In early August 2000, Yahoo! began sending an email to ringmasters and webring members.
The email was "signed" by the Webring Team.
For that reason, some ringmasters, including myself, began to write our members to tell what we know about all of this and to offer both some calming words and a suggestion.
This page presents the complete text of the Webring email below, on the left, without editing. My notes are on the right.
This article is part of the Wazillion Navbars Project: a project to explore and write about the Yahoo! WebRing system. For a list of these articles
click here or see the section menu at the bottom of this page.
Note that the Yahoo! WebRing system no longer exists. It has been spun off to the independent WebRing.com system. The Wazillion Navbars Project has been closed. These pages are thus, no longer accurate and do not apply to the new WebRing.com system. Instead, these pages are being maintained for a "historical record".
We've been busy making changes to the Webring system, and we want to tell you all about it!
Big News
The current status report on the Webring homepage (http://UhOh.org/yw_aug_2000_status.htm) mentions we are making changes and improvements to the system as we integrate with Yahoo!. As many of you have been through a transition like this before, we wanted to tell you about the changes before they happen, keep our lines of communication open and give you some pointers in advance to make the move simple, fast and easy.
The current status report does not give any additional details.
The First Step: Get your Y! ID
Get a Yahoo! ID and password now for free access to Yahoo!Webring and all other personalized Yahoo! services. As with all other Yahoo! personal services, you'll need to sign up for a Yahoo! ID. http://edit.yahoo.com/config/
eval_register?.intl=us&new=1&.
done=http%3a//www.webring.org
&.src=wbr&partner=&promo=&.last=
For Webring RingMasters and Members, the Y! ID will allow you to associate your rings and sites in the new system, and access all the great communication tools, service and products that Yahoo! offers. We encourage you to sign up now for your Yahoo! ID and get ready for the all the exciting things to come.
It may be necessary to obtain multiple Y! IDs. Or not. It is not yet clear. I recommend that my members wait until this is all worked out.
WebRing.com System Features
For a long time Webring RingMasters and Members have shared ideas and input with the Webring staff. We have incorporated many of your ideas into the new system. One of the most exciting, and most requested, new features is the server side navigation bar. Rings are often broken, or dysfunctional, if the navigation HTML fragment is incorrect. We've worked out a system that allows the navigation bar to be customizable yet is served from the Webring servers, minimizing complicated instructions and easy-to-make mistakes.
The Server Side Navigation Bar has been discussed for several months. There is some interesting discussion among the RingMaster Community as to whether it was ever "most requested".
Ownership of Content
We have been asked if the integration of Webring into Yahoo! will affect the ownership of the content on members' pages. We would like to assure you that it will not.
The ringmasters will be monitoring the Terms and Conditions to track this issue.
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
The existing Webring links and navigation will continue to function for a period of time after the transition. We encourage RingMasters to migrate to the new system and communicate with Ring Members about the move. The Webring community will receive notification of the transition, complete with instructions on where to go and what to do. We just want you to know it's coming and stay tuned....
Initial information is that there will be at least 18 months of transition time. Thus, there is no rush. And, until everything is worked out there is no need to obtain a Y! ID.
We always appreciate your feedback and your active participation in Webring.
It is not yet clear what feedback mechanism should be used.
The Webring Team
Webring
News and Announcements
WebRing.com
Changes Big Time --- It was October 2001 that WebRing.com came into
existence following the end of Yahoo! Webring. Now, 5 years later, WebRing.com
is changing again. Moving from primarily a free service to primarily a paid
service, the system is undergoing massive change. Stay tuned.
Ringlink
Activity --- While
Ringlink has not released a new version
since
Version 3.2
on 21.Feb.2005, the system seems to be getting a lot of activity. Many people
are discovering this great webring system and moving their webrings here. If you
don't know about Ringlink,
definitely check out this great webring system. I personally recommend
it.
RingSurf
Passes 3 Year Anniversary --- It was 3 years ago, on 16.Aug.2003 when the WoW list list noted that RingSurf's domain name registration had changed.
Then the new owner came forward. A RingSurf Feature List was developed and debated. Then, on Thanksgiving day, 27.Nov.2003 the new owner posted on the WoW list that the new RingSurf is up! If you haven't checked it out lately, see what has happened in the last three years.
Article About Webrings --- Check out this excellent Salon.com article about the history of Yahoo! and WebRing.com: The Strange Saga of Yahoo and Webring. For some, it will bring back memories. For others, it will explain the history.
Now, I wonder if they will update it to talk about the latest WebRing.com
changes.
The Webring Section is a large section of my website. I have divided it into four major "subsections".
General Information
The WebRing.com System
Webrings I Own and Belong To
The Wazillion Navbars Project
Each "subsection" has it's own special "logo".
As you travel in the various subsections you will find, near the bottom of each page, links to pages within that subsection and also links to the other subsections. To go to any subsection, just click on the "logo" or on the text link for that subsection.
Webrings: General Information
This subsection includes general information about webrings. Webrings can be hosted by a variety of different services. This section deals with the overall concepts and issues, not with any one particular "brand" of webring.
This subsection includes specific information about the WebRing.com system.
While not the only webring system on the net, it is the best known and the most used. I own many webrings in this system and belong to many webrings in this system. (I also own and belong to many webrings in other systems as well.) Click here or on the graphic.
Webrings I Own and Belong To
This subsection shows all the webrings I own and links to all the webrings to which I belong. This includes webrings in Ringlink, RingSurf, Bravenet and the WebRing.com system as well.
If you are looking to join one of my webrings, this is a good place to start. If you wonder about the webrings I belong to, this is the place to go. Click here or on the graphic.
