This page allows you to select web slices to show in your browser favorites bar that are continually updated as information changes on the site. Now you can keep in touch with the status of your favorite pic without opening the site.

Web Slices are a new feature in IE8 - and IE8 must be installed for it to work. If you subscribe to a WW2 Cruiser web slice, the latest information will be shown in your favorites bar, with automatic updates as changes are made. More info on web slices can be found from microsoft here.

A typical web slice display is shown below, you can see the ship name and the current rank.

Clicking the drop down arrow shows the photo description, Rank, Score, Votes, whether voting is available, and any change in the Rank today.

The two icons at the bottom of the drop down open the site home page and carry out an immediate update. Mouse over the web slice and you see the last update time. The text in the web slice flashes and shows in bold when a change is received.

The frequency of update is controlled by a browser setting. It defaults to daily, or it can be a variety of settings, the minimum being every 15 minutes - see Tools/Internet Options/Content/Feeds and Web Slices/Settings. IE seems to have its own view of what 15 minutes is, it varies between 15 - 30 minutes on my testing.

The first display below sets up the best 3 pictures on the site as a web slice.

The second display sets up one of the top 10 pictures as a web slice, with their rank, description, average score, and number of votes. You can subscribe to one, or as many as you wish. Your favorites bar will show the up to date position.

The third display is a Picture Search to set up a web slice for any photo on the site. Enter the ship name, click Search, and you will see all the pictures we can find matching your search. To go back to the first display enter a blank Search.

To create a web slice either mouse over the page; each slice is highlighted with a green box; click on the web slice icon on the left of the screen and add it; or click the down arrow of the web slice icon in the command bar in the top right area of the screen; select the slice you wish; clicking the web slice icon itself will add the web slice for the 3 best pictures.

Enjoy - and please let me know any problems or ideas for similar facilities.