New Update Today. Site downtime.

The site will be down for about an hour today while they upgrade to the next version. So if you can't log in that is the reason.

Home Theater Forum

Thanks for the heads up Parker!

Any idea of when?

 The dog ate my SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Mine are all still there.  On the home page just under the bottom right of the blue rectangle that has your avatar there is a button/link that says subscriptions only.  That will change the feed to only things that you are subscribed to.  See if that causes your dog to regurgitate them.  Subscritions are actually a bit easier to manage now.  If you click manage subsciptions you will see all of them listed, no more paging through them.

Can you let us know what was added/updated?

OMFG!  You took the ONE THING I liked about the new software and BROKE IT!!!!

What are you folks thinking?  Come on!  Please.  Come to your senses before it is too late!!!!!!

Even when I click on "Subscriptions Only", the page is mess.  I can't tell what is new and what I already read/replied too.  Then, to make it even worse, I have to click on the stinkin' "Subscriptions Only" link each time I go back to my "personal home page". 

AND I HATE THE STUPID RIGHT CLICK CRAP.  WHAT DO  YOU MEAN MY BROWSER DOESN'T HAVE SECURITY TO CUT AND PASTE.  JUST PUT IT BACK THE WAY WE ALL WANT IT!!!!!

There were two major pieces to today's update.  The first was we installed the code to support our future "industry insiders" program.  We will publish more about that as it comes closer to fruition, but we describe the concept here: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/293904/industry-insider-program-coming-soon

The second was a new "activity feed" that replaces the "Stuff I Care About" section on the home page.  This new feed lets you see everything going on in the forum, or you can filter it by Forum, Wiki, HT Gear or Users.  You can also filter only by items that you are subscribed to.  We are also testing this activity feed to potentially replace the All New Posts display.  Right now if you click on all new posts you are taken to the new feed, but if you can switch back to classic mode.  Try it first for a bit and let us know what you think.

Please note that the forum may be sluggish for the next 4-5 hours as it is re-indexing.

David,
Relax, deep breaths...there there...

Think back now, remember, you're at HTF.
When have we not changed things for the worse?

I remember a time when the Forum was blue and gold. I had to go into the menu just to keep from gagging.

You'll get used to this too!

Come on, what's your favorite KoolAid?
 

Browser copy and paste (assuming its IE?)

1. Go to Tools -> Internet Options.
2. Go to Security tab.
3. Select “Internet” zone, then click on “Custom level…” button.
4. Scroll down to “Scripting” section (at the bottom few).
5. Under “Allow Programmatic clipboard access” option, check or select (tick) Enable. Default action for this option is Prompt, which cause the pop-up message whenever there is any attempt to access the Clipboard.
6. Click Ok twice to exit from Internet Options.

 Choking here….

Oh, you got me!

This isn’t HTF, this is one of those college psychology experiments I’ve heard about!

 

You wanna know if I’ll voluntarily submit to torture, right, RIGHT?

 

I KNEW IT!

 

Good on ya.

I don't think that's it, Adam. I have the default setting (in IE8), but I'm not getting any messages about right-click security. Indeed, as far as I can tell, this update appears to have reduced the number of prompts for copy and paste operations.

It does appear that the problem David is reporting is related to a browser configuration setting of some sort, but it must be a different one. Possibly a java setting?

I have it set, so I don't get it, so I didn't notice a difference.


Give me more info David.  What were you trying to do when you got the error, what is your OS and browser version and what was the error you received?

I can see where the update was a good idea and there are probably some very nice things about it, but I just can't stand my homepage now.  Before the update, it was much simpler and easier to navigate to the subscribed threads I wanted to check.

Never mind...I found the summary setting under settings  Thanks for giving us options.  I like it.

Think I'll have to agree that the default setting(s) for this new version of the Home page just isn't ideal -- it really should've defaulted to something that looks/behaves more familiar unless you really do want some negative feedback on that.  Good to be able to at least switch it to "Summary View" -- though this should've either been the default *or* at least something simple (and obvious) to the user to change -- but *BAD* that we cannot seem to do the same for a "Subscriptions Only" mode (vs having to click it everytime we return to the Home page).

Also, not sure about a copy-and-paste problem unless he's refering to images, not text -- I'm using IE6 and IIRC have always seen that security issue when trying to copy-and-paste images, but not text, and have had to save the image to some file to be inserted via the image insert/upload tool:




OTOH, however, I do see what looks like a javascript error showing up on pretty much every page now -- though it doesn't seem to have a real impact on my usage of the site near as I can tell.

This one shows up for my Home page (and doesn't seem to matter what I've got selected for that customizable activity section):




This one shows up for the Forums listing main page:



I didn't look closely at the HTML source, but the error does seem to show up at different lines for different pages -- and they are *all* syntax errors.

The error does seem to disappear (for the current page hit) after I submit (or edit) a post reply though.

_Man_

Edited by Man-Fai Wong - 10/22/09 at 12:26am

Man, I think I'm seeing the same error, which looks like this:

A few comments and observations on the new home screen:

First, I strongly agree with David that the part of the home screen that was most useful for me was being able to see at a glance if any of my subscribed threads had new additions.  Right now, I have to click "Subscriptions Only" each time I visit the home screen just to see the threads I'm subscribed to, and it's painfully NOT obvious which threads have any new additions.

The information provided for each of the threads seems to be a bit off, too.  The screen attempts to display the thread starter as well as the person who provided the last response.  Currently, they're both the same user - which is not correct.  Hopefully that's just a simple code bug.

Also, when I expand the thread using the little "+" button on the Home Screen, it shows more entries than browsing the thread from the forums directly.  Specifically, it seems to display each iteration of an edited post, as well as duplicates for deleted posts.  I noticed this on a thread that I had participated in where I accidentally made (then deleted) a duplicate post and edited my response twice.  The expanded display on the home page showed two deleted posts as well as all three iterations of my response.

I'm more than willing to give the new configuration a chance, but it's of paramount importance that I be able to check on my threads quickly.  If it's possible to have the Home Screen default to "Subscriptions Only" and if there's a clear way to see which of the subscribed threads have new posts, then I'll be satisfied.

Jason

I am at a loss.  I have absolutely no idea what is going on now with my Personalized Home Page.  My heart is actually racing as I sit here and type this post as I have no idea how to find out what's going on in the threads to which I am subscribed.  I don't know why this is impacting me so severely.   I guess it is mostly an internalized aggravation.

When I signed on this morning and saw the changes to the home page I immediately came to the feedback & suggestion box sub-forums to find this discussion.  I have read this thread--which seems to be the only place this is being discussed(?)--and I went back to try to put my home page back to the way it was before.  I can't. 

Like David Willow says, what's going on?  Why are the things which were "okay" being changed and the changes we are asking for being ignored? 

Where to begin?  Well, what am I seeing on my home page?!? 

I now see a list of posts (not threads)--the most current of which is about the sale of a Mac computer by Ron Epstein.  Okay.  I don't want this. 

So, I click on "Subscriptions Only" (as advised by Adam above).  I now see the most recent posts (not threads) made in those threads to which I am subscribed.  This is clunky and unwieldy.  The thread listing was infinitely better than having a rundown of each new post separately listed--not revealing how many new posts have been added since the last visit, etc. 

Who suggested this?  Who thought this was a good idea?  Did I miss this in any of the feedback discussions which have taken place here?  This wasn't in the survey that was sent around to selected members (that I remember).

How is this an improvement over what we had before? 

I am at a loss. 



Adam:  It makes me wonder, frankly, that the forum is more interested in implementing new things before the bugs are worked out from the software switchover.  There's a fair amount of quirkiness (to be kind) in the functionality of this discussion forum and I would think the focus would be on having a well-functioning forum before new ventures were attempted.  Unless, of course, the sentiment from the management is that the forum is functioning perfectly fine.


I have already been on record that I think this approach to the forum is useless.  I do not care (and I realize I may be completely alone on this--although I would be surprised) as a user/member what "most recent" thing is occurring on the forum!  Maybe if I was an owner or administrator I'd be curious to see which forums are currently active and which threads are getting posted-in. 

But, as a member, I am interested only in those subjects which interest me.  Isn't that how it's supposed to work?  For example, I'm not interested--when I check into the forum after being away--to see Ron is selling his Mac.  I want to be able to see what's new in my subscribed threads.  If, someday I'm interested in buying a used Mac, I might head over to the appropriate forum and see what's for sale. 

I see no value in knowing "what's most recent."  So if I filter out all the wikis, reviews, profiles, etc and am left with forums-only in my view (and, frankly, it took me awhile to figure out that I had to click ON the button in order to eliminate that category from the filter) I am still left with a listing of activity in my list of subscribed threads which is confusing and inferior than what we had yesterday.

There are ten posts showing on my home page list now.   SEVEN OF THEM BELONG TO THIS THREAD!!!  How does that possibly serve me better?  I'm going to have to figure out how to reach the first new post (yet again)  and then return to my home page...re-set everything to filter it all properly...only to then have to to start scrolling through pages and pages of POSTS in order to find out what's what.  I am never going to know all of what's new this morning in the posts to which I am subscribed. 

I am subscribed to 1600+ threads.

I am beside myself. 

The ability to navigate this forum--and I'll use this opportunity to note that there is still no forum navigation feature attached to the home page--has just taken a huge turn for the worse. 

The drop-down menu, after the clamor of the membership for its restoration, was restored--only to be quickly taken away and replaced by something "better."  Now this.

What's next?  I'm not sure I want to know.

What Mike just said.

I want to be able to quickly see which threads have new posts and how many new posts there are in each thread.  The personalized page I had before was the only thing I really liked about all the previous changes.

And now I see that when someone edits their post that is included in the Recent Activity list as a separate item...further limiting the usefulness of the list as a way to see what's new in my subscribed lists.  It just "adds to the paperwork" and the effort to sift through it all. 

Honestly.  The illogic is frightening. 

I commented on this once when I tried out the "See All the Latest Review" listing in one of the boxes in the beloved right-hand column.  Instead of going to an orderly list of reviews, I got taken to a page called "Live Feed" which just has the most convoluted mess of gibberish of posts and edits that I can't even begin to wade through. 

I've also commented on the "Recent Stuff" emphasis as it pertains to the ubiquitous "Big Blue Box" that is at the bottom of EVERY HTF page.  What point does it serve to spotlight "Recent Posts/Reviews/Wikis?"  What makes "Recent Stuff" more important than anything else on the forum?

6 months later and I'm still waiting for someone to show me ANY link to any other forum or website that blocks right click copy and paste for any reason.  Er, one thats not on Huddler.  Cmon guys, I'm the paranoid one here, gimme something real or lets put this boogieman to rest.

Mike, have you clicked Summarize View under settings? In this view, new postings are "rolled up" under the thread title. You can tell if something is new because it appears in your feed at the top, and you can see who posted last. If you click the expand "+" sign on the right, you can see the last several posts in the thread.

You can further isolate on threads by de-selecting all other content types in the grey bar.

If you take these steps, are you still finding it hard to find what you're looking for?

Ben, you can address many of the issues raised here by making "Subscriptions Only" a sticky option. I suggest making that a top priority.

Benjamin:  That helps in that it reduces the amount of junk that shows up in the list.  It does NOT keep me from having to select "Subscriptions Only" EACH TIME I return to my home page.  It is also still unclear to me how to differentiate between those threads I have checked and which have new content.  you used to be able to tell my the number of posts indicator.  "Zero Posts?"  I've been there, checked that.


I noted in my earlier post I figured that out...even though it seems counter-intuitive to have to select the things you DON'T want to show up in the filter. 


Yes.  Completely. 

And it still doesn't negate the confounding nature of fixing (changing) something that didn't seem broken.

The subscriptions button "not sticking" is a bug that should be corrected in the next day.

The content type buttons are simple toggles... grey means off, green means on... i'm sure you've realized that, but I'm sorry if it was initially unclear... hmmm... maybe need to think some more about that.

Sorry Benjamin, but this software stinks.  No other way to look at it. It stinks.  Why must I spend so much time FIXING things to make them work again.  Now I don't even know what is new (for me) and what is old and just appears on my home page.

I'm beyond waiting to see if how this shakes out.  You vision is not our vision.  You ideas are not ideas that work for a FORUM.  You don't seem to 'get it'.  This forum is for my HOBBY, not my job.  I have to put up with bad software design at work, but this is not work.

I came back here a couple years ago to give back to the community that helped me when I finally got serious about home theater.  I appreciate all the help I received and I hope I helped a few folks along the way.  Perhaps we will talk again in another forum (I'm dewd most places on the web). 

Benjamin:  I realize it NOW (after trial and error).  But how would I realize it intuitively? 

There is a common discussion here at the HTF about DVD menus and the lack of understanding on the people who build them.  If you have a menu page with two items on it and if you move a bug next to each item to decide which one you want to select, you are good-to-go.  But, if that page appears and, instead of a bug, one of the two items is simply highlighted by making the text a different color and you start using your up/down buttons to toggle between them, you actually have no idea which item you are about to select because you don't know which color is the "active" one. 

David,
I'm sorry you're not looking at the activity feed as an improvement... but in terms of the information in the feed, as long as you click the subscriptions button, it's only your subscriptions listed by freshest on top.  If you click the "Summarize View" in the settings tab (upper right), you get a smaller, more manageable set of updates plus posts are "rolled up" under thread title.

If a thread appears at the top of your page, that means it was just updated.

The subscriptions button not sticking is a bug that will be fixed over the next day... it's annoying, i know... to have to keep clicking it!

But what about the ability to know whether you've checked a thread or not?!?!

I've never said "Put it back" in the context of an HTF software change before...but I'm saying it now.  I'm not expecting it to happen...and I realize I am saying it out of frustration...but I'm saying it nevertheless.

Because of the difficulty of the main forum navigation, I changed my habits to do most of my navigation from my home page.  Once I became accustomed to the new home page, someone decided that need to be changed...and I don't understand why. 

Ben, any chance of a quick fix for the "started by" bug (where a thread in the activity list is mistakenly identified as having been "started by" the last poster)?

But how do we know which of the threads at the top of the page have been updated?  THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW!

Some days I might sign in and have three pages of threads with new posts in them...all clearly defined by the # of new posts indicator.  other days, there might be only one or two threads with new posts in them.

Right now, if I go to my home page (and jump through whatever hoops have been set up to properly filter the information) I have NO IDEA which threads contain new posts.

Just because a thread appears at the top of the list isn't good enough!