Widgets disappearing?
Replies
I recently read on someone else's thread that sidebar widgets are no longer supported and are going to go away. I have come to rely on them, especially the oracle, quest, and shop till ones, and I'd like to be prepared when they do eventually disappear. Could someone please point me to when and where it was said that these were going away?
I went to News/Staff Forum Posts and did a browser search for widget.
Widget News On This Page I haven't been to General Updates:May 25 yet.
PS: I've been through the updates thread. It seems that a staff member said there's going to be a new site layout eventually but I have no idea when this was or in which topic.
[tot=Ciannwn]
Some quotes:
Bug, more than customizing my experience, I just don&;t find the site to even be reasonably navigable without widgets. They surface a ton of information you have to know exactly where to find and allow me to get from point A to B without a dozen map clicks in between. They let me track items and threads that would otherwise just be buried in a ton of things I find nonrelevant. Without them, I need either a text file of links or to bookmark all the things.
That's a good insight - thank you! While our decision is set in stone, we do take the concerns very seriously and we will make sure they're taken into account.
I think it has to be clarified that we're not deleting widgets from the current site layout. If we just deleted widgets without changing anything else, that would of course be terrible for usability.
The new layout is our chance to address the current layout's shortcomings and see if we can remove the need for a clunky and outdated widget system altogether - while providing other benefits like a more accessible and intuitive navigation, a site that works and displays well on mobile phones and tablets and touchscreens, loads faster (less resources per page) etc.
I can't answer any more on this topic, but if there are more thoughts posted about this, we'll be sure to read and take note of them as we move forward. <3
<p>I know several parts of the current layout seem to have been neglected (for instance, sidebar widgets are another area we no longer update for the most part) but it&;s largely because we are actively working on their replacements behind-the-scenes. We would rather devote our resources to making sure the replacement is as well-done as possible when it is released.
If you have Facebook: Subeta's page Beginning of March are some layout screenshots which stirred up this widget thing again.
That's not very helpful for users who don't have Facebook. :(
[tot=Ciannwn]
Twitter has it too but my mobile link will not bring you to it. It was just like some layout design previews and mentions on the forums that there will be a new layout. Until it is closer to fruition mention of widgets being retired has been in drips and drabs for years. At least 3 since I became a minimod. That is why suggestions for new widgets or updating them generally die. Which is how I found the 2nd quote. There is another but I can't remember which board it is on and without forum search running blind.