Style Changes to the Site

John

January 26, 2010, 06:00 AM posted in General Discussion

Hi everybody...

You may have noticed a few changes in fonts, text size, and link colors. We've just done a CSS overhaul, which means we've applied new, re-written style rules to site text.

The main goal of this change was to update our CSS to a more consistent, manageable format, which will then be easier to iteratively improve upon.

Next we will be addressing smaller issues, like formatting on certain pages, text size in exercises, etc.

Please let us know if you discover any problems with the new styles. Note that you may need to clear your browser cache to update the CSS; if the site appears oddly formatted, you probably need to do this.

henning

January 26, 2010, 06:12 AM

Hi John,
personally, I liked the old CSS better.

The gaps between content items and paragraphs seem to be a bit too big while the font size is too small.

changye

January 26, 2010, 12:50 PM

What surprises me most is that Chinesepod staff just couldn't expect these responses.

simonpettersson

January 26, 2010, 06:21 AM

It's … interesting. I'm not sure I have an opinion yet. The one thing I do object to straight away, though, is the blue links on white background. It looks unprofessional to me. And blue and red are very tricky to match well.

xiaophil

January 26, 2010, 06:28 AM

I'm not sure, but it seems like I can see more text, which is good. The conversations page seems a bit colorful, but I think I can get used to it pretty quickly.

henning

January 26, 2010, 06:34 AM

CSS-Bug: The Skritter buttons are all stacked upon each other.

changye

January 26, 2010, 06:42 AM

Font size is too small (and too much blank space) for old men like me.

zhenlijiang

Whoa, OK. I see. I was just about to go on a rant about how I hate this new format (very sorry. I know you guys at CPod are working so hard to make things better here), how the font size is way too small (can't read the tags!) for older girls like me too. But one thing good
--this text editing box is nice and large!

Really, however, the font size is too small. I've said this before--sorry but you 20-somethings and early 30-somethings just don't get it about the small print and our eyes. It really is a problem. I'm sure you have quite a large middle-aged + contingent here. Please consider our needs too.

I know people adapt to changes. But this, I think may actually finally put me off from coming here and reading and posting so much (hey! an effective deterrent, finally). We'll see I guess. But for now, I'm finding the experience truly stressful. Thanks for listening to this.

changye

January 26, 2010, 07:05 AM

I can't find a positive reason why you use Italics for ID names.

Tal

January 26, 2010, 07:49 AM

Hmm... the font size is my main concern too. I guess I'll get used to it.

One thing I wish you guys would change are the restrictions on user names. Why must a user name have a minimum of 4 characters? I want to drop the _ from my name! And wouldn't it be nice to give people the option to use 汉字 if they'd like to?

bababardwan

Hanzi might scare newbies mate,unless you're at least prepared to provide a translation of your name anytime you post on a newbie or ellie lesson.如果我们可以我就订“怖怖”

bababardwan

January 26, 2010, 07:56 AM

Hanzi might scare newbies mate,unless you're at least prepared to provide a translation of your name anytime you post on a newbie or ellie lesson.如果我们可以我就订“怖怖”

pretzellogic

January 26, 2010, 06:21 AM

I suppose these new CSS changes will take some getting used to. It will be interesting to see what these iterations are that you are talking about that will be made easier. I trust that these iterative changes will be more transparent to users as well?

zhenlijiang

January 26, 2010, 09:26 AM

hamshank

January 26, 2010, 09:34 AM

I dont mind the changes at all so far, although I have not navigated the site enough.

To all the users complaining about the font size...I might be missing something but can't you just press "CTRL and +" (windows) in your browser? I always have it zoomed in for this site so I can actually see the differences in the complex Hanzi chars.

I do agree with simon on the blue links tho...they dont sit well with the theme of the site.

zhenlijiang

Sure I can hamshank, but why should I have to? Or, put it another way--if users are always having to take that extra step to deal with the site's format, that's something CPod ought to be aware of.

The tags are still too tiny, I have to zoom in twice, blowing the page out of screen. And they're still too tiny. It is extremely annoying having something displayed in your screen that is illegible.

hamshank

Thats a fair point...Yes I agree, if the majority are complaining its too small then it needs to be changed. Then the minority can press "CTRL and -"

They need some voting polls adding for when they make changes like these I suppose.

zhenlijiang

January 26, 2010, 09:46 AM

Sure I can hamshank, but why should I have to? Or, put it another way--if users are always having to take that extra step to deal with the site's format, that's something CPod ought to be aware of.

The tags are still too tiny, I have to zoom in twice, blowing the page out of screen. And they're still too tiny. It is extremely annoying having something displayed in your screen that is illegible.

chanelle77

January 26, 2010, 09:53 AM

Sorry to say this but this new format is not my cup of tea. What was wrong with the old one? It was much more readable to me. Maybe it is me hating change, and it takes a little time, but at this moment I think the site looks like @#$% :-).

go_manly

January 26, 2010, 11:39 AM

caloubert

You say the pop-up translations are very small. I assume you mean the mouseover pinyin and definition. Funnily enough, I found them really big, so big I can almost see all the tones without zooming in. However, I find the Hanzi (in the lessons) way too small now. The more complicated ones now require a zoom, which wasn't the case before.

I don't have a problem with the colour-scheme at all. I don't even remember from this morning what the link colour and background colour were. It looks fine to me.

However, links inside comments are no longer visible unless you mouse-over. I think that needs fixing.

And I have to agree with everyone else - I am straining my eyes to read that font.

Could I make an unrelated suggestion. The newest comments, for the most part, are at the bottom of the page. The discussion box is also at the bottom of the page. So most people visiting a discussion will scroll immediately to the bottom. Why not move that stuff, that is currently on the right of the page at the top, to the bottom of the page, underneath the discussion box. That would free up all that grey space on the RHS.

paulinurus

January 26, 2010, 12:24 PM

Font too small, font too light, too much unnecessary white spacing, too much underlining text.

changye

I can't agree more. What on earth is the purpose of this change?

changye

January 26, 2010, 12:34 PM

I can't agree more. What on earth is the purpose of this change?

orangina

January 26, 2010, 12:40 PM

There must be some advantage on the technical side, but I have to say, rather hard on the eyes. (sorry, don't like to be a complainer.)

oh, but that is a nice size edit box!

changye

What surprises me most is that Chinesepod staff just couldn't expect these responses.

caloubert

January 26, 2010, 09:14 AM

The pop up translations of the Hanzi are suddenly very low resolution and very small. The markers for the second and fourth tones are almost invisible. This has changed from just eight hours ago. Is that a change CP made or a fault in my own system? Seems like that happened once before.