UI Updates

I really like the new grid and list, means when I've missed a load of news I can browse through faster, thanksyou ^__^!

I can sense that DC.com is improving... ^^

i wonder what it looks like on a widescreen though...

The grid look has my thumbs up. I'm also wondering if the hiding of the member news is what unblocked the site today...not holding my breath though. I'm afraid to close this window and re-open it later, feeling they'll just block it again.

LOL when I first saw the Member News missing, I thought there was something wrong with DC again! XD

Looks good, the layout should be more new user-friendly this way.
Still remember the polygonated many-moons ago dc.com when I first visited ^^;;

eek! i remember that old format! was very cool back then but i guess not practicable with the increasing traffic.

At first I thought the member news disappeared ^_^

Good lord, that old screenshot was of when I was a wee new visitor!!

Ah, good old Figure.fm.. *sniff*

Personally, I like the 3 column design as you can use 2 for actual content and the 3rd can be used for various other stuff which you think should be visible but not too attention grabbing.
Downside is that it can make the page look cluttered.

Now if you;ll excuse me, I have to change my pages from grid look to list (I prefer list)

I think it's okay, and as long as you keep the option for list-view, I'm happy ^^.
One thing i'd really like to see/keep, is clear dates attached to the articles, mabye in small text or as 'on-hover' elements. Helps me keep track of what's new and what isn't.

the hidden member news for new visitors is a very nice touch. new visitors can focus on danny's contents without being distracted by too many things.

Improvements to the User Interface are welcome, thumbs up.

Love the grid and list thingy. Perfect for catching up with member news. ^^

As for the site design, I think the current one is great.....

Hey Danny, another non-relevant opinion by an exclusively-RSS reader.

It is your home, so of course you to choose the color of the tiger carpet. But heck… Where is the content? Your content, I mean? I sure know your point is bringing CGM to the center stage… Maybe I am looking at your web the wrong way, because at the end of the day I still see it as a blog, and the blog posts is what I care most about.

All I see is menus everywhere and zillions of disconnected thumbnails! The bottom new gray bar of yet-more-menus in the bottom (which, reading them, seems to me like should be the main ones, instead of "more; secret menu; your menu…" ¬_¬' –do not get me started with those ones–) which takes out more space of my precious limited screen size (MacBook 13") is not even on the screenshot.

Show me the title and content (or at least a -big– portion of it) of the latest post at the very top and I will be happy (in the event I shall for whatever obscure reason abandon RSS). You can fill the columns with whatever extras you will, but get me started with the content I want to see, without one single clic and no scrolling.

Again, just a probably non-relevant opinion.

I've been playing with the grid and list options...I like them... ^_^

I mostly like the improvements, switching between grid and list is cool:) Not sure about hiding the member news though, some of it may be very interesting to new users.

So far I've liked all the changes you've implemented to the site so far.

The outlook of many moons ago seem.....Messy ^^''

Good thinking about hiding user news from the new and unfamiliar user that come and visit. I did not know that Danny Choo is a 3 column site last time.

Not really a fan of the grid but over time I'll get use to it ^^

Right now I'm just wondering why everytime I hit submit on a comment it says that page cannot be found. It still posts the comment though.

looks good. just a thought, have you tried banner ads for the one on top of the member news? and another one right under the featured photo article

I would think Member News would get priority over Puchi Blurbs, in terms of visible by default. Better to present new visitors/users with constantly updated content and news than with "I just had a sandwich, it was awesome!"

^_^

Nice improvements Danny, thx for the hard work ^^

Look nice and easy to browse more stuff!

Am loving the grid/list switcher XD
Not so loving the new floating gray menu bar. Maybe because my screen real-estate isn't that big. More space for DC goodies == better browsing experience for me XD

Is it possible to save a user's viewing preferences to the database? Would be useful for those among us who rely on shared/public machines (where cookies get wiped often).

i found the last design also good ^^ but this one is really great

ps: i like the suscribe button :3

The new mock-up is rather good, only I think that adds should not be presented above the vertical site content, then it's better to leave the ads column in the right and optimize the rest page to upgrade UI. Or you could create new horizontal bar between the "Danny's News" and the vertical site content, and put ads in that bar. I think that would be better and make also visitors more happy.

I've always disliked how cluttered the main page looked - but it's not as bad as many sites, and I've been around long enough that I know where everything is, so it hasn't been a problem.

That said, I definitely like the two column layout. It makes things much cleaner - I've been using it for my own blog design. The only thing that worries me is how you plan to cram in all the RSS feeds and sponsors now.

personally i prefer a list, so very happy you're keeping the option to display in that mode ^^

I love the the function to switch between list and grid. The list mode can feel a bit daunting at times when there's a lot of new news items.

Not a big fan of the ads right there kind of in the middle above the member news... Having different viewing options is kind of cool though so you can make it how you like it. I was sad when I saw the member news in icon format but then I was like oh, you can switch it back to list view XD

The two column looks less "busy" than the current three column layout. I still think the main page shows too much information at once...but that's just me XD

I like the new updates ^^ Can't wait for member to member messaging.

Great new additions to the site, especially the grid and list options.

I know my way around, but I prefer a list nevertheless.

Thanks for the feedback so far!

I've always thought that the "main" column (the middle one... the right one in the preview) needed to be quite a bit larger in comparison, or somehow visually separated more clearly from the other columns. It tends to get a little lost, as is.

just remembered first time visit dannychoo.com

i like the switch, prefer the list view myself, saves from opening up new tabs for stuff that i won't read.

and since all ive been doing latly is UI setups, the currnet and new one looks good and user freindly, but the problem is finding where to put the money makers at.... and no third column...maybe have the new space for the ads (top left) cycle though on a 5 sec timer ,and another space fro ads between the member news and punchi blurbs, again cycling through, the rest of the stuff on the right can go under the punchi blubs and articles... reminds me that i hardly ever scroll all the way down to the bottom of the main page... nothing down there to draw me to it.

hope this helps :)

Danny, I still can't scroll left/right with a size smaller than x768.

I think something need to be made for the sake of the netbooks ^^;;, My netbook is 800x600 resolution and I lost portion of the website.

Maybe it isn't on the to-do list, but I'd like to be able to get at categories of posts (like Gundam) more easily from the main page. As it is, I have to find a post in a given category (either in the items currently available on the front page, or among posts I've previously commented on) and get to the category page via the link at the top of the post. A less circuitous method of access would be lovely.

Other than that, can't complain.

Can't really complain, just got let in sunday, still exploring........seems easy enough...

Very much like the grid and list view just fine ^^;

I like the idea for the grid...displays more items just in case one might have missed a day or two...

I have been here for at about one month, but I can truly say all the additions so far were indeed welcome. ^_^

Looking at this mockup from the iPod right now. Danny, how about moving your main content to the left side and member news/puchi blurbs to the right side...

A few thoughts to add.
-I don't mind the two column layout. It looks nice. The old three-column setup was nice too. It does look clean.
-Is there any way to get the Pucchi Blurbs to be readable by something like twhirl or other reader applications? I keep missing them when I visit the site.
-Occasionally, two gray boxes, about 500 x 50 pixels will appear while I'm scrolling through the comments. They're always about 2/3 down the overall page, and go away when I scroll back up 35-40 lines and then back down.

Had a small idea for the photo articles using a little bit of jquery and a plugin, where do i send it?

lol checking out the screencap, looks like many moons ago you had more gundam posts than anything else. :)

Looks like the new site layout is coming out quite nicely and good idea with hiding the member news, keeps things somewhat tidier. I'm sure the end result will be spectacular.

But without the 3rd column, what will become of chibi mirai for the RSS subcriber?!?!

;____;

The old set up looks really crowded. The current one is pretty good though. You might want to look into filters so people who don't care about certain subjects can avoid them.

I think it would be nice to have some icons accompanying the Japan, figure, idol, etc portals on maybe a bar of the same size as and under the current top bar. A new viewer gets the splash page but after they enter they see the current scheme with the floating bar on bottom or the respective portal pages -- and icons with text would seem more intuitive than exploring the top bar and the "More" menu.

Perhaps you can get responses from employees at firms you do consulting for? Maybe ask for first impressions from employees who have not visited your site yet.

Appreciate the improvements...hope for good things to come...

DC.com improvement confirmed!
thx danny!!