Why was website downgraded?

You must have a very simple setup and a single system.  I have dozens of devices and multiple locations/logins. I need to be able to quickly view all of the information at once.  This is a huge downgrade.  There is already native apps which provide an identical experience for users as this website.

This support website is also poorly designed as the alerts are delivered with HTML tags not stripped or rendered

Captain11 must be a person who helped develop this new website.  I have not found anyone who said that this change was an "upgrade".  These support people were helpful in the past.  I prefer that they would admit that it was a mistake and fix it rather than try to gaslight us.

@chuckgrasser actually, no, I didn't help develop, design etc any part of the website. What I did do is complain that from a functional standpoint, it was not compliant with the keypad or app functionality. Now it is. Also, hopeufully I can say this without insulting you,  that I take exception that if isn't what you think it should be, it's bad. As I said in my post, for one it may be a downgrade, for another an upgrade. Again, my opinion it's an improvement. We agree to disagree.

@chuckgrasser​ Ask for the UX (User Experience) testing results.  :-) 

I think their usability testing is very poor now days.  Three of my five new model cameras stopped working about a week ago.  Today I noticed a message saying "Base Station Firmware Update Successful".  The update date was Dec 20, 2023, which seems to coincide with my new cameras not working.  I reported this with a lot of detail.  The relevance to your comment was that I'm curious how much testing was done on this firmware update.  It can't be coincidence that five cameras worked fine for over 6 months then suddenly the 3 new model cameras stopped working while the two 5 year old cameras do still work.

@UncleFred​ From a functionality viewpoint, the GUI eliminated non or spotty supported processes. The largest was the install of sensors that was not kept up with by Simplisafe for new items.  

From a design, and backend viewpoint it may be great, but at this point users are no longer able to see half of their devices.  I can no longer see the temp sensors, motion sensors, smoke alarms, etc on the webpage.  Being able to see the entire system at a glance was far more helpful(and functional) than looking nice.  I understand that it made the backend easier, and many companies are doing what they can to cut labor costs, but shouldn't do it at the expense of degrading their products.

@UncleFred​ Again, a downgrade to one is an upgrade to others. Given that SS refused or couldn't keep up with interface  capabilities across all 3 customer access points (Web dashboard, kepad and phone app) to avoid confusion from customers, clearly dropping the web access for device adds and removals makes sense. Ideally, all 3 would be supported but we don't live in an ideal world. There are many other enhancements and improvements I would like to see SS dev resources work on that I have detailed in other posts.  I can see your logic, agree with it, but still see the new GUI for the dashboard an overall improvement.

SS: matching the GUI by sensor groups that are the same os APP is good, removing adding sensors that wasn't kept current with the app and keypad is good, but Uncle and others make valid points, which means you can make the GUI for the dashboard better. Good start but you have a ways to go. Thanks!

This sounds like you are admitting that the change was for SimpliSafe's benefit and not the user.

@chuckgrasser​ If you were replying to my post 5 months ago, how did you interpret my post as saying it was only for SS's benefit?

@Stew_C​ Your reference on the "dodge" was obviously directed towards me, and I still stand on point about one's perception.  I doubt my background will sway you on any thing remotely  "qualifying" so I won't try in the first place. Whether a software engineer, CIO or anything in between, every consumer of that interface, and those that created it, have their own interpretation of the effectiveness and utility of that GUI. So we agree to disagree. (In my book hardly a "dodge".

I complained about this (probably the second person) and while I don't follow this every day, the only person who seems to defend this aweful design is Captain11.  When I commented that he must be a defensive developer, he responded and said he was NOT.  I'd like to know if anyone else thinks this is a good USER interface.  To me, as a retired software & systems engineer, this appears to be a simplification made for SimpliSafe's convenience, not the user.

@chuckgrasser​ 

I find the design to be user-friendly. The fact that it is the same whether on the site or app allows me to make changes far more quickly than in the past. SimpliSafe gets things wrong; this is one thing/change I believe they got right.

(But they will most likely eventually alter it, and others will be satisfied while I will be dissatisfied – such is life presently)

Unfortunately, in our modern day, one size does not fit all. I have no professional background in this space, but it works better for me as a user.