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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2   |
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| New Look for the MP3 Section! - ezFolk Announcements - General - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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Richard Hefner Administrator 
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We're trying out a new look here in the ezFolk MP3 section. http://ezfolk.com/audio So far I like it, although a few things aren't working right such as the Interviews and Reviews. If you click on those options you'll most likely get a blank page so it's probably best to stick with the other options for now. Oh, all 4,030 artists and members have been switched to the MediaPro theme. I don't really like to mess around with the look of everybody's pages, but if I just let people know that the new updated theme is available and they can switch whenever they get ready, then about 30 will change to the new theme and the other 4,000 will leave things as they are. Hope you'll give the new theme a try, but if you don't like the new look and the new features, here's how to choose a different theme:
____________________ Richard Hefner Webmaster, ezFolk.com MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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vrteach Approved 
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I think I like this theme more than the others.
____________________ Erich -- http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/bands/956/ http://vrteach.freepgs.com/banjo/ |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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ALBUMS ARE BACK!! Yeaaaaaa! Except, there is no way of searching through them for a particular tune. It appears you can only listen to the entire album. [Edited to correct my entry] Nevermind! I discovered the tune listing waaaay down at the bottom of the page (as the old novelty song said: "Shut up and keep scrolling.")
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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Brad, Down below the Albums and Stations all of the albums are broken down by the different songs, and that's where you would play individual MP3s. Do you not see all the individual MP3s in your browser?
____________________ Richard Hefner Webmaster, ezFolk.com MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Posts crossed in the editing timeframe. My biggest dislike about the format, and it's just my opinion, is that each blog entry seems to be on a different page. This makes for what I think is an unwieldy way of looking through previous entries. You are forced to go to the bottom and click on "next page" instead of being able to scroll through (at least) several entries. Same thing goes with the photos. But, overall, I like the clean look to the format - as you know, I'm a crotchety old curmudgeon whose preferences are pretty much set in the sedentary stone of the pre-computer days. 
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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ejsant Approved 
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Hey Richard, I like the new look. The expanded photo display seems to work without the player overlaying with the exception of the home page photo. That one still appears partially under the player when expanded in Firefox. Also, is there a way to remove the box with our name and review statistics from the home page or in the alternative change the text with-in the box? All in all I really like the layout and am very grateful for all your efforts. All the best! Peace, Ed
____________________ Peace, a brilliant aspiration!!! Traditional and Contemporary Irish Music P.O. Box 5086 Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 (201) 424-6141 http://www.EdSaultz.com http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/Ed_Saultz |
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Tony Provencher Approved 
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Hello, Richard, I basically like the new template. Here are some specific observations: Home page: I like layout and content. I think all the right info is here, especially having the artist info out front. I'm happy to see it's pretty customizable, too, BUT: it's way too wide! I have 1024px resolution; I have to go full-screen to see the whole page, and I have to turn my head to see and read the page; and the poor bugger who has 800px resolution will be saddled with an ugly, inconvenient, horizontal scrollbar. According to my site stats, more than 40% of viewers have 1024px resolution or less, and over 3% have 800px resolution. It's my opinion that webmasters should consider the comfort of ALL their visitors when designing their sites, so a site should be viewable at 800px without a horizontal scrollbar, even if it's a variable-width wrapper. ...steps down from soap box (for now)Blog: I agree with Brad that there should be several entries per page BUT: 'Jump to...' is a neat feature. BRAD, TAKE NOTE! It's a drop-down clickable list of all your blog entries, by title, so you don't have to go page to page to find a given entry.Music: I have mixed feelings about the music page: It's a long way to scroll to find the songs.Videos: Nice decent-sized players, but: No list, except 'Jump to...'Gallery: Nice large pic popup, but: There really should be a thumbnail pageGuestbook: Why is the guestbook a popup, instead of a page? I'm going to stay with this template for a while, and see how it fits. I really do like the format of the front page. Please accept these suggestions as an attempt to be helpful. As always, Thank you so much for all your efforts to make ezFolk even better. Peace, Last edited on Fri Aug 8th, 2008 02:03 am by Tony Provencher ____________________  My ezFolk Page My Websites
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James Connolly Approved 
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I agree 100% with Tony, resorting back to cobalt. JamC
____________________ James (Seamus) Connolly http://ezfolk.com/audio/jamesconnolly http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/422/popmp3.php http://www.myspace.com/celticseamus |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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James Connolly wrote: I agree 100% with Tony, resorting back to cobalt. James, I'm not sure exactly what the 100% part is you're agreeing with Tony about, but he's using the MediaPro theme now, and I think he was using Sage before. Everybody is welcome to use either of the 4 themes that are currently available. As is usually the case, the newest themes will have features that the older ones don't have. None of the themes are perfect and they're mostly all written by different people (not me). The newest theme (MediaPro) does a much better job handing videos than any of the other themes so someone who has videos that they'd like to share would probably do best by using MediaPro. Since it just takes a couple of clicks to change themes, most people would benefit by trying each of them out and seeing which is most suitable for their own particular use. 
____________________ Richard Hefner Webmaster, ezFolk.com MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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James Connolly Approved
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Richard, I'm not too computr tech savy but i believe in keeping things a simple as possible. On my machine the new template has a lot of flaws and just to empasize some of the points Tony made "and the poor bugger who has 800px resolution will be saddled with an ugly, inconvenient, horizontal scrollbar" i'm one of these guys ! lol. Also None of the side-bar links work for me, i keep getting an ERROR when trying to retrieve the NEW Songs catagory, etc. I like to see who the new artists are. I also got errors on other links, hey, maybe its just my machine, i dont know I realize there are going to be bugs with new templates but my motto is to keep things as simple as possible, not to have to scroll over the horizontal bar to find stuff. I actually like the layout of the new template but for newcomers with short attention spans and that dont understand how everything works this is not good cos they wont stay too long out of frustration. You are doing a fine job Richard and i admire all you do to improve this wonderful site EZFOLK.com I am all for progress for better looks etc. but i think simplicity and ease of use is more important on a website just my little 2 cents ! lol JamC
____________________ James (Seamus) Connolly http://ezfolk.com/audio/jamesconnolly http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/422/popmp3.php http://www.myspace.com/celticseamus |
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jack009 Approved
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The new theme is excellent. The expanded display is really good and keep updating the themes. ===================== Jack Rhode Island Treatment Centers Last edited on Mon Aug 11th, 2008 08:52 am by jack009 |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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James Connolly wrote: Richard, When I first started ezFolk the most popular resolution was 640x480 and I designed a lot of pages at that resolution (you can still find some in there that haven't been changed). Then 800x600 became the standard, and as you can see on the chart below from Wikipedia less than 10% of computer users are at 800x600 or below. The most common computer display resolutions are as follows: Resolution % Of Internet Users Higher than 1024x768 38% 1024x768 48% 800x600 8% Lower than 800x600 < 1% Unknown 6% Of course the people still using an 800x600 monitor want to be able to view web pages without scrolling but they're going to have to get used to scrolling or ante up for a new monitor because things are headed in the other direction and not many people are going to be designing new websites (or new pages) catering to the lowest common denominator of screen resolution. James, I think the sidebar links you're talking about are the ones over on the left side of the ezFolk home page... http://ezfolk.com If that's the case, I had a few links in there that pointed to old pages and I hadn't updated them. They're updated now so you shouldn't get an error messages with them. If there are other broken links that you're referring to let me know exactly where so I can check them out. 
____________________ Richard Hefner Webmaster, ezFolk.com MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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Annika Jayne Approved 
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Hi Richard, well, I know how much hard work you put into EzFolk - but I'm afraid I don't like the new version for the songs site. I'm sorry! But I feel I should be honest. The thing is, I can't find anything - not only because it's different and new. You really have to know where to look in order to find something, it doesn't seem to be self-explaining. In fact I do find the new image extremely confusing as opposed to any image that has been introduced before. Like many others have said I don't like the fact that the individual songs are at the bottom of the page. Not everyone scrolls down - they don't see any song and just leave. Like Tony I cannot find my personal chart. So, where is it hidden? Besides my wood background is gone which is a shame since I always felt it suited my music best. I do like however the entry page with comments and fans at the bottom. That is in fact very clear. Cheers, Annika
____________________ Annika Jayne Folk and Chanson My EzFolk Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/annika_jayne My Soundclick Page: http://www.soundclick.com/annikajayne My MySpace Page http://www.myspace.com/annikajayne My Homepage: http://www.annikajayne.de |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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Annika... As I've explained numerous times, everyone is free to use either of the four themes they want to use. You were using the Sage theme before and I just switched you back to that and everything is like it was before, including your personal chart... http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1578/chart.php I know there are some people who don't want to scroll down, but hey, it's the Internet, and a little scrolling down might be required. I don't think there's much, if any, additional scrolling down than there was before. What is it that you can't find now that you could find before? Please give me some specifics and maybe I can help.
____________________ Richard Hefner Webmaster, ezFolk.com MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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Annika Jayne Approved
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Hi Richard, well, thanks for putting me back to the Sage theme. In fact I even did find the 4 themes before I wrote my last post, but didn't remember I had used the Sage theme before. On the thumbnail it appeared green instead of orange/wooden, so I didn't recognize it at once. I'm sorry about that. Well, maybe a little scrolling isn't too much to ask. And yet I still think it would be better if the indvidual songs were on top and the albums and radio stations at the bottom - IMHO anyway. I guess it must be hard to please everyone and to consider every one's suggestions. Anyway, I couldn't find the lyrics at once. On the theme I had before, you first had to click on I for Info and then on L for Lyrics. On the Sage theme you have it all in one place. You see the overview of songs together with all the information like lyrics, about etc. for each. Cheers, Annika Last edited on Tue Aug 12th, 2008 12:17 pm by Annika Jayne ____________________ Annika Jayne Folk and Chanson My EzFolk Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/annika_jayne My Soundclick Page: http://www.soundclick.com/annikajayne My MySpace Page http://www.myspace.com/annikajayne My Homepage: http://www.annikajayne.de |
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Tony Provencher Approved
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Hi, Richard, The missing item, (...at least I have yet to find it,) in the 'MediaPro' template is the personal chart page, which lists all of an artist's songs in order of number of hits, and lists their rank on the ezFolk charts. In 'Sage' it was accessible on the songs page as a link next to 'Albums'. I have tried accessing it by putting the old url in the address bar, but it's not reachable in 'MediaPro'. I don't think it exists in 'MediaPro'. Hope this helps.
____________________ My ezFolk Page My Websites
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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I don't think there is a personal chart page in MediaPro. All of the themes are somewhat different and they don't all contain every feature that every other theme has -- it depends on how they were designed and what the authors decided to include. You'll have to decide how important each included feature is then choose which theme is best for you. To clarify things a little bit, I'm not completely in love with everything in the MP3 section either but I'm pretty much using the system right out of the box. There are two parts to this whole new look: there is the "skin," which gives the overall look to the MP3 section, and there is the new "theme," which is designed to complement the skin. I switched everybody to the new theme so the site would have somewhat of a cohesive look, but I'm fine with those who want to go back to one of the three other themes -- that's why they're still there and still available. As far as making changes, I can do some changing around, but I'm not good with PHP and I'm limited in what changes I can make personally. The author of the MediaPro skin and theme is hard to work with and charges an arm and a leg to touch anything. The last time I had dealings with him it cost me about $700 and we used that skin (you might remember Evolution) for a couple weeks before I just gave up and went back to whatever else we had been using previously. I paid $300 for the MediaPro skin and theme "as is" and it will cost hundreds more to start changing things around so I want to do my best not to sink a lot more money into it. [Keep in mind that I work a separate job for a living and it's money out of my pocket. There's not enough income here to support me, much less a "staff".] If any ezFolkies are good with PHP and want to make some changes for free that would be great (they can contact me). As always, I'll be trying to make some changes for the better. It's never a "one-size-fits-all" solution though, so as I do something that I think is an improvement, part of the people will think it's a step backwards. That could be the case, and when it is, I usually go back to the drawing board. In this case I want to give it some time. While I'm not in love with every aspect of how everything is working, it's not too bad -- some things are really much better, I think, and over time maybe we'll work some of the other kinks out.
____________________ Richard Hefner Webmaster, ezFolk.com MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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Tony Provencher Approved
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Hi, Richard, You're sounding beleaguered. I did not mean any of the things I've written as complaints, but, rather, observations and suggestions, seasoned with a bit of my own web philosophy. My intent was to be helpful, not contentious. My post about the personal chart was in response to your question to Annika: "What is it that you can't find now that you could find before? Please give me some specifics and maybe I can help."and Annika's own observation and question: "Like Tony I cannot find my personal chart. So, where is it hidden?"Again, I was just trying to be helpful, not inflamatory. I recognised the similarity between 'MediaPro' and 'Evolution'. I like many of the features and the presentation of 'MediaPro', although I definitely have a wish-list for it, as previously itemised. I realise that no template will be perfect, and that one has to choose the one that one can best live with. I am grateful for having the choices available. As you know, I am currently using 'MediaPro' -- trying it out for size, as it were. I don't know, in the end, if I'll stick with it, but I do find many compelling reasons to do so. I have even put some time into customising mine and creating a couple of 'shared skins'. I am grateful to you, as I'm sure all of us are, for all that you have offered us on this wonderful site. Alas, I have no knowledge of php, or I would definitely volunteer! I just try to help any way I can. Peace,
____________________ My ezFolk Page My Websites
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Annika Jayne Approved
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Well, I'm sorry if I sounded a little too complaining the other day, Richard, I realize it wasn't constructive feedback. I was just a little confused, that's all. If I did know php I'd gladly volunteer, too, but unfortunately I don't know any either. I hope you can find someone who doesn't charge you as much. Cheers, Annika
____________________ Annika Jayne Folk and Chanson My EzFolk Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/annika_jayne My Soundclick Page: http://www.soundclick.com/annikajayne My MySpace Page http://www.myspace.com/annikajayne My Homepage: http://www.annika | ||||||||||||||
