[Feedback needed] Atlas, the next version of Neowin


Recommended Posts

We have been working on a new backend and theme for quite some time now, as you'll see it is almost completed but comes with drastic changes.

Firefox: post-2-1252319596_thumb.png IE8: post-2-1253440302_thumb.png

Rounded edges are supported on Mozilla, but not IE because we don't use images to emulate the corners.

The "Zune promo" image below the leaderboard ad is one of 2 promo images that slide in and out and Dave has worked his socks off making the news page completely custom in such a way that a reader can select different filters to display their news of choice. for example (if I remember correctly) www.neowin.net/news/microsoft/windows7 would be a valid filter link which would only display news relating to Windows 7.

I'm sure Dave can add some important points to this topic, but for now I have had clearance (for some time now) to post this preview image so we can get some feedback.

We have been working on a new backend and theme for quite some time now, as you'll see it is almost completed but comes with drastic changes.

The "Zune promo" image below the leaderboard ad is one of 2 promo images that slide in and out and Dave has worked his socks off making the news page completely custom in such a way that a reader can select different filters to display their news of choice. for example (if I remember correctly) www.neowin.net/news/microsoft/windows7 would be a valid filter link which would only display news relating to Windows 7.

I'm sure Dave can add some important points to this topic, but for now I have had clearance (for some time now) to post this preview image so we can get some feedback.

You don't remember rightly ;) It'd be www.neowin.net/news/tags/windows_7 for just windows 7 news. You can combine multiple tags to see exactly the news you wish, eg: www.neowin.net/news/tags/apple/windows_7/xbox You can also get an RSS feed of your custom view at www.neowin.net/news/rss/apple/windows_7/xbox Once we get the Javascript work started on the dev site, there will be a nice pretty UI to do all this through :)

I think you folks know about project Ignition? Well this is it, everything here has been re-coded from the ground up, so brand new code, far easier to work with, more efficient, and BUG FREE :D

I'm really liking it. It's a lot cleaner and easier to see the important stuff at a glance. I really love the idea of being able to create a "custom feed" of the news, rather than having just the options of the different "channels" if you will.

I do think its great too, obviously us members wont be seeing the mod-bar at the top, but the whole design is polished quite well. Whats the deal with the neowin logo and member drop down next to the search box? Also, I take it the 3-ball icon is for an advanced search?

Is the top of the news container going to be implmented in flash? or something like jQuery goodness?

I agree about the font though, but its kinda hard to describe because the majority of the design is all text anyway, maybe lessen the impact so much?

Keep up the good work :)

I do think its great too, obviously us members wont be seeing the mod-bar at the top, but the whole design is polished quite well. Whats the deal with the neowin logo and member drop down next to the search box? Also, I take it the 3-ball icon is for an advanced search?

Is the top of the news container going to be implmented in flash? or something like jQuery goodness?

I agree about the font though, but its kinda hard to describe because the majority of the design is all text anyway, maybe lessen the impact so much?

Keep up the good work :)

The Neowin Logo you mentioned is where it shows a thumbnail of your Avatar. The dropdown provides quick access to things like your forum profile, messenger and so on. The 3-ball icon at the moment provides access to alternative colour themes, I'm not 100% sure if they're staying.

I assume you're referring to the Zune promo in your next comment? That's purely jquery.

I just realised how much spare space we have on the bottom right side. It could of course be good to have the free space, but if you wanted something to go there, surely you could have a Twitter feed or something.

I have a suggestion. I think the logo used in this post is much better than the current one. I believe it looks cleaner and is just nicer on the eye. DaveLegg mentioned to me that it is an old logo, but is there any reason why it isn't used? Could it be used?

Hmm, I just noticed the screenshot here has rounded corners. But on my end the edges are all square. :huh:

May as well address this now :p.

Firefox, Safari & Chrome will have rounded corners + drop shadows.

IE & Opera will not

Hmm, I just noticed the screenshot here has rounded corners. But on my end the edges are all square. :huh:

Heh. I started using IE when I installed the Win7 RTM, just to try it, and I didn't realise Atlas had rounded corners until Dave Legg visited and he was like "What are you doing with IE?", baha :D

To sum that up, get a proper browser :p

Opera not a proper browser? Screw off :p

On topic, without knowing anything about web coding I opened up the error console and found errors relating to webkit-border-radius and moz-border-radius. Is this the reason why the rounded borders will work in only Firefox/Safari/Chrome?

Opera not a proper browser? Screw off :p

On topic, without knowing anything about web coding I opened up the error console and found errors relating to webkit-border-radius and moz-border-radius. Is this the reason why the rounded borders will work in only Firefox/Safari/Chrome?

They're not errors per se, just warnings, but yes this is to do with the border-radius support; Gecko and Webkit are the only two rendering engines that support border-radius (in their own proprietery -moz and -webkit extensions).

I think you folks know about project Ignition? Well this is it, everything here has been re-coded from the ground up, so brand new code, far easier to work with, more efficient, and BUG FREE :D

I am gonna keep that and use it against you at some time :p

The Neowin Logo you mentioned is where it shows a thumbnail of your Avatar. The dropdown provides quick access to things like your forum profile, messenger and so on. The 3-ball icon at the moment provides access to alternative colour themes, I'm not 100% sure if they're staying.

what?! it better be, I miss my graphite and midnight ;p

but yeah, look sweet atm :D

maybe bottom right put the fancy javascript tag dohicky there? or podcasts?

maybe bottom right put the fancy javascript tag dohicky there? or podcasts?

Great ideas, in my opinion (Y) :)

Our members love our podcasts and we have a 'Latest Editorials' box, so why not a 'Latest Podcasts' box down that side? :happy:

Great ideas, in my opinion (Y) :)

Our members love our podcasts and we have a 'Latest Editorials' box, so why not a 'Latest Podcasts' box down that side? :happy:

Ignition makes things simple, so we can add a box for a hot topic without having to add loads of code, so we can feature topics that are hot at the moment, they, like most other things, are based on tags, so we could feature all the latest windows 7/snow leopard articles in a single box in the sidebar to draw attention to our coverage of up-coming OS releases etc

They're not errors per se, just warnings, but yes this is to do with the border-radius support; Gecko and Webkit are the only two rendering engines that support border-radius (in their own proprietery -moz and -webkit extensions).

I see.

Something interesting that I just dug up:

The engine used in Opera 10 is Presto 2.2.

Presto 2.3 will support border-radius – which version of Opera that may be.

... perhaps it'll come before Ignition/Atlas is rolled out to the public. :p

Hello,

The mockup looks very similar to Ars Technica and Slashdot to me; not a criticism, just an observation.

Have you thought about copying the page number and navigation controls below the list of articles to above them?

Regards

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Beats Studio Pro wireless over-ear ANC headphones drop to their lowest price yet by Fiza Ali Amazon is currently offering the Beats Studio Pro headphones at their all-time low price. The Studio Pro use 40mm active drivers which are designed to improve clarity and reduce distortion compared to previous models, with up to an 80% improvement over the Beats Studio3 Wireless. A built-in digital processor adjusts frequency response to keep the sound balanced rather than overly boosted in any one area. They also include Active Noise Cancelling that adapts to your surroundings to reduce background noise along with a Transparency mode that lets outside sound in when you need awareness of what’s going on around you. Furthermore, the headphones support personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking as well as Dolby Atmos playback on supported content. Moreover, built-in voice-targeting microphones improve call quality. You can also switch between three sound profiles including Beats Signature for balanced music playback, Entertainment for films and gaming, and Conversation for clearer voice in calls and podcasts. Physically, they are designed to be worn for long periods without feeling heavy or awkward. The ear cushions use UltraPlush engineered leather while metal sliders allow you to adjust the fit. On the connectivity side, the Studio Pro use Class 1 Bluetooth for a stable, long-range wireless connection. There is also a 3.5mm input if you want to plug in directly, including use with in-flight entertainment systems. Controls are located on the headphones and include a "b" button for music and call control, a volume rocker, and a multifunction button used for switching listening modes, EQ settings, power, and pairing. In addition, the headphones offer integration with both Apple and Android devices. On Apple devices, they support one-touch pairing with iCloud-linked devices, hands-free Siri access, Find My tracking based on last connected location, and automatic software updates. On Android devices, they support Google Fast Pair, Audio Switch between compatible devices, and Google Find My Device tracking, with additional features available through the Beats app. When it comes to the battery performance, it is rated at up to 40 hours of listening time with ANC turned off, and up to 24 hours with ANC or Transparency mode enabled. A 10-minute Fast Fuel charge should provide up to 4 hours of playback. Finally, the headphones use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charge via USB-C. Beats Studio Pro Wireless Over-Ear ANC Headphones: $149.95 (Amazon US) Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • "lets you pause updates by choosing an end date, for up to 35 days" Wasn't it "indefinitely"?
    • Those extra reboots are related to the UEFI Secure Boot certificate update thing.
    • Hands on with the ProtoArc EM25: Affordable ergonomic mouse that focuses on the right things by Taras Buria ProtoArc is known for making all sorts of office products with a big focus on ergonomics and comfort. Its latest product, the EM25, promises a comfortable-to-use, affordable, and customizable mouse. We took one for a spin; here are our impressions. The ProtoArc EM25 is a $49.99 mouse, but right now, during Prime Day 2026, you can get it for just $37.99. Right off the bat, you can see that the EM25 is inspired by Logitech's MX Master lineup and the legendary MX Master 3/3S. Its shape and proportions are very similar, so for a person with large hands (right-handed person, mind you), the EM25 is very comfortable to use. The mouse fills the palm, and the thumb rests on a small extension, giving your wrist a small tilt to reduce strain. The mouse is made of black plastic without any coating, eliminating long-term wear concerns. However, I can see the main buttons and other areas you touch the most getting polished over time. Despite its size and bulk, the mouse is not too heavy. It weighs about 100 grams, which is significantly less than the MX Master 3S and its successor. It is no lightweight gaming mouse by any means, but it is not excessively heavy like the MX Master 4. The EM25 has a built-in storage for its USB dongle. It is a cleverly made magnetic flap that you open by simply pressing on it. Next to the flap, you will find the on/off switch, the 1,000 Hz sensor, and a DPI button (up to 8,000 DPI). I find the DPI button location a bit odd, and I would prefer it somewhere below the main scroll wheel. Still, given that I never change DPI on my mice, I will let it pass. What is more important is that, unlike MX Master 3/3S/4, the device switch button is located below the left-click button, which allows you to switch devices without lifting and flipping the mouse. For a multi-device setup, this is a perfect solution: the button does not require too much effort to use, it does not get in your way, but it is also easily reachable with your thumb. The main scroll wheel has two modes: ratcheted and free-flow. You can only change between them with a bright orange button (I like this little touch of color), which is sprung and requires some effort to press. The wheel is dead-silent in free-flow mode, but ratched is quite loud and stiff, perhaps even too much to my liking. I can hardly call it deal-breaking, but it will certainly take some time to get used to. The side scroll wheel, it is notched, silent, and pleasant to use. Next to it, you can find a piece of glossed plastic with connection indicators: Dongle, Bluetooth 1, Bluetooth 2, and the low battery indicator. By the way, the built-in battery is rechargeable via a USB Type-C cable, which is included. It is sleeved and has an orange velcro strap to keep it tidy. After using the EM25 for a few weeks, I can say that its main buttons are my absolute favorite. They have very pronounced clicks, which feel great with just the right amount of force required to register a press. I would say they feel like something in between regular mouse clicks and silent ones. You can hear and feel the springy switch, but it is not sharp or loud to the point of annoying you. As for back/forward and device switch buttons, they are very clicky and quite noisy. Unfortunately, there are no extra buttons that you can map to specific things like in the MX Master lineup. Besides great primary clicks, another thing I like about the EM25 is its 1,000 Hz sensor. In the world, where Logitech still uses 125 Hz sensors in $100+ mice, seeing a much faster sensor in a mouse that costs three times less is very refreshing. Also, all the settings and customization you make are stored on-device, and you do not need to install any software. Just open the web-based app and change all that you need. Speaking of customization, you can remap what buttons do, adjust the DPI, and the sensor speed. Sadly, gestures are not supported, but you can still map pretty much anything to each button, including shortcuts, media buttons, and more. I also recommend using software like XMouseControl, as it will let you remap the side scroll wheel. At the end of the day, the ProtoArc EM25 is a great mouse. Clearly inspired by the MX Master lineup, it takes the best of it and complements it with a much more wallet-friendly price tag, significantly better sensor, on-device memory, a built-in storage for the dongle, and more (it fixes everything that I complained about the MX Master 4 recently). And for only $37.99 during Prime Day, the EM25 is an easy recommendation. Buy ProtoArc EM25 mouse - $37.99 | 24% off with Prime As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Pretty nice tool, thanks
  • Recent Achievements

    • Rookie
      DaviKar went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Dedicated
      HidekoYamamoto94 earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • One Month Later
      timbobit earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Month Later
      nates earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      460
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      161
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      110
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      81
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      69
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!