Will be re- launching bits of the site within a few weeks on a new platform and am thinking about the header design. Through observing user behavior, I see that the categories in the header are clicked mostly by new users and that regular users mainly click through to the articles or posts (and not items in the header). Do you click on items in the header? I think I prefer the header at Otaku.fm - cleaner, faster loading time but difficult to keep mirai-chan upright. Any feed back would be most helpful in improving the user experience. Feel free to post links to UI of sites that you feel look good and are functional.
I perper dannychoo.com layout. More familiar with it but wouldn't mind to see what up grades you do. I usually aim for the articles and new post.
Love the DChoo Danny, here are my 20 quid though; I would make it so when you submit a comment and have not logged in, after you finish the log in screen, it takes you back to the post, not the post comment page. Maybe thats just me though. Also, EDITING COMMENTS, LOL! I just get angry with myself If I have to double post. I think we can all agree on that one. Lastly, it would be neat in puchi blurbs if someone wants to reply to a comment, and the user that left the original gets notified (or in the news posts). Just some ideas! Im sure there are going to be a lot of ideas, we all know you work too hard as it is, so please dont try to do it all at once.
Dragun, Thanks - most of your recommendations have been coded - I hope to roll out within 4 weeks.
Saaaaweet. I have to say, I check out a lot of websites when Im trolling the internets, and yours is very fun to check out in depth.
If we're going to have editing function I think it would be good to have something that shows that the post has been edited like the one in this site: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=759414&p=7#r134 You can see the sign on the top right corner showing that the post has been edited which reduces some confusion that may occur because of the edit and increases credibility of the post (me thinks ^^)
I like Otaku.fm better. It's simple.
I think if you had a link to the categories, or use the tabs on otaku.fm that might be useful. Every now and again I go through the sections via the top, so something where we could still get access to see all of the sections would be nice. Or maybe if you had a bunch of pictures that the categories at the top rotated between. Kinda gets a bit old seeing all the same pictures at the top (though some are good)
Agree - otaku.fm is missing the same (or similar) Tabs you have got on dannychoo.com. It would be nice to be able to get straight to the category you are interested in if you feel so.
When I first began reading the site, I used the tabs at the top a fair bit, but indeed now that I visit regularly, I mainly click through the new articles, and don't look at the older stuff very often. However, I definitely like the thumbnail view used to display those items.
^^^^^ Same, only use Search for the old stuff.
Same with me. I dug through the archives at the top, and after reading most of the stuff I wanted to read, I started looking at the news links on the front page.
hur? there is a otaku.fm? I just notice it. Anyway, talking about user experience on this website...I'm one of those that click on the top,especially on Mirai-san to go back to the top page when i'm in either "Articles & Discussion" or "News" section to get to the other one....I still cant fine the link to each other of the above two section.. Others are really fine...
Another thing is that....when adding comment, I still wish to see the content of the title and other persons' comment, instead of go to a fresh page. Some time I just turns up forget something and I have to press the "previous page" button... Wish this can be improved...
Yes, that kind of quick reply things.. That would be great improvement for dannychoo.com (me thinks ^^)..
yes a quick reply will be great. one can look at the post and replies when making a comment. with the current setup, if one click 'back' or accidentally click on any links, the page will be lost and whatever one wrote will be gone. :-(
comment on the post screen function is done but I need to roll out some other code before that. Should be within 4 weeks.
I think having mirai-chan on her side is a great idea. Personally, I think she's kind of on the plain side. I think more people will take a second look at her if she's sideways. It gives her a stronger presence so to speak.
Kind of like she's leering at you from above.
Instead of having Mirai tilted, I think a new picture with Mirai lying down and looking at you or something would look better.
I agree with you on that.
Yeah, my feelings too.
I thirdinate that motion.
Good idea - thinking of mirai in bikini lying down with her eyes touching the floor... Nose bleed...
Agreed! Give that man a cookie: http://www.electriqueboutique.com/shop/images/RM-1340-301.jpg Trust me, click it!
SAME HERE!!! HOTTER MIRAI!
I like the dannychoo's more than otaku's but I must admit that the dannychoo is messy :D. When i was here the first time, i don't have a clue about what i supposed to do. And the site doesn't have Faq to explain parts of the site, too.
I agree with you too- was very confused when I first visited, and was tempted to stop browsing ^^; Thank goodness I didn't stop.
Understood - confusing for me too ^^; The new platform changes will make userbility much better.
Yes, after you've baited new members, ^^; the top portal isn't used much... maybe make an account option default to slimmerize it. I first visited this site randomly, but forgot the name. I managed to visit a second time in late 2007 when I tried to remember this orange and white site with all the fleshtones, and made my way through the crazy site content that the header portal provides. I couldn't find an 'about' page, so that's where I had to learn that the content speaks for itself. That's when I managed to bookmark it :D
I like dannychoo.com layout. I even like the layout at the top. The only complaint i have is the comments link takes a long time to load and a long time to submit.
Odd, I dont have this problem. Maybe it might be your internet speed?
Despite the otaku.fm header is simple, your actual "thumbnailed" header is still cool. Maybe you can try and "improve" your header making it more simpler and at the same time keeping the thumbnails on it. You see, the thumbnail thing adds personality to the site. You can make the thumb images and text littler! or maybe make them Rotate! A bit something like you can see on (http://www.mtv.com/) Maybe you can use a neat dropdown menu or something... or even flash, but these are just lousy reccomendations ^^
I click on the headers if I'm bored and want to read something specific. Usually, first I look at the quick items in the left column, then I might read an article or two if I have time.
I perfer the main site layout better. Wait, scratch that, the main site overall!!!
still waiting on the forums
To be honest I don't really use the links in the header very often, but it also has this "dannychoo original" feel to it, I remember once showing your site to a friend and as he saw it he considered the use of the header for his own website :/ It wouldn't really phase me either way though, the content will still be there ^^
I'm using Google Reader... so actually I use none. But the simpler the better IMO, specially if it is to attract new users. Still kinda hard to maintain a frontpage clean and still display all functions from the website... but I think it's still best to keep it simpler even if you have to omit some of the functionalities Danny...
No hurry to turn Mirai right-side up. A wise man (Benny Hill) once said, "Girls are like pianos; when they're not upright, they're grand."
if it isn't too much trouble, perhaps you can ask Azamiyuko sensei to draw Mirai Chan lying on her stomach instead of putting her sideways on the header. I like the fact that the Otaku.fm header loads a lot faster. and your old users (including myself) would probably be happier if the page loads faster, but if your header helps discoverability for new users and helps on getting them hooked on DannyChoo.com, I think it would be better to keep the header on.
i was also thinking the same thing having Mirai-chan lying down.
Mirai-sama's presence in the otaku.fm page is definitely more defined. Your current design is great though. I say keep the current design, as the header is a neat way to classify specific posts, and is a great way to let new visitors/users know what this site contains. But of course, any change would be welcome, because I'm sure you'll never let us down ^^
Probably the only complaint I have is that the green menu links at the top are in a really odd order. I guess I'm just too used to Home being at the start of a menu and RSS being at the end. :S
I would only use the header to link old posts to new ones as reference (meaning almost never). The only link I click to quite often is the one that sends me back to the main page. Well, no complaints or suggestions here. Keep up the good work. :)
i click on the header 'coz i always backtrack the previous reports and posts ^___^ but yeah -- Otaku.fm's header is simple and clean in a good way ^^
I'll go with the otaku.fm design...
Just my 2 peanuts worth, maybe bring the green links up into the headers. since there are always new visitors here, it's better to have something like a directory. And for the old but loyal danny fan here, sometimes we might browse through the old articles and stuff. If you use the same header as the otaku.fm here, it seems abit weird to have them looking identical
Thinking of using ajax to show different headers to people from a search engine.
dunno why but i do click alot of "articles currently viewed" - fantastic feature. also click alot of articles on the left panel.
Yes this one is much better than the previous "today one year ago" feature - much more dynamic.
I kinda miss the pre-Mirai header, but in terms of look, I like the current one over the otaku.fm header. No noticable difference in loading for me.
Ok Danny, bare with me as you know how wordy I can get. My suggestion is a revamp of your original header as ppl seem to like an option to nav previous material, yet minimize the current headers bulkiness. I'll make a quick mock of my suggestion, and I'll send to your tips. It'll be quite frankensteinish as I'm using paint (yes, u heard right. It'll be all cut and paste). It's all I got. About the menu, thumbnails reduced in size, and categories are reduced to 4 sections menued below thumbs. Perhaps Anime, Otaku, Japan, and Figures. Example: Idols section eliminated and included in 'Japan' category with living. 'Otaku' can incl stormtrooper, events coverage etc. Up to you what goes where. Cursor rollover displays popup menu much like your 'everything' link. Thus you are not resticted to 3 sections like now. You can have as many or little in submenu as desired. All mascot info link to "who is Mirai" instead. Lastly, log in on bottom. General height reduced about 1". As stated, this is all just a suggestion, so I won't be offended if you don't like or want to mod to suit your needs. Hope it helps though.
This is good feedback ^^
I prefer the dannychoo.com layout. Since I'm still new to this site, I find I use the tabs at the top a lot. I click on the side bar with new things, but I like reading the 'archives' as well.
I like the the content higher so the otaku.fm one is good. But the dannychoo one is more attractive because of the pictures. Mirai-chan should be upright, or if she needs to be horizontal, it should be a natural position like lying on her side or sunbaking. Otherwise for the dannychoo layout with Mirai in a squarish area, the content can be moved higher by moving the green links into the header. So the header can actually have everything in it instead of having pushing the content lower and lower with more headers.
I prefer the Dannychoo.com one since the header is more engaging even if you don't use it.
I prefer dannychoo.com layout it's lively...and easy to navigate.
btw, otaku.fm's header is just too plain.. and the horizontal mirai is....not very good to see(maybe it's different if mirai's pose is laying down, but she's actually standing and on a vertical layout)
I really don't click on any of the links in the header. I find myself clicking more on the articles and the news item. You might want to shorten the height of the header as I think it takes up too much space. Also, I don't know if it's just me but I haven't found myself clicking the videos section for quite a few months now. heheh!
