We are proud to announce the launch of the all new (and improved) Android and Me. The site got a big visual overhaul, the content was re-categorized, new contributors were brought on board, and thats just the start of it.
The site will updated more frequently, we will be running more contests, and we will be developing a more active community with more user input. Stay tuned for big things from Android and Me.
You may have reached this post because we aren’t quite done with the new site yet. We’ve still got a handful of pages to set up and there are many, many loose ends in the current layout (the new navigation with categories that don’t exist yet, multiple pages needing to be created, various promo links, etc) and we are just going to try to point them all at this page. Got some questions? We try to answer them below:
Why launch the site before it’s done?
Honestly, we wished we had more time to polish the new layout, but our server issues with our current host has forced our hand. The old site was hosted with MediaTemple and if you are a close follower of the site you know we’ve had some uptime problems (to put it lightly). Our new site will be running on its on private server from ServInt. They came very highly recommended and so far have been outstanding. While the new site might have a few holes, we figured the massive visual and organizational update along with solid uptime was reason enough to make the switch now.
What has changed? We get new features?
One of the main reasons we wanted to redesign was the fact that we weren’t happy with the way our content was sorted. The new site has a much broader and basic selection of categories (News, Phones, Carriers, Apps, Games, Hacks, Beginners, Forums, Store).
In addition to category, posts on the homepage will be display based on importance, split into two sections: Featured Android Stories (our long editorial pieces) and Bits & Bytes (shorter ‘newsflash’ type posts). Our featured stories will be the same great content you are used to. Bits & Bytes will be rapid fire links and commentary on app/game releases, minor OS updates, hacks and mods- everything that’s newsworthy but not quite a full article opportunity. We’ve combined 5 featured posts and 9 bits & bytes on the new site in the same amount of space that contained only 2 posts on the old site.
Also new to the layout are multiple streams of Android content from around our Android network. In the sidebar you’ll find the latest posts from CNET’s Android Atlas, the latest Android tweets from twitter, and the latest comments from around the site. On the home page, you’ll find a new user poll section, forum integration pulling the latest posts in from the Android and Me Forums, and a download of the week (coming soon). The update we are most excited about, however, is the new Android and Me Podcast. We should have more podcast details early next week.
We hope that by cramming all your Android news, updates, and commentary into one small space that you’ll make Android and Me your first stop for all things Android.
It looks broken.
One downside of the haste is we are going to need your help to track down bugs. I’m sure there are plenty- this template was developed in quite a rush. For the time being, the site has only been tested in Firefox, Chrome, and Safari. I haven’t had time to iron out the Internet Explorer support just yet, but I’ll get around to it when I feel like punishing myself. There are a number of seemingly broken things we are already aware about that will get fixed as we move along. If you spot a bug you think is a legitimate error or something we overlooked, please reply on this page (your And Me Accounts should be working here).
Who’s responsible for this?
The new Android and Me is the result of many long hours of brainstorming and planning by Taylor and Clark Wimberly. Taylor has been running, writing and editing Android and Me since the beginning of the year. Clark has been helping run things and making web sites on the side but was recently drawn in full time by the lure of Android (and Taylor’s many, many phone calls). We are also in the process of bring on some new writers (some from the Android and Me forums) and soon will have a full Staff section up so you can get to know the team a little better.
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Clark Wimberly
Clark is a web designer and developer living in Austin, Texas. He runs ClarkLab, a small web firm with an ever-increasing Android focus. He's a big fan of usability, standards, and clean design.
23 Comments
It looks great! I like it better than the old site! Keep up the good work!
Why would any serious website include ads with moving components? You clearly have gold fever as much as T-Mobile and the other Telecoms. I will restrict my access to your site to RSS feed. Why can’t we just get an android that uses wifi hot spots and get away from a monetization model that requires $1200/year of access fees? It’s rediculous what people will put up with. City councils should install free wifi everywhere.
Idk, why don’t you ask the big blogs like TechCrunch, Gizmodo, and Engadget?
If you think someone is getting rich off this site, you are wrong. The ad revenue goes to things like server upgrades and contests.
I think people like a site with high uptime (rather than one that’s down as much as Twitter) and free prizes, so the ads are going to stay.
If you really dislike ads, install AdBlock Plus.
I have AdBlock installed but have it disabled for your site Taylor. I have it disabled for all the sites I want to support.
Back on topic:
Nice Upgrade!
Greg, you could get and Archos 5 Internet Tablet. i paid 300 buckaroos only, no contract, no montly bill for the 16 gig. great wifi/web/apps experience! no phone or camera but hey, that’s what my phone and camera is for. flash in the browser is coming early next year. oh, no google apps either, but that may change. you could wait for something like the Dell Streak, but that’ll prob be close to 600 w/o contract I’m guessing but looks to have everything Archos 5 IT doesn’t.
Wow! i loved this site before the upgrade, and now i love it even more! Great Job Androidandme Staff! Keep up the good work!
Quite honestly, it sucks.
In the last few months, I’ve started coming here quite recently. I started going to lots of android sites, but I came more to this one because I liked the colors and the layout — it let me get the info I wanted quickly. I even disabled adblock for your site because I didn’t find the ads terrible.
Now it seems this site is worse than any of the others. Here’s what sets you apart from sites like engadget and techcrunch. You have decided to cram every ad and box possible onto the first page of your site. I just counted 9 separate ads (though three are for the same thing). On the comparable amount of space at engadget there are .. two. On articles there are three more text and one more picture ad, which I usually block. However many you had was fine.
Next, your boxes. Yeah, these aren’t ads but they feel the same and have the same purpose. But they’re ugly and annoying. Maybe a newbie on the site will find something through them, I won’t find anything. You guys need to (at least I would prefer you did) come up with something a lot more spread out, a lot more easy going. This cram it all in and hopefully we’ll get more revenue and page views isn’t something I like.
I don’t imagine you’re making much off the site. If you’d be willing to share, I’d appreciate knowing how much/what percent your revenues go up from this redesign than how it was before. I regret to say it, but I will also be restricting my access to rss feeds only.
I agree about the boxes. Ok, we maybe have to accept the ads but keep the rest of the site as clean as possible. Its way to many stuff on the front page.
Love the new look, good job guys!
As you might remember I’m with you since you started. I always loved your site for its simple layout which made finding and reading things easy and the effort you put into your posts.
But, honestly, I don’t like the new version at all. I agree with the comments above stating that the new design is overcrowded and confusing, and this mostly due to the heavy adverts and the hell of a lot of small boxes on the left and right side. When I looked at it for the first time, I didn’t even know where exactly to look at, first.
I understand that you have to finance the whole project somehow but you may not sacrifice everything for this purpose. Place your ads and boxes intelligently.
That is:
Move all the small things and links like Podcast, RSS Widget, Android Network Awards, Android Road Trip, Download of the week to one place, preferably the left (or right) top. DON’T PUT ADS BETWEEN THEM!
Put all the “Recent xy” / “Latest xy” onto the other side and name and design them consistently. (“_Latest_ from Android Atlas” vs. “_Recent_ comments” vs. “_From_ Twitter”? Where is the icon in front of “recent comments”? Why is “Recent comments” bigger in terms of its font size than the rest?)
And again: DON’T PUT ADS BETWEEN ‘EM!
It’s that simple: The visitor doesn’t want to scroll till the end of his life to get the information he wants and he doesn’t like to get confused, either. If he’s constantly asking himself “Is this something important and related to the website or is it just an ad?”, you’re making it definitely wrong!
Therefore, make his life as easy as possible and place the boxes in a way which allows him to view everything important at once. He will thank you by clicking on adverts YOU BETTER PUT BELOW all the important stuff!
Last but not least I also read Engadget regularly and, sorry, they were better at placing the ads correctly.
Finally, not every change you made is bad (like the amazing footer; Why don’t you make the header black, too?) but people tend to see only the less amazing things. Keep up the good work!
p.s. I can hardly read the text I’m writing here because of the light gray text color. If I put the cursor on it (this hover effect), it’s better, yet still not perfect.
p.p.s Sorry for my English. I suppose half of my prepositions are wrong. Feel free to correct me cos I’m still learning.
Things are looking good guys. Keep it up
I have to scroll horizontally when I set my browser to 1024 pixels wide. While browser statistics will tell you that this only represents 36% of the viewers out there (probably larger dimensions in the tech sector), in the age of the Netbook, this is a no-no.
Not the end of the world, but file it under Web Design 101.
nice graphics and a layout but too much ads on here…
i like it simple and plain o.O
horrible horrible horrible. what’s with all the useless margins. all they do is take away reading space.
I think it looks good.
The adds are only there to help the users of the site and the contest that some of you have won.
Loving the feedback.
I’m having mixed feelings, I actually liked the last version the most. But as a fellow site owner, I understand when your site grows, you need to organize and group things accordingly. It’s a constant struggle of balancing aesthetics, readability, flow, ads and announcements.
Believe it or not, ads and announcements helps websites and users more than they annoy:
1. They alleviate financial offset for web servers, databases, design, development, and promotions costs.
2. People actually click on them because they either find them helpful, relevant or curiosity.
Like the new layout quite a bit, and genuinely hope you get a bit of cash back from the ads
I was browsing the mobile version of the site on my phone and switched over to the full version to see something. I was told I could switch back to the mobile version with a link in the footer. I see no link in the footer with the new version.
hello Taylor
We would like to ask you if it is possible to have a review of our game colorix!
what do we need to do or send ?
My best regards
Luis Barbosa
You probably should contact them via e-mail instead of this post regarding the new site layout.
I like the new site. Like others, I am not crazy about all the ads, but I want Android and Me to succeed. You were the first site to post a good, detailed guide to rooting and flashing custom ROMs and you don’t talk down to people who ask questions that experts at some forums consider stupid. I appreciate you guys!
Looks good…
Good work..keep it up
Guys: I must admit that I just happened across your site for the first time. In reference to the whiners and complainers about your new design, just ignore them. This is as good a site as I have seen since I bought my Hero and have been looking for Android websites. It’s really easy to sit on the sidelines and snipe at other people who are trying to be constructive and to contribute. Regarding the ads, my advice to the whiners is for them to try to run a website that’s worth anything without some sort of revenue. Further advice for the complainers: hit the back button and keep on going!
Nice!
Great design!
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