xpthemes
Friday, December 6, 2002 by jark | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
what exactly is xpthemes.net and how is it affiliated with stardock and wincustomize? i was under the impression that when i submitted my work to wincustomize that it was solely available on wincustomize and not some other archaic websites that are run by stardock, which they would rather not announce to the community.
did anyone else know that their work is up on xpthemes.net or am i the only clueless one here? >
did anyone else know that their work is up on xpthemes.net or am i the only clueless one here? >
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Aqua.
Reply #23 Friday, December 6, 2002 10:19 PM
Reply #23 Friday, December 6, 2002 10:19 PM
I don't mind the XP look, but it was poorly implemented.
It was the poor implementation I was referring to. While I'm not fond of the XP look, I'm not counting it against them when I refer to the poor design.
It was the poor implementation I was referring to. While I'm not fond of the XP look, I'm not counting it against them when I refer to the poor design.
joetheblow
Reply #24 Saturday, December 7, 2002 1:51 AM
Reply #24 Saturday, December 7, 2002 1:51 AM
hmmmmm.... I don't mind it to much myself, BUT it should be noted when uploading that it will be or possibly used as a "show peice" on another site called "www.xpthemes.com". While I am not specifically offended by this I am concerned about others and them not knowing what is going on.
New talent should be important to skinning site and making them feel uncomfortable by posting work on other sites should be explained even if it is really just a technicality.
I do think it chould be noted in the future in the upload section. It doesn't have to be a super announcement, but it should be readable when uploading.
For me, no big deal... at least for now.
New talent should be important to skinning site and making them feel uncomfortable by posting work on other sites should be explained even if it is really just a technicality.
I do think it chould be noted in the future in the upload section. It doesn't have to be a super announcement, but it should be readable when uploading.
For me, no big deal... at least for now.
Jafo
Reply #25 Saturday, December 7, 2002 2:08 AM
Reply #25 Saturday, December 7, 2002 2:08 AM
I'm sur FrogBoy will be along shortly to explain where we're at with regards to this alternate 'site'.
As I recall it was 'mooted' but hadn't formally been put into play.
Needless to say, the rights of the individual skinner/uploader will be protected and public notification/clarification will be forth-coming.
Please remember that Wincustomize.com and its crew are 'in the game' and in no way would they/we jeopardize their good standing with something at odds with proper protocol.
My guess is that the site 'got noticed' before it was due for airing...
As I recall it was 'mooted' but hadn't formally been put into play.
Needless to say, the rights of the individual skinner/uploader will be protected and public notification/clarification will be forth-coming.
Please remember that Wincustomize.com and its crew are 'in the game' and in no way would they/we jeopardize their good standing with something at odds with proper protocol.
My guess is that the site 'got noticed' before it was due for airing...
joetheblow
Reply #27 Saturday, December 7, 2002 2:43 AM
Reply #27 Saturday, December 7, 2002 2:43 AM
I looked at the "www.xpthemes.com" and I have to say 
. It looks crappy. The posts do not have descriptions or anything. I am glad the ratings are not there but where are the comments?
The site basically, just looks like it is a test site. I can see it being more XP like in the future using some scripts and stuff (like a start menu dropdown and a start bar of sorts).
It seems though, that the site is not too offensive and plain enough that someone would not be too mad if their work would be on it. (it is not p0rn or selling stuff out of the ordinary) The work does get more exposure and explains why people get high downloads or downloads days after uploading.
The site is also much faster and doesn't have all the add ons like message boards, upload areas, account junk, you know the stuff we love and can't do without here; But there it would be a burden.
Well, I think it is a good idea, though I wonder why that could not be impleneted here. Then again names are important and xpthemes probably goes over better than wincustomize.
You know I always thought Micro$oft owned that site.
. It looks crappy. The posts do not have descriptions or anything. I am glad the ratings are not there but where are the comments? The site basically, just looks like it is a test site. I can see it being more XP like in the future using some scripts and stuff (like a start menu dropdown and a start bar of sorts).
It seems though, that the site is not too offensive and plain enough that someone would not be too mad if their work would be on it. (it is not p0rn or selling stuff out of the ordinary) The work does get more exposure and explains why people get high downloads or downloads days after uploading.
The site is also much faster and doesn't have all the add ons like message boards, upload areas, account junk, you know the stuff we love and can't do without here; But there it would be a burden.
Well, I think it is a good idea, though I wonder why that could not be impleneted here. Then again names are important and xpthemes probably goes over better than wincustomize.
You know I always thought Micro$oft owned that site.
joetheblow
Reply #28 Saturday, December 7, 2002 2:45 AM
Reply #28 Saturday, December 7, 2002 2:45 AM
BTW, while I think it is a good idea, I still think it should be noted that when uploading it can possibly be shown there.
adni18
Reply #29 Saturday, December 7, 2002 3:43 AM
Reply #29 Saturday, December 7, 2002 3:43 AM
Is it the same site, that was having a lot of rips from WinCustomize authors???
Is it the same site, that Jafo has e-mail them, some time ago, about the rips???
I am confused about it, I don't understand what is really going on with this case!
Is it a secret, that the people and the authors doesn't have to know about it?
I am wondering why we don't have any official answer about it...
Is it the same site, that Jafo has e-mail them, some time ago, about the rips???
I am confused about it, I don't understand what is really going on with this case!
Is it a secret, that the people and the authors doesn't have to know about it?
I am wondering why we don't have any official answer about it...
adni18
Reply #30 Saturday, December 7, 2002 4:01 AM
Reply #30 Saturday, December 7, 2002 4:01 AM
I wrote this message without have seen xpthemes site.
So, ignore my last post, I thought that it was, maybe, themesxp.
It is obvious Stardock, a new WinCustomize, with fewer options and statistics and a new popular name, very clever!
I still don't understand the reason about it
So, ignore my last post, I thought that it was, maybe, themesxp.
It is obvious Stardock, a new WinCustomize, with fewer options and statistics and a new popular name, very clever!
I still don't understand the reason about it
Jafo
Reply #31 Saturday, December 7, 2002 7:02 AM
Reply #31 Saturday, December 7, 2002 7:02 AM
Adni...it is NOT the one I sent emails to, etc.
This is specifically the same database as Wincusto...but will be aimed at XP-centric users, rather than the skinners who frequent Wincusto...
This is specifically the same database as Wincusto...but will be aimed at XP-centric users, rather than the skinners who frequent Wincusto...
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #32 Saturday, December 7, 2002 7:55 AM
Reply #32 Saturday, December 7, 2002 7:55 AM
I had no idea this site existed or my work was on it. Having looked at the site I don't mind, it looks ok to me. It would have been nice to be told what was happening though. An explanation of what is going on wouldn't go amiss.
adni18
Reply #33 Saturday, December 7, 2002 8:40 AM
Reply #33 Saturday, December 7, 2002 8:40 AM
Yes, I KNOW Paul , I have all ready said to ignore my first post.
But, I still don't get it, what means "XP-centric" users, the majority of the people are XP-centric, if the leave from here, WinCustomize will be a very small site. I just don't get the intentions behind this.
, I have all ready said to ignore my first post.But, I still don't get it, what means "XP-centric" users, the majority of the people are XP-centric, if the leave from here, WinCustomize will be a very small site. I just don't get the intentions behind this.
Jafo
Reply #34 Saturday, December 7, 2002 8:49 AM
Reply #34 Saturday, December 7, 2002 8:49 AM
There are a lot of users who have discovered 'skinning' since getting into XP....because XP has more 'capacity' to be skinned...styleXP, etc.
Not very many people are aware or even care that Win 3.11 could be 'shelled' and 'skinned' to look like Win 9x or 2000....or that Win 9x / ME also could be modded...but they have found that XP does...it's a 'new' bunch of people/users which 'may' need treating 'differently'.
It's quite valid to remember that there will be Computer users who know nothing of OS's prior to XP. Time marches on....
Not very many people are aware or even care that Win 3.11 could be 'shelled' and 'skinned' to look like Win 9x or 2000....or that Win 9x / ME also could be modded...but they have found that XP does...it's a 'new' bunch of people/users which 'may' need treating 'differently'.
It's quite valid to remember that there will be Computer users who know nothing of OS's prior to XP. Time marches on....
adni18
Reply #35 Saturday, December 7, 2002 9:00 AM
Reply #35 Saturday, December 7, 2002 9:00 AM
I understand that Paul, but do you think that those new people don't belong here in WinCustomize and they must go to another site?
By the way, I didn't saw any difference in the upload contents of xptheme site and WinCustomize.
By the way, I didn't saw any difference in the upload contents of xptheme site and WinCustomize.
Frogboy
Reply #36 Saturday, December 7, 2002 10:24 AM
Reply #36 Saturday, December 7, 2002 10:24 AM
xpthemes.com IS wincustomize.com.
If you go to www.wincustomize.org it has the same skins too.
xpthemes.com is a work in progress, the idea is to provide the XP oriented content of WinCustomize.com is a more simplified way for casual XP users. But we haven't had enough resources to complete it.
If you go to www.wincustomize.org it has the same skins too.
xpthemes.com is a work in progress, the idea is to provide the XP oriented content of WinCustomize.com is a more simplified way for casual XP users. But we haven't had enough resources to complete it.
bakerstreet
Reply #37 Saturday, December 7, 2002 2:40 PM
Reply #37 Saturday, December 7, 2002 2:40 PM
If there isn't enough notification, perhaps WinCusomize/XPThemes should refer to Deviantart's submission agreement ( http://www.deviantart.com/policy/submission/ ), which has gone to great lengths to prepare the uploader for many, many unforseen options. Here is part of one section of their upload agreement, I have added line breaks for easier reading *cough*:
3. License to Use Artist Materials.
Artist hereby grants to deviantART a worldwide, royalty-free non-exclusive license to do the following things during the Term:
a) to prepare and encode Artist Materials, or any portion thereof for digital transmission, manipulation and exhibition in any format and by any means now known or hereafter devised;
(
to display, copy, reproduce, exhibit, publicly perform, broadcast, rebroadcast, transmit, retransmit, distribute through any electronic means (including analog and digital), and electronically publish any or all of the Artist Materials, including any portion thereof, and to include them in compilations for such purposes, by any and all means and media now known or hereafter devised (for avoidance of doubt, the rights granted to deviantART hereunder include the rights to make Artist Materials available on deviantART Site(s) and/or third-party websites);
(c) to modify, adapt, change or otherwise alter the Artist Materials (e.g., change the size); and
(d) the right to sublicense to any third party the Artist Materials or any part or element thereof subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Artist hereby disclaims any and all right, title, or interest in any and all material with which Artist Materials may be combined or into which all or any portion of Artist Materials may be incorporated. As used in this Agreement, the term "Artist Materials" means Artist's name(s) (including professional names), trademarks, trade names, likenesses, photographs, biographical materials, artwork, liner notes, and other graphical or textual materials that Artist uploads to deviantART, and any and all "skins," computer-generated images or other artwork or images that Artist submits to deviantART.
Perhaps Wincustomize has failed a bit in the notification, bur Devart has reserved the right to do the same thing (and perhaps much, much more...). Deskmod has similar statements as well. As skin sites spin-off derivative, more overtly for-profit sites, this will become a larger issue. I had to ponder really, really hard before I uploaded to Devart based upon both the text above and under the 'names and likenesses' section. Anyone who hasn't read the upload agreements on *all* sites, should.
P.S.
Regardless, I am cool with both sites, or I wouldn't have uploaded to either of them. I have to say, though, I am almost more comfortable with sites that allow me the luxury of legal recourse, than those who build their submission agreement so dense and exhaustive that there is no hope for the average person (much less the average 14 year old) to comprehend what rights remain.
3. License to Use Artist Materials.
Artist hereby grants to deviantART a worldwide, royalty-free non-exclusive license to do the following things during the Term:
a) to prepare and encode Artist Materials, or any portion thereof for digital transmission, manipulation and exhibition in any format and by any means now known or hereafter devised;
(
to display, copy, reproduce, exhibit, publicly perform, broadcast, rebroadcast, transmit, retransmit, distribute through any electronic means (including analog and digital), and electronically publish any or all of the Artist Materials, including any portion thereof, and to include them in compilations for such purposes, by any and all means and media now known or hereafter devised (for avoidance of doubt, the rights granted to deviantART hereunder include the rights to make Artist Materials available on deviantART Site(s) and/or third-party websites);(c) to modify, adapt, change or otherwise alter the Artist Materials (e.g., change the size); and
(d) the right to sublicense to any third party the Artist Materials or any part or element thereof subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Artist hereby disclaims any and all right, title, or interest in any and all material with which Artist Materials may be combined or into which all or any portion of Artist Materials may be incorporated. As used in this Agreement, the term "Artist Materials" means Artist's name(s) (including professional names), trademarks, trade names, likenesses, photographs, biographical materials, artwork, liner notes, and other graphical or textual materials that Artist uploads to deviantART, and any and all "skins," computer-generated images or other artwork or images that Artist submits to deviantART.
Perhaps Wincustomize has failed a bit in the notification, bur Devart has reserved the right to do the same thing (and perhaps much, much more...). Deskmod has similar statements as well. As skin sites spin-off derivative, more overtly for-profit sites, this will become a larger issue. I had to ponder really, really hard before I uploaded to Devart based upon both the text above and under the 'names and likenesses' section. Anyone who hasn't read the upload agreements on *all* sites, should.
P.S.
Regardless, I am cool with both sites, or I wouldn't have uploaded to either of them. I have to say, though, I am almost more comfortable with sites that allow me the luxury of legal recourse, than those who build their submission agreement so dense and exhaustive that there is no hope for the average person (much less the average 14 year old) to comprehend what rights remain.
adni18
Reply #38 Saturday, December 7, 2002 4:07 PM
Reply #38 Saturday, December 7, 2002 4:07 PM
What is the difference between
www.wincustomize.com
and
www.wincustomize.org???
2 sites with the same content!
What is the purpose?
I just like to learn, nothing else
www.wincustomize.com
and
www.wincustomize.org???
2 sites with the same content!
What is the purpose?
I just like to learn, nothing else
Frogboy
Reply #39 Saturday, December 7, 2002 4:26 PM
Reply #39 Saturday, December 7, 2002 4:26 PM
From a skin author's point of view the key is control (I think). If a skin author deletes their skin here, it automatically is deleted on xpthemes.com because, as I said, they are the same thing, same database. same files, same computer. etc.
I trust Jark and deviantART. But I must say, given the grief that people like Kenray and Shoggot gave us during the GUI Olympics, one has to wonder why they singled us out when our distribution requests are so much more restricted.
I trust Jark and deviantART. But I must say, given the grief that people like Kenray and Shoggot gave us during the GUI Olympics, one has to wonder why they singled us out when our distribution requests are so much more restricted.
davad70
Reply #40 Saturday, December 7, 2002 5:51 PM
Reply #40 Saturday, December 7, 2002 5:51 PM
Here are the only problems that I have with this mirror site.
First and foremost is the fact that hardly any of us knew that this site existed and that our skins were there. If it's all as innocent as we're now being led to believe, then why was there no announcement or anything when the site went up?
My other issue is that I know for a fact that on my most recent skin that I did not check the box giving Stardock license to include my work in other "compilations/libraries", yet that skin is right there on a site that I did not know existed.
I'm also not comfortable with the fact that my skins are being offered for download by users who don't have the option to leave comments/bug reports/feedback.
In general I don't have a problem with this, as long as I know that my skins are going to be used like this and that users have the opportunity to give feedback.
First and foremost is the fact that hardly any of us knew that this site existed and that our skins were there. If it's all as innocent as we're now being led to believe, then why was there no announcement or anything when the site went up?
My other issue is that I know for a fact that on my most recent skin that I did not check the box giving Stardock license to include my work in other "compilations/libraries", yet that skin is right there on a site that I did not know existed.
I'm also not comfortable with the fact that my skins are being offered for download by users who don't have the option to leave comments/bug reports/feedback.
In general I don't have a problem with this, as long as I know that my skins are going to be used like this and that users have the opportunity to give feedback.
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Reply #21 Friday, December 6, 2002 10:02 PM