LEGO.com updated

 

  • LEGO.com updated

    Posted by Huw, 12 Oct 2010 11:26. Filed under LEGO.com.

    At around midday today, UK time, LEGO.com received an update and I have to say, I like it! I haven't had time to check it all out yet but the home page is very impressive. The shop pages are the same, just with a new header but we know that LEGO are working on implementing a new system, so that'll no doubt change soon, although to be honest I'd be surprised if they do that this side of Christmas.

    Take a look and let us know what you think and if you find anything particularly cool.

    Update: Unfortunately the site has gone down in my estimation slightly. I looked at it on my iPad and the first thing the site tells me is that it's 'time to update' because I have an 'old browser'. Excuse me, but it's not old, and even if I wanted to I couldn't upgrade the browser on it. This is of course because the page is very Flash-heavy and Flash doesn't run on iPad and iPhone devices.

    However once the message has been dismissed, a version of the page minus Flash loads, which isn't quite as 'flashy'  :-)  but is perfectly functional, which is 'graceful degradation' as it should be.  LEGO should therefore recognise that not everyone can, or wants to, run Flash. At the very least they should detect Apple mobile browsers and not show the message: it is after all not the user's fault they can't run Flash and it could put the millions of iPad users off visiting if it appears every time they do so.

    (thanks to Saso and legobob for alerting us!)


    39 comments, latest one posted 31 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by ncbarrett in United States, 12 Oct 2010 11:36

I like it. I noticed it around 8am eastern time.

Posted by Delatron in United Kingdom, 12 Oct 2010 11:38

Just tried to scroll around PAB and it glitched up. I suspect wrinkles will be ironed out soon.

Posted by Legohamster in United Kingdom, 12 Oct 2010 11:42

Intresting, I've just had a look at it, I wonder if this means there will be a new messageboards as the current one is old but the Mods say they don't know...

Posted by patch in United Kingdom, 12 Oct 2010 11:43

Cool!Like the new create and share tab! I also like the new pop up windows for lego ID. My Lego Network could use an update.

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 12 Oct 2010 12:01

i dont mean to be a party pooper but, i for one dislike the new lego.com. It seems too big, i like having most of the page in the screen without having to scroll up and down and sideways, but i guess i'll have to get used to it.

Posted by diehardlegofan in United States, 12 Oct 2010 12:05

The new homepage is totally wickedly awesome!!!!

Posted by Alemas in Germany, 12 Oct 2010 12:47

I have mixed feelings. It looks good, but you can clearly see that it's designed after LEGO Universe.
@Legohamster: I think there should be a new Message Boards. You have this SPANKING NEW site, and... a rickety, rusty old forum on it, from 2005-ish, with a (very) small update in '07. At least the quotes look better...

Posted by mokey2345 in United Kingdom, 12 Oct 2010 13:53

it looks realy weird in a way ?

Posted by Duraz in United States, 12 Oct 2010 14:19

I like it, but it seems really slow.

Posted by Matthew in United Kingdom, 12 Oct 2010 14:20

itsaturkey I totally agree. I am going to sound like some old codger here but I really prefer low tech websites (like brickset) there's just too much going on here. PS I am not some old codger!!!

Posted by izziebitt in United States, 12 Oct 2010 14:32

its funny, i work at a LEGO store and this site takes f o r e v e r to load up on our pc. otherwise i love the new look.

Posted by burakki62 in United Kingdom, 12 Oct 2010 15:18

Where is the PAB section?? I cant seem to find it any more /o:

Posted by legobob in United States, 12 Oct 2010 15:42

I reported this too. I never get credit for anything :(

Posted by Alemas in Germany, 12 Oct 2010 15:49

@burakki: http://shop.lego.com/pab/ Here ya go! :)

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 12 Oct 2010 15:56

@legobob, sorry: I read your email on my phone but then couldn't find it again when I got home: you were actually the first person to email, so thank you. I've credited you above!

Posted by Orange Lemons in United States, 12 Oct 2010 16:55

Just checked it out. I would rate this the same as the old one.

Posted by Conchas in Portugal, 12 Oct 2010 18:35

That's time to throw your iPhones/iPads on the trash bin!... :D
The website update looks great! Also noticed a new message board, directly acessible from the Technic page. :)

Posted by legomaniac in United States, 12 Oct 2010 20:44

Its pretty good, like the animations. My only complaint is that when looking at a theme, I cant open them on a new page.
edit: nevermind I was in the products, not lego shop@home. DO'H

Posted by brickapolis in United States, 12 Oct 2010 20:47

Looks like they're using alot of FLEX/Flash now in the site, as Huw pointed out. While it is nice for those on conventional computers, those with iPad/iPhones kind of lose out. Very nice redesign overall, I do suppose!

Posted by Ypres in Canada, 12 Oct 2010 22:28

I think it looks very artistic... while no change was ever needed the site has a fresh feel.
I use a normal laptop so flash doesn't concern me. The only thing I question is why they didn't make sub-categories on the top menu. Kind of like clicking (or holding your mouse over) Shop and being able to click things like 'What's hot now', or 'Sales and Deals'. Also a complaint about the original site, which hasn't changed, is they still don't make finding a 'Store locator' very easy.

Posted by R4-G9 in Canada, 12 Oct 2010 22:55

here is a link to the calgary store:
http://stores.lego.com/en-us/Calgary/LandingPage.aspx

Posted by CharlieTheFunEngine in Australia, 13 Oct 2010 02:45

@ itsaturkey, Duraz, LegoCoastGuard and izziebit: I have all the same opinions. It's too big, too slow and too high tech. Not that I really liked the old one either. I wish they would leave up the theme pages for expired themes like KK2. It just takes you to the Kingdoms page now. Sigh...

Posted by Nikola Bathory in Bulgaria, 13 Oct 2010 05:13

Blame Apple for the lack of Flash support, not Lego.

Posted by legobob in United States, 13 Oct 2010 07:16

@Huw thanks a lot

Posted by legobob in United States, 13 Oct 2010 07:17

I think the new site is cool but a lot of things are still old like the message boards

Posted by ncbarrett in United States, 13 Oct 2010 07:55

the reason it loads so slow, is because flash is such a memory hog. There are other options they should have used.

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 13 Oct 2010 08:07

Come on, lets not get into a "Apple.vs.Flash" argument; it's not what we're here for.

Posted by atkinsar in United Kingdom, 13 Oct 2010 08:35

@bluemoose, I totally agree but would add iPhone vs Android comments, BOTH great platforms, one VERY boring argument!

I'm not yet sold on the new site. I'm not too sure on the objectives of it, it seems like a redesign for the sake of it without really adding anything. More importantly, the Lego site was never the quickest, and now it's a lot slower. A redesign of the shopping part of the site should be a much higher priority for them, I remember once ordering a set on my phone whilst sitting in a cafe in Centreparcs, it was sooooooo painful!

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 13 Oct 2010 08:37

Thanks bluemoose: the purpose of the update to the article was to highlight the problem and see whether the 'Brickset effect' can work again in getting things changed. It's a little short-sighted to display that message under all circumstances, and LEGO need to recognise that.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 13 Oct 2010 08:46

I've just found the old news article about the work LEGO have started to redevelop their eCommerce system, which I've hyperlinked to above.

Here's the original source article: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090928005260&newsLang=en

That was over a year ago. Does it actually take that long to implement a new system?

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 13 Oct 2010 09:12

Huw- do you know how i can 'update' my browser for lego.com? A message comes up saying i have to update everytime i go on the home page.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 13 Oct 2010 11:00

^ What do you use now? IE7 or IE8 should be fine, as should most versions of FireFox, Chrome, Opera and Safari.

Posted by TechnicMan in United Kingdom, 13 Oct 2010 12:48

Doesn't seem to work with Forefox 3.6.10, I just get a Runtime Error. Works in IE though....
Is working now, must have been a glitch!

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 13 Oct 2010 16:11

Huw- i use mozilla firefox, not sure if it has the newest update.

Posted by Alemas in Germany, 13 Oct 2010 16:45

@itsaturkey: If it's 3.6.10, it IS. I have that version and I have NO problems.

Posted by Leela in Poland, 13 Oct 2010 17:11

I use Firefox 3.6.10 and the website doesn't work for me at all. The error message says something about redirecting. Sometimes I get to see the main page but when I click around I get the error and 'page not found'. And it's impossible to change the language, I can only view it in English or I get the redirecting message again.
So obviously I hate this update :(

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 13 Oct 2010 17:59

Alemas- Thanks! Although some people are saying 3.6.10 is working and others is not, so maybe it different for everyone, hopefully its just a small glitch that lego will fix. Oh and theres a new city game (well its new to me) called a train story.

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 13 Oct 2010 18:28

Make sure you have the latest version of Flash player installed -
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Posted by JonnyRonny in United Kingdom, 16 Oct 2010 03:04

Just to let people know that the product page has now changed so Huw's date of finishing December might not be correct but instead around mid November.

UPDATE: Every page on the new site apart from the shop has been updated so the shop might just be left how it is.

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