Implemented Drop the "star" image for threads with new posts

[Enigma]

I feel the difference between bold thread titles and non-bold thread titles is enough to distinguish between threads that have new/unread posts in them. I would stop using the "star" image (

) for this purpose, and consider using it for a new purpose-- to designate "hot" threads (threads with lots of recent activity), like vB3 did with the normally blue thread icon to an orangish color. (

)

 

[Grover]

That wastes too much horizontal space in my opinion, especially on the fixed width style.

With no new posts there is a huge gap between the avatar and thread title making it look disassociated.

And that is why I said I liked the solution of Nick so much:
http://xenforo.com/community/thread...threads-with-new-posts.958/page-14#post-14030

... when you make the dot just smaller, the problem of the gap is solved. everybody happy.

 

[Princeton]

I really don't like the proposed solutions.

I love the mini-avatars - anything on or around it will detract from what it brings.
Please note that not everyone will want to use the same icons/design. Some admins utilize LARGE icons.
Some just want to create their own unique design.

Plus, having icons around the mini-avatars will only make it difficult for the average joe to customize.
For those asking for some type of status icons (ie, new post, posted, etc) ask yourself this...
What is the primary purpose of the icons?

My guess is that you would reply with something similar to the following...
To improve efficiency and usability - I want to provide my readers with the tools (icons) that will help them quickly make choices on the site.

Having icons floated to the far right does not help efficiency. It would be ok on a fix-narrow-width layout but not on a liquid layout. eg. 1600 res

Here' my solution:

 

[Shelley]

I really don't like the proposed solutions.

I love the mini-avatars - anything on or around it will detract from what it brings.
Please note that not everyone will want to use the same icons/design. Some admins utilize LARGE icons.
Some just want to create their own unique design.

Plus, having icons around the mini-avatars will only make it difficult for the average joe to customize.
For those asking for some type of status icons (ie, new post, posted, etc) ask yourself this...
What is the primary purpose of the icons?

My guess is that you would reply with something similar to the following...
To improve efficiency and usability - I want to provide my readers with the tools (icons) that will help them quickly make choices on the site.

Having icons floated to the far right does not help efficiency. It would be ok on a fix-narrow-width layout but not on a liquid layout. eg. 1600 res

Here' my solution:

One of the reasons why I think XenForo differs is that those pesky key legends are not present on the forum, they only add to the clutter unless your adding that so the devs can see what is what and what indicator conveys? add the legend to the software would just add bloat. Also, icons on the left of the title creates a mess imo. it throws the cleanliness of the thread display out of the window.

 

[Paul B]

One of the reasons why I think XenForo differs is that those pesky key legends are not present on the forum, they only add to the clutter unless your adding that so the devs can see what is what and what indicator conveys? add the legend to the software would just add bloat. Also, icons on the left of the title creates a mess imo. it throws the cleanliness of the thread display out of the window.

+1

 

[welshstew]

I really don't like the proposed solutions.

I love the mini-avatars - anything on or around it will detract from what it brings.
Please note that not everyone will want to use the same icons/design. Some admins utilize LARGE icons.
Some just want to create their own unique design.

Plus, having icons around the mini-avatars will only make it difficult for the average joe to customize.
For those asking for some type of status icons (ie, new post, posted, etc) ask yourself this...
What is the primary purpose of the icons?

My guess is that you would reply with something similar to the following...
To improve efficiency and usability - I want to provide my readers with the tools (icons) that will help them quickly make choices on the site.

Having icons floated to the far right does not help efficiency. It would be ok on a fix-narrow-width layout but not on a liquid layout. eg. 1600 res

Here' my solution:

too too much...

 

[Shelley]

When it's all said and done, I feel the solution is going to be a lot harder than I first thought. Because time and effort as went into having (what I feel) the best layed out, clean, uncluttered) thread display page out of all the forum products I feel this now deserves serious thought rather than letting it lie to rest. Ensuring the right solution is found, implemented it's going to take more brainstorming. imo, i feel this is worth the effort. I'm saying this primarily for the fact that some comments are stating let it rest (I don't blame you) but I for one think this problem can be met with a solution with some further headaches, debating and the sleepless night.

 

[Paul B]

Hear hear Shelley.
We're on exactly the same page.

I for one would hate to see the clean, uncluttered look spoiled.

 

[jmurrayhead]

I'm with Shelley and Brogan on this one. One of the things I like most about XenForo is its cleanly approach to design, only displaying needed information. I'm sure with more brainstorming, we can come up with something really exceptional.

 

[Enigma]

Just been playing around again with it this morning. I'm considering this, which makes the unread indicator just as (if not more so) immediate as the current implementation, but does not have the adverse effect of separating the avatar from the thread title and starter name.

Feedback please?

I don't mind that as long as you remove the blue avatar background from behind the dot:

I really really don't like changing the avatar backgrounds.

Agreed. If anything, that should be reserved to mean something about the individual user (eg. give admins a different background color)

 

[Dean]

When it's all said and done, I feel the solution is going to be a lot harder than I first thought.

I for one would hate to see the clean, uncluttered look spoiled.

I'll go with this. Especially considering the mobile devices that may be affected.

General suggestion, decide what you want to show the end user, and admin/mods, :

• icon & bold text for new posts, no icon (or different icon?) for no new posts
• some indication that threads have been posted to? if so, should they be able to click on something to get to their last post?
• some indication that threads are watched?
• mode/admin controls?
• other?

Once you finalize what you want to show, and have time to think, you could come back and say something like:

"I really like these layouts for the following reasons, the skin could be changed for your own forums, and the indicators/code is in place", as opposed to "what do you think".

 

[Umit]

How about this, it is still minimalistic and informational:
(read thread links' color are slightly lighter)
(bubble icons indicates the member has a post)

if that is not good for server resources then this:

 

[Freddie]

One problem with the blue dot icon, as it is now, is that it looks like <ul> markup, quite tacky.

 

[Princeton]

One of the reasons why I think XenForo differs is that those pesky key legends are not present on the forum, they only add to the clutter unless your adding that so the devs can see what is what and what indicator conveys? add the legend to the software would just add bloat.

I totally agree. I don't want any legends. I don't even use them on my site.

I put the icons there so that you can see how one can replace the 1 icon status. (via a sprite)
I never said anything about having all of them displayed.

My guess is that if status icons are not implemented in the first version - they may very well be on future versions.
I strongly believe that they will be a highly requested feature.

Really, I'm ok with whatever is decided on.
Unlike many admins, I can easily edit templates/files to create the UI that I want.

So, the smaller the footprint the better it (xenforo) is.

 

[Paul B]

I know the issue of screen readers has been discussed at length, which is why an icon is required.
Can someone explain to me though why there can't be alt text for a boldened title which the screen reader would pick up?

What is it that an icon can do that a text string can't? Presumably it's not possible to assign alt text in any way to a text string?
Not even with a transparent, hidden/invisible background image?

I'm asking as I have no idea what a screen reader is or how they work.

 

[Erik]

Looks great the way it is implemented now.

 

[Ahmed]

Looks great the way it is implemented now.

Yes, I'd like to stay this way, it's the best IMO.
But I like the green over the blue, the green is much much better.

 

[Forsaken]

This is what I was talking about before; We're already going to have sticky and lock icons floated to the right, why not organize the icons into their own column?

Note: its just a quick mockup to show what I meant, using Silk Icons, and the sticky icon from XenForo.

 

[Ahmed]

I don't like them this way, I'd prefer to have them side by side. It looks better IMO.

 

[Paul B]

I like Forsaken's idea, it's different, interesting and a neat solution.
I'm not sure if that would mean the icons would have to be a lot smaller though.

 

[Forsaken]

I like Forsaken's idea, it's different, interesting and a neat solution.
I'm not sure if that would mean the icons would have to be a lot smaller though.

I just resized them to fit within the guides, because I'm getting ready to go to work soon (And to make icons the same size).

While its not the -best- implementation, it would group all the icons that I know are likely to be used (User has posted in thread, new reply in thread, sticky, locked) into a single area, and doesn't clutter the page much.