[Closed] Adaptive STW

[img] [/img]

Quick mock up of how you could still retain the info for each post. Obviously make it a lot prettier than that.

I know. But previously I could squeeze the browser window and it fell off the side (with a scroll bar to bring it back over).

Now I can't, the site switches to mobile instead.

Horrible getting to last page/post on a multi page thread like the zwift one.

I don't know what you lot are on about.
It looks exactly the same to me on't computer, and much nicer on my phone.
Nice little upgrade.

Also on iPad when you can figure out how to get to your posting history, you get a big articles box in the top corner obscuring the times.

Can we have the old site back please?

Horrible getting to last page/post on a multi page thread like the zwift one.

There is a Latest Reply link at the top of each page so you can get to the end quite easily, but it's a bit of a pain compared to previous site.

I don't know what you lot are on about.
It looks exactly the same to me on't computer,

I didn't spot it at first either. On a desktop, if you resize the browser window width it automatically switches to the mobile version of the site. Looks to be a threshold of about 1000 pixels.

Bug? If I resize the window to force the mobile site, click the menu, then resize it back out again, the mobile menu reappears in the left-hand column. Which I actually quite like and to my mind would be good to be there permanently, but it covers up prospective ad space and doubt it's intended behaviour.

Also, resizing in Edge (where I've no premier login or other add-ons) it properly goes to shit. Adverts cover half the screen, the menu shoves all the content offscreen, and resizing back out with the menu open causes all the content to fall off the bottom.

Front page is very slow to load and with a couple of issues (W10/Chrome)- this was after a minute
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/660/31654936352_9ced17f0ce_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/660/31654936352_9ced17f0ce_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QeePJG ]STW front page[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

No issue on the front page here. Loaded pretty much instantly for me.
(Firefox 50.1/Ancient PC/Vista on home ADSL/P User + A*B****k)

however to counter the design disaster you have inflicted on the PC/Win7/IE view, the forum is now actually readable from my phone

nexus4/firefox

so swings and roundabouts

Good:

Now works MUCH better on my handheld mobile device, the page loads up considerably faster and it hasn't crashed since the update (used to crash very regularly)

Bad:

Not being able to skip to the end of the thread. Quite a problem! 🙂

Overall- great improvement, well done! 🙂

While your playing with the forum - can you make it wider on desktops too? It's very narrow on todays big monitors.

Personally, I might be tempted to reduce the main breakpoint to 960px or even 768px. It was always fine to browse on a tablet in landscape.
At the very least, I would make it <1024 (instead of <1025).

Just my opinion.

the-muffin-man - Member

While your playing with the forum - can you make it wider on desktops too? It's very narrow on todays big monitors.

On a desktop, if you resize the browser window width it automatically switches to the mobile version of the site

Is this why it looks totally crazy on my (admittedly possibly unique use case) of a Portrait oriented PC monitor? Get adverts covering up probably the entire right hand 3rd of a page over the top of topics / posts etc.

The problem with that is text-line length. Go too wide and it is far harder to read.

[img] [/img]

They've totally fubarred the PC desktop version, it prioritises the ads over the rest of the site, so when its in mobile version i.e. narrow, you can't read anything. That's the same problem on Chrome, IE and Edge although Edge is worst.

As acidtest said early (I think) go back to the old version, get the new one ready properly, then relaunch. This version is worse than the old one - even in a Brexshit world, we dont need to do that everywhere.

There is also something wrong with the font sizing on desktops, my last post has huge text and Cougars above is displaying much smaller (same size as the old site). WTF?

They've totally fubarred the PC desktop version, it prioritises the ads over the rest of the site, so when its in mobile version i.e. narrow, you can't read anything.

As acidtest said early (I think) go back to the old version, get the new one ready properly, then relaunch. This version is worse than the old one

+1

Roll back to old version, enjoy the Christmas & New Year, then relaunch working version in late January.

It wasn't like that earlier,

Yes it was.

As acidtest said early (I think) go back to the old version, get the new one ready properly, then relaunch. This version is worse than the old one

+2

+3

After posting it was OK on the other thread, i then tried to narrow the window to half a screen and all hell broke loose.

I'm a fan of the new adaptive style - and very happy with the plan of putting it into live then dealing with issues as found.

Pinch and zoom - We are aware of the issues with different browsers. Our plan is to eliminate the need entirely. I'd like to see a editable font size controls. We are looking into it.

Disabling pinch and zoom was a bad idea. Please could you ask Ali to have a look at [url= http://adrianroselli.com/2015/10/dont-disable-zoom.html ]http://adrianroselli.com/2015/10/dont-disable-zoom.html[/url] for a good analysis of why disabling zoom is wrong. Editable font size is great, but is only one reason users have for zoom.

For any users running Chrome on Android you can re-enable zoom in Settings > Accessiblity > Force enable zoom.

tbh on my mobile it all works brilliantly and looks like its from the facebook page feed (which is good)

However on a desk top its rubbish.

I'm sure someone's mentioned this; difficult to check though as I can't read a lot of the posts! On iPad the sidebar totally obscures the top right of the screen. At the bottom of the sidebar there's a link to "sidebar preferences" but that just takes you to your account settings.

This is hilarious 🙂

I especially like the puke-green login/post buttons.

@zilog - not seeing that when I make the browser window narrower on the desktop (see earlier posts) so unless it's a Safari problem rather than the iPad?

Actually I don't see an option for sidebar preferences either on desktop or phone.

I think it is responsive rather than adaptive as it resizes according to the size of your browser rather than predefined screen sizes. Unless someone points out that they are all predefined (rather than fluid) in which case I will eat my Christmas cracker paper party hat.

I think the changes are all good and as has been said before, there are always bugs to iron out. Users also always generally hate change and moan for a while before generally forgetting what they are moaning about. Well done STW dev people. I also like the deployment approach of "whack it live just before Christmas and everyone will be too drunk to realize".

I personally don't have an issue with decent changes to this forum - god knows its massively lacking in features!
Even the dinosaur that is Pistonheads has avatars, sigs, email linking and messaging, etc.
At no cost.
Many smaller forums have PM's, avatars, etc.
Stating the lack of above is due to data, etc is utter crap as they can be hotlinked, stored offsite, etc.
Much more than just the visual layout needs doing.
Its not like they aren't things that have been being asked for for years.
No wonder you are losing Premier members when what your paying customers are asking for is getting ignored....

[quote=hammyuk ]No wonder you are losing Premier members when what your paying customers are asking for is getting ignored....Oh - I didn't know that there were fewer Premium members. When was that published?

[quote=IHN ]I don't want avatars or signatures, I don't need PM as I have email.
That too

I don't want avatars or signatures, I don't need PM as I have email.

Argh please change it back! Seems ok at first but the list of things I'm finding that aren't working or are now missing are making STW a right pain 🙁

I don't want avatars or signatures

+1, they're awful pointless screen clutter.

Stangely enough, the website looks no different to me on desktop, and works quite nicely in "mobile friendly" view on the phone...

W10/Chrome and Android 4/Chrome if that helps anyone?

The only thing about the mobile view is you can't go back to "forum overview" from the top of the thread, only to the sub forum (chat or bike etc). There's a link at the bottom of the thread though so I guess it's no biggie.

I don't want avatars or signatures,

Signatures are pointless clutter, but I'd be in favour of avatars. Helps keep track of who's who.

I wonder if they've fixed the list format uber-fubar?

[list]yes
No
Maybe?
[/list]

[list][*]wonder what this does? [/*][/list]

Ha!
Still knackered.

All is well with the world

Feature request

Can you make the post count on the forum list link to last post in a thread?

And put a forum page link at the foot of each thread.

Pap.

And that's the thread borked. jolly good

Stating the lack of above is due to data, etc is utter crap as they can be hotlinked, stored offsite, etc.

Maybe not much more data but it puts a lot more stress on the database, disk i/o, memory and cpu's. I'm all for a more up to date forum though as this one is a complete dinosaur when it comes to features.

lol, now quotes are broken. Glad I'm not the dev on this one 🙂

[quote=acidtest ]lol, now quotes are broken. Glad I'm not the dev on this one Err

[/*]

It's a css problem, the quotes are there but the css is fawked.

Fixed. Don't do that again. (-:

Interestingly, the reflow copes quite well with the bug (other than popping a bullet point between each post).

Nice work Stoner 🙂
Be careful though or someone might offer you a job as a software tester.

This is hilarious

I'm loving how seriously people are taking this - you're only here to waste your time folks. You'd think STW had accidentally unplugged the dialysis machine to switch on the fairy lights.

Phew 🙂

is it perma-fix?

[list]yes
No
Maybe?
[/list]

Ooooh...

That's even [s]better[/s] worse!

[quote=maccruiskeen ]I'm loving how seriously people are taking this - you're only here to waste your time folks. You'd think STW had accidentally unplugged the dialysis machine to switch on the fairy lights.TBH, I'm just happy reporting everything that's broken as that seems the best way to get it fixed. The alternative approach of running a proper beta test with a closed usergroup might be more suitable if, as you suggest, it was something life-critical or financially sensitive.

or financially sensitive.

You obviously don't bank with Smile 🙂

I still like it, I think it's ace.

How do I see who started a thread? Obviously it's important to know whether a thread has been started by a northerner so as to avoid the gravy and whippets in flat caps.

Cannot read from iPod Touch as the font is too small with no ability to adjust font size etc.

Oh well ... no more reading in the loo.

Oh - I didn't know that there were fewer Premium members. When was that published?

It wasn't and there aren't

Don't come in here with your facts!

😆

Bonkers crazy changing text size & boldness depending on the width of the browser window.
Narrow window = bigger text ok
Wider = even bigger text plus bold
Full width = normal

Chrome on window.
Plus the annoying singletrack banner at the top.
But I am freeloading scum.

New forum [s]skin[/s] coming in...erm..2016?

And put a forum page link at the foot of each thread

^that. "skip to top" is not the same thing.

love that folk are still whining about pms and avatars like its 2002 again

as for the sizing, i understand that your advert 1/3 is more important to you as publishers, but the forum 2/3 is important to your traffic. how you want to prioritise that is up to you.

Stoner 🙂

Narrow window = bigger text ok
Wider = even bigger text plus bold

If I make the window wider the text gets smaller, not bigger.

Firefox on windows.

I think it's nice, just need to ban the half dozen or so full time forumite people who follow each other around half the threads on here turning them into endless pages of petty bickering over each other and it'll be sweeeet 😉

If no one has mentioned it yet, please sort out the positioning of the "Don't Miss" box in the top right hand corner, it covers over stuff, bit like the buttons over the emoji's. Viewing on an iPad btw.

Thank you. 😆

EDIT: Actually, can you please email me when you're done user testing and have ironed out all the annoying things as described. Lordy knows how it is for the nonP's, it's rather irritating here, and I like change generally. I'll log back in when I've got the nod. Bye.

Lordy knows how it is for the nonP's, it's rather irritating here, and I like change generally. I'll log back in when I've got the nod. Bye.

I know you've flounced off and all but as a non p I don't have any issues after a bit of firefox add on installation. Apart from the stupid snot green 'send post/preview/etc' buttons it's all fine for me.

Screw pm's and avatars, give me an 'ignore' poster function, way handier 😆

[img] [/img]

Screw pm's and avatars, give me an 'ignore' poster function, way handier

It's crazy I know, but modern forums have all three. Plus a reply button which doesn't necessitate copying and pastering.

Adds Jamie to 'The List'.... 😉

Can't zoom, text is disappearing behind the adverts on the right, on an iPad mini. Major step backwards :((

Jamie - Member
Screw pm's and avatars, give me an 'ignore' poster function, way handier
It's crazy I know, but modern forums have all three. Plus a reply button which doesn't necessitate copying and pastering.

Amazing isn't it....
How so many other forums manage it...
To have almost no issues
With lots of features
That work
And all without any charge to the users.
Many with forum sponsors as well as decent adverts that don't **** up the browser every 30seconds...

I could list so many!
www.babybmw.net as an example of how to do a forum with adverts, with pm's, with avatars, even signatures if you want them all without cocking up browsers, taking up screen space, crashing, logging you out constantly, opening links in a NEW window rather than the existing one, etc.

To be fair I guess that bugs are to be expected when you aren't operating on corporate level budgets.

The only things which are annoying that aren't obviously bugs or haven't already been pointed out are the adverts which stretch across the screen mid thread which keep making me think I reached the bottom (which I know I could fix myself!) and that there is too much padding in each posts row. I can only fit 4 single line posts on my phone screen (7 on my desktop) at a time.

It's crazy I know, but modern forums have all three.

Doesn't make them good - plenty of [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/ ]those "modern" forums[/url] are full of visual crap and clutter. I've always liked the minimalist feel this place has.

You think thats cluttered GrahamS? 🙄

[img] [/img]
And I don't like the green used for the send post button.

http://www.babybmw.net as an example of how to do a forum with adverts, with pm's, with avatars, even signatures if you want them

Another good example of a forum with tons of pointless visual clutter.

This place is much cleaner and easier to read than that.

Doesn't make them good - plenty of those "modern" forums are full of visual crap and clutter. I've always liked the minimalist feel this place has.