mgeoffriau

January 31st, 2017 at 8:45 PM ^

Well, that's not true. How do you count people who aren't showing up? How do you count links not clicked, or pages not loaded?

That's the point. MGoBlog is incredibly popular and valuable despite the terrible user experience. I can understand that might make a lazy site owner apathetic about improvements, but we have evidence that Brian Cook is a smart guy. It is just bizarre that on this one issue, he is apparently either unwilling or unable to takes steps toward improvement, and can't be bothered to effectively communicate why we are stuck with this terrible user experience.

Joined: 01/01/2013

MGoPoints: 8838

I Like Burgers

January 31st, 2017 at 10:07 PM ^

Amongst all of the complaints about the site are also pleas to do a kickstarter or something to raise money to fix the site.  They raised $70k for a magazine.  If they skipped the mag this year, I think they could easily raise $100k-120k if it went towards a complete overhaul of the site.

Joined: 10/06/2012

MGoPoints: 30575

cjpster

January 31st, 2017 at 4:10 PM ^

It crashed twice within the first 30 seconds.  Wasn't even doing anything tricky, just trying to load the front page.

I loved the HD app and paid beveled guilt, purchased MGoTShirts, etc.  I know you got mouths to feed, and the blog is amazing, but surely there's a better way...

Joined: 08/31/2012

MGoPoints: 172

BareNakedStatue

January 31st, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^

Thank you for the amazing content.  However, the classic MGoBlog App is a very disapointing user experience.  Before downloading the HD app, I used the classic version.  However, too many crashes, slow load screens, and a poor interface caused me to search for another option.  My experience after reading this post and downloading the classic app again has been no different.

As others have stated, the HD app is a far superior user experience and should be reinstated in a way that benefits MGoBlog and the app creator. 

Please consider our pleas to bring this back!

Joined: 11/15/2013

MGoPoints: 29

WolverineLake

January 31st, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^

I used the original app until I tried the HD app.  I haven't beeb back to the original since (several years ago), and already fear returning to it.

Perhaps that oft-rumored UX overhaul can be expedited?

Joined: 07/10/2011

MGoPoints: 2878

Bo248

January 31st, 2017 at 4:20 PM ^

Never could post using HD app, told me I need Captcha certification which never appeared. Starting using browser on iPhone gotta get my content somehow!

Joined: 02/11/2016

MGoPoints: 3654

cjm

January 31st, 2017 at 4:39 PM ^

I can't recall an app that crashes as frequently as the MGoBlog. Couldn't even post my concern form the app without it crashing three different times. Pulled out the laptop, powered it up, and logged in just to say I think this is going to make reading the blog much harder now.

edit: And the good ole 502 4 times before I could post from the laptop. ouch. LONG day tomorrow.

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 5611

echoWhiskey

January 31st, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^

Weak sauce. I get it: you need people to use the "official" app to capture the ad revenue. But the MGoBlog app is terrible in both UI and reliability. Unsolicited advice would be to ditch the app completely and concentrate on a mobile-friendly site redesign. You don't need an app if the site is usable on mobile and then you're not futzing with selling ads in multiple formats.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1057

mvp

January 31st, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^

I guess I could add to the chorus of those who tried the official app at one time or another with bad luck.

But instead, I'll offer this comment:

For a hugely popular blog that does tons of stuff right, I'm not quite sure why Brian is so quiet on topics like server upgrades and this one.  There are many regular contributors and respected MGoBlog visitors who raise these concerns.  

In this case it seems like more of an explanation is in order for an app that LOTS of people seem to like and use.  So...what gives?

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 2417

stephenrjking

January 31st, 2017 at 5:52 PM ^

People ask a variation of this often. "Why doesn't Brian/Seth/Mom say something about (technical issue x)?"

My opinion: They have in the past, and what they have spoken of hasn't always panned out. There has been talk of upgrades, of different ways of organizing content, lots of things like that. Several years ago we were told that a massive overhaul was coming that did not come.

And I understand this, having worked on low-staff projects with indeterminate levels of complexity. Things can go haywire, or not turn out how you intend. And it's a lot of pressure if you have said you will do something and find that it is an impossible task with your resources. My guess is that Brian and Seth have put a fair amount of work into various technical upgrades (I cannot speculate what) and that so far things have not worked out. Perhaps a completely new site was built, but was so buggy that it would be too much trouble to get to work. Or perhaps they hired someone and that person spit the bit halfway through. I don't know. Given what a hassle previous voluntary or involuntary technical overhauls have been (remember when voting got trashed by a Drupal issue? The entire board culture was a disaster for months) I can understand some reluctance to roll out an update that isn't completely ready to go.

But the point is that I think Brian and Seth have decided that it is better not to speak speculatively of changes that may or may not take place. Their silence over the last couple of years, in contrast with previous years where there were full post updates on the technical status of the site, is significant to me. 

I think they would rather maintain their credibility with the users by simply declining to make statements about changes whose timetable is open to question. So, rather than previous years where they've promised or suggested changes in "the future," they're just keeping quiet until a change is actually ready.

Just my guess.

 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143524

mvp

January 31st, 2017 at 5:56 PM ^

That's a logical thought.

Also...

Brian did post on the META Topic (but not here in the front page story comments...) that the reason for discontinuing the HD App is that it isn't authorized nor did MGoBlog receive any money from it.  If I had known that, I would have considered not using it before.  But it is a very frustrating situation as the HD App seems to be much preferred over the "Official" App.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 2417