phpFox2 Beta 2 Released
phpFox2 Beta 2 has arrived. With this release we are introducing the Video module and a few other modules that complement it as well as other modules we have introduced in the past.
We will shortly cover what is new with Beta2, if you would like to catch up with what our past Alpha/Beta versions introduced you can find more information here…
Whats new in phpFox2 Beta2
Video
Beta2 introduces the Video module. We first introduced a Video module with v1.6.x and we have rebuilt that module for v2 and have looked into adding some new features to it over the next few beta releases and future updates. What we have worked on so far is the ability to upload videos from your computer to your web server and then have FFMPEG or MENCODER convert the video into a flash media format allowing us to then display the video using our default media player Flowplayer, which we introduced with Beta 1 and used it for our Music module.
While uploading a video, depending on the file size limit you set via your AdminCP; which is user group specific may take some time to upload and during that time we display a form so the user can start filling out information about the video. Such as the title, category it belongs to and a description. Once the video is uploaded it will convert the video so Flowplayer can properly render it. With a future release we are working on creating a cron script that will run when specified so users will not have to wait long during the entire upload/conversion process.
Once a video has been uploaded and when being viewed users can leave comments on the video. They can also rate the video. We also provide embedding codes for users in case they want to embed the video on another site. We also provide a Share link, which using the Share module allows users to share the video on 3rd party sites. We have also introduced the Report module with beta 2 and we will go into further details in a little bit, however just to summarize we have included a link where users can report videos if they deem necessary.
Editing a video can be done by either viewing the video or by browsing videos and hovering over the video image to find the edit link. The edit form will show up on the spot and use AJAX to update the video. There is also an advanced form, which allows you to edit the videos image, title, category and description as well as other fields/settings that will be added in the future such as privacy settings.
Each video can belong to one parent category and as many child categories. Categories are controlled by Admins direct from the AdminCP and works similar to how categories work with the Group, Event, Marketplace modules.
On each form that permits embedding of videos we have added a video attachment link. This link can be found on for example when adding comments, blogs, forum threads. Basically any form that has a text-area and supports our text editor. This feature allows users to either upload a video from their computer or directly share videos from sites like YouTube, MySpace etc… (Currently only testing with YouTube).
In v1.6.x we have a feature called “Add Video Stream”, which would allow you to add videos from 3rd party sites (eg. YouTube, MySpace). We have included this feature with v2 and instead will be called “Video Sharing” or “Share a Video”. Currently we are only testing support with YouTube and unlike how it worked in the past we will embed the actual YouTube video with the embed code they provide and not use our own Flowplayer to render their FLV file. The reason for this change is to first abide by their embedding policy and to respect the privacy of the user that uploaded the video on YouTube as there is an option to disable video embedding. If this is the case we are unable to “share” the video on our site. When adding a video from YouTube we not only pick up the title and image of the video like we have done in the past we also pick up the description and duration of the video so we have all the information needed to display videos on our site. Once video tagging is supported with v2 we will also pick up on tags.
Features planned to be added…
- Include other video sites (eg MySpace, MetaCafe etc…)
- Advanced embed options
- FLV conversion cron background process (optional)
- Privacy settings
- Featured Videos
- Video tagging
- Add to Favourite
- Advanced search filter
- Related videos block
- Users latest videos block
- Video subscriptions
Notice: The feature to upload/convert videos is disabled by default as your server is required to have 3rd party script installed. Our documentation provides information on…
- the requirements
- the process during an install
- the process post install on how to enable the module.
Groups
Our Group module has been updated and now includes the Video & Shoutbox fully integrated into each group.
News/Friends Feed
Updated how we display feeds. Instead of showing a 20×20 profile image for each user in the feed we now display a 50×50 profile image and only display these images when viewing feeds on the sites index page. The profile image is hidden in the feed when viewing feeds on a users profile. We have also removed the image associated to each feed as the profile image now replaces this image, however we will bring back these small icons when viewing feeds on a users profile since it currently only displays the text for the feed and can look rather plain.
Report
Beta 2 introduces the Report module. This module connects to all modules that have the ability to post items where other users can view it. Such items are blogs, videos, songs, groups etc… On each of these items a “Report” link is provided. We provide basic default categories for the report and these categories can be edited/deleted from the AdminCP. You can also add categories as well as create categories for a specific module. As an Admin you can view reported items from the AdminCP and can mass ignore reports or click on the report to view them and from there edit/delete them if necessary. We plan on adding the ability to delete items directly from the report section in the AdminCP. Each item will only show up once in the list and if reported more then once it will display the total amount of reports. Here we plan on adding a link to display all the reports separately. Each user can only report on an item once.
Notice: If you delete an item that has been reported it will not remove it automatically from the list. We plan on adding this functionality with a later release.
Rate
Our Rate module similar to our Report module works together with other modules in order for it to function. We currently provide the ability to rate videos, songs & music albums with this module. The idea behind this module is to allow us to rate any item on the site (if the option is enabled by Admins) and create a centralized page of all the “top rated” items on the site.
Music
Our music module has been updated to not allow musicians the ability to edit their gender and date of birth. It will also not display these fields on their profile. When editing their account instead of using the phrase “Full Name” we changed it with “Artist/Band Name”. You are now able to add songs to your profile if you are not a musician. This can be done by viewing a song and clicking on the “Add to Profile” link/image. Support was added so you can share/rate both albums and songs. The “Play All” link can now play all the songs within the album without the need to click on “play” each time.
Change Logs
We have added a spec log here and a SVN change log here for Beta2.
Known Issues
Several known issues worth mentioning.
- Continued issues with Internet Explorer 6 & 7 (Menus, BBCode etc…)
- MySQL in strict mode causing install issues. If you encounter this please report it.
- Windows servers have not been tested thoroughly.
- Usage of the PHP mktime() function causing problems since there is no support for years prior to 1970, thus causing problems when users register.
- YouTube videos being added via the video module may not import the latest data for the video due to a cache on YouTube’s API thus allowing videos even if they have recently changed the embed/privacy settings.
To view more known issues check our bug tracker.
Live Demo
View this beta demo in action here.
Download
phpFox2 Beta2 can be downloaded direct from the clients area. When you have selected a license and reached the download page look for “phpFox2 Beta2″ to download the product.
Requirements
The current requirements are based on what phpFox2 has been tested on.
- PHP Version - 5+
- MySQL Version - 4.1+
- Web Server - Apache
- Operating System - Linux
- GD complied with your PHP Build - Yes
- PHP memory_limit - 32M
Notice: In order to run the music module:
- PHP file_uploads - “1″
- PHP post_max_size - “40M”
- PHP max_input_time - “-1″
- PHP upload_max_filesize - “38M”
Notice: In order to run the video module:
- FFmpeg
- FFmpeg-PHP (optional)
- Mplayer + Mencoder
- flv2tool
- Libogg + Libvorbis
- LAME MP3 Encoder
- PHP file_uploads - “1″
- PHP post_max_size - “75M”
- PHP max_input_time - “-1″
- PHP upload_max_filesize - “75M”
Developers Documentation
Our developers documentation can be found here.
Feedback & Bugs
Your feedback is appreciated, please feel free to leave them here. We also provide a bug tracker here so we can get ahead and start squashing bugs.
Next Release
Stay tuned for our next Beta release (June 3, 2009).
Good luck and Enjoy phpFox2 Beta2!
This is going to be great stuff! 
Will there by “suggested vidoes” on the player at the end like most other sites? Just curious as I feel this feature really helps the video section.
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Raymond Benc Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 5:32 am
Yes there will be “suggested videos” after the video has completed, sorry forgot to mention that in the blog entry.
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Eric Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 1:31 pm
How about “Related Videos”?
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What happened to the part in the install instructions that mention renaming server.sett.php.new to server.sett.php?
Pretty important setup instructions appear to be missing from the readme file now
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anthony Reply:
May 20th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Yeah, the links for uploading as well as the CHMOD and File Permissions both link me to the part about using the Web Installer. So unable to get to that step since the other instructions are missing.
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Raymond Benc Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 5:33 am
We will update the Wiki with some more details. Are you currently still having problems installing the product?
Thank you for brining this up.
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Anthony Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 6:45 am
Yes, still the same problem this morning. I click on either
■Uploading
■CHMOD & File Permissions
And both bring me to the web installer instructions, which are useless without the other steps I need to do first.
I’m on IE8 if that has any impact. And I’m viewing your links for instructions at http://wiki.phpfox.com/guide/v2
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Raymond Benc Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 6:55 am
During the install procedure do you get to the point where it guides you what files need to have write permission and the setting file that needs to be renamed?
If you are on that step CHMOD all the files/folders to 0777 using a FTP client (eg. Filezilla) and rename the file “include/setting/server.sett.php.new” to “include/setting/server.sett.php” (without quotes). Once you renamed that file grant write permission (eg. CHMOD 0777).
Let me know how it goes.
anthony Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 7:21 am
Interesting, I wasn’t aware that I don’t have to CHMOD things now. I just uploaded everything before and then went to the /install link online and was able to install without issue.
So we no longer have to change file names or CHMOD anything initially, the install script does this for us?
Is it possible to include swf files along with a thumbnail in the video section. I am an animator myself and there are just so many excellent flash files which we can share.
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Raymond Benc Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 5:34 am
At the moment no, but we will add SWF support.
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Please don’t forget to add Dailymotion.com, the main video sites in Europe.
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Raymond Benc Reply:
May 21st, 2009 at 6:35 am
DailyMotion will be added.
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Cyril Reply:
May 26th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Thank you Raymond, be aware, that while importing Video with French accent, it will not be correctly displayed (I mean title, description).
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Hi
Phpfox2 looking good:
Events
-will it have reoccurring events as an option for weekly/monthly events?
-categories what happened if you have a heap, with they consolidate into the parents?
-Will it have the filter options at the top of the events page like 1.6. Noticed this has gone from a few pages. A great way to cut to the chase.
-Custom field in calendar?
Thanks in advance
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sorry…and in events view options like 1.6
“Event Home” list view & “Calendar” calendar view.
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As for recurring events, not right now, we need to focus on some things first but, we will add it later down the line, its in our yellow section.
Categories you can control from the admin panel.
We will add filtering options and we have a to-do entry to check every module for filtering options.
Custom fields as in…? could you elaborate on this please?
Basically anything that we have in 1.6 we will have in version 2.
Cheers
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Steve Reply:
May 27th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Re your questions “Custom fields as in…? could you elaborate on this please?”
The question relating to the ability to have “custom fields” means for example be able to capture additional information about events.
Like for our type of events we may determine that it would be good if the organizer can enter say a URL link to PDF flyer with more info on it, therefore it would be good to have a field labeled “Flyer” for example which the organiser can populate, and is displayed to the site visitor when viewing that event listing.
or additional field or “fee”, “limited numbers”
It would to be have custom field…
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How will V2 handle cookies? I’ve notices issues with this currently in 1.6 and V2.
Cookie Domain What should I enter?
Hint: use .your-domain.com for global cookie
Cookie Name Prefix What is this for?
Allows multiple installations on one host.
Cookie Path When do I need this?
Relative path from domain to root Iphpfox dir
Advanced Options
Create a stronghold auto-log in cookie?
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would users be able to use myspace layout code to design they page? would there be a CSS box?
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Hello phpFox,
A small question: when SQLite and PostgreSQL are going to be include as a supported DBMS?
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Purefan Reply:
May 25th, 2009 at 5:05 am
well, the RC is supposed to bring the update script so I’d say before that
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You need to make phpfox more stable with thousands and million of users, why offer new features if it is not stable at thousand of users or millions.
The first feature you need to add is stability and security because a lot of hackers are uploading rootkit files on phpfox user servers.
Check for rootkit on your servers because the tmp folder is open for hackers to upload anything because phpfox right now is so insecure that scares.
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Purefan Reply:
May 25th, 2009 at 5:05 am
Hello Mark,
phpfox does not have a “tmp” folder, proudly I can say that the very few hacking reports we have received have been positively identified as not a flaw in the script.
If you know of any vulnerability I urge you to contact me at purefan at phpfox com.
About the rootkit statement, perhaps you want to check again the script because the only thing that comes close to this is the debug mode which can be enabled for one IP (or a range of IPs) or globally as to allow proper debugging only on the desired guests. Please do not confuse it with some way of hiding a flaw in the script as its purpose is way the opposite.
What sorts of stability do you see we need to focus on? (taken from the latest beta please)
Have a nice day
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I found that when the user account convert to the musician profile during the music upload or album creation process, is it possible for them to fall back ? It would be good because people try this one always and they couldn’t changed back to normal people.
Is it possible to have a option in the admin panel where users can upload the songs without changing their profile to the musician.
Is it possible for the user to create the categories for blog,music,videos,etc etc and the admin can approve
thanks
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Anthony Reply:
May 24th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I think you should be able to go into the Admin Control Panel and just change the settings for regular users so they can utilize the music module.
That way they won’t have to be Musicians to utilize it? Not sure since I’m not using the music module
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Purefan Reply:
May 25th, 2009 at 5:16 am
The music section is being analyzed by the head developer in order to make it more functional, useful and user friendly.
All your suggestions are taken into account so please keep them coming!
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Awesome work guys! I just got a chance to test out the demo. I hope the upgrade scripts goes smoothly!
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I would like to share this idea that i posted in the Dashboard Tread…
Im with club, i think if a user has more to personalize there dashboard page it whould be more active and more unique site, i would like to have a list of Blocks i can choose to add in my dashboard MORE LIKE IGOOGLE. Blocks that will include updates, changes, anything that has to do with my firends, or the community… uploading changin or doing anything with there videos, pictures or anything in general let the user choose. Just a whole list of Blocks where they can choose what to put on there dashboard page,
EXAMPLE OF BLOCKS..
*The Latest Bands Block(Let them choose the genre),
*My Friends Birthday Block(Top Friends or All Friends),
*My Friends Latest Pictures Block(Top Friends or All Friends or Choose What Friends),
*My Friends Latest Videos(Top Friends or All Friends or Choose What Friends),
*My Top Rated Pictures Block,
*My Top Voted Pictures Block,
*My Upload Shortcut Block(Upload Pictures, Upload Videos) let them choose the links to add to the block since based on what every they like to do more on the site, Upload Pics and Vids.,
*Latest Users(FEMALES or MALES or BOTH ) Let them Choose if they want the Block to just show all the latest females of the community on the Block, Perfect for the Guys and same gose with the Females let them choose what they want for this Block..
*Lates uploaded pictures(Tops Friends or All Friends or the Community)
MAYBE WE CAN LET THIS TO ALL THE MODDERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH THE BLOCKS, PHPFOX DOES NOT NEED TO MAKE ALL THE BLOCKS JUST THE DASHBOARD AND ITS FUNCTIONALITY, LET THE MODDERS IN HERE DO THEM AND SELL THEM AT $5-$20 A PIECE DEPENDING ON ITS FUNCTIONS…
Let the user choose the blocks they can put on there dash, maybe have a user type limit of blocks they can add on there dash depending on there user type.
Make the blocks be a move and drop, up down side to side let the user put there blocks wherever they want, let them personalize there dash more like the IGOOGLE BLOCKS…
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Purefan Reply:
May 28th, 2009 at 4:14 am
No need to double post as you had already posted on the forums
Check that thread, natio has just replied there: http://forums.phpfox.com/showpost.php?p=175349&postcount=79
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Picture cropping is very very BAD please try to fix it
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Purefan Reply:
May 28th, 2009 at 4:17 am
Do you mean the resizing? Beta 2 does not have a cropping feature…
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cobra12512 Reply:
May 28th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Will it have one ??
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Purefan Reply:
May 29th, 2009 at 3:08 am
Yes it will
will users be able to use myspace layout code to design they page? would there be a CSS box?
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COBRA12512 Reply:
May 30th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I hope is more than just a css box, i would rather see something where the user sees what he has change. Ajax system that will display the changes in real time, like a previwe window of how your profile looks like while you design it, or a more user friendly design system, where there is steps with previews of what you are changing or have changed…..
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If I install v1.6.2 now and start adding content, will it be difficult to upgrade and install 2.0 when its released? When is the release date anyway?
Thanks.
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Purefan Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 6:06 am
As long as you dont add tables or fields to the database the information should be updated easily when you upgrade from 1.6.21 to version 2.
Install instructions are already available here: http://wiki.phpfox.com/guide/V2/
An update script is not yet available as this is only Beta 2.
According to: http://blog.phpfox.com/2009/03/06/phpfox2-revised-release-dates/
Stable is to be released on Sep 9th.
Thanks for your comment
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