Amiga.org

Amiga.org specific forums => Amiga.org Discussion and Site Feedback => Topic started by: koaftder on October 20, 2014, 12:04:08 AM

Title: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: koaftder on October 20, 2014, 12:04:08 AM
Here recently I wanted to share a link to something in the picture gallery with a friend, but it didn't work because you have to be logged in now to view a picture. I notice you also have to be logged in to view blogs, use the search tool and view a profile. This is idiotic and breaks hordes of links in the search engines. Please fix it. Making the website harder to use will not help increase membership.
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: paul1981 on October 21, 2014, 08:23:32 PM
Quote from: koaftder;775291
Here recently I wanted to share a link to something in the picture gallery with a friend, but it didn't work because you have to be logged in now to view a picture. I notice you also have to be logged in to view blogs, use the search tool and view a profile. This is idiotic and breaks hordes of links in the search engines. Please fix it. Making the website harder to use will not help increase membership.


I'm inclined to agree with you.
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: James2002 on October 23, 2014, 06:54:32 AM
Even the other forums that use Vbulletin you have to be logged in to see picture gallery in yours and others.  It mostly a security feature from my basic knowledge of Vbulletin.  It also depends on settings from the Admin. Not recommend changing settings. Things can break in Vbulletin.
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: Bamiga2002 on October 29, 2014, 09:50:34 AM
Yes why is this? Bring back the old behaviour and not force everyone to become a member to see and read things here.
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: gertsy on October 29, 2014, 09:26:14 PM
It's been like this for years. Or am I missing something?
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: Bamiga2002 on October 30, 2014, 06:01:32 AM
It hasn't always been like this you know. Maybe the site administrator can tell when the change was made? Maybe create a poll to ask if many others liked the "old" behaviour more...
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: koaftder on November 02, 2014, 04:42:54 AM
Quote from: gertsy;776118
It's been like this for years. Or am I missing something?


The things I mentioned here are new behavior, as in within the last few weeks.
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: Karlos on November 02, 2014, 04:00:09 PM
Quote from: gertsy;776118
It's been like this for years. Or am I missing something?


No. It was always possible to browse the forums and gallery without logging in.

I'm not sure why this has changed. It seems that some of the forums are still browsable without a login, but the gallery is completely off limits.
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: F0LLETT on November 02, 2014, 07:23:04 PM
Quote from: Karlos;776515
No. It was always possible to browse the forums and gallery without logging in.

I'm not sure why this has changed. It seems that some of the forums are still browsable without a login, but the gallery is completely off limits.


Its nice to be able to browse galleries, but then it opens the door for leaching.
Used to get this alot on my own sites.

So its swings and roundabouts.
Title: Re: It sucks that you have be logged into to use half the website
Post by: amigadave on November 04, 2014, 04:14:01 AM
Quote from: koaftder;776466
The things I mentioned here are new behavior, as in within the last few weeks.

I don't know why the change was made, but I do know that Matthew has been working on the Site Software, doing updates and patches on the software that runs this place.   Perhaps one of those patches has changed some things as a side effect, not an intended result, but only Karlos or Matthew could answer that question.

I don't have a preference one way or the other regarding having to login to this site to view anything, as I automatically login every time I visit this site anyway.

It is a double edged sword trying to keep site software up to date and also trying to run it with any regard toward keeping it available and working on ancient web browsers that still work on Motorola 680x0 based Amiga hardware, or is that even possible any more?  I have not tried to web browse on any of my many Commodore Amiga computers for a long time, though I know at one time or another in the past, there was some effort to keep this site viewable from Commodore Amiga computers without Phase5 accelerators running AmigaOS3.x.  Maybe some progress has been made with newer 68k compatible web browsers like Netsurf, but I don't know about that as I have not tried to use it on any 68k Amiga.