Support NeoGAF

[D4Danger]

I had a chance to play with this today and the only feedback I have is, is it possible to put a spacer or something above the advert that appears in the first post when you're not logged in? It looks like it's part of the post.

also, now that the mobile site uses ads can you drop the "mobile only" redirect. I prefer not to use mobile sites on my phone and have it set to "desktop". I can't use the app unless I change it back which is a little annoying. Most sites use a url like m.example.com which you can go to if you want the mobile version.

 

[brianmcdoogle]

Minor gripe, but I really don't like how the new subscriber tab works with that top right button. What is jarring to me is now I always have the three boards listed, but when I pressed that button, it expands it out. And then, when I selected choice, such as subscriber page, the three added buttons disappear when the subscriber page loads, and all its remaining are the three boards. I would like to somehow be consistent so that if I press the top right button to expand that list out and I subscribe and then I click the subscribe page, it keeps it expanded. Basically, I don't like the fact that that section changes from page to page depending on what I'm doing and depending on what I just clicked. Does that make sense? Or, alternatively, I want a way to hide the tab that list the three boards so that it acts like it used to? I guess what I'm trying to say is I like the older way better. Yes, it made one extra click between switching boards, but it looks a lot better, and the behavior was always consistent.

 

[ScOULaris]

I think it looks fine with the three board links being always visible at the top. That being said, I usually find myself navigating to the Subscribed page more than anything else, which still requires an extra click.

Now that we have these links, however, I think it would be better if the GAF orb went back to the main page. That just makes much more sense, functionally, I think.

 

[Dizzan]

Roundabout way, but you have to create a bookmark in the default browser. If you set chrome as your default browser when you create a bookmark on the homescreens it'll open with chrome.

Sweet thanks mate

 

[Bboy AJ]

Honestly, I personally still prefer the forum shortcuts to be hidden inside the menu to save precious screen real estate. They are shown per request from the mods.

Ugh. I prefer hidden, too.

 

[noah111]

The new footer is definitely out of place. I think the old layout was more user friendly. Having new reply between the page buttons could cause some false clicks, and I think when compared to the header the positioning is offputting. A footer menu that mimics the header is probably the best medium. Moving the buttons to the same "plane" with the linen texture will help offse them from the posts and keep them contained. You could then apply the same design scheme as the header where certain items are shown by default and others are hidden.

I disagree, I think the reply button is in the perfect position this way. People were saying it was too hidden and not obvious enough, and this alleviates that fully.

hmm I gotta say I’m not a fan of the new, neutered menu bar. I really liked that the old one had links to subscribed threads and preferences in it. now it’s just OT, gaming and community.

I thought the old menu was way more useful for the majority of users. and I preferred having the extra space for content and not menus, considering that we already have space eaten up by the ads.

If you already cleared you cache, you need to log in to see those options.. just a reminder.

Quick dirty idea for the new real estate at the bottom:Move the page buttons down to the header, make the Page X of X a dynamic button (if possible) that still shows the current page number and when pressed brings up the numerical keyboard. If done right, doesn't necessarily need to say "first/last", there should be enough space to sneak in the up arrow/hint that you tap the header to go back up the page again. Then put the top poster/sub button back up there. Finally either expand the reply button a little or fit something else in there (Search).

I don't like that mockup much, tbh. It just segregates the UI too much, the page controls should be together and have the same style, not separate. Plus, the menu button wouldn't fit with that.

I updated the mockup so you guys can try out the recently discussed changes. There isn't a "footer menu" yet and other stuff is still coming (subscribing, etc). I just wanted to let you guys try using the layout changes now before I went further to get usability feedback.

Honestly, I personally still prefer the forum shortcuts to be hidden inside the menu to save precious screen real estate. They are shown per request from the mods.

Loving the pagination now, the goto page option in just one tap is great. I agree that the jump buttons don't look nearly as good this way, and waste a lot of space just to save an extra tap. I suggest this:

In-thread, have the forum shortcuts by default appear ONLY at the bottom, above the footer. Have a preferences option that allows the user to also display those on top, in-thread, if wanted.

In-board, I would like it by default to be hidden and have a user toggle preference to display it at all times (like it is now). Or if the mods don't agree, have it by default displayed, but give an option to hide it.

Another thing about the forum shortcuts... when opening the grid menu, it just feels OFF for the messages, subs, and preferences buttons to have image icons, and the forum buttons to be plain. If there could be a way to have them display as they previously did (with icons) when opening the menu, that would be a lot better/consistent.

Also, i'm sure this won't be in the final but the forum shortcuts appear on the very main menu as well, which is redundant.

Great work ckohler!

 

[Shearie]

In the subscription area, I can't get to the second page of my subscriptions.

 

[Kabuto]

Like everyone else, at first I didn't really like the sub forums list on top, but now I'm actually used to it and it's actually really convenient. Great work ckohler! When you let us subscribe to threads, I might just use the app over gaf prime!

 

[Neuromancer]

Like everyone else, at first I didn't really like the sub forums list on top, but now I'm actually used to it and it's actually really convenient. Great work ckohler! When you let us subscribe to threads, I might just use the app over gaf prime!

You can subscribe when you make a post in that thread, click "More."

 

[ckohler]

Mockup Update:

Please. Don't make me chase ghosts.

Just a minor update. Mostly bugfixes. I resized a few elements slightly to save space. Oh, and if you click the "More" button at the bottom of a thread you can subscribe. I think I'll put a button to view the thread's top posters on the subscribe screen as well. That's why I called the button "More" I'm still trying to prevent the weird iPad bug where it scrolls when opening the menu. Not entirely sure how to solve that problem yet and I can't even test it because it doesn't happen on the iPhone.

 

[Chris R]

Just checked the mockup, code blocks are still broken (but better than the current mobile version, because at least now you can click on them and read the entire thing).

 

[ckohler]

echo "testing code block";

Looks right to me?

 

[Chris R]

echo "testing code block";

Looks right to me?

Try something like this.

1. This is a test.
    2. Making the code block some what longer.
        3. Don't forget the indents. {
            4. Final point here.
        }

edit: what the hell, that worked just fine... Let me find the post I tested against earlier.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=36368601&postcount=5351

edit: Ok so the code block in the post I linked there is still broken.

 

[Baconbitz]

I've been having trouble logging in on both the mockup and the regular site I login, says I've logged (on the desktop version only) then kicks me back to login. Twice, I got this error.

Edit: still can't login to my browser of choice. Grazing.
Edit: this happens after clearing cache. Also I got back in on grazing after deleting it and redownload ing it.

 

[ckohler]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=36368601&postcount=5351
edit: Ok so the code block in the post I linked there is still broken.

It should be fixed now. Just so everyone knows, I had to make a MAJOR change to the codebase to fix this issue. I think everything is working correctly but just to be sure, I would like to ask everyone give everything in the mockup a good test now. I probably changed around 30 lines of code spread out all over the place.

I've been having trouble logging in on both the mockup and the regular site I login, says I've logged (on the desktop version only) then kicks me back to login.

I fixed the timeout.txt error but your not being able to log in isn't a problem with the website. I'm fairly certain of this considering that your reinstalling your browser fixed the problem. The issue must be with you. Sorry.

 

[noah111]

I like the 'more' idea, to encompass both the 'view top posters' and subscribe options. I like the thinner pagination buttons, but where'd the 'go to page' text go?

Anyway, about that more button, when you incorporate the top posters link, the two options will both be inline, right?

I'm still kind of dying for a 'hide forum quick links' preferences option, though.

 

[ckohler]

Mockup Update

New Features

• Preference to disable GIFs specifically
• View a thread's Top Posters in the "Tools" button at the bottom

Fixes

• CODE blocks now preserve new lines
• Better Locked thread detection
• Better Post body detection
• Possible fix to menu button scrolling issue
• Better Login timeout handling
• Can now click anywhere in footer to jump to top (instead of center 200 pixels)
• Changed thread's "More" button to say "Tools"
• Put linen background behind Thread Ad for non-logged in users to better separate it from the posts
• Other stuff I've already forgotten

A couple of notes:

I changed the way the "Go to..." button works. Now, it's an actual button that when click reveals/hides a form beneath it with a numeric text field and a submit button. Hopefully having a submit button will fix the issue with Android users not being able to submit from their numeric keypad.

Concerning the new "Show GIFs" preference; It will hide or show all GIFs even when a GIF isn't necessarily animated. There isn't a fast, easy way to detect the difference so if someone posts a tiny smiley GIF those will be hidden also if you have this option on. The "Show Photos" option hides/shows JPG, JPEG and PNG images.

Whew! This whole rewrite has taken WAY longer than I thought it would but I think it's now feature complete. Sorry for the delay GAF mods! I only thought it would take me a couple of weeks to rewrite this but once I got into it... I kept adding features... I kept finding bugs... it just kept on going.

The only thing I think that is missing now is the "Dark" theme. That is a piece of cake and something I can do that once we're certain there aren't any remaining bugs. Once added, then we'll be ready to start the installation onto neogaf.com and work through those issues.

 

[Neuromancer]

Preference to disable GIFs specifically

That's really smart, thanks

 

[Particle Physicist]

Wow, this app is so much better than the old one. It's really coming along nicely. Thanks!

Just noticed that multiquote is enabled! Awesome-o!!

 

[Ristlager]

I can't log in with my IPhone. Have not been able for a while, I have no problem with my Ipads. Any help appreciated.

 

[ckohler]

I can't log in with my IPhone. Have not been able for a while, I have no problem with my Ipads. Any help appreciated.

Clear your cache and make sure you have javascript turned on.

 

[noah111]

I can't log in with my IPhone. Have not been able for a while, I have no problem with my Ipads. Any help appreciated.

Did you clear you cache as the big red text says?

[edit] beat, lol

 

[Baconbitz]

I can't log in with my IPhone. Have not been able for a while, I have no problem with my Ipads. Any help appreciated.

What browser are you using?

 

[noah111]

The only thing I think that is missing now is the "Dark" theme. That is a piece of cake and something I can do that once we're certain there aren't any remaining bugs. Once added, then we'll be ready to start the installation onto neogaf.com and work through those issues.

I liked the way go-to worked before more, but if this works better across more devices then i'm fine with it. Congrats on being so close to birth, great work with everything man.

But if this is the final thing we're looking at, I feel like there's a few things still 'missing' or should be changed. First of all, the quick-jump links on the very main page is redundant and looks a bit silly imo.

Secondly, could we please get an option to hide the quick-jump links via a preference toggle? Having it be a tap a way via the more options button is good enough for most people, so it'd be nice to have that. Other than that (and as you mentioned, the dark theme some people want) the only thing I can think of is adding a small triangle graphic in the header since people will continue to ask 'how do i jump to the bottom'.

[edit] just noticed that the tools button actually takes you to a page with both subscription options and 'view top posters' in the same page. Doesn't that feel a bit weird for anyone else? Seems like they should be separate. I was expecting to have the tools button pop up two separate links, inline (ala the top options) rather than taking you to a page with both displayed together. Not a big deal I guess.

 

[ScOULaris]

Does anyone else think that the GAF orb should link back to the main page? Now that there are quick links to the three boards, I think that the orb going up one level is redundant. Right now, there's no way to link back to the main page if you need to, so this would just make a lot of sense, IMO.

Am I wrong?

 

[Neuromancer]

Does anyone else think that the GAF orb should link back to the main page? Now that there are quick links to the three boards, I think that the orb going up one level is redundant. Right now, there's no way to link back to the main page if you need to, so this would just make a lot of sense, IMO.

Am I wrong?

I like it the way it is personally. I never go to the GAF main page since I have subscribed threads, gaming, and off topic all set up with their own bookmarks and I rarely need anything else.

Hey how'd you get juniored so badly if you don't mind saying? Was it one thread in particular?

 

[Tunesmith]

Still don't like the always visible forums sections (a hide toggle/only show when expanded would be ideal). But, great great job overall.

One last nitpick, the pagination buttons look a bit too bland to represent official GAF. They look a bit temp and not much like buttons that are separate from the last post. I'd style them a little bit towards the look of the new reply/new thread buttons of GAF Prime or similar.

 

[ckohler]

But if this is the final thing we're looking at, I feel like there's a few things still 'missing' or should be changed. First of all, the quick-jump links on the very main page is redundant and looks a bit silly imo.

The way it works now, the buttons are there whenever the Menu is present. They are not separate things. So, if you want don't want those buttons there then the entire menu must not apear on the homepage.

Secondly, could we please get an option to hide the quick-jump links via a preference toggle?

That's not my call. I believe the mods want those buttons not simply because they are convenient, but because they think they are necessary.

I just noticed that the tools button actually takes you to a page with both subscription options and 'view top posters' in the same page. Doesn't that feel a bit weird for anyone else? Seems like they should be separate. I was expecting to have the tools button pop up two separate links, inline (ala the top options) rather than taking you to a page with both displayed together. Not a big deal I guess.

I like this. It makes adding more "Tools" in the future easier.

Does anyone else think that the GAF orb should link back to the main page? Now that there are quick links to the three boards, I think that the orb going up one level is redundant. Right now, there's no way to link back to the main page if you need to, so this would just make a lot of sense, IMO. Am I wrong?

Sorry, but this is a bad idea. You have to remember that the orb is more often a Back button for many pages that don't have the menu (User Profile, Compose screen, etc.). It needs to remain a "back" button. I don't want it's behavior changing depending on where you are. Also, users of the previous web app have muscle memory to click that to go back, not go to the main page.

 

[noah111]

Does anyone else think that the GAF orb should link back to the main page? Now that there are quick links to the three boards, I think that the orb going up one level is redundant. Right now, there's no way to link back to the main page if you need to, so this would just make a lot of sense, IMO.

Am I wrong?

Hate to say it, but yes.

The n-ball is useful due to the fact that no matter where you are, you go up a step by pressing it. The quick links are great for hopping from from one board to another, but not when in-thread to get back.

Plus, having something take up that much real-estate and have such limited functionality to the point where it'll rarely be used, is a waste imo. I think it's great as it works now.

 

[ScOULaris]

Hey how'd you get juniored so badly if you don't mind saying? Was it one thread in particular?

Well, long-story-short, I got Junior'ed for making voting threads on the Gaming side and "having a bad track record with making threads on the OT side." It took me about a month to finally get some kind of response from the mods as to why I was Junior'ed, and at one point I got banned for two weeks for asking about it in unrelated threads.

After all of my open discussion about being Junior'ed, I guess one of them thought it would be funny to change my tag and avatar to match.

Shit sucks, man. I really miss starting threads and considered leaving GAF altogether after I got Junior'ed (especially after getting the cold shoulder from all the mods), but I decided to just stick it out. I still love this community, even if the moderation can be really harsh.

I hope to at least get my old avatar back someday... GAF Gold. Nevar forget!

 

[Neuromancer]

Well, long-story-short, I got Junior'ed for making voting threads on the Gaming side and "having a bad track record with making threads on the OT side." It took me about a month to finally get some kind of response from the mods as to why I was Junior'ed, and at one point I got banned for two weeks for asking about it in unrelated threads.

After all of my open discussion about being Junior'ed, I guess one of them thought it would be funny to change my tag and avatar to match.

Shit sucks, man. I really miss starting threads and considered leaving GAF altogether after I got Junior'ed (especially after getting the cold shoulder from all the mods), but I decided to just stick it out. I still love this community, even if the moderation can be really harsh.

I hope to at least get my old avatar back someday... GAF Gold. Nevar forget!

Sorry to hear, well chin up and maybe you'll get privileges back some day for good behavior or something.

 

[noah111]

That's not my call. I believe the mods want those buttons not simply because they are convenient, but because they think they are necessary.

I get that, but what could it hurt to give us an option to hide it? It can be on by default, but since there is a sizable chunk of us who don't really dig it, can't a simple toggle option be added?

I hope the mods approve.

For clarification, I understand why they would want such an ability, especially in order to mirror GAF prime in terms of functionality, since this will be 'official', it's just that it's unnecessary for some.

I like this. It makes adding more "Tools" in the future easier.

Good thinking!

Spoiler

that didn't even cross my mind, tbh. :lol

Shit sucks, man. I really miss starting threads and considered leaving GAF altogether after I got Junior'ed (especially after getting the cold shoulder from all the mods), but I decided to just stick it out. I still love

Spoiler

You'll

get over it.

 

[Tunesmith]

Another quick aesthetic question, is the felt background meant to mimic the one in iOS? At the moment it's much darker;

 

[ScOULaris]

Spoiler

You'll

get over it.

Why did you spoiler "You'll?"

 

[noah111]

Another quick aesthetic question, is the felt background meant to mimic the one in iOS? At the moment it's much darker;

The felt texture has several different styles. The one ckohler went with was the classic one from the background of the app switcher in iOS.

Speaking of which, i'm not really a fan since this is supposed to be a non-iOS centric feel. Plus the texture is low-res making it look uglier. In fact, I caught this when the page was loading once;

I honestly wouldn't mind that over the felt (+slight drop shadow/gradient), which feels somewhat out dated now and makes things look a bit more 'messy' compared to the hi-res/sharp style of the rest of it.

 

[Treefingers]

The felt texture has several different styles. The one ckohler went with was the classic one from the background of the app switcher in iOS.

Speaking of which, i'm not really a fan since this is supposed to be a non-iOS centric feel. Plus the texture is low-res making it look uglier. In fact, I caught this when the page was loading once;

http://f.cl.ly/items/0c3L1t0P3K0O1S2b3R0P/Cloud2go Mar 28, 2012 10:18 PM.png

I honestly wouldn't mind that over the felt (+slight drop shadow/gradient), which feels somewhat out dated now and makes things look a bit more 'messy' compared to the hi-res/sharp style of the rest of it.

I agree.

 

[weekend_warrior]

Must... Buy... Quality bike wheels...

 

[Windu]

There is a new community sub forum, the mockup does not support it fyi.

 

[mrklaw]

There is a new community sub forum, the mockup does not support it fyi.

in what way? Its one of the three quick jump buttons at the top


Liking where everything is, good balance between functions being exposed and hidden - while the footer is a little large, it presents important info which you need all of the time

My only question would be whether you think the buttons might be skinned/themed to blend in more with the overall GAF design. Maybe that's something thaylt can evolve as the site settles in

 

[mescalineeyes]

The felt texture has several different styles. The one ckohler went with was the classic one from the background of the app switcher in iOS.

Yes, that texture has to go.

 

[noah111]

in what way? Its one of the three quick jump buttons at the top

No, he's talking about the sub-forum within the community board, called 'Off-Topic Communities'. It was recently added for sports-gaf after getting moved out of OT.

 

[Adam Blade]

cthulhukohler, please update the secondapps site to include the new sub-forum.

 

[ckohler]

I want to wait to see how this sub-forum stuff shakes out before doing anything. If it sticks, having subforums for two major forums is going to impact the design and layout of the drop down menu as well as the forum lists themselves.

 

[noah111]

^Yeah, esp. considering the GAF prime design is basically going to become four tabs.

 

[ScOULaris]

^Yeah, esp. considering the GAF prime design is basically going to become four tabs.

I really hope it doesn't stick. I don't like this whole sub-forum concept to begin with.

 

[D4Danger]

the black background on the advert in the first post looks good. It's much clearer that's it not part of the post now.

 

[bionic77]

cthulhukohler, please update the secondapps site to include the new sub-forum.

Seconded.

I can't access NFL GAF on the mobile app anymore.

 

[D4Danger]

Seconded.

I can't access NFL GAF on the mobile app anymore.

subscribe to the thread then check your subscriptions from the main menu.

 

[Invisible_Insane]

Seconded.

I can't access NFL GAF on the mobile app anymore.

Can you let the man wait until shit isn't in flux?

People are so fucking impatient sometimes. Christ.

 

[Particle Physicist]

Never mind. Cleared cache and it works now.