Help

Registration

Registering for Mixx couldn't be easier—just a couple of quick steps, only one of which is required, and you're on your way!

Step 1:

Enter your email address and choose a password. Agree to our terms of service. It's that simple, fast and free!

By the way, you'll be prompted to enter the string of letters and numbers that you see in the box. This is to make sure that we only have real people on the site and not spam-bots. We know it's annoying, but it keeps bogus story posts to a minimum.

Step 2:

This step is completely and totally optional, but fun!

Unless you want to be known as User4562 (not that there's anything wrong with that), you'll want to select a user name. We'll try to suggest one, but you might want a name that's a little more personal—a little more, well, you.

When you're done, select a few topics or categories that interest you and we'll automatically set up YourMixx—a custom page that delivers the best the web has to offer in whatever categories you've chosen.

If you want to receive local news and content, then go ahead and enter your ZIP code here.

Step 3:

This step is also optional, but if you want to upload an icon or avatar—a little picture that represents you—you can do it now. If you want to add it later, just log in and update YourMixx. You look kind of generic if you don't upload a picture, and who wants to look generic?!?

That's it! Welcome to the Mixx community.

Navigating Mixx

Mixx uses a combination of categories and tags that make it easy to find videos, text, photos and more.

You'll find the categories listed in the navigation bar across the top of the page. Click on any category to see the top stories in that subject. Under each categories are a number of sub-categories that drill down into that subject further.

Don't see your interest in the navigation bar? Then turn to tags. Tags are good. Tags can be your friend. Tags are keywords or short descriptions that offer a little more information so that you, and other Mixxers, can quickly decide whether you want to see more. For instance, saying something is about George Bush is a pretty broad description and so is not very helpful. But once you apply the tags "speech, troops, stay the course, Iraq" then you know that it's about George Bush giving a speech about (or to) the troops in Iraq.

Search

Can't find something by clicking around? Just enter something into our search box. We'll deliver the best stuff right up top—things tagged with your search term. Then below that, you'll get a hodge-podge of videos, photos and stories that contain your search phrase in the title, description or comments.

Your Web. YourMixx.

YourMixx is a page that reflects your interests—whether that's the New York Yankees, politics, gardening, news about holy pancakes, and everything in between. On YourMixx, you can subscribe to categories, tags, groups, people and, coming soon, RSS feeds.

We think you'll find that YourMixx is easier to configure and use than other readers or start pages. Let's say, for instance, that you're addicted to reality TV. (We are, but that's beside the point.) With YourMixx, you have one central location where you can go to catch up on your favorite shows. Then other Mixxers who are also into reality TV will help find and filter the best, most up-to-date content from around the web. And when you find an interesting tidbit of your own, just tag and submit it.

Adding to YourMixx

There are two ways to add content to YourMixx:

• On the right-hand side of YourMixx, you will see an entry box. Type in whatever interests you and get a list of stories that have that tag. From here, you can add that tag to YourMixx if you like what you see. By the way: Don't be shy about being the first to add content to a category—someone has to do it!
• On any Mixx page where you see a story box (a list of content about a particular topic or tag), you'll see an option to Add to YourMixx. Just click on it and that topic or person or group will be added to YourMixx.
• On YourMixx, click "Add To YourMixx" in the upper right hand corner. Just click off categories or type in some tags—these items are added to YourMixx.

Editing YourMixx

Change your interests, change YourMixx—it really is that easy.

When we started writing this, we were into baseball, sandals and checking out celebrity news. This week, it's hockey, presidential primaries and music videos. What we're trying to say is that people change, and changing YourMixx should be simple. Here's how to do it:

In the upper right corner of YourMixx, you'll see a link labeled "Edit Your Page." When you click this link, you'll be able to change the layout and the contents of YourMixx.

• Want to change the layout? Grab the content box you want to move then drag and drop it anywhere you like on the page. When you're ready, just click "Save" when your page is the way you want it.
• Don't want one of the content boxes anymore? Just click the "X" and we'll take it away!

Local

If you provided a ZIP code when you registered, we'll automatically update your local news and weather. To set or change your ZIP code, click on the "Your Account" link after you've logged in.

Your local story box displays three different types of content:

• In Town: A collection of the best stories from your local area (generally your county or equivalent).
• Local Opinion: Content submitted by your neighbors, plus content they've voted or commented on, even if these stories didn't happen in your town.
• Metro: Find out what's going on in your larger metro area without ever leaving YourMixx. We use an automated service to map your location to a metro area to bring you the latest news and information. Use Feedback to let us know if this service got it wrong—we'll try to get it fixed. At the very least, we'll want to get our money back!

Time to Mixx!

Voting

The easiest way to get into the Mixx is to vote. Think the content is good? Then vote it up! Think it's just plain bad? Then vote it down (and it's polite to leave a comment why you voted it down). It's that's simple. Sure, it's probably not going to change the world, but you'll help filter out the bad stuff and make sure that the good stuff rises to the top.

* Please note that you must be registered and logged in to vote.

Commenting

You know you have an opinion, so use Mixx to express it! You can comment on everything submitted to Mixx—even if there aren't comments on the original page.

* You must be registered and logged in to comment.

Groups

Setting up a Mixx group allows you to share text, photos and video with a group of like-minded individuals. Your group can include anyone you like, from family and friends to co-workers.

Groups can be public (everyone can see its content, but not participate until they are a member) or private (no one even knows it exists unless invited to join the group).

Your group can also be set to invite-only (the default for public), request invite, or freely joinable.

To create your group:

• Once you're registered and logged in to Mixx, click "Create Group" on the "Your Groups" page.
• Choose a name and description for the group and save it.
• Next, invite someone to your new group by entering their email address or Mixx ID into the invite form.
• Remember to add the group to YourMixx.

Managing Your Groups

From YourMixx, click on Your Groups and then "Group Administration." This is where you can change your group's description, upload a group avatar and change the details of the group's membership.

Groups have two levels of membership—users can be owners or members.

Members have the right to view content in the group and contribute to the group by submitting, voting and commenting on stories, videos and photos.

Owners have all the rights of members, but they can also invite new members, as well as remove other owners and members.

There is no limit to the number of members or owners a group can have.

Adding to the Mixx

Submitting content to the Mixx is easy. All you need is something you think is interesting and its URL. There are three ways to submit content to Mixx:

• Manually: Just copy the URL from your browser window. Navigate to Mixx and click on the "Submit A Story Now!" button. Paste the URL in the marked field and click one of the three buttons to let us know whether you are submitting a story, video or photo.
• Partner Links: When you see a Mixx button on a partner site, just click the button and we'll automatically add the story to the Mixx.
• Bookmarklet: Add our bookmarklet to your web browser and one-click will submit the URL directly to Mixx!

Duplicate Content

Sometimes when you submit content, we'll find that the same URL has already been added to the Mixx. When this happens, we'll take you directly to that story page so you can vote, comment, tag or re-categorize the story your way. If we're not sure that it's the same story (if it's from a different news source, for instance), then we'll show you a list and ask if your story matches one of those. If it is a match, just cast a vote for the story already in the Mixx. If it doesn't match one that we already have, just continue on with your submission. We just think that it will be more fun—not to mention saving all of our Mixxers time—if everyone is voting and commenting on the same article instead of having activity spread across different versions of the same story.

Once your content makes it past the duplicate check, we ask you to do a few things—none of which are required:

• Add a Title: You can keep the original title or show off your writing skills with one of your own. If you want to use your own title, just highlight the original text in the Title box and then type in your own.
• Add a Description: Whenever we can, we'll grab the first sentence from the source site. You can add to this or write your own description; think of it as your chance to let everyone know why you've added it to the Mixx!
• Categorize the Content: From the list of categories, topics and tags on the "Submit" page choose the Mixx category that best fits the content you want to add to the Mixx. If you can't find exactly the right category, just apply some tags to the submission to create a new category.

Want to share with your groups, including private groups? Just click on the group name when you're categorizing your content for submission.

And if your story has a little local flavor? Enter the city and state where it takes place so other "locals" can find it.