Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

June 25, 2005

Changes Coming to the Blog

Posted by Hunter

A heads up to my loyal readers - we are currently working on a new design for the blog. The current setup is a generic template with some minor tweaks - not optimal. I've been working with a designer that specializes in this format to come up with something that is friendly, easy to access, can generate some advertising revenue and has a Vegas feel. This new look could be coming as soon as July 1st.

Also on the drawing board is a total re-design of RateVegas.com, our sister site. The new version focuses on 'getting back to basics', meaning a re-focus on the core function of the site - hotel information and ratings. The new design will be very light, with lots of white space and large photos. This is only in the mockup stages but I'm pretty excited about it. Along with the redesign will come a new technology base that will flow better with the new look. This change is further out as it is much more involved.


Categories: RateVegas.com


Comments

Read archived comments (9 so far)
June 25, 2005 2:59 PM Posted by Mike

As my favorite hotel goes through some changes, so does my favorite site.

Looking forward to it, Hunter!

June 25, 2005 4:07 PM Posted by Ehrlich

Any chance you might consider adding information and construction photos of hotel and condominium projects? I'm really interested to see the new palms hotel tower and the Palms Place condominium. I'm also looking forward to the cosmopolitan and watching its construction and effect on Bellagio. Hopefully the huge building won't effect the fountains of Bellagio and the atmosphere that has been created by the hotel. I think however that the spa tower is going to lose many of its views looking toward the cosmopolitan part of the strip. Looking forward to the new website.

June 25, 2005 5:28 PM Posted by Hunter

I think the changes are for the better. I'm excited!

Regarding adding info on more construction projects, the real answer is 'as I can'. I'd like to cover everything as much as possible... Getting to Vegas to take the photos can be tough some months.

While Palms tower 2 is about half way to being topped off, Palms Place and the Cosmo haven't even broken ground. It will be interesting to see these projects go up though.

June 25, 2005 5:29 PM Posted by tom

Whatever changes you make I'm sure will enhance the experience. Please keep those of us with older version software(win98) in mind. I can't afford to buy a new computer. Looking forward to the new look.

June 25, 2005 5:31 PM Posted by Hunter

That's a good point. Win98 represents a small part of our browser audience...

Ideally, if there is a fantastic feature that I can only implement on newer browsers, I'm probably going to go for it. That said, I'd like to maintain as much compatibility with older browsers as possible.

Doesn't Firefox work on Win98? Firefox should have no problems with anything we may do.

June 26, 2005 7:46 PM Posted by Lorie

Love your site and would love changes, too! Can't wait to see them...

July 13, 2005 7:49 AM Posted by detroit1051

Hunter, I appreciate the Blog, but I'm having a little difficulty adapting to the new format. I do like the list of Categories on the main page. That's very helpful. Also, I don't know if this is new or I just didn't notice it before, but the "Die Is Cast" link is very interesting. I had never heard of David G. Schwartz; fascinating stuff.

I hope you don't mind my opinion, but the Main Page photo of a tufted sofa doesn't appeal to me or draw readers into the site. Further, there's a long stretch of white space at the beginning of the main page.

Thanks for the Blog. I check it a couple times a day.

July 13, 2005 8:19 AM Posted by Hunter

We're actively working on the new layout - it's not a done deal yet. We're working on the header photo today and looking at others.

I do very much appreciate your comments, positive or negative.

Regarding the 'white space', I'm not sure I see that here. Can you elaborate?

July 13, 2005 9:34 AM Posted by detroit1051

>>Regarding the 'white space', I'm not sure I see that here. Can you elaborate?

On the Main Page, the right hand side of my screen view shows the categories, list all the recent comments, then photographs, archives and finally, links. The left side of the screen is all blank white space all the way down to where the links are listed on the right. The first writing on the left side today is the July 12 message, "Wynn Las Vegas Boosts..."
It just seems like a lot of white space to me.