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Layout improvements at AfterDawn.com

30 August 2006 4:35 by Petteri "dRD" Pyyny | 101 comments

After we launched our "innovation contest" couple of weeks ago, we have received quite massive amount of suggestions on how to improve our site. And unlike some companies, we actually do read all the feedback we receive and try to learn from the feedback.

Several changes to the site have been made during the last couple of weeks, all of them based on the feedback we've received from our users. Here's a quick summary of the improvements we've launched so far:

New layout for our top menu
- We have had this "wtf" face on ever since we started reading the feedback from our users. Several suggestions included ideas to "have a software section on your site where users could download tools that relate to your site's subject" or "news section would be nice". We have double-checked our code during the last two weeks way too many times to see whether there's some kind of a catch that prevents regular users from seeing our top navigation. As we couldn't find such bug, we came to a conclusion that the top navigation was simply not visible enough. Well, I assume that is sorted now..
Google search
- Large proportion of the suggestions received complained about our site's search and how bad it is. Many of you suggested to replace the internal search with Google. Well, we did exactly that.
Better BBML/UBB code support
- We have added several improvements to the UBB-support of our forums. These changes are still in "beta", but they'll soon be visible to all forum users, alongside with an improved forum message editor.
Ability to view number of unread private messages easily
- This has been suggested many, many times. And now its there -- if you're logged in, the site's main page shows you how many unread private messages you have.
"Quick jump to last page" added to discussion forums
- Many people hoped to see an ability to quickly jump to the discussion thread's last page from thread list pages. Done.
Mobile/PDA version more visible
- This is not a new feature, but instead a new placement for a link. We were one of the first sites in the world to have PDA and WAP versions of our site available back in 1999, but those versions aren't promoted very much. Now there's a link at the top of the site that will direct visitors to a page explaining how to access our site using mobile phone or PDA.
...tons of minor changes to the system back-end..

This is just the tip of the iceberg and we have tons of new stuff coming up during this autumn. Also, as the competition is still in its infancy, we truly hope that people send us their ideas on how to improve our site and how to make it more accessible for people using the site for the very first time. You can send your ideas to us using this form -- and have a chance to win 1,500 euros..

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Discuss this article!	There are more user comments available, read them here
billybob (Senior Member) 1 September 2006 3:41
Originally posted by "Creaky": - so you thought you'd be better off posting in the bosses' thread ? Lmao. You never cease to make me laugh. Looks good, more modern. I miss the old one, but theres nothing im gonna do about it. Also, i dont visit the site to see how prettyful it looks, i come cause im addicted to you peeps! Lol. All thanks to dvdback23 [ + quote]
21Q (Senior Member) 1 September 2006 6:11
thanks drd, just wondering, I'm learning programing (finally), it's about the only thing I don't know about computers [ + quote]
Mr-Movies (Member) 1 September 2006 9:54
Most of time these days change is bad because changes are made to mask problems or what not but Imust say GOOD JOB! AD obviouly some people will be upset at first but once they get used to it they will hopefully like it. Cudooos.... [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 1 September 2006 9:57
the changes are god I ahve seen far worse soem sites go from nice simple layouts to over the top crap where you cant find your way. in all it needs tweaking but keep on it ^^ [ + quote]
antomic (Member) 1 September 2006 12:03
wow!!! :) they really do listen to me! [ + quote]
puterman (Junior Member) 1 September 2006 13:15
Ok yeah it looks good, but if I wanted google search I'd go to google. I'm here to search and interact in the forums. My advanced forum search on backing up the latest movie gave me over 100 results about cell phones. This is not the same place that hooked me and kept me coming back for years. [ + quote]
NINVIN21 (Senior Member) 1 September 2006 15:51
What happened I was gone for a week. What retard came up with this idea?? Don't fix what aint Brokin!! I really dont care about the looks but this search engine is Trash its got to go I cant find anything, Your killing me. It's hard anuf finding everything cause there is so many Posts and so much info. Do you no How many more of the same questions are going to be asked because people cant find what there looking for. Who ever came up with this idea needs to be fired. PLEASE change the search back before you Kill AFTERDAWN. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 1 September 2006 16:00
NINVIN21 I am a idoit and can find my way around,and to fire the boss of the site is a bit harsh :3 some thigns can be tweaked. [ + quote]
creaky (Moderator) 1 September 2006 16:01
@NINVIN21 - Quote: What retard came up with this idea?? - did you really mean to type that ? Quote: this search engine is Trash its got to go I cant find anything, Your killing me. - it only takes 5 minutes to find things; it's called change.. Quote: It's hard anuf finding everything cause there is so many Posts and so much info. - you should try being me for an hour Quote: Who ever came up with this idea needs to be fired. PLEASE change the search back before you Kill AFTERDAWN. - the owners of the site, i doubt they'll fire themselves [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 1 September 2006 16:06
creaky it took me 5min to find the big orange forum buton on gamepolitics.com after he had to switch back to the LJ format untill he can overhaul stuff. I can stand change altho strange overhauls are to much. [ + quote]
antomic (Member) 1 September 2006 17:07
i dont mind the change too much. the only thing that i didnt like too much was that everything all bubbly like myspace. [ + quote]
Ballpyhon (Inactive) 1 September 2006 20:11
they still need to put a quote button on the forums. other than that it looks basically the same, other than the tabs at the top are a lot bigger now. it still looks good tho. [ + quote]
rav0 (Junior Member) 2 September 2006 0:45
The top bar where it has "My Account, Mobile/PDA, About Us, Advertise here" looks like it's an ad. It's the right font size to be an AdSense ad and the last item says advert as well. Also, the user info being joing to the top bar makes it look unpleasant. Again about the top bar, I think that the "AfterDawn.com \| AfterDawn.com Forums \| Filepedia.com \| MP3Lizard.com \| DVD X Copy Forums \| Blasteroids.com \| Advertise on our sites" links would fit there perfectly. http://www.rav0.be/ [ + quote]
BluRay (Senior Member) 2 September 2006 13:01
I should mention that the search has become better. I, before the change, was actualy thinking of a google powered search engine on AD, you guys did a great job on the search, and I take back what I said in previouse posts and agree that the new look is good, but could be worked on and the tabs should be downsized a little, either that or we can try the idea where you can toggle between the old layout and new layout, like you do with the profile page colour schemes, only it will be layout schemes, if that makes sense at all. [ + quote]
21Q (Senior Member) 2 September 2006 13:26
I dislike the new search very much, the only thing i'm thankful for about the search is that you can use the old version, THANK GOD Thanks to Ireland for the sig. [ + quote]
creaky (Moderator) 2 September 2006 13:37
Truth be told i very rarely used the AD search since i joined here as i live on google and always find/found what i needed quickly; i've contributed to a fair few threads around the place and that involves a large amount of searching and cross-referencing; have also found the AD search to be very good to, though i've never had to use it very much. (i guess i use AD's search only really for seeking out multiposts and/or finding very easily most or all of the posts by a given poster). To have both searches easily accessible helps matters. As someone who searches very heavily in every PC sitting (ie probably more than most people, whether it's for contributing to threads and/or moderating), i can vouch for the search function being very good indeed. gif created by phantom69, he's a good lad Forum Rules - http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487 'Verbatim Taiyo Yuden', Verbatim DataLifePlus, & vanilla Taiyo Yuden are the ONLY media allowed near my Burners. ..Memorex/CMC/Imation/HP/TDK - don't let them near your Burner... - http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/232406 .. NO MORE "Help me bridge" ADVERTISEMENT TYPE POSTS... - http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/287456 [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 2 September 2006 13:48
What I like about the search is having the option. I like the fact that I still use the old one to search through different threads. and i just use normal google page to search for the different software or guides that are not posted in aD. Edited by DVDBack23 "the mediocre teacher tells. the good teacher explains. the superior teacher demonstrates. the great teacher inspires."- William Aruthur Ward [ + quote]
vadimo (Member) 3 September 2006 4:06
i liked th old design, looked very smart & more orginized . I dont like the idea of AD site taking 100% of my screen. [ + quote]
face123 (AfterDawn Addict) 3 September 2006 6:50
Is it me or do the tabs look smaller now? If so that's a good improvement. thanks to Jamaal10 for this signature. [ + quote]
Ballpyhon (Inactive) 3 September 2006 10:02
the tabs are actually a lot bigger. maybe you held down ctrl while scrolling. My mom taught me to share, how about you? [ + quote]
face123 (AfterDawn Addict) 3 September 2006 10:26
No I dont me the old desighn were there wasent really tabs at all. Before when they had the new desighn the tabs looked bigger but now today the look smaller then the new old desighn. Hopefully you know what I mean... thanks to Jamaal10 for this signature. [ + quote]
Ballpyhon (Inactive) 3 September 2006 11:50
honestly the only thing i would change is i would put the "my account" bar below the search bar. My mom taught me to share, how about you? [ + quote]
face123 (AfterDawn Addict) 3 September 2006 14:23
Nah it's fine there in the corner. Maby the little bit of black up high should be changed to the backround say blue? Just my thoughts. thanks to Jamaal10 for this signature. [ + quote]
garmoon (AfterDawn Addict) 3 September 2006 17:43
I second face123's recommendation about the black at the top. [ + quote]
fog05 (Newbie) 4 September 2006 4:46
Quote: silver95: "Much as I hate to say it.. with adblock+ and Filterset.G enabled, I'm stuck with a big, ugly, almost 6-inch space at the top, with nothing but the AfterDawn logo and a couple links just floating there. I know the site is run by ads, as all other sites are, but I'm sure some of the issues might be able to be easily resolved by not using things like "ad" in a file/directory or stylesheet/script name." Ankoku: Has anybody found a fix to this, I used IE to see the new page, and it looks awesome, but AD just ain't the same on Firefox. I'am sure it's not only problem you have with that shiy Filterset.G, it's not even updated last 3 months. Hint: EasyList is much better. If that one has problem filters, you can disable any specific filter. (but only if you use Adblock Plus 0.7.x) [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4 September 2006 4:50**
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 5 September 2006 13:18
Yo boss and mods the November launch for Toshiba HD-DVD news post is messed up he post link goes to BBC.com,and its not in the news comment thread 0-o I cant find that other thread where you report oddiests sorry >< [ + quote]