Heh.. nice edit-save-attempt, but you also *might* have forgotten that there needs to be a footer ad somewhere.
Also, long thread titles sort of clip beneath the return to thread button when viewing a single post;
http://f.cl.ly/items/160J1i1j3A2w3A2r1l2g/2012-03-22%20at%2010:23.png[img][/QUOTE]
Oops. haha. Also I'm wondering if the Go To Page can just replace itself with the input field, and likewise replace the Back and Refresh buttons with first and last, to avoid a super stack of buttons.
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A NeoGAF iPhone Web App
- Thread starter ckohler
- Start date
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No, single-step forum switching has been fundamental to NeoGAF site design for a decade. It serves as a means to return to the parent thread list from a given thread, and accessing any other forum's thread list is just as easy and simple no matter where you are. I'm pretty open to how such a thing is implemented, but once you put a forum multiple steps away it might as well be 100 steps away. If people are going to hang out in a single forum, it shouldn't be for navigational reasons.
Nope, need one action switch between gaming and OT.
If a single button tap to switch forums needs to be there, what about something like this:
within the title bar, reading from left to right.
neogaf orb (unchanged) / “Forum Title” text tappable to switch forums / arrow icon to jump to top or bottom of screen/ menu button (unchanged)
it reduces the tap target to jump down the page but at least now there’s a visible icon to start the action. the current behaviour of the title in the iOS themed app is retained and allows for single tap switching.
the menu is still there with the more explicit buttons for switching forums or moving to other areas in the app.
within the title bar, reading from left to right.
neogaf orb (unchanged) / “Forum Title” text tappable to switch forums / arrow icon to jump to top or bottom of screen/ menu button (unchanged)
it reduces the tap target to jump down the page but at least now there’s a visible icon to start the action. the current behaviour of the title in the iOS themed app is retained and allows for single tap switching.
the menu is still there with the more explicit buttons for switching forums or moving to other areas in the app.
Neuromancer
Member
Can someone post the mockup URL please?
Neuromancer
Member
Thanks guys
People have been using the web app for what, four years now? The old version didn't have that ability either, and as much as I can remember, people weren't ever vocal about such a feature.
Regardless, I get what you mean, and it would be a neat thing to have if it can be implemented right. It'll be interesting to see how that's done, though.
At the same time, lets not forget that all you need to do is tap the grid button to access the other boards, so I doubt that extra tap is going to serve as a navigational barrier for people to stick to a single board.
It's actually the same amount of taps as previously. Non-mockup version has an "Do you want to go to OT/Gaming? Yes/No" popup, so two taps in either version as it currently stands.
Neuromancer
Member
Personally I bookmark Gaming, Off Topic, Subscribed and Inbox so they're all two touches away no matter where I am on any given page.
The older webapp does have the ability to switch between gaming and OT instantly. You click on the "View forum" at the top of the forum page and it switches you to the other.
Maybe not when it's included as part of the standard UI flow, but you'd be surprised at how GAF was when Off Topic was relatively new and "Return to Parent" and "Forum Jump Dropdown Box" were the means of switching to it.
By the way, that dropdown is still in the User CP template.
It's two taps in either version.
Right, but as tunesmith said, that still requires a tap to display the option, then another tap to get there. With the mockup, it's basically the same: tap the grid button, then tap the board of choice.
If it were to be implemented without a 'would you like to' pop up, that's another thing entirely, and it would need to be far more obvious than in the older web app.
I believe it.
I suppose I just can't see in what way it could be elegantly implemented with a single tap from anywhere, without drastically changing the top bar style. I suppose that's what we've got ckohler for! DefectiveReject
Banned
Your design is fine.
Never listen to the masses when making changes. Gather all comments, put them together and if something appears a few times then look at it. Otherwise it's just personal taste.
For your forum switching, you could just make the neogaf globe the goto switch for switching between Gaming and OT, and have a link to the main menu in the click to view menu.
Never listen to the masses when making changes. Gather all comments, put them together and if something appears a few times then look at it. Otherwise it's just personal taste.
For your forum switching, you could just make the neogaf globe the goto switch for switching between Gaming and OT, and have a link to the main menu in the click to view menu.
I don't think EviLore has actually requested the bolded bit. He said a single press to switch, which implies it's only if you're already viewing one or the other. When within a gaming thread you'd still have to press the menu button to go to the off-topic thread list, or vice-versa. It should probably be clarified before ckohler starts working on it.
I think the best way to implement it is to have the forum's own logo next to its title, which switches you when pressed. Not sure the space invader would look great in that context so it should probably be changed.
The problem with that is when you're in the community forum or subscriptions there wouldn't be a home link in the main menu, the GAF orb would presumably still serve that function, which seems really unintuitive.
That's a fair point, but this is going to be the first 'official' version so it's more important that it works how the site admin wants it.
Thank you for the feedback. Here are some ideas:
New header with perminant forum jump buttons. There's no way to fit these buttons in the header and make anything text wise legible so how's this, instead?
Here's a new footer with an easier to find New Reply/New Thread button. This'll also put the search and user menu at the bottom also. I figure this menu when expanded can also contain the same forum jump buttons as the top but hidden initially unlike the top where they are always shown.
PERFECT! :lol
I also dig the way you implemented jump links. Though does the drop down links need to be text only? Why not have them visually (with icons) as before? Also, would it be possible for the permanent board jump buttons to be hidden through a toggle in the preferences?
Indeed... we're getting close
(these aren't my complaints btw, just the ones i've seen from different posters in here over the past several pages)
-No indication that the top status bar serves as a quick jump to bottom/top
-Pagination controls too inline/connected to the last post in a thread (needs gap)
-How to implement top posters and subscribe features.
Once again, great stuff ckohler. Since I already did these, might as well post them;
There wouldn't be enough space for the triangle arrow to be displayed when in-thread, but it would be something the user already learned from the board page, so it isn't even necessary in-thread imo.
The Faceless Master
Member
Yeah, the reply button confused me for about 10 seconds, everything else has been great. I can see why the 'back' function on the logo would confuse iOS users since they don't have the multiple buttons like WP/Android. The #1 thing I love is Community being in the shortcut menu now. That's awesome.
Ckohler, always remember that people respond negatively very fast. I'm sure there are lots of people with few/no complaints that just don't post their praise in the thread.
I've been using the mockup quite a bit on my iPad, and i'm surprised at how good it is for the tablet form factor. For some reason I thought it would look too much like an iPod app stretched, but it didn't.
I especially like the fact that when in-thread, the whole title can be displayed on the menu bar due to pixel space. The only thing that looks sort of out of place and a bit goofy, are the ads.
They're just so small, and especially obvious in landscape mode. Would there be a way to have the web app know if you're using a tablet, and use GAF Prime ads (728x90) instead? It'd look more appropriate;
Though i'm sure ironing out the kinks/prioritizing the mobile version/layout is more pressing, but a lot of people seem to be using the mockup on tablets (esp with the new iPad influx) so I thought i'd bring it up.
I especially like the fact that when in-thread, the whole title can be displayed on the menu bar due to pixel space. The only thing that looks sort of out of place and a bit goofy, are the ads.
They're just so small, and especially obvious in landscape mode. Would there be a way to have the web app know if you're using a tablet, and use GAF Prime ads (728x90) instead? It'd look more appropriate;
Though i'm sure ironing out the kinks/prioritizing the mobile version/layout is more pressing, but a lot of people seem to be using the mockup on tablets (esp with the new iPad influx) so I thought i'd bring it up.
Neuromancer
Member
Also is there any small chance we can pick the colors of our own highlight? That would be awesome.
Up and down arrows? If you're talking about going to top and bottom of the page, just hit the blue bars.
Neuromancer
Member
Thanks, didn't realize you could do that.
Up/down arrows or shapes should be pretty easy to sneak into the header/footer. Maybe shade it like the GAF logo but up/down instead?
Yeah, I think there's enough space to slap it in there and remain unobtrusive yet obvious as to what it is denoting. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=36267490&postcount=3492
Okay, I'm working on adding those permeant forum jump links to the top beneath the header. Having used it some already, I have to admit, they make the top of every page look a messy compared to before. It almost doubles the amount of vertical space separating the header of a thread and the first post. It's not terrible, mind you, it's just not as esthetically pleasing as when those buttons are hidden by default.
Maybe it's not as bad as I think. Once they're added to the mockup, you guys (mods especially) should try it and decide if the somewhat busier looking header is worth the trade off of saving a click.
Maybe it's not as bad as I think. Once they're added to the mockup, you guys (mods especially) should try it and decide if the somewhat busier looking header is worth the trade off of saving a click.
I think it's become apparent that even a tap away is too much for them at this point, so the real question is how enforced will it be.
For example, does it NEED to be there when in-thread? Wouldn't it be sufficient to have it displayed only when browsing the boards/PMsubs etc pages?
Or perhaps there could be options in the preferences to hide it when in-thread view, or hide it everywhere. Looking forward to the next mockup update regardless. Keep it up.
But at that point you would require a tap on the menu bar to jump you to the bottom, and then another to tap to jump to that forum, so it would be no different from the two-tap system, we have now.
Any thoughts on making the quick menu in the header/footer a customizable button that defaults to jumping between OT and Gaming for the bottom header, and the quick menu for the top header?
1- Jump between OT Gaming
2- Jump to OT
3- Jump to Gaming
4- Jump to Community
5- Jump to Subs
6- Jump to PMs
7- Quick Menu
Agreed. The mockup makes for a better reading experience in portrait than the full site does on the new iPad for me.
I love it.
mattiewheels
And then the LORD David Bowie saith to his Son, Jonny Depp: 'Go, and spread my image amongst the cosmos. For every living thing is in anguish and only the LIGHT shall give them reprieve.'
I'll say that the only time I really need to hop between forums is when I get to the bottom of a page, so they could be very useful down below instead of up above.
I think that would cause too much unnecessary redundancy, and not to mention work on ckohlers part, that I don't see the practicality if you can access all that stuff in a fairly easy 'default' way regardless.
Yeah, I wonder if evilore thinks the single tap way is absolutely necessary when in-thread as well. But even if so, putting it in the footer vs header in-thread could be a toggle/option thing.
I don't think it's too cluttered if you put it beneath the ad, since all the pagination stuff is above the advert gap. But good point, being at the bottom of the page in-thread makes more practical sense anyway.
It would prevent the clutter that's sort presenting itself right now, as well give flexibility to users.
Most importantly, I get my quick link to subscriptions at the bottom. =D
weekend_warrior
Banned
What's everyone's favorite mobile web browser? I'm on a 1st-gen ipod touch, should I stick with safari or upgrade to something else?
Neuromancer
Member
I'm a big fan of Atomic. It's got tabs and full screen browsing, also multitouch gestures. Not sure how well it runs on a 1st gen device but you can always try the free version.
I'm not getting that in my Safari.
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