We’ve got a lot of dust coming.
I favour the direct approach when you’re changing things around. I always like to have a poke about newly built stuff, whilst it’s being built, so we’re adopting that viewpoint with SMS Text News.
In the next few days — in fact, today, if you’re especially careful to look — you’ll see our new look. It’s a ‘big’ new look.
All will be revealed in our weekly newsletter that’s due to hit the virtual streets today at 3pm London time.
After that, you’ll start to see goodness knows how many changes and updates. We’re going to do it piecemeal. An update here, a change there — so if you’re sat watching, you’ll be able to see us building the new SMS Text News real time. Or if you check in at the end of the week, you’ll see an entirely different look.
This is, by the way, a really good time to have your SMS Text News niggles resolved. If something has been winding you up, now’s the time to tell us, so we can fix it.
Our news flow will be a little bit dry today as we hold back the good stuff for the rest of the week.
If you’d like to get the exclusive stuff, get on the weekly newsletter list here:
Otherwise, we’ll see you on the other side.
Possibly something not 'fixable' but it would rock if the comment system worked in Opera Mini – I love reading STN on the train and the comment system doesn't show up!
Right we'll do our best on that.
V excited about the changes – but sorry that you don’t include much actual SMS text news any more. In the last month there have been about 3 stories about how businesses use SMS text – the rest has been about the mobile phone industry. While this is interesting, it is a shame that the SMS angle has been lost 🙁
+1
If the comment system worked on most mobiles – that would be good. It just about functions on the N95, but the lack of JavaScript on most browsers renders it useless. Kind of odd for a mobile focused site to not have a huge focus on their m. version
*slight mumble/cough of agreement”
It is a total ARSE that disqus isn't supported on mobile. I will work out a
hack.
Ooooooh its all red!!! Its like a mobile phone geek brothel!! 🙂
Oooooh! Really liking it! Now to criticise!
Can you configure more than 10 “Recent Comments”? On busy days, I tend to miss out on the conversations. Perhaps 20?
The front page is frighteningly long. Maybe only have ~5 full length stories and then have the rest as headlines / headlines + 1 paragraph?
Once you click through to a story, you lose the “Filed by” byline.
You've got a validate link at the bottom – but you fail with 114 errors. Might be worth correcting them or removing the link.
Overall, looks nice and clean. Loving the red 🙂
Loving that red!!! Is that Voda sponsorship or what? 😉 Only joking! It looks quite neat! Well done team!
Love it! Althoughh, it's really odd seeing it all differently, but at the same time, it doesn't feel like I have to start over agin with the navigation.
I'll report if I see any errors or anything, other than that the CSS looks brilliant.
Samantha.
Yes, I'm pleased to announce
Good feedback! We're 'live designing' so keep it coming!
I am loving the new look. Design looks slick, and I'm sure will prove more accesible. Keep the changes coming!
Must admit my reaction was “oh no, what are they doing to our beloved SMS Text News” but actually, looking good! Keep going, you'll get there…
One other thing – is it just my browser that forces me to log in twice when trying to use Disqus? I have to put in my username and email when I try to post, click on 'verify my post' and then log in again to Disqus. It's a pain and puts me off offering some of the fantastically insightful (*cough*) comments I might otherwise contribute!
Looks sweet!!!!
can you repeat this Mark? Do you think it's related to us or Disqus?
Er, of course by posting that it forced me to investigate further (which, obviously, I should have done before posting……). I've just discovered that my FF3 browser wasn't set to accept third-party cookies. I'm no genius, but I suspect that might be something to do with it! Ignore me. I'll post again if it's still a problem when I start a new browser session. Sorry 😉
cool! let me know!
Yep – just restarted FF and I'm recognised. Duh! Should've thought of that before kicking up a hoo har. Fingers crossed it will stick…
May even have to upload a pic to my profile to celebrate, although that might be getting carried away.
I agree with the rest that the design is nice and clean; probably overly red, but hey, every brand has its color 🙂
The comment about the front page being too long I agree with. One of the things I liked best in your last look was that only a few stories got the summary detail, and the rest were just the linked headlines. That would seem to be able to keep the front page from scrolling too much.
The banner isn't as “soft” as it was before. It needs curves and maybe a gradient in there somewhere. It feels like a step backward graphic design wise in that respect.
Overall though, very cool. Looking forward to seeing what all that will be convered from this non-SiliconValley slant (thank you soooo much for having this slant on things). From one mobile evangelist to another (well, many others as its a team of you), congrats and blessings.
I agree with the rest that the design is nice and clean; probably overly red, but hey, every brand has its color 🙂
The comment about the front page being too long I agree with. One of the things I liked best in your last look was that only a few stories got the summary detail, and the rest were just the linked headlines. That would seem to be able to keep the front page from scrolling too much.
The banner isn't as “soft” as it was before. It needs curves and maybe a gradient in there somewhere. It feels like a step backward graphic design wise in that respect.
Overall though, very cool. Looking forward to seeing what all that will be convered from this non-SiliconValley slant (thank you soooo much for having this slant on things). From one mobile evangelist to another (well, many others as its a team of you), congrats and blessings.
Yes, I'm pleased to announce £500,000 a month Vodafone Global sponsorship.
Not quite. 😉
Good feedback! We're 'live designing' so keep it coming!
I am loving the new look. Design looks slick, and I'm sure will prove more accesible. Keep the changes coming!
Must admit my reaction was “oh no, what are they doing to our beloved SMS Text News” but actually, looking good! Keep going, you'll get there…
One other thing – is it just my browser that forces me to log in twice when trying to use Disqus? I have to put in my username and email when I try to post, click on 'verify my post' and then log in again to Disqus. It's a pain and puts me off offering some of the fantastically insightful (*cough*) comments I might otherwise contribute!
Looks sweet!!!!
can you repeat this Mark? Do you think it's related to us or Disqus?
Er, of course by posting that it forced me to investigate further (which, obviously, I should have done before posting……). I've just discovered that my FF3 browser wasn't set to accept third-party cookies. I'm no genius, but I suspect that might be something to do with it! Ignore me. I'll post again if it's still a problem when I start a new browser session. Sorry 😉
cool! let me know!
Yep – just restarted FF and I'm recognised. Duh! Should've thought of that before kicking up a hoo har. Fingers crossed it will stick…
May even have to upload a pic to my profile to celebrate, although that might be getting carried away.
I agree with the rest that the design is nice and clean; probably overly red, but hey, every brand has its color 🙂
The comment about the front page being too long I agree with. One of the things I liked best in your last look was that only a few stories got the summary detail, and the rest were just the linked headlines. That would seem to be able to keep the front page from scrolling too much.
The banner isn't as “soft” as it was before. It needs curves and maybe a gradient in there somewhere. It feels like a step backward graphic design wise in that respect.
Overall though, very cool. Looking forward to seeing what all that will be convered from this non-SiliconValley slant (thank you soooo much for having this slant on things). From one mobile evangelist to another (well, many others as its a team of you), congrats and blessings.