It Isn't Beta, But it is Open

True, we didn't hit the goal of Beta Release by Thanksgiving,

but it is a Public Alpha. No, I didn't get a design like I hoped, but we are ready. The site itself works just fine. You still need your own YouTube and/or google account and Picasaweb for images, but that is not much of an impediment. As yet, you cannot edit your parts list, only delete and replace. But I believe those are the only two bugs.

Before I call it Beta,

I need to hookup the whole "connect to CwhatIcanDoProjects on YouTube, googleVids, and picasa", so users take advantage of You Tube positioning as a group. And you need to be able to edit the Parts List AND the e-commerce piece needs to be hooked in.

But, there is plenty to do while in Alpha.
Tell a select group of known hackers, modders, and roboteers about the site and solicit their input.

Make our first deals with distributors, we have a "partial" deal with SparkFun to allow me to populate some projects, but there is only permissions for using SparkFun IP, we can't do a distributorship with them (yet). I'm certain I want at least one SparkFun like company, a small 'specialty' online distributor and my sights are on something like electronic goldmine or equivalent, and I really would like to get one of the bigs like Jameco.

SparkFun offers PC board production as well as 3-D modeling, done by batching, on the cheap. Perfect for creators with brilliant ideas to make into products. It's hard to find an equivalent to SparkFun, so I'll just hang with them for a while even though there is no current financial relationship. It's just one of those things with timing not quite right for SparkFun's business plans. We appreciate their contribution to the site. It will work out. Of this I am certain.

And, most important of all, I will take this time to focus on soliciting directly the best possible already published creators from around the internet. Look for a lot of kits of parts, and a chance to split commisions, if I am successful in this part of the effort. These folks can benefit the most directly right now, so they are logical pioneers for the site.

No. I can't yet call it Beta, but It's open for limited business, and subject to basic redesigns, but ready for those who are already on the leading edge.

CwhatIcanDo

Open For Public Alpha Testing

Open for Public Viewing (and participation) go to C What I Can Do now and you are permitted to operate the site and to freely come and go.

This is the time, before official Beta release - Where the design is likely the only major thing that will change - I hope.

From TrakBot: Build Your Own Track Drive Robot

Now is pretty much your last chance to get involved with CwhatIcanDo and become a contributor to the site's purpose and functions. You may just take a look around at the framework and some of the great projects. If it seems like mostly robot projects, that's because it is right now... Lot's of robot projects and a few little scraps here and there of placeholder projects.

I hope you enjoy your interaction with CwhatIcanDo.com!!
(No. I mean I REALLY hope you enjoy it!)

PS: Read the bug list in the previous post for outstanding bugs and the easy workaround.

Sneak a Peek!!!

Site Goes to Full Alpha

From TrakBot: Build Your Own Track Drive Robot

It is outrageous I know... I am offering a sneak preview of the new C What I Can Do website... That is correct earthlings, we are coming out of friends and family testing and I'm ready (though still in Alpha Testing) to open the site to more people. This is a chance to become a contributor on a brand spanking new website.

I'm taking the Site From Friends and Family only to a more generic level of Alpha Testing. There are still some bugs. I'll list the known bugs so if you decide to play around, you won't break anything or get frustrated. Remember, it's an Alpha WQebsite. It's not guaranteed to be bug-free. But the Alpha Testers, like you, get a chance to play around and make suggestions and help improve the site.

If you decide to give it a spin, remember you can't go through the "front door" yet, but you can go into the side entrance and have a look around.

YES! I wanna see this new website! I may even have a project or two in mind. I want to help you make it work better, so I'm coming in to the Alpha Test Site!!!

------------
Known Bugs

• You will have to have your own YouTube, google Video, or PicasaWeb account for now, we haven't hooked up the interface to CwhatIcanDo's accounts yet.
• You can't edit the parts list, if you mess up you have to delete the whole thing and start over with correct information. Sorry, for the inconvienience.

That's it! You were expecting a long list like Microsoft has when it comes out with finished products?

Andrei and I aren't Microsoft, so we are shooting for the fewest possible bugs by release time. I'm hoping we can open for Beta Testing around Thanksgiving...

So far so good...