A Conversation for Talking Point - h2g2 Redesign
So will we be prevented from using the old skins when this happens?
The H2G2 Editors Posted May 21, 2009
Hello all,
Some time's passed since then and we honestly have felt exactly the same frustrations as you have. It's not fun to work on a site that 'ticks over' rather than changes. However, this is the most exciting time here in ages: our site is undergoing a redesign and we wanted to consult you all at the earliest stage of the process.
We haven't suggested that h2g2 is going to look corporate. We've looked this way for seven years because we were never given any budget to develop the site. Now we have. It's good news for h2g2, really it is.
We're hoping for different colour schemes, as we've said, and a level of customisation. And we might yet be able to retain the skins. We might end up with much more choice than we have now. We're just trying to let you know that there are going to be changes and we're getting your feedback at the earliest possible stages. And we're noting down all of them - negatives as well as positives. So thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback.
Anyway...this thread's let us know a lot of things that people *don't* want to happen, but can you think of any changes that you'd like to see?
So will we be prevented from using the old skins when this happens?
Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) Posted May 21, 2009
"And we might yet be able to retain the skins."
That's all I ask.
Ideas for features to add? How about "User Widgets" - give us a safe scripting language where we can design custom calendars etc. and just let us loose! 
If the design is "modular" and we can move/disable the modules, how about wider levels of web connectivity such as RSS feeds? I'd like the sort of features I can get on iGoogle without having to leave my Personal Space. 
So will we be prevented from using the old skins when this happens?
Dr Anthea - ah who needs to learn things... just google it! Posted May 25, 2009
I agree with Peet,
keep the skins and an rss feed would be interesting
So will we be prevented from using the old skins when this happens?
Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) Posted May 25, 2009
As an alternative, how about providing each user with a personal "My Conversations" RSS feed so we could check up on hootoo from the likes of iGoogle or our preferred RSS reader?
So will we be prevented from using the old skins when this happens?
Witty Moniker Posted May 25, 2009
Or sent to my iPhone. 
So will we be prevented from using the old skins when this happens?
The H2G2 Editors Posted May 27, 2009
Now *those* - user widgets, RSS feeds and iPhone stuff - would be absolutely BRILLIANT! 
We'll definitely note those down (we've already been doing some digging re RSS). It might be a bit too ambitious for us to expect them for this redesign, but rest assured we are asking about them, and will continue to try to make them happen.
So will we be prevented from using the old skins when this happens?
Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) Posted May 27, 2009
Perhaps if the designers were to come up with some sort of extensible architecture for adding text-based sources, such as RSS feeds, Newsgroups, "Twitter" feeds, IMs and any other such source that might come along in the future...?
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So will we be prevented from using the old skins when this happens?
- 41: The H2G2 Editors (May 21, 2009)
- 42: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) (May 21, 2009)
- 43: Dr Anthea - ah who needs to learn things... just google it! (May 25, 2009)
- 44: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) (May 25, 2009)
- 45: Witty Moniker (May 25, 2009)
- 46: The H2G2 Editors (May 27, 2009)
- 47: Peet (the Pedantic Punctuation Policeman, Muse of Lateral Programming Ideas, Eggcups-Spurtle-and-Spoonswinner, BBC Cheese Namer & Zaphodista) (May 27, 2009)
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