User blog:Yyp/New Wikia Skin:What we can expect?

Posted: 6th September 2010 Last updated: 16th September 2010 In case anyone is unaware, Wikia is overhauling its look later this year and it will be a big overhaul that will affect both the appearance and how things are done here. The change is compulsory for all wikis because it is not simply a new skin option, it’s going to be an upgraded version of Wikia (the wikia system's software is going from mediawiki 1.15 to 1.16, which is apparently a bigger deal than it sounds like). Wikia does not want to waste resources working on an outdated version of the software, hence the update being mandatory. This is what I have been able to piece together from what I've seen on Wikia Central.

Discontinued features
 * The widget dashboard and all widgets are likely to be discontinued as they were deemed to be underused. The answers widget is already gone, and the shoutbox (which is virtually unused here) was singled out as definitely going to be dropped.
 * "Report a Problem" links will also be discontinued with the new skin.

New features
 * New, customizable toolbar that is anchored at bottom of screen (Watch the demo video to see how it works.)
 * New preset themes (currently two known)
 * Beach - yellow, peach, blue, and tan vertical stripes
 * Carbon - black and olive diagonal stripes, BL-TR
 * New tool for customizing the colour scheme.
 * There will be 12 different fonts (fontin, garton, gondola, idolwild, imfell, josefin, orbitron, prociono, speakeasy, tangerine, titillium, yanone)

Other changes
 * The wiki navigation that is now on the left sidebar, is moving to the top of the screen. It will have drop downs that function like the sub-menu items now (or so says Wikia).
 * There will be a new sidebar area on the right, where the recent activity and other "modules" (that take info from wiki activity) will sit. There will not be drop down menus on these. More "modules" are being developed for it, but there are currently no plans for user-developed modules.
 * Moved the most recent editor’s name from the bottom of the page to the top, added an avatar, and a new mini-history dropdown menu, which contains the link to the full history. (Supposed to make it more obvious to new users that anyone can edit a wiki.)
 * A couple of the categories are listed at top as well.
 * Edit "buttons" will be used instead of links.
 * The name of the user who uploaded a picture will be listed underneath the image caption on articles. I find this to be a v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.very bad idea.

Beta Testing of the New Look Wikia is currently conducting closed beta testing for the New Look, and I am one of those beta testers. I am not allowed to reveal anything that has not already been announced on the Central Wikia, so do not ask. For those that are wondering, the beta testing involves going about your normal editing, but using the New Look to do so and reporting any issues, as well as general comments back to Wikia. You might also see me making some edits at MediaWiki:Wikia.css or other special pages. I'll mark these edits as being related to the New Look. These are purely for the new look and will not affect anything related to the way the site is currently.

Please bear in mind that it is a work in progress and that means that anything that is in the prototype version that is being tested is subject to changes, being replaced or being dropped altogether in the final version (expected late this year). For more info, see the announcement and the new skin FAQ on Central Wikia, where there are also blogs & forums on about the change.

When will this change happen Don't know yet. The new skin is in closed beta testing atm, which will be followed by open beta testing. Then there will be a phased roll-out of the new version across all wikis. Where Bleach Wiki falls into that is currently unknown. It is looking like it may be done this year, but don't hold me to that.

I'll update this as more is revealed. Comments on the new look are welcome, but please keep them on topic. I'll address any questions that I can, but I don't know everything, so sorry if I can't give you any answers.