New DX Categories needed B A D
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 by RomanDA | Discussion: Widget talk
I know we have had discussions on new Gallery's but I really think we need these 2.
1. DX Gadgets - this would be for gadgets only, so people without DX could load these and know they would work, and people with DX would know that everything in the WIDGET Gallery is a widget that can be imported.
2. DX Weather/Clock - yes yes yes, anyone that has ever been in the DX Widgets gallery know that there and have done a "search" for "weather" will return you 7 pages of 32 widgets, or MORE. This is just weather, not to mention clocks. The problem is, these are almost all (not all Vad_M/Martin/Richard) the SAME widget, just with different "skins". Its getting old. you post something that you have spent a great deal of time working on, and in 2 days, its on page 3, behind 200 more of the SAME weather widgets.
If you agree, or disagree, please let us know. I think these could easily be added and would make things so much better. If DX is going to EVER evolve beyond a weather/clock widget maker, it has to be able to SHOW what is out there that ISNT one of these.
PLEASE PLEASE HEAR US!!!
1. DX Gadgets - this would be for gadgets only, so people without DX could load these and know they would work, and people with DX would know that everything in the WIDGET Gallery is a widget that can be imported.
2. DX Weather/Clock - yes yes yes, anyone that has ever been in the DX Widgets gallery know that there and have done a "search" for "weather" will return you 7 pages of 32 widgets, or MORE. This is just weather, not to mention clocks. The problem is, these are almost all (not all Vad_M/Martin/Richard) the SAME widget, just with different "skins". Its getting old. you post something that you have spent a great deal of time working on, and in 2 days, its on page 3, behind 200 more of the SAME weather widgets.
If you agree, or disagree, please let us know. I think these could easily be added and would make things so much better. If DX is going to EVER evolve beyond a weather/clock widget maker, it has to be able to SHOW what is out there that ISNT one of these.
PLEASE PLEASE HEAR US!!!
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Fairyy~
Reply #62 Sunday, March 18, 2007 4:11 PM
You go back an re-read this thread. If you were 1 of the " 2 or 3 " being singled out that 'flood' the widget gallery with weather widgets and ' push' others 'hard' work to page oblivion...you might have felt the tone of this thread was indeed a bit snarky. Your last widget has been in the widget gallery since March 8th..it has held the 4th and 5th spot since that date. It hasn't been buried by anyone.
We have all been subjected to being buried.
Had this thread been just straight forward about the separation of the " general' widgets from ' complex' widgets I would have said nothing at all....or just agreed with you. It was comments from others that I felt the need to say my opinion.
I do my fair share of helping people with the ' simple ' aspects of DX Themes...answering the same questions over and over again because most of the people that are downloading DX themes do not understand how to even find DX Builder mode.
I do my fair share of helping people via email..some of us just do our helping quietly...
I have read your tutorials and I have downloaded most of your creations. I have complimented you.....
As for Martin and Tiggz...as I recall the last post I saw Tiggz make was he had a windowblind 99% done.....then he disappeared. A few months later someone asked " What happened to Tiggz ?" Someone else answered " Work happened to Tiggz " So maybe its not always about anyone getting tired of anything and just moving on with real life as they see it.
Reply #62 Sunday, March 18, 2007 4:11 PM
The point is that "WE" as a community need to want DX to be a viable program for SD to sell and us to be able to continue to use and create with, but if someone comes in and sees that there are 200 weather widgets, and 180 clocks, they will go, what’s there for me to make, that’s all anyone wants. BUT if they can come in and see dozens of widget ALL with a unique look, style, and control, and function, then they might see an area where they can fit in, and expand the gallery. NEVER do I want to put people off from skinning, or DX, never.
I love the idea of widgets that match WB skins, and I think there should be more "THEMES" that have all of this together. Maybe we can start putting them together in the DX Themes? And not as separate items in the Widgets gallery.
Ok, I’m done.. I’m tired, I feel like I need to go join Martin/Tiggs and just let the "skinner" take over. I have worked so hard at trying to get people to learn DX, but I guess that just makes me some ELITE ass. Thanks.
I love the idea of widgets that match WB skins, and I think there should be more "THEMES" that have all of this together. Maybe we can start putting them together in the DX Themes? And not as separate items in the Widgets gallery.
Ok, I’m done.. I’m tired, I feel like I need to go join Martin/Tiggs and just let the "skinner" take over. I have worked so hard at trying to get people to learn DX, but I guess that just makes me some ELITE ass. Thanks.
You go back an re-read this thread. If you were 1 of the " 2 or 3 " being singled out that 'flood' the widget gallery with weather widgets and ' push' others 'hard' work to page oblivion...you might have felt the tone of this thread was indeed a bit snarky. Your last widget has been in the widget gallery since March 8th..it has held the 4th and 5th spot since that date. It hasn't been buried by anyone.
We have all been subjected to being buried.
Had this thread been just straight forward about the separation of the " general' widgets from ' complex' widgets I would have said nothing at all....or just agreed with you. It was comments from others that I felt the need to say my opinion.
I do my fair share of helping people with the ' simple ' aspects of DX Themes...answering the same questions over and over again because most of the people that are downloading DX themes do not understand how to even find DX Builder mode.
I do my fair share of helping people via email..some of us just do our helping quietly...
I have read your tutorials and I have downloaded most of your creations. I have complimented you.....
As for Martin and Tiggz...as I recall the last post I saw Tiggz make was he had a windowblind 99% done.....then he disappeared. A few months later someone asked " What happened to Tiggz ?" Someone else answered " Work happened to Tiggz " So maybe its not always about anyone getting tired of anything and just moving on with real life as they see it.
Vad_M
Reply #65 Sunday, March 18, 2007 4:46 PM
Reply #65 Sunday, March 18, 2007 4:46 PM
To Fairyy~:
Work happened to Tiggz This is the answer which explains all for me. He much tired. Very, very bad...
He was, he is and he will be the best on this place forever.
Thanks you.
Work happened to Tiggz This is the answer which explains all for me. He much tired. Very, very bad...
He was, he is and he will be the best on this place forever. Thanks you.
sViz
Reply #66 Monday, March 19, 2007 6:05 AM
You're right about that, Vad. Simply put, who knew they couldn't live without their cell-phone until cell-phones were invented? Who knew they had to have Windows Vista until Windows Vista was created? Point being, if you build it they will come. So long as you build it well; making it innovative, of high-quality, complete, useful, functional, and of course nice looking, too.
DA:
You should not feel like your efforts have been wasted. You are among the most active members in the community who are trying to help others learn to use DX beyond skinning. Even if you quit today (perish the thought) I can easily see that your work will continue to help others for years to come; that's how big an impact you've had on the community.
What I see here is a group of DX users with a hunger and a passion to propel DX into the future as a serious and viable contender in OS customization. Sometimes it can be frustrating to have so much drive to make something good even better and to get others to see this too, yet it feels like for every step towards progress there seems like a million paces still to go. As much as we'd like for Stardock to do something about this let's not forget the power of the people (YouTube anyone?). Sometimes all it takes is one ordinary dedicated person with a dream to bring about a big change. What we need is a concerted effort in bringing this about. I think even bigger than the perceived 're-skinning' problem is the lack of learning resources. For some, sheer determination is enough to help them trudge through the learning process but there will always be those who need all the help they can get.
Tutorials and articles are probably the number one source for help (aside from the Developer's Guide), but oftentimes I feel like they are disconnected from one to the next. The ones I've written are an example; they range from one thing to the next- easy to difficult. One day you learn how to make an analog clock and the next day your learning how to make shortcuts. In the end, you have clock and a shortcut on your desktop and lots of other odds and ends. Maybe if somehow we can tie these tutorials together or at least make more series that build on one and other; bringing the user's skills together to perhaps, eventually complete a whole DX theme filled with everything they've learned to make and giving them a complete DX experience. Roman's step-by-step tutorials are headed in the right direction.
I think MySecret has got an idea...
This seems like a good way of 'hooking' someone who may be interested in "going behind the scenes" so to speak. Maybe, even going further to actually build a widget/theme along with the reader. Clearly, though, we need fresh ideas and new approaches to reaching the potential developers officially and unofficially. Showing them through seperate galleries that amazing things can be done with DX would help, but it goes without saying that showing them HOW to do those amazing things with DX is the hardest and most important part.
This discussion has brought up some very important views and points and I'm certainly going to think about different, more effective ways I can help in this effort.
Reply #66 Monday, March 19, 2007 6:05 AM
To sViz: You are absolutely right about what people want. However the demand is always defined by proposal. May be they need something else? But they can't find here nothing except clocks, weather and calendars.
You're right about that, Vad. Simply put, who knew they couldn't live without their cell-phone until cell-phones were invented? Who knew they had to have Windows Vista until Windows Vista was created? Point being, if you build it they will come. So long as you build it well; making it innovative, of high-quality, complete, useful, functional, and of course nice looking, too.
DA:
You should not feel like your efforts have been wasted. You are among the most active members in the community who are trying to help others learn to use DX beyond skinning. Even if you quit today (perish the thought) I can easily see that your work will continue to help others for years to come; that's how big an impact you've had on the community.
What I see here is a group of DX users with a hunger and a passion to propel DX into the future as a serious and viable contender in OS customization. Sometimes it can be frustrating to have so much drive to make something good even better and to get others to see this too, yet it feels like for every step towards progress there seems like a million paces still to go. As much as we'd like for Stardock to do something about this let's not forget the power of the people (YouTube anyone?). Sometimes all it takes is one ordinary dedicated person with a dream to bring about a big change. What we need is a concerted effort in bringing this about. I think even bigger than the perceived 're-skinning' problem is the lack of learning resources. For some, sheer determination is enough to help them trudge through the learning process but there will always be those who need all the help they can get.
Tutorials and articles are probably the number one source for help (aside from the Developer's Guide), but oftentimes I feel like they are disconnected from one to the next. The ones I've written are an example; they range from one thing to the next- easy to difficult. One day you learn how to make an analog clock and the next day your learning how to make shortcuts. In the end, you have clock and a shortcut on your desktop and lots of other odds and ends. Maybe if somehow we can tie these tutorials together or at least make more series that build on one and other; bringing the user's skills together to perhaps, eventually complete a whole DX theme filled with everything they've learned to make and giving them a complete DX experience. Roman's step-by-step tutorials are headed in the right direction.
I think MySecret has got an idea...
start with articles about DX...then when you have uploaded a new DX item....write about it...post in the forums & Articles... etc... Then it doesn't matter if its lost on page 15....people will go looking for it and learning about...the specific Gadget ect. from your articles..this will help create the interest. From this you could consolidate a forum post that is used to help people with coding ect...the forums having so many lurkers as well...many you will not see or hear from will be learning as well Then once established...tempt people with articles about upcoming gadgets ect....then people will start coming to you with new ideas
This seems like a good way of 'hooking' someone who may be interested in "going behind the scenes" so to speak. Maybe, even going further to actually build a widget/theme along with the reader. Clearly, though, we need fresh ideas and new approaches to reaching the potential developers officially and unofficially. Showing them through seperate galleries that amazing things can be done with DX would help, but it goes without saying that showing them HOW to do those amazing things with DX is the hardest and most important part.
This discussion has brought up some very important views and points and I'm certainly going to think about different, more effective ways I can help in this effort.
Vad_M
Reply #68 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 10:53 AM
Reply #68 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 10:53 AM
Hey Friends! Look at the Widgets Gallery. I have not to say more about...
COOL 
Vad_M
Reply #73 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 2:45 PM
Reply #73 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 2:45 PM
It's so easy. Look:
Updated Today: 7 widgets
Weather: 5 ALIKE widgets
Weather+clock: 1 widget
Other type: 1 widget
Much sad statistics again... Seems this will not be finished ever.
Updated Today: 7 widgets
Weather: 5 ALIKE widgets
Weather+clock: 1 widget
Other type: 1 widget
Much sad statistics again...
Seems this will not be finished ever.
ZubaZ
Reply #74 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 2:53 PM
Reply #74 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 2:53 PM
Vad . . splitting the gallery up by type is a bad idea for the average user and won't happen. Let that one go.
Splitting it up between Objects/widgets/gadgets might be possible someday. Patience.
Splitting it up between Objects/widgets/gadgets might be possible someday. Patience.
ArileenDesign
Reply #75 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 2:58 PM
for this
hope others come here like the last of Tomassen
and we can download them 
Reply #75 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 2:58 PM
WOW COOL
for this
Other type: 1 widget
hope others come here like the last of Tomassen
and we can download them 
Vad_M
Reply #76 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 3:38 PM
Reply #76 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 3:38 PM
To Zubaz:
I'm not sure that we need separate galleries by type. So I agree with you.
But I think that we must search the way how to make Widget Gallery much interesting for people. As well as I think that a hundreds of skins that just attached to the same old script (which has no any changes by the way) can not be called WIDGETS and be valued as a WIDGETS.
Look how Richard Mohler works. He is not a programmer but a lot of his widgets are complicated and multifunctional. This is great job. But a hundreds of alike "weathers" with 1-2 different png-files as a spam in our mail boxes. And I'm sad when see them every week...
We must invent how to stimulate the creation of new WIDGETS but not the skins for weather. And I think that Stardock must be interested on this too. DesktopX is one of the best their products...
I'm not sure that we need separate galleries by type. So I agree with you.
But I think that we must search the way how to make Widget Gallery much interesting for people. As well as I think that a hundreds of skins that just attached to the same old script (which has no any changes by the way) can not be called WIDGETS and be valued as a WIDGETS.
Look how Richard Mohler works. He is not a programmer but a lot of his widgets are complicated and multifunctional. This is great job. But a hundreds of alike "weathers" with 1-2 different png-files as a spam in our mail boxes. And I'm sad when see them every week...
We must invent how to stimulate the creation of new WIDGETS but not the skins for weather. And I think that Stardock must be interested on this too. DesktopX is one of the best their products...
ZubaZ
Reply #77 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:03 PM
They have just as much (if not more) value as the most complicated thing you make because more people might use it. [I think your stuff is amazing and I don't use any weather widgets, I have my weather on a dock.]
} The spend most of their time on WindowBlinds and their games I think. Those bring in the most money.
I know what you want to happen. I agree with what you want. I want it too (for you and the other DX devs). But for most of the community . . weather widgets are all they need.
I'll say it again (or steal it from someone else), start writing articles and forum posts about what you are doing with DX. Collaborate with the other DX coders on a few projects and write about that. I'll do QA on your stuff and help write what you want written. If we want change, we need to generate "buzz".
Also, we don't want to seperate ourselves from the weather widget makers. They are a valuable part of the community. The other question is, "How can we teach or improve what they are doing?"
But then again, what do I know? I can barely skin or code anything.
Reply #77 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:03 PM
But a hundreds of alike "weathers" with 1-2 different png-files as a spam in our mail boxes
People like them, download them and use them.They have just as much (if not more) value as the most complicated thing you make because more people might use it. [I think your stuff is amazing and I don't use any weather widgets, I have my weather on a dock.]
We must invent how to stimulate the creation of new WIDGETS but not the skins for weather. And I think that Stardock must be interested on this too. DesktopX is one of the best their products...
DX is not one of thier most popular products even if it is one of their best. {ObjectBar is their best! } The spend most of their time on WindowBlinds and their games I think. Those bring in the most money.I know what you want to happen. I agree with what you want. I want it too (for you and the other DX devs). But for most of the community . . weather widgets are all they need.
I'll say it again (or steal it from someone else), start writing articles and forum posts about what you are doing with DX. Collaborate with the other DX coders on a few projects and write about that. I'll do QA on your stuff and help write what you want written. If we want change, we need to generate "buzz".
Also, we don't want to seperate ourselves from the weather widget makers. They are a valuable part of the community. The other question is, "How can we teach or improve what they are doing?"
But then again, what do I know? I can barely skin or code anything.
ArileenDesign
Reply #78 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:20 PM
Reply #78 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:20 PM
My think, 1st we really need a Gadgets place here. 
2nd Weather is like rainy go to be a part of WB skins. For me it's good. And if you don't want any Weather just search by others sub gallery. (Like me)
3th RomanDA, Martin, sVis, and many others Skinners who make tutorials can allow us to make a better staff and People Like you Vad give us inspiration to make more.
4th If there are somebody who want make only Vista/Weather/Or Other Stuff Why not? We are here to share our work not?
2nd Weather is like rainy go to be a part of WB skins. For me it's good. And if you don't want any Weather just search by others sub gallery. (Like me)
3th RomanDA, Martin, sVis, and many others Skinners who make tutorials can allow us to make a better staff and People Like you Vad give us inspiration to make more.
4th If there are somebody who want make only Vista/Weather/Or Other Stuff Why not? We are here to share our work not?
ZubaZ
Reply #79 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:30 PM
Reply #79 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:30 PM
OK, here's an idea. One Carl has been advocating (to a degree) I think.
Create a new app with DX Pro. Call it RainWeather or something like that. Make it easier to skin than the DX weather. Make it like Xion (which really needs a galery here) Write a easy tutorial and watch the weather skinners flock to it.
Create a new app with DX Pro. Call it RainWeather or something like that. Make it easier to skin than the DX weather. Make it like Xion (which really needs a galery here
) Write a easy tutorial and watch the weather skinners flock to it.
Bebi Bulma
Reply #80 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:37 PM
Nice...now if only I had a *clue* and could make my own matching weather widgets...oh well.
Reply #80 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:37 PM
OK, here's an idea. One Carl has been advocating (to a degree) I think.
Create a new app with DX Pro. Call it RainWeather or something like that. Make it easier to skin than the DX weather. Make it like Xion (which really needs a galery here ) Write a easy tutorial and watch the weather skinners flock to it.
Create a new app with DX Pro. Call it RainWeather or something like that. Make it easier to skin than the DX weather. Make it like Xion (which really needs a galery here ) Write a easy tutorial and watch the weather skinners flock to it.
Nice...now if only I had a *clue* and could make my own matching weather widgets...oh well.
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Reply #61 Sunday, March 18, 2007 3:40 PM
However Friends! It seems to me that we nearly approached to understanding the truth. Look about what have told David: The point is that "WE" as a community need to want DX to be a viable program for SD to sell and us to be able to continue to use and create with, but if someone comes in and sees that there are 200 weather widgets, and 180 clocks, they will go, what’s there for me to make, that’s all anyone wants. BUT if they can come in and see dozens of widget ALL with a unique look, style, and control, and function, then they might see an area where they can fit in, and expand the gallery. Very good and much right words. The only one thing makes me sad. These words could say somebody from SD or WC...
Step by step we found what's necessary to do in the nearest future. Let's try to move DX on the next level and prove that not only "clocks" and "weathers" may be created with this software. Then let's see the results. In the last resort we will be able follow Martin, Tiggs and some other people...
To MySecret:
Big Thanks. I'll begin work on articles after the main project which I make now will be finished.