Playing around with a design

[ceminess]

DHTMLCentral

this site could give some people ideas, for a menu and stuff, it is just something alternative to using a flash menu.

[Long]

The news items might need some work, and I think we need colors like timdorr's flash file has

Bah. I just had those and some thought they were too bright and did not follow the "flow" of the design. :pinch: I'll change those back then.

@MxxCon: Well, all those features like collapable news posts would be done in the actual HTML coding of the site. So maybe there should be a v4 Feature Request topic.

[configure Veteran]

also would be interesting to try ability to collapse news story into a single headline with a + symbol next to each story

But wouldn't that mean that people will have to click at the "+" to read the news? If so, unless it's dynamic, which it won't be unless it's ASP (although I'm not sure), 56k'ers wouldn't be too happy about this :/

[MxxCon]

by default it will be expanded( or maybe customizable default state)

reason for collapsable news would be to decrease scrolling..especially since this layout is locked in width

[Long]

Some more updates :whistle:

[ceminess]

:rofl: a ****load huh, that must be a lot.

[Tim Dorr Veteran]

But wouldn't that mean that people will have to click at the "+" to read the news? If so, unless it's dynamic, which it won't be unless it's ASP (although I'm not sure), 56k'ers wouldn't be too happy about this :/

http://forums.invisionpower.com/

Click the little pluses and minues at the corner of each forum category. I think that's what he means :)

[John Veteran]

Some more updates?:whistle::

OK, now that I see the colors again, I'm starting to wonder...:ermm:: Maybe if you toned them down a little? Not quite so bright? I mean, the blue is nice and fits Neowin, but I can't imagine every colored object on the page being blue:ss

BTW, you better start reading through all those PMs:pp

[Storm]

hahah

a **** load of pms

Keep the designs going, there all good :D

[Tim Dorr Veteran]

http://timdorr.com/images/neowin/neowin.swf

Update with some intro animation-ness :)

[Tim Dorr Veteran]

gimme a hug you!

How will contents be queried? All once loaded or when the particular tab is selected?

Actually, it can be pulled from the existing RSS sources. I've got Flash Pro, and that includes the data remoting stuff, so I can pull XML feeds into the project.

[John Veteran]

Actually, it can be pulled from the existing RSS sources. I've got Flash Pro, and that includes the data remoting stuff, so I can pull XML feeds into the project.

How often would the RSS stream be queried? When a new section is clicked, allowing members to essentially DDOS the server? Or on page/applet load, never updating them?

I really don't like the idea of using flash though...

[Long]

Updates-o-mania

[Tim Dorr Veteran]

How often would the RSS stream be queried? When a new section is clicked, allowing members to essentially DDOS the server? Or on page/applet load, never updating them?

I really don't like the idea of using flash though...

The RSS files on the site are always pulled from static files. The news script and forum hacks update the files when new posts are made or updated, so it's always cached data.

In any case, I would assume you'd just pull all the data at once (what would be good is a unified stream, rather than pulling 5 or so sources at a time), and use that to display with no updates. Maybe a refresh button, but it doesn't make sense. It's meant to replace the current news headlines, which don't update.

[John Veteran]

Went through those PMs pretty fast, didn't ya? ;)

Looking good (Y) What about drop down menus for the tiles at the top to show the most recent posts in those news areas or something?

[Long]

Well I don't think a DDOS is possible. Because its essentially the same concept as the current neowin design, only in a flash module. If it was possible to bring down the server by constantly refreshing the front page, well, thats a problem in any scripting language :p

[Tomi]

Updates-o-mania

Nice one Long.

Ive got a few suggestions for you.

- Put the banner above the latest post/announcements part...see if that works out

- replace the db part with forums

- try this idea with the logo; it fits in better

- try this with the footer; looks way better than the current style

Other than those few things; great job!

Keep it up! :)

[John Veteran]

Well I don't think a DDOS is possible. Because its essentially the same concept as the current neowin design, only in a flash module. If it was possible to bring down the server by constantly refreshing the front page, well, thats a problem in any scripting language :p

No, that's not what I meant. I thought the RSS feed was created on-the-fly by the server. If the RSS thing had to go through the database to find the newest 5 posts every time someone clicked a stupid button, that would cause a major problem...

[MxxCon]

http://forums.invisionpower.com/

Click the little pluses and minues at the corner of each forum category. I think that's what he means :)

yes, like that.

what about making a background for "sticky story" slightly different color? personally i often don't notice that and think there are no news..

[John Veteran]

what about making a background for "sticky story" slightly different color? personally i often don't notice that and think there are no news..

:o :o YES! Yes, I love this idea! :D

[John Veteran]

Nice one Long.

Ive got a few suggestions for you.

- Put the banner above the latest post/announcements part...see if that works out

- replace the db part with forums

- try this idea with the logo; it fits in better

- try this with the footer; looks way better than the current style

Other than those few things; great job!

Keep it up! :)

Footer looks awesome, but I don't like the logo... I think it would create too much empty space in that area of the page. But who knows, maybe something will work (Y)

[Frank]

:o :o YES! Yes, I love this idea! :D

I like this idea also, maybe it would be even better to seperate the "Sticky News" posts from the news all together.

[Long]

- Put the banner above the latest post/announcements part...see if that works out

I tried that, it makes the page look very very cramped, something needs to seperate all the writing.

- replace the db part with forums

I don't understand :o

- try this idea with the logo; it fits in better

Creates too much empty space

- try this with the footer; looks way better than the current style

I will try.

[configure Veteran]

Long, try adding a background for the "Welcome back Long..." text.. something like what Chadwick has done.

[Tomi]

- Put the banner above the latest post/announcements part...see if that works out

I tried that, it makes the page look very very cramped, something needs to seperate all the writing.

/ok, the ad looks a tad weird were it is now

- replace the db part with forums

I don't understand :o

/replace the File Database link with the forums link is what i mean; sorry if i confused you

- try this idea with the logo; it fits in better

Creates too much empty space

/ok then.

- try this with the footer; looks way better than the current style

I will try.

/great news :)