Get a Sneak Peek at SmugMug's new design!

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Comments

  • MalteMalte Registered Users Posts: 1,181 Major grins
    edited February 7, 2013
    mbonocore wrote: »
    Dave, I have no intention of trying to let people forget. I am getting to know you guys, and I KNOW you will never forget mwink.gif

    I am working on moving to a new thread to make everything fresh, as well as give a personal view. I have been tailoring it off and on, and as I said, you have no one to blame but me. But, just so you know, there will be no timeline or discussion of any specific features. Just giving you forewarning so you will not be disappointed.

    Michael

    Please advice as to what the point then is of a new thread, except of course to lessen embarrassment for you.

    Malte
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited February 7, 2013
    Malte wrote: »
    Please advice as to what the point then is of a new thread, except of course to lessen embarrassment for you.

    Malte

    Malte,

    This thread isn't going anywhere, so it will always be accesible. I am simply trying to provide an update from a personal view, as well as give you a newer thread to provide comments on.

    Michael
  • WinsomeWorksWinsomeWorks Registered Users Posts: 1,935 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2013
    mbonocore wrote: »
    Anna,

    We have talked plenty about specific features in the past on here and on the feedback forum. But I think Baldy's latest interview on TWiP can give you a better understanding of the world we are living in.

    http://www.thisweekinphoto.com/2012/twip-286-an-evening-with-smugmug/

    Michael

    What I'm asking is.... what's left, if no specific features and no timeline? I honestly don't understand what else there is to talk about. And does that mean there really isn't going to be any more input / ideas from current SmugMuggers for the new designs? I think that's what people were gathering, as this thread and the great creative pulse it had going there for awhile really died. --Anna Lisa
    Anna Lisa Yoder's Images - http://winsomeworks.com ... Handmade Photo Notecards: http://winsomeworks.etsy.com ... Framed/Matted work: http://anna-lisa-yoder.artistwebsites.com/galleries.html ... Scribbles: http://winsomeworks.blogspot.com
    DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2013
    What I'm asking is.... what's left, if no specific features and no timeline? I honestly don't understand what else there is to talk about. And does that mean there really isn't going to be any more input / ideas from current SmugMuggers for the new designs? I think that's what people were gathering, as this thread and the great creative pulse it had going there for awhile really died. --Anna Lisa

    Anna,

    I simply respond to people when they post. People seem to want to talk about it, so I continue to respond. We are ALWAYS accepting input and ideas, and the feedback forum is our main portal for hearing our customers ideas. I am in the process of cleaning it up, to make it easier to sort through and search the user suggested ideas.

    Michael
  • bike21bike21 Registered Users Posts: 836 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2013
    Welp, I've decided to stick around for the long haul I think. With the new squarespace integration I believe I've found what I've been looking for. Well done smuggy!
  • JamesGPhotoJamesGPhoto Registered Users Posts: 150 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2013
    I wish we could use their templates with our SM sites
    James Geiger M. Ed.
    "Being a photographer is not about taking a photograph, it is about being curious about life."
    ~ Jared Platt
    http://www.jamesgeigerphoto.com
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2013
    bike21 wrote: »
    Welp, I've decided to stick around for the long haul I think. With the new squarespace integration I believe I've found what I've been looking for. Well done smuggy!

    Glad you like it! I think it is a great integration also :)


    Michael Bonocore
    www.mb-photography-sf.com
    www.facebook.com/mbonocore
    plus.mb-photography-sf.com
  • WinsomeWorksWinsomeWorks Registered Users Posts: 1,935 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2013
    bike21 wrote: »
    Welp, I've decided to stick around for the long haul I think. With the new squarespace integration I believe I've found what I've been looking for. Well done smuggy!

    What are we talking about here? What's the new squarespace integration? Is there another thread for this whole "New Design" thing now?
    Anna Lisa Yoder's Images - http://winsomeworks.com ... Handmade Photo Notecards: http://winsomeworks.etsy.com ... Framed/Matted work: http://anna-lisa-yoder.artistwebsites.com/galleries.html ... Scribbles: http://winsomeworks.blogspot.com
    DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
  • WinsomeWorksWinsomeWorks Registered Users Posts: 1,935 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2013
    mbonocore wrote: »
    Anna,

    I simply respond to people when they post. People seem to want to talk about it, so I continue to respond. We are ALWAYS accepting input and ideas, and the feedback forum is our main portal for hearing our customers ideas. I am in the process of cleaning it up, to make it easier to sort through and search the user suggested ideas.

    Michael
    Well, the feedback forum wasn't the place where people were going for this particular New Design discussion. The problem is, when you're talking about an entire new look that includes a whole bunch of different ideas (old and new), it's just not possible to integrate that discussion / feedback into a forum that works by a whole lot of disjointed threads. Conversely, this thread was keeping ideas together in the same place, & the beginning of this thread also gives people the info on how to even see the new design on their sites, etc. I don't know how to explain it very well, but if you read back through a lot of this thread, you see what I mean pretty quickly. For instance, people were looking at & playing with the new design to see how it worked so far. Then they'd jot down a list of notes about what works well & what doesn't, in their eyes. If you separate that out into a gazillion different feedback threads, it's just all lost in the jumble. Also, people were often illustrating their ideas with screen shots, links, etc... Feedback Forum isn't set up that way. I also don't think many of the people who had great ideas in this thread are now going to go over to the FF & re-write their ideas over there. -- "Anna Lisa"
    Anna Lisa Yoder's Images - http://winsomeworks.com ... Handmade Photo Notecards: http://winsomeworks.etsy.com ... Framed/Matted work: http://anna-lisa-yoder.artistwebsites.com/galleries.html ... Scribbles: http://winsomeworks.blogspot.com
    DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2013
    Well, the feedback forum wasn't the place where people were going for this particular New Design discussion. The problem is, when you're talking about an entire new look that includes a whole bunch of different ideas (old and new), it's just not possible to integrate that discussion / feedback into a forum that works by a whole lot of disjointed threads. Conversely, this thread was keeping ideas together in the same place, & the beginning of this thread also gives people the info on how to even see the new design on their sites, etc. I don't know how to explain it very well, but if you read back through a lot of this thread, you see what I mean pretty quickly. For instance, people were looking at & playing with the new design to see how it worked so far. Then they'd jot down a list of notes about what works well & what doesn't, in their eyes. If you separate that out into a gazillion different feedback threads, it's just all lost in the jumble. Also, people were often illustrating their ideas with screen shots, links, etc... Feedback Forum isn't set up that way. I also don't think many of the people who had great ideas in this thread are now going to go over to the FF & re-write their ideas over there. -- "Anna Lisa"

    Anna Lisa,

    I apologize for the incorrect name in the other thread...you look at a computer screen 20 hours a day, your eyes start to see things, and your brain just moves your fingers to type. I apologize.

    You are 100% correct. This was the approach when this thread was launched. We very quickly learned that it wasn't just our customers patrolling the dgrin threads, but also our competitors and patent trolls. Unfortunately, this is the way of the technology world in 2013. So we had to adjust our way of thinking and our development. While we HATED to do it, it was necessary. And I do think our customers will understand our reasoning when the time comes.

    As for the SquareSpace integration, you can read about it on our blog.

    http://news.smugmug.com/2013/02/13/smugmug-x-squarespace-gorgeous-portfolio-websites

    Again, I sincerely apologize!

    Michael
  • GargaGarga Registered Users Posts: 67 Big grins
    edited February 21, 2013
    I heard Smugmug's new design will be released same time as Sony's PS4.
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2013
    Garga wrote: »
    I heard Smugmug's new design will be released same time as Sony's PS4.

    Sony is making a PS4? Sweet! wings.gifclap
  • mbradymbrady Registered Users Posts: 321 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2013
    Garga wrote: »
    I heard Smugmug's new design will be released same time as Sony's PS4.

    Holiday season 2013 then?
  • W.W. WebsterW.W. Webster Registered Users Posts: 3,204 Major grins
    edited February 21, 2013
    mbonocore wrote: »
    Sony is making a PS4? Sweet! wings.gifclap
    Smugmug is making a new design? :D
  • uncooluncool Registered Users Posts: 96 Big grins
    edited February 22, 2013
    Getting tired of the same old SmugMug lines about the update? Here's some modified movie quotes to hold you over. Feel free to add your own.


    The greatest trick SmugMug ever pulled was convincing the world there was going to be an update.


    You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Believing a SmugMug update is going to happen"! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...


    What we've got here is... failure to communicate about the update
    Well every person you can know,
    And every place that you can go,
    And any thing that you can show,
    You know they're nouns.
  • MalteMalte Registered Users Posts: 1,181 Major grins
    edited February 28, 2013
    mbonocore wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I take full responsibility for this delay. My sincere apologies. And yes, I am also managing the Feedback forum :)


    Michael Bonocore
    www.mb-photography-sf.com
    www.facebook.com/mbonocore
    plus.mb-photography-sf.com

    Was there a desicion to not do the new thread or have I missed it? With no new info, I'd agree with skipping it, but if it exists I'd like to follow it.

    Malte
  • ParisParis Registered Users Posts: 126 Major grins
    edited February 28, 2013
    I'm actively looking for a new website host because my fear is SmugMug is not going to survive the long haul because they are simply falling too far behind the competition.
  • bike21bike21 Registered Users Posts: 836 Major grins
    edited February 28, 2013
    I'm currently working on my new squarespace design - I'll share when it's live.

    I'm still uncertain if I'll leave SM, though I might downgrade from business to portfolio for now to save some $$. Still hoping for the features we all want.
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited February 28, 2013
    bike21 wrote: »
    I'm currently working on my new squarespace design - I'll share when it's live.

    I'm still uncertain if I'll leave SM, though I might downgrade from business to portfolio for now to save some $$. Still hoping for the features we all want.

    Hi Bike,

    Have you seen the new bridge capabilities between SmugMug and Squarespace?

    http://news.smugmug.com/2013/02/13/smugmug-x-squarespace-gorgeous-portfolio-websites/

    Michael
  • cmasoncmason Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited March 1, 2013
    mbonocore wrote: »
    Hi Bike,

    Have you seen the new bridge capabilities between SmugMug and Squarespace?

    http://news.smugmug.com/2013/02/13/smugmug-x-squarespace-gorgeous-portfolio-websites/

    Michael

    I did see that news. And frankly, I could not figure out the benefit. If you have the unlimited Squarespace account, you can post all the photos you like directly to Squarespace, using some of their nice photogallery templates. Therefore, really no need for Smugmug.

    Otherwise, this link appears to be yet another benefit for Smugmug Pros, who can (somehow) justify $150 to $300 for Smugmug PLUS another $192 per year for Squarespace.

    For us lowly Power users, I consider that kinda pricy to add a nice blog to your $60 Smugmug page, dontchathink?
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited March 1, 2013
    Is news like this suppose to make SmugMug customers happy?
    Every time I see news like this I become angry.
    I don't recall seeing SquareSpace integration at the top of the features request list.
    This is the sort of bullpucky that makes me question why I continue to stay with SmugMug after the price hike.
    Many of my fellow photographers have left SmugMug and moved on to other sites.
    I keep telling them that they made the wrong choice but now I am beginning to think I am the one who made the wrong choice.
    They keep telling me that by the time SmugMug makes updates, that the updates will be outdated.
    The fact that SmugMug doesn't give out dates, only adds insult to the situation and frustrates the CRUD out of me.
    The same old answers are getting old quick.
    Give me some tangible reasons to stay.

    Have a nice day everyone,
    --Shawn

    Shawn,

    The Squarespace integration is on their end. It did not involve work on the SmugMug side. I was simply connecting the dots for Nick, since he also has a Squarespace site.

    Michael
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited March 1, 2013
    cmason wrote: »
    I did see that news. And frankly, I could not figure out the benefit. If you have the unlimited Squarespace account, you can post all the photos you like directly to Squarespace, using some of their nice photogallery templates. Therefore, really no need for Smugmug.

    Otherwise, this link appears to be yet another benefit for Smugmug Pros, who can (somehow) justify $150 to $300 for Smugmug PLUS another $192 per year for Squarespace.

    For us lowly Power users, I consider that kinda pricy to add a nice blog to your $60 Smugmug page, dontchathink?

    As I said above, this was on the Squarespace side. The benefits of being able to sell prints through your Squarespace site is pretty cool for alot of current Squarespace customers. We have heard nothing but positive feedback from the users who have been bridging the two.

    Michael
  • mbonocorembonocore Registered Users Posts: 2,299 Major grins
    edited March 1, 2013
    Sorry,
    I thought this was a thread about SmugMugs sneak peak at a "New" design.
    Why did SmugMug bother to launch this thread in the first place?
    It certainly wasn't for communication of updates.
    It's been stagnant with nothing new.
    This forum has gone down hill.
    Bring back Andy!

    --Shawn

    Shawn,

    Andy would be telling you the same things I am telling you. I was not here when this thread was launched, so I can't speak to that question. I was simply trying to help a customer who happened to use SmugMug and Squarespace, and who, as it appears, didn't know they worked well together.

    Michael
  • bike21bike21 Registered Users Posts: 836 Major grins
    edited March 3, 2013
    mbonocore wrote: »
    Hi Bike,

    Have you seen the new bridge capabilities between SmugMug and Squarespace?

    http://news.smugmug.com/2013/02/13/smugmug-x-squarespace-gorgeous-portfolio-websites/

    Michael

    Yep, as I mentioned earlier in this thread I'm quite excited about the integration. It very well might be the reason I stay with SM if it works out as planned.

    But I have to say, I'm simply blown away with squarespace as I'm building my new site. The blog integration, easy customization, SEO, mobile sites, mobile apps & posting are seemingly light years ahead of SM.

    My current plan is to have my entire front end hosted on squarespace (moving domain from SM) and keep SM for my clients at least through my next renewal. SM still has the best printing services IMO and many things I still really like. But for front end appearance for users like myself there is no comparison. Perhaps eventually I'll switch back to SM for all my web-related needs, but time will tell.
  • MalteMalte Registered Users Posts: 1,181 Major grins
    edited March 3, 2013
    Squarespace is looking nice, I had no idea they offer unlimited storage.

    Malte
  • bryanbrazilbryanbrazil Registered Users Posts: 35 Big grins
    edited March 4, 2013
    I did something similar, but developed my own site with Wordpress. Then dropped my smugmug account down to basic since I'll only be using it for backup and events. I've been following these threads and finally just lost hope that smugmug would ever deliver a better front-end experience.

    bryanbrazil.com
  • carolinecaroline Registered Users Posts: 1,302 Major grins
    edited March 4, 2013
    I did something similar, but developed my own site with Wordpress. Then dropped my smugmug account down to basic since I'll only be using it for backup and events. I've been following these threads and finally just lost hope that smugmug would ever deliver a better front-end experience.

    bryanbrazil.com

    Super looking site Bryan, congratualtions! What template did you use?

    Caroline
    Mendip Blog - Blog from The Fog, life on the Mendips
    www.carolineshipsey.co.uk - Follow me on G+

    [/URL]
  • bryanbrazilbryanbrazil Registered Users Posts: 35 Big grins
    edited March 4, 2013
    Thanks, it's called Photolux.
  • bike21bike21 Registered Users Posts: 836 Major grins
    edited March 20, 2013
    Standby...was going to show off new site but I have to do some more work.
  • bike21bike21 Registered Users Posts: 836 Major grins
    edited March 20, 2013
    Ok, successfully moved my front-end presence to a Wordpress hosted site. Let me know what you think!

    www.nicklasurephotography.com

    Also, I made a simple landing page for my smugmug site to re-direct to my new site.

    www.nl-photo.smugmug.com

    Cheers!
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