As has been previously reported, the C&GCU Media Group has been working on new features and a 'new look' for Live! over the past two months. Today saw the launch of the new site. Media Group developers Oliver Pell and Richard Tang produced 9 'concept' designs before the new 'look' for Live! was selected and Mr Pell pronounced himself "exhausted". Despite previously claiming that he didn't "have time for anything...radical..." the new design differs previously from the original Live! The site was completed on time by focusing on particular areas for improvement and giving nothing more than a cosmetic facelift to areas that needed no changes.

The new Live! is viewable on computer screens at resolutions of 640x480 and above - something the old site struggled to achieve. Despite this the site is packed with new features.

• Events Calendar

Although launched several weeks ago the Live! Events calendar is an integral part of the new site. Former ICU Deputy President (Finance & Services) Etienne Pollard has expressed an interest in further developing the calendar to include even more features.

• New 'comment' section

Comment columns by respected Live! journalists such as Andy Heeps and Mustafa Arif are now visible in their own separate section - as well as from the front page. Choose 'comment' from the top menu bar to see the latest columns.

• Improved article view

News articles are now displayed with a list of similar articles and articles by the same author enabling easy browsing through the Live! archives.

• Article Search

One of the most requested features for Live! was a search function, and it is now possible to search through the archives for a particular word or phrase - choosing whether to search only news, only comment or all articles.

• Live! Mobile Edition

For the latest news on the move Live! Mobile Edition is the ideal solution. A cut-down version of the Live! site featuring the latest news and comment can be downloaded to any PalmOS or PocketPC handheld with the free AvantGo software.

• Live! On Your Site

Live! can now deliver customised content directly to any club or society website. If your club, society, CCU or CSC would be interested in having a 'feed' of the very latest news from all of Imperial on their site why not visit the Livefeed page or e-mail the Live! webmaster for more information.

Over the next few months the Media Group also hope to launch even more additional features, including a 'News In Brief' section which will allow all students at Imperial College to post snippets of news.

The Media Group would welcome any comments on the new design for Live! They can be reached by e-mail.