Update on the New Release
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to post an update on the new release. We have received a lot of feedback--both positive and negative--and I wanted to offer an overview on how things are going. Some people are bothered by the changes, others are delighted by the new content and features that are now available.
First, just as background on the process, we made a beta version of the site available for several weeks and allowed everyone on the site to test the new version and send in comments. In response to that feedback, we made a number of updates:
Update on the Beta Version - 15 Updates Based on Feedback
Update on the New Release - 9 Updates Based on Feedback
We released the new site on Friday, after fixing many bugs and making many improvements. With a new release, there are always things that are not caught in the beta testing period--some people have idiosyncratic browsers, some bugs aren't revealed until there is heavy usage, and some things just take a bit of getting used to.
We continued to solicit feedback, and over the weekend, we have continued to make enhancements. Since the release on Friday we have:
- Ensured the welcome popup window doesn't continue to reappear
- Ensured that the Spanish verb conjugations show when there are both Spanish and English conjugations
- Ensured the feedback tab doesn't overlap with people's content
- When browsing the users section, make sure the links for reputation, points, and badges go directly to that section of the profile
- Fixed a few more typos
- Ensure the videos on the dictionary page don't take you to a new page page
- Increase the contrast throughout the site, including on the vote boxes
- Ensure the mouseover of a user's avatar in the navigation reveals the points, badges, and reputation
- Make sure that large images do not break the answers posting box
- Ensure that reflexive verbs are conjugated properly
- Turn the "Rollback" link into a button
- Make the green text darker on the learn page and vote button
- Corrected and improved dozens of the 4000 new grammar questions
- Ensure that alert messages have proper coloring on links
- Fix the forgotton password process
- Included the feature to double click and translate a word throughout the site
- Update the order in which the questions appear on the Q&A page
- Add styling to the notice that a post is closed
- Ensure accent buttons work correctly in IE8
- Improve the language detection algorythm on the search box
- Don't set a default language when a user signs up
There are actually many others. Some of these are bug fixes. Others are new features and enhancements that never existed in the previous version.
We have read all of the posts on the site. We have also received several hundred suggestions via the feedback tab. We have read and responded to every email we have received.
It is clear that many members continue to be frustrated by the change. I can tell you that we are listening, and I hope that you can see from our efforts that we are making improvements. We are not going to implement every suggestion. We are constantly having to balance the time, cost, and impact of various features. This is not because we don't care about the suggestion, but rather because we have a number of considerations to make about what we select. One benefit of the new site, though, is that the underlying architecture allows us to update things more quickly. We intend to keep improving the site.
I hope this helps clarify a few things. As always, please feel free to send in additional feedback using the feedback tab. We may not implement the suggestion, but I can guarantee that we will read it and consider it.
All the best, Chris
9 Answers
I'm bumping this. I think it's only fair that people should read it and be aware of the developers' reponses.
Hello Chris,
I appreciate this notice and the list of updates.
As one of the most vocal commentators on the implementation of the new site, I won't deny that one of my greatest frustrations had been the apparent lack of response from the developers.
This message addresses that issue adequately, and I feel a lot better knowing that you guys are paying attention (and getting lots of things done, even if they're not immediatly or easily visible).
I second Feliz's suggestion that you let us know which features and fixes you expect to be able to implement in the short and medium term. I also believe that it would be a very well received move if you could post regular updates like this, to let us know how your work is progressing. Maybe once a week would be nice.
Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time from what must certainly be a hectic schedule to allay everyone's concerns.
Thank you Chris. I can see that you and your tech team are making an effort to listen to our concerns and that we will need to be more patient with the ongoing improvements. This feedback to keep us informed is definitely a step in the right direction thanks again
Could you possibly publish, on our forum, a list of those suggestions for improvement that you consider feasible to implement now/ at the present time and those that would have to wait until a later date? This would be very helpful
Update: I am beginning to like certain aspects of the new site: including the profile picture and details underneath being much clearer,to view, the colour green now being used for accepted answer intsead of blue (Can we accept answers now? I think that I have had some accepted ....so I guess so!) I think that I will become accustomed to it with time and may even get to like the whole site
I am, however, still a little frustrated that at times the box with bold hyperlink etc...does not load correctly, even using Mozilla or loads very slowly. which means I am waiting what seems like 5-10 minutes to answer a question or would have been if I had not found a work around. Even so it would be good to have it working properly
Thanks Chris, things have certainly improved, we do all know you are working hard it is just that change is a bit uncomfortable sometimes.
Thank you.
I like the new site a lot, and thanks for fixing it up. I have noticed a few of the things while using it just now.
Well, I figured you guys have been, are, and will be coding your guts out with this roll out.
I just noticed that the word of the day box is put up with a virtual piece of tape. I don't know if that's new, but it's cute.
