HTML5 Update: Our roll-out plan
NB. Article update - 20th December 2012:
Release 2 will now be made available in the New Year. We’re working to incorporate as much community feedback as possible for the Beta (Release 2) and are focused on making features you’ve requested, such as the shop and blog, available as soon as possible in the New Year.
As you know we've been working on the HTML5 version of Moonfruit since we announced it in January this year: "Moonfruit websites to be published in HTML5". We're nearly there, and with the first release in sight we thought we'd update you on how the roll-out plan will work, when you'll get what features and how it will affect you.
Quick recap
The HTML5 journey for us started in 2010 when we spent a year or so rewriting the data that described your site. The better described data meant we could change the way sites were presented or published (from Flash to HTML5) and take as many of your sites and features with us, rather than creating a new and different product with which you'd have to start again from scratch.
The data work was completed at the end of last year, and allowed improvements to the mobile version (more on this later), and the introduction of the Facebook shop, both of which relied on the new data format. And of course it paved the way for us to render the full sites in HTML5 rather than Flash. We published an early demo of this working in May: "HTML5 Update".
When the work is done, you'll continue to edit your site in the same (Flash) editor, but will have the option of publishing in HTML5.
Why does this matter? While HTML5 doesn't do everything Flash does, it is the future and it's time we moved to it. In particular it will ensure your site looks beautiful on a tablet (iPad or other), and can be viewed in both the full format and mobile optimised versions on mobiles. It'll also be faster.
Roll-out schedule
We originally hoped to ship the first version in late September, but we're a bit late. The first release will now be in mid November, with further updates to follow in December, January and February. We appreciate your patience, and know that some of you will still be frustrated by the delays, but given the huge undertaking of the task, and mammoth efforts of the development team, we're pretty pleased with the progress.
Release 1 - 20th November - Early Access Preview
This is an initial release version to gather feedback and test performance in the real world. It will be available to existing customers on a request basis to build new sites only (no upgrade to existing sites yet) as a first wave. It will not be feature-complete (no shop or blog), but will have images, text (with many improvements), links, menus (a new more expressive one), gallery (a new 'lightbox' one), HTML snippet widgets and some other bits. There will be a limited set of templates to build from, and we'll put out instructions on how to enable the preview in a future article.
This release will give us the chance to test the update, gather feedback, and give our development team time to apply the finishing touches for the next version. We will soon be posting a link for those who wish to register their interest in taking part in the HTML 5 beta.
Release 2 - 19th December (now moved to the New Year) - Beta
All existing customers will be given the option to try the beta when building a site. There will be more templates and more features, including the shop, at this point. When you build a new site you'll be given the choice of using the old Flash version or the new HTML5 version.
Release 3 - Late January/Early February - Live
All new sites built will be in HTML5 by default (though there will be an option to use the Flash version if you prefer). The date will partly depend on feedback and performance from the first releases. The blog and the form will also be included at this point.
Release 4 - January/February - Upgrade Beta (convert existing sites)
This is the first release that will allow you to convert your existing site from Flash to the HTML5 compatible format. There will be some differences, so you will need to make some manual adjustments, and some features will not yet be present. This upgrade process will be continually improved in subsequent releases, hopefully every month or so.
A little bit on mobile
Once your site is in HTML5 it will be viewable in that format on mobile as well as the existing mobile optimised view. We'll be doing more work in the New Year to further improve the mobile optimised view, and will let you choose which is the default version seen on mobile.
And that's it for now. Roll on HTML5.
Comments
Thanks for the update, Walt. Great to see that you're getting close to the launch, it must be a mammoth project. I'd like to build a site in the Early Access stage - not sure how you'll be co-ordinating requests but please put me down for it. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Lotusleaf,
Yes, it certainly has been mammoth. Of course, we'll certainly keep you in mind for the Early Access stage.
Thanks,
Walt
Please keep me in mind for the early acces stage as well
Put me down for the testing too, im so intrigued by this change, good luck with it =)
I have a reseller package and would really like to be a part of the early access stage. Many thanks
Thanks guys, you're interest is really appreciated.
We'll keep you posted on the roll-out.
Walt
Hi,
I'd like to be part of the early access stage as well, Thanks.
Hi, We'd like to be part of the early access stage too please.
The HTML5 truck is on its way! After reading all of this I must say that I had an HTML5gasm! :D Thanks for the update; it is greatly appreciated.
I too would love to be part of the early access stage *excited*
Really looking forward to the HTML5 release. It must be a huge amount of work and moonfruit fans like me really appreciate it. Thank you.
That's great news... thanks for the update. How do we apply to be part of release stage 1?
I have a reseller account. Many Thanks
Hi Walt
I read with some frustration, I have just had a huge promotion and it has been so upsetting to get email after email from everyone trying to purchase from my site that are either using a mobile device or Apple device. They cannot use my site. Is the Jan/Feb roll over for existing sites actually achievable (I say because there has been delays so far)? Will it be better if I rebuilt the site from scratch when the new version is available - lots of time and hard work, rather than wait until next year when it could possibly be more months? Sorry to rant but as a sole trader trying to make an income - Moonfruit are my stumbling block!
Amanda
Hi all, thanks for the feedback and willingness to participate.
And hi Amanda. Jan/Feb for conversion is our goal. We understand your frustration around client access on iPhone or iPad and the team is working hard to deliver to the dates above.
The hard bit was estimating the date of first release way back early this year. Now that our early-access release is just around the corner the Dev team are much more confident about delivering on time. However, this does rely on feedback, performance and testing.
We can't guarantee anything for next year but we will be working our backsides off to meet those Jan/Feb deadlines as best we can.
Regards,
Walt
Have to say, i am equally excited about the new menu's we will be getting, as the current ones, while they perform their duty exceptionally well, they are a bit boring and predictable. It would also be helpful if we could use more than one menu, because right now we cant, we have to make our own and they lack the roll out sub menu's that are often required.
Cant wait for html5, its going to change everything =)
I too would be interested in helping with testing.
I would also like to be included in the testing-I have been looking forward to this-and am very excited for the changeover-thanks
i would like to be part of the early stage thanks
I'd like to be part of the early access stage too. Thamks
Count me in to please :)
Great news Walt and keep up the great work.
I will say to site owners reading html5 posts and time frames... while you are worrying about your own 1 or 2 sites moonfruit has to worry about millions! So patience I guess is a virtue here. Being one of the original account holders I know how much great work they do and attempts to keep to deadlines. This isn't an attempt to suck up either lol.
Be patient and remember moonfruit deals with milllllionsssss of sites so this html5 update is better to be late and working rather than rushed and effect a lot more sites!
One quickie Walt as sure lots of people will want to know. For existing site owners only. When the ability to transfer current flash sites to html5 will it be a simple case of a button clearly in view saying "transfer to html5".
Cheers and keep up the sterling work
Dino
We would like to be included in the early stage try outs
OMG, Can't wait to try out the new HTML5! This definitely solves some issues I've had with a few customers who wanted the site to look the same on their iPad. I'd love to be part of the early testing, if you are so inclined. Thanks for keeping us up to date, Moonfruit, and for all the great work you do!
This is great news.
I have had many clients asking if they would be able to see there site on ipads etc (apple devices) for a while and this will become a big boost to my business to be able to say yes.
I also would be love to be put into the test stage. Allows me to be able to play before rolling it out to my clients.
One thing, will we be able to edit on ipads etc as well as this would also mean a stop to the envious task of dragging my laptop everythere. If I could make quick changes on my iPad that would really cement it for me.
Thanks moonfruit, this is exactly the information we have been looking out for.
We want to make sure that our third party moonfruit shopping cart (http://www.ShopIntegrator.com/moonf...) add-in we offer works well in the new HTML5 moonfruit sites to make sure our e-commerce service works beautifully with your new version.
wow, just reading what your going to do has blown my mind! thank you for enabling me to build a beautiful website and keep current with my very limited knowledge. YOUR AMAZING. THANK YOU xx
Hi all, thanks for the interesting in helping us with feedback. It's fantastic to see our community wanting to be involved.
@Dino, we'll be aiming to make the conversion (from Flash site to HTML5 site) as simple as possible. It may be a one click step or we may allow customers to compare versions before committing. Whatever we do, we'll look to make this process as easy to use as the rest of our software ;-)
@Design by thairs, at present our aim is to enable customers to publish their sites in HTML5. We don't currently have plans to extend HTML5 to editing. Editing on a tablet device throws up a number of challenges that simply aren't present on a desktop, especially when precision is involved. What specifically did you have in mind when you said: 'make quick changes'?
Thanks
Walt
please put me down for it
Here's a great App and well worth the investment for iPads and iPhones to view Flash based websites, gaming, etc. You can view webpages just like a desktop.
Remember, the whole world doesn't own iPad's and iPhones. Everyone else in the world can view a Flash based website without an App... and 90% of people still use their desktop computer and laptop to search the internet while at their desk at WORK (including Mac users who can view Flash... I'm one of them).
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phot...
Please put me down for the early access test as well :-)
Soooo..
When might expect the shopping cart to work properly in the html5 format? Thanks
Thanks for the update... please count me in for whatever help and assistance you may need - great job MF!
Wow. this is great, also I would like to ask if is possible to add wordpress.org as and extra feature to the new html5 in that way I can migrate all my other websites from other companies to moonfruit.com that I'm been using for years but I can't as main blogs ...
Thank you
Hi Amanda, We've had a look at your shop on iPad and we know where the problem is. I've just sent you an email with details of how to fix this problem in two simple steps and given you a good example to look at to see how it works.
B, as per our schedule above, the shop will be included in Release 2 - 19th December.
djsofs, any extra features will be considered next year once all the main features have been introduced.
And, thanks again to all the willing volunteers.
Walt
I would like very much to be considered for early access, although I'm an xbuild customer, will that affect me... Ate we going to see mobile HTML5 responsive templates as it seems to be the way people are building themes and templates these days.....
Please can I be part of the early access I've no shop or blog cheers
Hi,
I would like to utilise your early release HTML5 product in November. What do I need to do so that this can be made available to me?
Yours faithfully
Lawrence
I hope we start seeing better SEO capabilities with new releases, currently my wordpress sites are listing better than these, and I'm getting better descriptions, even with a description in place, google still takes part if whatever it sees on the first page. Frustrating.
Hi Danny, we don't have any plans on improving SEO as it already works very well. We publish all content, META and links, and we can see it works well as a large number of our customers rate high or top of the SERPs for their categories.
For us the key points are good content, regular updates, back-linking, and of course patience. I couldn't check your site as you don't have a website listed with the email address you supplied.
Thanks,
Walt
Regarding the early access preview, will we be able to toggle this from our account at the time, or will there be a specific participation request procedure?
Yes, I'd like to hear an answer to what Eric just said, we would like more confirmation on how we can enrol, also is it only directly moonfruit customers or is it any of the resellers...
Ps I'm still waiting for an answer on my question regarding responsive themes for HTML5 allowing for better tablet and phone performance, a lot of template builders and make responsive themes, widgets and plugins and it is really taking off across Wordpress and Joomla.
Hi, can I be added to the list to be apart of the users of the beta version in November.
Hi Walt,
Please include me in your early Nov. release. www.equatourslimited.com
Thanks,
Ingo
I too would like to be part of the November beta.
Thank you.
Thanks for the update. I'm really looking forward to the HTML5 version and whilst the delays to date have been a tad frustrating, I've never lost sight of the fact that without the Moonfruit product I wouldn't have been able to develop a website at all - and perhaps my business would never have got off the ground.
I've been asked to design a site for a friend. It'll be pretty straightforward with no blog or shop, so if you're keeping a list of volunteers for phase 1 - please add me to it.
Kind regards
Michael
I've just downloaded the Photon Browser App for my iPad as suggested by Hope at 28. above. It works brilliantly (although obviously onl on my iPad). Is there anything Moonfruit can learn fom it?
We've emailed support to ask to be included in the November beta, but asking on here too. Thank You :)
Hi Eric, at present we offer an opt in option, but we will provide more detail shortly.
Hi Rich, re mobile templates we have no plans for mobile specific templates but we will be reviewing mobile optimisation over the coming months, to make best use of HTML5. At this point the HTML5 releases will be available only to Moonfruit customers, partners will be included next year.
Hi All, thanks again for your interest in volunteering.
Please include me in the beta!
What...... I must say, that seems very unfair? So basically if I'm getting this right, once again moonfruit customers get everything first, it's ridiculous, moonfruit prices are extortionate and so people find a cheaper partner and get penalised with not being able to get the latest releases because as always they go to moonfruits customers! It's always the same with this company, all the companies use the same site maker software, I thought the idea of that was everyone received the same updates and at the same time but its seems you still find a way to punish clients from partner sites, ill make sure to include all of this in my online review/blog. Bad form if you ask me, you make other clients feel undervalued by doing this and you have been doing this aslong as I've been a customer at least...
Hi Rich, I'm sorry you think it's unfair or if you feel undervalued. In most cases software updates are received across all partners at the same time which you would know being a longtime customer. In certain circumstances, as in this case and as we did with the Shop, we wanted to do some alpha and beta testing with a known control group. Our own Moonfruit customers: before going wide release.
And our partners certainly do appreciate the investment we make in testing many new features before releasing them to all.
With regards pricing: each partner chooses to price in their products as they see fit. If they wish to heavily discount the products to attract customers that's their prerogative. We still think our prices are very competitive, especially if you were to consider Rich, that we at Moonfruit build and update the software: so we have to factor in costs for our growing Development team, our Support team and improving the infrastructure - all of which our partners benefit from.
So in this regard I think our Moonfruit customers are entitled to have a play first and help us with testing and feedback.
Thanks,
Walt
Add me in to the early release please!
Great stuff.
I'd be very keen to beta test also. Thanks.
Please add me to the beta testing.
Please include me in the preview testing! I will gladly rebuild a few sites to get them in HTML5.
I'd like to be part of the early access preview testing too please.
And thank you to all you guys at Moonfruit for working on this very exciting and increasingly important development for us.
I here what your saying Walt but I really don't think this is a fair thing, it's not just moon fruit customers that contribute to the cost of the software as I see it, each of your partners pays a cost for being a partner and I have no doubt that moonfruit/site maker live take a cu of all of their profits, so why are you only giving all the very best perks to direct customers, it makes me not want to recommend your company and infact go the other way by recommending people away, I pay a premium price and as you have said, I'm a longtime customer payi g top package price but because its not moonfruit directly, I miss out on all the extra's and fun bits, maybe your partners don't care but the customers do care!
I think you guys need to rethink the way you treat direct partner customers and remember that we also contribute to this software and your growth, I'm in the process of writing up an article on this at present, I feel it should be shared in order for people to see the way in which you prioritise moon fruit customers for everything.
Not a happy customer at all.
Too little too late. It has been a year of empty promises and had I been in the receipt of the full facts, that realistically you were not going to upgrade existing customers until 2013, I would have been able to move to a HTML5 platform at a time when I have time to build a new site. Instead, I have been burning the midnight oil and building a new site since I heard that there was another delay.
I finished building this site two days ago and I want to publish it asap. So I went to point my dpmain at the new site, only to find that moonfruit have a handle on the domain. FRUSTRATING!!! So, I email and ask for the handle to be passed back the gandi. I got an email 24 hours later asking me to confirm this, which was yesterday. I have been waiting since then and NOTHING.
My business has grown rapidly this year and the icing on the cake has been that one of my images has been used on the front page of a wedding magazine which will be given to every bride who attends Kent's biggest wedding show this sunday. My website rebuild and packing this into an already very busy life was completed in advance of this event and achievement so that new customers could access my new site that won't look naff on a mobile devise.
However, it looks like my request has fallen to the depths of some queue as the handle is still with you at moonfruit and all of this hard work, blood, sweat and tears seems to have been for nothing as they are going to be seeing a crappy flash site this weekend.
PLEAAAASE! Help me, for goodness sake. Are your support functions open over the weekend and out of normal business hours....can I expect a miracle of getting my handle so I can point the domain at my new site???
I write this with a glimmer of hope that this might just happen as it has been over 48 hours since my request and I was told that resolution would be reached in 24-48 hours.....and so the moonfruit promise of service delivery drifts overdue again.....
I have used Moonfruit for numerous sites and am very excited for the upgrade to HTML5. Some features worth integrating are:
Customizable forms with Captcha, Login widgets for certain pages and guides of some sort for alignment. I am also hoping the site will look the same on the various browsers.
This upgrade will have have a huge impact on my business and many others! Thank you!
Rich: Your comments have been noted and will be taken into consideration in the future. With regards to this release the decision has been made and is unlikely to change now.
Rebecca: I understand this has now been resolved with Antoine in your ticket. Please accept our apologies for the delay.
Robin: The site should look identical in all desktop and tablet browsers. There are no new features going out in this release. This will be further down the line. You can post in our feature request forum with any suggestions.
Thanks,
Juli
Matt, Rob, Guy, Ray and Dawn. Thanks for your interest guys, we will be in contact with more information closer the time.
Thanks,
Juli
As a long time user of Moonfruit I have stayed patient for the release of the HTML 5 update. Please include me as a beta tester on the November HTML5 release, I look fwd to having a site that is viewable on all platforms.
For anyone who would like to register their interest in the HTML5 beta, we will soon be publishing a link where you can do this.
Thanks,
Juli
Great news Juli. Looking forward to testing it out in November :)
Shameful, always nice to feel like a valued customer, I very much suspect this will be my last year with the company and i will soon end up pointing my clients in other directions, I think Moonfruit forgets who actually pays the bills, no customers = no business. I would have thought starting as a SMB, you would recognize the importance of making a customer feeling included and valued. Maybe one day you will understand, i just hope its not to late as the product is good.
Hi Rich, I think Walt has said it all already, but I do want to address your customer value point.
Our customers are on both Moonfruit and our partner sites. As you say, customers pay the bills and we develop the software. As Walt says in most cases new releases hit all customers at the same time, e.g. released on all partners.
In very rare cases, we restrict releases to either Moonfruit or a particular partner as part of the roll-out plan. This is the case with the HTML5 release.
The reason we are doing this is so we can run a controlled test to see how the technology performs at scale before we offer it to the entire customer base. It is a very substantial change and we need to roll it out carefully.
By running a smaller set we can respond more quickly to issues as they arise. If we rolled out everywhere at once, problems would be harder to fix and may adversely affect all customers.
Personally, I would love to offer it to everyone at once. But our release experience shows that if we do not manage it carefully, the risk to all customers is unnecessarily high. So in this case, we are siding with caution and going slow. We are doing this precisely because we don't want to risk having a negative impact on all our customers, which entirely in line with valuing them and the contribution they make to our service.
You are very welcome to participate in the initial alpha by building a new or test site on Moonfruit. This will give you a chance to play with the new technology at the same time as Moonfruit customers. We should be able to migrate this site you build over to your non-moonfruit account, once the HTLM5 version is available there, so you should be able to keep it.
When the option to upgrade existing sites to HTML5 comes (early next year), this will be offered to Moonfruit and Partners at the same time, so there is no issue there.
I hope that helps. Please do understand we value all customers and our roll-out plans are driven by creating a safe and controlled test of the new technology before the big bang.
Many thanks,
Joe
please can you tell me when and where the link will be for signing up to the beta testing
Hi Windstalker,
We will most likely publish details here on the Blog and/or on our Support page:
http://support.moonfruit.com/
HTH
Antoine
hi moonfruit - cant wait :-) - and i want to make sure i am able to start using this in november - do i need to do anything else beside say "count me in" - is there a form ? open a question maybe ? etc - i dont want to miss it
Hi dcsltd,
We will be publishing a link to a form where you can submit your interest for the HTML5 beta. Will we let you know when it is published.
Thanks,
Juli
This is great news moonfruit, I hope the roll out is a success and no delay's, I know this is probally not the place but in the shop update the option for coupon codes?
Keep up the good work
Adrian
Would be happy to trial initial beta version as soon as available.
Hi Adrian, you would need to post this request on the feature request forum. It is something we are looking at adding.
Martin - you will just need to check for when our form is published and then submit your interest.
Thanks,
Juli
Put me down for the html trials also. I think my contract runs out next when you say the change over is meant to be happening so I'm off to Wix or PhotoShelter if there are more delays.
Hi troubleonfilm,
keep an eye out for when we published the link to submit your interest.
Thanks,
Juli
Please are you are to say if you're still on schedule for First Access on 14th November? I know you can't release it until you're ready, but with it being so close now, I'm delaying building any more moonfruit sites until I can use HTML5, so it would help with work-planning to know if 14th November is still the date...
Hi Lotusleaf.
We are still aiming for the 14th. If there is a change to this we will update you.
HTH
Juli
Hi,
I was wondering when you you release on the 1th, could a create a new site and basically to a like for like copy of my existing one. Obviously i would do the work my self but could i effectively move my domain to the new site i create?
Hi Lotus,
I guess you are referring to the release on the 14th? If yes I'm not sure whether you'd be able to create a 'like for like' copy, that would depend on the site you're trying to re-create. Since some features won't be available in the first release you might not be able to create an exact duplicate.
HTH
Antoine
Hi Guys
Got a big site with News and Events for Swansea and on max. Love to be included with HTML5
Paul
Hi taff2wales,
Keep an eye out for when we publish the link to submit your interest.
Regards,
Juli
Hi guys, will the SEO be as effective on the HTML5 format? As current moon fruit SEO is very good, thanks in advance.
Hi Darren,
The SEO will be un-affected - you should be able to get the same results with the HTML5 sites.
Antoine
How do you get on this list for building HTML5 sites on the 14th?
Hi there,
That's been mentioned in the comments above - we will publish details on how to join the beta very soon, just keep the checking the Blog and the Forums for announcements.
Antoine
Hi we would like to test the first HTML5 version if possible, we use Moonfruit to build most of our customer sites and cant wait to try the HTML5 version. We will test it until we kill it!
Pete
Crate47
Seriously does nobody read the previous comments, I've counted at least 8 separate posts when Moonfruit staff have said that they will have a link for submitting interest in the beta soon. Not now, soon! Writing begging letters ain't going to get you to the front of the queue.
Is it really that difficult to look at the last 10 or so comments to find that information out?
This is excellent news. Can i ask please if the html5 update will include the provision for videos to be fullscreened by the user? I am currently planning a video content site and this feature is missing on your current embedded video player.
Was wondering what someone else mentioned earlier
The html5 introduction is for new build sites from the 14th (or there abouts) onwards. And for existing sites already built we will have to wait until March time to swap over.
My question then would be if you had for eg a small site of about 5 pages etc could you not just create a copy site? ... will there be an option to revert the copy to html5 or will the copy site button after the 14th only automaticaly create a flash based copy? Obviousuly there might need to be some tinkering with certain design objects on your site but essentially would this save people waiting until March?
Keep up the great work.
Dino
Hi there, not sure if I asked previously, but feel free to consider me for early access. I'm keen to see how it works so I can plan updates for my site and future projects etc.
Cheers - Simon
Hi -
My school's been kicking mme to switch my website on here to HTML5, we've been with you guys a while - and i've been holding them back to wait for yours.
I read somewhere above that when you do the test on 14th Nov, it would only be for new sites?
And that older sites cant convert until Feb/Mar? (to be realistic)
Thats 3-4 months from now - and thats setting us, who've stuck around, to lose out really.
Earlier the better for us we are a seasonal business selling ski holidays so please can we be considered for the testing stage.
Hi Dino,
As mentioned in the post, the initial stages of the HTML5 release will have limited features and templates. To copy a site into HTML5 will need the functionality as to convert a site without copying it first. Until release 4, the only way to have a HTML5 site will be to create a new site from scratch.
Simon & cragganmore - we will be posting a link soon where you can submit your interest.
HTH,
Juli
This is something more and more customers are asking about. I would love to be considered for the alpha testing
Thanks
David
Hi thegoldenvision,
We will soon be publishing a link for where you can submit your interest for the alpha release.
HTH
Juli
Thank goodness for that!. Can I be one of the first please?. Lost so much work because of Apple products and HTML.
How long until the link is published??
Thanks x
Consider me for beta testing please.
How do I put my name down for the testing? I would really like to be involved. Thanks.
How can we put our name in for the testing phase?? When will the shop become an available option
Regards
How can we put our name in for the testing phase?? When will the shop become an available option
Regards
Hi Guys,
A link will be published for you to submit your interest soon. There is no set date for the shop to be added to the HTML5 alpha, although this does have a high priority to be included.
HTH
Juli
Thats good news so far. I really hope it all falls into place as I've started building my other site over at WIX already and dont fancy switching unless I have to.
Ted
A couple of questions:
I have two live sites with you, one with a slideshow; will this still work in html5? Would there be a way to road test this in html5 before going live? I'm assuming the site can be copied over and i won't have to remake a whole new site?
My other site is mainly text based, but as there are well over twenty pages with well over two thousand words per article, i'm assuming this can be copied? How would html5 affect the text and layout?
If sites do have to be remade, would there be an option to stay with flash? I would assume there would be many who just wouldn't have the time to recreate everything.
Cheers guys.
Keep me in mind please!!!!! Thanks!!
From the article "When the work is done, you'll continue to edit your site in the same (Flash) editor, but will have the option of publishing in HTML5."
I am just started looking at Moonfruit to use for customer site development. Does this mean the editor will remain in flash so doing the actual development will require a system running flash? So, can't use an iPad/iPhone or Android (flash not available on ICS on) to create and modify?
Thanks for help.
please add me to the test. very exciting news.
Hi Walt, this is great news :-)
I need to majorly my website anyway so I don't mind building a new version on html5 to test it.
Thanks
Hi there. If I'm not too late, I'd be happy to be part of the Beta test. I have no shop or blog on my website to worry about. Thanks, Duncan
Hi Christine - The final features of the HTML5 update have not been confirmed yet. We are aiming to provide as complete a conversion as possible.
If you are going to be waiting for release 4 to convert your site, then the quantity of your content will not pose an issue. The overall layout of site should be no different to now.
The editor and the way in which you edit will be the same. There are no plans to have a compulsory conversion of your site.
HTH
Juli
Hi onlye,
The way in which sites are created will be no different. You will still require Flash to use the editor and this is not designed for a touch screen interface. Due to the nature of the software, the editor requires a flash platform to function so will not be available on devices that do not support this.
HTH
Juli
Hi Walt,
Please include me in your early Nov. release. I would love to try it out for you by building a new site !
Thanks,
David
I know that HTML5 is "the future" but people should know that HTML5 websites do not function properly on earlier versions of Internet Explorer. The problem is that the majority of users still use Windows XP as their operating system and the newer versions of IE which allow HTML5 websites to be viewed properly ARE NOT COMPATIBLE with Windows XP. So therefore these people will not be able to view an HTML5 website unless they use a different browser if they have Windows XP as their operating system. I agree completely that these users need to pull it together but for the average person who is not very computer literate they will only think that the website they are visiting is simply not working and not realize that it is is because of their own operating system that is so antiquated. Hopefully there will be a pop up or something that will indicate to people to at least use a different browser when this situation occurs.
I realize that the percentage of people who use Internet Explorer is declining but they still have about 17%of the market... http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/b...
Wix has completely dropped support of older versions of IE. I'm just wondering how Moonfruit will address this? Hopefully they will at least let users know that this is a potential issue with older versions of IE before they go switching their websites over to HTML5.
please include me in the stage 1 trial, i have a NEW website to create and this would be ideal timing
Thx Keef
Hi,
I certainly appreciate the massive amount of work you've had to put in and am certainly not annoyed by the wait. While we are busy putting food on our table, you are providing cuttlery, table, chairs and tiling the floor while we do it!
Well done guys!
Alex.
Any links to sites built using Moonfruit HTML5 ?
I would like to be in the early acces.
Thanks!
@JP "Hopefully there will be a pop up or something that will indicate to people to at least use a different browser when this situation occurs."
This would be a great idea.
~ Howard.
Hi, do you have any idea on the length of time you will be Beta testing the HTML5 sites?
i.e. When will the Shop and Blog features be added?
thanks very much.
~ Howard.
Without a doubt moonfruit is, in my honest opinion, the
Easiest web building site that I have tried and I have tried quite a few.
It's simple, intuitive and very user friendly and most of all hosted by a very professional team.
Keep up the good work.
I'm excited
I have built numerous sites using Moonfruit. Will any of these be effected with this upgrade? Some samples sites below:
www.causalytics.com
www.poshhairsalonofsudbury.com
www.topnotchtraining.biz
i'm a long-time reseller and would love to be part of the Early Access Preview.
Thanx for the update :)
Hi. It is important for us to get Google web translation to work on the site. Will that be possible on old sites, or will the Flash build limitation prevent that as it does now?
@JP Please see my response in the forum regarding support for various browsers:
http://support.moonfruit.com/entrie...
Thanks,
Ian
Hi guys, at the point existing websites are converted to HTML 5 from flash (next year) will our SEO be unaffected (i.e. will google still see our sites the same way and not as new entries, as my site is at the top of google as it have been established for a long time) Thanks
@Darren - your sites won't be automatically converted - it will be an explicit choice to upgrade a site to HTML5. The HTML generated will be different to the current flash sites so it is likely that there will be subtle changes to the way Google 'sees' a site once it has been converted. However, given the content of your site will be the same you should still see similar ranking.
Thanks,
Ian
I would like to sign up as an Alpha tester please :o)
Hi there, was just wondering if I would be early access as my site is rolling out UK wide in a week or so and I really would be benefitted from this. Thanks kindly. Murphy.
Awesome! I'd like to register to testing the early access roll out pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease :-)
How do we enroll in the alpha roll out n
As a 10 year user of Moonfruit, I would also like to be considered for the November 20th beta user test. Thanks.
I'd like to be considered for the November beta, thank you.
Hi, We'd like to be part of the early access stage too please.
While I have not been a "Moonie" as long as many on the list, I have designed 3 sites on the platform and can't wait to do more. If you have enough room on the list of testers to include me as well, I would be honored to be part of this group. Thank you very much!
Will the html5 sites allow members to log into members only pages via tablets/iphones etc? Thanks
Willl this finally give us accesss to source file?
Hi it is great with the HTML5 Update, nevertheless, as a photographer Im really looking forward to a well needed update of the slideshow, without next buttons and light box option it is a struggle!
Can't wait for this update. For so long I've been on the very cusp of leaving just to be able to publish in HTML5.
If beta testing is available I'd love to be included.
Hi ive read that HTML5 will be available for new sites from 20th November 2012.
Is this still the release data, and can i be included for the trial?
Many thanks & keep up the good work.
Milloo, check out snacktools.com, they do great slideshows that you can easily embed in Moonfruit using the HTML snippet tool.
Hi Walt,
Will you issue a sign-up form or link for the Alpha? I've got a few sites on hold that would make for good testing.
Cheers, Steve Warren.
I emailed about this a couple weeks ago and was just told its built in flash and will look like that on iPhone always. Wish she had at least hinted this was coming, every customer I have uses their iPhone as their computer now essentially so this is great news. Get me on that beta!
This is great! just to check - I assume html5 will improve site loading speed?
Thanks for the update email, now can someone respond to my priority ticket I raised TWO DAYS AGO as I have NO EMAIL ACCESS and I'm loosing MONEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll like to be part of the new HTML 5 testing too. Thanks.
Thanks for the update..and as a webdeveloper/reseller I am glad to hear this is coming soon, as the tablet world is growing rapidly, and I suspect after the Christmas giving of gifts occurs, there will be even more out there. I would love to be able to do a sales call, and pull up my android tablet and show websites we have built to potential customers, and show them progress during site building stages. Someone said earlier that tablets are a small percentage...well, they are for now; but, I suspect they will hold a huge market in the near future. Also, I think this is great...
@JP "Hopefully there will be a pop up or something that will indicate to people to at least use a different browser when this situation occurs."
THIS WOULD BE HUGE.
Thanks Moonfruit...we need ya and appreciate your communications.
I have built over 30 Moonfruit sites since 2006. I have tried other companies and taken coding classes but have remained loyal to Moonfruit. I JUST learned about the change to HTML and am absolutely thrilled! I knew the day would come if I remained patient. Moonfruit's support team is always professional and offers superior assistance. I am happy to wait a little longer until you are pleased with the product. Congratulations to everyone at Moonfruit and all of us who depend on you! I appreciate you!
i would love to take my site to html5, can you put me down for the early release please. thanks ashley
Spiffing stuff, but I hope you plan on holding the hands of non-experts who come to Moonfruit for its simplicity and user-friendliness?
I've got a site that is under-construction and not yet published that I want in HTML 5 format - should I now wait for the release as per above (which one?) or steam ahead expecting it to publish in HTML 5 OR, continue and if it publishes in Flash, then convert?? Help!!
I have read a lot of the above and I do not have a b....... clue what it all means. I have a business to run and I am sure that there are no members of the Moonfruit team that would have any idea how to do my job, so why should I be expected to understand all the shorthand jargon that you guys come away with. Your job is to make the internet accessible to dummies like me, not to try to impress me with all this technical mumbo-jumbo.
This is great news! I'm not a technical person, but when I first joined Moonfruit a few weeks ago, I visited many lovely sites over here with great products, lovely layout, and creative ideas of every kind... but I was unable to pin anything to Pinterest. I think it's because of the flash thing. I also tried to add a Pinterest icon to allow people to pin from my still-under-construction site, but I don't think it worked. Pinterest is probably the most popular networking/marketing tool right now, especially among indie designer/makers, crafts people, and DIY groups, so having a website that is Pinnable is good news, and I hope HTML will make this possible. Happy I'm not done with my website yet! Congrats Moonfruitees
Love to be part of early release, I use the iPad as my portfolio, and would love to be able to show customers the website from iPad :)
Happy I have been holding on to the much needed website revamp! Now I will put this off till 20th November and just create a brand new website in HTML5! Yippeeee!!! Looking forward to queuing up for Early Access Preview :)
Love you Moonfruit!
Regards,
Benazir
I built my first website in 1999 using just Notepad and a reasonable understanding of HTML. Along came CSS sheets and I've had to incorporate that into my learning curve. I don't know what effect HTML5 will have on Moonfruit sites but I have to say that you'd be better off developing a more intuitive web-build interface before getting into so many bells and whistles. I've been asked to do a small free website for a community group; the Moonfruit web-builder is probably the most pig-awkward one I've ever come across....I can't believe beginners find it "easy"! If it wasn't for the fact that the group wants a free site, I wouldn't bother; in fact I may well be moving on elsewhere because I'm not impressed with what I've seen.
Hi Guys,
Kath - HTML5 will allow tablets to see the same version of your site as a desktop. Mobiles, including the iphone will still see the mobile version. Allowing member access is something we're looking into.
Summant - This will not allow access to the source code. This is a drag and drop editor allowing access to the source code would add a level of complication that goes against the intention of our product.
familyfootcare - Our alpha release date is still planned for the 20th.
Jon - As the browser won't be loading flash, which generally takes a little longer. HTML5 should improve the loading speed.
Feedbackboy - The editor will remain the same, and will we provide guides where functions are different. Keeping the software as user friendly as possible is key to our development. Support will be able to assist should you require it. The alpha release will allow new sites to be built in HTML5, for sites to be converted from Flash to HTML5 you will need to
wait for release 4.
Jimicy - The editor is not changing and you should not need to learn any different terminology to able to use the software. In order to sufficiently explain the changes we are making it is sometimes necessary to use technical terms but we do try to keep this to a minimum.
Yaansoon Handmade - Unfortunately Pinterest is not something that will work. We are however, looking into it.
Scott - Would you be able to let us know your ticket number please, so we can look into it for you.
For anyone looking to submit their interest for the alpha release, we will be publishing a link soon where you can do this.
Thanks,
Juli
will there be more freedom to use animation on MF html 5 sites?
Thanks Juli, thats great news.
It would be really beneficial if it were possible for members to login in via devices. I run a members only site and it would make my life so much easier if members were able to log in anywhere, which they should... Given the modern age we now live in! Thanks.
Hi Juli
Thanks for the update - look forward to receiving the link for the alpha release.
Please put me up for the test release 1 I have to get underway with my website in HTML5 ASAP!
Hi I would like to be part of test performance in Html 5, how do i go about doing this? also once you have html5 up and running will this be available existing customers? and will be able to transfer over old sites or rebuild them using html 5?
Hi Channel99 - I'm afraid there are no links as of yet. The alpha release which will allow these sites to be built is due on the 20th of November.
VintageAgent - The Beta release is planned for the December 19th with Live release planned for Late January/early February. Conversion of existing sites release, planned for same time.
HTH
Juli
I would like to be part of the testers for HTML, let me know.
Thanks!
I would like to be part of the alpha release, please inform when available!
Thank you.
I would like to be part of the alpha test for HTML5, please let me know when it is available
Thanks!
Hi There, Very excited about this change! Really need people to be able to access our website on their mobile, so if you could keep us in mind for the early access testing it would be massively appreciated.
Many thanks
Sorcha
Hi,
I haven't heard anything regarding the sign up for the alpha release. Is it possible that I could receive a link to it. Thanks.
Hi Juli,
Since the alpha is due tomorrow, is the link going to be published today?
We've been patiently waiting but are really excited to get using the HTML5 software tomorrow! :D
Andrew
Hi Juli
Yes to second Andrews comment, ive been eagerly awaiting the alpha release.
Do you have an update or link?
Many thanks
I wish I knew what was happening - I've been holding off on building several web sites so that I could use HMTL5 and I'd planned to start building one of them tomorrow. I'll understand if the launch is still being tested and has to be delayed, but it would have been helpful to know if that was the case so that I could re-plan my schedule.
Hi Guys,
The link will be published tomorrow along side the release. We will post another Blog article to up date you.
HTH
Juli
Hi Guys!
Fantastic news! I would also like to apply for the HTML trial, though it seems I just follow the link later today, very excited! Thanks guys!
Just a side note for everyone going crazy at moonfruit waiting for this update, remember we are the lazy ones not learning HTML and PHP etc, so give them a break and say thank you for a change instead of the poor display of ungratefulness I consistently read in these forms.
Cheers all!
Sean
If possible, I would like to be a part of the HTML5 beta.
Great news, can I build a new website with Release 1 version please?
Come on Moonfruit the suspense of keeping checking for the link button is killing me...
Hi
Do you have a time for the link release?
Hi folks.
We are just pushing out the software update. Once we are happy with the release and we are confident that it is stable then we'll update everyone on how you can get your hands on our newest version of the software (V6) including the HTML5.
We will publish a new blog later this morning introducing the updates, what to expect and how to register for the early release.
So, all we ask is that you go put the kettle on (or coffee pot), give us a few hours to check, test and tidy and then watch this space.
Thanks for all your input, your patience and more importantly your interest in helping us test this new bit of software.
Walt Rothon
Customer Operations Director
SiteMaker Software Ltd.
Thanks for the update Walt, very excited for the release!
Best of luck with it :)
Andrew
It must be an electric atmosphere down there! It must be difficult managing expectations as well, so although I'm hugely looking forward to this release, I appreciate that we will be alpha **testers** and that there might be some teething troubles and that's why we're testing it, to give you constructive feedback rather than complaints if it's not perfect. PS. I've had my coffee, is it ready yet :lol:
Today sees the release of our HTML5-powered Moonfruit v6 Early Access Preview - giving registered users a chance to view, test and experiment with the new version. We've published a dedicated blog about the new Moonfruit v6, which includes a shiny new image gallery. To ensure all comments are collected in one place (and we don't lose any) we're closing this thread. But please feel free to visit the new Preview article for details of our latest software update and leave your comments there.