[Dakar the Fourth]

I like it, though I do find the color scheme, a little Wonder Twinny.

Anyway, to whomever thought up and implemented the feature, kudos.

[sek929]

I like the blue outline, but the gold-ish glow doesn't do it for me.

[Dakar the Fourth]

The lavender glow with the gold gradient doesn't mesh with the graphite theme, IMHO.

[reader50]

We used to have a new-posts icon before the redesign. I didn't want to add another icon, so I've been experimenting with effects applied to the button block.

The blue glow alone was tried first, it was almost invisible on a MBP monitor. Next, we tried new-posts-yellow buttons, but the opinion was they were too strong for the rest of the theme. So I bleached them down to a fainter yellow, and added a stronger blue glow.

Opinions / alternative thoughts are welcome.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Perhaps it's too strong, but just reversing buttons might work (white text, black buttons). Or maybe just a medium gray.

[MacosNerd]

My question is why are you experimenting on the production environment? Doesn't Macnn have a test area that you can try out these settings?

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

My question is why are you experimenting on the production environment? Doesn't Macnn have a test area that you can try out these settings?

Look out, besson has hacked the 'Nerd!

[reader50]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

My question is why are you experimenting on the production environment? Doesn't Macnn have a test area that you can try out these settings?

I didn't, it was tested on a private style. The staff seemed ok with it, so after a couple days, I migrated it to the live style, to get a wider range of feedback.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

Perhaps it's too strong, but just reversing buttons might work (white text, black buttons). Or maybe just a medium gray.

Alternatively, you could introduce a "dead" button whose sole purpose would be to indicate new posts. Like so:



I could understand if this seemed to be too inelegant, overly obvious, or redundant.

[subego]

I was wondering what that was...

Veddy cool!

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

Look out, besson has hacked the 'Nerd!

AHHHHHH

[- - e r i k - -]

I do not approve. Can't you get effgee to make up something nicer?

How about a darker "pro style" button for the new posts? I'm also wondering about the usability reasoning behind letting the button block be the notifier. Seems too arbitrary.

[Randman]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

I do not approve. Can't you get effgee to make up something nicer?

How about a darker "pro style" button for the new posts? I'm also wondering about the usability reasoning behind letting the button block be the notifier. Seems too arbitrary.

^^^^

[rickey939]

Not a fan.

[imitchellg5]

I like the concept, but the colors turn me off.

[richwig83]

NOT sure the blue works... why not just have the buttons shaded yellow?

Also it seems kind of pointless as its obvious which is the last/unread post in a thread!

[reader50]

Here is a comparison of ideas tried so far.



notes:

• vB normally uses a new/old icon to designate new posts. I didn't want to add another icon above posts, so we're playing with the button block to flag a new post.
• It is useful to flag new posts, especially if resized images are present in a thread. The page jumps around as the images resize, and it may not be clear afterwards where the new posts begin.
• My blue-tint version: I liked the subtle effect, but it wasn't visible on a MBP display.
• Staff members objected to the strong gold buttons effgee volunteered.
• Mixed responses to my compromise variant.
• Demonhood has gotten the files, and may cook up his own version.

Suggestions are welcome. Only a handful of staff members commented all told, and I'm not set on any particular design.

We could even go back to the separate icon for new posts, but I have doubts about that.

[Randman]

Use the same color tint as on the left-hand side.

[- - e r i k - -]

How about a grey version of effgee's design?

[subego]

^^

I like that, but I think it should be for old posts, and the default style should be for the new ones.

Makes sense to me that the old ones should be darker.

OTOH, that could throw off the general balance of the page.

[- - e r i k - -]

I'm also not sold on it being two different button styles. Glossy vs. flat I mean.

How about something like this?

[rickey939]

What does the separate icon for new posts look like in testing? We could use the MacNN Forums favicon, which falls within the current shape/size of the current buttons.

[imitchellg5]

I actually really like effgee's gold. I think that erik's idea though will be the most universally acceptable.

[rickey939]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

I actually really like effgee's gold. I think that erik's idea though will be the most universally acceptable.

effgee's gold will clash with my sig, and no way am I changing it!

[reader50]

This is a variation of a darker version effgee had suggested.

[- - e r i k - -]

I still say we shouldn't mix and match button styles. Keep them either flat OR glossy.

[reader50]

Edit: I went ahead and uploaded this version for now, which will reduce the number of people offering feedback. I should have uploaded red buttons to draw more people in here.

Edit2:

[- - e r i k - -]

A step in the right directon, but they are still glossy. Are my grey buttons that objectionable?

[reader50]

They seem unattractive to my eye, but mostly I'd like to see feedback from more people. Let's give it a few days, so more members can stop by. Perhaps they will offer more options too.

There's still the possibility of adding a new icon to indicate a new post, probably left of the date stamp. The default vB icons for this are unsuitable:


I didn't think of an alternative that would look attractive, and got interested in the button block immediately afterwards. So the single-icon option is not explored very well.

[- - e r i k - -]

How about styling the date block instead? A subtle background, or even bold text?

Seems more appropriate than styling the button block.

And hey, people seemed to like those button. I call soresies.

[analogika]

I like effgee's gold.

The blueish and slightly reddish tints are all but invisible to me at a quick glance, and the gold matches the stars at left.

[subego]

Originally Posted by reader50 

It's a little tacky, but it's executed well (as super tiny graphics go). I kind of like it.

I like how the yellow matches the MacNN stars, but it isn't as whack you over the head as the yellow buttons.

Originally Posted by analogika 

I like effgee's gold.

The blueish and slightly reddish tints are all but invisible to me at a quick glance, and the gold matches the stars at left.

Now that's it's in place, I have to agree with the sentiment that the difference is just too subtle.





Looks like I'm asking y'all to walk a fine line.

[effgee]

Rrrr ... my "gold" was actually supposed to be the same yellow as the user stars on the left. Alas, it ain't (very sloppy of me, tsk, tsk, tsk). T'was supposed to look like so:


(And yes, in this case I like the change from the subtle 3-D gradient in the grey buttons to the more reflective appearance of the yellow ones)


Alternatively, a larger & single yellow star to the left of the "quote" button should suffice, too:

[subego]

Originally Posted by effgee 

Alternatively, a larger & single yellow star to the left of the "quote" button should suffice, too:

That's cool!

In case anyone wants a "preview", you can drag the image (don't let go) next to the quote button. I'd recommend dragging it up, forcing the page to scroll so you can see it next to the default (rather than new) quote buttons.

[- - e r i k - -]

That's certainly a whole lot more logical than changing the button block. I'm for it. The star that is, not the yellow buttons.

[effgee]

Actually, reader50 had the proper thought about the placement of the star (or whatever other symbol it ends up being) ... it should of course go to the right of the post date, not to the left of the "quote" button.

[- - e r i k - -]

In that case, can it be slightly smaller to match the text? Ala the post stars.

[rickey939]

I'm fine with the star, let's do it.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by reader50 

We could even go back to the separate icon for new posts, but I have doubts about that.

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

Alternatively, you could introduce a "dead" button whose sole purpose would be to indicate new posts. Like so:

The star is a little too loud for me.

Some alternative, probably too subtle alternatives for the original idea.

[reader50]

Trying an icon now. A slightly smaller version of the new-posts-in-forum dot.

[imitchellg5]

I like the dot. It does seem a little awkwardly placed to me, but I could get used to it for sure.

[rickey939]

I like the dot, but I think it needs to be moved to the right of time-stamp.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by reader50 

Trying an icon now. A slightly smaller version of the new-posts-in-forum dot.

This is definitely a step in the right direction,

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by rickey939 

I like the dot, but I think it needs to be moved to the right of time-stamp.

Maybe, I'd like to see how that would be different.

The time stamp is really not that important to me, as long as I know this is a new post.

So the dot being in front of it is ok.

-t

[Andhee]

What about a red dot for red? With nothing there the time stamp isnt in alignment with the new posts and can look a bit odd.


EDIT: Use the grey instead which is used on threads which are old (for old posts)

[jokell82]

I like the dot much better than the colored buttons. And I like the placement, too.

[reader50]

Originally Posted by Andhee 

What about a red dot for read? With nothing there the time stamp [on old posts] isn't in alignment with the new posts and can look a bit odd.

EDIT: Use the grey instead which is used on threads which are old (for old posts)

I did make the empty-dot version too, but didn't add the display code. We have upwards of 3 million posts, and only a few hundred new during the typical visit. Do people want the empty dot present, to fix the timestamp alignment?

Yesterday, too early
Yawn.

Yesterday, stolen lunchbreak
Grumble, gas price too high.

Yesterday, too late
Hide the pizza, but not behind the TV.

Today, on time
Informed text, agreeing to send money.

[subego]

Excellent!

Super minor nitpick... I think the dot needs to come down one pixel, so it's centered like a bullet.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by reader50 

I did make the empty-dot version too, but didn't add the display code. We have upwards of 3 million posts, and only a few hundred new during the typical visit. Do people want the empty dot present, to fix the timestamp alignment?

Yesterday, too early
Yawn.

Yesterday, stolen lunchbreak
Grumble, gas price too high.

Yesterday, too late
Hide the pizza, but not behind the TV.

Today, on time
Informed text, agreeing to send money.

Oh hell no. Only show the dot if that's a new post.

-t

[Andhee]

Hmmm, I would see what it is like with the empty-dot version also as it might be better.

Also, some people who arnt familiar with the new dot system thing might read through all the posts without a dot and then realise they have read them before, and then scroll down to the posts with the yellow dots, but they wouldnt need to read them if there were a grey dot clearly indicating read or old or such.