Welcome to MotoringFile 2.0

Sections: Site News Nov 7th, 2005 36 Comments

This is one of those stealth upgrades that most users probably won’t notice initially. However don’t let that fool you, this change is the largest we’ve made yet to the site. In fact it’s been in the planning stages for a year now. We’ve taken MF from the a proprietary weblog format designed and developed years ago by Matt to the renowned WordPress platform. In other words, MotoringFile has undergone a successful heart transplant.

If you’re not sure what exactly has changed, then we’ve done what we set out to do. While we’ve worked hard to make this transition as seamless as possible, there will undoutbedly be a few loose ends we’ll be tying up over the next few days. If you see anything that needs work shoot us an email via the contact link above.

The biggest change you’ll probably notice is the addition of categories. This will allow users to navigate specific sections of the site without resorting to the chronological based archives. You’ll be seeing more on categories in the coming weeks. The other big change you may also notice is the new comment format (don’t worry Markdown fans, if it’s not on yet, it will be soon). Otherwise most of the visible differences will show up in the form of seemingly small tweaks here and there that make the browsing of the site just a bit easier.

This upgrade sets the stage for the next version of MotoringFile which also has also been in the planning stages for quite sometime. In MotoringFile 2.5 (coming very soon) you’ll see quite a few visual tweaks to the site that take advantage of our new underpinnings.

Until then… enjoy!

Written By: Gabe

http://dbmini.us db

Congrats on the upgrade! Looking good!
Kyle

Everything looks good! Except…

change the font back to the old one!!
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

The font hasn’t changed except for the heads of each story. And even that should be pretty sublte.
Allan

Wow, this really is a subtle change.
JaCe

Wow good work… I don’t even notice the difference, except for the URL style… which I think changed?

Top work on making a layout/theme which looks exactly like before!
Edge

Nice job!

Gabe – suggested edit: visable -> visible
http://www.gbmini.net Ian C.

Gabe, have you set up forwarding from all the old URLs to the new – or are all the links into MF broken now?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Links should be fine.
http://www.motoringphotography.com David Bunting

Nice work guys. As always MF sets a standard for clean website design that others would be wise to take note of.
bipto

On my Mac using Firefox, the new headline font is noticeably different. More crowded and cramped feeling than before. I much prefer the last font (whatever it was).

Other then that, thanks for the awesome site. I never miss a day…
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

The font hasn’t changed. It’s just been kerned slightly.
Avitor

The body text is too small, I’ve got really, really good eyesight and it gets to even me after a while, have you considered something slightly larger?
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/ Josh Wardell

Great job, Gabe. The fact that everything looks the same and works shows just how much work you had to do behind the scenes.
GSKChicago

Nice job Gabe! It’s great to see that you are always striving to stay as cutting edge and fresh as possible. Too many sites out there, Blog and non-Blog, sit on designs for far too long and become stale. Kudos on the site as it is always my first stop in the morning.
Jon

Avitor,

if the text is too small, you can simply change the text size in YOUR browser…

It doesn’t look any smaller to me. Gabe, as always, good job.
http://www.gbmini.net Ian C.

When I click on “continued” from the main page, it used to take me to the top of the full story – today (for the GP analysis at least), it takes me part way down – to where it “continues”.

Is that deliberate? I realize that I should be reading the first bit on the main page, then continuing – but I have a habit of clicking “continue” then reading the whole story. Now I have to scroll up to get back to the top
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Ian – this is the default way WP deals with the continued link. We’ll be changing it back soon.
http://dbmini.us db

The body text is too small, IÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ve got really, really good eyesight and it gets to even me after a while, have you considered something slightly larger?

In Firefox at least (all flavors) you can press [ctrl +] to make the text larger or [ctrl -] to make the text smaller. This will only work on sites that have good code and follow the rules, much like Gabe has done with MF.
Bad Burro

Gabe -

Is the text color for your name (in the comments section) the same color of the new JCW GP???

Just wonderin…
http://www.nemini.org GMINI

i’m frightened. (just wanted to re-login)
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Is the text color for your name (in the comments section) the same color of the new JCW GP???

That’s just the link colors we’ve always used. Your name is blue when you list a website within the registration. Since my name’s link is MotoringFile, it appears visited (lighter) since you’ve obviously visited it :)
Chris M
Gabe,

For me, the old kerning on the headlines was better. It was a little more laid back, urbane, and smooth. One of the reasons I was attracted to the site was the headline typeface!

The new kerning is too hyper or too cute or something like that. Too 90s.

Just my opinion, of course.
- Chris M
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

For me, the old kerning on the headlines was better. It was a little more laid back, urbane, and smooth. One of the reasons I was attracted to the site was the headline typeface! The new kerning is too hyper or too cute or something like that. Too 90s. Just my opinion, of course.

LOL – i would say the exact opposite. The previous headlines were straight Arial (yes, the low rent Helvetica). Now the headlines are kerned (as little as is possible) and are a slightly larger version of Arial. If you follow web-trends (especially the design related sites), you’ll note that this is currently one of the most popular design trends out there.

And I have to say… I’ve been waiting to kern the hell out of this site for a long time :)
Chris M

Funny how different our perceptions are. But it’s your website, Gabe, so kern to your heart’s content :-)

I remember visiting the UK for the first time in the 1970s, and noticing immediately that the typefaces on ads and public signs were much more kerned than their counterparts in the US. So perhaps this is fitting for a site devoted to an English icon like the Mini.
David

Looks great. Loads lots faster in my browser. No complaints here. Nice job!
http://www.gbmini.net Ian C.

Todays comments: Maybe now that the MINI event has gone, we can return to clicking anywhere on the banner to get back to the home page?

Also, the font today seems too big – it overflows untidily to the second line on todays top story “MINI Plant Construction to Cause Shortage?” (not on the main page, but in the individual page)
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Maybe now that the MINI event has gone, we can return to clicking anywhere on the banner to get back to the home page?

Not quite yet.. :)

Also, the font today seems too big – it overflows untidily to the second line on todays top story ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œMINI Plant Construction to Cause Shortage?ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â (not on the main page, but in the individual page)

Yes, the title font has gotten bigger on each page. This is part of the new look all around the site. The titles will usually just wrap to a second line now due to the change.
http://dcmini.blogspot.com/ DanC

It was also nice to know who the author was for each entry. That seems to have been omitted with this update. But organizing the posts into the appropriate “sections” is nice.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

It was also nice to know who the author was for each entry. That seems to have been omitted with this update. But organizing the posts into the appropriate ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œsectionsÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â is nice.

Dan – the author is listed at the end of the article on ach article page (instead of on the main page).
http://bravo5.org/blog blalor

Google ads in the RSS feeds, eh? Hrm.

I’m not trying to pick a fight here, but the fonts have definitely changed; I’m using Safari 2.0.2 on OS X 10.4.3 and I think the fonts are bigger across the board, most noticeably where each comment starts (“Gabe Nov 8th, 2005 Link”).

Is this what you’re seeing?

Oh, and a comment preview would be nice. ;-)
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Comment previews are hopefully coming.

Yes that’s the correct size (that type looks pretty damn good on a Mac eh?). Call it MotoringFile eXtreme! if you like :) Again just trying to give the site a slightly more modern look. Larger headers, subheads, more kerning, more varied colors within the text, etc etc….
Angelo

Gabe,

I ran into one minor problem. The Continued link no longer appears as a link on my BlackBerry. I have to scroll to the article title to see the rest of the article. Hope that can be fixed.

Angelo
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Wow… that’s a strange one. I’ll look into it. Thanks Angelo.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

For those that emailed me, yes the header image is no longer rotating. We hope to get it working soon.

Updated: Fixed
http://whitemaleconsumer.com Zeke

Congrats. Now you need to start installing some plug-ins (ie. gravatars)…

Just kidding.

(?)
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