diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.scss.erb b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.scss.erb
index 1f9ef4f7..a0a915b7 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.scss.erb
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.scss.erb
@@ -2199,41 +2199,34 @@ and it won't be important on password protected instances */
     color: #00bcd4;
 }
 .lightbox_links .lightboxAboutIcon {
-    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('about_sprite.png') %>);
-    background-repeat: no-repeat;
     width:32px;
     height:32px;
     margin:10px auto;
 }
-#lightbox_metamapps .lightboxAboutIcon {
+.icon_twitter .lightboxAboutIcon,
+.icon_source_code .lightboxAboutIcon,
+.icon_terms .lightboxAboutIcon {
+    background-image: url(<%= asset_data_uri('about_sprite.png') %>);
+    background-repeat: no-repeat;
     background-position: 0 0;
 }
-#lightbox_community .lightboxAboutIcon {
-    background-position: -32px 0;
-}
-#lightbox_source .lightboxAboutIcon {
-    background-position: -64px 0;
-}
-#lightbox_blog .lightboxAboutIcon {
-    background-position: -96px 0;
-}
-#lightbox_term .lightboxAboutIcon {
-    background-position: -128px 0;
-}
-#lightbox_metamapps:hover .lightboxAboutIcon {
+.icon_twitter .lightboxAboutIcon {
+  background-position: 0 0;
+  &:hover {
     background-position: 0 -32px;
+  }
 }
-#lightbox_community:hover .lightboxAboutIcon {
-    background-position: -32px -32px;
-}
-#lightbox_source:hover .lightboxAboutIcon {
+.icon_source_code .lightboxAboutIcon {
+  background-position: -64px 0;
+  &:hover {
     background-position: -64px -32px;
+  }
 }
-#lightbox_blog:hover .lightboxAboutIcon {
-    background-position: -96px -32px;
-}
-#lightbox_term:hover .lightboxAboutIcon {
+.icon_terms .lightboxAboutIcon {
+  background-position: -128px 0;
+  &:hover {
     background-position: -128px -32px;
+  }
 }
 
 /* jquery ui tabs */
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/_lightboxes.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/_lightboxes.html.erb
index 70d62600..d464b733 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/_lightboxes.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/_lightboxes.html.erb
@@ -7,6 +7,66 @@
     <a id="lightbox_close" href="#"></a>
     <div id="lightbox_content">
 
+      <div class="lightboxContent" id="about">
+        <h3>About Metamaps.cc</h3>
+            <div id="aboutParms">
+              <div id="leftAboutParms">
+                <p>STATUS: </p>
+                <p>VERSION:</p>
+                <p>BUILD:</p>
+                <p>LAST UPDATE:</p>
+              </div>
+
+              <div id="rightAboutParms">
+                <p>PRIVATE BETA</p>
+                <p><%= METAMAPS_VERSION %></p>
+                <p><%= METAMAPS_BUILD %></p>
+                <p><%= METAMAPS_LAST_UPDATED %></p>
+              </div>
+              <div class="clearfloat"></div>
+            </div>
+
+        <p>Metamaps.cc is a free and open source web platform that supports real-time sense-making and distributed collaboration between individuals, communities and organizations.</p>
+
+<p>Using an intuitive graph-based interface, Metamaps.cc helps map out networks of people, ideas, resources, stories, experiences, conversations and much more. The platform is evolving for a range of applications amidst a growing network of designers, developers, facilitators, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and artists.</p>
+
+<p>Metamaps.cc is created and maintained by a distributed community of contributors passionate about the evolution of collaboration, alternative forms of value creation and increase of collective intelligence through the lens of the open culture and the peer-to-peer revolution.</p>
+
+        <ul class="lightbox_links">
+          <li>
+            <a class="icon_twitter" href="https://twitter.com/metamapps" target="_blank">
+              <div class="lightboxAboutIcon"></div>
+              @metamapps
+            </a>
+          </li>
+          <li>
+            <a class="icon_community" href="https://www.hylo.com/c/metamaps/join/mice-late-hit-two-shown" target="_blank">
+              <div class="lightboxAboutIcon"></div>
+              community
+            </a>
+          </li>
+          <li>
+            <a class="icon_source_code" href="https://github.com/metamaps/metamaps" target="_blank">
+              <div class="lightboxAboutIcon"></div>
+              source code
+            </a>
+          </li>
+          <li>
+            <a class="icon_howtos" href="https://docs.metamaps.cc" target="_blank">
+              <div class="lightboxAboutIcon"></div>
+              howtos
+            </a>
+          </li>
+          <li>
+            <a class="icon_terms" href="https://metamaps.cc/maps/331" target="_blank">
+              <div class="lightboxAboutIcon"></div>
+              terms
+            </a>
+          </li>
+        </ul>
+        <div class="clearfloat"></div>
+      </div>
+
       <div class="lightboxContent" id="noIE">
         <h3>OOPS! <br> YOUR BROWSER IS NOT SUPPORTED.</h3>
         <p id="noIEsubheading">To view this experience, please upgrade to the latest one of these browsers:</p>
diff --git a/config/initializers/version.rb b/config/initializers/version.rb
index be0330c3..af7d9160 100644
--- a/config/initializers/version.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/version.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 METAMAPS_VERSION = '2.9'
-METAMAPS_BUILD = `git log -1 --pretty=%H`.chomp.freeze
+METAMAPS_BUILD = `git log -1 --pretty=%H`.chomp[0..11].freeze
 METAMAPS_LAST_UPDATED = `git log -1 --pretty='%ad'`.split(' ').values_at(1, 2, 4).join(' ').freeze