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The forum's new organization/presentation...

cb1_mobile
Guru 117855 points

Several quick - first impressions/comments:

a) "Look" sure is different - too soon to know if this represents an improvement.

b) The forum user's ID no longer is displayed.  (past high - atop first page)  This is a weakness as you're unsure if you've "signed-in" to post or have suffered net "drop out."

<edit> 07 Dec, 09:26 - find now that, "User's ID/Nickname" now appears at the top of page, rightmost small icon, but requires "mousing" to that icon to reveal.  Past method "spelled out" the ID - no such "extra scrolling effort" was required... 

c) Each post now reveals (only) the originating poster's ID & number of responses.  This too proves a weakness as involved posts often key on "back/forth" responses - which are now revealed only by the (cryptic) number of responses.  Not good! 

d) Note too - the loss of, "Conversation" alert which past was resident atop - first forum page.  How are we to privately converse?  (that's BASIC - is it not?)

e) New forum design has "lost" the ability to, "jump to a specific forum page!"  Long ago I requested this be added - and it was.  Now we scroll one page @ a time - or jump to the last page - that's it.  Appears "retrograde on full parade" - past forum "methods/madness" discarded - perhaps w/out clear understanding of their value...

f) To be fair - we like the new, "Recent forum questions & discussions" drop-down box (atop the forum) - this is a nice plus!

Forum changes were made w/out input by any of the (outsider) forum community - to my best knowledge.  (checked w/several)  Of course that's vendor's "right" - yet these obvious NEW Forum "weaknesses" may have been prevented if the community was given the opportunity to "preview & comment." 

Hopefully other forum users will arrive - add their impressions.  Overall the changes appear not overly positive... (and those negative effects could have been prevented!)

  • Guru 27285 points
    I also don't like too big character and waste of space on pages, cyanish color is difficult to read due to reduced contrast from white background. Black where preferred due to readability.
    The open frame maybe is an issue due to new face but again i find dispersive and occupy too much vertical space.
    If this I am using is posting inteface too many feature get lost.
    Where are conversation and contact and friend request?
    Conversation new interface is VERY WORST!!!!!
    Worst/improvement comment come with time.
    Fisrst Glance appear TOO MUCH WORSTED!!!
  • in reply to Roberto Romano
    Guru 117855 points
    Indeed Roberto - as (some) here predicted (that would be moi) forum changes - minus experienced user comment - have not proved helpful!
    Big brother may not (always) know best... Not the best way to run a railroad (or a tech forum)...
  • in reply to cb1_mobile
    Guru 27285 points
    I find too much worst, no more way to embed files, picture link or format text.. this is a VERY WORST.
    I checked some discussion it is very hard to pinpoint where some activity is/was and also difficult to follow messages flow.
    This is not an improvement at all. It drive to unusable only!
  • in reply to Roberto Romano
    Guru 20670 points

    I agree.

    The conversations/messages seems disorganized.

    The editor doesn't seem to have any formatting options. It does. There's a small text "use rich formatting" that allows you to do that. I don't think that should be a thing. It should be straight there to start with.

    Now, i really like being able to see more than posts than the one i am replying to.
    I like the big characters, but maybe that's because i have a program that allows me to use my touchpad as a touchscreen, just swipe to go down the page. Now what i don't like is how hard is to distinguish a read post from a not read. There should be more contrast.
    Also, half the screen on the forum is the stiky posts! While this could be good to get new users attention, i would like an option to minimize/hide them. 

  • in reply to Luis Afonso
    Guru 27285 points

    Luis Afonso said:
    The editor doesn't seem to have any formatting options. It does. There's a small text "use rich formatting" that allows you to do that. I don't think that should be a thing. It should be straight there to start with.

    Luis, this is rich text.. nothing like old and it is impossible to switch off feature so this is bold and it can switch but back color and text color no

     Also graphics of feature is weak and everything has lost usability.

     I wish to see who last answered a question, and many other feature where on old mode.

     I fell too unusable, I missed readability and what was seen at a glance.

     I bought a full screen to have vertical resolution, this new forum vanish this.

     The also worst is no try before broke, so why this new interface? Why not try and ask user or selected group?

  • in reply to Roberto Romano
    Guru 20670 points

    Yea, as much as find it easy to scroll down, before that was not needed and i could read everything just fine.

    One more thing, i was in messages. The last message. I struggled to scroll back to the new notification system, the older messages would keep loading up!

  • Guru 117855 points

    Ongoing - "decode this new improved (questionable) forum" reveals that what had been, "Conversations" is now titled, "Messages!"  And - intuitively - appears as the  2nd icon from left - atop this 1st forum page.   How could users be expected to "know this?"  (Ans: in 1000 years (apologies to Ms. Perri) we could not!)

    Even worse - when (finally) "messages (past conversations) appears" - the order of presentation defies logic!  Conversations are no longer grouped in "reverse chronological order" (i.e. latest ones up top) - they are not in alphabetical order - and their view is confined to a small window.  Ugh!

    May we ask if anyone responsible for this forum "redesign" had spent "real" time/effort here - to gain (some) sensitivity to what works - and what does not?  (i.e. most all of these new changes...) 

  • in reply to cb1_mobile
    TI__Guru**** 244400 points
    Hello cb1, All,

    Thanks for your feedbacks. I would take it up with the Forum Managers as there are some issues I see as well in terms of readability.

    At the same time it would takes us all some time to get used to the new format of the forum, so let's be open to the new changes.

    Please do keep the feedback coming....

    Regards
    Amit
  • in reply to Amit Ashara
    Guru 11940 points

    I'd like to agree with former posters. Large fonts, large white areas, much less information at one glance, and much more scrolling - that is not an improvement for me.
    And a cyan-coloured font is a usability lapse IMHO.
    The old version allowed to switch directly between different sub-fora. Now, one has go back to "Forums" (sic), and switch from there to the other sub-forum. And BTW, isn't "Fora" the plural of "Forum" ?

    The new forum looks now more like the NXP and Freescale versions - not sure if this is an advantage.
    However, still better than the (M$ Sharepoint - backed) ST forum, wich sets new all-time lows in usability and stability ...

    And BTW - how can I disable this annoing "tour" ?
     Seems I can just choose between "next" and "later" ...

  • in reply to Amit Ashara
    Guru 92251 points

    Some other comments are:

    a) There is no longer a preview option when creating a post, which I found useful to check any links in the post were correct before posting.

    b) I can't find the previous option of displaying the list of threads from all Forums which I had posted in - which was a useful quick check of any new responses. Now, only seem to have the option of selecting "Questions and discussions you've participated in" on each Forum in turn.

    Edit:

    c) I am no longer email notifications when posting to a thread, even though email notifications are still enabled in my profile.

  • in reply to Chester Gillon
    Guru 117855 points

    Chester Gillon said:
    I am [sic] can no longer email notifications when posting to a thread

    Perhaps this restores: atop forum's opening page - right side - with no posts selected - appear 3 large check-boxes.   Bottom one, "Options" offers, "Forum notifications ON."

    We've not had the chance to verify - but that (new/hidden) feature may explain & correct...

  • in reply to Amit Ashara
    Guru 27285 points
    Hi Amit, welcome to this new arena of useless improvement...
    On reply I got there:
    http://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/tiva_arm/f/908/t/387464/reply?tsid=d5879e13-5058-48cb-bd93-b35d07d73adc
    So new post???
    Again this new forum lack of what is important to a tech person, not lose time, THIS IS NOT FACEBOOK!!!!!!
    We need know about messages flow not got friendship as social network do,... Please say this for me to genial new forum designer!
  • in reply to f. m.
    Guru 117855 points

    f. m. said:
    And BTW - how can I disable this annoying "tour" ?

    Disable the splendid tour (employed in place of a, New Forum Instruction listing) you cannot be serious!

    One of our young staff discovered that by "suffering through" (i.e. hitting all of the "next" hoops) the tour "nag" went, "bye-bye."  That's our one-day finding - that (wanted) feature may well return - too soon to say...

  • in reply to Chester Gillon
    Guru 86755 points

    Chester Gillon said:
    I am no longer email notifications when posting to a thread, even though email notifications are still enabled in my profile.

    Email notifications works for me. 

    - kel

  • in reply to Amit Ashara
    Guru 27285 points

    Amit Ashara said:
    Please do keep the feedback coming....

     Hi Amit, I suppose active members are not so much, again I cannot understand why character size is continuosly variable from TOO large to TOO small, this result in a stress reading.

     Another WORST over than cyan is grey, YES all text is grey and over a white this is a very crazy way to reduce readability and get eye fatigued on a small time.

     NO ERGONOMY ON NEW FORA so this is a non person respecting right and another negative face of this BAD AND WORTEST DESIGNED interface.

     Sorry Amit you are the only one internal person we get in contact and reply every day. ASK you commercial genia to remain two HOUR in front of monitor READING not complain how good it look for himselves!!!!!!!!

     If TI require FACEBOOK then open fora in FB leave a tech one active and remove children too.

     Thank you and sorry angain this is not for you and you the only one appear good and reliable as few other in parallel fora.

  • in reply to cb1_mobile
    Guru 27285 points

    cb1_mobile said:
    One of our young staff discovered that by "suffering through" (i.e. hitting all of the "next" hoops) the tour "nag" went, "bye-bye."  That's our one-day finding - that (wanted) feature may well return - too soon to say...

    Hi CB1, I suppose they bought code from FB, it resemble too much that social, also with improvement, the new messages also report your recent post as unread to you.. My better compliment to what is a data base inconsistence and lack of knowledge.

     Many time ago I read a book about how to made interfaces, they took "remember in front of computer terminal there is a man!!!"

     So is still a man or a simple key dropper hitting like and get friend?

     Is this a tech forum where human right need to be respected or is a M$ like just take what I think for you?????

     I fear last sentence come too much intense to be a case.

  • Expert 2415 points

    I'll add my thoughts here...

    First of all, why did TI start fixing something that wasn't broken? OK, I get it that you might have wanted the site to look more "to date", but this is an engineering forum, even the name implies it! Engineers don't tend to be so much after good looks, but take away functionality and you'll know.

    I usually check the front page roughly once a day, and if something interesting is up I might read further and maybe even chime in with some thoughts if I have experience on the subject at hand. Now I see 1/3 - 1/2 the number of topics that I used to, and all but two topics on the first page are "stickies". This is on a 27" screen. I guess the layout has been designed to scale nicely on mobile devices, but the unfortunate result is that on desktops the usability is broken. It's quite clear that no significant beta testing has been done on the layout - well of course one can argue that there's a massive "public beta" going on right now...

    As CB noted, one can't jump to a specific page in the topic listing, nor in a thread. This is a massive degradation, and should be obvious to anyone who has ever used a busy forum.

    I'm too irritated by this change to be able to list every detail that annoys me, but here's one: The original message that I clicked "reply" on, has it's text in a rather pale grey - there's not enough contrast to the background. I get it that you want to distinguish the original text from the one that you're writing, but there are other ways - a textbox border, for example.

    Lastly, I see that the long promised new version of TivaWare has yet to be released. Obviously I understand that it isn't the same guy doing this forum update and the TivaWare release, but I still get the impression that TI is pouring money down the wrong drains.

    How about you go back to fixing your real problems and finish with the makeup later?

    [Amit, this isn't directed at you. I know you do your best and probably feel the pressure from "both sides" - one man can't change the world overnight!]

  • Guru 27665 points
    There also does not appear to be a way of directly navigating to the last reply. It appears you have to work your way through the list (or maybe you just have to always view the first page). If I'm following the thread I already know what it's about I don't need to continually refresh myself.

    Also navigating multiple pages seems to do some sort of fancy scrolling update that's rather irritating. It seems someone is too enamoured of all the fancy things that are possible with javascript.

    Robert
  • in reply to cb1_mobile
    Expert 2415 points

    cb1_mobile said:
    Perhaps this restores: atop forum's opening page - right side - with no posts selected - appear 3 large check-boxes.   Bottom one, "Options" offers, "Forum notifications ON."

    Just to report that after I turned that on, I got a notification from Amit's reply to a thread that I hadn't even viewed, let alone replied to... Not exactly what you'd expect!

    Edit: I seem to be getting notifications from others' messages, too, not just Amit's. Going to turn off the notifications right now - the feature is useless as is.

  • in reply to Markel Robregado
    Guru 92251 points

    Markel Robregado said:
    Chester Gillon
    I am no longer email notifications when posting to a thread, even though email notifications are still enabled in my profile.
    Email notifications works for me.

    Email notifications are working for me. The difference is that the previous forum sent an email notification after I had made my first post in a thread, whereas the new forum only sends email notifications after someone else has made a further post.
  • in reply to cb1_mobile
    Guru 11940 points

    Disable the splendid tour (employed in place of a, New Forum Instruction listing) you cannot be serious!

    Oh, I'm really sorry. Of course, I meant that rather persistent tour-reminder-nagging-window, not the tour itself ...

    But something else: clicking on "Reply" (any message in a thread) when not logged in brings me back to the forum, and not to the thread/message I wanted to reply. I'm pretty sure that had been working before.

    And another thing: what is that "Forums" (sic) button up right supposed to do ?

  • in reply to f. m.
    Guru 47900 points

    f. m. said:
    And another thing: what is that "Forums" (sic) button up right supposed to do ?

    Suspect very little (at present) as you well note.

    I'd bet this is, "place holder" for (as of yet) unimplemented, "Navigate to other fora" selections...

    (this of course my "best guess") - Redesign crue not noted for the depth & breadth of their (thus far awol) "Surviving the (most needed) forum changes" guide. 

    Fear not - vendor's surely, "Duly noted..."

  • in reply to Chester Gillon
    TI__Guru**** 244400 points
    Hello Kel,

    That is not how it should work. I should have the notification that my post was there and I can trace my response in my email box then on the forum.
    We have highlighted the same as well amongst the other issues pointed by the forum users. Help is on its way.

    Regards
    Amit
  • in reply to f. m.
    Guru 27285 points

    f. m. said:
    But something else: clicking on "Reply" (any message in a thread) when not logged in brings me back to the forum, and not to the thread/message I wanted to reply. I'm pretty sure that had been working before.

     Too Many things stopped working, also on first comment I highlighted that when you click reply from offline you get a new post than reply to actual message. Again this I am sure after used so many time it was perfectly working and new version is annoying.

    From offline:

       -- old version click to reply:

     Login page -> reply page

      -- new version click onreply

      Login page -> post new message page

     WHY???

     Now I am typing avoiding see screen due it is getting my eyes tired   in a short time.

     Scrolling reply is a worst thing more worst than cyan forum titling...

     also check box Notify has sign in CYAN too.. who was this genial designer? Please get it and impose use for at almost two hour his "life/energy waste machine"!

     I propose motion to ask have back old working FORA!

  • in reply to Amit Ashara
    Guru 27285 points

    Amit Ashara said:
    We have highlighted the same as well amongst the other issues pointed by the forum users. Help is on its way.

     Hi Amit, light grey on white nor low contrast character are to be used on a good interface other than useless abused social network.

     I don't Like "like" button, I don't like double triple passage to answer a message, I don't like to use a button to select a quoted reply, I don't like to not have information at hand. SO why this social network useless interface? are the people engaged to design this experienced about technical forum layout?

     From our outside perspective TI seems to assign work to non professional people, is this assigned to low cost (not so low I suppose) than to valuating skill and quality or as from usual genial commercial joung unskilled new rampant ((??**Pseudo**????))economist? Is this assuming commercial people are kicking good prepared person Like you Amit in front of them?

     Yes TI can sell low cost kit, follow Arduino actual success... but never selling to professional get to what is a disaster.

  • Guru 47900 points

    cb1_mobile said:
    c) Each post now reveals (only) the originating poster's ID & number of responses.  This too proves a weakness as involved posts often key on "back/forth" responses - which are now revealed only by the (cryptic) number of responses.  Not good! 

    Eureka!  Forum crue - on the job - above gremlin, "restored to original" (i.e. far better) forum behavior.

    Now - the nickname/id of most recent poster appears w/ea. post - which we believe to be more useful than originating poster's id...

    Merci beaucoup.

    And - appears that the font and/or layout has been scaled to enable "larger chunks of forum data" to be presented.  That's also good!

  • in reply to cb1
    TI__Guru**** 244400 points
    Hello cb1

    Yes. There are more changes from this post that are going back to improvement that we would see over the next few days, especially the use of greyscale-white that "stresses" the eye.
    I am an equal user here, so would be following up and posting the updates

    Regards
    Amit
  • in reply to Amit Ashara
    Guru 27285 points
    Amit, also the fast direct page access of multipage on bottom is missing and if thread has many answer it is not so much simple to select last page or go to specific one... Again miss an important feature, why broke what is working than improving? Why I suppose all internal data organization changed to?

    Another annoying s drop down of list of notification, if you in error click externally this move to left and is again annoying due to its flashing...

    Another is the upper red bar when hit cover forum selection...
    All new feature are worst ...
    Leave use rich formatting in first choice... too many multiple selection are required to do same things of old layout.
  • in reply to Roberto Romano
    Guru 47900 points
    Hi Amit,

    Roberto has well detailed (above) new weaknesses introduced by the forum "change." Our tech group agrees with each of his points - believe it most sound & constructive...
  • in reply to Roberto Romano
    TI__Guru**** 244400 points
    Hello Roberto, cb1,

    All of your points have been duly noted and sent. One another item was if you accidently close the browser, you no longer get a "Yes" "No" exit question. I have lost a few posts like that. As I said, these changes are being brought in back (others have the same inputs).
    Please do give it some time (and me to :-)).

    Regards
    Amit
  • in reply to Amit Ashara
    Guru 47900 points

    Amit Ashara said:
    Please do give it some time (and me too :-)).

    Certainement, mon ami.    (and this is why we've suggested that, "pirate venture" be scuttled - to better enable your efforts, proper focus, strength...)

  • in reply to Amit Ashara
    Guru 27285 points
    And over 200 email from forum spammed my email too :( acch... Amit have your strong armour to combat or do you need help fighting this new disaster?
  • in reply to Roberto Romano
    Guru 47900 points
    Roberto,

    Feel your pain - that should not be - several here did predict any forum change would not be quick - nor smooth!

    We "steer" any forum based email (from a variety of forums) to lesser priority email accts. - to prevent the unpleasant invasion you properly report.
  • in reply to cb1
    Guru 27665 points
    The hand-holding popup seems to have dissappeared.

    Some progress is occurring.

    Robert
  • Guru 117855 points

    We've noted the following (questionable) "New Forum" tracking/reporting capability.   (screen cap taken 12-13-14, 20:14 CST)

    Note top 3 posts have "replies" yet NO "views!"  Strange that - eh dear forum update crue?  Fourth post - this sequence - returns to norm.  (i.e. "past forum" performance!)

    New posters are noted for (too often)  posting w/out first "reading/reviewing."   Yet "Replying w/out Viewing" appears as easy as, "Drinking w/out Driving..."  Should not both be illegal?

    Further - this particular thread has been "stuck" @ 450 views for several days - we've noted that on several others - as well.   Forum update --;