Open Member Testing: ATS.5/3 Final Release Candidate

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


I can't escape the sneaking suspicion that all that empty space everyone is complaining about off to the right isn't reserved for more ad space once the thing gets up and running. I really can't see any other reason for it. I've also noticed that it shrinks the space available for posts and pics and has caused some older threads to appear a little messed up.

In This thread it results in the text being pushed down underneath a pic instead of wrapping around the pic as can be seen in the older version.

I'm also going to miss the Friends function. I used it to follow members who consistently posted good threads. I can understand dumping the foes function but, I think we should keep the friends function or at least allow us to "follow" other members the same way we subscribe to threads.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord
I know when I was on yesterday or the day before. the site was brighter. It did seem cleaner. Easier to understand. But mainly I come here for news and to read what peoples opinions are on most topics I find interesting. All in all I give it a 7.5 out of 10, which is a go in my book.

I tried to access the new website on my google tablet and got 'you do not have permission to access' and there was no sign in box. Was hoping to see how things showed there. Hope this is just a glitch for the test as I love the new design.

dreamingawake

Darkblade71
reply to post by AboveBoard

 

I know the friend/respected foe list is gone, but the points are still there although I don't see them either. I had asked about that during the beta and was told the points are still going to be kept, but the friend list is going bye bye, along with the profile wall, and ability to put a personal message in your profile about yourself.

The Friends/Foes, profile wall and messages add personality to the profiles. Though, I don't believe everyone uses them might be the case for removal besides the main reason of streamlining the member profile. Personally I'd rather see a simplified Friends lists and short member profile over, if possible, the basic stats post per thread and day tallies as follows:

flags per thread:
stars per post:
threads per day:
posts per day:

What would the purpose of that be besides users tallying their own posting per thread and day?

Plus the posts per forum thread below that.

I'm also wondering if the profile changes are finalized.

Try clicking that little person icon in the lower left of your avatar space. "go to profile". Everything's tallied pretty well in there.

I am getting a 404 error when I click on recent posts from the menu at the bottom of a page.

I have to say, the desktop view seems to have improved with even the minor tweaking I've seen so far. The mobile view is beautiful!

Very nice.

Still not a big fan of the emoticons, but I guess we can work on that here.

One of the first things I did was visit this old thread of mine. A Guide to BBCode on ATS

It's interesting to see what doesn't work now- particularly the text color options. I really hope this is not a feature that is disappearing.

Also, this post shows what emoticons stayed and which ones are gone.

SO...are we limited to just the emoticons that currently work? I really would miss the *wow* one. This is a conspiracy site after all. *duh* (Miss that one too.) Both very useful....

Example of poor human interface design.

We have gone from the original, where the element was a simple word that was clickable, to a slightly larger (vertically and horizontally) combination of icon and word.

And yet, ONLY the icon is clickable. The word next to it has no function except to explain what the logo is.
So therefore, the logo is seen to be so unintuitive that the designers had to put an explanation next to it at all times. But paradoxically, the word next to it is so intuitive that it could attract clicks... that dont work, because it is not clickable.



Now of course the designers could then say"ok, we'll make the word next it clickable also", but then the logo itself would serve no purpose whatsoever.

Its an example of poor human interface design, for no purpose except to make pretty eye candy.

Furthermore, its also fails the principle of website Internal Consistency.
If you look to the top of the page, you see other icons for Home, Top, Hot, New...etc... that behave in a different way.

May I suggest to the web designers that if you want to go down the path of "pretty" web pages, then change the inconsistent "linkedit", "quote" and "reply" icons so they look the same and operate the same as the ones elsewhere on the page.

reply to post by loam


You may have to write a new guide. Heaven knows I've referred back to your guide many a time. No more hex codes for colors.

bigfatfurrytexan is spear-heading the smilie project. Linky.

Example of poor human interface design.

The "forums" link on the bar at the of of the page, and the "reply" option in the thread use exactly the same icon, but the icons means different things.

Its a failure of website internal consistency.

Furthermore, both of the "reply" options use different logos for the same function.



May I suggest changing the reply logo in the thread to the single speech bubble version used at the bottom of the page.

For what it's worth I absolutely LOVE this new look. No offense intended but the look of ATS as it has been has, shall I say, not been aesthetically pleasing to my senses. I'm sure there are many who don't want a change but as far as I'm concerned this new design cannot go into effect soon enough! I think it will actually inspire me to spend more time here and be more active than I have been.

Obviously, users are not allowed to edit other users postings. Only your own.
But although the "edit" icon is removed, the "edit" word still remains.



Top: somebody elses post.
Bottom: as seen on my own posts.

Looks good, needs a bit of polish on the UI I think but that can come with time.

I cannot get the new chat to work. I 'chat' but no one sees it? I have looked at every setting I can find, and nada. How do I fix it?

reply to post by Iamschist


I got nothin. I haven't had a single problem. I see you in chat, and I see you're typing, but your messages never show up. Try updating Flash?

reply to post by Zaphod58


I am so frustrated!!! It worked earlier so I don't think it is my flash but I will give it a go.

reply to post by Iamschist


That's the only thing I can think of that would cause that problem.

reply to post by loam

Here's the text color options for 5/3...not sure if they are the same or???


www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by SkepticOverlord
I am hoping that this will be the actual size(I'm on my laptop)...so much easier for us folks with not so great of eye sight...

Hey.....this is pretty sharp! Well done!!

The home page has shed the "Deny Ignorance" motto.

Is this something we're hoping will attract more people? Is "Deny Ignorance" too agressive?

Harte