Big update to the site

1. STAFF

   pauldeedsposted 14 years ago

   The redesign is fully deployed and stable.  We changed quite a few things in this release, and there are bound to be a few new bugs.  So if you notice anything strange please let us know.
   
   The biggest changes are --
   
   design - James did a great job bringing the look and feel of HubPages into the modern era.  We've also introduced more consistent navigation breadcrumbs, and improved many of our interfaces in subtle ways.  Hopefully, once you get used to the changes you will appreciate them (if you don't love them already) ...
   
   categories - We've finally deployed the full set of hierarchical categories to the site.  The hubs by category on your profile page are also based on these categories now, instead of tags.  If you haven't categorized your old hubs, now would be a good time to do it.  If you want to learn more, Larry went in depth on categories on the HubPages blog.
   
   search - Almost everything on the site can now be searched, either all jumbled together (hopefully with the most relevant results first), or separately by type.  All searches now originate from the search box at the top of the page.  In certain sections of the site we pre-selected the option to search just within that area.
   
   news capsule - News capsules results are now drawn from a different source, and will include news items from all kinds of different news organizations.  Hopefully we won't have any more intermittent trouble with news capsule (but this was a late addition to the release).
   
   and more - Lots of other little things have also changed, but I can't remember or list them all.  If you run across something new that you like, feel free to mention it.

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   Maddie Ruudposted 14 years ago

   You'll also see that HubPages staff can be easily recognized in the forums by the symbol in the bottom left of our profile pictures, and the "HubPages Staff" label below our post numbers.

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   Research Analystposted 14 years ago

   I like the new design because now it makes it easier for me to see what hubs are related to mine so I can comment on them.

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   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   I like the new look, but have a problem. My profile avatar keeps disappearing under adverts. F5 removes it for about 5 seconds, then they are back. I am running a pretty standard platform (XP home edition SP2 and flock as my browser. Any clues?

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   ajcorposted 14 years ago

   I just  signed in to find the *new look* hubpages - so clean, clear and professional looking - really like it - haven't searched the new catoregories for my eco. suggestion as yet but thumbs up for your hard work and great results!...cheers

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   Benjimesterposted 14 years ago

   It's gonna take some getting used to, but overall, I think it's a great improvement.  I look forward to finding all the new features.  Thanks guys.  You rock!

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   RKHenryposted 14 years ago

   I LOVE IT!!!!
   
   IT'S GREAT!!!
   
   Thanks HubPage Team.  Great, Great, Great!

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   rancidTasteposted 14 years ago

   OMG!! It's wonderful. Feeling nice. Really, it's a great change. Thanks hubpages team to change the template space. Now it has more space and it's look nice. I like the templates which has much space. Now, hubpages has much space like my old blog (itis123.blogspot.com)
   
   Once again, thanks hubpages team....for this change and....

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   Dame Scribeposted 14 years ago

   HP is too purdy it sizzling now awesome job HP Team!

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    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    Overall I do like it, yet it definitely needs some time to get used to. One thing that I am missing in the new design is the ability to navigate multi-page forum thread on top of the page. For some reason those crumps are not there anymore, they exist only on the bottom now...

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    shinujohn2008posted 14 years ago

    Hubpages has become more easy to navigate. Browsing through pages have become easy through the slide show like navigation through hubs and topics. It is really the best thing i like here.
    
    Hubs also have become little wider and ad placements are getting good.
    
    I do not like the related hubs box in hubs and Photo slideshow pages in my hubs with thumbnails, which point to other hubbers. Most people will go to other hubs, because a small photo is also added to the name of each hub(please avoid using thumbnail photo in related hubs) It makes people go to other hubs without clicking ads especially in photo sideshow pages.
    
    It is OK , if our REFERRAL tracker is used for sending such traffic to other hubs and it will be really appreciable. Or else please allow our own hubs to be shown in the related Hubs section.

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       Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I must admit, I had the same thought.  The pictures make the "related Hubs" look more enticing so people may be more likely to exit my Hub that way rather than clicking on my ads.  But I'm sure HubPages has thought about that and has a good reason for doing it.

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          shinujohn2008posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          What ever it is, it is not at all good.

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             Uninvited Writerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Well, it's helping your fellow hubbers and keeping people on the site longer, that can't hurt can it? Unless all that counts is the money. If your article is good enough they will stick around long enough to read it.

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                shinujohn2008posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                It applies to everyone, people who have less number of hubs, will be showing my hubs as related hubs and their traffic will flow to me. It will hurt them and benefit me. Like wise if you check your own hubs , you may find the answer.
                
                If there is a referral tracker, then related hubs pointing to everyone is good.
                
                If not, showing our own hubs as related ones or if there is nothing available, showing a blank space is enough.

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       Isabella Snowposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Those related hubs have always pointed to other hubbers; they've never been just your own hubs. I'm not sure why they need thumbnails now, but I think it's good that they list the author -- if people like your hubs they will keep reading more of your hubs.

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    Paragliderposted 14 years ago

    Very nice. I'm not sure if the page is wider or if that's just a visual effect of centering it. Either way, it works for me. Thanks!

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    quicksandposted 14 years ago

    Need time to get used to these changes. However, changes are welcome ... from time to time. 

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    Rudraposted 14 years ago

    Definately better but have to get used to some of the changes.

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    BG Guestposted 14 years ago

    Whole new different look, I find it very interesting what you have done with the new decorating

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    kashifmahmoodposted 14 years ago

    The new design looks better and is giving even more professional look to all the hub sections and individual hub content.
    
    I will just see in the next few days how will this new layout effect the overall revenue generation and search engine visibility of HP.
    
    Great work HP team and all the Hubbers also who have played a vital role in making HP what it is now !
    
    Keep Hubbibg ....
    
    Cheers
    Kashif.

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    seamistposted 14 years ago

    Thank you to all who were involved in the new Hubpages design. It looks cleaner, crisper, and more professional!

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    bloggerdollarposted 14 years ago

    Hello Hubbers,
    
    It takes a while to adapt to the new look but it looks much better in the end. Onyl problem is AdSense optimization I guess but I believe you guys will do a good job with the new design as well.

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    Carolina Creteposted 14 years ago

    I love the new look. Well done Hubpages.
    It seems to be faster too, in editing mode.

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    DonnaCSmithposted 14 years ago

    I like it! I think it will be a better showcase for our writing; looks more professional.

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    DarleneMarieposted 14 years ago

    It has a WordPress feel.  It will take some time to get used to it; however, I am loving it so far!
    
    Great job! Go HubTeam!

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    compu-smartposted 14 years ago

    I am really enjoying the new layout and features!!
    
    Thanks HPs team!

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    Shirley Andersonposted 14 years ago

    Is it just my computer or are other people noticing that capsule loading is extremely S-L-O-W!  It takes 20 or 30 seconds to load one blank capsule or move it.  Not too bad if you're only doing one, but it's taking me forever to do the HubMob updates.
    
    I don't have a fast computer to begin with, so maybe that's why.

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    cindyvineposted 14 years ago

    It does seem to be taking longer, Shirley and uploading photos is also taking a little longer

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       Shirley Andersonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       As misery loves company, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one, Cindy. 
       
       I've had my vent, so I'll stop whining now.

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    Elena.posted 14 years ago

    Hey, Shirley!  I added a capsule to one of my photo hubs this morning, and that was pretty quick.  Surprisingly so, to be honest, since the capsules on photo hubs used to take ages to load.

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    Elena.posted 14 years ago

    It's just the opposite for me, guys.  Photos used to take a while, and that wasn't the case today.  Maybe "beginner's luck"?

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       Shirley Andersonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       If it is, I hope it keeps happening for you.  Hey, maybe ours will get faster, too!

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    SirDentposted 14 years ago

    I was a little mixed about how I felt about the changes to the site yesterday. I am loving it right now. It only took a little getting used to. I like how everything is centered on the pages now.

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       Sally's Troveposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I, also, was feeling a little mixed at first.  But now that I've gotten past the freak-out (OMG! Why does everything have to change???  I liked it the way it was. Who needs "new" and "improved"???? (wink to Iphigenia)), I think the upgrades are stellar.  Love the new look, searching is much improved, and Hub edits are definitely taking less time than before.

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    compu-smartposted 14 years ago

    Im noticing an increased speed adding capsules, photos, links etc using the latest Firefox and I.E.!!
    
    Not sure why some of you have noticed things slower!

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    premsinghposted 14 years ago

    It was a pleasant surprise to see hubpages in a new look. I love this format.

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    Whitney05posted 14 years ago

    I keep finding more and more things that are overly spaced out. When you have new comments, and are reading them, it looks like each person did like 3 or 4 spaces at the top and bottom before they ever started typing (there's an inch space between the hub title, an inch between the name and comment, and an inch after the last line in the comment). It looks ridiculous, even if hubbers are the only ones able to see it. It's irritating.

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       Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I've noticed that when I make comments, I always have to go back and edit to take out all the extra white space - but I agree, it seems to have gotten worse with the upgrade.  I had a one-liner comment today with about 4 spaces above and 4 spaces after.

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       DarleneMarieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I think the space at the top of our Hubs is supposed to have adsense links.  Sometimes it shows up and sometimes it doesn't. I agree, it does look unappealing when blank.   Now as far as the comments, don't know what the reason would be there.

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    cindyvineposted 14 years ago

    Just a quick question, is there a lag between page views and comments?  I have had 21 comments on a hub, but it still shows 0 for page views.  How is that possible?

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    Marisa Wrightposted 14 years ago

    Has the method of calculating Hubscores been tweaked?  Shortly after the update, all my Hubscores dropped like a stone - my best Hub was only in the 80's.  Now my best Hub is back up to 99 again, but the ranking has changed a lot - the Hub that was consistently running second has dropped way down, whereas one or two of my low-ranknig Hubs have shot up the ladder.  Not complaining, it's nice to see them doing better at last - just curious!

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    AEvansposted 14 years ago

    I have enjoyed it , however on another forum and unfortuantely I cannot recall which one I suggested organizing the requests in the same similiar fashion as our hubs. There is nothing like digging when your creative juices freeze and want to answer a topic.
    
    EX: Health requests
    Ex: How To requests etc. This gives every writer as well an ample chance to have their requests answered.

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    1. STAFF

       Fawntiaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I think you mean that you want to be able to browse requests by category. That is in the works and should be available relatively soon.

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    loneacornposted 14 years ago

    Congratulations hubteam. You all have done a great job. Hubpages is now even better.

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    my-success-guruposted 14 years ago

    Yeah, I like the new look.

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    VioletSunposted 14 years ago

    Hey, these are great changes! Still have to get used to the new look but you guys really work hard on keeping this site upgraded.  Would enjoy a change in how our fans are listed; right now they are not in any particular order; one time I was trying to remember the name of a fan, knew the first letter of the user name, but had to scroll through most of my fan list to find her.

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    Anamika Sposted 14 years ago

    I like the cleaner HubPages. The only problem is that i do not see my latest hubs in my profile page like the earlier version.

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       Isabella Snowposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yes... I wouldn't mind seeing the latest hubs be the default, rather than the hottest. Seems to me the hottest already get traffic and it's the newer ones that could use the boost...?

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       1. STAFF

          Fawntiaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Okey dokey. I'll change it.

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             Isabella Snowposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Thanks!

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    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    I would join both ladies on this, not only because they are beautiful, but because I think it would make sense too

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    DarleneMarieposted 14 years ago

    Just a few days into the improvements and with just a little poking around, I am finding awesome Hubs and completely enjoying my journey!

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    belief713posted 14 years ago

    just wanted to chime in and say I'm really lovin' the new design!

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    Zsuzsy Beeposted 14 years ago

    It took some getting used to, the new is okay but I think the old version had a friendlier feel to it... I too would like to see 'my latest hubs' as a default.
    Thank you hub team for all the work you do.

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    Purple Perlposted 14 years ago

    Change is welcome! And the new design of hubpages is excellent!

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    laringoposted 14 years ago

    I think this has already been asked but are the categories by the number of Hubs written and overall Hub score coming back? For instance, Hall of Fame....expert....etc

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       larryfreemanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Laringo,
       
       At this time, we are not planning to bring the hubber categorizations ("Hall of Fame", "Prodigy", etc.) back.
       
       -Larry

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    shinujohn2008posted 14 years ago

    I just now see a new update for selecting layout to create new hubs.
    
    It is good. Can we save this change for all hubs.

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    compu-smartposted 14 years ago

    All these changes are really making hubbing a much better experience!
    
    Thanks! HP team!

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    WeddingConsultantposted 14 years ago

    Here's the new forum thread discussing the changes:
    
    http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/14063

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