Nice frontpage changes, but..

[SleePy]

The new front page is very... boxy...

It has curves in the right places

Shame similar icons aren't used in the forum software as the ones on the frontpage as smf default icons suck big time

Well the CSS is posted here and in our sites css file as well.  I don't think Bloc would mind if you wanted to modify your SMF install to use those buttons over the default curve ones.

[mashby]

The curvy buttons don't work display curvy in IE8/7/6 (not sure about 9). But there is a fix, just not sure it's worth it (css3pie thing). While the buttons certainly are nice when curvy in the cool browsers, they don't look atrocious in IE8/7/6.

[live627]

border-radius works in IE9

[SleePy]

The curvy buttons don't work display curvy in IE8/7/6 (not sure about 9). But there is a fix, just not sure it's worth it (css3pie thing). While the buttons certainly are nice when curvy in the cool browsers, they don't look atrocious in IE8/7/6.

We have pie but I think it may be causing the issues with the buttons.  So I removed it until I could test some more

[Garrett]

The new front page is very... boxy...

I like the New Frontpage. Is it CMS or PHP? [Content Management System's use PHP, I was just wondered if you made it using a CMS or Straight PHP]

It's coded in PHP and HTML, integrated with SMF's layer system. There are a few posts on this site on how to do the same.

I am currently using CMS Made Simple on my site. I'll open a new topic in Chit Chat about it.

[MrGrumpy]

Shame similar icons aren't used in the forum software as the ones on the frontpage as smf default icons suck big time

Well the CSS is posted here and in our sites css file as well.  I don't think Bloc would mind if you wanted to modify your SMF install to use those buttons over the default curve ones.

I didn't mean the buttons I meant the icons used in the "More information" section which look like they come from the fam-fam silk or farm fresh icon sets. I know someone put in a lot of work to make the icons included in smf installs but they do suck, they are choppy and dull.

It was mentioned to me a while ago that the gif's are used as IE6 doesn't support the transparency on png's but some png's are used so why not just ditch the gif's and use a nice set of modern looking png's.

Honestly, I'd prefer a more simple and clean approach to the frontpage. Something more web 2.0.

Take these softwares for example:
http://www.invisionpower.com/
http://xenforo.com/

Even the Twitter homepage is nice and simple (logout to see it properly)
http://twitter.com/

Got to agree there, in comparisson really SMF does look a bit dated and cluttered compared with some of the competition.

[Kindred]

personally, I like the page...  I don't think it looks dated or cluttered.

I despise "landing pages" that don't do anything other than splash.

As for the icons... again... each to his own, but I actually like the SMF icons.
We would possibly have licensing issues with using another artist's icon set.

As for gif vs png... why do you feel the png is better than gif?

[Illori]

seems to be a bug on this type of issue already http://dev.simplemachines.org/mantis/view.php?id=4714

[MrGrumpy]

As for gif vs png... why do you feel the png is better than gif?

Because the gif's look crap, they have choppy edges and go look at them on custom themes they often look worse than they do on the default theme - like you say each to there own but fam-fam or farm fresh, like has been used on the home page are better than the smf icons, they are crisper and the colors are much better. Personally I've replaced probably 98-99% of the gif's for png's on my site and themes I make.

There is some argument that IE6 can't display png's properly so to support it gif's should be used but if everyone is still going to support a 10 year old browsers limitations, even tho 3 enwer versions are available then it will be around forever limiting designs and progress.

SMF has moved away from gif's to png's on various images in curve including the main theme images and even some the icons have been changed, if there was no benefit of png's to gif's then why have some the gif's already been changed.

Im not an expert on images but png's have transparent backgrounds where as I believe gif's have to have a mask layer to "appear" to be transparent as they can't be made with true transparency.

Plus, as per Illori's link, 1 the developers has stated they need to be changed so there must be some merit in it.

As for licencing issues if certain icon designers are approached I believe a deal could be struck to use them, especially as SMF isn't a commercial software.

[ARG01]

As for gif vs png... why do you feel the png is better than gif?

PNG images are always better than GIF, especially for smaller images such as icons due to better quality. Other than avatars and large background images I think all images should be PNG.
Although it took me a few hours, it was not hard at all for me to convert the default (Curve) RC4 to 100% PNG. I also do the same for any custom theme that I may use on my own sites and when 2.0 Gold is released, I plan on converting it to 100% PNG as well.

That being said, I think the new front page looks fine now that the buttons that Bloc mentioned have been updated.

[~DS~]

Have this been tested on smartphones?

[NanoSector]

Have this been tested on smartphones?

Looks fine here...

Samsung Wave 525, Bada 1.1, Dolphin 2.0

[Yağız...]

Samsung Wave I, bada 1.2, Dolphin 2.2
I've added landscape and portait.

[Fustrate]

Here it is on my fantastic new iPad those larger icons in the boxes don't fit, btw. Also, as you can see, the buttons don't both fit on the same line in the first box.

[~DS~]

*whisper*

[Matthew K.]

Fustrate- Now the public can see all of the sekrit beta testing boards!

[MrGrumpy]

The download/learn more buttons act like they do in Fustrate's fist image on 1024px resolution monitors too

[NanoSector]

Samsung Wave I, bada 1.2, Dolphin 2.2
I've added landscape and portait.

Here it is on my fantastic new iPad those larger icons in the boxes don't fit, btw. Also, as you can see, the buttons don't both fit on the same line in the first box.

* Yoshi2889 is jealous

iPad and Wave I and bada 1.2............

On Landscape it's the same in my Wave 525 though.

[flapjack]

maybe it would be a good idea to add min-width: 960px to the css?

[kat]

http://support.simplemachines.org/shotm.php

Paul_Pauline joined the team, if it's relevant.