WinCustomize Subscription Drive: Day 5
Features and the future continued..
Wednesday, October 5, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
As we near the end of Day 5 of the WinCustomize subscription drive it looks like we'll be at just over 200 by the end of the day. This means we'll be a little off-par for the month to make our 2000 new/renewed subscriber goal.
Earlier, we talked about the incredible WinCustomize direct-browser and the system tray applet that users get when they subscribe. These programs provide the ultimate way to access the gigs of content, posts, etc. that are on WinCustomize.
Another cool feature that will be coming up in the coming months will be exclusive WinCustomize subscriber skins. We'll be releasing skins, themes, icons, wallpapers, etc. that will be only available to subscribers for 60 days. Skin authors with Master access or higher will initially be able to release skins in this fashion as well. Top skins based on subscriber downloads will be what is used to determine uploads so that skinners who choose to make use of that feature won't be punished. Eventually, we hope to enable skinners to be subscriber-affiliates, that is, users who subscribe from their particular skin will get a 20% royalty on that skin once a base # of subscriptions are collected.
Stay tuned!
Floodguy
Reply #2 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 8:30 PM
Reply #2 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 8:30 PM
Hi,
what does this mean for actual subscribers? Is my subscription no longer valid (I'm not sure, but I don't think, it's expiring that soon yet)? Or do I have to renew my subscription? Also, I always thought, the subscription will be renewed automatically!?!
what does this mean for actual subscribers? Is my subscription no longer valid (I'm not sure, but I don't think, it's expiring that soon yet)? Or do I have to renew my subscription? Also, I always thought, the subscription will be renewed automatically!?!
Frogboy
Reply #3 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 9:50 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 9:50 PM
Your subscription is still valid. Subscriptions don't auto-renew though.
Skarny
Reply #4 Thursday, October 6, 2005 4:53 AM
Reply #4 Thursday, October 6, 2005 4:53 AM
what does it mean by 'we'll release' and 'only available for 60 days'? is that skins created by the wincustomize owners(whoever that is) or by skinners who you approach and ask to create for you and they will only be made available for 60 days and then vanish? or do they then enter the normal download realms? is it a sort of midway between premium skins and free skins, where only subscribers to wincustomize can download them?
Will it be purely voluntary if a skin is made free or 'subscriber only'? or do the wincustomize staff decide this (as part of the bit you can tick where it is possible skins created for free by authors may be used in non-free products in the future?)
I also don't understand "Top skins based on subscriber downloads will be what is used to determine uploads so that skinners who choose to make use of that feature won't be punished."
What 'uploads' are determined by top skin downloads? and what 'punishing' is being referred to here? Does it refer to if you partake in the 60 day only skin for subscribers something bad is expected might happen from community etc?
These aren't criticisms, I just dont understand what has been written, and thus what is being suggested might happen
It could be a really good idea i just don't 'get it' yet 
Will it be purely voluntary if a skin is made free or 'subscriber only'? or do the wincustomize staff decide this (as part of the bit you can tick where it is possible skins created for free by authors may be used in non-free products in the future?)
I also don't understand "Top skins based on subscriber downloads will be what is used to determine uploads so that skinners who choose to make use of that feature won't be punished."
What 'uploads' are determined by top skin downloads? and what 'punishing' is being referred to here? Does it refer to if you partake in the 60 day only skin for subscribers something bad is expected might happen from community etc?
These aren't criticisms, I just dont understand what has been written, and thus what is being suggested might happen
It could be a really good idea i just don't 'get it' yet 
Gollums
Reply #6 Thursday, October 6, 2005 3:01 PM
Reply #6 Thursday, October 6, 2005 3:01 PM
The only problem that I have using the Wincustomize browser is that even when I force it to scan for updates, it still doesn't seem like the newest, latest and greatest skins show up in the list. When you update software, like WB5, or when DX3 came out, I like to see what authors are doing with the new features, so having the newest ones show up in the list becomes kind of important. So I find myself often just coming to the web-site. If there is something I am doing wrong, or if this could be fixed, I would use the browser more often. The ability to apply the skin right from the same app is a definate plus! Just wish it let me see the latest stuff.
ADD -
oh, and I don't use the tray app because I use OD+ and don't really like having the normal bar across the bottom of my screen. If I don't ever see / need my system tray, I'm not going to launch an app that runs there!
ADD -
oh, and I don't use the tray app because I use OD+ and don't really like having the normal bar across the bottom of my screen. If I don't ever see / need my system tray, I'm not going to launch an app that runs there!
rmccabe916
Reply #8 Friday, October 7, 2005 5:10 PM
Reply #8 Friday, October 7, 2005 5:10 PM
I agree with Skarnivorous. I am a little confused as well.
iseekserendipity
Reply #9 Sunday, October 9, 2005 8:39 AM
Reply #9 Sunday, October 9, 2005 8:39 AM
i had to say, i just got my subscription, and i'm so happy i could die! mind you, when i saw the download size of the natural desktop, i did nearly die (42 mb! i have a dialup!) but i know there's no way it will get to me if i order it on cd - madagascar, where mail can sometimes get lost! sigh -.
so far, besides the no-banner thing, i haven't noticed any big changes in the wincustomize site (still downloading the browser). but i figure it may be set to normal for now so that i can customize the layout? whichever way, i'm already planning to renew my subscription before the end of next week. that way i hope the site has a load of funds available to boost services and possibilities, and hence encourage even more users to register and all without the need for a drive (that's the way i see it at least).
question: where do i get all the choice of smilies some use? is it a wincustomize thing, or just a per user thing?
mind you, when i saw the download size of the natural desktop, i did nearly die (42 mb! i have a dialup!) but i know there's no way it will get to me if i order it on cd - madagascar, where mail can sometimes get lost! sigh -.so far, besides the no-banner thing, i haven't noticed any big changes in the wincustomize site (still downloading the browser). but i figure it may be set to normal for now so that i can customize the layout? whichever way, i'm already planning to renew my subscription before the end of next week. that way i hope the site has a load of funds available to boost services and possibilities, and hence encourage even more users to register and all without the need for a drive (that's the way i see it at least).
question: where do i get all the choice of smilies some use? is it a wincustomize thing, or just a per user thing?
bazokajoe_2k
Reply #10 Sunday, October 9, 2005 11:42 AM
Reply #10 Sunday, October 9, 2005 11:42 AM
I subscribed the other day, and all I can say is that the full version of the WinCustomize Browser is worth every penny. One suggestion though: Somehow incorporate the Theme Manager into the Wincustomize Browser. That way you could aquire and manage all your themes in one program.
So far though, subscription definately worth it!
So far though, subscription definately worth it!
iseekserendipity
Reply #12 Monday, October 10, 2005 6:59 PM
agree completely! i'm in heaven!
Reply #12 Monday, October 10, 2005 6:59 PM
| I subscribed the other day, and all I can say is that the full version of the WinCustomize Browser is worth every penny |
agree completely! i'm in heaven!
lynnyf
Reply #13 Thursday, October 13, 2005 11:04 AM
Reply #13 Thursday, October 13, 2005 11:04 AM
This is strange, I went to renew my subscription (even though it does not expire until December) and when I went to check out the screen had two lines - one line had the renewal for $19.95; the next line had just Wincustomize subscription for ANOTHER $19.95 which totaled $39.90. There was no way for me to delete the extra subscription so I could not go through with my renewal. I wrote to [email protected] -- but is that the correct place to contact? I really want to renew and don't understand why it is charging me double. 
Hapkido
Reply #14 Saturday, October 15, 2005 3:20 PM
Reply #14 Saturday, October 15, 2005 3:20 PM
I'm a new first-time subscriber and have a couple of comments:
1) Perhaps it's me, but I don't see "Progress Animations" in the tree on the left. I have to use my browser and visit wincustomize to check on this item. Why aren't these included?
2) I noticed sometimes when clicking on an item on the left, e.g., "News/Web Browser", something totally unrelated is displayed. A few minutes ago, when I clicked on that icon/link, the comments for the Skape WB skin was displayed??
Otherwise, I really like the WinCustomize Browser, which I subscribed to in order to support WinCustomize.
1) Perhaps it's me, but I don't see "Progress Animations" in the tree on the left. I have to use my browser and visit wincustomize to check on this item. Why aren't these included?
2) I noticed sometimes when clicking on an item on the left, e.g., "News/Web Browser", something totally unrelated is displayed. A few minutes ago, when I clicked on that icon/link, the comments for the Skape WB skin was displayed??
Otherwise, I really like the WinCustomize Browser, which I subscribed to in order to support WinCustomize.
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Reply #1 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 8:28 PM