Now that our big 3.0 launch is out of the way, we'd like to discuss
some of our new features a little bit more in the coming days. We
planned to start off with the My Multiply page -- the place to see
everything shared in your network.
But before we do
that, we wanted to address some of the comments we've seen on our
latest blog announcing the launch. In particular, there have been lots
of questions about the new Settings page. There are definitely fewer
options on that page now than there were before, but that doesn't mean
we've removed anything.
Below, you'll see what our Settings
page used to look like. You could call it a 'one stop shop' for
tweaking your account's settings -- unless the setting you wanted to
use wasn't one of those listed on that page.
(Or at least an approximation thereof. Have a
look at the real thing here.)
So maybe you're wondering what
happened to Themes, Page Titles & Layout and Custom CSS. Don't worry,
they're safe. In fact, they're where one would probably expect them to
have to been in the first place. (Hint: go to your site and click
Customize. They're
all there.) To change your site title... just move your mouse over it
and click. Then type. It's that easy. Your Profile settings? Go to your... profile... and
click the aptly-titled... Edit
Profile.
In short, you still have as
much ability to customize Multiply as you ever have. We've just put the
options for doing so where they make the most
sense.
Side
note: One sticky point when it comes to making any change to a
long-running service like Multiply -- is that it may take a little time
to get used to. We make these changes with the best of
intentions -- we're certainly not trying to make Multiply more
confusing or harder to use. We're always looking to improve the service
and,
all things considered, we think we've done just
this.
that "streamlined" settings page was available to us when 3.0 came. It sure would have been nice to know that before it came along, preparing multiply users for minimal impact.
nonetheless, settings page is alittle easier to use now... however I find that the Themes can no longer be preview (as you can in the past).
Also with the cross-post feature in blogging don't work no more... certainly not with recent release of Blogger Beta.
yes more notice of amendments, 'things to come' would have been better for your members. I'm sure u would have had less complaints/comments if u did that weeks before you actually changed over, something for the future changes maybe?
the setting part seems ok to me.. the only problem is at the message board. the previous seems easy and user friendly,
i agree..i now find it hard to identify a post on my explore page if it's a photo album, music, review, link etc.. coz the icon / "post indicator" is located on the right side and it's just too far from the title of the post..
i would still prefer the old format and it's a much user friendly interface for me..and i don't find the headshot on the left of the name of the post useful.. the name of the person who posted it is indicated below the post anyway..
hope you can also workout on this... i just find the "My Site" redundant when i already have a link to my homepage above the "settings" and "logout"..
i now find it hard to identify a post on my explore page if it's a photo album, music, review, link etc.. coz the icon / "post indicator" is located on the right side and it's just too far from the title of the post..
To change your site title... just move your mouse over it and click. Then type. It's that easy.
It doesn't work for me. My site title is hidden using CSS. I need the old version back where I'm able to change page titles and welcome message right in the control panel ! .\_/.
i need home page content setting!!! cos i need to edit some photos or blogs displayed on my site.. where can i find it?? i did click on customized my site.....its not there..
bottomo wrote on Nov 15, '06, edited on Nov 15, '06
We need an Instruction Sheet in order to effectively use the new version to its full advantages. One guy said if this was the gallows he'd have to be strung-up five times before he got the hang of it. LOL
how to change the profile page ? what if u want to choose which article / journal u want to display it on the front page and which one you don't want it ?
superb..!!! anyway, can we switch back to the old version and new version as and when we want it till we familliar with it. Kinda handy for a new user like me... cheers and keep it up for a new freebies.
keep up the good work guys! the changes are really great.. but ever since 3.0 am still not able to post any content to multiply. i hope you'll look into it...FAST!! am getting frustrated ... peace =)
thats cool. thanks for the explantion. One feedback. Maybe you can create one post called “Multiply 3.0 FAQ”. I am sure you had some common questions already from past three posts. If there is a new common questions come up, you can update the post again. So, people don’t have to ask (and to answer) same question & same answer many times. Cheers.
rezashakiba wrote on Nov 16, '06, edited on Nov 16, '06
I must say that your first strategy to enable user to manage all settings from one page, is more convenient and standard way than distributing them to the whole site.
Please notice that there is no conflict between them, if you want, you could have both, but remember the "Settings Page" is the configuration interface of your system. Then it has two roles at the same time:
Help users to found what options are available to them and
provide means to change and preview the result (if applicable) and then save the changes
Then it is a good practice to have all settings available in "settings page" no matter whether or not, you already provided some other methods to change them in other locations.
Another point about this page is its role in user manuals and user help systems. As you know, there are many groups and blog entries already referencing some parts of the old "settings page". Then it is also a best practice to avoid changing the most referenced parts of your system in manuals published before.
Also notice that any customizable system need to differentiate "User View" from "Design View". Starting with active boxes appeared in home page, that makes some confusing for new users, Multiply starts to merge and combine these two views. Then users see the end result, and at the same time, they have chance to edit/customize the web site elements. It is wonderful and also very intuitive way, but you should notice that anything has its price.
Just consider the latest comments about "how to" questions and the way people trying to help each-other:
"Go to the your Home Page, you need to be in Boxes View, then point your mouse to the title, then some links would be appeared, then click Hide... "
"I hide it, but if I want to come them back?"
"OK, look at the right margin..."
"Settings Page" must give us the same abilities with some straight forward and reference-able links. Then any help and support discussions could be done in this way:
"Go to here and set this to this"
Please avoid changing the here, the this and this , if it is possible. It would help to survive many already written user guides and discussions.
What's with the checkbox to Disable the mouse-over mini profiles? I've checked it, to stop them and to speed things up... the damned things still pop up!
triple wrote on Nov 16, '06, edited on Nov 16, '06
ok i got your point but anyway why do you put some settings farer away??? I need more clicks, more time and more orientation to get to some settings!! I don't get that. It's nice to have settings where they may be make the most sense but from my point of view it is even better to have all the settings on one site where you can access everything. You have a good overview of you possibilities and fast access to them.
Furthermore I hate it, that I have to edit my site title directly on my site. That is very easy, YES, but is easy good in this case?? I think NO!! On my site the title needs two lines with the possibility to edit it right there. In the first place I thought: Damn it why do I have less space now for my title. It took me some time to figure out that the title still needs just one line when I open my site without being logged in. So from now on I have to have a look at my site without being logged in all the time to check if everything fits and is at the right place. Sorry but that's ridiculous :(. Easier made it more difficult here.
You're doing a GREAT job... Some folks just don't like change... I love the new look, and I love the flexibility right from the front page! Well done! Keep doing a great job! =D
i think having everything in one page is better but it's ok, i like discovering new functions everyday. :) thanks for taking the time out to explain. they are right, maybe next time, just inform us before hand before making the changes. :)
Please visit the Multiply Users & Developers group. A lot of times the problem you have been facing has already been posted there by someone else. If not, post a description of your problem there. A lot of experienced and knowledgeable users participate in the group, and respond with useful information.
If your problem is not solved there, please contact customer service (or use the 'Contact Us' link at the bottom of every page) and explain your problem as clearly as possible.
i'm okay with the 3.0...i find it userfriendly than the old one although having hard time the first day it was introduced..but, practice makes perfect ;p
I really like this new version. Feels like I've just moved into a new, fully-automatized home. Took a little getting-used-to at the beginning, but after a couple of clicks, everything really is nicer and easier.
When I upload photos to a new photo album, it got published immediately even though there were more photos to be uploaded (I didn't click "save" or anything), which is a very bad idea because I've only uploaded 1/10 of the photos and my friends would think that was all the photos I've got to show.
And, how do I setup the cover photo now? Please don't tell me that I have to drag that photo all the way to the first position of the photo album.
seems like its a lot more difficult to post pictures. i posted one and it has the title but when i went to "My Multiply", it says that my new picture post has "No Subject" although i put a title to it. the edit function also seems to have lost lots of functions that were very useful.
If your Home Page is in Linear (Blog) view, you could not able to edit Welcome Page, then first set your Home Page to Box View, then go to your home page, point mouse to the Welcome area, then click on Edit link that would be appeared
I found both : not so friendly and friendly. I would suggest that Multiply regarded for active users but not familiar with programming. I bet most of users here love Multiplay because so easy. If anything survey or opinion about v3.0 will benefit Multiply by asks the common users about this services.
i like the new look and feel of the whole site. but there's one problem that i'm finding quite unpleasant. the alignments of the headings, the nav bar, and the like are off on each multiply page i view, even my own. when you customize your own theme, the alignments are off. but if you use the pre-made themes, all the headings, links and everything else look immaculate. i hope there's something you people can do about this.
better yet, change it back to the old layout. its much simpler that way, and don't worry, all your members are used to it. but if you are gonna keep these changes, just make sure you covered every aspect of the changes you're making. the little details are quite hard to fix now that you've changed layouts. but nonetheless, i still am very happy with multiply.
PEOPLE. When I actually clicked to change the title of my site, it disappeared. SO What do i click on now? i cant even change my site title. help me please. whats the link for the old way on how to change the site title? please help me.
Help needed!!!!! How to delete the following item in my playlist?
Hi there, i have problems delete away the items in this playlist can i delete away,Cos i loaded the wrong songs and i start to load the playlist name is no longer is No1 can you help me delete away everything in the playlist or can you teach me how to do it. Thank you
Playlist Name: Description:
Which songs should be included in this playlist? Jing Jing De Harlem Yu Cheng Qing Stay-(Acoustic Ver) Stay-(Acoustic Ver) Yin Hu Yin Hu Stay-(Acoustic Ver) Wo Ai Ni Zhi Ai Ni 2 Stay-(Acoustic Ver) Stay-(Acoustic Ver) Try To Remember Brothers four Yin Hu Stay-(Acoustic Ver) Gong
Where i can find Home Page Content???new setting not complete...I lost some files...I want old features..... I hide Music bar from the menu how to bring it back again?
skysenshi wrote on Nov 24, '06, edited on Nov 24, '06
The pictures I upload keep getting auto-rotated by Multiply and when I fix them back to the way they should look (using Multiply's rotation tool), they get stretched to grotesque proportions.
I've tried using a number of Multiply's upload tools to see if it would fix the problem but they still keep auto-rotating my pictures.
It wasn't this difficult to upload pictures before...
please help...... i can't seem to be able to do my editing..... whenever i click customise, it just promt to the Settings page & i can't do changes to my site..............
how do u change the music on your homepage? i'm also confused with this one. i can't access my own personalization of the homepage either. can u teach me?
Because I cannot (now) access the CSS that I had personally customised, (with colours etc) I cannot adjust one thing. (i.e. I wanted to change the background colour of the 'links' from black) It says because we can't access the CSS anymore, we just click on Customise My Site. I did that, and it just gives the beginning of a NEW Custom CSS. I need my old one :( I do not know html code. I spent a lot of time very careful studying WHERE to change the colour codes etc and copying and pasting bits I needed...and now I can't get that customised CSS that I did. :(
How do you change the layout of the other pages? Like the Photos page... I want to change the display into table. I used to change that in Page Titles & Layout from the Settings page.
As for the User Lists, I have to click on new blog entry and click on Manage User Lists link (which is hard for new users to find). Can it be brought back to the Settings page? The old Settings page isn't that complicated to use before.
I love your site and the wonderful music available. I would also like to meet others who share my interest. Celon Dion, Bette Middler to name just a few. The only problem I encounter is that your site seems a bit slow to open and downloading takes a little longer. I am on broadband with NTL World at a speed of 2 MB download. Also I would like to exchange correspondence with a charming lady around 50? I live in York England
I couldn't access with easy cause the tools in my block is not complete compare with the others who have icon for recipes to post I like the old version because it is much easier to operate.
Well, for the most part I'm well impressed by the site updates, but the new "streamlined" settings panel would have to be one thing with which I am not happy with. Where before one could make all the changes to both profile and account setting from one place, now one is sent all over the place. It makes it much more difficult to introduce new people to the site and to guide them through getting a half-decent profile set-up. It may look tidier, but all-in-all it is less efficient.
The other thing I have noticed is that now many people lack a direct link to their profile from their homepage. Now some of us will know how to access a profile directly via the URL bar, but this change will be the cause of confusion for many others around here. Might I suggest it be re-added to the sidebar as well to make life easier all around??
the setting part seems ok to me.. the only problem is at the message board. the previous seems easy and user friendly, 
i just find the "My Site" redundant when i already have a link to my homepage above the "settings" and "logout"..
