37signals.com - Evolution of a homepage • Hacker News Board

Re: 37signals.com - Evolution of a homepage

#21

Post by url2png » Thu, Sep 15, 2011, 5:41 PM UTC

https://gist.github.com/1219927 Here is a quick shellscript for anyone who wants to do this for themselves using url2png.com

Re: 37signals.com - Evolution of a homepage

#22

Post by armandososa » Thu, Sep 15, 2011, 8:04 PM UTC

With that title, I was expecting an evolution from the early days, when the homepage was just a manifesto. I really wanted to see that video, and this one left me underwhelmed.

The use of a huapango as the background music made me smile though.

Re: 37signals.com - Evolution of a homepage

#23

Post by rglover » Thu, Sep 15, 2011, 9:03 PM UTC

I love how subtle the changes in this were. Shows 37signals' great attention to detail, focus, and restraint. Fun idea for kids: organize the different screens into a book and make a "what changed in this picture" game.

Sidenote: One of my favorite features of the site is the "Happy Day" in the upper left hand corner. Best part of the video was seeing it appear out of thin air.

Re: 37signals.com - Evolution of a homepage

#24

Post by grimtrigger » Fri, Sep 16, 2011, 3:56 PM UTC

I see a lot of arbitrary changes in this video. I'm not saying all of them were, but I don't see the point in making your web team add 5 pixels here or there, or switch out "us" for "it".

I didn't perceive their strategy as "experimental" but as "erratic". Even if A/B testing showed slight gains or falls, I would prescribe those changes to random chance over the value added/lost. Unless there's a possibility of measurable effects, go with your gut.