Do you think software / websites are getting worse?

James · Jan 29, 2023

So, I’ve seen many websites get massive re designs (often by Google), or they get discontinued, and often they leave this process looking worse, being harder to use, or lacking in features they used to have. For example, opensuse. Completely removed their main selling point. Youtube, studio still lacking features that used to be available, Google, I used to be able to set an exact image dimension.

Then in terms of software, I prefer the looks of yesteryear Firefox, or even 2017 chrome, in fact all software I seem to prefer the older models of. Including windows (7 is a favourite)

So am I mad for this? Let me know by voting on this poll and / or replying your thoughts.

Hazel123 · Jan 29, 2023

They're probably all trying to keep up with the latest gadgets and be mobile friendly. Some websites have always been rubbish - supermarket ones in particular!

FrancoDT · Jan 29, 2023

I think it's gotten harder for a lot of software designers to keep up with the constantly evolving operating system now. They're always playing catchup.

Berton · Jan 29, 2023

This is one time that consideration of what is happening on Twitter, Tik-Tok and Facebook may put other changes in life in perspective, some may be good, many will not be.

Edwin · Jan 29, 2023

I find it extremely annoying visiting a site that is showcasing one stinking product but, you have to scroll down for about 8 miles, through a plethora of full page super-animations, cascading over each other, til you get to any pertinent information!
Just show me one decent picture of the product, the availability and price right underneath..., that's all I need!

Edwin · Jan 29, 2023

Gotta love the sites that track your cursor movement...

RJARRRPCGP · Jan 29, 2023

I seem to run into web sites that track menu clicks that have nothing to do with clicking on an ad, or just mouse movement.

I've ran into one that knows the mouse pointer is near the close button. Those are most likely pesky JS-es.

abactuon · Jan 29, 2023

For me, the symbol of design remains Norton Commander.
After switching from mainframes with alphanumeric displays to the new devices, it looked much better.
There's not that big of a change now.
The icons in Windows 11 are slightly better than before.

flashh4 · Jan 29, 2023

I hate the ones that want to install cookies & a pop-up just before you leave saying "Wait before you go ....... "

Haydon · Jan 30, 2023

I am appalled that no matter how much tracking prevention you do, they can still track you

It's not so much the annoying targeted ads that they send your way, it's the fact that they are able to target you at all

Edit: If that happens in the real world, then they would get a restraining order for stalking and harassment

jimbo45 · Jan 30, 2023

I really hate those that say "logon to calculate what xxx is worth" etc --then it prompts for registration and then someone will "offer to phone back".

I was checking out some "Equity Release" sites in the UK for a friend -- DON'T DO IT -- It's a massive con. They will lend money at well over current interest rates etc etc -- before you know it your 400,000 EUR bit of real estate is worth 97,000 EUR !!!!! (Or equiv in GBP / USD etc).

My other pet hate is hideous music or video when just logging on -- Lovely if you are browsing the internet in a public Library etc !!!!!

Cheers
jimbo

TairikuOkami · Jan 30, 2023

Considering that webpages/software copy designs from Windows to keep consistency, we have MS to thank for it.
As since MS has introduced round corners on square monitors, needless to say more? And MS continues layoffs.

Microsoft And Amazon To Layoff A Total Of 28,000 Employees - Why We Are Seeing Some Of The Highest Layoffs In Tech History

Microsoft and Amazon are the latest tech companies to announce major layoffs. Here’s what it means for workers and investors.

www.forbes.com

TVeblen · Jan 30, 2023

I believe that the group-think in the industry is that software and websites need to be designed to be functional primarily on phones and tablets. A lot of what I dislike about new versions is exactly those features.

I developed and maintain the website for my business, and I have a Google Business profile, and monthly Google sends me notices that my website has problems, like the famous "the clickable elements are too closely spaced". If I followed all their advice my site would basically look just like every other website you see, which loops us back to statement A above.

jimbo45 · Jan 31, 2023

TVeblen said:
I believe that the group-think in the industry is that software and websites need to be designed to be functional primarily on phones and tablets. A lot of what I dislike about new versions is exactly those features.

I developed and maintain the website for my business, and I have a Google Business profile, and monthly Google sends me notices that my website has problems, like the famous "the clickable elements are too closely spaced". If I followed all their advice my site would basically look just like every other website you see, which loops us back to statement A above.

Hi there.
provided you are not doing anything illegal and not exceeding whatever "reasonable traffic allowance" they deem fit why on earth should google or anybody else have any say over your website unless you allow specific comments.

You've paid for the hosting -- it's YOUR business and should be 100% under your control. Nothing wrong with accepting suggestions but that should not be "un-solicited" comments from the Host provider.

Cheers
jimbo

Ghot · Jan 31, 2023

This should be worth a read...

The DOJ sues Google for ad dominance, wants to break company up

US trust-busters want to take the DoubleClick out of Google.

arstechnica.com

DOJ = Dept. of Justice (for any out-of-towners)

United States Department of Justice - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

jimbo45 · Jan 31, 2023

Ghot said:
This should be worth a read...

The DOJ sues Google for ad dominance, wants to break company up

US trust-busters want to take the DoubleClick out of Google.

arstechnica.com

DOJ = Dept. of Justice (for any out-of-towners)

United States Department of Justice - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The US DOJ is actually Dept of INjustice.

It's just BIG MONEY, and a load of expensive lawyers -- not the basic "Ham and Eggers"who are attempting to provide a reasonable service to poor individuals who for one reason or another have fallen foul of the U.S justice system.

On the whole the US is democratic but woe betide you if you accidentally fall the wrong side of the law.

I remember in the U.S when there was a nationwide 55 MPH speed limit (approx 87 kph) and I was stopped on XMAS Day of all days between San Francisco and L.A for doing around 110 Kph (approx 70 mph) on an almost empty freeway

I didn't as a visitor know of that law --and even in those days on a XMAS day it cost me over 500 USD to avoid being brought to jail, spending 3 days there and to get any sort of bail.

The local Sheriff was some real red-neck from Bakersfield or somewhere gloating in the fact "I've got an Icelander -- let's see how he does in an overnight stay in a jail".

I have to say that the US lawyer who got me out of all this trouble was a HUGE Black guy even by my standards -- Scandi's are quite large anyway !!! who should have been a QB in the U.S NFL who I still communicate directly with. I got my 500 USD back -- the lawyer said -- great to have you on a CV !!, !!!!

I see also a lot complaining in the US about "Clearway Lawyers" -- are they as bad as appears on the web.

Cheers
jimbo

ThrashZone · Jan 31, 2023

Hi,
All you need to see is Xenforo and know it's going to likely be bloated crap and how bad depends on how much the owner sold out it's visitors.

Prime example of bloated crap

Overclock.net

A forum community dedicated to overclocking enthusiasts and testing the limits of computing. Come join the discussion about computing, builds, collections, displays, models, styles, scales, specifications, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!

www.overclock.net

James · Jan 31, 2023

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
All you need to see is Xenforo and know it's going to likely be bloated crap and how bad depends on how much the owner sold out it's visitors.

Prime example of bloated crap

Overclock.net

A forum community dedicated to overclocking enthusiasts and testing the limits of computing. Come join the discussion about computing, builds, collections, displays, models, styles, scales, specifications, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!

www.overclock.net

Instantly got 4 pop ups from that. This site uses xenforo yet a highly optimised and in my opinion very good example of it. No popups and easy to use. Props to @z3r010 for creating such a good site when ones like that could’ve been made…

z3r010 · Jan 31, 2023

ThrashZone said:
All you need to see is Xenforo and know it's going to likely be bloated crap and how bad depends on how much the owner sold out it's visitors.

Xenforo is one of the least bloated forum software out there, the site you linked is using the Foro platform that used XF as a base and then screwed it up.