I don't find change to be a bad thing...

[sireesanwar.livejournal.com]

I know there are probably some of you out there who aren't really appreciating the changes to Live Journal but I actually like them. Granted the "homepage" navbar is complicated but I think after spending a little time clicking around and getting used to it; it works well. Now, it does get annoying that LJ has to update things constantly but at the same time they are trying to improve things.

I've already noticed that some of the text editor issues have disappeared. I can now manually enter Blockquotes without the editor creating new line after new line between my previous paragraph and said blockquote.

What I would like to see is a return to table adding and blockquotes. Why did those buttons disappear off the text editor so long ago only to be forgotten?

A few more changes I would like to see:

1. The ability to set what I want as my default size to images. I'm sick of them always coming up as 300px. I want them to be original size or whatever size I want to make them.


2. The fore-mentioned blockquote button and table button.


3. Maybe add userpics under that MyBlog menu so finding, updating and changing userpics isn't so difficult. Also add scrapbook so we can get to our scrapbooks easily.


4. Give us the ability to "randomly" choose our user icon. This can be a fun feature.


5. The ability to have pages and expand our navigation bar....

Why #5
Many of our friends from Live Journal have left for platforms like Tumblr and Wordpress. Notice both have the ability to add a "Page" to their blogs which in turn adds to their menu (some menu customization abilities maybe necessary for sub-content). I think LJ implementing this would put them in league with Tumblr and out shine Wordpress and I'll tell you why.

WordPress doesn't give the average user the ability to customize their layout. You are stuck with a few general layouts that are not all that appealing. Live Journal with page and menu customization would end up outshining WordPress for the fact that their letting their users make their blogs their own and giving them some flexibility while also being in the running for the "Blog Website" users. Premium users at Wordpress do have the ability to customize their layout but it costs 5 times as much as Live Journal. Even if LJ paid accounts cost $5 more a year to cover the "new features", you'd be paying a quarter of what the WordPress Premium users are paying.

Tumblr not only gives you the Page and Menu ability but they let you customize your layouts by going out and finding the coding or creating your own. The big issue I've found at Tumblr is the "open in new tab" links which are frustratingly annoying. Live Journal let's us control that through coding or the convenient check box when adding a link to our posts. Not only that but in my experience Tumblr's posting is more difficult than Live Journal where you can simply click "post".

Having said all that, I'm still liking the some of the newer stuff and am planning on creating a tutorial for some of the changes which took me a while to find.

What are you disliking about the changes? Anything you can't find?
Please be respectful.

Comments

[dikana.livejournal.com]

First of all, thanks for this post! It was very interesting, specially your comparison between LJ and other platforms.

I must say I really love these changes. I have my journal here since 2007, but my use of it has been very basic most of the times: just write and post. Maybe because of that, I don't find these changes annoying at all. Actually, I think things are rather easier than before. I don't agree with some of your points, like the userpics/scrapbook issues; they seem better for me the way they're now (although I admit I barely use/change/update them since a long time). I don't understand why is everybody complaining about this, because (just like you said) they're trying to "resurrect" LJ. We, fans of this site, should be happy. And I certainly am.

I'm not an expert on blogs, social media in general nor code/programing, so my opinion isn't the greatest thing. I just use what looks easy to me. That's why I've never left LJ in all these years. I really love this site, although many people keeps saying it's almost a prehistoric relic. Because of that, I want to thank you your post; it's been a relief to hear a real pro agreeing with my feelings. Neither Tumblr nor blogspot nor any other plataform look more appealing to me than LJ. I hate Tumblr with all my heart, blogspot/blogger/whatevergooglenamedit is frankly UGLY and I think Wordpress is confusing and complicated. I even took a look of Medium and it's... so lame, isn't it? XD LJ still seems better. What a pity there isn't more people of the same opinion.

Lately, I'd been thinking about moving to Wordpress, just because of what you've pointed: the "page" option. I totally agree with you. With that, LJ would shine even more than at its best years. It'd be a very useful and catching tool. If they're really interested on standing out as a long-length content platform (as they said on the article you linked on the other post), the "page" thing is mandatory. For we writers it'd be a blessing to be able to order our work and offer a better and clean experience for our readers. That was the only reason I would consider leaving LJ. So I'm crossing my fingers, hoping they take your suggestion at consideration. At least, they should.

Thanks to your post, I think I'll wait a little more to watch the rest of the changes. I didn't know Wordpress doesn't allow its users to customize their layouts. Nor even the headers? o____o WTF, Wordpress has fallen A LOT in my ranking. You're right, the freedom we've always had here in LJ it's its main advantage. These changes mean a lot to me, hope they make a good work...

Best wishes!

[sireesanwar.livejournal.com]

See I can't say I love the changes but I don't mind at all. I don't think they are as out there as so many and I think because of they way I see LJ (development and for the basic user), I think their updates are far beyond necessary.

Of course, no one agrees all the time and that is okay. Opinions matter, having the same opinion does not. It's always okay to have your own opinions.

I really love this site, although many people keeps saying it's almost a prehistoric relic.

Do you know how many times I hear people say this and in the next breath complain about the updates. They can't have it both ways. LJ is definitely trying to address the prehistoric relic persona and I'm all for it, like you.

So I've not had a ton of experience on a lot of platforms but Tumblr, WordPress, and Blogger are some.

Tumblr is for the person who knows how to code things. It is geared for those of use who do things the hard way. It is not for the "normal" person.

WordPress has it's uses but I'll tell you unless you want to spend $100-$299 a year it is worth it. Some of their layouts give you header and background images you can adjust. Only some and there is no change in how big the header is. If they have the dimensions set to 900x600 pixels that is how big your image is going to be. Nothing you can do.

Blogger does have a bit more control but it is complicated and not at all user friendly. I can manipulate sites into doing what I want most of the time and I fled from Blogger screaming. *shudders*

Medium made me have a WTF moment. I didn't like it and it just seemed like another version of places like Facebook.

In my experience, LJ is just where it is at. Dreamwidth and InsaneJournal are much the same but I like the original and I want to stick with it.

I really do think LJ would hit the holy grail with page options. The level of happiness would be out of this world and while you can mimic the look it isn't perfect which is ultimately what we are looking for.

Thank you for being encouraging and admitting you approve of the changes. Takes the brave to do so.