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Post by mihizawi on Apr 21, 2011 9:26:59 GMT
Well, I don't know if we should discuss the new website here, or in another thread, but while I am not corrected, here we go.
Finally! The new website! I must say, that at first sight, despite the video set to auto-play is the one from Treasure... I love how the new websiste looks, The design is great, I think better and more pulished than the previous ones. Certainly, refreshing.
And we can see a link to HWI on the links section, with the following description:
"Hayley Westenra International
The most comprehensive Hayley Westenra fan site out there. A mine of information and a healthy and thriving online community."
There's something that quite surprises me... The official forum seems to have vanished. At least I can't find it... And there's a new registering option, but it seems as if you have to register again even if you were once registered to the official forum and subscribed to the news.
Michal
Post moved from the Paradiso (general thread) - Martin
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
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Post by Martin on Apr 21, 2011 12:44:32 GMT
Hayley's new, official, website is now live at www.hayleywestenra.com Please use this thread to post your views and comments. Martin |
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Post by Richard on Apr 21, 2011 14:23:00 GMT
Hello Michal!  I think Decca have simply forgotten to add the forum link to the new website. Hayley's official forum is still live here: hayleywestenra.forums.umusic.co.uk/Richard  |
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
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Post by Dave on Apr 21, 2011 14:46:24 GMT
Hi everyone, Yes, it looks like a "work in progress", to me, I see many of the things mentioned by MIchal and Richard. Perhaps the early NZ release (at least two weeks earlier than originally intended) caught them by surprise. I'm sure the missing things (such as the forum link and Paradiso clips and video) will appear in due course. Oh, a forum link has now appeared - but I am unable to sign in to it, or view it, when I use my existing registered email address and password. The old forum works as normal but there is no link to it so perhaps it is going to be abandoned? They need to post a prominent explanatory message on the front page so we know what's happening! It's also quite UK-centric at present, with a big UK release date image near the top but it doesn't say it's for the UK release. On the links page, I notice that the German official site has disappeared and if you type it in directly, it redirects to hw.com (this has been the case for some time). If this means that Germany has been permanently "abandoned", it's a pity, as last year Germany overtook the UK as the World's third largest music market. On the plus side, HWI has moved up the links page and is now second, after the Japanese official site, let's hope they don't change that!  Cheers, Dave |
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Post by Richard on Apr 21, 2011 14:59:48 GMT
One other thing I've just noticed. The tab says "Hayley Westerna".  Richard |
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
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Post by Dave on Apr 21, 2011 15:09:19 GMT
Hi Richard,
I haven't noticed that, but now you can get to the normal forum by clicking the forum link at the top, then a small "Visit Hayley's forum" link on the page you are directed to.
Dave
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Post by martindn on Apr 21, 2011 16:37:38 GMT
Yes, you have to re-register. I fell into the trap of thinking I could use my old registration, which as far as I know (since I never log out) still works for the forum.
You probably need to re-join the mailing list too. But we've not had anything from them lately anyway.
Martin D
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Post by martindn on Apr 21, 2011 18:51:02 GMT
Actually, having just visted the forum after re-registering on the main site, I was asked to login again.
Martin D
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Post by Juliette on Apr 21, 2011 19:23:05 GMT
Hi everyone! I have to say that I am rather disappointed by the new website... Yes, it's very pretty and refreshing. And they paid special attention to the aestheticism so it gives a beautiful site to look at. But, even if the previous site was not often updated, I found it better because it was more ergonomic, it was a clear website, well organised. In this one, in the home page, all kind of information is mixed which gives an impression of chaos because you don't know where the important things are. The News 'sidebar', which is supposed to be the most important, is 'wedged' on the left side of the site, it is quite small... I think that choosing to put too many pieces of information on the Home page finally gives the result that you don't see all of them properly. The Music page only talks about 'Paradiso' but I believe that Hayley's discography doesn't start with it, does it? So I find it strange to omit Hayley's previous albums, such as 'Pure' which is obviously an extremely important album, in Hayley's career but also on the musical scene. That we can't hear samples of Hayley's new album is extremely strange as well since most people who will visit her website will want to know what she's up to now. The MP3 player looks like an advertisement... The Gallery displays only one photo album... The problem of the 'Official Forum' has been solved. Still putting the link to it first in the menu before the 'Home' link is not the best of ideas because mechanically, we click on it rather than on the 'Home' link. And as Dave pointed it out, the site seems clearly intended for the UK market as they only speak about the UK release, what UK stores are selling it, etc. with a little mention on the 'Music' page saying it can be bought from Marbecks. Do they want Hayley's career to be restricted to the UK?  And finally there are big mistakes that are unacceptable considering this is Hayley's OFFICIAL website: 1°) as already said by Richard, ' Westerna' on the tab  (in a few days, Google will have 'mesmerized' it and it will be spelt this way on Google). And this is not only on the tab, it is spelt this way on the 'Become a member' and the 'Join the mailing list' sections. 2°) If you try to put a link to the website on Fb, you'll notice that the description of the site spells Morricone's first-name: Enio It is just unbelievable that considering they announced the change two months ago and that they seemed to have been late in delivering the website, they haven't managed to be perfect! I admit my first point is a matter of taste and of preference, but for the rest, it is just unbelievable. And especially Hayley's name wrongly spelt. Gosh, it is her official website!!! And, but it is more personal  , I'm rather disappointed they didn't add a link to HW France in the 'Links' page, and it is not from lack of having asked it to them... Well... The Gallery page shows that the album 'Paradiso Photoshoot' was added on Mar 30, which means that they had enough time to improve the website, and they the server down doesn't prevent them from working on it, and they are paid for that, so they have no excuse. Yes, Universal is really in trouble. Lots of love, Juliette x |
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Post by martindn on Apr 21, 2011 23:04:56 GMT
Hi Juliette,
I think it was a rush job. I don't accept that a server being down would prevent the site being worked on or uploaded. It just wan't ready in time is my guess. As a result, it was rushed out, without proper testing or prof reading, resulting in the issues that you raised.
And yes, I agree, there ought to be a link to your site - it is the only one I know of in the French language.
Martin D
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
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Post by Dave on Apr 22, 2011 0:00:15 GMT
Hi everyone! I have to say that I am rather disappointed by the new website... Thanks for your detailed report, Juliette. I think some of the issues mentioned by you and others are appalling, so I have just sent a late-night email to Hayley's Management Team. As Hayley said on Twitter a few days ago, heads must roll! Cheers, Dave |
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Post by Richard on Apr 22, 2011 7:45:01 GMT
The site also says Beijing is in Taiwan, when it's the capital of China! Richard |
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pmb
New Member 
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Post by pmb on Apr 23, 2011 0:08:01 GMT
Hi, I just introduced myself, so this is my second post. Besides the critical points already stated I've detected another - really annoying - one. I (re-)registered for the Mailing list yesterday. I got a reply mail stating: "Thanks for registering to receive updates from Imelda May." Imelda May??? I think this is a no-go which never should happen in a commercial grade website. Obviously. this job was outsourced by DECCA and the company just rewrote www.imeldamay.co.uk/ - see the similarities of the objects? Next, I was looking for a contact address. Where? - under "About", of course. In most English language websites I know of "About" holds contact information plus some legal stuff, maybe. This one holds - Hayley's biography which no one will actually suspect under "About". (IMO that shoud be a separate menu entry "biography".) I was not able to find a contact info within a certain time. Finally I sent a mail to Bandana, maybe they can work with DECCA to correct at least the wrong Mailing list being really embarrassing, IMHO. Regards, Michael |
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Post by Dennis S. on Apr 23, 2011 2:24:53 GMT
Those responsible for creating the new website should be nominated for "The Rushed Job Award".
Not only did they managed to miss the boat by 3 days, they even managed to misspell Hayley's surname on the site's headline, on top of other unprofessional errors.
These guys remind me of kids who suddenly realized that they have a huge project due that they haven't even started on just as their long break is about to end.
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Post by Libby on Apr 23, 2011 5:26:43 GMT
These guys remind me of kids who suddenly realized that they have a huge project due that they haven't even started on just as their long break is about to end. Yes, that's it exactly. It would be funny, if it wasn't so exasperating.  Another thing I don't like is that the Treasure video stops and re-starts every time you navigate to another part of the website. Whereas the old one would just keep playing the music player, no matter which page you were on. I think it should only play on the front page, as well as the video page. And they need to put back all the other photos!! I really love the new ones, but the other ones were gorgeous too! Also, the music player says it won't play in my country. But why would you want it to play when there's already a video playing? Either put one or the other there, not both. |
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(in a few days, Google will have 'mesmerized' it and it will be spelt this way on Google). And this is not only on the tab, it is spelt this way on the 'Become a member' and the 'Join the mailing list' sections.
, I'm rather disappointed they didn't add a link to HW France in the 'Links' page, and it is not from lack of having asked it to them... Well...
