Multiply Update

Multiply 4.0
Over the coming days we will be slowly making the new Multiply available to all members. We're considering the initial rollout somewhat of a "Beta" phase, and as we gradually move beyond Beta, we'll make these features available to more of our members.

Here's a bit of what you can expect to find in Multiply 4.0:

Redesigned Inbox  Multiply's Inbox has always been the best place to find out what the people you know are up to, but with this release, it's become even better. Here's a bit of what's inside:

PMs made clear  Personal Messages, by their very nature, are one of the most important types of posts that appear in your Inbox. That's why we've given them their own section: so you can quickly see when you have new ones.

Add/remove content type filters  In addition to Personal Messages, you have the option of adding filters for other content types. For instance, if you're a fan of Photos, add a dedicated Photos filter and never miss another album.

Favorite 'Friends & Family'  All the latest posts from a very important individual is just a click away. Which of your contacts are the most important is up to you; "Favorite" a contact to shortlist them, or "View All" to do just that.

Groups are great  Works just like Friends & Family, but for groups. Pick your favorites and never miss a post.

Flagging important posts  If you come across a outstanding Photo Album, thoughtful Blog entry or great Link, make sure to flag it, and come back whenever you want using...

Custom Filters  See all of your Flagged or Subscribed posts, things you've posted or replied to... or whatever combination of factors interests you. Save a Custom Filter and it becomes part of the left rail area.

Easy 'Include' Filtering  Greatly expand your social circle by enabling 'friends of friends' or 'group' posts... with a single click apiece.

Quick Notes  Notes are back, and sharing your thoughts via one is easier than ever. Click Post, start typing, press Enter... and you're done.

Improved Media Locker  We didn't forget to make the Media Locker better, too. Read on for ways we've done so.

Now in the top nav  We've given the Media Locker its own tab at the top of the page, so wherever you are on Multiply, you're just a quick click from the best media management tools on the Web.

Edit and retouch photos  Perfect for making good photos stored on Multiply great photos. Crop, rotate, remove red-eye and more from anything stored in your Media Locker, or shared on your Multiply site!

Latest shared photos and videos; projects  Right at the forefront of the Media Locker you'll find all of your most recent stuff, including albums you've shared and projects you've recently started. Also included are helpful shop links pointing to our new photo product guides, as well as limited-time offers.

Select-by-dragging  If you're getting ready to work with a large number of photos, you can still click thumbnails one at a time to pick individual ones, or 'click-drag' to select a blog of thumbnails in a rectangular area.

Act-by-dragging, too  Once you have these selected, instead of clicking a toolbar button ("Album," "Email," etc.), why not try dragging and dropping. Same great effect, cool new motion.

Photo/video flagging  The same way you can 'Flag' interesting posts on your Inbox, you can do the same with individual photos and videos that you'd like to come back to, within your Media Locker.

Easy edits of recent things  Photo albums and print projects, alike, can be quickly edited with a single click to their title, as it appears in the left rail under "Albums" or "Projects."

Slide-to-resize thumbnails  In the upper-right corner of the Media Locker, you'll find a "Thumbnail Size" slider. This will, yes, change the size of the thumbnail images that appear... larger with better detail, and smaller with more efficient use of space.

Send photos via e-mail  Want to quickly share your photos outside of Multiply? Select your best and send them to anyone via e-mail using the handy "Email" button.

Other things  While a good deal of Multiply's functionality now lives under either the Media Locker or Inbox, there are new things that don't quite belong to either category. We haven't forgotten about these miscellaneous marvels!

New look  It is everything a look should be: refined and great! You'll find it pretty much everywhere.

Simplified 'top nav'  We reduced the number of links and buttons that appear along the top of all pages on Multiply, in order to focus on the ones that are most important. 

Comprehensive "Multiply" menu  Clicking the Multiply logo now does something new. Give it a try!

Complete Shop overhaul  We've given our Shop section a complete overhaul. It features the same great products, with a sleek new look. It also works better than ever, and includes helpful gift guides that make giving great gifts a snap for any occasion.

Contact suggestion  Now, when you connect with someone on Multiply, we'll give you the opportunity to help connect your new contact with some of your existing ones. All it takes is a click to suggest that your friend Bob, who already knows your friend Mary, become Multiply contacts as well.

Picasa plugin  If you use Picasa to organize photos on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer, posting photos to Multiply just got a lot easier. Install Multiply's Picasa pluginand share photos on your Multiply site from Picasa.

People You May Know  Based on the contacts you have, Multiply will recommend other individuals you're most likely to know, and would want to connect with.

Global search box  Three useful searches: people, content and groups, are available from one small box, located at the top of any page.

Your patience is appreciated during this rollout process. For Multiply members who have already received access to the Beta, we appreciate any feedback you can provide us as well. If you have any questions or comments about Multiply 4.0, please contact customer service.

You can easily access your Network Calendar, for any day, week or month.  Never miss a birthday or event.   Just go to your Inbox Prefs, and ...  













...Enable the Calendar to show in the INBOX section of your inbox.  You will be alerted for any new Calendar events posted.





















Click on Calendar at any time now from your inbox rail and you will see many options to see only what you want to see and for when. (Click on image to enlarge)

Now you can easily view JUST posts and comments that are UNREAD.  Click on any section of your inbox IN your inbox, and just tick the "only show unread posts only".  

Want quick access to posts for just one group or individual?  Click on any headshot or group logo in recent updates for instance, and your inbox will show you JUST their posts.  You will then see even more options at the top for that person or group (Visit site or group for instance)

Now you can show Guestbooks directly in your inbox section OF your Inbox.  

Just hover to the right of INBOX, click on PREFS, and tick the Guestbook option!  This is great for quick access to your contact's inboxes.  

Flag your inbox and it will show at the top of the list!

Until all users are converted to Multiply 4.0, when posting a question, please make reference to which Multiply version you are using if you have a question or problem.  (Either 3.0 or the new 4.0)  Because Multiply 4.0is so different and actually more efficient, the answer to your question may be radically different.  By giving us that information right away, it will speed up giving you the assistance you need without us having to ask and wait for a reply, and then you again waiting for a reply.

Please do not post that you have not been upgraded yet in a discussion thread or ask when you will be upgraded.  All users WILL be upgraded.  Rolling out Multiply 4.0 incrementally instead of ALL thirteen million plus users at one time, ensures that users can continue to use Multiply while this is being done, and prevents major issues from occurring.

You WILL know when you have been upgraded.  The logo in the upper left of your screen will not only include the Multiply "people" but you will also see the word Multiply next to it (in white lettering).  You will be able to click on it and you will see the new drop down, flyout features.  Your inbox will also look totally different.  Be sure and review the easy to understand TutorialsHERE, even if you have not been upgraded yet.  

A few tips if you have just been upgraded and especially if you are having any problems:

1.  Log out, clear your temp files and cookies and log back in.  (See more info HERE about how to do this)

2.  If you are entering Multiply from a saved favorite or bookmark, delete the old one, and enter directly from http://multiply.com to log in.  You will be taken directly to your inbox upon logging in.   Reset your fav or bookmark, or just enter easily from the Multiply Toolbar (recommended).

3.  Take the time to again review these tutorials before posting a new question.  Most of your questions have been answered in these easy to understand tutorials, pictorials, screenshots and videos.

NOTICE:  Your global navigation area will look and function totally different, especially with the new logo features.  Your previous features are still there, but with even more new efficient features.  

IF you are using any theme that has customized that area across the top where your global navigation is and where all of your links are (ie. opacity codes, hovering codes, hiding any of those things, or logo replacement, etc.) remove any css code affecting that area. This should correct any issues you are having with Multiply 4.0's global navigation area.  If you are unsure of how to do this, please see Multiply Design for CSS and  html assistance.

Thanks.


Link: http://images.multiply.com/multiply/splash/inbox-4.0-with-numbers-top....

Click on the link and then click on the image again to enlarge for details.

Your rails in the new Multiply 4.0 Inbox and Media Locker can be as wide or as thin as you want.  Place your cursor on the rail until it changes to the RESIZE cursor.  HOVERHERE to see what the "column" resize cursor looks like.

(See image also).  Then just click and drag left or right to your desired width.  

Multiply 4.0's New Inbox - Clean, functional, and fast !

More Powerful INBOX.flv (3.0 MB)

Your new Multiply 4.0 Media Locker

More Powerful Media Management.flv (4.9 MB)



Multiply has updated our new Quicknotes!  (Click on image)

Now the QN box expands instead of your text scrolling off to the right as you typed (which made editing difficult) .

 QN permissions have also been added so you can now show off Public Quicknotes as status updates to Multiply visitors or  you can designate who you want to see them to keep them private.   Or some of each.  It's totally up to you.

Great update!  Try it yourself!

This is just a small overview of the New Media Locker Design for your total Content Management. Because your content is different than mine, I'm highlighting just a few of the features available there now. Don't be afraid to explore every aspect of your Media Locker available to all users, both Free and Premium. Click on everything! You can't break it! And combine your Media Locker with Multiply's Auto Uploader and your Media Locker can become even more powerful! For Free Users, your content can be uploaded and stored for up to 30 days before you post and share your content, using the Auto Uploader. Premium users, your content is stored permanently whether you post and share it or not. All Users (And now groups) have Media Lockers. Just click on Media Locker under your headshot (or group logo) Scroll through these images one by one to see just a few of the highlights and then check your own Media locker, designed for optimum performance and functionality. And explore the new photo editing tools! They rock! 1 - Media Locker Preferences Access. Hover, click, set. It's that easy. 2 - Preference Options - Simply choose what you wish and change at any time. 3 - Photo & Imaging Editing Tools - Manipulate and "touch up" your photos! 4 - New Thumbnail Sizing - Need a better view of your photo or video thumbnails? Just move the slider UP. Less is More? Just move the slider down. 5 - Photo Tips. Access these simple but valuable tips at the bottom of your Media Locker Sidebar/Rail when you need a little help. 6 - Photos and Video Options - Explore each of those across the top! Especially books, cards Calendars and Prints. Design your own using YOUR content! 7 - Full content control - It's all yours! Notice the Share Feature! 8 - Share Options - Share any or all of your content by email! Invite them to be your contact and include a personal note. 9 - Photo Albums - Now load only what you want to see with the option to load more. 10 - Projects! Design your cards, photo albums, calendars and more with access anytime for editing and ordering directly from your Media Locker's Sidebar/Rail. 11 - SURPRISE ! Post to Groups! Now you can post to any of your groups from your Personal Media Locker. Just choose the photos you want to post, click on ALBUM top of page and then choose the group option. You'll be taken to your groups list to choose which group to post to. Combined with the Auto Uploader, share your content wherever you wish! ENJOY!

Your new inbox is amazing. When you are first upgraded your inbox may be collapsed and look like there's not much there. Not so! You are just getting started in customizing your inbox to function for each of you just the way each of you want. What I want, will be totally different than what you may want, and now you get to make your own viewing choices! Scroll through each image for detailed visuals! No need to zoom. Just open the first one and click next for each. 1. Multiply Logo - Notice you can access all of the new awesome features of the logo from anywhere on Multiply. For more logo information, see this link: Multiply 4.0 - Awesome LOGO Features 2. Inbox Prefs - Notice the second image of your inbox - hover just to the right of the word "inbox" and you will see the word "prefs" (for preferences) Click on that to access the awesome new features to customize the look and accessiblity that you deem most important to you. 3. - Inbox Preference Choices - There they are! Make your choices, and change the look any time you wish. 4. - Inbox collapsed. Collapse each or all of the inbox categories in the inbox sidebar/rail for quicker access to only what you want most, when you want it. Or leave it all open. It's up to you! 5. Want more tools? At the very bottom of your inbox's sidebar/rail you will notice tools (tips) That's just the tip of what you will find there. Show more and you can access many extras to include the Multiply Staff blog.  (Notice this and all inbox features are subject to change as the inbox is further tweaked and upgraded for best utilization and access to things you will need most). 6. FILTERS! We live for our filters! Now you can further define your current and new filters to better serve you. NOTICE one of the many requested features to EXCLUD! You're going to love this (unless you just don't want to miss a thing from anyone!) 7. View (all) Contacts and Groups! There are amazing new features there now so that you can monitor and keep up with those special groups and people that are most important to you.  The inbox is now one our most customizable features for Multiply, so make it your own!

IF you've been upgraded to Multiply 4.0, or awaiting the upgrade, let me introduce you to the New Multiply Logo FEATURES.  

And though it's a great new logo, it has FEATURES  to help you find and use Multiply's many new features, from wherever you are on Multiply.  You'll also find that many previous features that cluttered your page are now updated and accessible from  inside the logo's dropdown and flyout, for a cleaner look and advanced functionality.

NOTE:  IF YOU DO NOT SEE THIS NEW LOGO OR THE NEW INBOX, THEN YOU ARE STILL AWAITING UPGRADE.  THE ORIGINAL LOGO WILL ONLY TAKE YOU TO YOUR INBOX.  PLEASE BE PATIENT WHILE THE UPGRADES ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED.

This logo appears on every page whether you are in your inbox, your media locker, your site pages or anyone else's site pages.  So click on the new logo once you've been upgraded and EXPLORE!  Click on the logo and it will expand.  To close it, just click again or click on any link or flyout displayed and see where it takes you. 

Note:  All users will be upgraded.  The upgrade is rolling out in batches so if you have not been upgraded yet, you should be over the next few days.  So please read all of the new tutorials and posts about the new Multiply 4.0 to become familiar with all of the new features.  Note too that many of these features are being tweaked  for users who have already received the upgrade so there may be new information for current upgraded users as well.

Multiply rolled out it's latest upgrade, version 4.0, today.  (Not everyone has been switched over yet.  If you haven't, don't sweat it.  It'll be to your computer screen within the next couple of days.) Changes like this always come as a bit of a shock, even to those who are expecting it, but especially to those who have been so wrapped up in chatting and sharing with friends and family that they haven't lifted their head up for anything else in awhile.  (And since sharing with friends and family is what this site is all about, that's totally understandable.)

To help you get your bearings and figure out what's what, I thought I'd post links here to all of the staff blog posts on the upgrade.  These posts do a great job of detailing the changes and a few contain some really helpful videos that give you a click by click walk through of some of the new hotness that's going on in Multiply 4.0.  (I highly recommend the videos.  If you do nothing else, at least watch the videos.)

Coming Soon: New features (and other great things) -- May 22
Coming Soon: Flags, not pins -- May 23    
Coming Soon: Enhancements to Custom Filters -- May 24
Coming Soon: Inbox Redux -- May 25
Coming Soon: Media Locker enhancements -- May 26
Coming Soon/Now: Multiply 4.0 Beta -- May 27

I hope this helps!  Please pass the links around to friends and family (and groups) so that everyone's in the know. 

And, as always, if you get stuck and can't figure out how to do what you want to do, just ask! There are a few folks who have had access to the changes for a couple of weeks now and at least have a sense of how it's all supposed to work.  And there are even more folks whose fingers are probably cramping up right now because they've spent all day playing with the new toys and I'm sure they've learned a thing or two they can share.

This is a quick explanation that I'll probably embellish more later.  But I wanted to briefly explain how to show just the one group's posts that you're really interested in.  (You can still use custom filters to have only select group's posts showing.  But this tutorial is to show you how to zero in on one particular group's posts.)

In your inbox, look for the darker title-like line of text that says "Groups".  If that section isn't "open" then click it once to toggle it.  At the very least you should see a line that says "All Groups" now.  Click on that. 

This page that you are now on (though still in your inbox) is a list of all of the groups you are a member of.  Select any groups in here that you want to particularly watch by selecting them as a favorite.  I have *M*Tutorials and the User Support Group selected in the example below. 

Now, click once on the group that you want to particularly zero in on.  Once you do, you'll see all of the latest activity for that group.  See below for a screen shot of the User Support group posts.  

You can do this exact same thing for contacts.  Click on "All Contacts" select your favorites and wham! there they are in your NavBar on the left.  

You don't have to use the group and friends sections, though.  Any section that you're not interested in using, just toggle it shut.  You don't HAVE to use every resource that's available here.  If you don't like one way of viewing your inbox, don't use it.  You don't have to.  I won't make you.  The inbox is for YOU and it should work the way that works best FOR YOU. 

More 4.0 tutorials are coming.  I've got to run right now, but I wanted you all (especially you MSN folks who are particularly interested in specific groups that you migrated over) to see how smooth and easy it is now to watch one group's posts.  You've essentially got a Message Board for each group that is quick and easy to get to now.  Woot

Multiply 4.0 is coming soon! Read about it here, and view tutorials here.