Official Mumsnet mobile thread part 3

[DawnMumsnet]

Morning all,

And welcome to the new thread!

As SarahMumsnet said at the end of the last thread, we have Tech on call for fixes this weekend, and various MNHQers will be here to talk and help wherever we can.

We'll be adding to the rolling list of bugs, glitches and dislikes (see below), so please keep the feedback coming. Do remember to list which device you're using, which operating system, and which browser, so we can identify the specific issues.

Right then, who's first?

Well I have switched to chrome since editing anything in the posting box was impossible on the default android browser, and TIO was still pretty unresponsive to clicking.

These problems don't exist in Chrome, but I like it less as a browser as it seems slower, pages don't stay loaded when you go offline, copying pasting is way fiddlier, and there are fewer rhold-click options (like opening a link in the same tab as opposed to a new one)

But will keep using it for now, just for the ability to scroll up in the text box as that was the deal breaker for me in the other browser.

@nickelbabe

Rowan and MNHQ, althoygg switching browser is a plan, may I suggst the you don't keep forving cgrome on people - especially those who have complained about the fladhing adverts? Chrome 's stupid disappearing address bar is jist as bad! firefox for android is the new girefox browser, and it's solved my blank squares issue

Yy we definitely do not wish to force any particular browser on people. We do know that Chrome is often a good bet for many people because of it's support for various features but as you point out there are others that work just as well and we aim to support all reasonably modern browsers. There are some limits to what we can do with very old versions we're afraid but a fairly recent version of Firefox is also an excellent choice.

@riverboat1

Well I have switched to chrome since editing anything in the posting box was impossible on the default android browser, and TIO was still pretty unresponsive to clicking.

These problems don't exist in Chrome, but I like it less as a browser as it seems slower, pages don't stay loaded when you go offline, copying pasting is way fiddlier, and there are fewer rhold-click options (like opening a link in the same tab as opposed to a new one)

But will keep using it for now, just for the ability to scroll up in the text box as that was the deal breaker for me in the other browser.

Some built in Android browsers do have their own set of quirks which we're working on now to improve.

Thank you for trying out an alternative browser for now while we carry on working to sort things for your Android.

I like the disappearing address bar after a few months now I am used to it leaves more space on the screen, but can access when you need to....

Hi there,

I am one of the people who had a migraine triggered last week by the new site. I can see a difference on the font, it is less round and easier to read, but on my Nokia Lumia it is seriously small, about a millimetre high.

I looked at the BBC website as you suggest, and honestly, had to stop, it had the same effect as the MN website last week. I am beginning to feel sick typing this, and my head is starting to hurt, but that maybe because I looked at the BBC website too. I will come back later or tomorrow and try again cold. FWIW, I am struggling with the MN desktop site now too since the migraine episode, as it makes me feel ill, which did not happen before.

Still, I managed to type more just now than last week!!

This is much better, although, bookmark doesn't take me to where it should.
I don't like Chrome or Firefox, but use UC Browser.

Nexus 7
Android 4.4.4
Chrome 36.0.1985.135

Cannot upload images. Initially it worked fine (when new site first released), then it kept timing out (last tried a day or so ago), now when I try it says image must be at least 90 pixels - the images are definitely at least this size.

I don't mind the moving shortcut bar too much but its annoying that it gets stuck! Also, you have to click to hide it with each screen refresh, can this be changed so you only have to click the option once?

@Romeyroo

Hi there,

I am one of the people who had a migraine triggered last week by the new site. I can see a difference on the font, it is less round and easier to read, but on my Nokia Lumia it is seriously small, about a millimetre high.

I looked at the BBC website as you suggest, and honestly, had to stop, it had the same effect as the MN website last week. I am beginning to feel sick typing this, and my head is starting to hurt, but that maybe because I looked at the BBC website too. I will come back later or tomorrow and try again cold. FWIW, I am struggling with the MN desktop site now too since the migraine episode, as it makes me feel ill, which did not happen before.

Still, I managed to type more just now than last week!!

Hi Romeyroo, eurgh so very sorry you feel ill and thank you very much for coming back to let us know what's better and what is still causing you grief.

We're doing lots of testing on the Lumia at the moment to improve various things so we'll take a look at what's happening with the font there too.

I'm loathed to suggest this given how the BBC made you feel but I noticed in a different post you mentioned the Guardian didn't have that effect on you. We've checked and they have the same white background as us, the same colour type and similar sizing which leads me to believe there's other factors at play here.

We've been investigating migraine and headache triggers and understand that it may be also be about breaking up white space so we're going to be continuing to try out different options there. Any info about your own triggers is immensely useful so thank you for sharing your thoughts.

@mypussyiscalledCaramel

This is much better, although, bookmark doesn't take me to where it should. I don't like Chrome or Firefox, but use UC Browser.

Hello, thank you for letting us know. Bookmarks rely on support from browsers and may not work in some browsers especially older ones, but we'll look into the UC browser to check what's happening.

Thanks, Jessica. Yes, you are right, I am reading the Guardian. I just flicked back and forth and the background is the same now I think; last week MN was much more glarey, because I did the same thing then.

I am going to take a wee break and come back later, because I can't look at this too long, and have a think about it. I am not sure about whether it is the text is more broken up, because in long articles in the Guardian, it is often not.

Maybe once the font size is improved on the Lumia that will help: I am still seeing a lot of white.

Thank you anyway

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Nexus 7 Android 4.4.4 Chrome 36.0.1985.135

Cannot upload images. Initially it worked fine (when new site first released), then it kept timing out (last tried a day or so ago), now when I try it says image must be at least 90 pixels - the images are definitely at least this size.

Hey there ItsAllGoingToBeFine, sorry it's stopped working for you. We'll see if we can replicate that here and then investigate...

@JellyBeansHaveNoAgeLimit

I don't mind the moving shortcut bar too much but its annoying that it gets stuck! Also, you have to click to hide it with each screen refresh, can this be changed so you only have to click the option once?

Ooh you should only have to hide the shortcut buttons once and it also shouldn't get stuck. You're on a Samsung Galaxy yes? We're taking a good hard look at Samsung and Nokia this week so we'll take your issue into account.

regarding the bbc site - you can change the font size, but at full screen width on a 7" tablet, you rarely have more than one screen length before a picture.
that makesa difference to tthe glare as it's not scroll after scroll if mostly white page.

jessica thank you - I wiukd have like it better if you'd corrected all my typos
I didn't have time to correct because I suddenly realised I was very late leaving!

I didn't mean forcing in that way, I jist meant "other browsers are available" especially as the scrolling address bar in Chrome is nasty.
I always used firefox aurora, which was current when i got my tablet, but issues with the new mobile site prompted me to update it. that's when i ffound firefox for android which has replaced aurora.
it means they ccan use a new uptodate browser that behaves more like a proper browser than chrome does.

I just looked at the Guardian, too.
on my browser, the font is different (more flicks and things on the writing) and it's definitely bigger writing.
I wonder whether the kerning is also wider...

Blackberry 9720, OS 7.1, default browser

QUOTE

"wiltingfast:
^TIO has become impossible, when I try to load threads it keeps reloading the last tiny bit until I give up in frustration or it closes the browser. I don't seem to have the same problem with Active for some reason? I think it got worse when I turned off the blue bar so I could see more screen on Monday (many thanks for the tip on how to do that btw smile )

I also find the side menus temperamental, they might appear, they might appear after several tries, they might freeze the screen, they might make the browser crash sad sad sad sad^

PLUS when I post on this thread from my desktop it wants me to save the message and then open it? I have to refresh the page to see if it has posted????? It is an old browser I think, Explorer 9???

ROWAN QUOTE This definitely sounds like a software problem at your end - sorry. Might be worth running a virus check and updating your browser if you can bear it!"

Yes but rowan, that was a totally different computer (work)! V unlikely surely all the problems are at MY end????!

As it happens I don't really care about the work computer 'cause I use (or used to use) mumsnet on the BUS and in BED (alas).

I've tried to google what my browser IS but I can't tell >stupid< never mind whether I should upgrade it. Blackberry doesn't seem to think I need to upgrade it. I'm all evening at this, I don't want to be fiddling about I want to READ THE THREADS.

I'm sure plenty of your users have bb and are just too damn busy to bang on here about the issues and are just not using the mobile site. My entire workplace has bbs.

I think it is absolutely extraordinary that the changeover is going so poorly. I was excited when I saw it and now I can't actually use the damn site even though I actually have a new phone.

You had a site that was working perfectly well. Sure, the new font is pretty but is it really worth all this aggro?

And FWIW, I don't think piles of bloody submenus that slow down reading time are a bloody improvement!

tantrum!

Things are definitely improving - thank you!

Thanks for the feedback about lines between posts, we're keen to keep space for text but we'll have a think about breaking up posts clearly.

Still bothered by this. Just don't add any more space!

Please could you try reducing the line spacing. My biggest complaint is still the small amount of text which can fit on one one screen.
Though I will put up with a lot I don't personally like if it helps prevent people suffering from migraine having attacks, and helps readability for dyslexics.
Also disclaimers such as appear at the head of boards such as Relationships could definitely have closer line spacing and smaller, denser font. We don't need to read them every time.

Testing from the desktop site on my old iPod

And gave up again (back on laptop).

Apparently, every fucking website works on my pre-historic iPod except MN. (well, for posting)

Frustrated, moi?

Even FB and The Guardian site.

Shame on you.

Did I mention all the weight in photos too?
Surely a basic MN site should work better?

After reading Lweji's post I've just got out my iPod which I often use to MN and am testing to see if I can post. If you can see this post, ignore it!

Hi I'm using I think a 4th gen iPod. It works in safari but not the google app I always used before. It is hard to read tho- there just isn't enough text per page so you scroll and scroll. I'm thinking the point of this is to put adverts on (although we had started getting those on the mobile site). That is understandable but the readability is awful and I think it looks cheap. Has anyone answered the question of why you went for this and why there can't be a way to opt for the old site (like a shell thingy)

Agree with whoever said the line spacing is still far too wide. You say it's accessibility, but that wasn't a problem before.

I still think the main cause of the motion sickness type problems for many is the absurd amount of scrolling you have to do to read even a short thread.

I estimate my mn use has reduced by at least half since the mobile site launched.

Could you consider adding some sort of dynamic widget to the desktop site so the text fits into your screen? Because I really don't see this site getting to the point where I don't find it actively annoying to use any time soon.