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New Homepage open to public Beta

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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
We're launching the Public Beta of the new homepage for Newschoolers.

You can access it from the link which will go live later today right at the top, or if you want an early peek scroll to the bottom of your "Settings" page where you can enable it.

We're pretty happy with how this new take on things came out - especially on mobile.

Would love to hear feedback as you guys get a chance to check it out!

**This thread was edited on Nov 15th 2016 at 10:05:09am
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Nov 15 2016 10:04AM
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Swaggy_P
Posts: 130 - Karma: 361
Looks great so far but am I the only one that has a huge grey gap from the upload/messages/alerts/threads line halfway down my screen.

Maybe its an ad area and I just have an ad blocker on, not sure though
Nov 15 2016 11:01AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Swaggy_PLooks great so far but am I the only one that has a huge grey gap from the upload/messages/alerts/threads line halfway down my screen.

Maybe its an ad area and I just have an ad blocker on, not sure though


Ad area and you have adblocker on.

You'll notice that area is fixed on the current homepage and the rest of the site now that we have the winter demand for the big ads at the top.
Nov 15 2016 11:34AM
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a_burger
Posts: 5240 - Karma: 20,807
I like how the top half where the slideshow used to be now has 2x as much content on it and how the payed stuff on the right side is a bit less attention grabbing, however it would be cool if you still sort the content lower down by latest, top day, top week etc.
Nov 15 2016 12:01PM
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gravel
Posts: 5522 - Karma: 42,315
Swaggy_PMaybe its an ad area and I just have an ad blocker on, not sure though


You should make an exception for NS with your adblocker so it's not active on NS if supporting the site interests you.

New home page looks really nice to me, boys!
Nov 15 2016 12:36PM
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
It's much cleaner now in the beta imo. Before I had really no Idea where to start looking.
Nov 15 2016 12:59PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
a_burgerI like how the top half where the slideshow used to be now has 2x as much content on it and how the payed stuff on the right side is a bit less attention grabbing, however it would be cool if you still sort the content lower down by latest, top day, top week etc.


We had to kind of make a call here. Those sorting options were really difficult to maintain, so we're now offering only one list of "Hot" on the homepage.

Each section can be sorted quite a bit when you're directly in there, and we'll be expanding the offerings of sorting and revamping all those pages next.

.Rybak.It's much cleaner now in the beta imo. Before I had really no Idea where to start looking.


Yeah its actually not all that much different, but there was a massive front end interface overhaul that went into this.

Mobile is freaking sweet too.
Nov 15 2016 2:09PM
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S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,186
I like it. Clean, easy to see content and quickly upvote photos
Nov 15 2016 4:42PM
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ascent_studios
Posts: 2157 - Karma: 4,580
I like where this is going but I can't seem to see any thumbnails at all
Nov 15 2016 4:48PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Ascent_CinemaI like where this is going but I can't seem to see any thumbnails at all


Try clearing your cache, and try it in another browser. You might have just gotten a bum cache refresh cycle.
Nov 15 2016 5:14PM
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gravel
Posts: 5522 - Karma: 42,315
Ads are ads and they're necessary, but it took me all day to realize that the photo stream was on the right hand side beneath that tall first ad. I think I just have gotten used to that column being the "Sponsored" news section (aka "ads") and the fact that it was headed by an ad made me totally disregard it. Just a thought that it might blend a bit too much?

Other than that the photo stream itself is super awesome.
Nov 15 2016 5:41PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
toastAds are ads and they're necessary, but it took me all day to realize that the photo stream was on the right hand side beneath that tall first ad. I think I just have gotten used to that column being the "Sponsored" news section (aka "ads") and the fact that it was headed by an ad made me totally disregard it. Just a thought that it might blend a bit too much?

Other than that the photo stream itself is super awesome.


I mean photos is one section of the site which is kind of under review. I feel like this was a subtle way to give it some real-estate again while ensuring the integration was cleaner than it was before.

Mobile the photos are integrated straight into the main feed.
Nov 15 2016 5:49PM
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.otto.
Posts: 3494 - Karma: 12,899
I like it keep it up
Nov 15 2016 10:15PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,269
I'm not so sure about autoplaying videos though. We should have the option to disable that or something. I think it'd be good on faster hardware, but on my aging setup it's a bit slower than I'd like. Otherwise it's cool.
Nov 15 2016 10:22PM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11989 - Karma: 12,264
i've never been a fan of the last few home page betas and it took me a while to get use to them. this one i like! very clean and easy to navigate.
Nov 15 2016 10:54PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
DrZoidbergI'm not so sure about autoplaying videos though. We should have the option to disable that or something. I think it'd be good on faster hardware, but on my aging setup it's a bit slower than I'd like. Otherwise it's cool.


Facebook and instagram really popularized again the idea of auto playing videos on mute. Does it stall the page load for you? Because the idea is that you actually get a preview of the video before really watching it. Most hardware should be pretty capable of running this...

what kind of of a setup are you running?

.Dadi've never been a fan of the last few home page betas and it took me a while to get use to them. this one i like! very clean and easy to navigate.


Glad you like it!

This also sets. Design direction for the site which we're going to work to unify the rest of the sections.
Nov 16 2016 7:09AM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
Auto-play on the homepage...

IT'S HAPPENING!
Nov 16 2016 8:33AM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,057
MousseauAuto-play on the homepage...

IT'S HAPPENING!


yea.... lets turn that off.....ok??......
Nov 16 2016 8:48AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
I'm not running adblocker and I still get the big grey gap
Nov 16 2016 10:01AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
steezyjibberI'm not running adblocker and I still get the big grey gap


Screen grab please?
Nov 16 2016 10:24AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
freeskibum82yea.... lets turn that off.....ok??......


I mean does it bug you on facebook?

seems to me that it's a hot thing these days which really helps draw users into a video.

Give it a chance. I really started to like it after using the new homepage a while during testing.
Nov 16 2016 10:26AM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,057
Mr.BishopI mean does it bug you on facebook?

seems to me that it's a hot thing these days which really helps draw users into a video.

Give it a chance. I really started to like it after using the new homepage a while during testing.


i hate when websites start talking to me or trying to load a 4min video and eat bandwidth and data.

i dont have a facebook account.
Nov 16 2016 11:34AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
freeskibum82i hate when websites start talking to me or trying to load a 4min video and eat bandwidth and data.

i dont have a facebook account.


Well there isn't going to be sound on it ever.

How limited bandwidth do you have on your desktop computer? It only autoplays on Desktop view.
Nov 16 2016 12:00PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026




Mr.BishopScreen grab please?
Nov 16 2016 3:13PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
^wrong homepage my bad

new one is here:




Nov 16 2016 3:15PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
steezyjibber^wrong homepage my bad

new one is here:






Are you totally positive that you don't have adblock on?

That looks like AdBlock... but I guess it could be something else?

**This post was edited on Nov 16th 2016 at 3:21:57pm
Nov 16 2016 3:20PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026




Mr.BishopAre you totally positive that you don't have adblock on?

That looks like AdBlock... but I guess it could be something else?

**This post was edited on Nov 16th 2016 at 3:21:57pm


It's possible I'm running an adblocker on my work comp (currently on), but the same is happening with safari and chrome. Almost positive I have no adblocker on safari.

Paused the adblocker on Chrome, screenshot attached. Maybe it has to do with the work network.
Nov 16 2016 3:24PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
I also want to say I love that views are now listed on the homepage, and I like the autoplay a lot
Nov 16 2016 3:29PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
steezyjibber






It's possible I'm running an adblocker on my work comp (currently on), but the same is happening with safari and chrome. Almost positive I have no adblocker on safari.

Paused the adblocker on Chrome, screenshot attached. Maybe it has to do with the work network.


Try it at home and let me know if you see the same thing.
Nov 16 2016 4:35PM
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frickindarn
Posts: 2545 - Karma: 11,371
Mobile user: I'm digging the new layout. The only thing that I dislike is I can't click to view my notifications for some reason. Still clean af.
Nov 16 2016 5:24PM
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fredyferl
Posts: 2950 - Karma: 14,886
I really dig it, wish you could also comment directly from the home page, especially for mobile
Nov 16 2016 5:26PM
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msg
Posts: 1108 - Karma: 3,269
I think it looks great. Clean (save the ads) and modern.
Nov 16 2016 5:38PM
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el_mn_op
Posts: 577 - Karma: 1,175
The font choices hurt my brain
Nov 16 2016 5:43PM
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ascent_studios
Posts: 2157 - Karma: 4,580
el_mn_opThe font choices hurt my brain


I agree
Nov 16 2016 8:22PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,269
Mr.BishopFacebook and instagram really popularized again the idea of auto playing videos on mute. Does it stall the page load for you? Because the idea is that you actually get a preview of the video before really watching it. Most hardware should be pretty capable of running this...

what kind of of a setup are you running?



Glad you like it!

This also sets. Design direction for the site which we're going to work to unify the rest of the sections.


I mean, it doesn't make it hang like crazy or anything. I've got a 2010 mbp, chrome, 10.10.5 os. I'm just big on the idea of if I want to watch it I will. That being said, it's not horrible or anything. Facespace seems to be hung up or lagged up more due to autoplay videos than the NS homepage, so I guess you guys did it better than they did.
Nov 16 2016 11:17PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
Mr.BishopTry it at home and let me know if you see the same thing.


Ads are showing at home
Nov 17 2016 7:48AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
steezyjibberAds are showing at home


Yeah so simply must be something from your work.
Nov 17 2016 8:42AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
The referenced post has been removed.


In my mind, mobile sliders are a little pointless. Mobile you're encouraged to scroll so really the first two slides are the first two spots, and the second to slides are now spots 3 + 4 - though they're a bit more dynamic than before.

Honestly we got zero clicks through to something when it slid into spot 3 + 4 on the slider so I think this'll be better.
Nov 17 2016 1:55PM
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Swaggy_P
Posts: 130 - Karma: 361
steezyjibber






It's possible I'm running an adblocker on my work comp (currently on), but the same is happening with safari and chrome. Almost positive I have no adblocker on safari.

Paused the adblocker on Chrome, screenshot attached. Maybe it has to do with the work network.


Yeah I have that same issue even though no blocker on. Its any form of internet browser and can't figure it out
Nov 17 2016 6:06PM
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,023
I like the photo stream on the side. It definitely takes some time to adjust, and I like that it shows the views. I don't like the new like system. The up/down system is a legacy for the site, id hate to see it change
Nov 17 2016 7:30PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,628
Nice. It no longer looks like you've just used a generic CMS plugin, like the old new homepage did.

I still kinda miss the old (pinterest) homepage, back when gifs were the shit and everyone was posting them, it was like a wall of awesome lag. The bets kinda lag.
Nov 18 2016 6:13AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Swandog7I like the photo stream on the side. It definitely takes some time to adjust, and I like that it shows the views. I don't like the new like system. The up/down system is a legacy for the site, id hate to see it change


What new system? There isn't a new voting system?
Nov 21 2016 8:22AM
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,023
Mr.BishopWhat new system? There isn't a new voting system?


The thumbs up/down versus just the arrows. Subtle difference, I like the older version better. IM picky. Just throwing out an opinion
Nov 21 2016 9:02AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Swandog7The thumbs up/down versus just the arrows. Subtle difference, I like the older version better. IM picky. Just throwing out an opinion


Ah right - yeah I mean that is just a design element. We could replace it with arrows or something if enough people think the thumbs are a problem?
Nov 21 2016 9:32AM
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,023
Mr.BishopAh right - yeah I mean that is just a design element. We could replace it with arrows or something if enough people think the thumbs are a problem?


Yah, Imo it's not really a probelm, I was just a fan of the arrows better. Keeps the up vote / down vote element
Nov 21 2016 9:47AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Swandog7Yah, Imo it's not really a probelm, I was just a fan of the arrows better. Keeps the up vote / down vote element


Cool. I do like the way it looks so we'll stick with that for now, but we're still tweaking and we'll have to see what happens when we switch this to the new default.
Nov 22 2016 1:40PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
The referenced post has been removed.


Used to be - but we measured the stats of it over a huge amount of time and it was barely used by anyone.
Nov 22 2016 3:57PM
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