ATS.5/3 Preview Video: see the big changes coming soon to ATS!

Here's a (somewhat rough) preview video that showcases some of the major changes coming in ATS.5/3:

(best viewed in full-screen, or on YouTube with expanded window)

The "guts" of the discussion board is working in ATS.5/3, and our staff has been playing with it for a couple weeks now. This video will show you the new clean and minimal design that puts everything you need within easier reach, and eliminates just about everything you don't need.

Our focus is an advanced community platform that is optimized for mobile users, while still being exceptionally efficient for desktop users -- no small task.


And yes -- a dark version of the UI will be available, but not finished until the entire site is complete.

I have a feeling I'm going to go blind.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


are you using the VP9 codec?
its just finished and royalty free,
so is the opus audio codec,
can you add support for these codecs?

please

xploder

Looks like it will take a bit of getting used to, but be the type of change that comes to be loved too. I'm assuming this is all cross platform compatible to the widest extent realistically possible, as had been a goal from the start of the redesign right? (phone, tablet..?). I think it looks great myself and am really looking forward to having it to explore.

(...so that's what the staff has been busy with like elves in Santa's workshop... I've wondered at times, in looking at the online list. So many on and so little to see. Busy with new things, I see! )

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Haven't got a clue about the 'techy' side of things but on first viewing it looks good - quick and simple.
ATS has come a long way.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Reckon I will be awaiting the Dark UI with anticipation... White backgrounds are murder on the eye. Also, the uniform colour scheme in terms of the forum icons is more... well... uniform and all, and probably will win an award for design, but its easier at a glance to go to the one you want if you dont have to stare at it for a few seconds before realising which shapes are involved. The multicoloured ones will probably be more user friendly, allowing for faster recognition.

Other than that, fair enough.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
Here's a (somewhat rough) preview video that showcases some of the major changes coming in ATS.5/3:

(best viewed in full-screen, or on YouTube with expanded window)

The "guts" of the discussion board is working in ATS.5/3, and our staff has been playing with it for a couple weeks now. This video will show you the new clean and minimal design that puts everything you need within easier reach, and eliminates just about everything you don't need.

Our focus is an advanced community platform that is optimized for mobile users, while still being exceptionally efficient for desktop users -- no small task.


And yes -- a dark version of the UI will be available, but not finished until the entire site is complete.

Cool, well, thanks for messaging people about this. I have been involved in web companies in multiple roles for awhile now.

The UI looks decent, maintaining to a lot of principles, but overall does not seem to segregate info an an easy to follow way; like when I read a wall of text on drudgereport and have to drudge my way through, if I even visit at all (which I rarely ever do)

The sections all look grey to me in the videos, color coding really helps in the current format to distinguish forums. Perhaps that can be done in the new layout too?

Left align menu text, no right align imo

Recent post page looks great so far, can't wait to see it in action, with forever scroll

I look forward to the MyATS and easy-to-find upload image area. Complete with backwards compatible images that don't get erased along with many other platform change issues not just including SEO =b

The new thread tools seem more user friendly and social-networking friendly as well, very cool, I can't wait to try it all out, though I won't use the social features in my everyday life.

Is there a beta site you can link to test and get public feedback? I have done this stuff a bit before

And yes -- a dark version of the UI will be available, but not finished until the entire site is complete.

Phew that's a relief , I like the look of some of the changes but white just doesn't feel right .
Will we get a Beta test of it before it goes live ?

It does look clean, no more dark background, but i wonder is it possible to put a date and time that a thread was started? Not sure if you are finalized or not, just a thought. When is this rolling out, i think i missed that.

It looks like you kept Backgrounds and colors on them? Also MyATS. If so I am deliriously happy and fully on board! Take me to the future!. Looks like fun. I look forward to trying out all the features.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


The color scheme looks hideous. Uncreative and bland.

If you were going for that trapped in a sterilized, overly lit with fluorescent lights office cubical filling out TPS reports for the next 12 hours feeling, you nailed it.

Please make the UI toggleable between new and old in the settings.

I think it looks incredibly cool. Looking forward to it!

Wrabbit2000
I'm assuming this is all cross platform compatible to the widest extent realistically possible, as had been a goal from the start of the redesign right? (phone, tablet..?).

Yes.

Right now, even at this stage, the site is working great as a full-screen WebApp on my iPad and iPhone. When complete, all members/users need to do is save the site home page to the home screen of their device -- launch that, and it suddenly works and feels like a native app.

It has a lot of great advantages that cannot be seen at first sight,only when online,just wait to work with it.

Much faster reliable and easier to use.

Bring IT! Will there be colour styles like white OR black because all white gives me Migraines! also with the off topic postings can we please have a button to see what was posted please make the off topic post sign be the button so we can see what was posted it's very annoying not being able to see what was posted and no good trying to guess have it in a drop down box It's just a suggestion It would be highly appreciated by late posters that haven't seen the posts hope that wouldn't be too much trouble to implement.

I think this will look great on mobile devices, which obviously is the point.

But I have to say, the dust has not settled yet on the unfavorable impact mobile is having on the desktop experience. (More of a comment about the net, than specifically ATS.)

I guess I'm one of the few who thinks it's still premature to treat small screens and big screens as if they were the same animal.

But back to the changes....they are certainly nice enough for my mobile device-- a definite improvement there.

I guess I'll have to just mourn the loss of the desktop aesthetics for now... (I actually predict in another few years or so, they'll be back. )

Philippines
The sections all look grey to me in the videos, color coding really helps in the current format to distinguish forums. Perhaps that can be done in the new layout too?

Great design is more about reduction than anything else. What we're striving to do is to reduce the site "chrome" to the essence of what's needed, and places focus on member content in the best possible way.

A lot of design research (and blood, sweat, and tears) tells us colors are so subjective, which shapes are distinctive. That's why we moved to big bold shapes in the new icons.

The wall of text problem will always be an issue for sites like ATS (discussion boards) on certain pages. White space (reduction) and formatting are the best we can do to alleviate it.

Is there a beta site you can link to test and get public feedback?

There will be an invite-only beta site once it's all ready for prime time. There's still a lot of work, especially in the media queries of the CSS.

That forever scroll looks rad

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


Oh goody! I can't wait I agree Chrome looks like crap but white is gonna give me migraines!