Front Page Layout

Vexorg

We have been playing about with the index page as page of a redesign. Some elements of the old page did not function correctly, so we are rolling out a tweaked index page, this is not the final design but contains elements of where we want to go.

Back Ground Image:

This will be the most obvious element of the change. The back ground image is an element that we can change from time to time, for Patricks Day, Halloween, Xmas etc.

Google Search:

We are looking at ways to improve the search results and have implemented a google custom search tool. Results are displayed as a single result, 4 results or 8 results depending on the number of results available and which icon below the search box is clicked. At the end of the results, Clicking more results will bring you to the familiar google search results page.

Use of this search will reduce load on the servers.

Forum Filters

This feature is now integrated into the Latest forum posts Bar, making the filter more obvious but more importantly the filters should work properly now.

Other changes are

Latest forum posts does not show the poster name
The various recent updates have been moved
The number of Adverts.ie display posts have been increased and the advert descriptions have more space.
Added a 300*250 pixel MPU to the index page.
Given the Boards.ie events a new position due to the popularity of these meets and events.

We will continue to amend elements, but this is the biggest change to date and should provide more useful features.


Interested to hear your thoughts.

Vex.

markpb

It's not working so well for me

Edit: Started working after 10+ refreshes.

Xavi6

Vexorg wrote: »

Latest forum posts does not show the poster name

Can we keep this? There are threads that mightn't normally appeal to me but if I see someone who I respect has posted in it last I might pop in for a look to see what they have to say. I like that feature.

Not liking the google ad thing on the right at all tbh. Too big and I hate ads.

It's working now if you hit refresh a few times.

brianthebard

OMG What just happened!!!?!?!?!?? Actually its quite pretty, but why no new posts? Is that just a temporary thing?
Oh recent posts came up this time. I agree with Xavi on the poster name thing.

I agree with Xavi.WOuld like to see who made the last post.

Alanstrainor

I guess it looks pretty cool, but i dont like the lack of user names beside the posts...

CuLT

Jesus lads give me a chance to change the fecking file names.

markpb

I like the new layout, especially the search. Reminds me of the bad old days with no search *sob*

I'm not dying about the background, colour me plain jane

Vain

Dont like the way the comments are all push on top of each other hard to read

Basq

Not a big fan of background.. it's a bit distracting.. but that's just me!

Am optimistic for future changes.

Latest Forum Posts Filter is fantastic. Kudos to CuLT.

CuLT

Old front page is still available here for anyone who is distressed

http://www.boards.ie/index-old.php

Overheal

I thought i logged into the wrong site for a second o_0

looks good.

Beruthiel

CuLT wrote: »

Jesus lads give me a chance to change the fecking file names.

You are no longer considered human.

Xavi6

basquille wrote: »

Latest Forum Posts Filter is fantastic. Kudos to CuLT.

agreed. That's a quality little feature

mike65

There is a nice big empty space on the bottom right - just big enough for daft.ie
Oops sorry I see its already in the left column.

Mike

Mr E

I like it, good job. FWIW, I also miss the 'poster' on the list though...

Putting on my Web Dev hat, I would make the background colour of the menu #00C1EA to blend in with the main blue though...

Basq

Also loving the built-in Google search..

I always use Google for searching Boards so this is something I'd definitely use often.

Mr E wrote:

I would make the background colour of the menu #00C1EA to blend in with the main blue though...

** darting eyes **

We don't take kindly to you and your hex ways around here!

I'd actually leave that white (or #FFFFFF ) as the dark blue hyperlinks against the blue background is a bit "fugly"!

Actually, make that #F5F5FF (think that's the same off-gray primary colour used by a RGB-Hex conversion).

Beruthiel

What's with all the fluffy clouds?
I think they are missing sugar plum fairies and star dust.

Rabies

Would like to see the last poster name on threads

Depending on who it is, I'll view the thread.


Beruthiel, its the new Cloud skin

dr.bollocko

Well why did you go and do that then?
I like the new google search feature, but I wanna see who the latest poster is. And get rid of them blue skies. This is boards.ie for fecks sake. We havent even seen a sky like that since 19 diggity 1. I log in in work and people reckon I am looking at some sort of religious cult's homepage or cancer support centre. Not good for the image.

brianthebard

CuLT wrote: »

Jesus lads give me a chance to change the fecking file names.

[screaming child]Want it NOWWWWWW!!!!!![/screaming child]

CuLT

To address what I think people will find the most pressing concerns:

Google search: This is not an ominous return to Google searching for the whole site. Fact of the matter is that the old search box was generally speaking *less* accurate than this Google custom search because it was just a basic keyword search. Mostly, guest users and casual users use the search box on the front page, regulars and long term users will used Advanced Search because they often know exactly what and where they're looking for. This has not been removed or altered, advanced search is still there and unhindered.

No last poster: This was basically deemed unimportant to the content (also it didn't fit in with the other columns at 1024x768), which I agree with, and what I may end up doing is adding in a filter for "friends" so it will show latest posts by people in your buddy list. Remains to be seen!

Background: This really grew on me for some reason, it was done by an outside designer, and the more I stared at it in the background of various design shuffles the more I liked it. Plus the opportunity for seasonal background changes is too good to pass up

Kintarō Hattori

Beruthiel wrote: »

You are no longer considered human.

Was he ever?


Yeah I'm not too crazy about the frontpage image. Plain jane is cool.

Vain

its not just my front page that has changed everything has. Cant see how many posts people have stars when they joined and their sig, Also comments are hearly on top of each other. Anyone elses like this?

Xavi6

CuLT wrote: »

No last poster: This was basically deemed unimportant to the content, which I agree with, and what I may end up doing is adding in a filter for "friends" so it will show latest posts by people in your buddy list. Remains to be seen!

Seems a lot of users find it important though

Asiaprod

Beruthiel wrote: »

What's with all the fluffy clouds?
I think they are missing sugar plum fairies and star dust.

Haha, I just fin watching the Simpsons, switched over to Boards, thought, OMG my eyes have gone weird. Do not like the clouds at all:(, think it cheapens the site.
*Sorry Cult*

mike65

CuLT wrote: »

No last poster: This was basically deemed unimportant to the content (also it didn't fit in with the other columns at 1024x768), which I agree with, and what I may end up doing is adding in a filter for "friends" so it will show latest posts by people in your buddy list. Remains to be seen!

If you think this does not matter you don't understand people

Mike

brianthebard

Xavi6 wrote: »

Seems a lot of users find it important though

time for a poll!

dr.bollocko

CuLT wrote: »

Background: This really grew on me for some reason, it was done by an outside designer, and the more I stared at it in the background of various design shuffles the more I liked it. Plus the opportunity for seasonal background changes is too good to pass up

It won't grow on ballywell ole me my good man.
This is the first time I have ever suffered from SAD. And it is caused by the front page of this noble site.
And that makes me a sad panda.

Ruu_Old

Last poster yoke doesn't bother me too much. Give it time and review it later if other things pop up. Thanks CuLT and Vexorg.

Basq

Don't care about 'Last Poster' meself.

Not trying to seem pretentious and full of my own self-importance.. but my opinion trumps all yours...

.. oh wait, guess I was!

CuLT

mike65 wrote: »

If you think this does not matter you don't understand people

Mike

Never said *I* deemed it unimportant, but go **** yourself anyway mike.

Xavi6 wrote:

Seems a lot of users find it important though

Might be the case, we shall see how it pans out over the course of a week or so.

ARGINITE

Like the new background.
Miss the 'Last Poster' a bit to.

mike65

Kiss to Cult

Mike

Basq

CuLT wrote: »

Never said *I* deemed it unimportant, but go **** yourself anyway mike.

Ha! :pac:

6th

CuLT wrote: »

go **** yourself anyway mike.

Try [nofilter]fuck[/nofilter] next time

gaz wac

My refresh time..is still stuck on 12.26 !!

mike65

Can I report an Admin for personal abuse, or does computer say no?

Mike

Raytown Rocks

gaz wac wrote: »

My refresh time..is still stuck on 12.26 !!

me too.....boo hoo

Rabies

CuLT wrote: »

Background: This really grew on me for some reason, it was done by an outside designer, and the more I stared at it in the background of various design shuffles the more I liked it. Plus the opportunity for seasonal background changes is too good to pass up

Its got a Spoilt Child feel. Is it them?


Not sure about the back ground. Could grow on me. Would really love to be able to customize the front page skin like the rest

Ah well, change is usually for the better.

Do miss the poster name though.

cornbb

The new bg image is very ghey I think, I like the changes to the layout though.

Edit: it looks like the twitter.com bg now that I think of it, I knew I recognised that smell of ghey from somewhere before...

CuLT

gaz wac wrote: »

My refresh time..is still stuck on 12.26 !!

Seems we have our first bug, hurrah.

*fiddles*

Nevyn

Beruthiel wrote: »

What's with all the fluffy clouds?
I think they are missing sugar plum fairies and star dust.

It does look like baby room wall paper.

Xavi6

I like the idea of a background for the homepage, just not that one. It's quite childish looking, a little ghey if you will.

dr.bollocko

I, for one, still think that this latest chop/change is just a bit crap really.
No offense to all who worked hard to get it done and all that.
But the point remains. Its worse than the last one. IMO anyway.

gibo_ie

dont like this at all, background is childish, ads are overly large and annoying, last poster needs to come back,
how about a poll or an option for users to remain using the old layout as opposed to new crappy one..

gaz wac

CuLT wrote: »

Seems we have our first bug, hurrah.

*fiddles*

Do I get a prize?

Captain Darling

Xavi6 wrote: »

I like the idea of a background for the homepage, just not that one. It's quite childish looking, a little ghey if you will.

I thought Super Mario Brothers had just started up when i clicked on the frontpage.

chin_grin

I NEED to see the last poster!......definitely definitely need to see last poster......aaaaaaaaaaaaah aaaaaaaaaaaah aaaaaaaaaaaah! <rocks back and forth>

Overheal

mike65 wrote: »

If you think this does not matter you don't understand people

Mike

we already established cult its not human didnt we?

I like the clouds leave my inner child alone! Lets see it implemented on every page. mwahaha.

Beruthiel

chin_grin wrote: »

I NEED to see the last poster!......definitely definitely need to see last poster......aaaaaaaaaaaaah aaaaaaaaaaaah aaaaaaaaaaaah! <rocks back and forth>

Keep your hair on and click on new posts!