Welcome to the latest version of RopeofSilicon.com as I continue to try and keep things fresh around here, but even more importantly I am trying to make sure the site is easy to navigate and reader interaction continues to grow. Interaction is actually the sole reason for this update as I have updated the article commenting system to one where it is not required for you to log-in any longer, just the simple addition of your name and email address is all that is needed, just like on virtually all the other websites out there. Yeah, I am just now catching up to the curve.
Of course, this switch also afforded me the opportunity to once again modify the design of the site a little, as well as offer a slightly changed navigation system, one that is a little more simple and straight to the point. Just for fun, I have also included a few preview images from previous incarnations of the site dating back to July 2003, as always these are also available over in the About Us section, and unfortunately this doesn’t include all of my redesigns as it took me a long, long time to figure out how I wanted this site to look (and am still trying to figure it out). You can click on any of the images below for a larger look at the thumbnail.
I like to think the site has improved with each new incarnation as my knowledge of web design grows a little each year and as you can tell with this new redesign not a whole lot has changed outside of the header image, navigation and the website background and the right and left side of the page. I will, however, be updating the movie pages soon as well as a couple of other pages such as the Trailers Homepage. The movie pages will just be simplified a little and the Trailer Homepage is awful right now so that really needs an upgrade.
The search feature on the site is now using Google as well as the previous search functions (movie, DVD and actors only) and you will notice next to the search bar above there is an option to “Enhance your Google search with RopeofSilicon.” This is a simple feature that ties into your Google account and allows you to “Subscribe” to RopeofSilicon in a way that when you are searching Google, when you search using queries that match RopeofSilicon.com, information from RopeofSilicon will appear in your search results with a special icon. It’s nothing major, just a little added something-something.
The biggest change is obviously the fact you no longer have to log-in to the website to comment. All of your previous comments have been moved to the new system (nothing was lost) and if you use the same email address you registered with they will all be tied together along with your username. So all you will need to do is add your comment and BOOM, you’re done. No more logging in each time and new users won’t have to worry about going through the activation process. Also, your email address will NEVER be published, it is just used to manage the system and tie your comments together. I hope to increase the functionality of the system over time, but I am going to take baby steps.
However, the avatar system that will be used for your comments is slightly different, but it is one that will tie-in to all of your comments around the entire Internet for sites taking advantage of the “Gravatar” system. This way, any time you comment on RopeofSilicon.com or any site using Gravatar.com avatars your avatar will show up automatically and you only have to sign-up one time for a
The steps are quite easy and are listed below, along with a selection of
Steps to getting an avatar:
- First go to Gravatar.com and sign-up with your email address. Don’t worry, it’s free.
- You will then receive an activation email with a link for you to visit so you can set up a password and create your gravatar.
- It may take a moment for the email activation link to arrive so be patient. Once you set up your gravatar it will be applied to all of your previous comments automatically.
- After you have set-up your account you will add an image as your online gravatar.
- Choose from one of the images below, or your favorite avatar from one of your other accounts, and save it to your computer.
- Your previous RopeofSilicon avatar can be found still in your User Control panel located here.
- Now use Gravatar.com’s options to add an image
from your computer’s hard drive . Select the image you saved, crop it, rate it and presto, you are done! - It may take a short time for your gravatar to show up on the site, but trust me, it will show up.
Of course, if you have trouble please let me know via email or through the contact form. If you have trouble finding anything on the site or would like to complain, ask a question or recommend a feature addition please feel free to let me know about that as well. Your feedback is vital and very much appreciated… good or bad.
Thanks for visiting, and I hope you like the upgrade!
