Forum Announcement

Spoonie_Turtle wrote: »

Ooh! Does this mean there will be the function to jump to the first unread posts in a thread?

Not sure which MSE world you are frequenting BUT this already exists - been doing it for as long as I can remember being a member (over 15 years)

badmemory wrote: »

Please keep it accessible from a desktop & not gone to rubbish like some others have. We don't all have massively expensive mobiles this is MSE after all!

Agreed.

I would estimate that over 95+% of my usage of MSE is "desktop" (OK actually a very old laptop) and only a tiny percentage on a tablet if I'm out and about.
Think I've used a mobile to access just twice in "an emergency"

It's clunky but it works but still no surprise that at some point forum software migration is needed.

Yet in no circumstances should you break the desktop browser UX by chasing mobile friendly web uber alles. For goodness sake don't even consider an "app only" approach. Any mobile web "improvement" for small touch screens should be invisible to the desktop user base (different channel/style sheets) or pass a "does it make it worse on the desktop - ah yes - then don't do it - test. Level up not down.

By all means pick and configure a platform that improves the desktop UI (less clunky) but don't lie to yourselves that making it "Mobile like" is in any way an improvement. It just isn't. Don't be "those" digital developers who think their one size fits all.

And while you are at it challenge the provider and make sure the new platform has a good modern take on accessibility requirements - screen readers etc and that the navigation design is not needlessly hostile to these users in pursuit of softer goals such as looking funky on a mobile which is *less* important than reaching the partially sighted users with MSE content and commentary.

If the site becomes unfit/unable to use/access on a desk-top or laptop, I won't be buying a new, *larger tablet or using a smartphone just to access this site.


Some people have difficulties reading/viewing items on small screens.
* Mine is 7" and is rarely used because of it.

Spoonie_Turtle wrote: »

Not on the 'new' (blue) forum layout. Existing members were able to keep the old green style which had it, but the current blue one doesn't and as a recent member I don't have access to the green one. So, no 'jump to first unread post' for me and the myriad other more recent members.


Agree with these above who've asked for a guide how to use the site. I consider myself fairly tech-savvy but I still can't work out even basic things like multi-quote and I can't find a tech FAQ anywhere on here. The other forum I frequent (also vBulletin) has a couple of FAQs (one basic and one more in-depth) and a site support section, where members help each other out with the tech questions, no mods or admin privileges required.

If it's the same on the 'blue' version, for multi-quote click on the 'apostrophes' (next to the 'quote' button) for all the extra posts you want to include and the 'quote' button for the last post.