SoWal Site Redesign

**kurt** · 11-02-2011, 10:46 PM

Hello everyone! Hard to believe we're beginning our 8th year here on SoWal.com.

We've been busy behind the scenes updating our site and with your help we are ready to start testing. Please check out all the sections and pages and let us know of any problems or suggestions. Over the next few weeks we hope to refine the site even more - to be funn, friendly and chock full of great info for locals and visitors to SoWal.

Let us know what you think. What you'd like to see in words, pictures, and videos. Send us on assignment!

We've beefed up our staff and have lots of great stuff coming up. In addition to our partnership with the South Walton TDC, we've partnered with some great local and regional media organizations. There's no better place than SoWal for insider info, all the events & live music, secret spots, great photos and videos, articles, columns, contests & giveaways. We're really excited about the future.

We couldn't do it without the support of our wonderful community and advertisers. Thank you for supporting SoWal!

**Mango** · 11-03-2011, 01:08 AM

Looks great, but you have an ant problem and it makes me itchy.

DD · 11-03-2011, 06:26 AM

It's early and I'm just now taking my first sip of coffee, but it looks GREAT!!!! Love the home page. I can tell you HAVE been working hard!!!

**iwishiwasthere** · 11-03-2011, 06:38 AM

Amazing! Glad to be a part of this virtual community!

**Beach Runner** · 11-03-2011, 07:03 AM

The "STAY" doesn't show up in IE9. BTW I'm teaching web programming this semester, and my students already see that IE is the web designer's nightmare!

Looks great otherwise! Thanks for all you do!

**Jdarg** · 11-03-2011, 11:38 AM

Cool.

**scooterbug44** · 11-03-2011, 11:50 AM

I like the softer colors, but it looks "foggy".

**T Cline** · 11-03-2011, 06:20 PM

I really love this version. Its very user friendly, didnt have to work hard to find all the regular tabs I like to check out. The colors are great too...new layout is great.
GOOD JOB!

**kurt** · 11-03-2011, 06:59 PM

Thanks guys!

**kurt** · 11-03-2011, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

The "STAY" doesn't show up in IE9. BTW I'm teaching web programming this semester, and my students already see that IE is the web designer's nightmare!

Looks great otherwise! Thanks for all you do!

Yes it is a pain. We have been looking at it in IE9 and haven't seen this problem. Is it persistent for you?
Anyone else?

**Beach Runner** · 11-03-2011, 08:55 PM

Yes, all I see is the ST of STAY.

**Carol G** · 11-03-2011, 09:46 PM

So far it looks super!

**Teresa** · 11-03-2011, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by T Cline

I really love this version. Its very user friendly, didnt have to work hard to find all the regular tabs I like to check out. The colors are great too...new layout is great.
GOOD JOB!

Have you checked out the Home page?

**kurt** · 11-04-2011, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

Yes, all I see is the ST of STAY.

Hmmm I think your computer doesn't like you.

Maybe try clearing your cache and restart. Or a hard refresh: shift + refresh.

This is what it should look like.

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**Murray Balkcom** · 11-04-2011, 08:17 AM

Love the look of the new home page. Lots of content, easy to scan without having to scroll too much. Seems logically laid out. Great job.

**Franny** · 11-04-2011, 08:36 AM

It looks wonderful, I love it!

**seacrestgirl** · 11-05-2011, 09:06 PM

Unfortunately I, too, only get eat play shop sta..

I am on my work computer and have IE8. Also, the lounge disappeared. It was there when I first logged in, but disappeared....

**seacrestgirl** · 11-05-2011, 09:07 PM

At least I got the "a" in stay....better than BR!

**Beach Runner** · 11-05-2011, 09:12 PM

LOL. When I do a hard refresh, I briefly see "STAY". But then it quickly becomes "ST". Yes, I cleared the cache and did a hard refresh.

I really like the look of the site. Softer on the eyes. Less vertical scrolling.

I checked the html and css on w3.org, and it looks good (I mean, their checker checked for strict). I think it needs an IE hack. What else is new?

**whatiscmr** · 11-05-2011, 11:37 PM

People still use IE?!

**Beach Runner** · 11-06-2011, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by whatiscmr

People still use IE?!

I do because that is the browser mandated by I.T. for institution-owned computers which includes my new Dell E5520 laptop (also mandated by I.T. -- I had no choice). I think I'm the only faculty member with administrative privileges to install other software on their machine. So I also have Chrome and Firefox.

Really ridiculous mandate, I know.

That and the fact that I.T. specked 32-bit Windows 7 on a 64-bit machine.

**MrMentalFitness** · 11-07-2011, 08:51 AM

SWEET! Now if I can just figger out the SoWal App.

**KISH7374** · 11-07-2011, 09:56 AM

This will take a little getting used to but looks great!!

**Topsail Transplant** · 11-07-2011, 01:06 PM

I REALLY like the new "feel" of the site. I do think I will need to play for a bit to get used to it but keep up the great work!!

**middlesister** · 11-09-2011, 07:19 PM

I have not been on here for awhile but was just there end of September to early October. Is the site totally revamped???

**kurt** · 11-10-2011, 09:46 PM

Yes there are a couple of threads about it.
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.p...-Site-Redesign

**middlesister** · 11-11-2011, 06:44 PM

Thanks so much. You do a great job. This is my way of staying connected to the area when I can't be there (which isn't enough!).

**middlesister** · 11-11-2011, 06:48 PM

Quick question. Wouldn't it be more user friendly to show the most recent posts first and then go down to the older ones. i.e. I just checked "what are you listening to" and thought it was new but July 2009 came up first??? You have probably thought of this but maybe there is a way I can rearrange the order??? Again, thanks for all your great info. How is the weather there? We have had a gorgeous fall so far here in central Virginia.

**kurt** · 11-11-2011, 08:17 PM

Thanks - very cool options under settings - http://www.sowal.com/bb/usercp.php

For thread display options look on the left and click "general settings". You can choose to display posts as newest first.

Default is oldest first because in a discussion thread the idea is to follow the discussion down the page in "normal" fasihion like reading a letter, article, or book. In a thread like the one you mention it might make more sense to have newest first.

The weather has been awesome. Tonight may be our coolest night yet might drop below 40.

**Topsail Transplant** · 11-16-2011, 03:26 PM

I would like to say I really like the feel and color scheme of the new site. I also like the new SoWal sticker color scheme better because it reminds me of the color of the water. I prefer the square logo with beach like a local on the bottom. With all that said, I would like to see the SoWal stickers square with beach like a local on the bottom in the aquamarine color. So it would look just like the one on the top of the forum tab home page except in the lighter color. Whats Your opinion ?

**scooterbug44** · 11-16-2011, 04:24 PM

I like the square one by the "live beach cam" better than the oval ones. It's a striking graphic that is easy to see and read, while the other one is pretty blah and hard to read from a distance.

DD · 11-16-2011, 06:37 PM

I love the oval shaped ones.

**Beach Runner** · 11-16-2011, 07:37 PM

The updated website has a look and feel that is very easy on the eyes. I really like it.

As far as the stickers go, I will always love the old one. But I really like the new one too. Picked up a few of the new ones at Shoo Mama's on Saturday.

**kurt** · 11-16-2011, 09:34 PM

It's called "CLASSIC".

Glad y'all like!

**Andy A** · 11-17-2011, 08:49 AM

I'm afraid I am a desentor. For some of us with vision problems, the lack of contrast on the new format is a problem. Not a killer but a problem, nevertheless.