Well, I'll try to answer and give few tips how to more comfortably use new TOCH.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Don Caldwell
IMHO the major strengths of the old TOCH were its simplicity and the speed with wiich it could be scanned. These are gone.
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I disagree with you, Don. You still can quickly scan new posts. How?
1. Use web browser which will be able to store your login and password. I'm using (and strongly recommend)
Firefox 1.0, which is much more safer than Internet Explorer and can keep a lot of passwords without loosing any of them.
2. Set TOCH in your Favourites / Bookmarks not on
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net, but on
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/viewforum.php?f=4 - you'll get direct access to Luftwaffe part of TOCH.
3. When you are logged in, you'll see new threads (or new posts in old threads) with this icon:
Posts without answers are marked with another icon:
I'm sure that these icons can be significantly improved to make them more different.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Don Caldwell
Specific comments:
1. Sometimes the messages scroll off the right edge of the screen.
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It happens only when someone post long URL or large photo. URLs can be "shortened" with URL button. Photos wider than 700px will scroll messages when viewed on resolution 1024x768.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Don Caldwell
2. The "smiley faces" are simply childish. Who needs them? How are they supposed to improve communication?
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Smileys are part of phpBB package and there is no obligation to use it. But remember that many users are not native English speakers and sometimes one or two smileys can significantly help to understand their thoughts.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Don Caldwell
3. The other icons look like misshapen bells. I have no idea what they mean or when they are used.
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Few icons are quoted at the end of the page, others show their descriptions when you move mouse cursor over them.
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- This icon is linked with user's profile;
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- This icon allows you to post Private Message to selected user. Just remember how often people on TOCH started threads with "Mr.X, please contact me offboard on
mymail@mymail.sth. Now you can send PM to someone without problems.
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- This icon allows you to send e-mail to selected user.
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- This icon is linked with user's website.
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- This icon allows you to get user's Yahoo! Instant Messsenger nick to contact him offboard.
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- This icon allows you to get user's ICQ UIN to contact him offboard.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Don Caldwell
4. The yellow-on-red banner colors are hard to read. As someone said, what's wrong with Luftwaffe blue?
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This forum engine can store few different colour schemes. I think Ruy will prepare few more for those who want to have more contrast or colours more related with Luftwaffe / VVS / RAF anything else.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Don Caldwell
5. What's the objective of restricting some sections to "registered" users while leaving others open to all?
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Don, remember that Ruy is still setting all this stuff up. But I think that writing on all TOCH sections should be avaiable for registered users only. There is a lot of spambots which are posting messages with porn ads or sth like that.
You've said about disadvantages, but there is a lot of positives:
- posts will not dissapear after few months;
- there is no ads;
- there is no annoying pop-ups;
- search engine has much more options;
- new messages in old threads will be shown on first page, not on last one;
HTH
Regards,