New Home Page Tells More About Us

That is a great idea Martin , nice work once again .
Things just keep getting better all the time.

-- John in Belgrave ,(Slideshow http://cid-69bce320c6d8b119.spaces.live.com/ (Website) http://www.extremebirdhouse.com

I really like the nw setup. Thank you for all the work that you do.

-- Hope Never fails

Thanks Martin. Innovative look.

One minor request, Can you please add a pulse link above the latest activity section. : ^)

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Sounds like a winner.

-- Jesus is Lord!

LOL…I thought I was on the wrong site! Nice job Martin!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Good Job Martin.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

To be a naysayer I like the new home page significantly less. I log onto lumberjocks multiple times during the day. I am interested in immediately seeing what’s new. New blog postings, new projects, new forum activity. Once I’ve seen someones shop on the map or profile it is not particularly interesting again.

I dont like to have to click the blogs link to find out if there are any new blog entries, then the forum link, then the project link. I’m not on constantly so the pulse is actually less valuable to me. There is a lot of chaff on the pulse, new members, posting to new members profiles, etc.

Is it possible to set up a personal profile homepage that just shows the latest of what I’m interested in, blogs, projects, forums? Kinda like the old homepage?

thanks

close but no cigar. The four ideas and four frames work, but in one frame you need to list the, say, five newest additions like you’ve been doing. Or the one frame the one item that gets the most views, or the winners frome past challenges, or something. Top right needs pictures of wood stuff (my opinion).

Pictures are what is termed as “visual stimulation”. Take the Lumberjock frame and make it a banner wider and shorter (standard banner size and put it over the other four and in it’s place put the five most recent)

And I noticed that every time you open the page it shows a new jock and some of his work, can you make that refresh while you’re on the page?

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

Thanks for the feedback everybody!

coloradoclimber, you can set your Pulse view to display ‘All except jocks’ (first dropdown). I will probably make this option as the default one. That should work for you.

I think that personalized Pulse page should serve as de facto home page for the active “members.. but if there is still need for special “members home page” I will listen ;) or maybe just page listing all of the latest posts – similar to pulse but without tracking comments and replies.. maybe new button at the top labeled LATEST. let’s keep this discussion going.

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

I like it, I’m always open for new things. You keep us out of the rut.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I would like a button to for the latest additions, since that’s what I look at most often.

I was entertained that my Thorsen blog was one of the featured ones when I opened the site.

-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com

Martin -

I like the new changes, but I also liked the old site. Changes always spark discussion. I think it is great that the site is dynamic and constantly improving. I appreciate all your hard work.

LumberJocks is the premier member based woodworking site IMHO.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

looks great—-I think the best part is that Martin is willing to keep trying new things—-unlike a cut piece of wood—-he can always change it back (although that is debatable with wood too)...or invent something new…your creativity is very clear…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

Ah-ha! I didn’t know you could do that. Thanks Martin. I’ll run with the pulse page ‘except jocks’ and see how that works for me. thanks again

As a frequent user, I was somewhat luke warm to the change because I am primarliy interested in seeing what is new and the old home page did that fairly well with summaries of what is new in each area. Perhaps if we had a similar summary page that users could choose as an alternative home page this would be better meet the needs of this segment of the user base.

I really do like the ability to see older content that the new home page brings and I think the page meets its objectives. It lets new and prospective users see the wealth of content on the site. I also belive it will help our community to grow.

I have asked Martin for an enhancement to the new home page to allow for users to scroll through “We love to work with wood” and “We love to write and share”. I would like to see something similar to shuffle where you can more quickly through this content or perhaps refresh it with a click of a button. What do you all think?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I agree with all the “naysaying” but I also like seeing all the old stuff being “new” again.
The pulse does work for me with all the new stuff. I don’t get to check in throughout the day, so if something wasn’t one of the 3 most recent posts, I’d likely have missed it without the benefit of the pulse anyhow.

Thanks for answering my question about the Google Map before I even asked it. (Wondering why it wasn’t nearly as flushed out as is used to be)

I Really like the focus on multiple projects by one jock in the upper left block – that looks great. (and hitting refresh is a bit like the shuffle function. Now we’re really going to see lots of activity on the older posts, most of which are worth another look every now and then. (How often do we re-read the same magazines? – with each new tool purchase or project)

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Yeah… in addition to the pulse, I’d like to see a “latest” portion for projects and blogs

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

with the pulse, I don’t even use the home page.
For most sites that I am a member of, I just go right to the source of my interest. So this home page I think is a great “first impression” for prospective new members.

I like all of the suggestions presented as well—they would really add to the “user-friendly” appeal of LJ.com.

Sounds like you have more work ahead of you Martin :) Keep those fingers typing and that brain a-smokin! :)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

OK.. “All except Jocks” is now the default option on the Pulse.

I’m tending to create special home page content for us – registered members. It should include quick links to my profile, projects, blog… add project, blog entry, forum topic links… messages, favorites quick lists… latest projects, blog entries, workshops, forum topics… pulse. So LumberJocks.com home page would behave like personalized LumberJock home page when you sign in. Many sites are using this approach (e.g. flickr, Facebook…). And the current home page version will be presented to all new comers. Let me know what you think.

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

I think your on target Martin. Thanks for all of your hard work.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Sounds like a winner to me Martin.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

That sounds great to me, thanks

I just saw the new home page and I really like it. I normally got to my bookmarked “login page” and usually do no see the home page. I am glad I did. Martin – continuous improvement…great!

-- John

Martin -

Just an additional comment. I have been away for a bit and one thing I notice with the new changes is that I miss the “quick look” of knowing about new projects and blogs. I do like the new front end, however I miss seeing the newest projects and blogs. I am not used to going to Pulse. Believe me, I am not complaining! I love this site and all of the LJ that share thier work and expertise. I admit I am a creature of habit. The new front end is great for new visitors or the causual viewer. I do miss my old quick look of what is new.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

I have to admit, for a modest “woodworker” like myself, it was a thrill to see one’s newly posted project on the Lumberjocks homepage – however briefly!

-- John

Martin, I like the new look, but I wish the LumberJocks and the blogs or projects wouldn’t change so often. Maybe only after you log out then back in, because if I go to look at one of the we love to work the wood , or we love to write and share and want to see one of the others when I return, it is gone. I try to see the postings and blogs as they are posted, but with the new setup I’ve had fun revisiting some of the old ones.

-- Jesus is Lord!

I’m spoiled by the downloadable toolbar—it has the “what’s new” on it.. and the pulse.. and shortcuts, all right there all the time.

maybe if the “personal homepage” had these same features it would be helpful.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Martin -

I just realized what troubles me about the new front page and knowing what is going on at LJ. I am a visual type. While I have started using the Pulse to see what is happening, the trouble is that I can’t “see” – its not quite the same looking at the individual line entries. I still love the site and all of the Jocks. Just my opinion.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

Hey David, Mark.. I hear what you say and am working on some changes as well as on the separate home page design for all registered members.. Stay tuned.

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

I really liked the downloadable toolbar at first – but If I ever checked the site at work (not that I’d EVER do that) or elsewhere, I’d have a bunch of false “new” content to weed out. The pulse works for me, as fas as keeping up to date with the “conversation” and the new projects and blogs, but Like so many of us, I am a visual person, and will be more curious to check out a project based on the thumbnail, or read a blog after getting sucked in by the first couple sentences. A list of titles on the pulse doesn’t have the same draw – but It does serve a valuable service of keeping us up to date, and clueing us in to follow up comments that we’d otherwise miss.

Having seperate homepages for the general public and signed in members is a great idea – though I have to admit, if we went back to the design from a week ago, I’d miss the random posts and projects on the splash page, which is helping us old jocks remember some of the older stuff, and giving the newer ones an opportunity to check out the past, with less digging.

Certainly we’re very happy with how the site has evolved and grown with us, and especially love how receptive Martin is to new and evolving ideas. Web 2.0 at it’s finest! So much better than the (very) old school mostly text forums out there. Despite the growth and evolution LJ has stayed nice, clean and manageable. Despite wanting everything at our fingertips, I don’t want to see things get cluttered and cumbersome. Sounds like you’re on the right track as always Martin.

I know we don’t say it enough, but thanks for this world you’ve given us.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

At first I didn’t like the new look. Creature of habit like David I guess. But now I’m finding content that I missed the 1st time. I’ve changed my habits to suit the strengths of the front end and enjoying the site even more. I scan the front page…often jumping to content I somehow have missed. Then jump to projects, blogs, and forums in succesion. I check pulse to see where everyone has been and top it off with a taste of shuffle.

Great job Martin!

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

I’m still hoping you add the ability to refresh or scroll through the different sections of the page without having to refresh the entire page. It would be a very useful enhancement.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

sooo.. my answer to all tips and concerns is online ;) check out the updated home page. Now it includes projects, blog entries, forum topics and workshops panes so you can easily see what’s new and even hot (in last 7 days).

It is still not the final version because I want to add few more updates based on your suggestions.

Hope you enjoy.

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

Thanks Martin. It looks great. You can see all the most recent projects, blogs, and postings. Very nice.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

Thanks. I’ll play around with it tonight and get you some feedback.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Recent videos are now featured on the home page too.

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

Thanks Martin.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

That’s pretty nice. It looks good to me. Thanks Martin. I appreciate you putting in the effort to support our requests.

thanks again

Thanks for moving the google map down, always takes the longest to load, better to do so off screen.
I like the ablity so scroll through the 15 most recent projects right from the home page. A few days into the most recent revision, most of the home page strikes me as BIG, seems to take up more space than before. (lots of vertical scrolling, but with the “lateral scrolling” through the recent projects and blogs, I don’t mind at all. Like Bob, I’m just checking out the site a little differently than before. It might actually be a little easier to keep up – Cant say for sure now that my daughter is also jockeying for computertime, I’m always falling behind here and with my other RSS feeds.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

I’ve added ‘Roll the Dice’ button to the featured jock. Thanks for the tip, Wayne!

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

Thanks Martin. It is a lot of fun to check everyone out.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Our shop inspector has just helped me to adjust our home page stats sentence because I wanted to include # of comments and replies there. So now it says:

Look at us! We are 1,150 woodworkers making 49,012 comments on 1,917 projects, 657 forum topics and 1,431 blog entries.

WOW!!! Isn’t that impressive? 49,012 comments (including forum replies)! We’re really one BIG family! Keep them coming.

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

50,000 here we come!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

and now I see with the new issue of Wood, they’ve completely overhauled their website allowing people to post their own projects and discussions – you are so ahead of the curve Martin!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/