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

[SoupDragon]

:)

[MangoBiscuit]

Firstly, hooray for going responsive! Look forward to seeing (and quietly testing ) the new layout, when it goes live.

Also another vote for the return of the viewport bar, or a replacement. And not just to active please, I use it for "Threads I'm On" and "Watching" just as much as active. Fixed position links under the social media widgets would work fine for me, as I usually access MN on my laptop

The drop down menu color is a bit too jarring, but I think the MNQH post background (#c7d9eb) with the MN blue (#0061a1) for your text, could look nice.

[RatOnnaStick]

If you took the big search box, made it the same size as the rest of the words and stuck it next to Advanced Search lower down on the right, then shuffled the Mumsnet over to the centre you could get the logo back in its place on the left below the advert where it belongs. Or put the logo in the centre and leave the Mumsnet where it is, but sharpen the image up, it looks fuzzy right now.

Also, changed my mind. I do wish I could have my floatybar back please.

[PurpleTreeFrog]

I like clean, non cluttered interfaces and I think this is a step in the right direction!

I think the front end designers deserve a bit more respect, people. Don't be so rude. You do realise actual human beings create and run this site, right? I know feedback is welcome but to call their work "vile" is so rude. I think they're doing a good job.

[ARichVernacular]

I can't really tell what the difference is have no comment on most of the recent changes, but please please bring back the floatybar (or equivalent). I used it all the time on my laptop.

[SwedishEdith]

Is the floaty bar the thing we all moaned about when it was introduced? Was it the thing that had the social media buttons on it?

[OddBoots]

Some moaned about the floaty bar but some loved it which is why it was made optional.

[SwedishEdith]

Oh, I hid it as soon as I knew how. It reappeared on the mobile site as well after I got rid of it there. Don't use the mobile site now as was logged out over Jeffrey and have no idea what my password is

[RatOnnaStick]

The floaty bar (viewport bar) which sat nicely at the top of the screen got simplified to just a link to Active, TIO and TIW and a site search box. The social media gubbins got shunted to its own box hanging around on the side of the screen which anyone with sense hid straight away.

[skyeskyeskye]

Is the floaty bar coming back? I used it all the time to switch to TIM on Active. Now I have to scroll all the way to the top or bottom of the screen!

Bring back floaty!

[skyeskyeskye]

TIM or Active... that should say. It is a real pain in the arse now that it has gone :(

[ARichVernacular]

Exactly Rat. I don't want the social media shite back (ever), but I do want my easily usable Active/TIO/TIW etc. clickers back again.

[RatOnnaStick]

I think I'd quite like a Tim button. He sounds essential.

[BertieBotts]

Considering there are something like 900,000 registered MNers, 3% is about 27,000. Not sure how many of the 900,000 are regular users, though. I expect MN have data on how many visits they have per day, they seem to have somehow blocked themselves from BoardReader...

[Trills]

3% is almost certainly accurate, but what it means will depend on the denominator.

3% of registered users?
3% of people who have ever posted?
3% of people who post more than once a month?

[skyeskyeskye]

ratonastick Yes, a Tim button would be great I think I meant TIO... it's been a long week

I am really missing floaty bar, it was so easy to move between TIO and Active. Can we stage a sit-in at MNHQ - the 3% of us that use it?

[JustineMumsnet]

@Trills

3% is almost certainly accurate, but what it means will depend on the denominator.

3% of registered users?
3% of people who have ever posted?
3% of people who post more than once a month?

3% of all users is my understanding - but tech's gone awol for a couple of days (on a holiday would you believe it?) so I can't confirm for now. But bear in mind we have quite a few million monthly unique users...

But don't worry - we are working on a solution for you - so that the key buttons available in floaty bar will be always viewable along the LHS. Might take a week or so but we'll keep you posted.

[Kewcumber]

Can we stage a sit-in at MNHQ - the 3% of us that use it?

If I go and sit on MN they'd certainly take floaty bar seriously.

Non-floaty side thingie would do, though I would have to come up with a better name for it

[Kewcumber]

on a holiday would you believe it?



Why would Tech need a holiday?

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

The social meeja buttons are no longer optional if you insist (as I and Maryz and a few others do) in keeping MN in Classic View. You're stuck with the buggers. And I'm never going into Customise again after the last bloody fiasco!

The floaty viewport bar drove me bats. But then I almost exclusively use MN on my laptop, which has a full set of Home and End buttons, which makes zipping around the page very easy, so I was very happy to remove the floaty bar. I hate things that move with the page, I find them deeply unnerving, and have only got used to the hanging social meeja thingy because it doesn't move when the page does, it just sits there and doesn't cover anything.

Hopefully, if Tech puts the viewport buttons over on the LHS, I won't notice.

And I have a TIO button on my bookmarks bar, rather than Active, because I'm always most interested in the threads I've already commented on.