71–80 of 143 posts
They have also made many of the subreddits not viewable via a mobile browser pushing you to the app, it seems though the blocks go in and out of effect. At some point metrics of a sites app downloads don't mean anything when they make their primary site unusable.
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I agree. The new UI is utterly obnoxious on mobile - they keep trying to force me to use the app, including making it impossible to read the rest of a forum without using the app instead. It's horrible.
If you're on Android, I can't recommend RedReader enough [1] . It's open source and customisation (also installable via F-Droid). I browse with a compact display and thumbnails turned off. [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.quantumbad...
Their mistake was keeping the old interface around at all. If they had just killed it off we would have complained about it for a while and then just moved on.
Killing off the old interface and forcing users to use the new one is the reason Reddit still exists and Digg effectively does not.
I dislike all things "new web". The websites feel like layers upon layers of Javascript, fancy designs that feel like they are responsible for the decreased responsiveness. Styles delegated to the same CSS frameworks that everyone else uses. The rounded corners. Give me plain HTML, minimal CSS, and a template engine any day of the week.
I want to agree, but don't. Javascript is nice. Leave a comment on HN, then push back to go out to the home page. Wait, you're back at your comment. This flow is obviously not ideal, and would be prevented with a little Javascript.
... Or better standards that don't require JavaScript. The jump from "we need seamless navigation" to "let's use a Turing-complete language" makes zero sense.
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I've been on reddit for 14 years (14 years club!) and I can honestly say in that time it hasn't changed in any fundamental way. (It has however changed for the worse in many small ways.) I'm sure they put a lot of effort into serving their own images and video and placing ads in just the right place for maximal accidental clickage but why would the user care?
14 year club here as well. I'd argue that the following are fundamental changes that have impacted the community in a big way: - Selling 10% of the business to Tencent/Chinese investors - Firing their community managers in 2015 and not replacing them - When I first joined Reddit it was more technology focused, now it's all pop culture and memes. Although Tech subs are still plentiful so it can still be that site. (Wi…
On desktop the new design is much easier to use, it took me awhile to realize, but being able to hit esc and be right back where you were in the story feed is super nice.
When old.reddit.com dies, it’s over.
1. Why are they forcing me to use their app so much? it's just not practical: for example if I quit the app and come back it doesn't return me to the page I was looking at; worse it often doesn't display comments for me (infinite loading).
2. Why is the web redesign so bad? Who are they trying to cater for? There's just so much friction in reading comments from multiple posts now, when I click on a post to read the comments an then outside it scroll back up to the beginning. Why can't I read comments if I'm not signed in?
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Not really. Reddit infrastructure and product development has been subsidized by hundreds of millions in VC funding for almost a decade. At this point they don't even need a good product to stay at the table. Meanwhile to compete you need moderation tools, highly performant and reliable caching infrastructure for media rich content, enough of an ad network the investors believe you can eventually build an ad network,…
I've been on reddit for 14 years (14 years club!) and I can honestly say in that time it hasn't changed in any fundamental way. (It has however changed for the worse in many small ways.) I'm sure they put a lot of effort into serving their own images and video and placing ads in just the right place for maximal accidental clickage but why would the user care?
The default subreddits are as bad as you'd expect, but there's many awesome smaller ones. Pray your niche subreddit never becomes default.
IMO this is why they keep old reddit around. Some use reddit for bite-sized entertainment; others use it for serious advice and discussion. It makes sense for the site to have two modes.
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If you're on Android, I can't recommend RedReader enough [1] . It's open source and customisation (also installable via F-Droid). I browse with a compact display and thumbnails turned off. [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.quantumbad...
I wonder how long the API will remain supported. It's really not serving the master's will. Then all these open source readers will be dead as well.
Very good opportunity for a Reddit alternative to come in and dominate. Getting rid of old Reddit would be Digg v4 all over again.
Reddit does this because they have failed to find a monetization strategy good enough to cover the investment in the business. Any competitor without some new approach will have the same issue.
1. Status customization. Apps and games based on communities have proved that this business model can bring lots of $$$, the whole idea is to let users customize the way they appear to others in exchange for money. Think "skins". I've heard even discord does it.
2. Competition platform. Trade will always flow if things work well, but how can people trade on your platform? Allow people to produce themes and plugins for communities, and create a marketplace for customizing your own community. Then take a cut.