Can you see me yet?

Visual comparisons of old and new

from JoeUser Forums

So how are we doing? Let's take a look at the new WinCustomize and the old WinCustomize side by side. here's what they looked like to the typical user.

The new site doesn't have the theme system in yet (allowing users to customize the look and feel of the site). It's in the work queue but it won't be ready for a bit. Lots of little features and bugs and glitches to work out first. So what I'm looking at is how much information is conveyed in both while at the same time how complicated or how simple are these designs?

Let's put them directly side by side:

On the new site, you can see about half of the skin galleries.  On the old site, you could only see the top 4.  On the new site, you can see the top 5 skins. On the old site, you could see the top 9 without scrolling.  On the new site the featured skin and screenshot are together in one area.  On the old site they were separated.  On both sides you can see the featured premium suite but the new site also lets you see the featured articles on the page.  Both have a banner ad at the top if you're not logged in and both have a randomly selected item from the store.  The new site doesn't have a sponsor button at the top - it's been moved to the bottom.

I personally preferred the old logo. I think we'll have to find a way to work that one back into the site. If anyone wants to volunteer to try to put together the old logo feel free. I think there's a version of it in the shirts area of the graphics gallery here.

What we have tried to do is have a site that is much cleaner and more easily understandable by new users while at the same time vastly increasing the amount of "stuff" that one might get to. The tabs are a big part of that and having a lot of the key data available on the home page without having to scroll down.

So what do you think? Do you like the direction the new launch has taken so far?

31,652 views 70 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Personally, now that I can navigate, I think it's much better. More things for a fanatic to do. More ways to get around. Much quicker.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Which part of the old site did you like better?
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like the new direction very much! Very easy on the eyes.

One thing I miss from the old version was that you listed the newest submission. I like to see that rather than most popular, like the bar shows now. Just my opinion of course - it's not a biggie.

Also, I'm still seeing odd tiling in the menus (viewing at 1260 x 1040 in Firefox)I could send you a screenie if you want.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It took me a little while to get used to, but the new site is alright. The tabs are nice though. But one thing I really miss that the old site had was that when you were viewing all an author's skins, it had a preview screenshot of all of them, this new design doesn't have that. I miss that feature a lot because it was a lot easier to browse through that way than having to click on each skin to see what it looks like.

I will be looking forward to having the theme changer back.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like the new design overall, but I miss being able to restrict the number of libraries that are available in the Gallery section. There's only four of them that I'm actually interested in (maybe five or six now that you have Firefox and Screen Saver sections). To me, the rest are wasted space.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Only thing I miss is darker themes. But that's upcoming so I can wait.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Overall, the new site is MUCH better. And MUCH faster...this is a definite plus. Occasionally I have to surf using Dialup and WC was painful at 56k.

My only beef echoes one above: I would like to be able to limit the number of galleries displayed, as well as choose which galleries I see. I want to get to ObjectBar from the front page...can't do that anymore.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just miss the little nuances, mostly on the users page, like bebi said, about seeing an authors skins showed them all displayed normally with pictures and comments etc. And when you go to My Skins, everything is a jumbled mess instead of sorted into catagories like they used to be, and they don't show ALLLLLLL of them, you have to go page to page, and I REALLLLLLYYYYY HATE NOT SEEING THE TOTALS ON DOWNLOADS AND COMMENTS AND SUCH. only other thing that bothers me is most of the awards. I want to see more, and more meaningful ones. *shrug*
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree. The skins page is just a mess now. I have to carefully trace placements to see how much it has downloaded, etc and lack of type of skin sorting makes it harder.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i like it.. its growing that homey feeling...
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree Brad....I liked the old logo better, but the site overall IS great! Your people have really done a super bang-up job!! Thx!!
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like the new site better, but miss being able to large preview a skin before downloading from the tray browser. It says not enough information was given and shows an empty WC background.

I get about 40% better download speed!!!!!
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
~I still have mixed feelings about the new and the old. The new has some features I prefer, but still doesnt have the same " feel " It would seem like the number of visitors a day must be down..most days it seems like there's noone here. For instance...and not in regards to just my screen shots, whether they are " Shot Of The Day " Seems all SS's/SS's of the day , the viewing is way down. A typical shot was viewed by hundreads if not thousands. Now most average 100....perhaps people are spending more time in other areas...but it still seems to take longer for me to enlarge the SS's then to make a comment/question...these areas do not open in new windows...and you must hit back button several times. Not everyone has Firefox..but even with it, I still X out the wrong window and the whole site. But if other areas are still up there with viewing traffic or has increased then I guess Screen shot area doesn't matter much.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
~Just a question really...but up until today it " appeared " like I had the option to click on the stars to rate a skin, SS shot, etc. I no longer get the " mouse over " on the ratings ( not that I miss the mouse over commentary-I think just stars are more professional)

I'm just wondering if that was a " glitch " and I never had the option to rate a skin anyway ?
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The new layout is infinitely better. Cleaner,simpler and more logical. There's nothing worse than these fancy-dan sites with lurid colour-schemes and irritating animations.
I not fussed one way or the other about the logo, but I agree with previous people about the authors' work screen and the large preview. Also, not being able to return to the from a preview is a bit awkward.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Whoops!
My last sentence should have read - 'Also, not being able to return to the gallery from a preview is a bit awkward.'
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'd like the Top Downloads and Newest Additions (or whatever it was called) back on the right side of all pages (or at least the index page).

Another useful thing would be to have a simple search box with a popup menu for selecting the library you wish to search at the top right of the index page. Sorry if that wasn't clear enough, but hopefully you'll get what I mean.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The front page of the new site, while aesthetically appealing, seems a little convoluted and makes me feel like I am not so much being presented with information as being overloaded with it. Also, I miss the ability to control which libraries are listed.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I miss the newest skins side-bar as well. It takes an extra click to see whats new now.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like the new site plenty, but will add my voice to the lost of those lamenting the loss of the newest entries right there on the front page. Just a little box with the newest would be great, and then have the more detailed breakdown on the "Newest" tab like now.

I also think that something should be done about getting back to the gallery when viewing an individual skin. There isn't a link on that page anywhere to go to that (or any other) library. Takes a couple extra clicks. No biggie, but it would really be nice.