.0 in the group forum within one week, if possible.  Please include: a) bugs identified; b) improvements needed for the initial Ning 3.0 core features; c) Ning 3.0 changes you find are most valuable; and d) your prioritized list of new features we need to add to Ning 3.0.
4. As we release new features in Ning 3.0, we’ll ask you to provide additional input.

Thanks again for your help.  Together we can design an awesome, next-generation platform for you to continue to cultivate and grow your communities!

[Tremayne Burnette]

is there any way that if a person joins a group they can be posted in that group only and not shared with the rest of network or a way that they can have private pictures on their profile; that can be shared by choice?

[Tremayne Burnette]

Feedback

I know I can't migrate until paid access has been added to the 3.0 version; is there any update on time frame when that might happen? There are certain pages on my site that I want to make sure I have paid access for like my classes.

The 3.0 does look better visually but I like the way my banner looks on the 2.0 version, for some reason the 3.0 wouldn't load my banner and it's the same one from 2.0

The link page isn't a good feature for me because once you link a page it takes the person off your site, is there anyway it can be upgraded to link a page that opens in a window on your site? For instance I have tumblr blog and it be nice if they could view the pics/content without leaving my site

Is there anyway to add a tumblr feed to ning?

The other things that are missing that I know is coming that I like in the 2.0 is the birthdays, events, and Chat/IM so I'm patiently waiting for those.

One other thing that could make the pages great is that if I could steam my video content on my page using my own player. My videos are typically at least a half hour so it's usually a larger file size than we can upload; but I need professional video content that I don't want to upload to a public domain like youtube for instance I do work shops and classes and I want them exclusive to my page not something that can be shared like on youtube or vimeo . So a video embed feature would be good with a good html5 video player.

The new design to add content to a page is taking a little getting used to; I think the 2.0 is more user friendly.

[Enrique Desfassiaux]

Congrats on the great work, everything seems to work very well, a couple of things i've noticed or would appreciate being able to do:

• Inside Design Studio i chose the "Cedar" template, changed color, styles, background, etc... the only thing i couldn't change was Changed the "effects" section even if i move the inner and outer canvas slider all the way to the left, all corners stay round. (by the way, i'm using spanish as my networks language so it shouldn't say "effects", it should say "efectos" all the other options are well translated to spanish.
• In my ning 2.0 network i'm using Trebuchet 13 for normal text... in this the new interface i have to choose 12 or 14, 12 is just to small for older people and 14 is so big i feel it's a waste of space.
• As NC i placed a custom HTML module right on the main page so i could post quick announcements and important news without having to create a blog, all i had to do was click the "edit" button on the top right of my module... are you planning on recreating that functionality? right now i have to go into the dashboard, then sitebuilder, change the code of my custom HTML, save, go back to the main page and see it the result is what i expected.
• I'd like to expriment using the custom CSS, is there a manual where i can consult the current CSS or how to modify it? 
• Finally, just as a comment, the padding inside all content areas seems a little big, is there anyway i could reduce it.

Thanks in advance, can't wait to migrate to 3.0, keep up the great work and I'm using Chrome on OSX if that helps.

[Tremayne Burnette]

I started working in the sandbox and created a group but I don't see a charge for this page option and is 3.0 able to have an add aps option like 2.0?

[Crystal]

Hi Tremayne, there is no additional charge for using Groups, they are available to all plans. 

Ning Apps will not be a part of Ning 3.0. Most of these Apps were built when widgets and embedded content were not so widely available. Now that it's easier to find and embed widgets and content on your Network, we've decided to do away with Ning Apps entirely. Many former Ning Apps have a widget version available from the third party service directly.

Hope that answers your questions.

[Tremayne Burnette]

I know that I won't be charged for groups but I wanted to charge members for access to certain groups or pages like in the 2.0 version; is that still possible? 

[Crystal]

Ahh, sorry for misunderstanding. Paid Access for 3.0 is still in development, but will be included in all plans once released. 

[Tremayne Burnette]

Thanks that will be an important part of my network, I want to charge for classes and instructional videos, its the number one reason I joined Ning; hope to see it added soon

[Tremayne Burnette]

I sent a request to join the Sandbox do I wait until I'm approved and then go to the next step and start the Ning 3.0 trial?

[Crystal]

Hi Tremayne - Just approved you for the Sandbox and sent you the instructions. Have fun!