Philly.com redesign FAQ
Starting March 2, there will be a single redesigned Philly.com site for both mobile and desktop users. Here are a few questions users are likely to have about the changes.
Why change?
Philly.com is already the region's leading local news destination online, but to stay ahead of the pack, we must evolve to meet changing audience needs. An ever-increasing number of people are using their mobile devices to access Philly.com, and we need to provide them with an experience on par with our desktop site. This was the biggest motivation behind our redesign effort.
Beyond that, we had three key goals:
Unify the experience on desktop and mobile devices, so that it's easier to develop new features for multiple screen sizes and device types.
Improve the overall user experience with larger images, better typography, more useful navigation and more relevant content offerings.
Provide advertisers with new and more effective options for reaching users, which allows us to continue to provide high-quality content at little or no direct cost to users.
How can I find _____?
If you're looking for a particular section of the site, chances are you'll find it on the drop-down menu in the top right of your browser window. If you don't find it in the menu, try searching by clicking the magnifying glass and then entering your search term. If you still don't find what you're looking for, please let us know.
I liked the old version better. Can I go back?
Unfortunately, no. In order to quickly build out new features, we need to focus our development efforts on a single set of templates and pages. This means we are retiring the old Philly.com desktop site design, just as we retired the old mobile site design in December after responding to user feedback on our beta experience.
Will the new site work on my device?
We have made efforts to support the most common devices and browsers, but users of some older devices or browsers may encounter problems. The site works best on the following browsers:
Desktop:
Windows: Chrome 40 or above; Firefox 35 or above; Internet Explorer 10 or above
Mac: Chrome 40 or above; Safari 8 or above; Firefox 35 or above
Mobile:
iOS: Safari, Chrome
Android: Chrome (Users of Android Browser should switch to Chrome.)
Windows Mobile: Internet Explorer
If you have trouble viewing Philly.com on a different or older browser, we encourage you to upgrade to a recent version of one of these browsers.
Something doesn't work for me. How do I let you know?
Please use our feedback form to report any problems you have with the site. We have been listening to user feedback throughout the redesign process and making changes based on what we're hearing. We can't respond to every report we receive, but we will be working hard to address problems that are reported to us.
As an advertiser, what should I know about changes to the site?
The new Philly.com gives you more opportunities to get your message in front of the right users wherever they are. We now offer more viewable ad positions, many of which are unified across desktop and mobile, as well as greater exposure for native advertising and numerous sponsorship opportunities. For more, check out our media kit.
I really want to see _____ functionality in the new site. What's next?
This is the starting point of a continuous effort to build out new features and functionality for Philly.com. (Read more about our ongoing redesign effort.) We aim to introduce more improvements in the coming weeks and months, including improved photo galleries and author profile pages. What else would you like to see? Let us know.