[quote]This is going to be long. Very, very long. If it's too long for you, use the short cut method mentioned below. Those of you too lazy to even read to the point of the explanation of the footnote system, I'll bold the paragraph for you. Navigate that way so you can skim each section and participate productively in the thread.[/quote] Okay, this is just an idea and, due to it's vague nature, it can easily be tweaked extensively so any feedback (even entire overhauls of anything put in the OP) is welcome. So I got this idea (progressively) while looking over all the ideas people have been suggesting for the new implementation of the next token Bungie Site Update (even though Urk's said in the past it's not coming for a while). I noticed that all these ideas are really good, but if they were all added separately to the site, then it might look a little cluttered with new options and whatnot. These new features, for the most part, have one common theme: Socialization. Whether that be because it's related to groups (the most strictly social aspect of the site as it exists presently), or because people are suggesting, as some have put it, Facebook features. Therefore, it's my belief (at least) that they should be grouped in a manner consistent with their coalescence: together. So, now to begin with the toolbar in and of itself. I suppose it isn't necessarily a toolBAR as it is a toolCOLUMN but I chose to go for the term used by the vast majority of features similar to this one. It would replace both the advertisement space and the Top Forum Topics, and take up the same amount of space, but still include both, as I will later explain[1]. To find out what I'm talking about in respect to the features located herein, please refer to [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=68777710][b]Hylebos' Thread on a 'Bungie Scheduler'[/b][/url], [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=68778484][b]acnboy34's Thread on the Utilization of the Advert Space (Or Lack Thereof)[/b][/url], and [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=68469912][b]insaneAssass1n9's Thread on a Notification System[/b][/url] (Or, if someone links it or you can find it, Daz's thread on Notifs... if it wasn't him it was some other ninja who made a really good one... No offense insane, but that one was really good.). Additional Reference: [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=67463846]Compilation of Proposed Features I'd Like[/url] and [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=68167865]101 ways to improve Bungie.net[/url] [[For full context, read through some of the longer looking posts in those threads... but I know lots of you won't, so at least skim the OPs of each if you're unfamiliar with any of them.]] [quote][/quote] Now, onward. [For easy viewing of specific ideas, CTRL+F for the number with it's brackets around it, shown next to each of the ideas presented.] The idea is basically to integrate a lot, if not all of these social features into a toolbar that takes up the space of the side TFT/advert box. Integrated features would include but not be limited to: notifications[b][2][/b], "trending" forum topics[b][3][/b], possible friends lists (displaying 'who's online')[b][4][/b], received messages (possibly just integrated with notifs, not set in stone)[b][5][/b], upcoming social/community events[b][6][/b], and, while less social, recent site/company news[b][7][/b]. [quote][/quote] [b][1][/b] Functionality of the Toolbar In this initial draft, here's what I'm proposing for how it'd work. Bare with me here. I'll make some MS Paint mock ups here and there for reference but it won't be a crystal clear explanation. It would take up the same space as the TFT's (as previously stated, but have a series of "tabs" on the top. Each tab containing a different feature (with a maximum of 8 tabs, one for each of the features listed above, one for the top forum topics, and one for any adverts Bungie wishes to run). Also, the tabs would be organized vertically (along the y-axis of the box), due to the number of possible maximum tabs being so high. However, the tabs could be combined if the user wanted, in any way. This would allow for further customization than just the fact that everyone's toolbar will be different because it's highly specific to the user apart from the trending topics and the site news. Obviously, if you combined any of them, the size of each "feature", "plug in", what-have-you, would shrink. I'll explain the exact manner in which each will "shrink" in their respective sections. But, I do think that 3 plug-ins would be the maximum for each tab, as having anymore would make it so that any information given in each section is so minimal, that it becomes almost useless as a tool. {{Sorry if this is getting a little confusing as I'm discussing hypothetical ways that a hypothetical feature will function in a hypothetical box hypothetically put into a hypothetical site update}} The final idea for the functionality of this new "Bungie Toolbar" that I have is just a request/hope I have for it if it or anything like it is ever implemented. And that's that it looks well integrated to the rest of the site. That it isn't a "shiny" box of social eyesoars. That it fits the aesthetic theme of the site and all the features therein do too. That's it. [quote][/quote] [b][2][/b] Notifications Not much that hasn't been said before. Just a constant stream of notifications of any PM's received, times quoted and WHEN quoted (the quoting system'd have to change for this to work), responses to your threads, group invites, group-joins, someone replies to your thread, someone replies to a saved thread, and many others. (All of which would be toggle-able.) Again, check out [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=68469912]this thread[/url]. (I'm pretty sure TomT, or Daz made a thread about it at some point but I can't, for the life of me, find it.) [quote][/quote] [b][3][/b] Trending Forum Topics This tool would be entirely based on replies to a thread in a given time. I'm not a coder at all, nor do I have any coding experience so I don't know how hard it is to make code for a site that incorporates a trending feature... but I'm sure it's doable. You could customize it by having trending topics from different forums of your choosing, and how many of the trending topics would be from each respective forum (maybe you want the top 4 from the flood, the top 4 from the septagon, and the top 2 from the reach forum). Again, more customization for the average user (which lots of people have been either demanding or requesting in several threads about future updates/features). [quote][/quote] [b][4][/b] Friends List Pretty self explanatory. The only discussion to be had is whether or not you're for or against it. (I, personally, am I suppose. But I wouldn't use it much if at all.) [quote][/quote] [b][5][/b] Received PMs Not much different from notifs, just specialized towards PMs specifically since it's a pretty big part of the site for some people. [quote][/quote] [b][6][/b] Upcoming Community/Social Events Just a small version of [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=68777710]Hylebos' Thread[/url] about the Bungie Scheduler. Maybe a list of the next upcoming 10(ish) events on your own personal(ized) Bungie.net schedule. More convenient for a quick glance. [quote][/quote] [b][7][/b] Site News This could, I suppose, also include news updates from groups. Didn't really think of it at first as I'm not much a group type guy... but... yeah. Again, pretty self explanatory. Most of these tools are, but I think, if coupled together, they could be very useful. [quote][/quote] Again: if it's too long for you, just read one section and comment on it. Any feedback is welcome, just please be constructive. I'm not saying I can't take anyone saying it's a total waste of space and a rubbish idea... just tell me why. Thanks. [Edited on 12.25.2011 7:54 PM PST]