WordPress Changes – The User Interface and Old Stats Page – 2016 and 2017
Periodically updated list of news/articles/contacts about the WP User Interface Changes
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↓ Accessing the old system.
Many bloggers do not like the loss of the old Stats Page and the loss of Links to the older User Interface with its links to the older Editor, Post Lists etc.
Any logged in blogger can comment on the forum and it is well worth doing. Imagine how bad it would get if we just gave in.
https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/stats-feedback/page/3?replies=52
Articles
Accessing the Old System ⇐ All the links to the Dashboard, an old Stats Page, Classic Editor, Page and Post Lists etc
WordPress Reader Changes⇐ including an alternative design and forum link and more.
WordPress Changes – Losing the Old Admin and Editor ⇐ Looking to the future and amending it.
Behind the Scenes ⇐ The new User Interface relies upon Rest-API (Application Programming Interface) and cannot work without it. The reason for API and the implications are found in “Behind the Scenes”.
Preventing WordPress Recommendations being sent by Email
WordPress intend to send their reading recommendations to WP bloggers by email (as well as putting them in our WP Readers).
You can stop the emails by:-
- Click on your Gravatar (personal image) at the top right.
- From the drop-down menu select Notifications.
- From the next page, at the top, select Updates.
- From next page uncheck Digests (Reading & writing digests, tailored for you).
Done.
WP Reader Changes – WP Test Sending Recommendations by Email – Update
Update: It seems that we will be able to manage our subscription. Please see the WP Reader Changes – WP Test Sending Recommendations by Email ⇐ (Dec 20, 1016) for details.
WP Reader Changes – Worse to Come
The Lesser Known Problem: According to the Announcement ⇒, WordPress will be putting their recommendations into our reader lists. From the WordPress Blog announcement:-
“There are millions of amazing posts flowing through WordPress.com every day that you never see, and we want to bring a few of them to your attention, so we’re adding a bit of serendipity. We call it Recommended Posts.”
“This new section will show up in Reader intermittently — more for new members, less for existing members who already follow a lot of sites. You can also see Recommended Posts on the Search page.”
If this is allowed to proceed, how long before we start getting emails of the recommendations which appear in our reader.
From the WordPress Forum on this topic.
“Recommendations will hopefully work to help to connect more people with more blogs they like. More are shown to people who are new to using the Reader and less are shown to people who already follow a lot of sites. if you don’t like a recommendation, click the X icon to dismiss it and we’ll keep that in mind.”
That is, we are coerced into following more blogs in order to reduce this intrusion.
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Update: It now looks as if WP will try to push their recommendations into our emails. Here ⇐. The Fix ⇐
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Further:-
There are many bloggers who do not like the new format which misrepresents/distorts/crops pictures, minimizes samples and lacks respect for their work.
For those without super-fast broadband, the reader has become much slower.
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Why Push Content: One can only conjecture. There seems to be a need to stimulate activity. (i.e the number of recorded views). This may be an attempt to retain the WordPress image in the face of those blogs which have been abandoned or are rarely used. I think this approach is likely to make the situation worse.
Another possible reason, for the new format, is so that it fits cell-phones and creates more space for the “recomendations”.
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Censorship: There are a number of complaints that adverse comments have been excluded from the WordPress Blog on this subject and at least one from the WordPress Forum on this topic. That will be another post later, with screen-shots of the items reinstated on the forum after complaints.
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Solution: For everybody to enter a comment on the WordPress Blog ⇒ and the WordPress Forum ⇒ (which every WordPress blogger has a right to use) and thus spill outside of those forums to the ears of those who bear influence. There is a further mass of dissent at Cindy Knokes post ⇒.
The WordPress Blog seems only to accept very short comments. Please report anything short that is rejected.
Complaints are numerous, these are mine. Pick as you will or add you own. One does not need to justify or argue, only state.
As a paying customer, I (also) object to:-
The intrusion of unsolicited posts into my reader.
The intrusion of my unsolicited posts into the readers of others, causing them annoyance.
Any prospect of unsolicited emails from the reader.
The misrepresentation/distortion/cropping of my photographs and lack of respect for my work.
The reduction in sample size.
The slower reader speed.
The high-handed manner of this action without any prior consultation.
The poor competence in its implementation.
Any form of censorship, being contrary to the stated views of WordPress, the precepts of the free-world and the free-press. Particularly of dissenting views and the marginalisation of dissenters.
The more we accept without protest, the more we will be used without respect.
“Merely exist on our knees, or take the chances of being fully alive on our feet.”
Making an effort does make a difference. Imagine how bad it would be if we didn’t.
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More News and Articles on this Subject ⇐
And, on a lighter note, A Christmas Ode to the WordPress Reader ⇐ 😀
Information – 2015 Global Climate Rally – November 29th
A more recent update is here – Find a Climate Rally Near You on Sunday 29th November 2015
Last year was a big event, the intention is that this will be bigger. This year a Global Climate Rally is set to coincide with the Paris conference on Climate Change. It is a major opportunity to influence events.
Interested parties can sign up to attend and receive information of nearby events, volunteer assistance, learn how to host an event or just spread the news to others. All information is here:-
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_date_loc/?copy
and here
Please share. 🙂
Stop the Bee Killing
UK GOVERNMENT IS PERMITTING THE THE USE OF NEONICOTINOIDS, despite them being banned in Europe. These chemicals kill bees and other pollinators. A link to the PETITION/info is below. Please pass it on. Avaaz successfully stopped there use in Europe. Please help them stop there use in the UK.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_keep_the_ban_national/?tNIApeb
#SaveFoP: Save Our Freedom of Panorama
The issue is now resolved. The petition was successful and Freedom of Panorama was saved. With thanks to all who participated.
– With links to the petition, UK MEP’s email addresses and tweeting tags. Please pass it around. :-).
Originally posted on phnat.org (Photographer Not A Terrorist). With thanks to Nico Trinkhaus who created the petition and Rabirius (Rabirius.me) who promoted a chain reaction.
Image © Grant Smith
On 9 July 2015 the European Parliament will vote on the “Freedom of Panorama” legislation, a law that if passed will restrict your right to take photographs from a public place of buildings and even views that have been copyrighted. Read more here.
In the the days leading up to the vote photographers rights campaign group I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist (PHNAT) calls on all photographers, professional and amateur, to go out and photograph your local landscapes and views, then tweet your photos to the European Parliament.
View original post 75 more words
No Freedom Of Panorama
The issue is now resolved. The petition was successful and Freedom of Panorama was saved. With thanks to all who participated.
A very important issue with a link to a vital petition, for residents and visitors who wish to photograph in Europe. It is not well known that the right to photograph in Europe could soon be severely restricted. The petition already has more than 150,000 supporters (on 1 July 2015) but needs more. Your help will make a difference. A link to the petition is below.
The European Parliament might destroy photography as we know it by taking away the Freedom of Panorama. That means public buildings and other works of art in public spaces will have a copyright and you need to ask permission to publish photos taken in European cities.
To demonstrate what it might look like, I prepared a photo of Berlin, where I removed the Reichstagsgebäude.
Here is a link to a petition where you will also find more information.
Climate Change – Divest/Invest Movement Rolls On – We can Help
Divest – Invest and Climate Protection
The Divest-Invest ⇒ movement is being successful in encouraging large groups to divest themselves of fossil fuel investments and switch to investments in green alternatives.
That is only part of the battle.
Consumerism and Climate Protection
For most of us, every time we pay an energy bill we are supporting the use of fossil fuels. As long as that continues, the energy companies will continue to make profit and continue the practice. Even carbon taxes will eventually filter through to the consumer.
As far as electrical supply is concerned, we don’t have to continue that support. Instead we can move our financial support to a Green Tariff or an entirely Green Energy supplier (some also provide a dual + gas tariff). Moving our money from polluting suppliers to green suppliers being of double benefit.
There is an additional and important benefit. Consumer choices are observable trends which result in forecasts and forecasts create business plans. It will make a yet greater impact if you if you let people know what you have done, and why, as an encouragement for them to follow and more still if you tell your old and new supplier why you have switched.
Here are some links to advisory sites, from which a choice can be made, but do check they are certified genuine green suppliers.
UK – Ratings – http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/buyersguides/energy/greenelectricitysuppliers.aspx
UK – Price comparisons – http://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/green_energy_suppliers
USA – http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml
Australia – http://gpap.greenelectricityguide.org.au (You can skip the sign up – last line)
Canada – There are several companies but I could not find an up to date guide.
The above is just an example. Other countries also have green energy suppliers but difficult to find in English.
Energy supplies are likely to increase in cost. Heating being the greatest user of power, it makes sense to invest in insulation.
Good wishes to all in your pursuit of protecting our climate for ourselves, those who follow us and everything that lives on this extraordinary garden planet.
The amazing 2015 London Climate Rally ⇐
Recent Changes to WordPress – Further
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Some Plain facts
Tiger Global are investment speculators. Prior to September 2013 they held a $50 million stake in Automaticc Inc (that’s WP).
Approximately September 2013 they acquired another $60 million of private equity in Automaticc Inc. The article, which makes interesting reading, is here:-
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/09/17/tiger-global-ups-investment-in-creator-of-wordpress/
Tiger Global have increasing investment in mobile, messaging and e-commerce companies, especially in places where landlines are not always available. Here is one of several articles on the subject:-
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/17/quikr-tigerglobal-idUSL3N0RI4B920140917
Conjecture
If there is any connection between these items and recent changes that are intended to be more mobile friendly, then the alleged improvements have been handled so badly as to become a poison chalice.
Options
If this issue makes you annoyed, then the best approach is to ensure the unity of a collective voice in one place. May I suggest that; bloggers create a post upon this subject with a link to the forum thread.
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/massive-changes-to-the-wp-interface/page/11?replies=307
WP closed that thread, it now continues on:-
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/upgraded-stats-and-changes-to-wp-interface?replies=2
and
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/stats-classics-how-to-set/page/6?replies=155
Alternatively, re-blog the first post which includes the link:-
https://freedfromtime.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/recent-changes-to-wordpress-user-interface/
Further, you might announce your posts on the forum so that others can re-blog them.
… and may I wish a Very Merry Christmas to all bloggers.
more later.
Recent Changes to WordPress User Interface
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How to get involved – Why I Post on the subject –
Why there is a need to be involved – What is being said
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Recent Changes to the WordPress User Interface
In reference to the hosted service.
There was a WordPress Forum Topic on this subject, which is worth reading, here:-
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/massive-changes-to-the-wp-interface?replies=456
WP closed that topic, it now continues on
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/upgraded-stats-and-changes-to-wp-interface?replies=2
and
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/stats-classics-how-to-set/page/6?replies=155
and about the notifications on
All WordPress users have access to the forum and a right to use it.
To add your comments, use the link and go to the bottom of the last page. Many specific complaints have been given, so you do not need to do more than state whether you do or do not like the changes, unless you wish to comment further.
There is also an option to subscribe to the thread by email notification and be kept up to date with developments.
– – Update: Investment influences, please click here.
Why I am posting this article:–
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On the forum, in response to the question “When will we start seeing information from the survey ?” the response (Dec 11, 2014, 6:14 PM) from staff was:-
“The survey results will probably be reviewed internally and used as one part of the decision-making process there”.
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The WordPress Daily Post produced an article entitled “Upgraded Stats and Navigation Enhancement”. Comments became complaints and, when I introduced a link to the forum thread, it was closed for further comments and omitted the comment with a link to the forum. The article shows how nice the new stats look on a mobile and is here:-
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/stats-navigation-enhancements/
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WordPress closed a Customer Services topic after only 24 minutes.
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If views are not made more public, then no one will know the majority opinion.
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There are more changes to come and there is a distinct danger that new formats will eventually replace the existing ones. It is already being made difficult to navigate to the preferred screen pages.
I am concerned that bloggers will think that using the survey will be enough for their opinion to count. Considering that, according to WP Staff, the survey results are unlikely to be published, it is unlikely that they will need to pay much attention if it does not suit them.
Therefore it is most important that we make our views more publicly known, whatever they are. Otherwise we could find our needs supplanted by the pursuit of new markets and face increasingly thoughtless nuisance and loss of facilities. It does not have to be an either or situation, both needs can be facilitated. Although, even for mobile use, it has been badly done.
Bloggers can help to secure the future by leaving even a simple comment on the forum and/or re-blogging this so that others have the opportunity of being in the loop.
A Summary of Complaints
There are many very specific complaints and a lot of annoyance to be found on the forum, but I will try to fairly summarise the main points:-
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The changes were foisted upon us without warning or the opportunity to comment. After all we do pay for this and do make WordPress a financial success by the effort we put into our blogs. The last valuation of WordPress was $1.4 billion.
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The User Interface is being made more Mobile friendly at the expense of Desktop users.
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Navigation and Sign Out drop down menus are disappearing and it is interrupting work flow.
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The New Stats page is only one column showing a graph of 10 days instead of the previous 30, it requires more scrolling to view the entire contents and the summary table icon is missing.
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The new editor is missing “Add Poll”, “Add Contact Form” , the Screen Option of One Column (Full Width View). The editor frame is not adjustable, one cannot get directly from a published post to the old editor and there have been numerous complaints about “beep bop boo etc” from when it first appeared.
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Many people just don’t like the appearance.
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There is only one staff member attending who can only report back to the developers. Although very polite and patient it is, as one member commented, “Like trying to knit fog”.
If I have omitted anything or you have a specific concern, please comment on the forum where it will be seen by other WP members and by staff.
Thank you for taking the time to read and hope that you will take few moments to add your voice.
🙂
Winter Blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder
Some suggestions for treating and dealing with Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder. 😀
And, Vitamin D supplement, which is usually created in our skin when subject to sunlight. 🙂
Freed From Time 