Big News Brewing – Announcement Tomorrow!

As you may have noticed on the site, there are some big changes in the works here at Bitstrips.

We can’t divulge any details as of yet, but watch this space for a Big Announcement, scheduled for first thing tomorrow (wednesday).

Bitstrips is almost 2 (weeks that is)…

It’s been a wild couple of weeks since our public launch, and we’re thrilled to bits to see so many new users.  The output so far has been awesome, and it seems undeniable that we already have the beginnings of one of the most creative communities on the net brewing here.  So a big thanks to everyone who’s jumped right into the fun in these early days of Bitstrips.

We’ve been getting a tremendous amount of feedback, bug reports, requests and suggestions, which we really appreciate.  We are voraciously digesting all of your input, which is helping us to prioritize our massive to-do list and focus our strategy to make Bitstrips better and better, according to your needs.  It’s a great example of the beta spirit – where not only can you participate by coming to the site to read and make comics, you can actually help guide the evolution of the site by throwing your 2 cents in and telling us what you want.

Now that we’ve caught up on our sleep (mostly) after SXSW, the team is back to action in full effect, so you can expect lots of improvements over the coming weeks.  So, keep your eyes peeled for new stuff – and in the meantime, keep those great bitstrips coming!

Bitstrips on CBC right now!!!

Hey kids,

Bitstrips is about to be featured on CBC’s Q show, airing today on CBC radio one at 2pm and 10pm.

Also, check out our behind-the-scenes development update on the Bitstrips development blog!

More post-SXSW updates coming to this space soon…

Bitstrips has landed – at SXSW!!!

Well, after a long journey we’re finally here in Austin for SXSW 2008.  And the official public launch of the site is only days away!  But in the meantime, there are so many new members that have joined over the past couple days, our heads are spinning.  So, a big welcome to everyone!  Keep watching this space for updates in the exciting days to come.

Beta v1.1 is LIVE! Welcome SXSWers!

We’re still a few days away from our official launch, but today a huge day for Bitstrips, as our latest beta is finally live!  A big welcome to all the new visitors today.  Keep watching this space for further updates as the mayhem ensues!

Big Update Week – part 1 – Open Invitations!

Yes, that’s right, this week is ‘Big Update Week’ – the week that Bitstrips transforms into its final pre-launch state (also known as Beta v1.1)! So, what does this mean to you lucky beta-testers? It means big, exciting upgrades are right around the corner, and things are about to get even more fun around here.

For starters: you can now invite any of your friends to join Bitstrips! There are a few ways to do it, too. You can really make your friends curious by designing characters for them and sending them a custom invitation showing off your work. Imagine their surprise when they realize they’re starring in your online comics! What makes this feature even better is that your friends can use the design you made as their avatar when they come to the site, making their entry into the world of Bitstrips faster and easier than ever before! Click on ‘Create Friend’ in the left menu to get started.

You can also invite a friend by simply sending them a strip by email. Pick the most embarrassing moment you can remember, Bitstrip it, and show them why they’d better get online and take control of their cartoon identity!

So, don’t hold back – help us get the ball rolling by getting the word out – finally!

Much more on the way this week – Stay tuned to this space for more updates on each new feature as it’s released.

Also, keep an eye on the Bitstrips Development Blog, where you’ll find more detailed descriptions and discussion of all the latest upgrades.

Bitstrips nominated for SXSW 2008 web awards!

We were already giddy with anticipation for the worldwide launch of Bitstrips at this year’s SXSW…

Now we’re even giddier! Bitstrips has been nominated in the Amusement category for a web award – how amusing!

Big thanks to SXSW for seeing the potential in our ramshackle site before it’s even been fully birthed. To make matters more exciting, this means we are also elgibile for the People’s Choice award. Which means that YOU can help Bitstrips win – by voting for us every day!

Click Here to VOTE FOR BITSTRIPS! You can vote once every 24 hours.

The awards will be announced at SXSW on March 9. Win or lose, we’ll be sure to bitstrip the whole thing!

Welcome to Bitstrips Beta v0.4!!!

Wow, it’s hard to believe we’re here… this is the penultimate beta version before v1.1, just weeks away from our public launch. To all our new users – welcome! We’re really excited to finally pull back the curtain and start sharing Bitstrips with our friends. As part of our early beta-tester community, this is your chance to help us shape the site into time-wasting perfection with your feedback, questions, suggestions and bug reports. Use the link in the left menu to send us a message anytime!

More to report soon, but for now – have fun making some Bitstrips!

Bitstrips Beta v0.3 is forming now…

Lots and lots of changes in the works.  Originally we were planning on doing our upgrades behind-the-scenes, then releasing them all at once as an update – but as it turns out we’ve just been making our changes live, online.  So, if things seem a little wonky over the next week or two, or if you notice some major things changing between visits (like the site navigation) it’s cause we’re fiddling with stuff under the hood.

If anything outright doesn’t seem to work, please let us know about it via the bugs/comments link in the left sidebar.

So, Beta v0.3 will be an ongoing evolution over the next two weeks – until it’s time for v0.4!

Bitstrips Beta v0.2 is Live!

Yes, it’s that time again.  We’re now at Beta v0.2 – if you’re new to the site, welcome!

So, what does 0.2 mean exactly?  Let’s put it this way – if this site were a baby giraffe, this would be the moment a few seconds after the birth, where it’s taking its first tentative steps, perhaps even still crawling on its knees, covered in goo.   But as we all know, giraffes get up and going amazingly fast.  So, let’s hope the analogy stays consistent.

3 more updates to go, every other friday, and then we’ll be at beta v1.1.  So that means the next one will be January 25 – mark your calendars!  We still have a ton of fun features to activate, so the next few months should be an exciting time to be on Bitstrips!

For more detailed updates on technical stuff in development, check out our development blog.  Assuming we have time for updates…