Redesign of the www.rockbox.org front page

[sanusart]

Compare that to the one we have now I honestly like the one we have now. Maybe if some links and stuff were on those pages I might think different. Also They basically look the same to me.

With links it's something like that:
http://www.sanusart.com/rocksite/index.php

(Please brows it with firefox - as IE has it's issues :-(
I will fix them later).

[bascule]

Even in IE that looks OK to me as a colour scheme/layout, but it still needs some content changes.

[Spanky]

That page is super bright. The blue's on this site tone it down a bit and is pretty easy on the eyes. The links seem to be easier to see on here as well. Not sure of what would solve this or how to solve this but I think a re-design is much needed. Something to make people go "WOW".

[sanusart]

Even in IE that looks OK to me as a colour scheme/layout, but it still needs some content changes.

Sure, but I'd like to start the serious work on that only when most of the people will agree on something specific. Until now it's only "I don't like this and I don't like that" - it does help, but not much. Also I can easily spend a year in redesigning and re-redesigning, maybe even re-re-redesigning... with that kind of attitude.

That page is super bright. The blue's on this site tone it down a bit and is pretty easy on the eyes. The links seem to be easier to see on here as well. Not sure of what would solve this or how to solve this but I think a re-design is much needed. Something to make people go "WOW".

"WOW" is basically good, but as I see - the WOW will make slow loading while cellphones or such accessing the site and web reader programs for people with sight disorders.




I'd really could use some suggestions. Maybe some drawings or sketches (I'm not kidding). "Fixed width is bad" - that is the only thing I'm sure of for now.

[AlexP]

I'm afraid I'm no artist or designer, but my comment would also be too bright (although I like the general layout etc.).

[sanusart]

The white area is too bright or the overall feel?

[AlexP]

The white area is too bright or the overall feel?

The yellow is what I find too bright.  I'm not adverse to the yellow over the blue, but perhaps with it toned down a little?

[sanusart]

But that that yellow is like a "trade mark" - take a look at the logo of rockbox, no?
I just wanted to mix it-up with some dark color to fit the cabbie2 palette.

[AlexP]

But that that yellow is like a "trade mark" - take a look at the logo of rockbox, no?
I just wanted to mix it-up with some dark color to fit the cabbie2 palette.

I'm aware of the colour of the logo  However, a small logo is one thing, but I think using it for all of the webpage is just harsh on the eyes.  Also, cabbie 2 is just another theme at the moment, even if it does become the default I don't think that means the website should mirror exactly (although clearly the same feel would be good).

[sanusart]

Ok, I'll take it as a note.

[Llorean]

Also, bear in mind you can get clever and make the page different based on user agent, or other criterion. For example, look at the page the forums present to those accessing it via (certain) cellphones: http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?wap2

Accessibility can then be more or less tweaked based on what users come to it with.

[Angyman]

Uff i really would like to make an offer also but due my work i got no chance at the moment... Anyway, some thoughts i have and maybe are woth a discussion.

1) I would really concentrate on the front page and would especially work out more the section for newcomers on the very top and give a broader explanation about rockbox (and yes also would use there more images). Javascript would do a great job for that. I am always thinking about the people which are not so much into computer stuff and they need a much cleaner and simpler explanation about rockbox with less links to deeper pages and more images.

2) Maybe some deeper there could be a by-user configurable layout. I was thinking of portlets which can be dragged and dropped. That would be quite an easy task with the ExtJS library which can be used free if its aimed for an open source project (by the way: i love ExtJS ;-)) With portlets user could arrange the frontpage like they want it, with the stuff they are most interested in. Imagine sticking Flyspray threads your interested in on the front page.

3) I also thought about color schemes but hey... every designer out there will commit that the yellow (logo) and blue combination is perfect!

4) I wouldnt touch to much of  the current layout to avoid irritating users which are used to the current page. Changes should be made softly like small graphical round ups and functionality boosts in already given areas (e.g. only javascript in the newcomers section at the top)

5) I would make use of RSS for the things which happened most recently in SVN.

6) Theres definetly more in my mind... but i think thats enough ;-)
 

[Llorean]

http://cia.vc/stats/project/rockbox/.rss <-- RSS feed for recent SVN activity. Unfortunatey, it's "unofficial", but it's really quite good.

I really would suggest against the use of Javascript. It won't magically make the information easier to understand, and it just makes the page harder to use for limited clients.

[Angyman]

Why isnt it public... I will bookmark this immediatly  

ok so the magic word is "unobstrusive javascript"...

So forget about ExtJs... but maybe the use of javascript and a fallback solution for Non-javascript users  

Maybe i should have given a better example. But i really like the idea which many pages are using that you can provide more information whithout diggin to deep into a page (avoiding page reloads) An example could be: http://www.flock.com/
I really dont like this site... but you can see what i mean if you click on the items "Welcome. people n the browser" and so on...  No "page reloads" just switching contents (i think i can provide a script and noscipt solution to demonstrate what i mean for the upper-newcomer-part in the next few days)

[psycho_maniac]

I really like that link now wih the links in it. Maybe try with the color scheme that the site already has? I also like the flock.com idea with pages not reloading the same images....unless thats javascript...is it?