Previewing Wizbang 2.1 (Wizbang)

I've taken to noting the current design iteration at Wizbang as 2.0 even though it's a bit 1.5 for my tastes. Given that I wanted to give you a sneak peak at what - for lack of a better identifier - I've termed Wizbang 2.1. The design is slowly being applied to a new Wizbang page - Wizbang Headlines.

The design isn't anywhere close to being done; in fact several functions are broken at the moment as I work through a change in the divs, classes, and ID's. It will end up looking a lot more like the current design than it appears now. That said there are a couple design features that I want to highlight. The first, obviously, is the wider format. The screen will be scaled for 1024 and higher displays. It will still work at lower resolutions, but there will be a lot less wasted space for most readers. The design is also going away from fixed font sizes and toward scalable fonts, otherwise known as em units. The should allow for a more robust font scaling experience for readers who set their own font size display options in their browser.

The Wizbang Headline site itself is a new portion of the main site where you control both the content and display. Registered users will be able to add stories to the Headline page and be their ratings will drive the content display. It's a few weeks away from the first beta tests, but it's a feature that will be integrated into the Wizbang front page. There will be more information on the Headlines section coming soon, I really just wanted to give everyone a look at the wider design and to let you know that I really am listening to your suggestions.

Wizbang 3.0 - our massive overhaul - is proceeding nicely. We're a few weeks away from starting to show mockups of that design.

The Wizbang® Network

Wizbang Blue: Axelrod and Wolfson Update Dem Race

News outlets like Fox will do their best to fan the flames longer, as we see in both of these clips.

7:22 PM | 0 comments

Wizbang Blue: What Didn't Kill Barack Made Him Stronger

There is no question that Barack Obama is a stronger leader now than he was six months ago. I made that point a few days ago here: Politics is dirty business, and much of the teeth gnashing over in-fighting...

6:41 PM | 0 comments

Wizbang Blue: The Sunday Conspiracies: Fox News

Is Fox News subliminally supporting John McCain with flash frames?

1:00 PM | 1 comments

Wizbang Blue: It's up to Barack and Hillary and You and Me

I don't believe that it's solely up to Obama. No question he needs to reach out and welcome former Clinton supporters into the camp - but the job isn't his alone. Hillary Clinton should and, I'm confident will -- reach out as well and help pull together Democrats, helping to unite the party. But it will take more than Hillary and Barack's efforts. It will take all of us Democrats reaching out to heal the divide that'll really drive this process.

10:37 AM | 2 comments

Wizbang Blue: Republicans Ask but Won't Answer

The Republican National Comittee (RNC) is leveling their sights on Obama. This is a web-only video - at 1 minute 23 seconds its clearly not intended for broadcast television.

12:20 PM | 5 comments

Wizbang Pop!: The Unstoppable Madonna

7:59 AM | 0 comments

Wizbang Pop!: Elisha Cuthbert on a Beach in Maui

Elisha Cuthbert and boyfriend NHL defensman Dion Phaneuf soak up the sun in Maui this week....

7:50 AM | 0 comments

Wizbang Pop!: Liv Tyler Getting Divorced

Actress Liv Tyler has split from British rocker Royston Langdon after five years of marriage, it was reported Thursday. Tyler, best known for her role as elf princess Arwen...

7:11 AM | 0 comments

Wizbang Politics: Raw deal

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/11210?tid=37The Philippine President was recently asked to change her dietary habits. From AP- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declined an animal rights group's invitation to become a vegetarian to help...

6:40 AM | 0 comments

Wizbang Pop!: Seacrest in, Larry King out?

A source from within CNN says that Seacrest, who has filled in for his friend Larry King in the past, is involved in "serious negotiations" to take over "Larry...

2:43 PM | 0 comments

Comments (6)

I like it!... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by C-C-G | July 19, 2007 12:29 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)

C-C-G

I like it!

Posted on July 19, 2007 00:29

More usable screen area and... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Mac Lorry | July 19, 2007 6:57 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Mac Lorry:

More usable screen area and scalable fonts are all good improvements. What's really exciting, in my opinion, is the ability to post a story. I don't expect to do that often, but there are times when I think an important story is being missed by the regular authors and this will be an outlet for them. Thanks Kevin.

Posted on July 19, 2007 06:57

The only thing I would sugg... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Oyster | July 19, 2007 7:19 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)

Oyster:

The only thing I would suggest, and call me lazy for this, but I hate scrolling back up to the top of what might be a rather long story to get to the comments and trackbacks. Simplicity and ease for the user should be important in the design. Am I being too petty?

Posted on July 19, 2007 07:19

Another thing needed, thoug... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by BChoinski | July 19, 2007 8:55 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

BChoinski:

Another thing needed, though it might be tough to do, is some means of visually marking which entries you have already voted on. At present you get the popup saying you have already voted for something, if you come back to an article, but a pre-indicator before you vote (i.e. vote controls removed) would be better.

Posted on July 19, 2007 08:55

How long do we have to see ... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Mark | July 19, 2007 10:05 AM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)

Mark:

How long do we have to see a dead girls big tits enticing us to watch her fag off?

Posted on July 19, 2007 10:05

Is there a way to prevent p... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Tom Blogical | July 19, 2007 10:21 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Tom Blogical:

Is there a way to prevent people from voting on their own comments, similar to preventing people from voting multiple times on one comment?

Posted on July 19, 2007 10:21

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