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Forum Home Default = New Posts

I wonder if there's any metrics on forum usage, specifically the percentage of users who had used the new post page, over the forum list. Maybe my usage is atypical and most others are looking at the new posts.

I have to retrain myself to click on forum list, instead of home or the forums link, both of those present the new posts page.

I do find it odd that I clicl on the forums bread crumbs link and it brings me to a new page link, but the presentation and thought process (at least for me), is that its the top level of the forum
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maflynn said:
I wonder if there's any metrics on forum usage, specifically the percentage of users who had used the new post page, over the forum list. Maybe my usage is atypical and most others are looking at the new posts.

I have to retrain myself to click on forum list, instead of home or the forums link, both of those present the new posts page.

I do find it odd that I clicl on the forums bread crumbs link and it brings me to a new page link, but the presentation and thought process (at least for me), is that its the top level of the forum
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I use New Posts on almost every forum based site I use. I want to see what everyone is talking about. I am not a power user but like to see all the discussions and join in (or just read) whatever seems interesting. I do visit maybe one other forum based site where I stick to very specific forums but generally I like to know the overview of the site. For here, for example, I only drill into a specific forum if I want to start a post.
 
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KALLT said:
The change is too radical to impose this as a new default on registered users. A prior notice or header with a quick way to turn back would have been better. I presumed that something broke again (hence why I looked in this subforum first) and would not have checked the forum settings.
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I suppose for a new user there isn't something to go back to. The new user has the option to view forums in a couple ways now. It is the older members who might want to go 'back' to the old layout.

Personally, I much appreciate this new option. It makes me straight-up see what is going on in the forum. Previously, I would straightaway bounce to the forums I mostly visit after glancing at the new posts in the side. Now, the forum makes me see what is going on in the forum and if I want to bounce straightaway into the section of my choice, I can do that on the side.
 
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IMO this is a terrible change, it makes everything completely nonsensical. At worst I guess it costs an extra click to go back to the listing but maybe poll the users and get some feedback.
 
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ericgtr12 said:
IMO this is a terrible change, it makes everything completely nonsensical. At worst I guess it costs an extra click to go back to the listing but maybe poll the users and get some feedback.
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Depends on where you are coming from.

There's a direct "Forum List" button in the nav bar. And on desktop, there is a forum list in the sidebar.
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Nermal said:
This isn't saving for me, at least on my work PC (Edge 83.0.478.45 on Windows 7).
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Lemme look into this
 
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arn said:
I've made a change to what the default forum home is. That means when you visit https://forums.macrumors.com/ - it now shows "New Posts" view instead of "Forum List".

I've always thought that "Forum List" has been a relatively bad default view for folks visiting the forums. It requires a second decision and can be a bit overwhelming. Choosing New Posts has its own issues, but at least it's dynamic and ever changing. It also has a diversity of choices to draw new visitors in who might be casually visiting the site.

In order to provide a bit of "best of both" worlds, I also added a the forum list to the sidebar, so you should be able to access everything at once.

View attachment 924133


On mobile, the sidebar is Hidden. In order to see the Forum List, you can tap on that tab or use the sidebar button to reveal it

View attachment 924134

I Don't Want a Sidebar in New Posts

Don't want the New Posts sidebar on desktop view? This button will remove the sidebar, and is saved if you are logged in.

View attachment 924137
I Want to Go Back to Normal!

I know change is hard. If you want to switch back, you can do so in your Account Preferences


Choose Forum List instead of Default, and everything goes back to how it was.

View attachment 924136

arn
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Hate the change. Seems like you're busy changing things just because you can. Puts me in mind of the guy rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic. STOP MOVING THE CHEESE.
 
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dwfaust said:
Hate the change. Seems like you're busy changing things just because you can. Puts me in mind of the guy rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic. STOP MOVING THE CHEESE.
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I don't think that phrase "guy rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic" means what you think it means. That implies it's all futile, and won't make any difference. Not that it's due to idle hands and making things worse. :)
 
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KALLT said:
The change is too radical to impose this as a new default on registered users. A prior notice or header with a quick way to turn back would have been better. I presumed that something broke again (hence why I looked in this subforum first) and would not have checked the forum settings.
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Indeed. Back in my working days, this was the kind of crap foisted on us by "Tech Surprise" (they actually thought that they were being helpful by moving stuff around in the middle of the night... with no documentation or warning).
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arn said:
I don't think that phrase "guy rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic" means what you think it means. That implies it's all futile, and won't make any difference. Not that it makes things worse. :)
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Yeah, from where I sit, it IS futile.
 
maflynn said:
I actually prefer the forum list as the default. I think for those of us who bounce around to specific forums, having the new posts as the default can an annoyance.

For new users, its going be jarring and disconcerting, they're presented with an unorganized list of new posts
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I agree.

Some forum software is oriented toward listing new, or busy topics first, and that's fine. Phorum, Reddit to a certain extent are examples.

Others present the organized categories upon clicking a forum link, especially from a main site, and follow a more structured paradigm.

MRF is the latter, and being greeted with the noise of topics one may not be interested in is no better, whether they are actual Apple topics, or PRSI. It's the same principle, and the same kind of annoyance.

Having to be logged in to avoid such annoyances is hardly a fix, and for me will discourage casual browsing and result in fewer visits.
 
TheIntruder said:
Having to be logged in to avoid such annoyances is hardly a fix, and for me will discourage casual browsing and result in fewer visits.
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I'm not sure I see how this is that disruptive.

- If you are logged in, everything can stay the same.

While I don't see staying logged in as a significant burden, if you don't want to be logged in:

- If you are coming off a bookmark, you can bookmark the forum list instead
- If you are already in the forums itself, you can tap on "Forum List" instead of "Home" to get back to the forum list

Screen Shot 2020-06-15 at 9.43.41 PM.png


Edit: 3rd bonus option, is to tap on the Forum Jump icon:

Screen Shot 2020-06-15 at 9.47.15 PM.png
 
I usually stayed logged in, but occasionally clear my web data, so when I need to re-enter, my forum entry point is a bookmark for the iPad forums. From there I navigate around as needed. My point is, like arn is describing, your entry point can be whatever you want it to be, and getting to the forum list is easy.
 
Namara said:
I usually stayed logged in, but occasionally clear my web data, so when I need to re-enter, my forum entry point is a bookmark for the iPad forums. From there I navigate around as needed. My point is, like arn is describing, your entry point can be whatever you want it to be, and getting to the forum list is easy.
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For a forum I frequent so often, when I clear my browser cache and come back to MR, the first step for me is to scroll down and set the layout to Fluid HD (automatic detection would be nice) and then head over to the forum and sign in so I can see what is relevant to me and my notifications right away.
 
arn said:
I'm not sure I see how this is that disruptive.
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I won't get into a debate about the various avenues available to reach the destination, except to say that it can go both ways, and note that there is no direct shortcut to the forum list from the main site as there was before.

But to deny that a disruption has occurred would not be accurate, as this has forced users to abandon old workflows, and adopt new ones, specify new preferences, and so forth.

In my view, changes, especially disruptive ones, must be justified, whether to address problems, and/or demonstrate benefits.

If users have felt "overwhelmed" by being presented a organized listing of topic categories then this site has been dysfunctional for a long time, as have many other web forums, yet I don't get the sense that it has been an issue here, or elsewhere.

I would certainly welcome metrics that offer proof to the contrary, or other objective evidence that this change isn't motivated more by conjecture, or a personal perception, rather than a needed response to a deficiency in the status quo.
 
The first thing I did every time I visit this forum was hit the New Posts link - this change has saved me an extra step! love it!
 
So I think I was initially confused as to what the difference between the old and new home button does. I just like to get to new posts easily and don’t care if the link title says Home or New Posts.

What I personally don’t care for is the new sidebar on the new posts page. Way too much information. So thanks for giving a toggle to turn that off.
 
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maflynn said:
Just in case others missed iit or were unaware, just go into your preferences, and you can change the home page, from the default (which is now new posts), to forum list.
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Again, thanks for repeating this information. I have already managed to revert to the more familiar format, one with which I am more comfortable, and can navigate and negotiate my way around with relative ease.

When I stumbled across the new format, I thought it was some idiotic blunder I had made, something I had clicked on, and wondered how this - to me, confusing, - page had appeared so unexpectedly.

However, it is obvious that others may prefer and are more comfortable with, a different format.
 
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