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Sparklette 2.0

By Veron Ang

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Sparklette 2.0

After 3 long years, Sparklette has undergone an overhaul! That’s a long time for a website like this. Aside from the obvious cosmetic differences, here are a few of the changes:

Improved categorisation of content

Find what you need in a quicker time!

Food reviews are now sorted according to cuisine.
Travel articles are sorted according to city.

“Better” content is highlighted

Featured section: This new section on the main page highlights the more noteworthy articles based on their appeal and content.
Popular articles: Ever wondered what other people are reading? Listed in the sidebar are the most read articles in the past week.

Interactive features

Weekly poll: Something fun that we can all take part in!
Top commentators: Readers who left the most comments in the past 30 days are highlighted, along with links to their blogs. So start commenting now!

Experimental features

Facebook integration: If you have a Facebook account, you can log in here and gain access as a Sparklette member. When you leave a comment here, it is automatically published on your Facebook account.
Photo galleries (members only): Once in a while, I get angry email from readers asking why I didn’t blog about their favorite dishes at Restaurant Y. Well, you can now add on to the content by contributing your own pictures. So if you find that my photos suck, feel free to add your own! All contributors are credited with a link back to their blog. Free traffic for bloggers, and for those that don’t blog, a place for you to showcase your photos.
Here’s an example.

Well, I’ll leave the rest for you to find out! There are some more features in the pipeline, especially for members (it’s free!). Bear with me while I tidy up some of the loose ends and glitches. I hope you like this new version of Sparklette.

For more on Sparklette:

About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and WordPress development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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23 responses

Leave your comment

Melissa
January 18, 2010

Hey, this new 2.0 is nice. It is more mature and “business-like”, if you know what I mean. Good work!
Reply
- Veron
  January 19, 2010
  
  I know what you mean! That’s the look I’m going for. Glad you like it :)
  Reply
nmh
January 18, 2010

I think I prefer the old one though, although this a simpler and more sophisticated version. The old one has a fairytale quality.
Reply
- Veron
  January 19, 2010
  
  And a fairy tale, it shall now be!
  Reply
harris
January 18, 2010

refreshing look! and the way you tried to show how its “improved” and “better” it’s like some advertisement by windows7 or google haha!

i liked the old design because i could play with the daytime/night-time lighting, i have always been quite fascinated by that i have to admit. still, keep up the good work, this site now is neater, less cluttered and more friendly :)
Reply
- Veron
  January 19, 2010
  
  Haha I didn’t realise it carries that advertisement vibe until you pointed it out! lol!
  
  Hey I love that daylight/nightime toggle, too! I am thinking of bringing it back somehow, in the form of switchable color themes, perhaps. Something fun to use :)
  Reply
jameson_scdf
January 18, 2010

This new design is a total different concept & definitely 1 that is more “Professional” looking and user friendly! The “Featured section” looks cool….Thumbs up Sparklette!!!
Reply
- Veron
  January 19, 2010
  
  Thanks Jameson! The previous theme was pretty, but a tad user-unfriendly. My older posts were always buried in the archives even though the content is still very much relevant today. People could not really reach the older articles easily. With the changes those poor posts would not be neglected.
  Reply
Lester Chan
January 18, 2010

Cool, very nice design, I like it! Thanks for still using my plugins =D
Reply
- Veron
  January 19, 2010
  
  I think I am using practically ALL your plugins! Thank YOU :)
  Reply
gamerz
January 18, 2010

RT @sparklette: Sparklette Digest! Sparklette 2.0 http://bit.ly/8f9JKP

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
WS Liang
January 19, 2010

This new design indeed looks refreshing and lively. Great site and great photos!
Reply
- Veron
  January 19, 2010
  
  Thank you for your wonderful words. Hope you stay around :)
  Reply
Saad Kamal
January 19, 2010

Wow love the new design! Looks like a true portal.

Keep up the good work!
Reply
- Veron
  January 19, 2010
  
  Thanks Saad! You are the one keeping this blog afloat and I can’t thank you enough for that :)
  Reply
Priscilla
January 20, 2010

LOVE IT! Great job!
Reply
auntielucia
January 21, 2010

Lovely site as usual and much more easy to navigate. Only trouble is I continue to get this status line at the bottom of my page which says “Done, but with errors on page”. This always happens with yr website. Is my browser incompatible with yr layout? I use IE6 and Firefox but it’s same for both. All best!
Reply
- Veron
  January 21, 2010
  
  Thanks for bringing this to my attention! Sorry for all the errors. The website has been tested on Firefox and it seems to work fine, but I have seen that error on IE7. Having errors just isn’t right! Please bear with me while I try to fix it :(
  Reply
- Veron
  January 21, 2010
  
  I managed to fix the error(s)! At least, no more errors are showing up for me in IE7. Are you still seeing them?
  Reply
auntielucia
January 22, 2010

U r really on the ball, Veron! U take adverse feedback in yr stride. U r really professional and take pride in yr work. Congrats! No more page errors, yeh!

Btw, I just enocuntered a bleah place in AMK Hub (2nd floor) called Sweet Spring. Not only no free water; no water, period. Also, no vinegar (and it serves tim sum). Lastly, no paper napkins unless requested. The wait people were polite. But food court quality tim sum at Chinese restaurant prices! No repeat visit for me. It’s part of the Fish & Co group.
Reply
ida
January 23, 2010

nice design, Veron!
Reply
Nicholas
January 24, 2010

job well done! you gave me some ideas but too darn busy to get done to it just yet…
Reply
J2Kfm
January 25, 2010

great revamp, Veron. Liking it … :)
Wish I can do something about my blog though. Not that good with html, css and such.
Reply