Technology News, Analysis, Comments and Product Reviews for IT Professionals | ZDNet
Being a regular reader of ZDNet, I am very habituated to just notice the article content area and ignore the surroundings. So, I am not entirely sure when this change happened. But just now while reading articles on ZDNet I realized they have changed the layout and it is a very pleasing change.
The header area that I usually, never even looked at is now quite prominent and I am already using it for navigating the site.
The blog header banners, with authors pictures in it, that used to be "Huge" and dark and gloomy are now reduced in size with a pleasant blue gradient backdrop and a nice matching social toolbar below it.
The placement of various content has also changed and become more useful. Specially, the summary and topics section are more visible and easily reachable.
The only two things I didn't like were the Advertisement and the news letter subscription box.
The animated flash add on top right is a distraction while reading. Some may argue that the animation takes the readers attention and thats what advertisements are meant for. I say that I noticed that advertisement when I come on the page due it its animation, I didn't think it is any use to me so I didn't click, but the continuous animation is irritating. probably they can set certain specifications on how frequently the advertisement should animate or may be set it to animate only once or on window focus.
The advertisement placement makes business sense though. But I cannot understand why the news letter subscription box is "sooooo big" and placed at a place where ideally I will like to see, blog for sponsors/blog roll/ blog archive, that will generate quite a few reads and retain users for more time. I am already a ZDNet user and subscribed to all their mailing lists, why should so much real estate on my screen be given to a useless box!
It could have been small, 1/3rd its size placed where it is or even may be above the add as part of the extended banner.
But over all the new layout is very pleasing and useful! Good jobs folks!
Special mention - The complete comments in the message page itself was a very needed and very much welcome change! Saves a lot of time!
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