Last week, Amy and Gwen asked about Blogger’s new “dynamic views” — five new viewing possibilities for your blog. So, happy to please my devoted readers, I hopped right on the dynamic views train to see where it would take me. Here’s what I found out:
What are dynamic views?
Dynamic views are a new Blogger feature and they allow you to very easily change how your blog looks — from the tradition view to a new view. They don’t change the way you blog or do anything to all the work you’ve put in to getting your blog to look just-so. They just present your posts in a different layout that you and/or your readers can choose to view. Since that is probably as clear as mud, let’s get visual (and clickable — click on each view’s image/title to go to that view and explore):
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| left sidebar lists post titles with thumbnail and comment count |
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| chronological post thumbnails with post title and comment count on hover |
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| chronological post thumbnails with post title on hover |
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| all post images with snippet on hover |
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| three column view: photos/post titles/snippets, post titles/snippets, post titles |
- I think that dynamic views won’t be a major Blogger staple as-is, except possibly in a few very specific circumstances, such as using the snapshot view for an all-photos blog.
- I think that dynamic views are a great sign that Blogger is trying to make up for some of the visual blah complaints that have many users switching to other blogging services.
- I think that dynamic views are a fun new feature and that we should all spend some time exploring the dynamic views and submitting feedback so that the views become everything we want them to be!
And now, dear readers — what do YOU think about dynamic views? Love ’em? Hate ’em? Still confused by ’em?
Lu (or Lorene if you prefer) is the mom of one squirmy boy and the wife of a singing and dancing elementary teacher. She is the proud author of this weekly Wednesdays on the Web (WotW) segment here on Housewife Eclectic and spends the other days of the week blogging about crafts and whatever else comes up at just Lu.
i don't really get the point.
Thank you for explaining it and for being honest about how it still doesn't make much sense. I appreciate having such a web-savvy friend.
OK, so I just went and played around with it and I can see how I might be able to use this. I have a large mailing list but many of those people are not regular blog or internet users. I could send them a link to the mosaic view, for instance, and they would be able to browse the thumbnails for whatever caught their eye. If I included a link for subscribing in that same email, the mosaic view might draw them in.
Thanks for the info. I think I'll stick with the way things are.
Interesting. And I also appreciate having such a web-savvy friend. 🙂
Thanks Lu, I now feel normal again. I too thought "what is the point?" and thought I must have been tech-dumb and I figured there would be bigger picture stuff further down the developement line that I would get. I really don't have that many issues with blogger. I find it pretty user friendly…but then again haven't tried another service…I really do appreciate your de-mystifying posts. x
I think the people at Blogger ran out of things to do. The only one of the 'dynamic views' that I found at all tolerable, when I tried it, was 'Sidebar.' I can't imagine wanting to view anyone's blog in any of the others. I see no need for any of them unless it was not having to lay off Blogger staff.
OK, I laughed outloud at the your blog on drugs photo. Just thought you should know. 🙂
Thanks for the info, Lorene. I'm still confused, but only because I have no idea why anyone would ever want to do this. Now I know that I'm not missing out on anything. Thanks!