DU4 is terrific!

[PJMcK]

Great work by EarlG and the other Administrators!

You folks keep this site modern and smooth.

Well done! I'm making another contribution right now. Well deserved.

[senseandsensibility]

1. I'm not clicking on it

until I'm sure it will work for me. It's probably great, but I'm not that tech savvy and I LOVE DU as it is. Is there an option to go back if you don't like it?

[apcalc]

4. I hope so!

[EarlG]

5. Nothing untoward is going to happen if you click on it

You can return to the current site at any time by simply going to "www.democraticunderground.com" instead of "du4.democraticunderground.com"

[senseandsensibility]

6. Thanks for this

And thanks for providing DU for us for all these years!

[Celerity]

13. So, on DU4 we still have to manually format each post?

We still have to manually add all the hyperlinks into the test, manually bold text, manually add italics, manually add pic and video links, etc?

I was so hoping we could just copy and paste from a website and all that would be auto-formatted, like it is on most of my other chat boards.

[EarlG]

17. Yup, sorry

We’ve added some additional formatting options but otherwise the way posts are created has not changed.

We did spend quite a bit of time trying to see if we could modernize the post form but for a number of technical reasons it became apparent that it would be too difficult. Maybe on DU5…

[Celerity]

25. thanks for the reply Earl

I was so hoping that would be the main upgrade, as it is so tedious to correctly format lot of my OPs and replies (which I almost always do).

cheers

Cel

[tavernier]

30. Sure would be great to have easy access to pic and video

but then I would probably be the crazy cat and dog and grandkid photo lady so it’s just as well.

[nolabear]

8. It's very simple. You'll like it, I promise.

It’s prettier, clearer, your stuff is right where you can see it, it has a rec button, but mostly it’s just a better version of the same.

[senseandsensibility]

41. Thanks!

Sounds great!

[MuseRider]

53. WOW! I just noticed the REC at the bottom of the posts!

I gave you a REC and it worked. That is awesome!

[zuul]

34. You can still use the old format.

At least for now anyway. I clicked the link this morning for DU4 for the first time. Yet every time I have logged on since, it pops up in the old format. I still have to click on the link for DU4 every time I log in if I want to use the new version. At least that’s how it works for me.

[senseandsensibility]

42. Really?

I wonder if that's true for everyone. Anyway, I wouldn't mind that.

[Warpy]

46. Oh, they moved your food dishes around

but everything is still there.

I haven't found any real glitches.

[FSogol]

2. I heard there is a "pumpkin spice" option slated for the Fall.

[redqueen]

3. Thanks for reminding me to try it

Love it for dark mode alone

Seriously though it's nice - mich cleaner and more up-to-date look, sleek design. Big thumbs up.

[bamagal62]

7. Please explain the difference.

Because, long ago, Daily Kos changed their format and I HATED it. I never went back and haven't been back there in years. It was all because the format was not easy to read or sort through topics. Worst decision they ever made, IMO.
I would love to know what to expect before I change. Also, is it different depending on whether you have an Apple or a regular windows PC? And, as was asked above...can you go back if you don't like it? Thanks!

[moonscape]

9. You can go back easily. My only

problem is smaller font that makes it harder for me to read . But then, my aged eyes aren’t the greatest.

[Think. Again.]

14. For some reason I find it easier to read.

[moonscape]

19. Really? Is the font the same

size or larger for you? Or smaller works better? Inquiring minds because it’s a distressing issue for me.

[Think. Again.]

22. I can't tell for sure...

...if the font is actually bigger but it sure seems like it is.

I wear reading glasses for any screen work but this just feels better.

It might be because I have it set to the dark background mode?

[moonscape]

26. Where is the dark mode setting? I looked for

it but couldn’t find.

[sheshe2]

29. Go to my stuff then account settings...scroll down.

[moonscape]

44. Thanks sheshe2 ... my dork self

found it and yes it is better! I can read the forum again now

[moonscape]

28. Found it :). Duh!

[Think. Again.]

32. Is it better for you now in Dark Brandon mode?

[moonscape]

45. Definitely! Thanks :). Not quite as good

for me but way better! Would still prefer larger font because the black on grey is not as much contrast, but I have macular degeneration so am a minuscule sample size

Edit: black on grey is only in reply box so easily livable! White on black is great.

[Think. Again.]

47. I see what you mean...

I can see where this black on grey could be a challenge.

(Did you pick up on my 'Dark Brandon Mode' joke? I had a miserable day so my sense of humor is shot, but I thought Dark Brandon Mode was appropriate for this site.)

[moonscape]

62. Love the Dark Brandon - your humor is not

the slightest shot

[EarlG]

56. I just tried brightening up the grey background in the reply box

I didn't want to go too far because I don't want it to be overly bright for night mode, but is that any better?

Another possibility would be to go the other way and use a dark background and light fonts, like the rest of the site. I wasn't sure if that would make composing posts more difficult though. But we could try it.

FWIW I'm definitely going to be working on a "larger fonts" option for DU4.

[moonscape]

60. Yes, better, but

with the smaller font + reduced contrast it’s still not easy. That said, I’m a very small minority with my particular vision issue. Brilliant that a larger font option is on your radar. TYTY . That might well compensate for reduced contrast in addition to helping overall.

[sheshe2]

27. Have you tried the dark mode?

Black background with white letters. Much easier on my eyes!

[awesomerwb1]

10. I guess I'm screwed bc I don't like it

Everything is a LOT bigger. The reply text window is now huge. Where it would take me a couple mouse wheels to scroll down a page it now takes multiple. A thread with a lot of replies would take a lot longer.

It's awful for me, but we all have different tastes.

[Think. Again.]

15. Just remember that...

...you aren't stuck with it if you don't like it.

You can always just us the prior format and still get all the great features (except a 'rec' button for replies and a few extra text style things!)

[awesomerwb1]

21. I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.!

[Think. Again.]

24. .

[Raine]

20. I don't like it either

took a look at it and went back to what I've been using and will stay on it.

[hunter]

11. As someone who still uses a flip phone with physical buttons...

... and rarely uses touch screens of any sort, I'm not sure I grock it.

[NutmegYankee]

12. I don't like it. I use the classic mode that goes full screen width.

I can't find any option that does that.

[Think. Again.]

16. I like it. A lot...

I find it easier to read, use, and understand.

The difference might be that I use either my phone or a tablet to hang out at DU, and I find this new format much better for those types of devices than the previous version.

I don't think I've ever opened DU on my laptop, I wonder what it would look like there...

[ChazII]

35. I use my laptop for DU

but not my cell phone. I am finding both the old DU and DU4 easy to read.

[unc70]

18. I have issues with DU4

I mostly use DU with an iPhone Pro 13. The new format wastes nearly half the available screen real estate. That means browsing new posts requires nearly twice the time and effort. Old style displays shows about ten posts at a time; DU4, only 5-6.

The white space and button formatting interrupts the visual processing required of the readers. I have not done a systematic analysis of things like eye motion, etc. My issues may be interactions with my other settings and preferences.

[AwakeAtLast]

58. I love it on my phone!

It's much easier to read for me, but I have my screen set to show the largest text (by orders of my optometrist).

[unc70]

59. I use enlarged text, but only up 1 or 2 settings

[marle35]

65. Agree 100%

There are some things I like about the new version. You can rec comments and are now able to change font size in certain web browsers. But there is a lot of extra space requiring more time and effort scrolling.

[Bettie]

23. It's going to take a bit for me to get used to it

I am a creature of habit, but I am finding stuff acceptably quickly.

I don't like that the "My stuff" button keeps flashing. It is distracting.

[EarlG]

37. The "My Stuff" button can be changed

Go to My Stuff > Account Settings and scroll down to the "My Stuff" notifications section. There are a number of other options to choose from.

[Bettie]

50. Thanks!

I knew there was an answer!

[FreeState]

31. I hate the mobile version

The desktop GUI is great - the mobile is too large and clunky. There is no way to tell it to use one view on Mobile and on Desktop (e.g. Skinner version for mobile and default for desktop).

[EarlG]

38. Currently you cannot use different modes on different devices

However, I'm not going to rule that out as an option. It should be possible.

[FreeState]

54. Thanks - it will be nice with the new features

Regardless - there is alway more to optimize

[mitch96]

33. Not a fan of DU4. Especially the pulsing blue box. Would that set off a seizure?

I use a laptop..
m

[EarlG]

39. See this post above

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218248731#post37

[mitch96]

55. Tnx!..nt

[Pathwalker]

36. How can I get back to DU3?

Help!

[EarlG]

40. Just type www.democraticunderground.com into your browser's address bar

It will take you right back to DU3.

Edited to add: If you want to keep trying DU4 but make it look like DU3, do this:

On DU4, go to My Stuff > Account Settings

Scroll down to Visual appearance

Select Skinner Mode and click Save all settings

[Pathwalker]

43. THANK YOIU!!!

[Ohio Joe]

51. I've not checked it out yet but...

Skinner mode… Intentional or not… That is hilarious

[masmdu]

48. Put back "Around DU.... Editorials and General Discussion" sections on the front page

That is always my first stop on DU for a sampling of what's going on.... Please put it back!

[peggysue2]

49. Love it!

It's open and clean and much easier on the eyes. Also easy to navigate.

Nicely done! to the design, code and installation crew.

You guys did good!

[Takket]

52. couple questions...

Seems to be working well but every few clicks the template doesn't seem to load. I think that's the right word? Basically the site is just a wall of text. I had this issue on DU3 a few months ago too and I know others did but eventually it just went away (got fixed).

Also I miss the yellow tab that tells me there are replies to me being right there on the page. It seems this is up in the "My Stuff" area now?

And thanks for the dark mode at last!!!

[EarlG]

57. Yeah quite a few people are experiencing this on and off I'm afraid

It's not a bug per se, more of a server issue related to the fact that we're running this on a test server with a lot fewer visitors. Unfortunately it's not something we can easily resolve at the moment. The solution for most people is to simply reload the page and in most cases that fixes it. If it doesn't fix it immediately, unfortunately you may have to wait a few minutes.

The "Posts" notification is now up in the My Stuff button. It will light up when you have new replies, new subscriptions, or new DU Mail.

You can customize the way the My Stuff button works by going to My Stuff > Account Settings, then scroll down to the "My Stuff" notifications section to see your options.

[Arthur_Frain]

61. This does play a lot smoother on my iPhone SE.

Very slick, very clean.

Well done.

[ismnotwasm]

63. As with anything,I need a little time to get used to it

I use a phone and an iPad over my computer and so far,so good

[flamingdem]

64. The font size is too small!!

My eyes are not happy about that.

How about some ability to change the text size.

It's too big of a change in my opinion.

Small text size feels low energy to me.

I ignore small text because it's too much effort to read.