Little guide through JF, IJ and GJ

[slash_eater]

I've been exploring all journaling sites I have right now: JF, IJ, GJ and LJ.
I made a little list about what they can offer and not. I am Free account user, so I can't tell much about Paid and Permanent ones.
You already know LJ, so I didn't make any list for it.

This is not comparison list, no pros and cons, just a list of what they offer.

JF:

ICONS:

10

VIDEOS:

No videos

FAQ:

So-So

LAYOUTS:

• Bad offer of customization of layout and journal


• Only one mood theme


• You can set different style for Friends View, Recent entries View, Calendar view and Day View


• Possible style creating and CSS overrides, but not sure It's working


• No custom mood themes


• 25 links. Links are in S2


• ETA: Found S2 system: HERE

• Not good offer of layouts

ENTRIES:

• NO TAGS (!!)


• Bad Rich text


• Entry is backdated - allows you to post entries and choose the date in the past so the entry won't appear on you friends' daily friends' list. Also, option for posting entry with date in the future (like Date out of order, just no specific button)


• No Custom posting option (by your Custom groups)


• You can easily switch to Rich text but there is no button for going back to HTML (easy from HTML to Rich text)

LOOKS AND GENERAL OVERVIEW:

• Plain and simple


• Portal with navigation sidebar is not really practical. And since there is no navigation strip bar on top of the page you have to go back to portal to edit or post to your journal


• Not really maintained/upgraded). They have News and Developer Area, but there are no entries there. ETA: HERE is where they put updates about JF. They are planning upgrading soon.


• You can't search users by username (!) only Random, by Region and by Interest. But you can do this: "http://www.journalfen.net/users/username/".


• Many people from fandom are there, and the site is run by fans


• No viewing options (no different schemes)


• No navigation bar on top of the page, which means no these quick links: Filter groups (on friends page), Manage entries, Post to journal, Add them as friend, Join/Watch, Leave community, View my friends page, Home, Recent comments
• Invite only - you can request an account HERE

PROFILE:

No option of 'show DOB to:' - you must either: show them to everyone or no one

NOTIFICATIONS:

• Birthdays


• No Messages section


• No notifications when someone friends you


• E-mail notifications when somone replies to your comment/journal


• No e-mail notifications as HTML or plain text

EXTRAS:

• No polls


• Creating communities as Free user HERE


• Log IP address option


• Friends Filter and Friends Group can be found and set HERE
  
• No Scrapbook alike thing


• No ads
  
• No OpenID option
• Quick links - for the stuff that isn't linked in sidebar

IJ:

ICONS:

100

VIDEOS:

No videos posting, but I asked into Support area and they told me they are planning it - many people asked about it. But there is place where you can post your vote for it. HERE

FAQ:

Good

LAYOUTS:

• S1 and S2 Style System


• 15 links for Free users, 50 for Paid and 100 for Permanent


• Possible CSS overrides


• Possible style creating but not for Free Patients (free users)


• Good offer of mood themes

ENTRIES:

• Custom option for posting (by your Custom groups)


• Entry is backdated - allows you to post entries and choose the date in the past so the entry won't appear on you friends' daily friends' list. Also, option for posting entry with date in the future (like Date out of order, just no specific button)


• There is button for going into Rich text mode and switching back to HTML


• Rich text good, as Ljs


• Tags option

LOOKS AND GENERAL OVERVIEW:

• Resembles LJ. Reminds of LJ with portal (Quick update, Birthdays, FAQs, Latest friend's page, quick links, search...)


• There is navigation strip bar HERE


• Search same as on LJ, plus with search by Location (you get map)


• Change of interface - not same as Viewing options on LJ, but HERE and HERE you can change it.

PROFILE:

Option on displaying DOB (month/day/year, month/day, year, don't display)

NOTIFICATIONS:

• E-mail notifications when someone replies to your comment/journal


• No e-mail notifications when someone friends you


• E-mail notifications as HTML or plain text


• No Messages section

EXTRAS:

• Log IP address option


• Ads by Google. But not on your journal while you're looking at it. When you click Lj-cut or reply form, ads appear


• Polls only for paid accounts


• Possibility of making asylums (communities)


• Custom Friends group


• Friends Filter


• Private messaging


• Cheap paid and permanent account (6 months=10 $, 12 months=20 $, permanent=40 $)


• No Scrapbook alike thing


• 1000 people on flist for Free users, unlimited for Paid and Permanent


• OpenID option

 

GJ

ICONS:

2000 icons - if you don't use some icons for some period (I don't know what period) they delete them.  GJ decreased the number of userpics to 100.  They say it may or may not be permanent and the reason is "This is about reducing features to improve speed and performance."

VIDEOS:

Yes, but NOT with CSS overrided layout (meaning: Smooth Sailing, Flexible Squares...)

FAQ:

Good

LAYOUTS:

• 5 links possible


• S1 and S2 Style System


• Possible CSS overrides


• Good offer of mood themes

ENTRIES:

• Tags option


• Entry is backdated - allows you to post entries and choose the date in the past so the entry won't appear on you friends' daily friends' list. Also, option for posting entry with date in the future (like Date out of order, just no specific button)


• Bad Rich text


• You can easily switch to Rich text but there is no button for going back to HTML (easy from HTML to Rich text)

LOOKS AND GENERAL OVERVIEW:

• You can change color scheme/interface (from the red one, you know?) HERE and you can also switch navigation sidebar from left to top of the page. Just click Top_navigation (follow the link)


• Portal with birthdays, 10 top FAQs and quick update


• No navigation strip bar on top of the page which means no these quick links: Filter groups (on friends page), Manage entries, Post to journal, Add them as friend, Join/Watch, Leave community, View my friends page, Home, Recent comments


• Search like on LJ, PLUS search by 'tag'

PROFILE:

• Must show your birthday to everyone or no one (possibility of showing year, month or day only)


• Possibility of showing your contact info (AOL, ICQ and e-mail) to everybody OR Friends only

NOTIFICATIONS:

Notifications - something like Messages/Recent comments on LJ. Where you can find recent comments and replies to your entries and comments. Deletes after a while or certain number of notifications.

EXTRAS:

• Polls (for free users too)


• Creating communities (for free users too)


• Friend groups


• Friend filters HERE


• Forum


• Log IP address option


• No ads


• Private messaging


• Phone posts - free of charge. except phone company bill for long distance call...


• You can see when someone from your Friends list is online. You can turn off that option HERE


• Hit counter - how many hits on your page Daily, Yearly and Per day


• No Scrapbook alike thing, but you can upload pics to GJPixs and then send it to an entry. (You go to GJPixs, upload pic(s), then you have option 'Update GJ', you click it and the picture is sent to your writing space, so you just add text in entry.


• GJPixs - online album


• Free accounts only


• No OpenID option

• Testimonials

I hope you all understand what I meant by some terms, i.e. that I explained right. If you don't understand, feel free to ask.
And if any of you know better, or if I listed something that is wrong, just say. I'll change it. :D

If I find some more I'll add it...