Welcome To The Jungle: UG 5.0

...so it is finally happened -- Ultimate-Guitar.Com v5.0 is live! I wouldn't take too much of your time, describing how long it took to make it. (If you still want a long story, read my message back in 2003 when we upgraded to 4.0 lol). As usually, we only planned to slightly redesign the website and add a couple small features... and as usually we desided to go further and completely rewrite the code ;)

Ok, I promised it will be short, so here is what happened:

1. General:

- We've optimized the site once again in terms of html code and images. On average any page of the site became 20% less in size.
- We have slightly redesigned it. Just a little bit.
- Picture size for all featured articles has been increased twice for obvious reasons ("Hey, who's this on the picture? Justin Timberlake or Cliff Burton?")
- Search feature. Well, this one has got a major redevelopment -- now it can search by one word, by a part of a word, search in both artists and titles in the reviews sectoin. We've used all suggestions posted by your in Site's forum, thanks!
- Search for users option has been added to all pages.
- Each comment in comments section now have "quote this message" link.

2. Everything Tablature Related:

Although the site has grown to a little more than just a tab archive, we remember that it was started as a guitar tabs archive, so this section has got some significant improvements.

- Added 40,000 guitar pro files to the archive. Now, we have the largest guitar pro database on the net.
- You can list all instruments that were tabbed out in guitar pro file, so it's easier to chose what fiel to download.
- Added "Alternate Tuning" note for any text tab (guitar, bass, chords). It shows in tab listings per artist in a floating menu.
- Added "Tab Difficulty" note for any text tab (guitar, bass, chords). Now our fellow beginner guitarists can easly choose between tabs based on stated difficulty level.
- Added option to change your rating for a tab. It shows what was your previous rating and asks whether you want to change it or not.
- On a tab page you can see how much comments have been left for this tab.
- Mail to a friend feature has been added.

3. Main Page:

- First off, we've tried to make it easier for your perception. We've got a few camplaints that it was too heavy, with a lot of links, small pics and overall mess. Should be fixed now!
- Featured reviews have both category and rating info now.
- Featured news articles have both category and # of comments info now.
- When logged in, you can switch between My Favorites and Featured Freesh Tabs.
- Artists list in My Favorites part on the main page now lead to the actual artist page with all tabs.

4. My Account:

This one has been improved drastically as well. Many thanks to our regular contributors and moderators for suggestions!

- My Favorite Tabs section has been added.
- My Favorite Artists feature now track not just tab updates, but reviews and news updates as well! You can see how much new tabs, news and reviews have been added since your last visit on main page and my account page.
- Status of your contribution feature has been added. My favorite one! You can track the whole process starting from sending a contribution and ending with its approval or rejection.
- Message from admin feature has been added. Now, instead of rejecting your contribution, our mod will send you a message telling what exactly you should improve in it to get it accepted. Simply as that.
- You get points for all your contributions now (tabs, reviews, news, columns, promos). Top 100 contributors now have sorting options for all UG sections (Top 100 Column Writes, Top 100 Tabbers, Top 100 Review Writes, etc).
- Top 10 contributors part now shows your place in the chart (even if you're just #986 in the list ;)
- User status feature has been added. It has nothing to do with your forum status -- this one is solely based on your UG Score.
- Member profile page has been improved to show both your forum info (posts, location, title, etc) and your contributions statistics. It is also indicates that the user is UG Team member (admins, super mods, mods, regular contributors, etc).

5. Reviews:

This is probably one of the most improved article-like sections of the site.

- On the main page of this section you can see all updates for today, instead of last 7.
- On an artist/manufacturer page it shows how much album/models have been reviewed and give rating.
- Ratings scale has been increased to 10 (it was 5 previously).
- Vote for this album/model option has been added. If you don't want to post a review you have a chance now to just leave your rating.
- Was this review helpful to you option has been added. Vote for a particular review of a product so others can decided whether they can trust it or not. Reviews with most positive votes will be featured at the top.
- When searching for a review, it now shows product rating as well.

6. Columns, Lessons:

- On the main page of these section you can see all updates for today, instead of last 7.
- Ratings scale has been increased to 10 (it was 5 previously).
- Top Lessons and Top Columns sections has been added.

7. Forums:

Well, as it was requested I've added Black skin that's fully repeat the main UG theme. Classic skin still there too. Moreover, the forum has been upgraded to the most current version of vBulletin (there is a lot of new features added in the forum itself, but I will not list them here -- visit forum and figure them out yourself ;)

Well... that's it. I've listed the most obvious improvements that are came to my mind while the site is upgrading now. This list can be easly doubled if I would have more time to think and a better memory -- I'm sure I forgot some of the improvements because the whole process of development lasted for 6 months lol.

And a short credits list: Medick (our main UG programmer), Vit (he programmed the past version of UG and gave hundreds of ideas for this one), Dyuha (tabs, reviews, lessons manager - beta tester of the new version), Martian (news, columns manager), h0spid (just a good guy ;), morbid_death (reviews section suggestions), Rankles (columns section suggestions), friggin_jerk (columns section suggestions), Lord Sephiroth (security suggestions), the rest of UG Mods Team (besides of giving me ideas for new version they backed up my ass on forums, thanks!), the entire list of users who posted in Site's Suggestion forum (guys, I can't name each of you but I love you all), zappp (argh, don't know why he is on the list!). Sorry if I forgot someone!

PS. You'd be glad to know what to expect in upcoming months, do you? Here is the list: UG Toolbar, UG Blog, PDA version of UG, Free MP3 hosting for our members, power tabs, improved members section (with ability to customize your page, add a blog, videos, etc), UG Merchandise.

Regards,
UG Team.

Comments

Looking AWESOME guys, you\\'ve relaly outdone yourselves with the new features. I'm sad enough to be gradually checking them out as they're added =p

UP THE IRONS!

I mean... GO UG

OMG NEW UPDATE I LOVE UG

No, seriously... Rankles and I were yelling about it on msn hehe

It looks great, I love the new layouts

[Gurgle!Argh!]

look lovely, me and alice have been getting excited. and constantly refreshing

need the forum to be ready soon though! the anticipation!

[frying nemo08]

Im loving it zappp, the layout is amazing

Lol... the first comment and it's full of slashes, even though I definitely erased them.

Time to start a bug reporting thread guys? =p

[cliff_em_all]

Sweet. i tried to come on in school and it said you were updating

[Desk Jocky]

Looks awesome guys

[Duff_McGee]

NO

GOD NO

[Bu||eT]

Guitar Pro. Woohoo

[Fajitaman22]

Yay for upgradeness!

[Waterboy799]

cliff_em_all wrote:

Sweet. i tried to come on in school and it said you were updating

so did i, great job with the site

[Volkl]

Wow, lovin this, good job!

[boothy]

Great work Zappp, awesome stuff!

[Nirvana_GodSmak]

Niice, my only suggestion now, is to add lines inbetween comment posts. It was alittle odd trying to read the comments.

[mnbaseball91]

I like it so far! Now on to the forums!

[Nilefan]

Looks great. I have to explore it better. Good work.

[kt_guitarist]

YI HA good job yall

[sadistic_monkey]

Merchandise eh? I can finally get my UG hoody

[IllegalPanda]

the new site is bitchen!!zapp is my hero

[Pure_Morning]

Great update. Are all the GP files off mysongbook.com?

[sithian476]

yeah, space out these comments more...

[crzywhiteboy]

everything is cool, but when ever i try going to the forum it seas server busy.

[wilty00]

Im banned, so I cant get the full experiance, but amazing job zappp. Well worth the wait.

[Flametop001]

So this is why I sat through half an hour of my programming class in school with nothing to do...It was well worth it, I'm diggin the new layout.

[Flametop001]

Apparently, as someone said before there is a bug when making apostrophies like in It's or I'm...It adds those slashes. Also right next to the comment box the smilies button is going on to the next line in firefox.

[BigBagBill]

Awsome Job Guys.

[Flametop001]

It would be a good idea to start a new thread or something or other for bug reports where you can show screenshots of any graphical bugs and stuff like that. And then they could be taken care of gradually. Just a thought.

[FghtFfYrDmns]

I must say I approve haha.

[GoodCharloteSux]

very cool, it will take time to get used to but kudos.

[Stula1031]

Sweet the banner finally has some charcter!

[Diceman42]

itll take some getting used to.. but im appreciating the greater contrast and the overall less-crowdedness. peace.

[thetoastinator]

Im gonna need to get used to it, but it sounds awesome!

[altronataku]

awesome. you guys have done an excellent job!

[P_Gilbertrules]

I like it, the site looks great!

[matty_jay]

can i still get guitar tabs?

[HarmlessLilF*ck]

Good news, without UG all i had all day was internet porn. Can't wait to check out all the upgrades.

[frusciante_5]

yum!

[mesaboogieman]

new UG looks awesome as ever, i freaked out when i saw it was closed!!! rock on

[im not mental]

i love the "g" in ultimate-guitar.com on the top.

[ibanez666]

beautiful

[Diabolic Clown]

Ehh.. I don't really like it. I was so used to the old one.. then BAM!! Oh well, maybe I'll get used to it.

[Rockn_Clay]

yeh same with me^^^ but yeh this change should be for the best... good idea with guitar pro too!

[Punk_Dude2005]

I think you should put the comments in a box so it\\\\

[Rocker3829]

I like the new idea, another good job UG

[askurmoran]

hey man it looks great but i have one problem where did the steal this video stuff go to? i just bare ly realized that there was a video on p. harmonics but then i got disconected but when i came back the site was all differrent and now i cant find it

[morello_man]

the logo is cool. this site is awesome. I'll be looking for some merch later too. and powertabs too? this is awesome

[strider_hein]

this is going to be hard to get used too. bah its stil pretty sweet.

[Ninjacow89]

looks good

[ygokazuki]

Awesome zappp, you are god.

[askurmoran]

hey cool new look and by the way how the hell do you get to the steal this video section?

[MetzBlaze]

I cant get into the Forums! Says its too Busy.

[maddd0g]

IheartUG

[crzywhiteboy]

I been threw like 3 or more other UG updates ones you get used to this your gone forget how the old one looked.

[Letterbomb11]

I think the new layout looks a little too "blocky", more of a step back than forward. Everything else seems good, though.

[DownDark]

just like all my other favourite websites that have went through changes, like Cokemusic, Newgrounds, that have all went down the shits, you guys seem to keep it the same in a relative way. I mean change is good and I like the new changes! It'll take a while to get use to again but I think it will be a better experience! Nice job!

[acdc101]

Fantastic Job.

[lacey_the_crazy]

Site looks so awesome!Thanks!

[newyorkdolls138]

I love the black skin. And the new features are amazing.

[ScreamingGibson]

Kinda liked the old one better but i reckon i can get used to this. SOunds like the site just got alot better , Can't wait till i get to check out the new stuff. Good job guys.

[ScreamingGibson]

Ok so i can take some of that back .. I've looked around and looks worse to me .. Sorry guys but i think that this site has downgraded.

[misfits385]

great job guys great job

[she]

like misfit said "great job!"

[pb&guitar]

nice job, she's looking good

[pb&guitar]

WHAT THE FU[b[/b]CK, my username changed!!!! pb&guitar.... i dont think so. and there's slashes showing up everywhere. damn. i want to be pb&guitar again

[ckellingc]

nicely done zappp

[Xx_banx]

besides the small parsing error, AWESOME job guys.
just...bad ass.

[Xx_banx]

er...since when was the [code][/code] an angry smily...wasnt it horns before? \\m/

[MetalUpTheAss]

Teh boards are down for me, yo.

[Erich yeung]

I'm not worthy of you guys and your awesomeness *bows in worship*

[she]

wats happenin.. i cant get in the boards?! and i cant view the lessons?!

[she]

AAAAARGH!!!!

[gunsn'pjs]

i love it, it looks great. awesome job guys

[Sun of a Studio]

I'm a little unsure about the new site but I have no say in it either way. Just wish it was organized a little better.

[Spudric jr.III]

It's great but for some reason I cant log in, in the forum section, yet im logged in on the home page?
Love the new look, and I cant wait for the Blog amd Mp3 hosting

[Gibson_God11]

hey wut the heck it wont let me go to forums!!?!?!?!?!? it says the servers too busy... i nevver had this prob. with the old UG....besides that i still love the theme and look forward to all the new features that will be added later

[michael.toad]

This is awesome. Great job takin care of your website ug! this is like the fastest growin community on the net

[Iluvpowerchords]

How do I get the Classic skin back?

[clwy87]

looks awesome.....haven't really checked out all the new stuff though....

[Night_Lights]

yeah its much better

[wilty00]

Powerchords, if you want the classic UG FORUM(!) skin, go to the forum home and on the bottom left corner thers a dropdown bar. Select \\\\

[wilty00]

What the hell. Whats with all teh slashes?

What it should say, powerchords, is "UG. Classic>$#Skin" without all the symbols and stuff. Im trying to get rid of those \\\\'s

[Final]

I'm not a fan with the new looks, but I'll get used to it.

[_RockOnForever_]

hey nice work... but the comments for articles seems a bit messier. maybe its just me, but i prefer boxes around everyone's comments. just looks neater i guess. overall, from what i've seen so far, it looks great!

[_RockOnForever_]

one thing i just ran into... do i need a special codec in order to see the pro tabs when i download them? what's the deal with it?

[loyd]

it's kinda confusing when you first try to navigate through it but then you get used to it.. awesome site.. UG LIVES!!!

[AimlessAmoeba]

Very pro. Very.

[mackdaddy]

Looks great, but what's with all these "unwanted slashes"

[leaping badger]

woo hoo UG update i was lost without it

It's looking good ///// slash :P

[dingodile666]

this rocks like hell!!!!

[chinko]

just a question, are ALL the tabs Guitar Pro tabs now? and am i (for now) just banned from forum use but can still post comments and tabs etc? if so thats a sweet move as ive been working on tabs

[chinko]

oh yea, firefox seems to have problems with the reviews section. i clicked on submit review after filling everything out, and nothing happened. either the button had nothing to submit to, or it is just a firefox problem

[tommyboy8me]

Way to go guys. I'm quite impressed.

[jamstation]

nice! great to see you guys promoting gp4

[PT 2 DOOR RULE]

Nice job guys, the site is now even more awesome! Luvin' the larger PM inbox and reviews section most of all, even if it will be strange gettin used to it for a couple of days lol. *thumbs up*

why it needs a time to get used to it... really don't understand lol. Is it hard on your eyes, or maybe confusing navigation or anything else.

Please post objective feedback.

[rockinlewis]

its nice chaps

[Torico]

Love all them new features, but I don't like having to go on a treasure hunt to find the print button at the bottom of a long tab.

[LazyGuitar]

Free MP3 hosting for our members, power tabs, improved members section (with ability to customize your page, add a blog, videos, etc)

Niftiness \m/

People - Don't be negative based on a few tiny bugs that can be ironed out. Use your brain here, this is a huge site, and look at the features we now have thanks to the hard work of people that don't charge us to use this site

[appetite]

good job my friends, zappa, i salute you.

[Reecoom]

OOH yeah! Exelent upgrade!

[Biggs]

I still need to get used to it a bit, but it's alright. Only problem, as someone previously said, server busy on the forum. That's annoying.

[ctb]

Reading the new tablature stuff, I fainted. This site was good, now it totally owns other sites! Good job!

[Rashomon]

I LUV THIS SITE

[Jack_skelington]

Kudos zappp. I didnt think this site could be any better, but you really outdid yourself.Some of these new features are breathtakeing.Mp3 hosting and powertab in particular.

My only gripe is you should probly lose the black in the forums section. It looks kinda ugly IMO.But its no biggie.

Anyways again, great job on making this site better, you did wonderful. Im sure I'll be visting this site more often now.

[Potato Pirate]

I prefer the old layout and design.

This one looks like there's a page error.

The black forum skin looks fugly.

The whole design is just lazy.

[Captain Colon]

Guitar Pro tabs???


Finally I don't have to depend on slow-ass mysongbook anymore!

[priest.fan.]

heh, its kinda cool seeing all these banned folk posting

and the sites awesome, good job

[kidguitarist]

great job

[farcry]

the crappy thing about the new forums is the screen is to thin it used to be
| people typing junk here |
| people typing junk here |
| people typing junk here |
| people typing junk here |

but now its

| |
| I dont like it |
| |

farcry wrote:

the crappy thing about the new forums is the screen is to thin it used to be
| people typing junk here |
| people typing junk here |
| people typing junk here |
| people typing junk here |

but now its

| |
| I dont like it |
| |

what?!

[MetalToTheEnd]

I love you zappp.

[Metalology]

I like the old UG

[bass_man_5_4_3_]

its way to confuzing zapp.

[PickNGrin]

nice job guys! Overwhelming positive comments here, many new features that will come in handy... For what my 2 cents is worth ----I like it and its an impovement.
Thanks!
-Pick

[Ganjrockr]

Er, well I cant even see the forum. I've been trying to get on the forum since yesterday morning and its been saying 'Server busy'.. Love the new layout, even though its useless to me now.

X2^ server busy, server busy.

[Mr. Clean]

it kicks ass

[less than that]

great job everybody. I really like the new site.

[Bodom_Shredder7]

lovin it

[AXE545]

nifty

[flytv12]

power tabs are coming!!!
power tabs kick ass!!!

[Spade_SanosukeX]

NICE!

[MankiiKing]

Guitar pro tabs too? I love you Zappp!

[Tim_5150]

i personally like theold format better...but the features on this one are neat!

[Tim_5150]

the *space* old

Tim_5150 wrote:i personally like theold format better...but the features on this one are neat!

can you tell me why?

[Witch-king]

The site looks great. At first I didn't like it cause the forum skin was in default, but once I changed it to classic it was way better.

Oh ya, and can't wait for guitar pro tabs. "My Songbook" must be the slowest site on the net. I won't have to put up with that crap anymore.

[Torico]

Yeah that's true, My Songbook is slow as hell.

[JustinYap]

sweeeeet... u guys rock!!! definitely better..

[Rock TABer-><]

Gr8 job guys. When i saw that you were getting a face lift i thought it was a stupid idea because i didn't think that there could be much to improve upon... well I guess you proved me wrong. \m/ U guys ROCK \m/

[Lord_Xian]

what was wrong with the old one

[PacoGP]

Why aren't we able to sort our tabs by rating anymore? I used to allways do that to find only the best rated tabs...Any plans to add this back, it would be greatly appreciated.

Other than that, nice improvements, keep up the good work!

[crzywhiteboy]

For all you non veterans this is what UG used to look like, if anyone is interested in looking.

http://web.archive.org/web/20010530194535/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

[arsonite]

It's good.

[DopeDanny]

Good Job with the site guys,by the way I love the cartoon pic of Dimebag.

[niall the nail]

the old one was better

[highway2hell999]

The old way was better the bold print sucks and whats up with guitar pro s#$%!!!

[highway2hell999]

What the f%^& is up with guitar pro idjuts

[Sanitarium24]

Free mp3 hosting!!!!

[highway2hell999]

WHAT THE F^&* IS DIMEBAG DOING WITH ACE FRHELY ON HIS
SHIRT ?????

[crzywhiteboy]

^dimebag is a big kiss fan.

[ibanez87]

why can't we set a tab page to "date"?

[AssGeezer]

this deserves a big woo-****in-hoo..YeeeeehAAAAA

[metaljunkie]

dude the site is so much sweeter now! thanks for the work and keep up the awesome job!

[metaljunkie]

^woops wrong icon i thought it was colon m colon for "rock on"

[Future]

Why isn't there a search-button on the mainpage?!?

[stutterfly]

new stuff is totally hardcore!

[coinslots]

I like the new thngs youve added!

[pytolk]

great job guys!! it is much cooler now!!

[gibson08]

nice