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Eug · Jun 26, 2008, 09:28 PM

This new LED-form ban countdown clock is tres cool. Nice design and useful info.

However... Yeah, yeah... Everyone's a critic, but might a different colour scheme be more appropriate, given the existing MacNN forum colour scheme? Either way though, thanks for this new feature. I like it.

rickey939 · Jun 26, 2008, 09:30 PM

How about a "countdown to Cooperstown" clock?

Eug · Jun 26, 2008, 09:35 PM

It seems to be a baseball reference, but count me clueless.

turtle777 · Jun 27, 2008, 01:34 PM

It's a little obtrusive, but that's ok.

At least you'll notice who's on a time out.

-t

MacosNerd · Jun 27, 2008, 01:41 PM

I don't think its too obtrusive and a really good idea.

Big Mac · Jun 27, 2008, 01:54 PM

Cool.

turtle777 · Jun 27, 2008, 01:55 PM

Btw, this is not that new. It has been around for about 4 weeks.

Seems like nobody got temp-banned in the meantime.

Reader50 started testing it on May 22, see second last post in this thread.

http://forums.macnn.com/61/feedback/...-this-forum/3/

-t

imitchellg5 · Jun 27, 2008, 02:20 PM

I don't like it. It sticks out from the rest of the interface too much.

Eug · Jun 28, 2008, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Reader50 started testing it on May 22, see second last post in this thread.

http://forums.macnn.com/61/feedback/...-this-forum/3/

Best thread ever

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I don't like it. It sticks out from the rest of the interface too much.

Well, I agree it sticks out too much, which is partly why I started this thread. However, I'm nowhere near as down on it as you are since it nicely serves a useful function.

BTW, in that context I am amused by this pseudo-infraction from the thread I linked above:

Originally Posted by chimaera

Test post #4

the blue should be deeper

reader50 · Jun 28, 2008, 04:06 PM

It was modelled on a real LED clock, which uses a black background to make the segments more visible.

Originally Posted by Eug

Everyone's a critic, but might a different colour scheme be more appropriate, given the existing MacNN forum colour scheme?

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I don't like it. It sticks out from the rest of the interface too much.

But ... but ... if I make it match the forum greys, it will no longer match the LED clock on my nightstand!

turtle777 · Jun 28, 2008, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by reader50

But ... but ... if I make it match the forum greys, it will no longer match the LED clock on my nightstand!

Well, we can't let THAT happen.

We should form a committee at once

-t

imitchellg5 · Jul 2, 2008, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

well, we can't let that happen.

We should form a committee at once :d

-t

I am not a committee!

turtle777 · Jul 2, 2008, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I am not a committee!

Well, you won't be (in)formed then

-t

imitchellg5 · Jul 2, 2008, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Well, you won't be (in)formed then

-t

It's a Star Wars reference.

turtle777 · Jul 2, 2008, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

It's a Star Wars reference.

I don't care

-t

effgee · Jul 3, 2008, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I don't like it. It sticks out from the rest of the interface too much.

Anyone have a screenshot of how and where exactly it's integrated into the site/page?

imitchellg5 · Jul 3, 2008, 04:06 PM

It replaces the stars.

Chuckit · Jul 3, 2008, 04:08 PM

The only currently banned user is peeb, so here's a post by him. It's just custom rank stars.

Dork. · Jul 3, 2008, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by rickey939

How about a "countdown to Cooperstown" clock?

Maybe you want to change your stars to this?

rickey939 · Jul 3, 2008, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Dork.

Maybe you want to change your stars to this?

Never.

Dork. · Jul 3, 2008, 08:58 PM

How 'bout this?

(Duh, it's a countdown clock, the image probably changes every hour....)

effgee · Jul 3, 2008, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

It replaces the stars.

Originally Posted by Chuckit

The only currently banned user is peeb, so here's a post by him. It's just custom rank stars.

Found it - thanks! In that case, something like this would probably integrate a bit better ...

reader50 · Jul 4, 2008, 12:15 AM

I'm hacking other things at the moment, and left the LED script alone once it worked & looked like real LEDs.

effgee's example is attractive; I'll probably mess with the banclock again in a week or three. Though it won't match a single clock in my home when it's done.

Ω · Jul 4, 2008, 12:26 AM

Buy a new clock!

imitchellg5 · Jul 4, 2008, 10:20 AM

I like effgee's replacement. It looks a lot better.

rickey939 · Jul 4, 2008, 10:42 PM

I [heart] effgee.

Randman · Jul 4, 2008, 10:53 PM

Doesn't show up for me.

effgee · Jul 5, 2008, 02:01 AM

^ Intermittent DNS troubles with my private domain ... this one will show up:

ghporter · Jul 5, 2008, 10:44 AM

effgee's version is much more attractive and Mac-like. But I wonder if making the clock look more attractive would make it less useful in highlighting when people have been given a temporary ban. I like the way such users stand out immediately because they don't have stars or other attractive decorations there, just a stark and spare countdown...

turtle777 · Jul 5, 2008, 11:12 AM

Doesn't show for me either.

Looks nice though. Kudos to both effgee and reader50 for innovating the forum.

-t

Chuckit · Jul 5, 2008, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

effgee's version is much more attractive and Mac-like. But I wonder if making the clock look more attractive would make it less useful in highlighting when people have been given a temporary ban. I like the way such users stand out immediately because they don't have stars or other attractive decorations there, just a stark and spare countdown...

If we did it the way he illustrated there, it would still really stand out — that's three times the height of any other element on the page.

effgee · Jul 5, 2008, 11:45 AM

Randman · Jul 5, 2008, 01:28 PM

That's hawt. Be cool to have that as our post count. Could get rid of the stars all together. Maybe use the color background for differentiation. Grey for newbs, red for mods, etc.

Why let the banninated have all the fun?

besson3c · Jul 5, 2008, 01:50 PM

I prefer this clock:

ghporter · Jul 5, 2008, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

If we did it the way he illustrated there, it would still really stand out — that's three times the height of any other element on the page.

I find the starkness of the plain LED display to be distinctive enough that it really stands out. However...

Originally Posted by effgee

...this one makes up for that. Red stands out well and connotes some sort of negative.

imitchellg5 · Jul 5, 2008, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

That's hawt. Be cool to have that as our post count. Could get rid of the stars all together. Maybe use the color background for differentiation. Grey for newbs, red for mods, etc.

Why let the banninated have all the fun?

I like this idea. A lot.

effgee · 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

That's hawt. Be cool to have that as our post count. Could get rid of the stars all together. Maybe use the color background for differentiation. Grey for newbs, red for mods, etc.

Why let the banninated have all the fun?

Rrrr ... regular users

banned users

moderators

admins

But ... and I'd like all of you to keep the following in mind ... this is supposed to be a forum where we, the users, read other user's posts - it's not intended as playground where a "selected few" should show off their pixel-pushing- and/or scripting-prowess.

Just because something can be done, it doesn't automatically mean it should be done. From the POV of information hierarchy, no part of that area (= user info) deserves the visual relevance these graphics would give it.

reader50 · Jul 5, 2008, 03:42 PM

It is done. I stuck with effgee's first cut, to look like a normal LCD, but I resized it to a more normal size, and lightened it to compensate for the smaller size.

Red isn't necessary - it was the most common color for LED clocks. Let's let the clock itself be unusual enough to flag the banned user.

note: using an image script on every post might do interesting things to the server load.

Randman · Jul 5, 2008, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by effgee

= this is supposed to be a forum where we, the users, read other user's posts - it's not intended as playground where a "selected few" should show off their pixel-pushing- and/or scripting-prowess.

Since when?

rickey939 · Jul 5, 2008, 05:08 PM

Looks suh-weet. Please ban me.

imitchellg5 · Jul 5, 2008, 05:12 PM

I love it. Thank you much!

Randman · Jul 5, 2008, 05:14 PM

Why is there even a need for a banned clock? Send out an email on a ban and state "Your account has been banned, You can re-post on Xx-xx-xx date, Then when the ban is lifted, send out another one saying "Your ban has been lifted, but if you feck up again, you will be perma-banned."

mduell · Jul 5, 2008, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

Why is there even a need for a banned clock? Send out an email on a ban and state "Your account has been banned, You can re-post on Xx-xx-xx date, Then when the ban is lifted, send out another one saying "Your ban has been lifted, but if you feck up again, you will be perma-banned."

Lets everyone else know when that user will be back to answer.

turtle777 · Jul 5, 2008, 06:55 PM

Thanks, effgee, you did a great job on this

-t

imitchellg5 · Jul 5, 2008, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

Why is there even a need for a banned clock? Send out an email on a ban and state "Your account has been banned, You can re-post on Xx-xx-xx date, Then when the ban is lifted, send out another one saying "Your ban has been lifted, but if you feck up again, you will be perma-banned."

When you're banned you get an email exactly like the first one. The counter is for other user's convenience.

Randman · Jul 5, 2008, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

When you're banned you get an email exactly like the first one. The counter is for other user's convenience.

Still think it's too good for the banninated. Just use

(back in 10 days).

Eug · Jul 6, 2008, 02:11 AM

Sweet. Purdy new colours.

P.S. Our favourite banned member is getting a lot of airplay in this thread.

Simon · Jul 6, 2008, 02:36 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

The only currently banned user is peeb, so here's a post by him.

What for actually? All his posts I just saw seemed quite ok. Especially compared to some of the other baloney that gets posted on this board.

turtle777 · Jul 6, 2008, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

What for actually? All his posts I just saw seemed quite ok. Especially compared to some of the other baloney that gets posted on this board.

He might have accumulated a dozen of infractions.

Peeb can get very "loud" in the PWL.

-t