Beta test the new TubeNet forums!!

[WoodSheddin]

I uploaded a snapshot of the TubeNet BBS from a day or two ago into a new version of the BBS software which is soon to be released.

The databases are separate and information placed in http://beta.chisham.com CAN and WILL be deleted and replaced with the live BBS data here at http://forums.chisham.com occasionally until it finally goes fully live.

Please feel free to look around and give me feedback in the Feedback Forum here on http://forums.chisham.com.

Again, use http://forums.chisham.com for posts which you do not want erased frequently as I fine tune the new software.

[Wyvern]

All looks pretty familiar to get around.

My initial comment is that I find the font more difficult to read - it looks smaller to me.

Any chance of increasing size slightly?

[The Jackson]

The "Last Post" columns are getting knocked all the way to the left almost every time I go into a sub-forum.

[dtemp]

Can't I quote?

Or is it because I'm not logged in?

[KarlMarx]

My initial comment is that I find the font more difficult to read - it looks smaller to me.

Any chance of increasing size slightly?

Yes, the font is slightly smaller, which is not kind on aging eyes.

One other matter however diminishes the readability even more: the reduced contrast between the letters and their background. The overall graphical impression gains in beauty, but reading the message get even more of a struggle for the sight impaired. The beta version by far is not the only website suffering from this problem, but please do change this matter. Try to imagine how it would be to read green music printed on yellow paper. In pro situations we want the optimal reading conditions and we hate old ink on smudged paper. We mostly prefer black print on white background, but the experts say, that a slightly bluish background behind black letters yields the best reading results.

[WoodSheddin]

All looks pretty familiar to get around.

My initial comment is that I find the font more difficult to read - it looks smaller to me.

Any chance of increasing size slightly?

Click the font size changing button on the top right . Looks sorta like the letter A

[Wyvern]

Click the font size changing button on the top right . Looks sorta like the letter A

Nice feature - Thanks!

I also like the Bookmark topic feature - useful to be able to easily go back to subjects of interest.

[WoodSheddin]

I've made this comment elsewhere, but I don't know if you've seen it.

Why not add a captcha module to the registration process? I've heard that you spend a lot of time approving new users because of spammers. Captcha will take care of that.

No it won't. It is in place now and does little to slow down spam account creation. Spam is a HUGE industry worth millions and millions of dollars. A simple Captcha is not the solution.

I have been at this BBS thing since around 1994 or 1995. Identifying spam accounts takes an experienced eye combined with tech solutions. I have implemented MANY hurdles for spammers over the years.

Unfortunatelly lately I had to implement authoritarian solutions which results in delayed registrations. Just this week I wrote some scripts which will help me better keep up, but it is still not 100% automated.

The new BBS software has several features which will better allow me to delegate responsibilities in regards to moderating AND administration.

Once I get a good grasp of how to best utilize it, I will start to give restricted moderation and administration rights to select individuals.

On the board presently I have delegated 3 moderators. Schlep, Dean, and my wife MoonUnit. There is no good solution in the present software to delegate account administration to others. So the moderators have very little power.

The new software will hopefully allow me to give the current moderators some limited admin rights in regards to accounts. I can then also give a FEW others moderation rights.

Finally the new software also allows warnings to be sent and recorded to problem users. It also allows anyone to flag a warning on a post so it is brought to the attention of the moderators. They can then choose how to deal with it cause it will show up in their moderator control panel as needing attention.

Hopefully all of these various moderation tools will better help keep things on track and also better allow members of this board to in effect help choose the direction it takes based on warnings and the like.

I am excited about the new potential and also looking forwarding to taking advantage of some of the offers for moderating and administration assistance.

sean

[cambrook]

I lack any technical knowledge of forum software and haven't had time to do many comparisons, but on first look it seems to me that the search function is better on the new format. Have you noticed any difference?

[Rick Denney]

Just the little bit I looked at it, it seems to stretch the vertical dimension of the list of threads, while narrowing the horizontal dimension. This requires me to scroll a lot, and wastes half the width of my screen.

Rick "who had time for only a peak" Denney

[WoodSheddin]

The default style of phpBB3 also looks awful on my phone and is nearly impossible to read.

All of the negative comments so far center around the layout and not so much the functionality. Appearance is much simpler to modify than the function.

Keep the comments coming. They are helpful.

[trseaman]

We mostly prefer black print on white background

Once a thread is opened, if you look in the right corner just above the login and next to the Font icon there is a new icon for "print view" which will display the thread in black & white...

That may help...

Looks great Sean keep up the good work! Change is hard for everyone but sometimes it is necessary... Once this version is in place and we get used to it, maybe we'll look back at #2 as fondly as we did #1

Tim

[BopEuph]

So when will the new version be fully implemented?

Nick