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[noah111]

[EDIT] Damnit, OCD got to the best of me and I redid it, this version looks better imo;

Download here if you want it.

An update on this (sorry), I was thinking if a non-glossy icon would be better, to give it a more native and non-stock app feel, since the gloss is added automatically anyway. So I did this icon instead;

What do you think, ckohler (and everyone)? I think some might like the gloss look more, but personally I enjoy having it look like a native app instead.

Also, the icon file (link here) is 144x144 in preparation for iPad 3 retina display.

[edit] fixed up the brightness a bit, see it here. I like this version a better, but to each their own. Icon image here.

 

[woahitsreeo]

An update on this (sorry), I was thinking if a non-glossy icon would be better, to give it a more native and non-stock app feel, since the gloss is added automatically anyway. So I did this icon instead;



What do you think, ckohler (and everyone)? I think some might like the gloss look more, but personally I enjoy having it look like a native app instead.

Also, the icon file (link here) is 144x144 in preparation for iPad 3 retina display.

I used a similar styled-icon/graphic for my Windows Phone's livetile. I think Rengoku was the original creator for that design, so just giving credit where it is do... Especially if it will be showcased on the official mobile web app in some fashion.

 

[EviLore]

ckohler, there are like a million mockups now and you seem to be drawing from various sources for inspiration, so I don't know where the state of the project is and what I should be commenting on at this point ;b

Let me know if there's something to run by me.

 

[noah111]

I used a similar styled-icon/graphic for my Windows Phone's livetile. I think Rengoku was the original creator for that design, so just giving credit where it is do... Especially if it will be showcased on the official mobile web app in some fashion.

Cool, but I have no idea what you're talking about. Link?

ckohler, there are like a million mockups now and you seem to be drawing from various sources for inspiration, so I don't know where the state of the project is and what I should be commenting on at this point ;b

Let me know if there's something to run by me.

Not counting ckohler's original, there's really only two.

[EDIT] Just to go on a trip through memory lane;

But it seems the whole drop down option bar is being ditched for simplicity sake, for something more like this. (& the second style [D4Danger's] is the design direction)

When everything is stable enough and general testing is needed, I think a beta.secondapps (or something like that) should be set up to make sure everything's running nicely before taking down the current web app and replacing it.

Spoiler

I too, cannot wait

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

ckohler, there are like a million mockups now and you seem to be drawing from various sources for inspiration, so I don't know where the state of the project is and what I should be commenting on at this point ;b

Let me know if there's something to run by me.

*squeals*

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

 

[ckohler]

ckohler, there are like a million mockups now and you seem to be drawing from various sources for inspiration, so I don't know where the state of the project is and what I should be commenting on at this point ;b

Let me know if there's something to run by me.

Here is what I've got at the moment. This has just been me tinkering around with trying to create a design using almost no images. In this mockup of the main menu, the only images are the logo and the ad.

http://www.secondapps.com/mockup/

Note: None of the links go anywhere. This is just a fake mockup.

Just tell me if this is what you like or if you would rather it look like one of the other more fancy designs above.

 

[EviLore]

Here is what I've got at the moment. This has just been me tinkering around with trying to create a design using almost no images. In this mockup of the main menu, the only images are the logo and the ad.

http://www.secondapps.com/mockup/

Note: None of the links go anywhere. This is just a fake mockup.

Just tell me if this is what you like or if you would rather it look like one of the other more fancy designs above.

It's lean, and that's good. I know that I value that when I'm traveling and my cellular data is barely functioning and secondapps loads 100x faster than the main neogaf site on my phone.

The header area is my only complaint, looks too plain/generic/functionally obfuscated. Logo feels too small and there's no indication that it's interactive (found by accident), while the white lines on the right don't look good stylistically.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Jumping in late but is there a reason for the different font size, font and arrows? Kinda prefer the existing one over the new one.

 

[EviLore]

Also, some sort of tab style reminiscent of neogaf prime to switch between gaming/OT/comm when in the interior of one of them, if it can be incorporated without much of a data load, would complete the look. If these sorts of elements can be disabled in a settings area for the people who want the fastest possible loading, all the better.

Saw that you're worried about being able to re-use the work on other mobile sites, and again, no issues paying you appropriately for NeoGAF Mobile so that you don't have to worry about that, Chris, just hit me up over PM and we'll discuss.

 

[noah111]

Jumping in late but is there a reason for the different font size, font and arrows? Kinda prefer the existing one over the new one.

Fonts? Really? They look almost the same. As for the arrows, I like those more as they differentiate from the iOS style that I see across many apps every day..

I'm liking the slightly smaller font and unique arrow buttons/separator bars. Definitely separates it from feeling like an iOS thing. Shaping up nicely stuff, ckohler!

 

[Windu]

Here is what I've got at the moment. This has just been me tinkering around with trying to create a design using almost no images. In this mockup of the main menu, the only images are the logo and the ad.

http://www.secondapps.com/mockup/

Note: None of the links go anywhere. This is just a fake mockup.

Just tell me if this is what you like or if you would rather it look like one of the other more fancy designs above.

Don't really care for the menu icon (the lines). Seems to me like you would want something more universal. I honestly don't know what that would be though. Maybe a down arrow or something? (this: ^ , reversed").

 

[Deleted member 30609]

Not a fan of the new fonts and arrows. Wish I could add something more productive, I really appreciate the time put into this, either way.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Fonts? Really? They look almost the same. As for the arrows, I like those more as they differentiate from the iOS style that I see across many apps every day..

I'm liking the slightly smaller font and unique arrow buttons/separator bars. Definitely separates it from feeling like an iOS thing. Shaping up nicely stuff, ckohler!

The font size just looks small and thin compared to what it is now. It just looks nicer currently. I've seen a few other sites use it and it's just jarring to me. Makes it feel less polished or something. Can't put my finger on the exact way to describe it, but it looks worse to me.

 

[Nero3000]

Great work on the new design, looks great on my Lumia 800.

Just a quick question:

Since there is now a compensation mechanism to Gaf, can we use the mobile version on desktop browsers?

I know currently that the Metro IE10 in Win8 currently cannot use the mobile web app. Also it would be useful at work, where it is less graphic from a distance.

 

[Timan]

What if you did something like this, I know you're semi limited to screen estate, but I think it'll work fine.

Use the logo as a home button, and have sort of a breadcrumb of sorts. Also just throw everything useful into the menu. Maybe do something like I did over at Neowin.net

 

[mescalineeyes]

What if you did something like this, I know you're semi limited to screen estate, but I think it'll work fine.

Use the logo as a home button, and have sort of a breadcrumb of sorts. Also just throw everything useful into the menu

ding ding ding. we have a winner.

as far as the current design that is up at /mockup, it is inferior in almost every way to the current one in use.

what irks me specifically is the low quality of the NeoGAF logo itself and its contrast on the blue background, the popup menu button (see the quote I posted for a reference design) as well as the positioning of the popup itself.

I really like the new smaller font thoug, looks beautiful on the ole retina display.

Also, @Sentry: The icon you made is beautiful. Is there an actual way to integrate it to the homescreen without it being glossy, though?

 

[Windu]

Heh neowin.net is exactly like the new design.

 

[noah111]

What if you did something like this, I know you're semi limited to screen estate, but I think it'll work fine.

Use the logo as a home button, and have sort of a breadcrumb of sorts. Also just throw everything useful into the menu. Maybe do something like I did over at Neowin.net

http://f.cl.ly/items/3S193v451D1a1m0U2Z0n/Screen%20Shot%202012-02-16%20at%205.21.49%20AM.png[img][/QUOTE]
YES! I love that menu bar look. Perfect. If we're sticking with a menu bar instead of a tabbed/angled view, this is what we should go with.

Tapping on the N-ball logo should slide out the three boards (Gaming > Off-Topic > Community) with the same '>' style gap in-between them, if you get me.

The grid button could be a full on grid of options, or access to a slide down menubar. Personally, I prefer a slide down menu bar so you can still view the content on the page without going elsewhere.

The non-texturized/graphics version could replace that with the drop down image-less menu in ckohler's latest mockup.


[quote="mescalineeyes, post: 35187270"]ding ding ding. we have a winner.

as far as the current design that is up at /mockup, it is inferior in almost every way to the current one in use.

what irks me specifically is the low quality of the NeoGAF logo itself and its contrast on the blue background, the popup menu button (see the quote I posted for a reference design) as well as the positioning of the popup itself.

I really like the new smaller font thoug, looks beautiful on the ole retina display.[/QUOTE]
Agreed, with all of those points. Just used the web app, & the large font size in comparison looks pretty bad, lol.

[quote="mescalineeyes, post: 35187270"]Also, @Sentry: The icon you made is beautiful. Is there an actual way to integrate it to the homescreen without it being glossy, though?[/QUOTE]
Thanks. You actually can, it's a specific rule that tells the icon you already have your own gloss effect, so it won't add it automatically.

 

[mescalineeyes]

Agreed, with all of those points. Just used the web app, & the large font size in comparison looks pretty bad, lol.

secondapps.com/neogaf -> Settings -> Font size -> 90%
(especially useful on the iPad and especially useful on iPad 3.

Thanks. You actually can, it's a specific rule that tells the icon you already have your own gloss effect, so it won't add it automatically.

haha, good to know! thanks!

 

[ScOULaris]

Just looked at the mockup page. Here are my thoughts:

• Like everyone else, I think the menu button needs to change. The lines are placeholder, I assume?
• Is there a higher-quality image we could use for the GAF orb? Maybe it's just the way it was resized, but it looks distorted and maybe a bit too small in the top bar right now.
• I think Timan's mockup is a good idea for making the clickable areas in the top bar more apparent. The only thing I would change about his picture is not using the white GAF orb. This is the official web app, so the logo should be the same as it is on GAF prime.
• I think the pop-outs with links work better than a dropdown menu would have. Good decision there. I would only add a link to Subscriptions from the GAF orb pop-out menu.

Overall it's a good start. It's definitely in its early stages, design-wise, but I like where things are heading. I don't mind the smaller font, either. It looks nice on my Nexus S.

 

[noah111]

secondapps.com/neogaf -> Settings -> Font size -> 90%
(especially useful on the iPad and especially useful on iPad 3.

haha, good to know! thanks!

For some weird reason, it never lets me open the settings on my iPhone, but when I open secondapps on my laptop, I can access settings just fine... odd. Thanks for the info though.

Also, are you from the future?

Just looked at the mockup page. Here are my thoughts:

• Like everyone else, I think the menu button needs to change. The lines are placeholder, I assume?
• Is there a higher-quality image we could use for the GAF orb? Maybe it's just the way it was resized, but it looks distorted and maybe a bit too small in the top bar right now.
• I think Timan's mockup is a good idea for making the clickable areas in the top bar more apparent. The only thing I would change about his picture is not using the white GAF orb. This is the official web app, so the logo should be the same as it is on GAF prime.
• I think the pop-outs with links work better than a dropdown menu would have. Good decision there. I would only add a link to Subscriptions from the GAF orb pop-out menu.

Overall it's a good start. It's definitely in its early stages, design-wise, but I like where things are heading. I don't mind the smaller font, either. It looks nice on my Nexus S.

Yeah, the problem with the orb is this: as a monochrome type of icon, it can be "indented" into the menubar surface, giving it an even more emphasized "PRESS ME" look.

With the official icon, this is lost. The solution is simple. Just keep that monochrome 'imbedded' icon, but apply gradients on the upper and lower half, one dark orange to light, and the other light grey to dark.

This way we can get the best of both worlds. As official looking a possible, with the coloring and N-ball logo, yet we don't have to compromise the look of an interactive (tappable) icon with the official design.

I hope some of you get what I mean by that.

 

[noah111]

What if you did something like this, I know you're semi limited to screen estate, but I think it'll work fine.

Since pressing on the N-ball logo already brings up a contextual menu to jump to a board, it could work like this instead;

Pressing on the logo could give you access to jump to another board, simple and no extra/wasted space. I'm liking this > design, better than a plain menu bar, and less complicated than a tabbed style.

 

[ScOULaris]

Yeah, the problem with the orb is this: as a monochrome type of icon, it can be "indented" into the menubar surface, giving it an even more emphasized "PRESS ME" look.

With the official icon, this is lost. The solution is simple. Just keep that monochrome 'imbedded' icon, but apply gradients on the upper and lower half, one dark orange to light, and the other light grey to dark.

This way we can get the best of both worlds. As official looking a possible, with the coloring and N-ball logo, yet we don't have to compromise the look of an interactive (tappable) icon with the official design.

I hope some of you get what I mean by that.

Yeah, I get what you mean. That could work, but I still wish there was a way to incorporate the "official" GAF orb without modifications.

 

[noah111]

Yeah, I get what you mean. That could work, but I still wish there was a way to incorporate the "official" GAF orb without modifications.

Who knows, maybe someone will figure something else hour to make it look good.

I think the problem is making something independently 3D fit well into an intentionally flat style.

 

[ScOULaris]

Who knows, maybe someone will figure something else hour to make it look good.

I think the problem is making something independently 3D fit well into an intentionally flat style.

It's kind of funny. When NeoGAF got its new skin in 2010, the logo design shifted in an inverse direction from the Google Chrome logo over the years.

NeoGAF: Flat to 3D
Chrome: 3D to Flat

 

[enzo_gt]

Chrome's gor better though, it no longer looks like a mutated, alien Krispy Kreme donut.

 

[noah111]

I hated the new Chrome logo for the longest time. Felt like they were dumbing it down for new users not to feel intimidating by the technologically advanced icon graphics!!

 

[ScOULaris]

Chrome's gor better though, it no longer looks like a mutated, alien Krispy Kreme donut.

You saying that GAF's logo got worse?

I hated the new Chrome logo for the longest time. Felt like they were dumbing it down for new users not to feel intimidating by the technologically advanced icon graphics!!

This coming from the guy who's all about the "flat" look for the GAF web app?

 

[noah111]

This coming from the guy who's all about the "flat" look for the GAF web app?

Well that's not exactly dumbing anything down...

 

[Bioloff]

I'm not sure if this is possible, but can you add some sort of picture adding tag to post in threads?

 

[noah111]

I'm not sure if this is possible, but can you add some sort of picture adding tag to post in threads?

This already exists, just tap the little image icon and it adds the

 

[Keylime]

The killer feature of this webapp should be dynamic insertion of smily faces...or rather...keying off the :lol tag and replacing with the actual laughing face dude.

It'd be like GAFGold for the rest of us!

 

[ScOULaris]

The killer feature of this webapp should be dynamic insertion of smily faces...or rather...keying off the :lol tag and replacing with the actual laughing face dude.

It'd be like GAFGold for the rest of us!

OMG I always forget that you guys don't have smileys anymore.

 

[ckohler]

I should be clear that the mockup I did was more of an experiment and was not going to be the final design (unless people gushed). The sloppy menu button and arrows were just an attempt to do those things without using images. However, I realize now those characters aren't good enough to replace images so I'll just have to be creative and use images again. Making an imageless option is a pain so I'll try and make it so there is a single "image pallet" that has all the images for the webapp interface. Google does this and it saves bandwidth/requests.

 

[noah111]

I should be clear that the mockup I did was more of an experiment and was not going to be the final design (unless people gushed). The sloppy menu button and arrows were just an attempt to do those things without using images. However, I realize now those characters aren't good enough to replace images so I'll just have to be creative and use images again. Making an imageless option is a pain so I'll try and make it so there is a single "image pallet" that has all the images for the webapp interface. Google does this and it saves bandwidth/requests.

Sounds good. And I figured as much, but it still feels cool to look/use something new. I take it a decent 'no graphics' toggle will still be present for those people?

The killer feature of this webapp should be dynamic insertion of smily faces...or rather...keying off the :lol tag and replacing with the actual laughing face dude.
It'd be like GAFGold for the rest of us!

http://i.imgur.com/KuGsj.gif[img] OMG I always forget that you guys don't have smileys anymore.[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/1KDGW.png

 

[ScOULaris]

Will www.secondapps.com/mockup be updated as you play with the design some more?

 

[noah111]

Will www.secondapps.com/mockup be updated as you play with the design some more?

That would be great if possible, but I don't think it's necessary. Probably just update it whenever Evilore pops in and would like a status report.

 

[Kabuto]

Is there a way to subscribe to threads on the app or am I just not seeing it?

 

[Chopper]

Is there a way to subscribe to threads on the app or am I just not seeing it?

Not currently man.

 

[kehs]

Is there a way to subscribe to threads on the app or am I just not seeing it?

Subscribed.

 

[Tunesmith]

Is there a way to subscribe to threads on the app or am I just not seeing it?

Not currently man.

Hit the More button and choose Subscribe when you post.

 

[ScOULaris]

I have GAF set to auto-subscribe whenever I post in a thread, so the web app does the same (at least I think it does).

 

[Utako]

That's exactly the control he has over the home screen icon. (Except, as Sentry pointed out, it's different from a favicon)


I think he means what would an app offer over a web app? The main advantages would be performance and OS integration, the obvious big disadvantage is that it would be specific to only one OS.

Can you explain performance and OS ingration? Is Safari not integrated into the OS enough? Does the current application not perform well?

Native apps are not inherently advantageous if the OS has a good web engine (which is probably why Apple is beginning to falter on theirs).

Blows my mind how the nerds at GAF know so little about the web as a software platform. I'd expect things like this from my luddite connections on Facebook, but here?

 

[Keylime]

Can you explain performance and OS ingration? Is Safari not integrated into the OS enough? Does the current application not perform well?

Native apps are not inherently advantageous if the OS has a good web engine (which is probably why Apple is beginning to falter on theirs).

Blows my mind how the nerds at GAF know so little about the web as a software platform. I'd expect things like this from my luddite connections on Facebook, but here?

Are you seriously questioning if native applications can perform better and have tighter OS integration than a web app...and calling anyone who questions that line of thinking as dense?!

I don't care if you use Android or iOS or WP7 or WebOS or whatever...native apps can do more things and perform better than web apps any day of the week from now until forever. That doesn't mean web-apps cant be great in their own right, but to pretend like the user experience of web-apps can rival that of native ones is the crazy talk.

 

[ScOULaris]

Are you seriously questioning if native applications can perform better and have tighter OS integration than a web app...and calling anyone who questions that line of thinking as dense?!

I don't care if you use Android or iOS or WP7 or WebOS or whatever...native apps can do more things and perform better than web apps any day of the week from now until forever. That doesn't mean web-apps cant be great in their own right, but to pretend like the user experience of web-apps can rival that of native ones is the crazy talk.

Agreed. A web app is the best solution for something like GAF (due to its cross-platform nature), but to act like native apps have no advantages over web apps is just plain wrong.


Since the thread has been bumped...

Any updates on the Official Web App, ckohler?

 

[Syracuse022]

Can you explain performance and OS ingration? Is Safari not integrated into the OS enough? Does the current application not perform well?

Native apps are not inherently advantageous if the OS has a good web engine (which is probably why Apple is beginning to falter on theirs).

Blows my mind how the nerds at GAF know so little about the web as a software platform. I'd expect things like this from my luddite connections on Facebook, but here?

For something like NeoGAF, a web app is fine. However, there are fairly serious memory limitations for web apps versus native apps.

See the section entitled "Know iOS resource limits" for more info

 

[Good Job Bob]

Can you explain performance and OS ingration? Is Safari not integrated into the OS enough? Does the current application not perform well?

Native apps are not inherently advantageous if the OS has a good web engine (which is probably why Apple is beginning to falter on theirs).

Blows my mind how the nerds at GAF know so little about the web as a software platform. I'd expect things like this from my luddite connections on Facebook, but here?

wow

 

[kehs]

Can you explain performance and OS ingration? Is Safari not integrated into the OS enough? Does the current application not perform well?

Native apps are not inherently advantageous if the OS has a good web engine (which is probably why Apple is beginning to falter on theirs).

Blows my mind how the nerds at GAF know so little about the web as a software platform. I'd expect things like this from my luddite connections on Facebook, but here?

You're not supposed to have more than one account Andrex.

 

[Kabuto]

Hit the More button and choose Subscribe when you post.

Even though I would like to be able to subscribe without posting, I'll take this way. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Shearie]

Even though I would like to be able to subscribe without posting, I'll take this way. Thanks for the tip!

There used to be a way to subscribe without posting for the webapp but ever since the NeoGaf update some features haven't came back. It should be back when the official NeoGaf webapp goes live though.