DEFCON 16 Site Launch

[Dark Tangent]

Neil has launched the new look of the DEF CON 16 site while I was having a pint at the DCG +44 meeting in London.

Check it out, updates will be posted as they develop!

http://www.defcon.org/

[TheCotMan]

Neil has launched the new look of the DEF CON 16 site while I was having a pint at the DCG +44 meeting in London.

Check it out, updates will be posted as they develop!

http://www.defcon.org/

I like this more than last year's. This seems easier to navigate, and presents many of the things I want to read about on the first page.

Ok Neil. I typed it out. Where is my free drink? ;-)

[Grifter]

Looks good, sharp and clean. Nice work again Neil.

[bufferzone]

I think it looks good. Nice bright colors, not gloomy at all but well within the brand/look/feel of DefCon. Nice work everybody

[neil]

Thanks all, I appreciate it! Good to have it up and running.

Ok Neil. I typed it out. Where is my free drink? ;-)

Yer on my list CotMan... and thanks for all the help of late!

[TheCotMan]

Thanks all, I appreciate it! Good to have it up and running.
We all know why DT keeps you so busy; he is worried about what you might make if left alone with free time. Whoe knows what might result... (Headline: Neil invents Web 6.0 before 3.0.)

Yer on my list CotMan... and thanks for all the help of late!
What are you talking about? [Sgt. Shultz impression:] I know nusssssing! (Nothing)[/impression]

You did all the work, man. It's all you. :-)

I also like the summary information about contests and events, all in one place, and really condensed. (I think that helped Hackajar get some activity started on the Summit, but I can't be sure.) Will the status you display include some reference to contest/event information being submitted to BlackBeetle (or ?) for the program, and Grifter for skyboxes, and Russ for space on the contest floor? Like, maybe change from active to confirmed once they have submitted all their information to the previously mentioned people?

[Nikita]

We all know why DT keeps you so busy; he is worried about what you might make if left alone with free time. Whoe knows what might result... (Headline: Neil invents Web 6.0 before 3.0.)


What might result? What MIGHT Result? Perhaps he would begin building our wedding website! *Le Sigh *

[shrdlu]

I also like the summary information about contests and events, all in one place, and really condensed. (I think that helped Hackajar get some activity started on the Summit, but I can't be sure.) Will the status you display include some reference to contest/event information being submitted to BlackBeetle (or ?) for the program, and Grifter for skyboxes, and Russ for space on the contest floor? Like, maybe change from active to confirmed once they have submitted all their information to the previously mentioned people?

I couldn't take it anymore; I had to go look. It's quite beautiful. Nearly coffee-colored, and yet complementary. Will the forums ever change to match the new version?

I am a bit puzzled, though. It seems like almost everything leads off to the forums, rather than having a seperate space on the web site. Should I be making a new post then, to make sure that people have adequate information for the next coffeewars? This is nice, if so, since it means one less burden on Russ, and puts the responsibility for keeping information up to date on the contest organizers, which is sensible.

[TheCotMan]

I couldn't take it anymore; I had to go look. It's quite beautiful. Nearly coffee-colored, and yet complementary. Will the forums ever change to match the new version?

We've set Neil up with access on the test forums to create new themes, but having "too many" themes on the production forums box risks longer down-times during upgrades and maintenance cycles. (There is risk for each theme to be manually edited to bring them "current" when upgrades mettle with theme assumption.)

I am a bit puzzled, though. It seems like almost everything leads off to the forums, rather than having a seperate space on the web site. Should I be making a new post then, to make sure that people have adequate information for the next coffeewars? This is nice, if so, since it means one less burden on Russ, and puts the responsibility for keeping information up to date on the contest organizers, which is sensible.
You're one of the leaders/organizers for Coffee Wars, so you can use the Coffee Wars forum to promote the contest, and/or discussion, or just as a redirection to the web page with the information you have provided here.

I don't want to force contest/event leaders/organizers to use the forums for discussion of their contests/events. What I want to do is provide a place for people to discuss contests or events, and give leaders/organizers access to such a space as a resource. When contest leaders/organizers express a preference for people to send question or discussions to an email address, or use something other than the Defcon forums, I've still created a forum for their contest/event, but also created a post with a comment about the leaders/organizers not coming to visit the forums, and then provide directions for people to access to alternate information format specified by the contest/event leader/organizer. This allows people interested in the contest/event to discuss the event on the forums if they wish, with full disclosure that the leader/organizer won't be on the forums to answer question, but prefers another format.

Even if the leaders/organizers don't want to use a forum, and never visit, the people in the contest/event may want to discuss things with each other. :-)

As for plans on the web content of the main site, Neil will have to answer that.

[neil]

I couldn't take it anymore; I had to go look. It's quite beautiful. Nearly coffee-colored, and yet complementary.

Thanks!

I am a bit puzzled, though. It seems like almost everything leads off to the forums, rather than having a seperate space on the web site. Should I be making a new post then, to make sure that people have adequate information for the next coffeewars? This is nice, if so, since it means one less burden on Russ, and puts the responsibility for keeping information up to date on the contest organizers, which is sensible.

You are correct, we decided to consolidate info by using a venue (the forums) that was already there and easy for the contest organizer to update themselves. Now if, as a contest organizer, you would like the link on the main page to go to your contest website rather than the forum thread, just shoot me a PM or an email at neil [at] defcon [dot] org, and I will update the link.

It also seemed like a good fit to use the new blog feature here on the forums as a place for the Be Prepared page. If anyone wants to submit advice for the Be Prepared blog, they can contact me as mentioned above.

Will the status you display include some reference to contest/event information being submitted to BlackBeetle (or ?) for the program, and Grifter for skyboxes, and Russ for space on the contest floor? Like, maybe change from active to confirmed once they have submitted all their information to the previously mentioned people?

Yes, the status will evolve as the contest/event does. It will indicate "calls for (insert contest element here)", registration periods, and so forth. Whatever is most relevant at the time. I'll be in touch with Russ, and will frequently be checking the forums and the contest websites to keep this up to date.

As for plans on the web content of the main site, Neil will have to answer that.

I think i just did... :wink:

[Deviant Ollam]

i just saw the new site for the first time. i notice that the main logo (http://www.defcon.org/images/defcon-16/dc-16-logo.png) is squashed somewhat to a different pixel size on the main page. the file is 325x163 but it's rendered at about 90% or 80% of that size, leading to rippling along the edges. i can't see in the HTML what's causing that, but perhaps something in the "mastHead" image class is forcing the resize.

[neil]

i just saw the new site for the first time. i notice that the main logo (http://www.defcon.org/images/defcon-16/dc-16-logo.png) is squashed somewhat to a different pixel size on the main page. the file is 325x163 but it's rendered at about 90% or 80% of that size, leading to rippling along the edges. i can't see in the HTML what's causing that, but perhaps something in the "mastHead" image class is forcing the resize.

The logo is set to resize with the browser width, to a max of 33% of the 1000px width of the site at full size, or a minimum of 170px, as i've tried to make the site "phone friendly". I haven't seen the ripple you speak of, and I haven't heard it from others, but I'll take a look. What browser and screen res at you looking at it on?

EDIT: After having looked at it in IE7 and Firefox on Windows, I see what you're talking about. Looks like a side effect of the variable width on the png. Seems to render correctly at full size (1000px or higher), when really compressed, (around 200px). I don't get the same effect in mac browsers though. Other than making the logo fixed width, I can't see how this could be remedied, but I'll look around.

[Deviant Ollam]

The logo is set to resize with the browser width,aaaah... i get it. yeah, that's a cool effect and the rippling is a natural side-effect. still... i think there's a chance that your graphic-designer lifestyle has spoiled you and you have a warped opinion of what a normal size screen is for the masses, hehehe. :wink:

i'm running 1024x768 and even if i F11-fullsize my firefox window it's still not large enough to see the image clean.

[neil]

still... i think there's a chance that your graphic-designer lifestyle has spoiled you and you have a warped opinion of what a normal size screen is for the masses, hehehe. :wink:

While you could be right (my screen res is 1680x1050, and that's on the laptop screen), I was asked to make it that big... c'mon man, step up to the 1280 club, it's a whole nother world... heheh

[Deviant Ollam]

c'mon man, step up to the 1280 club, it's a whole nother world... hehehyeah, i just need a newer flatscreen. the one i have now simply has a 1024 native resolution. i'll join the rest of the world soon. :wink:

[DJ Jackalope]

Ha, c'mon guys, I even see it on my eeePC!

btw neil, the site in general looks awesome!

[DaKahuna]

yeah, i just need a newer flatscreen. the one i have now simply has a 1024 native resolution. i'll join the rest of the world soon. :wink:

I can strongly recommend the 24-inch iMAC. 1920x1200 is pretty awsome.