So what do you think?

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2009-04-23 00:23 UTC by Tim Samoff

europe.jpgIf you're like most people who have contacted me since my last post, you are pretty sick of the über-80s pop-metal anthem, "The Final Countdown" by Europe, spinning in the back of your head. Well, good news... The new maemo.org website has barely been out a day and we've already gotten some good feedback and some bug reports -- all to be expected. Personally, I think the change-over went even more smoothly than I ever expected (thank you X-Fade!). All this, regardless of what you have playing on repeat in Canola.

As stated previously, there will still be a lot of issues to be worked out in the coming weeks -- and subsidiary pages that need to be worked into the new design. We'll try to accomplish all of these things in as timely a manner as possible (there are really only two people who are integrating actual design stuff, so please bare with us).

You may have noticed that the "Talk" button up in the main menu now points to Internet Tablet Talk. This is an interim solution that is helping us get ready for when itT is styled to look just like this new site (thanks Reggie!).

Again, thanks for the feedback and bug reporting. We really appreciate it.

Let us know here in the comments what you think about the new site & design!

Comments:

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Tim Samoff
Tim Samoff
Karma: 1634

Alan, please lodge a bug report if there isn't one already! :)

2009-04-24 00:44 UTC
alan bruce
alan bruce
Karma: 1345

When I go to http://maemo.org/news/planet-maemo, I see my username and password (stars) filled in for me. I click on the login button...

Nothing happens.

I change the http:// to https:// and suddenly, I'm logged in.

Weird!

2009-04-24 00:03 UTC
Tim Samoff
Tim Samoff
Karma: 1634

Ok, I will add a bug, although I do not think it will help.

Thanks. This entire website is constructed via users' comments, so don't lose heart so easily.

...there is a title bar with Login fields, and a second title bar underneath with Search field...

Ah, I see. Well, there is a 'title' bar and a 'navigation' bar. This is common practice in web UI. Sorry it's confusing for you.

Yes, I really think it should change to look like a scrollbar handle.

As I said, it was the designers choice. And, it is a subjective matter. As I also said, please file a bug. If enough people vote to change it, we will.

Do you have actual presentable data...

No, I don't. This may be better answered by Dave Neary.

That is what the Downloads page is about, and even at this page, I would rather...

We were attempting to reduce the amount of click-through needed to find these items -- especially for new users.

"I would rather" is a subjective phrase... Likewise with your criticism of our choices, if you could find some presentable data why this should be changed...

Well, complaining IS negative feedback.

Right, but you are listing things you don't like without giving any real reasons for why you don't like those things (i.e., some people may like rabbit droppings, so why don't you?).

I'm not call you dishonest, I'm calling the type of feedback dishonest. What I mean is, if all you do is say what you don't like without providing alternative ideas, then the feedback doesn't really do anything other than fill space.

I am not against hearing these complaints at all. But if you want something changed, you must offer alternatives.

2009-04-23 22:06 UTC
Marat Fayzullin
Marat Fayzullin
Karma: 1594

Please open a bug if you think you can do it >better. (Also, some duplicate sections have not >yet been removed because...we are still working >on it!) :) Ok, I will add a bug, although I do not think it will help.

Why does maemo.org have TWO title bars now? I'm sorry... Can you explain this more? I don't get it. Well, there is a title bar with Login fields, and a second title bar underneath with Search field. Both title bars look very similar but contain different elements.

That orange rabbit dropping in the subscriptions list... It's the scrollbar handle. It was the designers choice. If you really think it should be changed, please file a bug. Yes, I really think it should change to look like a scrollbar handle. There is no reasonable explanation why a scrollbar handle should look like an orange rabbit dropping: it is confusing.

Why does the main page have two huge items labeled HOT and FRESH at the top... As an outcome of user research. Do you have actual presentable data that supports this statement? Vote results maybe?

Most tablet users are coming to maemo.org for new applications -- they really could care less about what is happening within Maemodom. That is what the Downloads page is about, and even at this page, I would rather see the LIST of new stuff rather than two huge promotions. It is not that I propose to drop promotions completely, but they should really be made much much slimmer, so that they do not obscure actual page content.

Can I be honest? I love constructive criticism. But, your comments feel more like complaining to me rather than honest feedback. Well, complaining IS negative feedback. Also, I do not see how it is "dishonest". Do you mean that I am making up this stuff?

if you don't backup what you're pointing at with some logical reasoning, then we can't do anything about it. See above.

2009-04-23 20:26 UTC
Tim Samoff
Tim Samoff
Karma: 1634

Marat,

None of the sections have been properly reorganized...

Please open a bug if you think you can do it better. (Also, some duplicate sections have not yet been removed because...we are still working on it!) :)

Why does maemo.org have TWO title bars now?

I'm sorry... Can you explain this more? I don't get it.

That orange rabbit dropping in the subscriptions list...

It's the scrollbar handle. It was the designers choice. If you really think it should be changed, please file a bug.

Why does the main page have two huge items labeled HOT and FRESH at the top...

As an outcome of user research. Most tablet users are coming to maemo.org for new applications -- they really could care less about what is happening within Maemodom.

Can I be honest? I love constructive criticism. But, your comments feel more like complaining to me rather than honest feedback. As you know, everyone will have a subjective response to the new design. Taking a little time to flesh out why you feel the way you do (rather than just telling us it's "bad") by lodging a bug request is much more helpful.

I do want feedback here -- and thank you for doing so -- but if you don't backup what you're pointing at with some logical reasoning, then we can't do anything about it.

2009-04-23 14:24 UTC
Ryan Abel
Ryan Abel
Karma: 1518

At least for the developer documentation stuff, it's moving to Forum Nokia so it wont matter soon enough.

2009-04-23 12:17 UTC
Marat Fayzullin
Marat Fayzullin
Karma: 1594

This comment box came up with the name "admin". Let us see if I can REALLY post as admin =)

2009-04-23 04:58 UTC
Marat Fayzullin
Marat Fayzullin
Karma: 1594

I think that the new design totally fails addressing the original reasons for a redesign, while adding some questionable visual elements:

  1. None of the sections have been properly reorganized. There is still way more items than there should be, with seeming duplicating, hard to comprehend or distinguish names. Why do we have so many sources of news for example? What is "platform guide"? How is it different from "training material" and "mobile application quality guide"? Are there other, non-mobile applications to which the latter does not apply? And so on, and so forth.

  2. Why does maemo.org have TWO title bars now?

  3. That orange rabbit dropping in the subscriptions list - what is it supposed to signify?

  4. Why does the main page have two huge items labeled HOT and FRESH at the top, instead of the news?

I can probably continue forever and ever, but judging that I have made these comments before and never been heard, it now looks like a futile excersize to me. What matters is that the site content structure has not improved, just grown more visual candy.

2009-04-23 04:55 UTC
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