March 25, 2010
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Personal Search, Customizable Private Pages, and Easier Navigation: a Preview…
As promised, we’ve been working on adding a search box to the private page… you can see it in the upper left side of this preview screenshot:
While we were at it, we realized something kinda neat. We could offer a theme-like system that lets you customize your private page. You could easily add a header image, change the main colors, and tweak the links too – like in the following screenshot:
If you click the little “customize – new!” link right next to “Update Your Site”, you’ll see a new set of options to customize the look of your private pages. It works on all private pages that have the same basic layout as the “Universal Inbox” page: subscriptions, messages, feedback log, etc.You can use it to make your private pages look like this:
Or this…
Or any of these…
Or thousands of other looks!
These private pages are a little too complicated to work with full Xanga Themes or “Look & feel” settings (though we’re working on this one). But with these new, simple customization options – add a custom header, change trim & link colors, etc. – we hope you’ll be able to make your private pages feel like home.
While we were adding the search box and looking into customizable private pages, we also considered tweaking the navigation a bit to make it easier to find key pages: your subs page, messages page, and private page. Also, we took out some of the images above the posting buttons – just to make the page seem a bit less cluttered.You can see those tweaks in the screenshot… what do you think?
These tweaks also gave us a chance to provide easier links to the photo/video managers… phew!So in conclusion, these tweaks would allow us to offer:- Personal Search right from your private page
- Customizable Private Pages
- Easier links to important pages and actions
But rather than just spring this on you guys, we wanted to give you a chance to check it out and let us know what you think! So in addition to the screenshots above, we’ve made a live demo:
click here to try it out!
(click the little “customize – new!” link to try out the customization)
(don’t worry, it won’t affect your own site – it’s just a demo)We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please check it out and then chime in on the comments.
Thanks,
Marc
Comments (88)
This is so awesome. I love it!
I can’t wait to try it.
I tried some of the customization and it’s so awesome. I love how you can change the color of the links. Brilliant!
Cool
Interesting. I hope when you re-arrange the navigation this time, it stays somewhat consistent from one section of the site to another. It seems like every time you change it around, it gets more convoluted. Right now there are people on the “help” pages asking where the pulse section on the front page disappeared to (since it’s still in the menu on the other pages, but the link doesn’t work anymore).
@radicalramblings - yah, that’s one of the goals here: unify the navigation! If you click through all the navigation links at the top, you’ll see how we’re trying to pull everything together – hope it makes more sense.
So far it looks great. It’s feels pretty streamlined. The one things that jumps out at me is the subscription module on the home page. If someone has a hefty number of subs, that’s gonna push down the other modules a bit to far. I’d say throw in the recent pulse module there in it’s place. People look at pulses more as status updates anyways and are more inclined to check them out rather than a whole post.
Also, I know it has nothing to do with the upgrade here, but I was thinking about updates in the pubic feed. They should have a few lines from the post like they do on the front page. Personally, I’m more inclined to read a post if the first few lines catch my eye like they usually do on the front page. If it’s not someone I befriended or subbed, I tend to skip over their post, unless they have a really great title.
I like the addition of the featured question right under “Update Your Site”. Maybe a cycling module of the top blogs can go right under it to compliment it? My two cents.
If I think of anything else, I’ll drop by, but as always, great work!
Wow I love this ! Looking forward to having it added.
Thank You for your efforts.
@Lithium98 - Thanks for all the feedback!
That subs module on the home page shows a max of around 10 subs to avoid the issue you mentioned. Personally, I’m not sure how useful that subs module is on the home page (and the friends module seems even less useful)… but we weren’t sure if removing them altogether might cause a ruckus, heh.
Do you (or anyone else reading this comment) think those two modules are worthwhile on the home page?
Showing more text in the feed – haha, we were *just* discussing that same issue. Totally agree that I’d be more inclined to click on something if it had a bit more text.
I also personally love the top blogs idea too – but we weren’t too sure about where we might put it on the page (if anywhere). Thoughts on a location that might be a nice balance?
@marc - Yeah, the subs and friends modules wouldn’t really do much there. Especially since you aren’t getting too much of an update from each of them. The recent pulse module would just make more sense as far as having a module that constantly updates.
The top blogs should go right under the featured question. I think the crowd asking for more traffic to Xanga users would definitely be please by that. Plus, you guys always add an on/off switch to almost every feature. If there’s an option to opt out, I doubt anyone will really mind.
Yup, looks good. Like the haiku too, by the way.
@NikBv - yup that’s the kind of heavy thinking that goes on here at Xanga HQ
@marc - Actually, I really like the idea. Perhaps allow the users to create their own icons for the “trim,” as well?
Also, is there -any- chance a feature could be implemented so that people could “hide” (perhaps… minimize/shrink?) updates that they see on the front of their universal inbox on an individual basis, thus enabling other blogs/pulses that are buried pages deep to then become visible. Have been wondering about that for a while now, but am not sure how amazingly difficult it would be to code.
Definitely approve of the current change suggestions… and thank you for keeping “the community” involved in what’s going on, unlike -some other- social networking sites.
I am looking at the link and I would like to make a suggestion. I went to the live feed that you have posted and it looks like you can actually see less updates above the fold. I have noticed that Facebook made adjustments so more updates can be seen above the fold in the feed but also in other locations on the main private page. It might be wise to consider themes that allow for more feeds above the fold or it will have a negative impact on traffic. I think you might want to work with the current private page also that is the default for everyone. I think there are several ways you can add to the potential updates and put them above the fold without making it look too busy. If you look at Facebook, you can see 5 news feeds currently above the fold. But you can also see “messages,” “Friend request,” “Events,” “notifications,” “Photos,” “Request (for apps.), “Suggestions,” “marketplace.” All of these links are above the fold and yet are constantly updating so there are more options to click above the fold and driving more traffic. Xanga can do the same with very subtle changes and give it a xanga feel without looking like facebook. But instead you would give more options above the fold. I have always wished there was a news feed to the left that just gave pulses. Then concentrating the main feed to blogs. It would be easy to do this because pulses take up so little space anyway. Then you can add another feed to what your friends are commenting. This would be controversial and yet funny at the same time. I want people to read my funny comments on other people’s sites. It would be great if those comments went into a news feed to all of my friends. This would also drive more traffic to the sites they are commenting on and more traffic to the person commenting. It is a win for everyone. Don’t be afraid to make the news feeds really small to fit more on the page. It will work for the news feeds and yet get more above the fold.
@marc - ”Do you (or anyone else reading this comment) think those two modules are worthwhile on the home page?”–I like the link to the subs, it’s the only way I have of checking my “protected” feed, correct? Having one on top was a nice touch. As for the “friends (Err… requests)”… well, not so much. Perhaps you could put that info on the side, under/above the feedback space? :shrug:
The message system of clicking on them to view-hide is a nice touch, too… kinda like what I had in mind when I mentioned the hiding of updates in this comment. Ooh, just noticed the “featured question” under the “update the site”… Nice.
All right, that’s the most I have as of now.
@TheTheologiansCafe - ”I have always wished there was a news feed to the left that just gave pulses. Then concentrating the main feed to blogs. “-agree
“Then you can add another feed to what your friends are commenting.”-that too. Perhaps an option for users to add said feeds if they so chose to do so?
@theacematt2 - that “minimize/shrink” feature would definitely take some work… would it help just to show more updates per page (that would be a very easy change to make)? If so, what do you think a good amount might be?
I like your style Marc. That is all.
@vanedave - I like your brevity
@TheTheologiansCafe - hmm, interesting – we made changes specifically to show *more* updates above the fold (on classic sites right now there’s a big announcement right above the Universal Inbox that pushes it waaay down – we moved that announcement to the side and made it smaller… also the “Update Your Site” box is less tall than it was before.. also the text inside certain types of updates is smaller). If you add a “custom header” to your site then things move back down a bit of course… maybe we could put the latest update in the header (like the little anouncement box that pops over to the right side of the header)? Or maybe we could put your little pulse feed idea over there?
That comment feed idea is really interesting (in fact, it’s *already* built in to the original feed code – we just never launched it)… Do you think people will be comfortable having their comments broadcast like that? Would it be opt in or out? Anyone else care to chime in on this idea?
Dudes, I love it. I can’t wait until it goes live!
Cool beans!
@marc - I was just looking at my inbox on xanga and comparing it to facebook. So it may just be my site. I am not looking at the classic users and their sites. I just count the updates on facebook and I have noticed that so many sites have added the same basic private page but don’t have all the possible updates above the fold. For example, facebook has the apps. Instead of copying the apps, you just put something above the fold that is constantly updating. I like that you added messages to the top of this example page. I would move the numbers like footprints down the page because it doesn’t update like a feed.
I guess you would have to add an opt out on the comments as apparently you have to with anything new you do on xanga. Sure it would make some upset but it is a great traffic move. I would not want it in the main feed though. It would push down blogs.
I love it! Way to go!
Yay! This looks so much simpler than the setup from before. I remember as a new blogger here spending more time trying to figure out how the f*** everything worked than actually blogging. It seems a lot more comprehensible.
I agree with those above me that mentioned having pulses in a module off to the side instead of in the main feed with “regular” blogs. I’ve always loved the pulse feature, but it does push blogs off my private page awful fast.
@marc - ”Do you think people will be comfortable
having their comments broadcast like that? Would it be opt in or out?
Anyone else care to chime in on this idea?” –comfortable, personally, yes. But the general public would probably like the opt in/out option. Separate feed for it would be optimal, too.
@into_the_lens - awesome… heh, as a very old blogger here, i still sometimes find myself reaching for those asterisks with the universal inbox page (“where the f*** is the link to… ohhhh there it is”). We never did really tweak it much after the original launch, so it could definitely stand some fixin’
@marc - It.. might be… Wait, is there any way to let the user customize that on an individual basis????? Some people might want to see a LOT of blogs per page, and some might not want to see too many at all. I think the # that we have at the moment (15?) is good, but perhaps more would be nice once in a while. Hmm. Just a thought.
@marc - I think it should be an opt in/out feature. I don’t want to see “every comment” all of my friends post and I wouldn’t want to post every one of my comments to everyone. For me it would just be an information overload. I’m sure others would like it and it would increase connectivity between users.
So, the search bar searches all of Xanga and not just your site? I guess I had hoped that “personal search bar” meant that it searches your personal site. Maybe that’s not really an option. I don’t know, since I don’t write code.
EDIT: Oh crap, apparently this is already an option. I’ve been out of the Xanga loop for too long. Pardon me while I go *facepalm* myself.
Bring it on.
I think may be I will be able to try it without messing anything up. Thanks xanga.
Now, when are you going to add more minis, or have some other kinds of neat minis?
I think I will love once I get used to it! I tried to customize the header with one of my pics. Was that disabled for the demo page? I like the idea of moving the Pulse updates to a side module to free up more room on the page.
This will be great! love it. Can’t wait!!
I love you:
Moving the feedback log up is reason enough to love this update. (I like keeping my footprints score close by.)
As @Lithium98 - said, I also like the idea of getting the opening lines of the post. He’s also onto something with the recent pulse module that’s currently on the subs page. Would be nice to move that to the front private page.
I also think the subs and friends modules are space wasters. All I need is an “edit friends” and an “edit subscriptions” link. Shoot, you can throw the blogrings in there too. Currently, the left side of the page just seems to drag on and on.
Do you think people will be comfortable having their comments broadcast like that? Oh my, I can see it now. You thought Xanga had drama before? Now imagine being able to see what others are saying right on your home page (but maybe yall don’t mind the extra blogging, haha). You know how people may be less likely to travel around Xanga because the almighty footprints god is watching you? Wouldn’t people also be less likely to comment if the almighty comment god was watching you? It just seems like both an awesomely great and a horribly wrong idea at the same time.
WOW Search box FTW!
@marc - That comment feed idea is really interesting
(in fact, it’s *already* built in to the original feed code – we just
never launched it)… Do you think people will be comfortable having
their comments broadcast like that? Would it be opt in or out? Anyone
else care to chime in on this idea?
I would like it but I would want to have the choice of opting out.
How soon will it be available, I like it?
i love it and thank you for the hard work.
I’m REALLY excited about these changes (playing around with the demo has me anticipating them like crazy). This is definitely a step in the right direction as far as Xanga design…keep up the great work!
so far it looks very nice…a good change.
loving it!
This is a lot easier on the eyes and better organized than the last inbox. I’ll be using it if you implement it. Good job, guys!
@Sungball - Thanks Sungball!!
I like it.
I don’t see the tab for “Your Stuff” on the new one. Is it still going to be on there?
I love it, I have used the search for my page a few ties and it is really helpful, thank you!
still haven’t used it yet
I love it!!
I can’t wait, I already have it all picked out.. waiting, yeah!
Win!!!! Like. :0)
looooove!!
Cool.
Sounds good, I’m all for positive change.
Something else:
Is it going to be possible to choose who’s updates to show or hide as I find some people update such a lot that their notifications swamp my Xanga Homepage and I can only resolve this by deleting them as subs and friends which I don’t necessarily want to do. That would be very handy indeed! Any hope of a reply on this?
i like it. it looks a lot better.
i still use old school sub page, like it a lot better. gives me access to protected blogs.
i tried the demo & i loved it! i can’t wait til it’s perfected
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love it! Can’t wait until it goes live!!!
You could make the sidebar parts collapsible, and allow for easy keyboard navigation like I did with “Customize Your Xanga”
I prefer the current image of the posting buttons, but everything else is ok!
I don’t rly get it rinnow but I’ll figure it out.
really cool!
How about we have the ability to move and minimise modules? I don’t give a crap about the Blogring module, it’s just taking up space and being annoying.
On the other hand, so I see you got moved that top left module on the current homepage to the top bar on the beta page. Yeah, I could get used to that.
But seriously, that first part. Been waiting for that for aaages.
@HeartOfPandora - My addon does exactly that. The majority of the boxes begin collapse and become visible with a simple keystroke.
@MagisterTom - Was just surfing your page about that haha. But as it is, I’m a Chrome kind of girl. Sad day. So I’ll just wait until Xanga does this themselves.
Thank you once again … have I told you before [think I have!]. I “love” this place!
awesome
Wow. That’s so awesome.
I can’t wait for these things to be added. I agree with all the other people about having a thing just for pulses.
Thanks for asking the users :3
i absolutely love it!
xD i like!
Looks a looot better. But the customizations look rather cheesy with the images.
Dear brothers and sisters in the United States:
You!
I am an ordinary people from China, you can not imagine 1.3 billion inPeople are being oppressed by the Chinese Communist Party look like. We need helpPlease put my blog in the article was published to the abc, CNN, BBCAnd other media above. Or the use of other methods for those willing to help me with a conscienceTheir Chinese friends know that I am 11 this open letter. Thank you very much,Dear brother.
Have you ever seen the “V for Vendetta” it? I was in China v, I need youHelp, my United States, Britain, Germany, France, brothers.
You can use Google’s translator to see my open letter, please contact your familyFriends, a lot of reprinted.
You will not understand what I am in China, this move is how dangerous. InCommunist Party at any time can kill me, then telling the world that the Chinese fromTo be no “Wu Jie,” this person.
My friends, please help us all live in fear every day of the 1.3 billion Chinese peopleIt! ! !
God bless you and bless me. Bless the United States, also bless China.
I love it! It will definitely make the private page a lot easier to manage. Can’t wait till it’s permanent
…so…when can I actually use this? I don’t see the link to start customizing. Or did I misunderstand that this is not yet in full effect?
@NaitoOfNarnia - heh, yah sorry it’s just a test page right now for people to try out… but we’re working on making it live, so it’ll work on your actual pages!
@marc - I thought sooo. No worries. I appreciate the personal reply, too.
Oh, hey…on a side note. I was trying to find out the meaning of the name “Xanga” and ran across a Wikipedia page about Xanga…and some of its not so very kosher deeds of the past.
I just got to thinking…
I know not everyone is perfect. I know that Xanga is just a company name that is made up of people like you and customers like me. But I like Xanga a lot. This is a good site with a lot to offer for writers like me.
If anything I found about some of Xanga’s PAST ill-deed are true, all I want to ask is that from now on, no more sneaky deals. I’d rather have Xanga be a 2nd-class blog and honest than 1st-class and “evil”.
Basically, I just want to ask that Xanga, as a company, behave as if Jesus were watching over their shoulder. Not for fear that He’s going to be looking for all the things He might go “tsk tsk” about, but simply to found worthy in His eyes as a company. (And don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking that Xanga go all Christian – I know we have Revelife.) I just want an honest, morally-sound blog site to call “home”. One that I can trust in how they conduct themselves as a business.
As far as I’m concerned, I will still sing Xanga’s praises.
Oh I can’t wait!!!! This will be so nice with a little color!
Great idea, Xanga. I can’t wait for the implementation.
Ok…. Been waiting…
when’s this going to happen, a time frame would be Lovely!!
I think it’s really cool.
Looking forward to that.
Looks good. I’m really looking forward to having the personal search box right on the private page. Like others, I’d prefer pulse updates separated out somehow, and along w/ @ZSA_MD, I’d like to have more/different types of minis or a way we could design our own minis.
Wondering if you could rig a drop-down display from a bloggers’s screen name which would show titles of their last few posts? Kind of like the -ish sites do now, i.e. – in addition to displaying the current post, the last few posts are displayed below it. Except in this case, to save space, you’d only see those extra titles/links when you hovered over the name.
Thanks, Xanga Team.
Have a great weekend!
Would you be able to add a link on the private page to view our archives? Thanks again.
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