I would like to take a little time to talk about the Times-Union’s new website, which launched during the first week of April.
It was not without the usual fits and starts, but it is starting to settle down quite nicely these days.
By now, most readers have probably poked around on it a little bit and are becoming familiar with it.
Even so, I thought it might be a good idea to point out some of the new features anyway.
So grab your Times-Union and head over to your computer and let’s check out the new website.
When you go to the homepage, you will notice right away that there is quite a bit more local content then before and a more colorful Times-Union nameplate.
Above the nameplate are quick links to Subscribe, Contact Us, or go to our e-Edition, Facebook page or Weather Data/Webcam page.
To the right of the nameplate is the weather forecast from Weather Underground. and the Weather Sponsor Ad. Clicking on either of those takes you to the respective website.
Under the nameplate there are a series of dropdown menus under Local News, Local Sports, Obituaries, Opinion, Lifestyles, Forms, Classifieds and Public Notices.
Hovering over those  links will expose the dropdown menus. Clicking on items in the menus will take you to a page containing those items.
The next bit of local news is the main story – the first story at the top of the homepage. Beneath that is a rotating photo box which contains three photos that are connected to stories.
You can wait for the stories to rotate, or you can click on one at anytime to view the story in its entirety. There also is a link in the lower lefthand side of the rotating photo box that allows you to pause the rotation. A link in the lower right takes you to the story featured in the largest photo box.
Under the rotating photo box is the Top Stories  section. There you will find headlines to local stories with or without artwork. Clicking on the headline takes you to the entire story.
One of the more significant improvements to our website is local video capability. Scrolling down form the Top Stories section you will notice two video windows.
The one on the left contains videos from Associated Press.
The one on the right contains local videos shot by Times-Union staff members. Below the video window is a list of local videos available. Click on the “play” arrow in the window or control bar to watch the video.
Clicking on the small “up arrow” to the right of the title of the video takes you to a new, larger screen to view the video. The list of videos continues to appear below the video window.
In addition to the video window, local videos also are attached to stories, when applicable. So, sometimes when you view a story online, there may be a video to go along with it.
Below the videos are our photo galleries. Click on the gallery to view the photos in the gallery. Only three galleries can appear on the homepage. Click on “view more galleries” in the blue Photo Galleries bar to see the rest of the galleries.
Below the photos are reader comments. Each story online is now accompanied by a comment box. Readers are encouraged to comment. Appropriate comments are made live on the site several times each day by Times-Union staff members.
Finally, the two sections, “Extras” and “Life” appear in the blue bar at the bottom of the homepage. Mousing over these links takes readers to our web only content. There are dozens of fun stories to read and things to do.
For example, under “Extras,” check out the music player. You can type in your favorite artists and music player will generate a playlist. Click on play and listen away.
Under “Life,” click on the “landing page” for fun and informative articles on a couple of dozen current topics.
Tucked at the bottom of our homepage tile advertisements is a reader poll. Click an answer and see the results.
There’s a lot to see on our new website and we hope readers take the time to enjoy it.
Thanks for reading.