Bigger plus signs on the mobile site? August 13, 2010 12:35 PM Subscribe
In the spirit of airing minor annoyances, I'd love to see the little plus signs that denote favorites either be made larger or moved away from other links on the mobile site, so that I don't have to zoom in to click them on my touchscreen.
Yes, a metapost for that.
Yes, a metapost for that.
oh
posted by shmegegge at 12:38 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by shmegegge at 12:38 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
also, I agree.
posted by shmegegge at 12:38 PM on August 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by shmegegge at 12:38 PM on August 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
I'd vote for this. Too often, my tap hits the flag button, instead. The issue is easy enough to fix and wouldn't affect the main site.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:39 PM on August 13, 2010 [13 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:39 PM on August 13, 2010 [13 favorites]
Part of the thinking behind having the favoriting text the same size as the byline is that it's a nice extra. MetaFilter isn't a favoriting engine, so it's nice to have that [+] handy, but we don't want to make it a dominant feature of the page—even in the mobile version. Some people favorite more than others, so having a giant [+] would be very handy for them. Some others don't like favoriting and they disable favorites in their profile. We try to strike a balance in the default design.
On the mobile site, we have the [+] directly under the byline on the left side of the page. That separates it enough, I think, and doesn't make it the heaviest feature on the page.
posted by pb (staff) at 12:40 PM on August 13, 2010
On the mobile site, we have the [+] directly under the byline on the left side of the page. That separates it enough, I think, and doesn't make it the heaviest feature on the page.
posted by pb (staff) at 12:40 PM on August 13, 2010
My problem with hitting the [+] is that I accidentally hit it when I mean to hit (## new). Could we consider moving it to the left of the metadata on the mobile site or (alternatively) make (## new) slightly bigger?
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 12:41 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 12:41 PM on August 13, 2010
What if you made the brackets part of the link?
posted by smackfu at 12:42 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by smackfu at 12:42 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Sorry, I'm not sure what ## new is?
posted by pb (staff) at 12:42 PM on August 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by pb (staff) at 12:42 PM on August 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
What if we changed the [+] to a more visible big blue button with some friendly text such as "Like," and maybe a cool thumbs up icon? Seems like that might be the least controversial way to go.
posted by txsebastien at 12:44 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by txsebastien at 12:44 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
LALALALALALALALA I can't hear you.
I always click the flag button. Also on the front page it's hard to favorite things I want to look at on a real computer.
posted by edbles at 12:44 PM on August 13, 2010
I always click the flag button. Also on the front page it's hard to favorite things I want to look at on a real computer.
posted by edbles at 12:44 PM on August 13, 2010
Too often, my tap hits the flag button, instead.
I can see that. I tend to accidentally hit the "X favorites" link, which kicks me to a whole other page.
posted by coolguymichael at 12:45 PM on August 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
I can see that. I tend to accidentally hit the "X favorites" link, which kicks me to a whole other page.
posted by coolguymichael at 12:45 PM on August 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
Sorry, I'm not sure what ## new is?
I think its 27 new (comments). Type stuff.
posted by edbles at 1:00 PM on August 13, 2010
I think its 27 new (comments). Type stuff.
posted by edbles at 1:00 PM on August 13, 2010
On the front page it's fine - directly under the byline.
On the comments, flag and favorite are too close, I mean they're like making out.
posted by xod at 1:10 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
On the comments, flag and favorite are too close, I mean they're like making out.
posted by xod at 1:10 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
oh heh, thanks edbles. I was reading it literally.
posted by pb (staff) at 1:11 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by pb (staff) at 1:11 PM on August 13, 2010
Yeah, I would like this, although I understand the argument against.
posted by brundlefly at 1:24 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by brundlefly at 1:24 PM on August 13, 2010
I'd vote for this if it was only by my comments while the one by everyone else's was made vanishingly tiny.
posted by Abiezer at 1:25 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Abiezer at 1:25 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
On the mobile site, we have the [+] directly under the byline on the left side of the page. That separates it enough, I think, and doesn't make it the heaviest feature on the page.
The problem for me is that for comments that already have favorites, the text is [X favorites +] [!]. The + is stuck between two other links, and on my screen at the default zoom level it's a target that's only a few pixels wide. It seems like my browser has some fuzzy logic around clicking too, so if a link is more separated and I miss it knows what I'm trying to do, whereas if I do the same thing with the other links next to it it thinks I want to click the other links. Even if the text was changed to [ X favorites ] [ + ] [ ! ] it would probably help a lot for usability.
posted by burnmp3s at 1:36 PM on August 13, 2010 [6 favorites]
The problem for me is that for comments that already have favorites, the text is [X favorites +] [!]. The + is stuck between two other links, and on my screen at the default zoom level it's a target that's only a few pixels wide. It seems like my browser has some fuzzy logic around clicking too, so if a link is more separated and I miss it knows what I'm trying to do, whereas if I do the same thing with the other links next to it it thinks I want to click the other links. Even if the text was changed to [ X favorites ] [ + ] [ ! ] it would probably help a lot for usability.
posted by burnmp3s at 1:36 PM on August 13, 2010 [6 favorites]
Festivus seems to come earlier and earlier every year.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:36 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:36 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd love to see the little plus signs that denote favorites either be made larger.
I'm using control + plus sign and it's getting really big.
posted by SpacemanStix at 1:36 PM on August 13, 2010
I'm using control + plus sign and it's getting really big.
posted by SpacemanStix at 1:36 PM on August 13, 2010
Also my fingers are huge. Seriously. I don't know if other people have special doll fingers, but my index pointer finger is 3/8" to 1/2" wide. I have to zoom A LOT to not have what burnmp3s is describing happen. However if favorites and flagging were separated by a couple of tabs it's rule.
posted by edbles at 1:49 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by edbles at 1:49 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Even if the text was changed to [ X favorites ] [ + ] [ ! ] it would probably help a lot for usability.
This is a pretty good idea and wouldn't change the "heaviness" of the design of any one element.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:01 PM on August 13, 2010
This is a pretty good idea and wouldn't change the "heaviness" of the design of any one element.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:01 PM on August 13, 2010
What if we changed the [+] to a more visible big blue button with some friendly text such as "Like," and maybe a cool thumbs up icon?
Meh
posted by Rhomboid at 2:04 PM on August 13, 2010
Meh
posted by Rhomboid at 2:04 PM on August 13, 2010
The problem for me is that for comments that already have favorites, the text is [X favorites +] [!]. The + is stuck between two other links, and on my screen at the default zoom level it's a target that's only a few pixels wide.
Yeah, this is what always happens to me. I support changing this somehow.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 2:25 PM on August 13, 2010
Yeah, this is what always happens to me. I support changing this somehow.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 2:25 PM on August 13, 2010
It's silly to have the mobile site look exactly like the non-mobile site if we don't have to. What if we made ALL of the operations you could do related to a comment or post a single dropdown arrow? Fitt's Law is king on mobile, so everything you want to click on needs to be big. One big menu icon. Click on it, you get a popup with a few (also big) choices: "Favorite this comment", "Who favorited this comment?", "Report this comment", "View Rhomboid's profile" and an X to close. Sort like this, but I'd try to make the targets even bigger.
posted by Plutor at 2:31 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by Plutor at 2:31 PM on August 13, 2010
Did a quick mock-up of bigger favorite info and it looked like this on the iPhone. This might help the fat-finger problem, but I don't think it helps with readability. The giant [2 favorites +] or [+][!] grabs all of your attention. So I think this solves one problem but creates another.
posted by pb (staff) at 2:37 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by pb (staff) at 2:37 PM on August 13, 2010
Fitt's Law is king on mobile, so everything you want to click on needs to be big.
The problem is the primary task for a comment page is reading comments. This is at odds with giant buttons all over the ends of comments. It's a tough one, and I find myself pinching to zoom all the time, but it's such an easy operation I don't mind it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:43 PM on August 13, 2010
The problem is the primary task for a comment page is reading comments. This is at odds with giant buttons all over the ends of comments. It's a tough one, and I find myself pinching to zoom all the time, but it's such an easy operation I don't mind it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:43 PM on August 13, 2010
It really bothers me when meteorologists apologize for the weather.
posted by lee at 2:44 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by lee at 2:44 PM on August 13, 2010
If only there were some sort of technology that let you reliably select discrete points on a touchscreen. Some sort of stylus ...and a resistive touchscreen. Sigh. I'm so out of touch.
posted by Zed at 3:06 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Zed at 3:06 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Just a little distance between the icons would do it for me.
posted by edbles at 3:12 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by edbles at 3:12 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
Can I jump in an ask what happened to the possibility of an edit window? Was there a technical issue in implementing this or was it deemed an administrative hassle? This is something I'd... I'd pay for.
posted by geoff. at 3:37 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by geoff. at 3:37 PM on August 13, 2010
Wow, that original Edit Window test was in December 2008. Nearly two years ago.
posted by smackfu at 3:57 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by smackfu at 3:57 PM on August 13, 2010
I think we need a "meh" button that doesn't do anything but maybe people will click on it instead of actually writing an obnoxious comment.
posted by aubilenon at 3:59 PM on August 13, 2010 [13 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 3:59 PM on August 13, 2010 [13 favorites]
Can I jump in an ask what happened to the possibility of an edit window?
The test went fine but enough people were opposed to it (or opposed to our planned implementation) that we didn't feel good about launching it. Here's the thread.
posted by pb (staff) at 4:06 PM on August 13, 2010
The test went fine but enough people were opposed to it (or opposed to our planned implementation) that we didn't feel good about launching it. Here's the thread.
posted by pb (staff) at 4:06 PM on August 13, 2010
I think we need a "meh" button that doesn't do anything but maybe people will click on it instead of actually writing an obnoxious comment.
I can't meh this comment hard enough.
posted by qvantamon at 4:10 PM on August 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
I can't meh this comment hard enough.
posted by qvantamon at 4:10 PM on August 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
I'd pay for.
hmmm.
*visions of mefi pro dance in my head*
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:21 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
hmmm.
*visions of mefi pro dance in my head*
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:21 PM on August 13, 2010 [3 favorites]
To view this comment you need MeFi Gold.
posted by Rhomboid at 4:43 PM on August 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by Rhomboid at 4:43 PM on August 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
Ask Metafilter Platinum saved my marriage from the incident where my wife found me cheating on her with a midget and cured my cancer in a few simple steps.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 4:49 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by furiousxgeorge at 4:49 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Personally, I'd like to see a tiny image of a fish in the bottom right corner of my screen, because I like fish. I'm thinking a bass or a trout. Rainbow trout - none of that common brown rubbish. If Mathowie doesn't make this so within the next four hours I will strangle a kitten.
posted by Decani at 4:51 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by Decani at 4:51 PM on August 13, 2010
How about this simple solution: Swap the position of the [+] and the [!]. It is easier on a touchscreen to click the link at the end of the line, since you can cheat a little to the right, and if you miss, you can just shift slightly left and try again, instead of clicking "X favorites" and getting a whole new page.
So it would be like
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on Smarch 13 [!] [323 favorites +]
posted by Rock Steady at 4:54 PM on August 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
So it would be like
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on Smarch 13 [!] [323 favorites +]
posted by Rock Steady at 4:54 PM on August 13, 2010 [5 favorites]
First rule of TotalFilter is, you do not talk about TotalFilter.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:55 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 4:55 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
That would require moving the [!] [323 favorites +] up to the byline, Rock Steady. As it is now we have:
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on 3/13
[+][!]
It's pretty easy to tap at the start of the line too. But maybe the far right is even easier, especially with the "x favorites" in there.
posted by pb (staff) at 4:57 PM on August 13, 2010
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on 3/13
[+][!]
It's pretty easy to tap at the start of the line too. But maybe the far right is even easier, especially with the "x favorites" in there.
posted by pb (staff) at 4:57 PM on August 13, 2010
The problem is that once someone favorites a comment than the + button is in the middle, not the beginning or end....at least this is how it looks on my iphone
[1 favorite +] [!]
If we switched the + and ! signs than the + would always be at the end and easier to tap...even for the sausaged-fingered.
posted by victoriab at 5:13 PM on August 13, 2010
[1 favorite +] [!]
If we switched the + and ! signs than the + would always be at the end and easier to tap...even for the sausaged-fingered.
posted by victoriab at 5:13 PM on August 13, 2010
That would require moving the [!] [323 favorites +] up to the byline, Rock Steady. As it is now we have:
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on 3/13
[+][!]
Huh. So we do -- on the Blue and in Ask. It's not like that in MetaTalk, though, which confuses me. Still, it's the "X favorites" part I always inadvertently click on, and
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on 3/13
[!][2 favorites +]
is still easier than
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on 3/13
[2 favorites +][!]
In any case, I think I'll just buy a DollHandStick Brand iPhone stylus. They now come with a free knit slipcase made of real cat fur yarn.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:16 PM on August 13, 2010
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on 3/13
[+][!]
Huh. So we do -- on the Blue and in Ask. It's not like that in MetaTalk, though, which confuses me. Still, it's the "X favorites" part I always inadvertently click on, and
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on 3/13
[!][2 favorites +]
is still easier than
prosted by Rock Steady at 7:80 PM on 3/13
[2 favorites +][!]
In any case, I think I'll just buy a DollHandStick Brand iPhone stylus. They now come with a free knit slipcase made of real cat fur yarn.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:16 PM on August 13, 2010
If only there was a device that worked just like an iPhone, but were bigger...
posted by qvantamon at 5:26 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by qvantamon at 5:26 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
In any case, I think I'll just buy a DollHandStick Brand iPhone stylus.
I find a Slim JimTM to be a cheap and tasty solution to the iPhone stylus conundrum.
posted by killdevil at 6:14 PM on August 13, 2010
I find a Slim JimTM to be a cheap and tasty solution to the iPhone stylus conundrum.
posted by killdevil at 6:14 PM on August 13, 2010
This isn't just an issue on the mobile site, btw: happens to me frequently on iPad too. Also an issue there is the size of the italic/link buttons. Have to use them because typing HTML is miserable on the iPad keyboard, but they're hard to hit.
posted by bonaldi at 6:24 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bonaldi at 6:24 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
This totally makes sense. Throw the fat-fingered fancy-phoned fuckers their sop.
posted by Mister_A at 6:33 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Mister_A at 6:33 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
I've done the flag-instead-of-favourite thing on both my iPad and the iPhone. Then I remembered I can just zoom right the fuck in before I tap on +. Now it isn't a problem anymore. (Right now on my phone I have a + sign the size of a dime.)
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:07 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:07 PM on August 13, 2010
I was JUST about to request this. I have to zoom in to dave too.
BTW, flagging doesn't work with my touch screen.
posted by k8t at 7:51 PM on August 13, 2010
BTW, flagging doesn't work with my touch screen.
posted by k8t at 7:51 PM on August 13, 2010
Let's leave dave out of this, please.
posted by cucumber at 8:20 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by cucumber at 8:20 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
Part of the thinking behind having the favoriting text the same size as the byline is that it's a nice extra. MetaFilter isn't a favoriting engine
Why not just change it for the mobile layout?
You could have a big button after the post saying "Comment options" which, when you click you get the option to favorite, permalink, or view the poster's profile.
Clicking small inks on a phone can be a pain.
posted by delmoi at 10:42 PM on August 13, 2010
Why not just change it for the mobile layout?
You could have a big button after the post saying "Comment options" which, when you click you get the option to favorite, permalink, or view the poster's profile.
Clicking small inks on a phone can be a pain.
posted by delmoi at 10:42 PM on August 13, 2010
Combine the controls. Favoriting is flagging with a public view.
And let us unflag. I just test-flagged a comment or two and realized it's a one-way operation.
posted by pracowity at 11:38 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
And let us unflag. I just test-flagged a comment or two and realized it's a one-way operation.
posted by pracowity at 11:38 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
What about getting rid of the favorite and flag links altogether in the mobile version and instead making the entire comment into a clickable object that brings up a fav/flag context menu?
posted by contraption at 11:59 PM on August 13, 2010
posted by contraption at 11:59 PM on August 13, 2010
(or alternatively just replacing the "[+] [!]" construct with a single button that opens a context menu with a favorites/flagging interface)
posted by contraption at 12:02 AM on August 14, 2010
posted by contraption at 12:02 AM on August 14, 2010
(or exactly what delmoi just said)
posted by contraption at 12:04 AM on August 14, 2010
posted by contraption at 12:04 AM on August 14, 2010
In addition to the unflagging pony, I also submit that I would like an antiflag.
posted by kaibutsu at 12:05 AM on August 14, 2010
posted by kaibutsu at 12:05 AM on August 14, 2010
I'd pay an extra $5 for a "meh" button that sent the user to Yahoo Answers.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:36 AM on August 14, 2010
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:36 AM on August 14, 2010
One reason I'll never get a touchscreen only phone. Gimme my keys, damnit! Though now I'm curious. On a touchscreen + full keyboard phone like the Droid or N900, can you navigate with either touch controls or keyboard at all times?
posted by kmz at 7:31 AM on August 14, 2010
posted by kmz at 7:31 AM on August 14, 2010
I too mis-tap quite a bit. Both rearranging [!] [+] and combining the operations sound good to me.
posted by salvia at 8:15 AM on August 14, 2010
posted by salvia at 8:15 AM on August 14, 2010
my index pointer finger is 3/8" to 1/2" wide.
my index pointer finger is 3/16" by 1/4". at least the part i tap with is. If I squish it down, it's a little bigger - then it's 1/4" by 3/8".
posted by insectosaurus at 11:48 AM on August 14, 2010
my index pointer finger is 3/16" by 1/4". at least the part i tap with is. If I squish it down, it's a little bigger - then it's 1/4" by 3/8".
posted by insectosaurus at 11:48 AM on August 14, 2010
> On a touchscreen + full keyboard phone like the Droid or N900, can you navigate with either touch controls or keyboard at all times?
I can on my Droid, but then I have to slide it open and that's soooooo much work.
posted by contraption at 12:18 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I can on my Droid, but then I have to slide it open and that's soooooo much work.
posted by contraption at 12:18 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm annoyed Optimus Chyme left.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:16 PM on August 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Ironmouth at 2:16 PM on August 14, 2010 [3 favorites]
I'll hate myself later, but.... mobile site? (I have an idiot nuron phone so I can't really take all the blame)
posted by Space Kitty at 3:10 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by Space Kitty at 3:10 PM on August 14, 2010
Just a little distance between the icons would do it for me.
This.
Just build some space between the buttons. No need to enlarge them. UI problem solved while maintaining the look.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:52 AM on August 15, 2010
This.
Just build some space between the buttons. No need to enlarge them. UI problem solved while maintaining the look.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:52 AM on August 15, 2010
I vote keep things as they are. But have an option in the Flag menu for "flagged as awesome", which turns it into a favorite.
posted by MuffinMan at 8:16 AM on August 15, 2010
posted by MuffinMan at 8:16 AM on August 15, 2010
I'll hate myself later, but.... mobile site?
It's something old and shitty that dumb jerks use to view the site on their dumb jerk phones for some dumb jerk reason.
It is so old and shitty, in fact, that the regular site doesn't even link to it anymore.
(Here you go.)
posted by Sys Rq at 10:34 AM on August 15, 2010
It's something old and shitty that dumb jerks use to view the site on their dumb jerk phones for some dumb jerk reason.
It is so old and shitty, in fact, that the regular site doesn't even link to it anymore.
(Here you go.)
posted by Sys Rq at 10:34 AM on August 15, 2010
Or...wait...no it isn't?
I guess it automagically does it non-oldshittily for you or something nowadays.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:37 AM on August 15, 2010
I guess it automagically does it non-oldshittily for you or something nowadays.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:37 AM on August 15, 2010
woo-hoo, thanks!
posted by Space Kitty at 10:53 AM on August 15, 2010
posted by Space Kitty at 10:53 AM on August 15, 2010
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posted by shmegegge at 12:38 PM on August 13, 2010