Site facelift?

To filter this out of a toxic thread. I do think it would be nice to give this forum a face lift. I found this vbulletin theme https://themeforest.net/item/metro-a...-and-5/3555714 which claims to be material design, which I think most would agree would be considered contemporary design on the internet right now. It also claims to be responsive, which would make it much easier to use the site on tablets and phones, which I would assume by now is how most of us browse the forum anyway. theres probably plenty of themes out there, but this was the first i found after a quick google search. Any thoughts from the powers that can set something in motion?

It is certainly something worth taking into consideration, and I do agree that something that is very mobile friendly would be the way to go.

I'm sorry for one, and we need to return to a modern site with this color scheme.

http://i.imgur.com/O9K9Iqz.jpg

It's neutral, aestetic, and invokes bp colors

I would just like to be able to add pics without having to upload them to a service of some sort. That why I hardly ever post pics.

Yes, I know Tapatalk will allow this but I don't like the app.

I'm a part of two motorcycle forums that allows this so I know it's possible.

Another thing I'd like is more options than just Thanks. My favorite forum had Like, Agree, Dislike (which I wish it didn't), Funny, Informative, and Useful.

For the OP and admin/mods... I really like the site format and looks right now actually. It's easy to navigate and comfortable to look at and feels homey without looking like "just another forum". Keeping the format and just updating some colors/pictures in the top left would be fine though to me.

I personally see no problems with the current site and I also use Chrome on my phone so there is no problem there either.
Would be nice to upload photos directly as photobucket really sucks now and does not allow what they claim as 3rd party hosting AND tapatalk just flat out sucks.

Then again this is a PRIVATELY owned site so ultimate call is theirs. For what its worth Texas Kayak Fisherman lost most of their traffic after upgrading to a new platform that no one liked so now their FaceBook traffic has gone through the roof. :soapbx:

I am perfectly content with the appearance now as well. I do like KMG's idea of more than just the "thanks" option, though.

Just my two cents :2cent:...

I actually really like the site layout .... sure I wouldn't mind two options - a LIKE for certain posts and a THANK if someone's helped you with something ..


As regards the free TapaTalk app , I dread to think what life would be WITHOUT it :)

For one thing it's got a one click photo upload option so even techno-phobes like me can easily upload photos and instantly .

I also visit loads of other forums ( reptiles / sport / music etc) and TapaTalk allows me to see any PMs and followed threads , replied to posts - from all forums instantly and I'm able to jump in and out from forum to forum ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Over all i'm happy with how this site works. Though i am curious to know why this site stopped it's herp and bp pictures of the month they used to do. I wish they brought it back and at least made it a quarterly thing instead of monthly. Also can anyone answer how could i upload more pics to my profile cause i don't trust taptalk. Do i need to get a silver, gold account to upload more?

For what it's worth, I have no problem with the current aesthetic, but as others have said, direct photo uploading would be great. I don't use tapatalk, though I might try it, but I do go on the forum from my home computer a lot and it's a pain to jump through all the hoops to link a pic. Options besides "thanks" might be cool, but I could see that getting out of hand. I don't think that I'm alone in wanting to keep this site totally distinct from Facebook, so maybe a plethora of one button responces is something I could live without. Aesthetically, though the OP's suggestion is modern it feels a bit, I dont know, "hotmail" to me.

Looks come and go like fashion and everyone has an opinion about what is "nice". I have continual battles about the looks of software. My marketing people are always wanting things to get a face lift. I have to remind them over and over that functionality is king.

For the most part, this site does exactly what it is supposed to do. You can figure out how to use it relatively quickly. Any effort the owners want to put into the platform should focus on usability issues. The two largest being image management and phone display.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

My marketing people are always wanting things to get a face lift. I have to remind them over and over that functionality is king.

---

Back when I was into racing cars, we had a saying for that: Chrome don't get you home.

For me what makes-or-breaks a site is:
- Functionality / Ease of Use
- Performance
- Signal to Noise ratio

I'll second that it would be nice to have something a little more mobile friendly. Tapatalk is what it is and I'll use it once in a great while, but not a huge fan. I'm at a desktop 90% of the workday, but when I'm at home in the evenings or on the weekends, I rarely check in. I don't have a PC or a laptop at the moment, so my Ipad and my phone are it as far as staying connected.

I think we'll only see more of this with the younger generation (at least with my nieces I'm seeing it, for sure) so maybe a thought for the future.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EDR

Over all i'm happy with how this site works. Though i am curious to know why this site stopped it's herp and bp pictures of the month they used to do. I wish they brought it back and at least made it a quarterly thing instead of monthly. Also can anyone answer how could i upload more pics to my profile cause i don't trust taptalk. Do i need to get a silver, gold account to upload more?

---

What's to trust ???

You simply click on the PHOTO option , choose which photo/s and it's all done for you in about 25 seconds ..


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dkatz4

I have no problem with the current aesthetic, but as others have said, direct photo uploading would be great.

---

I agree with this! I like the blue color scheme, it's nice and not jarring to the eyes. I don't use my phone for internet stuff so I can't give any feedback about that. Photo uploading would be so great if the server cost is manageable (I assume that's why it's not done now?).

Been around quite a while and many sites have dwindled to a shell of what they were or are gone completely (remember when KS was basically all there was?). Facebook has taken over and killed most forums, not just reptiles but gaming forums I frequented have also diminished or closed up completely (RIP bioware forums). Maybe I'm just old and stuck in my ways but I do really hope that forums come back when some of these other social platforms fall out of favor as myspace did.

BP.net is one of the few reptile related forums that seems to be going strong which is why I finally joined in here. Keep up the good work. :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

(RIP bioware forums)

---

I know, right!? :tears:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

What's to trust ???

---

You do know you gave them rights to your entire phone when you loaded the app right?
Why does it need to have your contacts available when you only want to use it for your gallery?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

You do know you gave them rights to your entire phone when you loaded the app right?
Why does it need to have your contacts available when you only want to use it for your gallery?

---

I've never seen anything about contacts using my iPhone and iPad . It just goes straight to my photos .


Plus I've never had nor heard of any issues using TapaTalk in the last 5+ years maybe longer ..

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It was a pop up when you first downloaded.
All apps do it and its up to you to read whatthey want access to.

I like the current color scheme a lot. It's soothing to the eyes but still cheerful color.

I don't like the browns and blacks option at all. It makes me think of a tech forum, cold and sterile seeming for some reason. Sorry. Also, demanding it be your choice of colors, then purchasing it immediately seems like an attempt to force it to be used.

I agree with those that say the theme and colors and layout is good, and improving a couple things like uploading photos and improving mobile access would be the only things to concentrate on.

I access this site only on my laptop. So I'm still looking for a better place to use for uploading pictures.

Here I downloaded just to show you, this is the permissions Tapatalk supposedly needs to work, I denied them all just to show it.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psyeiqyc3h.png

And I guess my response to I like the way it is, why do you see modern styling as worse? You can change colors easily, don't focus on that, but layout and navigation look much better imo. This is what I see on the phone

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...ps89p6xvvb.png
Vs
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psltezsbzb.png

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Photo uploading would be so great if the server cost is manageable (I assume that's why it's not done now?).

---

Video takes a ton of space, pictures, hardly at all.

Thank you everyone for your feedback thus far--it helps us to determine what is important to you all.

We will be keeping the current color theme for the foreseeable future. Even if we were to add on some sort of mobile optimized option this would still be the color theme (or something very similar).

We do have a gallery that you can use for hosting your photos. A gallery that takes up several gigabytes of space on the server, because photos do take up a lot of space when there are gazillions of them. Do you not like the gallery? Is it not easy enough to use, or what is the main complaint with it?

As far as mobile options go, what exactly are you looking for? Is it the appearance or the functionality that you would like to see improved? Or both?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

What's to trust ???

You simply click on the PHOTO option , choose which photo/s and it's all done for you in about 25 seconds .

---

There's what pit said also ive seen too many people have problems with tapatalk. Too many times on this site people go tapatalk isn't uploading or photos disappear from a thread stuff like.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mlededee

Thank you everyone for your feedback thus far--it helps us to determine what is important to you all.

We will be keeping the current color theme for the foreseeable future. Even if we were to add on some sort of mobile optimized option this would still be the color theme (or something very similar).

We do have a gallery that you can use for hosting your photos. A gallery that takes up several gigabytes of space on the server, because photos do take up a lot of space when there are gazillions of them. Do you not like the gallery? Is it not easy enough to use, or what is the main complaint with it?

As far as mobile options go, what exactly are you looking for? Is it the appearance or the functionality that you would like to see improved? Or both?

---

My phone photos are too big to upload, so I never use it. It needs to resize on upload I would imagine. Also ideally we would be able to upload where we type our messages.

Responsive design is what I would like. Not having to zoom and scroll left n right to see things would be nice, nested quotes in PM's are a mess also on mobile. It looks like vbulletin 5 is responsive from the start.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EDR

There's what pit said also ive seen too many people have problems with tapatalk. Too many times on this site people go tapatalk isn't uploading or photos disappear from a thread stuff like.

---

Well I myself have never had any issues with TapaTalk and I've been using it for years ... I stopped bothering with PhotoBucket and the like many years ago as they were such a faff to use .

TapaTalk works great with IPhones and IPads and I'd say that I possibly upload more photos to this site than anyone else ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

You do know you gave them rights to your entire phone when you loaded the app right?
Why does it need to have your contacts available when you only want to use it for your gallery?

---

This is what Tapatalk can access on the phone. Why do you say it accesses your contacts?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0fdff7c212.png


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My biggest issue abt how the site "looks".. the over abundance of advertising alll over the place. Its very distracting on web browser.. but, I now use tapatalk so I dnt have to see that mess. Do as U please tho.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

Well I myself have never had any issues with TapaTalk and I've been using it for years ... I stopped bothering with PhotoBucket and the like many years ago as they were such a faff to use .

TapaTalk works great with IPhones and IPads and I'd say that I possibly upload more photos to this site than anyone else ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

---

Cool thanks zin. Right now its not a huge deal but i'll try to consider tapatalk. I'm ok with using my profile picture space for now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BPGator

This is what Tapatalk can access on the phone. Why do you say it accesses your contacts?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0fdff7c212.png


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Go back to post #29.
Not too many people ever read what permissions you give any of the apps when you download them. It has nothing to do with the settings after its on you phone.
Its not just tap either.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BPGator

This is what Tapatalk can access on the phone. Why do you say it accesses your contacts?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0fdff7c212.png


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Even before adk22 android didn't ask for the contact permission to gather certain data, anything built on adk23 or later does. Reading this I would assume it considers it a dangerous permission now, and really I don't want any apps besides text and phone able to read my contacts. Everyone sees things differently tho.

Quote:

---

If the device is running Android 6.0 or higher, and your app's target SDK is 23 or higher: The app has to list the permissions in the manifest, and it must request each dangerous permission it needs while the app is running. The user can grant or deny each permission, and the app can continue to run with limited capabilities even if the user denies a permission request.

---

What exactly are you guys worried about actually- is there any RELIABLE evidence to warrant your concerns ??

What's the worst that could happen ...again with some evidence ..

Just confused ... there is nothing on our iPad or my iPhone that would have me worrying ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

What exactly are you guys worried about actually- is there any RELIABLE evidence to warrant your concerns ??

What's the worst that could happen ...again with some evidence ..

Just confused ... there is nothing on our iPad or my iPhone that would have me worrying ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

---

Zinc, to some extent it is a cultural thing. Many Americans do not like any type of potential intrusion into their personal lives, be it by companies or government. As a software guy, I have an intimate understanding of what can potentially be done with software and how data can be gathered and misused. I am very, very careful about what I install on any device especially if it is connected to the Internet. I am a little extreme in that I will not even do electronic banking.


As to site suggestions, I am pretty much agreeing with everything Pit and OWAL are saying.

Its information they dont need.
Its as bad as everything wanting to link to your facebook account.
You might not have a problem but one of your contacts might.
The contacts I have collected is not my information to share, its that simple.

Oddly enough I don't have a Facebook account .... Anyways thanks for the background info .
All things considered though - I'll keep using TapaTalk .

All you need to do is access the APP PERMISSIONS setting or equivalent on your mobile device. You can then turn off any permissions you are not comfortable with. The thing to remember with some of these permissions is the privacy policy. That will tell you how they use that info they want access to. A lot of app request your contacts because of messaging options. As far as tapatalk don't know why they need it and on my device its turned off

Sent from my P00I using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OTorresUSMC

All you need to do is access the APP PERMISSIONS setting or equivalent on your mobile device. You can then turn off any permissions you are not comfortable with. The thing to remember with some of these permissions is the privacy policy. That will tell you how they use that info they want access to. A lot of app request your contacts because of messaging options. As far as tapatalk don't know why they need it and on my device its turned off

Sent from my P00I using Tapatalk

---

That sounds like a sensible thing to do for more or less all the apps ...

Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

What exactly are you guys worried about actually- is there any RELIABLE evidence to warrant your concerns ??

What's the worst that could happen ...again with some evidence ..

Just confused ... there is nothing on our iPad or my iPhone that would have me worrying ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

---

The evidence is the fact they ask for it. And my response always to the "what are you worried about" why don't you publicly post your contacts and all their numbers? Why not post your home address I mean anyone can see where you live around you right, while we're at it the ssn next? Where do you want to draw the line at privacy? Personally I draw it at need to know, and there's no reason Tapatalk needs access to my contacts, even if it is only to verify an account. I can put in an email and password like everything else to verify an account. Like I said everyone sees things differently.

I don't use Tapatalk because I always find it garbage to use as it doesn't follow the flow of how I is the forum. That's just me personally though and I know that. Nothing to do with permissions.

I should add, even if the site gets a change, the Tapatalk you love will be the same so nothing to worry about

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

And I guess my response to I like the way it is, why do you see modern styling as worse? You can change colors easily, don't focus on that, but layout and navigation look much better imo. This is what I see on the phone

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ps89p6xvvb.png
Vs
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...psltezsbzb.png

---

OK, this is totally subjective, but I am being completely honest when i say that the sample forum feels very sterile and, well, boring to me. I like the banner ads, they're colorful and reptilecentric and give me chance to do some cyber window shopping (when they work, buts thats different issue) and the sort of jumble of stuff to visually navigate is stimulating to me, like "look at all this stuff!" The new one just feels like logging into my work email.
Just to be clear, for me its not an issue of modernity vs traditional, i'd be totally up for a new look if it was more fun/exciting, this one just screams function over form to me, and this is an enthusiast's forum, i want to feel enthusiastic, not efficient.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dkatz4

OK, this is totally subjective, but I am being completely honest when i say that the sample forum feels very sterile and, well, boring to me. I like the banner ads, they're colorful and reptilecentric and give me chance to do some cyber window shopping (when they work, buts thats different issue) and the sort of jumble of stuff to visually navigate is stimulating to me, like "look at all this stuff!" The new one just feels like logging into my work email.
Just to be clear, for me its not an issue of modernity vs traditional, i'd be totally up for a new look if it was more fun/exciting, this one just screams function over form to me, and this is an enthusiast's forum, i want to feel enthusiastic, not efficient.

---

I don't see why bp.net would stop having banner ads as it's a source of income

Yea I commented on the tapatalk aspect but as far as BP.net other than the complicated process for putting a pic in your post I see no issues with the site itself. I find it easy to navigate, search and post and the ads are what they are. All sites have them. It's income. Whoever runs it just keep doing what you're doing. But maybe simplify the pics in post procedure hahaha JK

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OTorresUSMC

Yea I commented on the tapatalk aspect but as far as BP.net other than the complicated process for putting a pic in your post I see no issues with the site itself. I find it easy to navigate, search and post and the ads are what they are. All sites have them. It's income. Whoever runs it just keep doing what you're doing. But maybe simplify the pics in post procedure hahaha JK

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

---

That's a valid point .... If TapaTalk can have a one-click photo upload option surely any site could incorporate a similar facility - I know less than nothing about software though ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

also I see the problem with image uploading is not the size of the photo, it is the size of the file itself. as apparently it already resizes them

Quote:

---

Images larger than 1800x1800 pixels will be automatically resized

---

Quote:

---

File: hypospinner.jpg
The file that you have tried to attach is too big. The maximum size is 2097152 bytes.

---

even my phone doesn't take photos that small without purposely reducing the size.

Oh another feature request, make the quarantine room show up on the home page, obviously only if we have access. :)

Ah, I just thought of one...

I was so flipping excited when I actually broke down and paid for my membership that I would get to use templates but they are no longer available. They would be a real nice to have when it comes to answering the same question multiple times and having to provide the same links.