New ATS front page ?

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
I never use the HOME page...im a RECENT POSTS kind of gal....
but the new home page looks really good on my Droid...the colors are much more brighter and it is much easier to navigate and click on a topic rather than having tiny links and trying to use my finger to click on those tiny links or having to make the screen bigger.....

i believe this is a great interface for mobile devices (phones, tablets).....

if one doesnt like it....try MyATS or Recent Posts or New Topics or Top Topics....

as the ol' saying goes.....cant please everyone!

edit on July 6th 2012 by greeneyedleo because: (no reason given)

I use MyATS majority of the time, but last night I checked to see what the Hot Topics were and seen that it was totally different. Oh well I guess we'll all have to get used to it or never use it.

-SAP-

Originally posted by elcapitano75
Well here's another vote for dislike.

I just find myself skipping it altogether and just clicking top topics and new topics.

It just feels like it's made for a 4 year old or something...

It took me some time to adjust to the new environement 3 yrs ago
with the recent topic page being completely redesigned from what we have now
when the home page looked like that



We will eventualy embrace the new changes and like it

why people are always scared of little changes
its not like its a new law that take away our freedom
that kind of changes are more scaryier

reply to post by Ben81


Change is BAD Ben!

We all will just have to get used to it though. I would love to help ATS design their site. Since HTML is basically the thing of the past now, it would be easy and quick to throw together a great layout for the home page.

-SAP-

I know this is a drastic change, and very unlike what people anticipate from a "discussion board."

-however-

We (ATS) need to remain mindful of contemporary trends in digital content design. Especially since a growing segment of users are consuming digital content on a variety of screen sizes. Even though ATS is not currently optimized for mobile (though we're not bad) about 17% of all access is from smart phones and tablets.

And, as most who have been around awhile know, our design changes are evolutionary. We don't just launch something and say it's finished... I watch the metrics to determine if a design/structure is working well for the majority of users, not just the vocal minority who complain.

And so far, the numbers are encouraging. More people are scrolling and clicking on more threads than with the previous design -- which had become dated by contemporary sensibilities.

reply to post by Ben81


Good job guys, I dont have a computer anymore so I use my phone to navigate Ats . The new layout is very mobile friendly. Where as the old layout I had to constantly zoom in and out , not to mention clicking the wrong article alot. Alot easier to navigate via phone.

Reminds me of this:

I like the concept of the front page, just not it's execution. It reminds me of a child's toy box of blocks. Useful but not in any particular order. There are too many items vying for attention.

How about making the blocks a uniform size and organizing by category. Easier on the eyes when trying to focus on a particular item.

Otherwise, I think it is a great direction. Keep up the good work.

Less is more. It looks way too cluttered and chaotic in my opinion. Perhaps cutting it up into sections will help? Like catagories or something.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
I watch the metrics to determine if a design/structure is working well for the majority of users, not just the vocal minority who complain.

Ouch Skeptic, that one almost burned a little bit...

-SAP-

Since we are entering a period of changes on ATS
why not put the views a thread had

many will be encouraged to see how many people have viewed their thread
it would bring a very positive aspect to all members to create new thread and see how it goes
and if a topic bring more attention then other topics

reply to post by Ben81


I'm laughing because I found the rant page first, then found the last comment and zipped over here to find everyone loving the new changes. Wow, I just got whiplash!

Changes were interesting...but confusing. In a contest of form versus function, form wins. There's no convenience and no user-friendly advantages to this development. It makes a nice test run, but in the end, I'd prefer the old design. Much easier to scan for interesting headlines than searching the thought bubbles or classifieds.

reply to post by AfterInfinity


I know same thing happened to me when I can over to this thread. I was like wtf? This thread got all the "for it" and the other thread got all the "against it".

i dont like it, i hate change.... sigh

i suppose i shall just have to get used to it....

still love you ATS

Originally posted by SloAnPainful
reply to post by AfterInfinity

 

I know same thing happened to me when I can over to this thread. I was like wtf? This thread got all the "for it" and the other thread got all the "against it".

Maybe because SO posted a reply in the first comments
is he that intimidating ?

I think his avatar have something to do with it
no one would want to mess with such badass big beard dwarf ahah

reply to post by Ben81


So what?

Hurr hurr.

It's horrible, looks very horrible...

Confusing too no categories.

reply to post by Ben81

I like how the new page is trying to categorize topics by box sizes and colors. However, the boxes are a bit too big and **clunky.** I think I get the interface ATS is shooting for, but it's too big, slow, clunky and unsophisticated. I am actually surprised that ATS has gone with this turn in evolution. Personally, this current design (big, clunky boxes) is a step backwards.

Perhaps keep the box idea, but shrink them, shrink the text. This boxy design is too simple: to see everything you have to scroll down the webpage, like early 1990s web designs. ATS needs something a bit more saavy in my humble opinion. Do websites like ATS generate enough money for the owners to hire innovative and professional web designers? If not, then this current attempt works. If so, it would be nice to see something more creative than a simple box-BOX-box scroll-down, scroll-down styled site.

Originally posted by CeltAngel
The new format may have advantages when navigating on a cell phone (read: small screen), but the lack of structure on a normal computer makes it difficult at best to look at.

Now, I really like the idea of the design, but it desperately needs some sort of organization, otherwise it really is just a mass of boxes.

Totally agree with this. It reminds me a lot of the new Windows 8 interface that no one likes.

It doesn't fit in with the surrounding site. For me, it's actually difficult to focus on and read any of the boxes because it's just so "busy" looking with no real structure or organization.

The old front page design was certainly cluttered, but I could at least make sense of it, it had a structure. I don't think that much attention needs to be paid to mobile access. As tablet computers advance it will be easier and easier to navigate traditional websites. I had no problem navigating the site from my iPod touch. Making it "mobile friendly" shouldn't come at the cost of making traditional use/navigation difficult to use or understand.

That being said I understand it's a work of progress. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Originally posted by Ben81

Originally posted by SloAnPainful
reply to post by AfterInfinity

 

I know same thing happened to me when I can over to this thread. I was like wtf? This thread got all the "for it" and the other thread got all the "against it".

Maybe because SO posted a reply in the first comments
is he that intimitading ?

I think his avatar have something to do with it

no one would want to mess with such badass big beard dwarf ahah

edit on 7/6/2012 by Ben81 because: (no reason given)

I know I sure as hell wouldn't want to mess with that dwarf.

I think SO will make better changes soon, something a little more user friendly.

-SAP-