New weather page layout.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 23:04

Poll is now closed and an alternative solution has been implemented.

I am experimenting with a new layout for the WizTV weather page:

New:

Old:

This started off mainly as an exercise to accommodate users in ACT / Canberra, however due to a number of technical details, I ended up with this design. Personally I prefer the less cluttered two column option.

jezza · Post by **jezza** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 05:32

Put newcastle in the the three clumn and I will be happy with the new design.

Cheers
jezza

brianh · Post by **brianh** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 05:56

I'm with you on the 2 columns being tidier, but I take it that the 3 columns will show all the choices without having to scroll? If that's so, maybe it's worth giving it a run for a while, I assume it could always be changed again down the track if desired. (no vote cast as it's a bet each way....

)

xnikx · Post by **xnikx** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 07:28

Personally I would like for Townsville to be on the front page. It still amazes me after all these years why the biggest city in North Queensland is always pushed to the side in favour of Cairns. Totally different weather

prl · Post by **prl** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 08:26

I think I prefer the simplicity of the 2-column layout.

If you go with the three-column layout, I'd prefer to see the state capitals all in the first column, and the ACT/NSW entry renamed NSW/ACT with Sydney in the first column and Canberra in the second, rather than alphabetical order.

In either case, does anyone think it would be a good idea to have a short list of major centres at the beginning of the list of locations at the next level down, followed by the remainder of the list?

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 08:28

Hi Peter,

I don't actually mind which way you decide to do this. Fewer entries on the screen make for a less cluttered screen but potentially mean that you need to add more screens or introduce scroll bars. More entries on the screen make the screen a little more busy but allow for faster more direct access to the information for more people.

In any case I hope you are able to bring forward your plans to have a default location (perhaps based on postal code) so that the first screen shown when you select the weather is for your default location and the above menus then become an optional link or button from the default location weather information.

Regards,
Ian.

download · Post by **download** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 08:33

Anyway you can't set the BW to remember the last choice? I'd imagine in 98% of the time users will select the same place. So keep the on screen count to a minimum if you like but just have the desired page as a default. Even if selecting the actual item is too difficult you should be able to send the 'page' info in a get request?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 09:01

WizTV is not a Wiz service, it is a server side service.
Regards

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 09:05

xnikx wrote:Personally I would like for Townsville to be on the front page. It still amazes me after all these years why the biggest city in North Queensland is always pushed to the side in favour of Cairns. Totally different weather

I was actually going for Townsville to start off with, but then chose Cairns because it is geographically further away from Brisbane. I was trying not to have geographically clustered location selections, but given the size of Queensland, Townsville vs Cairns...

I suppose I should have gone for Mt. Isa to keep off the coast.

I still have plans to allow you to choose your weather location, but this was part of a quick change to get Canberra on the screen.

download · Post by **download** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 09:10

tonymy01 wrote:WizTV is not a Wiz service, it is a server side service.
Regards

Understood. But in requesting the data you pull down you could put in default first views (e.g.):

http://wittv/weather/page[insert client saved value here].html

Regards

Peter Gillespie

xnikx · Post by **xnikx** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:18

peteru wrote:
xnikx wrote:Personally I would like for Townsville to be on the front page. It still amazes me after all these years why the biggest city in North Queensland is always pushed to the side in favour of Cairns. Totally different weather
I was actually going for Townsville to start off with, but then chose Cairns because it is geographically further away from Brisbane. I was trying not to have geographically clustered location selections, but given the size of Queensland, Townsville vs Cairns... I suppose I should have gone for Mt. Isa to keep off the coast.

I still have plans to allow you to choose your weather location, but this was part of a quick change to get Canberra on the screen.

You chose Cairns

Give yourself an uppercut

madmax · Post by **madmax** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:36

prl wrote:If you go with the three-column layout, I'd prefer to see the state capitals all in the first column, and the ACT/NSW entry renamed NSW/ACT with Sydney in the first column and Canberra in the second, rather than alphabetical order.

I voted for three, but I absolutely agree with this, state capitals should be in the first column and secondary cities in the second column.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 23:48

In the end, I ended up leaving the two column layout, but added a "Favourite weather location" at the top.

When you visit a weather page for a location, you can now use the FAV key to make it your favourite. Once you have done this, it will always appear at the top of the Wiz Weather list.