Message Boards: Updated Layout for Greater Usability
Posted on Dec 5th 2007 4:47PM by Joseph Manna
Filed under: AOL Help, Status Updates, New Features, Community Info
Hey folks,
The Message Boards product team informed me that they will be deploying an update to the Boards product tonight. This will bring significant changes to the layout of the page. Many of you will probably enjoy these changes since it also adds more usability to the product overall.
The new layout will boast a wider 980-pixel wide format. (To get an idea of what that looks like, check out AOL People Connection or AOL Money.) Also, they will move the Message Board Search from the bottom of the page, to the right side of the boards.
On smaller note, for channels that don't have a newer header, the team will provide a default, "AOL Message Boards" branded one, so it should look nice no matter what board you're on.
The team anticipates that between midnight (tonight) and 4AM tomorrow, the boards will be updated. Let us know how it goes and what you think of these changes in the comments below.
[Update: 12/5, 10:01AM] At this time it appears that the board servers are not accessible. We've notified the board team and they are investigating it and should be back up shortly.
[Update: 12/5, 11:18AM] Board update complete. Took a little bit for all the servers to be updated, but the team and I confirm that the boards are now functioning and have been updated. :-)
~ Joseph
The Message Boards product team informed me that they will be deploying an update to the Boards product tonight. This will bring significant changes to the layout of the page. Many of you will probably enjoy these changes since it also adds more usability to the product overall.
The new layout will boast a wider 980-pixel wide format. (To get an idea of what that looks like, check out AOL People Connection or AOL Money.) Also, they will move the Message Board Search from the bottom of the page, to the right side of the boards.
On smaller note, for channels that don't have a newer header, the team will provide a default, "AOL Message Boards" branded one, so it should look nice no matter what board you're on.
The team anticipates that between midnight (tonight) and 4AM tomorrow, the boards will be updated. Let us know how it goes and what you think of these changes in the comments below.
[Update: 12/5, 10:01AM] At this time it appears that the board servers are not accessible. We've notified the board team and they are investigating it and should be back up shortly.
[Update: 12/5, 11:18AM] Board update complete. Took a little bit for all the servers to be updated, but the team and I confirm that the boards are now functioning and have been updated. :-)
~ Joseph
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
1. I HATE THIS FORMAT!!! I WANT THE OLD BOARD BACK!!!!!
Posted at 7:10PM on Dec 5th 2007 by Laurie
2. I agree with Laurie, I don't see why AOL feels the need to update the boards..I actually liked the OLD format. It was much simpler to use. AOL really needs to change it back...Or I think they're going to be losing a lot of customers.
Posted at 10:06PM on Dec 5th 2007 by Sarah
3. I don't understand why AOL feels the need to update it? It's been fine how it is. Plus, my friend had just gotetn off ofLive Help and they had said that AOL message boards were being closed permanently? I'm confused.
Posted at 10:16PM on Dec 5th 2007 by Ann
4. You know what, the new format boards have been out for quite awhile.
How long do you think that AOL is going to continue to keep the old boards around or updated?
We were told back months ago that the old boards wouldn't be around forever.
I'm so used to the new format now that I probably couldn't even find may way around the old ones anymore.
Posted at 10:20PM on Dec 5th 2007 by SBSBJB
5. SBSBJB, some people work their way around AOL to use the old format. I know I did. When the new format first came out, I couldn't stand it. I still can't. They should keep the options open for everyone.
Posted at 10:39PM on Dec 5th 2007 by Sarah
6. Well Sarah I hate the burst your small bubble. But the FDO boards are GOING AWAY. You all can protect, put a pention online (didn't work last time!) and cuss, yell, bash all you want. Still doesn't change the FACT that HTML Boards will be updated and FDO boards will not, because frankly FDO is VERY OUTDATED and can not be updated. That's why they are getting rid of it, "backways" and all. I admit that I use the FDO boards for the Tech boards, but I also use the HTML boards for the beta boards. Yes, AOL wants HTML to allow ads, and some of you need to wake up and realize the reality of how AOL is doing buiness now. Like it or not. You can switch to the FREE plan (AOL doesn't even WANT members) and don't look at another AOL site ever again. Which most likely you will end up on an AOL related site some time another, thus making more money for AOL.
No one ever said changing something was going to make someone happy. This comment is not only towards you - Sarah.
Posted at 1:14AM on Dec 6th 2007 by Mike (MchWalte)
7. I just can't stand how AOL is trying to be like every other site out there. The harder they try the more people are turned off by them.
However, I also kept hearing they were getting rid of some of the boards, so that made me upset the most.
Posted at 5:34AM on Dec 6th 2007 by Sarah
8. I have been unable to access any AOL boards using any method or any browser for several hours now. I have tried through the AOL software, through the Safari browser and through Foxfire, and I get the notice that the product is currently unavailable, and then the browser bumps me back to the previous page.
Posted at 6:52AM on Dec 6th 2007 by Sue
9. Well, it's long past 4 a.m. EDT now, and the boards are unavailable....
That's nice that they relocated the search, but did they make any improvements on the search like those that have been suggested for years now?
Posted at 7:02AM on Dec 6th 2007 by Brenda
10. Okay, so when are the boards going to be available? It is now 9:15 am et and I'm still getting the same old, tired message that "this product...blah blah blah". I don't have a problem with the web format (I got used to it after awhile) and I'm sure some tweaking needed to be done (there were a few issues), but I would like to access the message boards SOMETIME today!
Posted at 9:19AM on Dec 6th 2007 by Micki
11. As of this morning, I cannot access any Message Boards, no matter what route I take. AOL is also very slow. Also, most of the time, I can't even access this blog - I get a query error.
Posted at 10:00AM on Dec 6th 2007 by Pac
12. 11:32 EST Am able to access boards in both formats but the "My Boards" feature is unavailable in both formats
Posted at 11:29AM on Dec 6th 2007 by Lisa
13. I am one who has access to both formats. However, I've been using the new format because I find it more attractive in many ways plus I'm used to them, now. Now, on the 'update', I'm finding the messages window just plain too long horizontally. I can take out the pesky ads by pulling the right side in, however. BUT, that window that tells you your message has been posted is all off center now no matter whether the window is default size or resized. The message board gremlins need to fine tune things!!! There's other anomalies, I'm sure but this is the one that hit me in the face first. Franki
Posted at 12:03PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Franki
14. Kind of ironic...this update was supposed to improve "usabiilty"? LOLOL They are LESS usable. I can't access My Boards. And all the comments about search, and they only chose to MOVE the search box? How about making it at least as useful as the search box in the old format? And I think we've waited a very long time for answers that were never forthcoming....
Posted at 12:29PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Brenda
15. 1:50 p.m. Finally I can get to ONE message board using the new format but all of MY BOARDS are gone. That just stinks. This is new and improved? I don't think so. Why should any of this affect mail, it won't send, it won't open, it's not available. I mean, come on!!
Posted at 1:56PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Kay
16. I love the new format!! It's great. Thanks AOL!
Posted at 1:58PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Denver
17. Well people SOMETIMES the boards to go off for updates. I've never heard of it being out for 24 hours.
Posted at 4:09PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Mike (MchWalte)
18. Ann,
The product must be updated continually to provide the best possible community experience for all users. While, I understand it can be difficult to adapt to the recent changes, it is necessary.
So far I haven't heard any disagreement from folks about moving the search to the upper right side. This enhancement benefits users who want to search for messages or topics of their choice.
This improves the usability of the Message Boards, because you can more effectively search the boards.
Thanks for the comments!
~Joseph
Posted at 4:27PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Joseph Manna
19. We've been telling folks as long as I could remember, that the old format is going away. If you are able to access it, it is a bug -- an exploit -- if you are able to.
Regarding the issues with MyBoards -- you should have your boards shown at http://messageboards.aol.com/aol/en_us/myboards.php.
However, if you don't have any favorite boards added, go ahead to the board and click "Add to My Boards" located on the top, and it will be there. :-)
(If not, or if you have any other issues, please let me know.)
~ Joseph
Posted at 4:46PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Joseph Manna
20. I agree with alot of the folks here.I like the Old Message Boards,
better than the one you have now.I run an Apple-Macintosh ppc,and
its the pits when you can't put in your Settings,like you Name and Location,
or other peices of information.The old Message Boards were easier,and less of a pain in the neck.
Why can't us people with Mac's be included as well?
Posted at 7:50PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Janet