Poll Results: Cell Phone Themes

That didn't come out how I expected

Monday, March 10, 2008 by Zoomba | Discussion: WinCustomize News

Polls are interesting things.  Sometimes you ask what you think is a no-brainer, a question that could only have one reasonable outcome, but then you're surprised when it turns out to be the exact opposite.  Last week's poll worked just like that.

Last week I asked if users would like to see WinCustomize add a cell phone theme gallery to the offering.  My expectation was that everyone would be up for more customizable content on the site.  More skins = more users and that's good right?  Evidently I was wrong though as the poll came out 56 to 44% against the new gallery.  This is especially surprising considering the conversation on the thread supporting the poll with users generally being positive towards the idea.

Either way, the poll sparked a good debate and was one of our most voted on polls in ages, so it seems the idea at least got people excited enough to vote when they normally wouldn't.

Here's the graph...

For those who voted against, I'd be interested in hearing your reasons why.

54 Reply 12 Referrals
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TheMasterBaron
Reply #21 Monday, March 10, 2008 3:04 PM
The problem is that your asking people who come to this site for the things that are already here so your results are going to be biased. There is a solid reason to have this gallery and the results of the poll don't change that. I don't recall voting on whether MY COLORS was a good idea.

ALMonty
Reply #22 Monday, March 10, 2008 3:08 PM
As I said in post #12 there is only a limited number of phones that you can customize. That might be why the poll went that way. I could be wrong and I usually am BUT I would like to see a list of the phones that you can customize.

Philly0381
Reply #23 Monday, March 10, 2008 4:30 PM
Zubaz, you have hit me square on the back of the head.   

That is exactly how I voted, I wouldn't use cell phone themes, hence why would I want a gallery library for them. Yea, rather selfish attitude I would now admit. It doesn't take into account the broader picture of keeping customizing current and relevent to new devices coming on the market. Plus if I don't use a particular customizing capability I can just not look at the skins.

Would you look at that, I'm wearing one black and one white sock!!!      


ZubaZ
Reply #24 Monday, March 10, 2008 4:35 PM
ZubaZ huggles philly for being a good bloke  . . no matter what craziness he may spew. 
The problem is that your asking people who come to this site for the things that are already here so your results are going to be biased.
He's right Zoomba, we need to find a way to poll everyone on the internet that DEOESN't come to the site.    

Philly0381
Reply #25 Monday, March 10, 2008 4:47 PM
He's right Zoomba, we need to find a way to poll everyone on the internet that DEOESN't come to the site.


What?       

HG_Eliminator
Reply #26 Monday, March 10, 2008 5:01 PM
As Phone skinning becomes more prevalent ( and it will, the demand for personalization drove MFG's to support wallpapers Etc on phones) there will be a need for a place to get them. I think WC would benefit from this traffic as well as bring another skinable item in to the fold. WC currently hosts many non SD customizing applications, which have added new faces and ideas to the community at large over the years.



I like my new Chocolate and Apparently it is skinable.    I used to be one who only wanted the basics in a phone. But now with there being only a few decent basic phones around and skinning of them on the rise, I want to be able to skin it and get away from the boring few themes they offer as the defaults. 

Zoomba
Reply #27 Monday, March 10, 2008 5:19 PM

By the way, I don't mean to imply that the vote for "No" was the wrong one, merely that I was surprised and didn't entirely understand it.  I was seeking clarification and explanation.

As to polling people on the site for what they'd like added to the site... seems perfectly reasonable to me.  People here visit many different websites for different content.  I'd like to make WC the place they come for most, if not all of it over time.  So I ask the current audience what would be a good value add to the site in terms of galleries.   Now though I know that if I add a Cell Phone Themes gallery to the site, it will partially be to service existing members (44%), but largely as an effort to attract a completely new crowd.

Every poll I take regarding site expansion and policy is very helpful in letting me know how such changes will impact both the existing community, and how it will play to draw in new users.  The results help advise me on my plans for future additions and changes to the site. 

The name of the game is growth.  Bigger, better community serving more users, more skins, more skinners, better features.  So I try and find the path that gives the community what it wants, and is attractive to new users.


Bash2cool
Reply #28 Monday, March 10, 2008 5:34 PM
I think cell phone themes would have been a good idea but looking at the site and its name, i think it would have been better to make a section for Windows mobile themes. i mean this is WINcustomize so it would make sense to only skin things windows related and since windows mobile is windows related, it should be skinned. I think the Pocket PC section should be changed to Windows mobile section.

JanOscar
Reply #29 Monday, March 10, 2008 7:13 PM
Adding a cell phone gallery doesn't mean we'd be releasing an application to handle it.
An application to handle it is not an issue here, but what about the bandwidth? Seems to me that Wincustomize already has the amount of visitors they can handle - at least based on my experience visiting the site. I rarely rate skins and/or leave comments here anymore, simply beacause it takes too long and more galleries sure won't speed things up. What's next - car customization? Now THAT would bring new users to the site AND the BIG $$...

Fairyy~
Reply #30 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 7:55 AM
While Im not opposed to cell phone Themes - I don't care what my cell phone looks like either. I only hold it against my ear so I dont think my ear cares what wallpaper in in the little square. So many galleries that already exist are not given much attention... So if you do implement cell phones themes is it going to be a repeat of Xion skins ? With a cell phone theme being featured 5 times a week until Im cell phoned to death ?

ZubaZ
Reply #31 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 9:01 AM
So if you do implement cell phones themes is it going to be a repeat of Xion skins ? With a cell phone theme being featured 5 times a week until Im cell phoned to death ?
I would guess that as with most launches there's a significant amount of attention given that levels off after a bit.  With as many members as WC has (who unlike me may not be here 18 hours a day) a longer launch makes sure they are aware that something new is going on.

Like Xion (and soundpackager, and dreams, etc), I'd guess it'll level off.

Fairyy~
Reply #32 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 8:03 AM
An application to handle it is not an issue here, but what about the bandwidth? Seems to me that Wincustomize already has the amount of visitors they can handle - at least based on my experience visiting the site. I rarely rate skins and/or leave comments here anymore, simply beacause it takes too long and more galleries sure won't speed things up. What's next - car customization? Now THAT would bring new users to the site AND the BIG $$...
Do you really want all the bandwidth used up by kids under the credit card age that aren't going to be spending money here ? I really think that is what you will attract with Cell Phone Themes. You might get the young ' 20's ' crowd too. If the site can handle the extra crowd then go for it...but seems to me it might bite you in the foot if paying customers can't get a page to load. God knows I have to stand on my head when purchasing items here as it is.

Fairyy~
Reply #33 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 8:07 AM
I would guess that as with most launches there's a significant amount of attention given that levels off after a bit. With as many members as WC has (who unlike me may not be here 18 hours a day) a longer launch makes sure they are aware that something new is going on.

Like Xion (and soundpackager, and dreams, etc), I'd guess it'll level off.
Did Xion bring in any 'buying' customers ? From what I saw - most Xion d/loads were pretty low and stayed pretty average with the exception of a few skins.

Jafo
Reply #34 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 9:22 AM

56% vs 44% is not particularly earth-shattering either way.  In real terms it can be as insignificant as 14 to 11 people voting.

A discrepancy of 3 isn't going to change the world...

It's one of the issues with statistics [and damn lies]....they have to be quite dramatic to be genuinely relevant....one way or another.

If those 25 [minimum to get those %'s] voted 22 for and 3 against...then you may infer something tangible....

Perhaps what can be read into such an average sort of result is that the wrong group was asked....so there was no strong reaction...either way....and that can simply mean that those most likely to want to skin cell [mobile] phones are NOT the same group of people here already....the ones who DO like to skin their Computer OS...


Jafo
Reply #35 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 10:21 AM

Then there's the question of....

'the question'.

Polls are famous [especially election time] for being as slanted as the desired outcome.

Questions that are real trouble like...

"Do I look fat in this?"

"Are you still beating your wife?"

....get you no-where [at least not with your manhood still intact].

Like "Cat, or Dog?" .....simple enough...which pet do you prefer?

But "Cutie widdle fluffy kitten, or slavering, rabid, bloodthirsty hound?" ....maybe a wee bit slanted.

The poll here relating to possible popularity for a Phone skinnables gallery on Wincustomize....probably got a bit wobbly due to confusion or lack of clarity about what it might entail.

I wonder what the poll result would look like if it were worded....

"Attraction of new skinners and expansion of public awarness for Wincustomize.com through the addition of cell phone skinning galleries.....Good or Bad?" ...


Fairyy~
Reply #36 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 5:28 AM
I wonder what the poll result would look like if it were worded....

"Attraction of new skinners and expansion of public awarness for Wincustomize.com through the addition of cell phone skinning galleries.....Good or Bad?" ..
But...the reality of it all is the polls outcome have no bearing on what will actually happen. If Stardock wants a Cell Phone gallery - then thats what will happen. If Stardock is looking to bring in more customers that might want to spend money then why not attempt to drawn more female customers/skinners to the site? I have said it many times - women have money too...and we arent afraid to spend it on silly stuff like skins and programs that others thing are pointless. A woman stumbling onto this site might only see the front page. Most women coming here will probably only look in the wallpaper gallery....with the exception of the few that know a few female skins are available. When was the last time a ' female ' type windowblind was the featured skin ? Its been so long even I don't remember...

Landriders7th
Reply #37 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:20 PM
hmmm........I wounder if thats ture. but still add that feacture anyways, make work on all cells: it dont matter. I was thinking of making an OS that works with most cell phones and it dont use sever. the kind of OS will be alot like a computer with the same old useage of phone calling with no need of seveice: unless you want to. I hope the idea will be past on cuz that will be somthing everyone wants maybe idk. but still add it anyways I'll take it

KarmaGirl
Reply #38 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 1:59 PM

If Stardock is looking to bring in more customers that might want to spend money then why not attempt to drawn more female customers/skinners to the site? I have said it many times - women have money too...and we arent afraid to spend it on silly stuff like skins and programs that others thing are pointless. A woman stumbling onto this site might only see the front page. Most women coming here will probably only look in the wallpaper gallery....with the exception of the few that know a few female skins are available. When was the last time a ' female ' type windowblind was the featured skin ? Its been so long even I don't remember...

First, this is WC, not "Stardock".  Second, we feature what is good.  If there is an outstanding skin (no matter who it appeals to) then it gets featured.  Not all females like "girly" crap, anyway.  Most of the stuff that I have seen that is intended to appeal to females makes me shudder.  I use my computer all day long, the last thing I want to stare at is frilly, girly or other stuff that most people see as "feminine".

We try to appeal to the general masses.  Deciding to feature stuff just because we think it would appeal to a certain group would be wrong.  If people want feminine stuff featured, then they have to make high quality feminine skins that can compete with the other submissions.  If they are as good as the other things we feature, then they won't be featured.


killajosh
Reply #39 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 1:45 PM
Do you really want all the bandwidth used up by kids under the credit card age that aren't going to be spending money here ? I really think that is what you will attract with Cell Phone Themes. You might get the young ' 20's ' crowd too. If the site can handle the extra crowd then go for it...but seems to me it might bite you in the foot if paying customers can't get a page to load. God knows I have to stand on my head when purchasing items here as it is.
Fairyy~, from what I understand most of the people who dl skins from this site aren't paying members anyway. We (subscribers) are footing the bill as is (along with the ads you see if you're not subscribed). WC is going to draw people who don't pay because everyone loves freebies. Most people are more than happy to freeload 500mb of skins. That's a lot of skins. Sure, you may attract more freeloaders (may, hell...it WILL) but you also spread the word about WC and in the process find more people who ARE willing to purchase a WC subscription. As an added bonus, you also attract new skinners and give the "seasoned" skinners a new gallery to work with. It's a trade off, that's for certain. But if a site isn't willing to grow, expand its horizons, then you run the risk of it becoming stagnant. Growth always comes with a cost, and I guess it just boils down to weighing the risks and benefits.....

killajosh
Reply #40 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 1:46 PM
Hey. My paragraphs disappeared.......  

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