Feedback on new photo viewer design

The "< Back" link was just going back through the prior photos viewed. In other words, it was behaving just like the browser's Back icon, and just like the Back mouse button, because each photo's url was getting loaded into browsing history. I definitely did not see an X of Y indicator; does that get hidden when the screen is not maximized?

I just tried loading the same first photo, with exactly the same conditions as before, and got the old interface. The first photo was 6 of 207. Here's the 4th photo (using the right arrow to advance), the same photo as above.

So this interface is not advancing through the sub-gallery either, because this photo is not tagged with Danny Jackson's name, and its thumbnail is not in the sub-gallery:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036941/mediaindex?refine=nm0413410

I just tried using this old interface with my scripts turned off (and page reloaded), and it still proceeded through the full gallery instead of the sub-gallery.

If the new interface comes back, I'll try with and without my scripts to see if it behaves differently wrt these problems.

you shouldn't have to disable ad blockers for a website to function properly.
and in general, imdb ads are horrible.
the old UI was better.

Hi verbatim; if you look further down the thread you'll see screenshots of the new experience. It has a '< Back' button as well as 'X of Y'; if you don't see them please try disabling or adjusting your ad blocker.

Hi Dazey Dook; this was a bug, which is now fixed. I appreciate you reporting it. If you're still having problems please let us know. Thanks!

Good to have a reference photo of what it should look like. But I'm still getting the old viewer right now. However, I do NOT see a <Back link on your screenshot, despite your remark in #4 above.

The old viewer did NOT put every photo into the Back Stack / browser history; I see no need to do so with the new viewer, and the disadvantage is that makes it very difficult to get back to the launch point, especially when the Back link is invisible/absent (assuming the Back Link takes you back to the launch point.)

Sarah, and bderoes,

So we have a common reference:
This is the URL for the list: https://www.imdb.com/imdbpicks/celebrity-doppelgangers/rg1875155712/
This is the URL for the media viewer image: https://www.imdb.com/imdbpicks/celebrity-doppelgangers/rg1875155712/mediaviewer/rm2595661568

I am seeing the older media viewer on Firefox and Internet Explorer. This is what I am seeing:



The backward arrow and forward arrow work properly. Clicking the X and Seeing Double: Celebrity Doppelgangers sends my browser back to the list. This works properly on both Firefox and Internet Explorer.

This is what I am seeing on Google Chrome:


One Google Chrome: Clicking Home brings me to the IMDb Home page. Clicking the nine squares brings me to the gallery. Clicking the link symbol bring up a drop down menu for sharing on:


Clicking on the X removes the information for the image and brings up circled (i) its place. Clicking the circled (i) brings back the information for the image.

On Google Chrome:
1. There used to be an 'X' to close the photo viewer, but now it's gone — this has been replaced with the '< Back' link in the top left.
Dan> I believe this is actually the the nine squares in the top left. This works properly for me.

2. Clicking '< Back' doesn't work as expected — this is a bug; we are working to fix it.
Dan> This works properly for me.

3. '< Home' goes to the homepage, even if that's not the previous page — this is a bug; we are working to fix it.
Dan> This is still a bug. This still links to the IMDb Home Page regardless of bring up images in the media viewer.

4. '< Back' isn't visible — it should be! We need more info to reproduce this issue. See screenshot below.
Dan> This is visible for me.

5. 'X of Y' isn't visible — it should be! See screenshot.
Dan> This visible for me.

6. Each photo URL goes into the browser's history / "back stack" — this is how we designed it. Open to feedback.
Dan> This is of limited utility for me. I'm slightly concerned that this may cause problems with the browser "back stack" overflowing.

7. The photo viewer doesn't respect the constraints of the sub-gallery; it browses the whole gallery — this is how the current experience works, and we haven't changed it. I agree it's not ideal.
Dan> This works the same for either the older version of the media viewer.

I just tried Chrome, Firefox and Edge, and still see the old viewer, regardless of whether my extensions are on or off.

Update: we have fixed these issues.

2. Clicking '< Back' doesn't work as expected — this is a bug; we are working to fix it. Fixed!
3. '< Home' goes to the homepage, even if that's not the previous page — this is a bug; we are working to fix it. Fixed!

We are currently testing the new design, so some users will see the "old" version and some will see the "new". It won't have anything to do with which browser or extensions you're using.

I'll keep an eye on this thread for any additional feedback or issues. Thanks!

Sarah, I no longer see the new media viewer on Chrome. I also see the "old" version on Internet Explorer and Firefox. When I see the "new" version, I will test it out.

I'm seeing the new viewer at the moment.
With my ad blocker (AdBlock Plus) on: No "<Back" link, no Gallery icon, no X of Y label, no Share icon.

With my ad blocker off, all are there:

Hopefully you can implement the viewer so that the sub-frame atop the screen is not blocked by the ad blocker, only the ad itself.

With my prior example of a sub-gallery, 
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036941/mediaviewer/rm1487219712
the Back link and the Gallery icon work nicely. Back takes me to the sub-gallery, and the Gallery icon takes me to the full gallery for the title. I still object to the Browser History getting loaded with each image url. And, of course, advancing through the photos does not stay within the sub-gallery.

Hopefully you can implement the viewer so that the sub-frame atop the screen is not blocked by the ad blocker, only the ad itself.

We have submitted feedback to AdBlock Plus that they are overzealously blocking this particular ad. If that fails, we'll consider other options.

(Keep in mind, of course, that IMDb is an ad-supported site, so while we're always working on ways to improve the ad experience, we do expect to continue showing you ads.)

Well, Sarah, if the ads were cute little banners like the one above, I wouldn't mind. But shortly after testing the new viewer, I went to a different IMDb page, and was bombarded by something that consumed the top half of the screen. I quickly re-enabled the blocker.

Sarah -

I like the layout of the new viewer where the navigation arrows stay visible, and that the information overlay is manually controllable (not disappearing after a timeout). However, I favor NOT including each picture page in the browser history. Viewing many pictures loads too many pages into the browser history, and the 'Back' link does not solve the issue of returning to the point you were at before going to the picture viewer. I expect to be able to return to the point I was at by using the browser back button (the way it used to work).

That said, there are also a couple of issues with the new viewer and IE that do not seem to occur with Edge:
1.  The ad images are shifted half-way off the right edge of the image area (fortunately, the navigation arrow stays on top so you can still navigate to the next picture).
2.  The 'Back' link takes you to the picture gallery page for an item, not necessarily the page you navigated to the picture viewer from (not to mention the same problem as described above with losing navigation). If you click on the first picture on an item's main page (such as the Knight Rider original series main page), click forward a few times, then click on the 'Back' link, you go to the picture gallery for the series, not the main page.

Hi James --

Thanks for this.

1. We are looking into the ad alignment issue.
2. I'm unable to reproduce the "Back" issue you reported. 

We're currently working on a few issues with the new version of the page. When we re-launch, I'd love to hear if you're still experiencing both problems.

As always, appreciate the feedback.

Sarah

Hi ez009, can you provide any more detail about what's not working for you?

can't right click to save image is the crux of the matter.

Had not noticed the lack of right-click functions. I frequently open the image in a new tab to enlarge it. _That_ will be a big loss.

Check out these two messages: Post 1 | Post 2 Y'all may find it interesting.

Let me know if you want me to post them here. (You can do it yourself, if you want, you have my permission.)

Is IMDB a database or a Netflix app??  I can't tell anymore.

Of course I can find the images.. my web developer roots go back to '96. 
This is just a large annoyance.
Also.. the fact fact that you're left stranded with no navigation while using adblock is flat out UN-acceptable. TEAR IT DOWN!

ez009, 
Not sure why you are so relieved, unless you happen to get the old viewer today. Here's what I see with my ad blocker on, and the top bar with the Back link and the X of Y count is still absent.

bderoes,

I noticed you're using Google Chrome. May I know what adblocker you're using?

adblock plus

Oh well, if you're planning to switch to this adblocker, let me know. (It's better than Adblock+)

It has a feature that'd let you not run the adblocker on the IMDb media viewer. Hence, enabling you to access the options currently missing on the new update (the top bar with the Backlink and the X of Y count).

And the best part is, even with the adblocker disabled on the media viewer page, you won't see the ad.

why should I let you know?

Because... then I'll tell you how it's done?

Why would I want to know how it's done?
Maybe an IMDb tech would, but I don't work for IMDb.

I just installed.
The refreshed page looks the same as with AdBlock Plus.
So perhaps you meant that the extension can be MADE to display that bar?

Yes.

1. Click on the extension > Click on the settings icon



2. Go to the Customize tab and click on "shows ads on a webpage or domain"

3. Type "mediaviewer" (without the double quotation marks) inside the box and press OK!



Now the bar should be visible to you. I hope this was helpful.

Yup, seeing the navigation/info bar now.
But I do see a little banner ad, which is fine.
Still can't right-click to open image in new tab, but have the workaround for that, also from you.
Thanks, BONAFIDE BOSS!