Navbar update

[JustineMumsnet]

Morning folks, and a happy 2016, one and all.

We will shortly be releasing a new version of the navbar across some areas of the site on desktop view.

The idea is to have something clearer and more streamlined and that is more in line with the mobile version (which is where the bulk of MN users are) and standard web formats. It also allows us to accommodate a larger ad format at the top of desktop site - which advertisers are demanding because that's what most other sites offer.

We've done a first round of testing on a with some users (many to them) and the response was largely positive, so we're now testing it on parts (talk, reviews) of the live site. The plan is to introduce it everywhere if all goes well.

This is very much a beta version; and we'll be continuing to make a few design tweaks to the nav bar as needed and to the rest of the desktop site to accommodate it (at the moment on Talk it looks a bit jarring for sure but we are working on improving that). We're also looking at way to fit in the angels logo at least at the top of the page (it will disappear as you scroll). So, they'll be a few more updates over the next few weeks...

Do post any thoughts, concerns, feedback here. (Bear in mind it's a work in progress and all change takes a little getting used to )

Many thanks Justine

[ShowOfHands]

Oh dear.

Does dry January preclude consumption of very alcoholic truffles? Or sniffing of hand gel?

Good luck Justine.

I don't really mind change. I used to rail against it but I get used to it in the end. I'm letting it all wash over me. Like a big, blue sea.

[Seeline]

You're not going to add it to the damn social media thingy I have hidden are you?

With you on that one too Rat

[JustineMumsnet]

@SoupDragon

I've just logged onto my Macbook and on the left are the social media buttons that stay fixed whether I scroll up or down - can the old floaty bar options be added to that?

That's exactly what we're looking at [great minds]

[JustineMumsnet]

@ShowOfHands

Oh dear.

Does dry January preclude consumption of very alcoholic truffles? Or sniffing of hand gel?

Good luck Justine.

I don't really mind change. I used to rail against it but I get used to it in the end. I'm letting it all wash over me. Like a big, blue sea.

Excellent approach I'd say

[JustineMumsnet]

@RatOnnaStick

the active link from wherever you are in a thread would be a useful thing, so Tech's looking at adding.

You're not going to add it to the damn social media thingy I have hidden are you?

oops

[JustineMumsnet]

@goodnightdarthvader1

Dislike. Can't get to Pregnancy or Childbirth talk just by hovering like I used to.

Sorry about that GNDV1 - it's just one teeny click though

[DoctorTwo]

Only 3% of us used the purple floaty bar? Wow, I found it so useful to click TIO or Active without scrolling to the top or bottom of a thread. I only use Mumsnet on my laptop.

[RatOnnaStick]

The Home button does that Soup, but I have to physically reach over to tap it and then scroll the cursor to active which is two whole actions.

I have the page set to 125% zoom to see the words well. Because of that he social media bar used to sort of half disappear off the edge of the page. I never used it anyway and it was distracting to the eye so I switched it off.

Poor Justine et al. Every time they try to modernise us we throw a wobbly in all different directions. It must be like herding cats.

[DoctorTwo]

I mean the lappy is the only device I use to access MN, not that MN is the only site I use...

[RatOnnaStick]

Anyway I have got round it by adding Active Convos to my bookmarks bar on my web browser. One click and its always there wherever I am in the thread.

[JustineMumsnet]

@RatOnnaStick

The Home button does that Soup, but I have to physically reach over to tap it and then scroll the cursor to active which is two whole actions.

I have the page set to 125% zoom to see the words well. Because of that he social media bar used to sort of half disappear off the edge of the page. I never used it anyway and it was distracting to the eye so I switched it off.

Poor Justine et al. Every time they try to modernise us we throw a wobbly in all different directions. It must be like herding cats.

No it's good feedback - this was never meant to be a finished thing - we are evolving together, man. It's all cool [zen].

[BertieBotts]

OK happy about the PM notification - thanks for clarifying :)

[Pipistrella]

TypicalMY PC IS AT SHOp am on tablet thing. Canyblopdy tyep so will add coment if andwhen it xcomes back THANK YOU

[RedKites]

I may be missing something, but have we lost the ability to navigate directly to (many of) the more popular topics on talk? For example I used to be able to select Food, and then Food/Recipes on talk would be one of the options and I could navigate directly there. Now, I think I have to click to open the menu, then select Food. That takes me to the general Food page, from which I could presumably find Food/Recipes. Or I can go to the talk home page and select from all the topics there. I don't mind the extra clicks, but having to navigate through an extra page can be annoying if the connection is slow.

[RustyBear]

There's a shortcut to recipes (and several other popular pages) at the bottom of the page, RedKites.

[RedKites]

Thanks, that is useful and I'd forgotten it was there, though I was meaning Food/Recipes chat - so www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food_and_recipes rather than just the recipes themselves.

[SoupDragon]

The Home button does that Soup

I don't think there is a button labelled home. Although I might be thick...

Anyway, I'm back on my iPad now :)

[RatOnnaStick]

I meant the home button on a keyboard. Above the number pad.

[SoupDragon]

There Isn't one on a MacBook Air.

[RatOnnaStick]

Show off . There is on my bargain basement Acer (thats held together with tape and prayers)

[BertieBotts]

Apparently on a macbook air it's Fn + Alt + Up (or down) arrow.

[LieselMeminger]

I'm not keen in the new look, I use the desktop site on ipad, I remember I hated the share with twitter stuff when it was added but got used to it, I'm sure I'll get used to the new look. Certainly nowhere near enough to make me stop using MN. If you add those sparkly ticker things though, I'm fucking off :)

Maybe an option to change the blue nav bad colour so that those who like it can keep it, and those who don't, or who experience discomfort can't change it to something different, like how you can highlight posts from yourself or the OP in a selection of colours.

One feature I would love but have never mentioned in case it's already there and I've just been to thick to notice, is an option to have threads open at the last place you left off? Or to show posts in last hour or something. I keave tabs open but when I come back after a while it refreshes back to the start and finding where I was up to on threads with hundreds of posts is a bit irritating.

[SoupDragon]

At least your bargain bucket Acer has a home button :o

Thanks Bertie. I shall mentally file that away and, no doubt, forget it. Just like I have forgotten the key combo to take a screenshot on it!

[FruStefanOla]

.... just for the moment.

[RatOnnaStick]

And sellotape, Soup. Round the screen to stop it coming apart.

Liesel have you been into customize and turned on the bookmark option? Then you get a little button appear if you hover over the bottom right of the post you're reading. Click that and it saves your place.

Also Why is bookmarking even an option? Surely nobody thinks that one is a bad idea?