Site theme update for mobile devices

[BowhunterNJ]

Hey guys and gals!  Just a heads up the site will be adopting a new mobile theme (look and feel) to align with current mobile device viewing standards.  You'll notice the look and feel are likely very similar to other website mobile views as many sites have already adopted or are working towards similar standards.  Now you're probably wondering why make the change, and without getting too technical, it's a very important factor in how website's are ranked by search engines and therefore how they are discovered.  It will become more and more challenging to avoid adopting current standards (i.e. showing the "desktop view" by default).

Now I know not all of you like the mobile look and feel so you will have the option to select your preferred theme in a dropdown at the bottom of the page.  I have not forced the new theme update yet, but it is available for members to select and try out.  I encourage you to do so in order to get a feel for how it will look and navigate.  It will also prepare you for when the default is updated and you'll know where to change it if you'd like.

With all that said, here are the details!

 

The theme selection dropdown is located at the bottom of the page near the footer ad as seen here:

There are currently two options available:

1. NJW&W Responsive which automatically detects your device type and adjusts to mobile vs desktop viewing.  
2. NJW&W Desktop which forces the desktop view for both mobile and desktop viewing.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  NJW&W Responsive will be the new standard default for all members.  All members will be ported over to this shortly and will have to manually update their theme if they desire a "desktop view" all the time.

 

So what is the difference between the NJW&W Responsive and the NJW&W Desktop themes you ask?  Well, the primary difference is in the mobile viewing on devices such as phones, tablets, etc.

Here is the view for NJW&W Responsive and NJW&W Desktop, which is what you're currently used to seeing and will continue to see on a desktop computer or laptop.

 

Here is the "mobile view" for NJW&W Desktop, which is what you're also used to seeing on phones, tablets, etc (just a smaller version of the above):

 

And here is the "mobile view" for NJW&W Responsive, which is what is NEW for phones, tablets, etc:

This is a more standard way of navigating on mobile devices and you'll see common icons used by many sites, bigger buttons and links to assist with finger pressing/actions, etc.  I realize it's a bit of a change for many, but hopefully you'll see similarities between other sites and that will ease the transition.  You'll likely even feel it's similar to Tapatalk.

So that's the nuts and bolts of the update coming shortly.  Again, you'll be able to select the theme you want, it's just the default one for all guests, new users, etc that will be shifted to the NJW&W Responsive theme.  As always, any questions or comments, please let me know!

 

A Note About Ads on Mobile:

I am still working out the details with the ad network I use, so it will be a work in progress as we determine best placement with the new theme.  Bear with us during the transition, but this is an important part as well to keep this site going and growing for all the great members here!

 

 

 

[Black Bear Bowhunter]

I like the responsive!!

[BowhunterNJ]

1 minute ago, Black Bear Bowhunter said:

I like the responsive!!

Excellent!  I think most will like the responsive design as it is the more modern and common way to display sites on mobile devices, and the current trend many sites are following.  Hopefully it's an easy and preferred transition for most!

[Black Bear Bowhunter]

1 minute ago, BowhunterNJ said:

Excellent!  I think most will like the responsive design as it is the more modern and common way to display sites on mobile devices, and the current trend many sites are following.  Hopefully it's an easy and preferred transition for most!

Agreed. Was kinda hard with a phone or tablet to navigate the site. So much easier now.

 

Thanks!

[Greybeard]

Yup

[Flyarcher.X]

Is there an actual wood and water app?
I use the Tapatalk app [emoji1744]‍[emoji3601]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MGHunter66]

1 hour ago, Black Bear Bowhunter said:

I like the responsive!!

I LOVE IT TOO!!! Mobil view is back... yea baby

[Live to Hunt]

Sounds good keep us moving with the times

[BowhunterNJ]

18 minutes ago, Dynamicduojx said:

Is there an actual wood and water app?
I use the Tapatalk app ‍


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There isn't but that's something I can look into.  Apps are very popular, as most would rather click a dedicated app icon on a device (such as Tapatalk or Facebook) versus going to the browser and typing an address in or going to a bookmark.

[Flyarcher.X]

There isn't but that's something I can look into.  Apps are very popular, as most would rather click a dedicated app icon on a device (such as Tapatalk or Facebook) versus going to the browser and typing an address in or going to a bookmark.

I was just curious. I like the app because it sends me direct notifications. I’m going to assume the updates you were talking about are for using the web browser and not Tapatalk ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MGHunter66]

3 minutes ago, BowhunterNJ said:

There isn't but that's something I can look into.  Apps are very popular, as most would rather click a dedicated app icon on a device (such as Tapatalk or Facebook) versus going to the browser and typing an address in or going to a bookmark.

yes yes app us bro

[BowhunterNJ]

11 minutes ago, Dynamicduojx said:

I was just curious. I like the app because it sends me direct notifications. I’m going to assume the updates you were talking about are for using the web browser and not Tapatalk ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tapatalk is a third party app, nothing to do with this site or it's code.  I only register this site with Tapatalk and install their plugin so members can use Tapatalk to view this site.  It's actually not good for the site (from site's perspective) when members use Tapatalk, as Tapatalk gets the ad revenue, but it is convenient to use, so I get it.  The biggest downside to Tapatalk for members is that it is "forum only" viewing.  You can't see any of the other site features and could miss things that aren't posted in the forums directly.

Notifications wise, the site has them but they aren't push notifications like a mobile device.  They are just site sided notifications in the browser window and then you can get email notifications (which isn't nearly as convenient as push notifications).

 

11 minutes ago, maximus66 said:

yes yes app us bro

I will look into it!

[Kype]

I don't get any of this.  I view the website on my phone more times then computer. Everything looks the same. 

[thefirstndsecond]

Will the ads be removed in landscape view? I end up closing the pop up ads.

Do they disappear for paid subscription?

 

 

I really like the theme. Very easy to use on note 9. Love it nice work.

 

[BowhunterNJ]

46 minutes ago, Kype said:

I don't get any of this.  I view the website on my phone more times then computer. Everything looks the same. 

Right.  That's one camp, members who want an identical look and feel between desktop and mobile. The other camp is members who probably use other mobile apps and want that same mobile look and feel for all their mobile devices. 

 

38 minutes ago, thefirstndsecond said:

Will the ads be removed in landscape view? I end up closing the pop up ads.

Do they disappear for paid subscription?

 

 

I really like the theme. Very easy to use on note 9. Love it nice work.

 

Mobile will have other types of ads in between topics and posts.

The bottom sticky ad does get removed with the Premium NJW&W subscription.