What section(s) should WinCustomize add next?
Wednesday, October 22, 2003 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
For the past two weeks we've conducted a poll to see what you guys would like to see added to the site. Here are the result after over 2,000 votes cast:
#1 Boot Screens got 38% of the vote
#2 Toolbar icons got 22% of the vote
#3 Trillian skins got 15% of the vote
#4 Rainlendar got 13% of the vote
#5 "Something else" got 9% of the vote
#6 Samurize got 3% of the vote
With that in mind, next month we'll be adding a toolbar icon section. The toolbar icon format will be WindowBlinds 3.2's new toolbar icon feature due out at the beginning of next month (already in beta if you have Object Desktop).
For XP boot screens, the problem that has been discussed previously is that all boot screen programs currently out either require distributing the Windows XP kernel or running a program that patches the Windows XP kernel. In both instances, Microsoft has made it clear to us that they do not approve of such a thing and in fact when SP2 comes out there may be significant problems in applying it (not a problem for experts but for casual users that would be a problem).
To solve this Stardock is working on a freeware boot program that replaces the boot screen by installing a driver that gets loaded and can display a boot screen without touching the Windows XP kernel. The advantage of that is that in the long term other features (such as SVGA support, animations, etc.) can be added to them. We should hopefully have this available to download within a week (fingers crossed).
So there you have it. 2 new sections are planned for next month. We also will look at adding a Trillian section once we talk more with them.
Reply #3 Wednesday, October 22, 2003 2:03 AM
You guys are just awesome!!!
Reply #4 Wednesday, October 22, 2003 4:45 AM
Reply #6 Wednesday, October 22, 2003 5:47 AM
Reply #9 Wednesday, October 22, 2003 5:22 PM
Even though I haven't been too thrilled about boot screens, certainly if the program does as Stardock claims, it sounds like a easy thing to add and change just one more thing with windows.
I'm not so sure how much I'll use the toolbar icons since I use Firebird and AFAIK this is about IE/Explorer .
Reply #10 Wednesday, October 22, 2003 7:18 PM
obviously people want them!
Reply #11 Thursday, October 23, 2003 1:06 AM
i have to buy a whole new licenece to get new products in november even though the one i bought doesn't expire till april next year?
i seem to recall it saying that it entitles me to /all/ upgrades during that one year.
Reply #12 Thursday, October 23, 2003 1:16 AM
Reply #14 Thursday, October 23, 2003 10:14 AM
I think my subscription ends in Jan. of 2004. I will be re-subscribing! I can't believe that people complain about having to pay for licenses on this site. Every once in awhile I see a complaint about the cost of something. (Or people jumping to conclusions without even reading the info.about what they have purchased.) Hellooooo! The cost is very minimal for the software that you receive, the help that is available everywhere on this site, the constructive criticism, the countless free "items" such as windowblinds designed by extremely competent persons who share it at no cost (even though they spent tens of hours designing it,) icons, beautifully inspired wallpapers, technically difficult objects to render, etc. There are even tutorials offered...do you know what it would cost to take a college course for one of these "tutorials"?! And believe me, the people on this site do a better job of explaining it :0)
Besides even that, if the answer in not described here, you are usually directed to a site that will provide the answer/detailed information for you.
I for one, feel that I get way more than I pay for. I check out the "other" websites from time to time and I always come back to WinCustomize because of the quality of the work, the constant updating, and the ease of site navigation (Sorry Deviant Art, but there is TOO MUCH HAPPENING on every page of yours that I navigate through...it's frustrating.) Not only does this site offer clean navigation, it offers "citizens" the oportunity to customize the way that you view the site. (I use the silver PIXTUDIO look.) I have never had trouble finding anything on this website and that says a lot!
Looking forward to the new additions...I'll shut up now before you jack up the subscription prices!
Reply #15 Thursday, October 23, 2003 7:33 PM
Reply #16 Friday, October 24, 2003 12:27 AM
Anyway, just my opinion. Seems having this toy will keep hardware manufactures in business for a while cause everyone will want to boot their computer a bizillion times a day to see the screen.
I would have prefered... and voted on the lines of having trillian or rainlender skins catagorized instead.
Reply #17 Friday, October 24, 2003 10:34 AM
Reply #18 Friday, October 24, 2003 9:33 PM
...Leo the Lion, myself and others support Rainlendar skins and if you browse the Screenshot section you will see that alot of users are using Rainlendar skins. SS Goku is one of the talented people who make Rainlendar skins and im sure he would love to see a category for Rainlendars. As for Boot Screens....i will tell you that they are a big problem because it messes with your Windows kernel and overrides the default boot screen. My computer has locked up twice due to this problem and i came close to losing all my data on my hard drive. I mean whats the point really in having a boot screen....most of us dont pay much attention to the pc when its rebooting and it only lasts like a minute so why mess with it. Just throwing my 10 cents worth in. Thanks!
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Reply #1 Wednesday, October 22, 2003 12:16 AM