After about two years we decided to do a makeover of the front page of OSNews. This new design focuses more on the original content we host rather than the previous “newsbits”/portal nature of OSNews. Let’s just say that we try to have a… mini focus shift.Another reason that led us to the redesign was the fact that we noticed that many readers are “missing” stories sometimes and even submit news for stories that are already in our front page. This happens because many users generally don’t… scroll enough (we usually post 10 stories per day so some scrolling was required with the old design). This new design will be able to make visible all recent stories at a glance, with less scrolling.
Additionally, we had to find a way to fit the big 728×60 ads (the normal size ads just don’t pay well the last few years from what I hear), so a rearranging of the menu had to be done too.
We know that not everyone is going to like the new front page of OSNews, so this is why we have left the previous front page intact. So, if you don’t like the new default look, bookmark the old one (no, we are not going to offer cookie-based preferences, so don’t ask ;).
Some users argued that the new design requires more clicks and it has smaller descriptions, and this is true. It is the same way sites like Newsforge and News.com or InfoWorld are designed. To read a story fully or get access to the external links, you will have to click through (except if you are using the old layout).
Please note that the rest of the pages and the mobile version of the site will remain the same, only the front page and the menu received an update.
If you would like to get rid of the ads and the sidebar, you can subscribe to OSNews for a year for only $20. Here is a demo of how it looks like without the ads.
I had to load up another browser to see what everyone (well, many people) were complaining about. I don’t really see a problem. I like the new design, provides a focus for original content, rather than mixing the links and the OC together.
It’s a nice design.
For those that don’t like the two column layout with all the ads, getting a subscription is cheap, and is nice. None of those ads buggering things up.
There seems to be a trend in sites similar in structure to OSNews. That is to to cut the text after a headline down so much that many have no idea what the story might be about.
I have no objections to any of the other changes I’ve noted, but PLEASE give us back two or three FULL sentences so we can make a more informed choice of the stories we click to.
Eugenia,
With all due respect (and I do respect what you have done with OSNews.com), I am unsure if this website will continue to be part of my regular website viewing.
Judging from many of these posts, it seems aesthetics is both a highly-personal and highly-contested arena. Changing the ‘look and feel’ of OSNews is similar to changing a beloved character in a story. Like many over the years, I have grown accustomed to the (good) ‘old’ OSNews, and may not wish to take this leap into the future (and perhaps it is just as well since it’ll encourage me to spend more of my life offline.)
If you wanted to draw more attention to your original content, I think it would have been better to do so with a minimum of visual wizardry, and instead by redoubling your efforts on producing said content.
not only, that the description of the headlines is shorter, but why don’t you offer any links in the 2-line description anymore?
with the same article in home2.php, I have the links to external sites. Is it really so important for you, that we click Read More, so that you get more page impresssions, and so more money?
> Is it really so important for you, that we click Read More, so that you get more page impresssions, and so more money?
Do you really think it ain’t?
BTW, the subscriber’s version has all the links/teaser:
http://www.osnews.com/demo.html
“BTW, the subscriber’s version has all the links/teaser: http://www.osnews.com/demo.html“
LOL, more ways to try and sell on? Wow OSnews keeps this up and you can call the entire thing spam. Want this? Bye that, Bye that get this? Dun like it leave, ect … I guess later on to get even more money OSnews might start collecting the our emails.
–Idoxash
Oh wow Eugenia moderated down my cooment but for wut reasons? I guess you dun feel entitled to give such reasons. In either way feel free to moderated down some more comments it won’t shut me or other ppl up and it won’t change anything around here. Maybe the fact my freedome of speach was attacked I should just block every add on OSnews and take a few cents out of the owners pocket.
–Idoxash
will you marry me?
nice new layout yes but i have to agree with idoxash i hope this site post real news and stuff
I’ve been a faithful reader of OSNews.com for about two years now. It’s one of my favorite sites for os-related content. Lately, what’s been annoying me however, is the ever-increasing amount of adverstising. The first thing that pops up when one hits your site are ads likes classmates.com. C’mon, I know you have to pay your bills somehow. But, I think if we’re going to be bombarded by ads, shouldn’t they at least be os or computer related!?!
Other than my rant, the content is great and always timely. Keep up the good work!
I wanted to say that the frontpage is moving in the right direction. At first I didn’t like it, but the changes that you have been making since, are great improvements. Thanks Eugenia.
Is there a way access past Original Content archives too? Right now I don’t see any archive link in the Original content section.
>Is there a way access past Original Content archives too?
You just need to click the “Features, Interviews, Editorials” buttons from the menu. These are the archives for the Originals.
You know, most new browsers (at least Firefox) have an image-blocking facility. Four clicks later and I see no more ads at all on OSNews.
Course, there’s still empty boxes where they were, but it’s a lot nicer this way.