Bring back the old Last.fm » Discussions

It's not the design, it's the functionality...

- resuna said...
- User
- 17 Aug 2008, 12:26
It's not the design, it's the functionality...

The biggest missing functionality for me is the old dashboard. When I looked at the old dashboard I would see a list of what friends had been playing recently, organized just like my recent music. I wrote to last.fm pointing out that this was missing and specifically pointing out that the new site does NOT give me that same "this is what my friends are listening to" list. Their response was to point me to the friends page (as if I hadn't seen it, when I'd commented on it in my message).

I don't care about the style or layout, I just want my missing functionality back.

[quote][b][user]resuna[/user][/b] said: The biggest missing functionality for me is the old dashboard. When I looked at the old dashboard I would see a list of what friends had been playing recently, organized just like my recent music. I wrote to last.fm pointing out that this was missing and specifically pointing out that the new site does NOT give me that same "this is what my friends are listening to" list. Their response was to point me to the friends page (as if I hadn't seen it, when I'd commented on it in my message). I don't care about the style or layout, I just want my missing functionality back.[/quote]

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- Asgorath777 said...
- User
- 17 Aug 2008, 16:44
The functionality and usability have been broken due to bad design but it seems the last.fm staff just thinks "pretty == good" and any criticism towards that is ignored.

It also shows you the lack of professionalism of the website and how it's basically a hobby project that got out of control with to much financial backing atm. Any first year ICT student who learns about GUI design can tell you that the most important thing about an application is that it meets the users desires and allows the user to do what they want. Not the developers. Usually some projects from the 70ties or 80ties are used as examples of bad GUI or software design where the developers where so wrapped up with their project they forgot the users. Hey they could use it, but their actual target audience of users could not. I guess last.fm kind of missed that memo and desired to go back to the old ways of developing... if the developers can use it it's good, who cares about usability and functionality as desired by the actual target users? pfffft :)

(dutch gaming blog)

[quote][b][user]Asgorath777[/user][/b] said: The functionality and usability have been broken due to bad design but it seems the last.fm staff just thinks "pretty == good" and any criticism towards that is ignored. It also shows you the lack of professionalism of the website and how it's basically a hobby project that got out of control with to much financial backing atm. Any first year ICT student who learns about GUI design can tell you that the most important thing about an application is that it meets the users desires and allows the user to do what they want. Not the developers. Usually some projects from the 70ties or 80ties are used as examples of bad GUI or software design where the developers where so wrapped up with their project they forgot the users. Hey they could use it, but their actual target audience of users could not. I guess last.fm kind of missed that memo and desired to go back to the old ways of developing... if the developers can use it it's good, who cares about usability and functionality as desired by the actual target users? pfffft :)[/quote]

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- Infamous_Bread said...
- User
- 17 Aug 2008, 20:09
I miss my happy place

I agree with both of you. I (used to) check the dashboard SPECIFICALLY to see what my friends & weekly neighbors were listening to.

Yes, that can be done now with some scrolling & clicking, but it just shows you one song for each person. If you want to see anymore, you gotta go to their page.
Screw that.

I used it for that, to find new music from what others were listening to, and as an exciting OCD way to see what I listened to over time & make sure it was labeled correctly! I checked in every waking hour some days.
That's my (old) last.fm happy experience in a nutshell.

It doesn't seem to fit my needs as well for that, which is basically my loss; I realize making me happy is not the aim of these dudes in an office across the ocean or possibly here in some CBS office or whoever wherever.

I gave some thought to what the site seems best for now, what would be its appeal to new users - - and I guess it's mainly to be online radio, with a social networking gimmick to it. I guess this is a good business thing because, duh, songs play, and people get paid.

But it's just not fun (for me) anymore.

I used to rave to friends, strangers, message boards, etc. about how much I loved this site.
Now I wince inside everytime I decide to check in.

What good is to be had from me writing this? Probably nothing, *****I just needed to take my turn to vent.***** Who the hell else in my real life would care or understand?

Have a happy day! :D

[quote][b][user]Infamous_Bread[/user][/b] said: I agree with both of you. I (used to) check the dashboard SPECIFICALLY to see what my friends & weekly neighbors were listening to. Yes, that can be done now with some scrolling & clicking, but it just shows you one song for each person. If you want to see anymore, you gotta go to their page. Screw that. I used it for that, to find new music from what others were listening to, and as an exciting OCD way to see what I listened to over time & make sure it was labeled correctly! I checked in every waking hour some days. That's my (old) last.fm happy experience in a nutshell. It doesn't seem to fit my needs as well for that, which is basically my loss; I realize making me happy is not the aim of these dudes in an office across the ocean or possibly here in some CBS office or whoever wherever. I gave some thought to what the site seems best for now, what would be its appeal to new users - - and I guess it's mainly to be online radio, with a social networking gimmick to it. I guess this is a good business thing because, duh, songs play, and people get paid. But it's just not fun (for me) anymore. I used to rave to friends, strangers, message boards, etc. about how much I loved this site. Now I wince inside everytime I decide to check in. What good is to be had from me writing this? Probably nothing, *****I just needed to take my turn to vent.***** Who the hell else in my real life would care or understand? Have a happy day! :D [/quote]

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- teonum said...
- User
- 18 Aug 2008, 12:39
Three of the stupidest and unlogical things in the new interface in my own point of view:
- the split part of the user information (middle and right). The former left part was easier to see in a glance when surfing on profile.
- the shoutbox in the bottom part of the screen (lot of scrolling)
- The enormous place of the "all pictures style": all these vids and pix take a lot of room. It would be better if the user can choose to display or not all these "fake tabs".
I don't really like the new logo, it's so fat compared to the old/smart one. I imagine it's done like that to be more visible, in a "big business social networking marketing way".

PS: excuse my not perfect english ;)

Ignorance is bliss

[quote][b][user]teonum[/user][/b] said: Three of the stupidest and unlogical things in the new interface in my own point of view: - the split part of the user information (middle and right). The former left part was easier to see in a glance when surfing on profile. - the shoutbox in the bottom part of the screen (lot of scrolling) - The enormous place of the "all pictures style": all these vids and pix take a lot of room. It would be better if the user can choose to display or not all these "fake tabs". I don't really like the new logo, it's so fat compared to the old/smart one. I imagine it's done like that to be more visible, in a "big business social networking marketing way". [i]PS: excuse my not perfect english ;) [/i][/quote]

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- KillerCLbee said...
- User
- 18 Aug 2008, 12:44
There were so many more things better with the old... ah... the old days.. haha

[quote][b][user]KillerCLbee[/user][/b] said: There were so many more things better with the old... ah... the old days.. haha[/quote]

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- Jester-NL said...
- Moderator
- 18 Aug 2008, 14:55
teonum said:
(...)
- the shoutbox in the bottom part of the screen (lot of scrolling)
(...) Try clicking the number of shouts, near the top of your page... it is a link ;)

Remember to say "thank you" for the things you haven't had
System Status (indication) - Problems scrobbling FAQ - The Last.FM FAQ
Do you spot incorrect auto-corrections? You can flag them at the artist/track-page.

[quote][b][user]Jester-NL[/user][/b] said: [quote][b][user]teonum[/user][/b] said: (...) - the shoutbox in the bottom part of the screen (lot of scrolling) (...) [/i][/quote]Try clicking the number of shouts, near the top of your page... it is a link ;) [/quote]

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- chopeen said...
- User
- 18 Aug 2008, 15:34
Jester-NL said:
Try clicking the number of shouts, near the top of your page... it is a link ;)Don't forget to mention that it shows incorrect number of shouts after one or more of them is deleted. :/

[quote][b][user]chopeen[/user][/b] said: [quote][b][user]Jester-NL[/user][/b] said: Try clicking the number of shouts, near the top of your page... it is a link ;)[/quote]Don't forget to mention that it shows incorrect number of shouts after one or more of them is deleted. :/[/quote]

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- ProjectX419 said...
- User
- 18 Aug 2008, 16:02
The functionality and usability have been broken due to bad designyes if last was a room that some one had designed the TVs are on the floor the chairs are nailed to the walls 6 feet up and above you you have a large fire place. sure it looks nice for a while but after you notice that you have to look down all the time to watch the TV you get quite pissed especially because this TV kicks up the volume every time ads come on, and the tire place above you is only really noticed when it drops ash on you.

you then look at the walls and notice they are all stark white and extremely boring and miss you old room with stuff in the right place.

and if you criticize it you get STFU hard to see TV on the floor is better than no TV get use to it GOD WHINEWHINEWHINE.

[quote][b][user]ProjectX419[/user][/b] said: [quote]The functionality and usability have been broken due to bad design[/quote]yes if last was a room that some one had designed the TVs are on the floor the chairs are nailed to the walls 6 feet up and above you you have a large fire place. sure it looks nice for a while but after you notice that you have to look down all the time to watch the TV you get quite pissed especially because this TV kicks up the volume every time ads come on, and the tire place above you is only really noticed when it drops ash on you. you then look at the walls and notice they are all stark white and extremely boring and miss you old room with stuff in the right place. and if you criticize it you get STFU hard to see TV on the floor is better than no TV get use to it GOD WHINEWHINEWHINE.[/quote]

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- WorldFusionRadio_com said...
- User
- 19 Aug 2008, 03:41
Agree totally with the comments about the poor functionality and design of the new Website. I too miss the old Dashboard. On the old site I would check in to last.fm 8-10 times a day and in two minutes I could see on the Dashboard everyone who sent me a message, everyone who sent me a recommendation, who last visit my page. what last three songs my friends were listening to, and more. Now? None of that. Worst of all, recommendations are not allowed anymore from individuals - only last.fm's push-marketing recs - part of the new last.fm corporate business model.

But that is really just the tip of the iceberg in how much functionality was lost with the new design.

DJ ProFusion
WorldFusionRadio.com

[quote][b][user]WorldFusionRadio_com[/user][/b] said: Agree totally with the comments about the poor functionality and design of the new Website. I too miss the old Dashboard. On the old site I would check in to last.fm 8-10 times a day and in two minutes I could see on the Dashboard everyone who sent me a message, everyone who sent me a recommendation, who last visit my page. what last three songs my friends were listening to, and more. Now? None of that. Worst of all, recommendations are not allowed anymore from individuals - only last.fm's push-marketing recs - part of the new last.fm corporate business model. But that is really just the tip of the iceberg in how much functionality was lost with the new design.[/quote]

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It's not the design, it's the functionality...

It's not the design, it's the functionality...

I miss my happy place