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Official Mumsnet mobile thread part 3

248 replies

DawnMumsnet · 23/08/2014 09:48

Morning all,

And welcome to the new thread!
Grin

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?

Go to post
MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 28/08/2014 11:15

@lazydog

Samsung galaxy S3, Dolphin browser 10.3.1, Android 4.4.2.

Watched threads post counts doesn't change even if you go and read all the new posts and hit bookmark on the very last one. I even tried logging out and then back in (which, incidentally, it won't let me do unless I tick the "keep me logged in" box??) and it doesn't help.

Oh, and on a related note, I really miss the "bump and reset" function...

Sorry - fixing numbers of posts in Threads I'm Watching is on our list!

The bump and reset option will also be coming back soon.

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 28/08/2014 11:23

@LineRunner

The 'Mumsnet Kids Tees' ad is nicely static but I am shocked at the missing apostrophe.Shock

Arf. Thanks for the ad reports, we have passed them all on.

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 28/08/2014 11:37

@JellyBeansHaveNoAgeLimit

HOWEVER I can't see that I've posted until I've refreshed the screen which is pretty annoying! Browser issue or is this being looked into?

I'm not sure tbh - anyone else having this problem?

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 28/08/2014 11:38

@Lweji

On iPod 4 (old, I know), Safari.

I cannot post!!!!

I have tried several times and it just gets stuck.
It doesn't even post several times.
(from laptop now)

Sorry Lweji - this may be an old software issue. Are you able to download a different browser?

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 28/08/2014 11:39

@LEMmingaround

Samsung galaxy s4 seems ok now. Can open my tiao. WineBrewThanksCake for you all. What a week you have had! Is there a blue haze around mumsnet towers?

Um... no comment? Grin

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 11:52

Hello,

A couple of updates re accessibility. We're very keen to get this better so please do continue to feedback on changes.

As well as the testing against web standards we also look to other sources of accessibility best practice. We look at the BBC mobile accessibility standards, Apple design standards and the Government digital service guidelines.

But we recognise that looking to standards can only take us so far so we also test with real users and in future we'll make sure to include a wider range of users with additional needs.

Since releasing the first prototype last week we've been listening to feedback and researching migraine and seizure triggers and best practice for dyslexia readability and making improvements.

Some needs conflict with each other so we're trying to strike the best balance for everyone so please do keep letting us know what you're experiencing.

So far we've increased the thickness of the font and line spacing and added alternating colours on active. Hopefully you've seen improvement in glare without losing readability.

We understand it is largely the fixed advert at the top at the screen that continues to present a problem.

Unfortunately we have less control over the content of adverts so we can't restrict the space to only static ads. No advert should flicker however so if you do spot a culprit guilty of that please let us know and we'll do our best to block it. By flicker we mean change more than 3 times a second.

We do have a plan for an alternative to the fixed ad at the top which we believe will help massively and we intend to make that change on Monday.

Many thanks for your continued feedback we really do appreciate it and if anyone would like to join our beta testers please do let us know!

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 12:14

A few people have asked about our motivation for change...

Listening to feelings about mobile talk and the talk app we wanted very much to create a mobile experience that replicated the functions of the desktop site. In the past there have been various functions that people coming from mobile have missed out on.

Part of the problem in the past with the older designs has been a lack of screen space to fit all the options people wanted. Over the course of many months we worked on and tested several designs to see which would strike the best balance between functions and content.

It's a tricky balance and inevitably led to more menus rather than buttons lest we end up with a page of buttons and no posts.

We completely acknowledge that in some cases that meant actions that were once 'one click' would now be two. For that reason the lower blue buttons were a well received addition for regular users in testing because they could be populated with one click ways to the most common actions.

We also wanted the site to be easy to use and welcoming to new users. In our testing we found that unfamiliar users found the newer mobile designs easy to understand.

We're still testing and continuing to iterate, some things we can only discover through exposure to the full audience so your feedback is really valuable.

Thanks
MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 12:33

@emotionsecho

Rowan, your comment about users updating browsers in order to use the new site - the old site supported all the various browsers and devices perfectly well. The new site is even struggling to support users with brand spanking new all singing and dancing devices, so even if you suggested to your users to update their equipment they probably still couldn't use the new site. To me this raises the question on the purpose of the new site, it doesn't support users with older devices as the old one did, and it doesn't support users with more modern devices as the old one did, so what exactly does it support, what has it been designed for?

It really shouldn't be this much hard work for your users. How long is it going to take for the new site to be up and running properly and accessible by all the users and their browsers and devices as the old one was, or is that just not going to happen and only a select few will be able to access it on specific devices/browsers?

Hello,

Our aim is definitely to make the mobile site accessible and useable by as many people as possible.

To that end we spend a lot of time looking at the most popular ways of accessing Mumsnet and testing those, we also try to test as many others as possible. It is difficult to support every device out there (especially older ones) and that's true of the desktop site too. We do want to be able to take advantage of features supported by newer technologies and browsers and alas that does mean a few things won't be available to very old browsers. In the case of desktop for example, bookmarks aren't supported by some of the older Internet Explorer browsers.

All that said we do try so if there is something that isn't working for you let us know because we may be able to fix it.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 13:44

@IScreamForIceCream

A thickie question from me - I was previously using the mobile site but it has suddenly today defaulted to the desktop site. Have you made this so?

Hmm most strange, no we haven't made that change. Can you try entering the mobile site by scrolling down and using the link at the bottom of the screen?

Also what phone/browser are you using please?

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 13:45

@hashtagwhatever

I'm still having to multi tape on a thread title and it's never the correct one that opens.

I'm using google on Samsung galaxys3

Thanks hashtagwhatever we'll look into that one for you

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 14:17

@MsMarvel

The site today had been very slow for me. Threads with more than about 50 posts are impossible to load and the screen just freezes and stops scrolling or responding about half way through.

Hi MsMarvel, can you let us know what browser and device you're using please?

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 14:35

@JellyBeansHaveNoAgeLimit

Can i ask how the bookmarks are supposed to work? Where can i access this function and is it supposed to take me to an exact post rather than showing the most recent ones like on TIO?

Hello there, if you bookmark a post when you return to the thread it will jump you straight to that post. Bear in mind that if it's a very long thread it'll need to load all the posts first before jumping so there may be a small delay.

Currently you need to go onto the desktop site to turn on bookmarking but we will be adding that as an option in mobile customise.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 17:20

.

Official Mumsnet mobile thread part 3
Official Mumsnet mobile thread part 3
Official Mumsnet mobile thread part 3
MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 17:22

@ophiotaurus

iPhone 5s Safari IOS 7.1.2

I'm finding the font much better for my migraines so thanks for fixing it.
It's still glary, even with the brightness right down.
The text on the old site used to look "bolder" if that makes sense?

Very pleased to hear it and huge apologies that it caused you grief in the first place.

We've been looking very closely at font weight or thickness. For those that are interested above are screenshots of the BBC, vs Mumsnet old vs Mumsnet current. When this prototype was first released last week we were using a lighter weight and have reverted to a heavier, thicker weight closer to the old style. Interestingly the BBC mobile site is much lighter. If you visit BBC do you experience the same glare?

They have chosen to have less line height spacing, whereas we increased our spacing and the font size to help with readability and in particular those users with dyslexia but that also may give the impression of more 'whiteness'.

Tis a balance as ever but we're v keen to get this right so please do keep the feedback coming as we make changes.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 17:27

@livelablove

I am still having all the same problems with my Nokia Lumia 900 windows. Double posting is the worst and it also does it on the desktop site via my phone. The other annoying thing is the task bar appears over the posts so you can read what is under it.

Hello livelablove, very sorry you're still having problems. The Nokia Lumia has been particularly troublesome but we are working on various fixes for it and will improve things as soon as possible for you.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 17:30

@MrsVamos

RowanMN

Thanks so much for info re. 'view all messages'. YAY !!

Lines between posts aren't thick enough, imho. Sorry. They just aren't definitive enough on long threads. Too much white too.

Perhaps I shall just restrict myself to only posting where I can reply quickly to add colour to the thread ?!

PS Grey colour defining my posts is bleurgh.

Hi MrsVamos,

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.

The background colours for highlighting are also something we're still playing with and all part of the ongoing iteration.

Thanks
MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 18:01

@LegoCaltrops

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Android Jelly Bean 4.1 Google Chrome (I just installed it)

I also turned on bookmarking on the desktop site, it's still not working. I did type all this out before, but unfortunately lost the text when I opened a 2nd tab (looking to see if I could install a better browser).

Have you removed the option to 'go to page ( )'? As I could definitely see it a few days ago, now it's gone again.

Rather than 2 clicks, it takes me more like 5-15 clicks before I can access a thread from Active Conversations. Some just won't open at all.

Oh dear sorry about that LegoCaltrops that must have been frustrating. We'll try to replicate it our end on and work on a fix. Thank you for taking the time to type it out again it's very useful to know what device.

(I'll get back to you about 'go to page' if that's okay.)

It should only take you a single tap so we'll look at that. Samsung devices are under ENORMOUS scrutiny by us at present [picture them under a spotlight with Nokia Lumia quaking beside them] We will make them work

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 18:04

@MrsVamos

Hi JessicaMN

Thanks for update. Cake Wine

Perhaps if posters name could be marked a la mumsnet desktop site, the thin line between posts might not appear so thin ?

I know I was a royal whinger when this was first released but it has been a pleasure trying to offer constructive feedback to improve and working with my fellow mnetters, you guys at HQ and Tech.

We'll get there....Smile

Thank you MrsVamos that really means a lot to us, it's been incredibly useful having you persevering, responding and participating - it makes the process a very collaborative effort!

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 18:56

@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.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 18:58

@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.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 20:01

@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.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 20:16

@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.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 20:19

@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...

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 28/08/2014 20:23

@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 Shock 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.

MNHQ

JessicaMumsnet · 29/08/2014 09:05

Hi nicklebabe, it's a very good point about breaking up text (In BBC's case with pictures) and one that we've been thinking about carefully.
Sorry for not correcting typos!

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