Forum Logo?

[james.mc]

So, here I am wondering that, if the vote for a new Forum Logo was held in a poll August - October 2016, and the poll was closed 02 Oct 2016. 

http://honda-adventure-riders.com/index.php?topic=1395.0

Where's the new logo at the top of the Forum?
I only ask because I wonder if there is some doubt about the outcome?   

After I sold my Varadero, and moved and move to Canada, I bought a Triumph Tiger 1050 and wasn't around in the Forum to vote at the time, but will say this.  Choose a forum logo that has bike model names on it and you can be sure as hell you will be choosing another logo in a few years time, then a other after that.  I suggest just use one generic Honda ADV type logo that can remain the same, no matter what models Honda bring out.  Add bike names elsewhere in the forum as they come and go, but keep the logo the same for the long term.

That mistake dawned on me when I first started the International Varadero Forum and later I saw the Crosstourer come along. I could immediately see an identity crisis developing, on the Varadero International Forum, as to how the Forum might appear to new visitors at first glance.

There is definitely scope for an all encompassing Honda ADV Forum, so rather than limiting members to 'named models'  how about opening it up a little?

regards
James Mc

[Two Plugs]

The waiting is on the specialist who can change it... 
And make this forum more smartphone friendly.  Currently there is (far) more activity on ADV bike Facebook groups (and the very popular ADVrider forum which is excellent accesible on smart devices) than we see here...
But as being an old administrator, James, you also know the amount of work which it takes to keep - any - forum updated and speaking for myself... I haven't got the skills nor the time to fix that last wish...  Can't speak for Stewart and Gilles.

Regarding name: VCIM is back to VIM. Thats a start... 

Update:
Specialist has added the logo. Tnx for the friendly reminder, James!

[Nysse]

Have to say that the new logo/headder dosen´t look god.
I think it has to be transparent, the background has to be visible.
Neither the white or the gray has to be there.

How was the smart ass that come upp with this   

[zebulon]

But most of the people (who have vote) have chosen this one ... 

think there are some other best choices ... but ...

[james.mc]

Have to say that the new logo/headder dosen´t look god.
I think it has to be transparent, the background has to be visible.
Neither the white or the gray has to be there.

How was the smart ass that come upp with this   

Its a .png image.  I'm pretty sure it would need to be a transparent .gif to have the background visible.

[james.mc]

The waiting is on the specialist who can change it... 
And make this forum more smartphone friendly.  Currently there is (far) more activity on ADV bike Facebook groups (and the very popular ADVrider forum which is excellent accesible on smart devices) than we see here...
But as being an old administrator, James, you also know the amount of work which it takes to keep - any - forum updated and speaking for myself... I haven't got the skills nor the time to fix that last wish...  Can't speak for Stewart and Gilles.

Regarding name: VCIM is back to VIM. Thats a start... 

Update:
Specialist has added the logo. Tnx for the friendly reminder, James!

Yeah, I know its hard work Bernard.  Starting The International Honda Varadero Forum from scratch and building up a community was bloody hard work.
Facebook has taken a lot of people away from Forums like this, but one thing Facebook is crap at is making useful historical data available at a glance.  That's one reason I've recently been adding useful data to the CRF1000L section.   Hopefully new visitors will see it and jump aboard.  Or not. Time will tell.

Today I've also added three suggestions for improvement. Hopefully the admins will pick up on it.

The idea of using mobile devices for forums works.  I'm not sure that a specific mobile site is required as much as pointing people at a mobile app that already exists that will manage it for you.
I'll look into whats needed and try it out before getting back on the subject.  Pretty sure I have the app on my phone already but am offshore right now. Once we are in mobile range I will see if it work for this Forum.

best regards
James Mc

[SB]

Have to say that the new logo/headder dosen´t look god.
I think it has to be transparent, the background has to be visible.
Neither the white or the gray has to be there.

How was the smart ass that come upp with this   

Its a .png image.  I'm pretty sure it would need to be a transparent .gif to have the background visible.

James, it was Nysse that submitted the logo in the competition.

You are correct the only way to make it transparent is turn it into a .gif.  So I now have to remember how to make areas of .gifs appear as transparent.

The logo is hard coded into the forum software as a .png. so I also have to remember where this is hidden in the code and change it, edit the image and upload it.

Now it looks pretty but the problem is that the forum base code is non standard and the next time there is an SMF software update it will either not update correctly or will revert back to the .png setting.

Then I have to try and remember  what I did to change it.

[zebulon]

we can also argue on this banner Africa Twin logo is not real one as it must be ...



 

[SB]

And make this forum more smartphone friendly.  Currently there is (far) more activity on ADV bike Facebook groups (and the very popular ADVrider forum which is excellent accesible on smart devices) than we see here...

Facebook has taken a lot of people away from Forums like this, but one thing Facebook is crap at is making useful historical data available at a glance.  That's one reason I've recently been adding

The idea of using mobile devices for forums works.  I'm not sure that a specific mobile site is required as much as pointing people at a mobile app that already exists that will manage it for you.

Facebook has taken a lot of the "chat" away from forums like this. I'm not sure that is such a bad thing. This and other forums have now become much more of a source of useful information.

We did have a system for linking posts & notifications on the Forum with Facebook but no-one used it. There is a "VARADERO AND CROSSTOURER INTERNATIONAL" section on Facebook but it doesn't get a lot of use.  All of which confirms that the two platforms serve different functions.

The subject of "mobiles" comes up a now and then, mostly from the same people. I used to have a Blackberry and now use Android. I dont have any problems searching, navigating or posting. Our forum looks different from the ADV riders forum but they both behave much the same way.

I know that Gilles uses Apple IOS to access the Forum without any issues.

Generally I use my Mobile to search for new posts and the easiest way to do this is to have a simple dedicated link on you android (or windows) workspace : http://honda-adventure-riders.com/index.php?action=unread;all;start=0

If anyone has a particular problem with the Forum post details about it in the same way that we would expect anyone to describe a problem they were having with their bike.  "make this forum more smartphone friendly" is not very helpful.

WRT Tapatalk I think that there are serious questions over security and the information that it harvests and it will not be installed here.

SB

[zebulon]

I know that Gilles uses Apple IOS to access the Forum without any issues.

SB

and more , and more for instance, since I have no more computer    (problems do not come alone  )

[james.mc]

Personally I see FB as a lot of realtime chat, but not too much else, I use it a lot for keeping up with friends and family around the world.  Sometimes, on the biking side, useful snippets come along, but unless you  catch them pretty much as they happen posts soon get buried in the dross and vanish into the bottomless pit that FB creates.  I agree that most of the useful information can be found stored in the various forums that covers our chosen type of two wheeler.

It was Tapatalk I was referring to, but had forgotten its name at the time I posted. I've not used it personally but noticed it being used at the africatwin.com forum and elsewhere.  I wasn't aware that it had serious security flaws but the again what doesn't these days.  Even banks have their problems on that score    Still, if it has issues like that, then better off giving it a miss as the risk v reward is not worth it.

If anyone has a particular problem with the Forum post details about it in the same way that we would expect anyone to describe a problem they were having with their bike.  "make this forum more smartphone friendly" is not very helpful.

I agree.  It would be nice of people posted each and every problem they have (in the correct board) so that admins can get a better idea and feel of what needs fixing and the way forward.

Generally I use my Mobile to search for new posts and the easiest way to do this is to have a simple dedicated link on you android (or windows) workspace : http://honda-adventure-riders.com/index.php?action=unread;all;start=0

Thanks for the link.  Just added to my desktop.  I'll start using that.

regards
James Mc

[Two Plugs]

Must admit that the so called 'security' issues are a bit of a shot in thin air.
What are the 'security' issues of TapaTalk? To my modest opinion they are no different than using WhatsApp, Google, FaceBook, Instagram, etc.

There is no such thing as privacy on the internet, not in the last place for this forum which is hosted in America, the nation in which a thing as 'digital privacy' doesn't exist.

[james.mc]

Must admit that the so called 'security' issues are a bit of a shot in thin air.
What are the 'security' issues of TapaTalk? To my modest opinion they are no different than using WhatsApp, Google, FaceBook, Instagram, etc.

I personally don't know at this stage Bernard.  I was following Stewarts lead as he seems to be aware of Tapatalk and how it functions and right now I'm not.

[Tarwdu]

I have to agree with james mc regarding the three adventure names on the logo.
At the moment there are eight different models in hondas adventure lineup, and in my opinion they all should be included and also future proofing the logo from new models.
I also think that a transparent background will not work. e.g if you put the logo on a blue or black part of the bike then you will not see it.
The background should be a light solid colour like white or cream.

You may be thinking why did I not submit a logo for the competition. I am not an artist and in this instance I am the customer and I know whats works best.

regards
Gareth 

[zebulon]

why did I not submit a logo for the competition.

Sure Gareth you know it have been done not far from now, and the result is this one  as for the meeting name ...