New Website design (and other questions)

Very clean look, but flawed

https://www.stardock.com/products/mycolors/index.asp
from Stardock Forums

Ok, so the new look of the website is very fancy, with nice big previews of the icons and fancy example pictures for each of the themes. Full marks there for appearance.

Unfortunately, where it really falls down is being able to see at a glance if there is anything new. I'm generally only interested in seeing if there are any new Designs, or Free themes. On the old site, although there wasn't always a direct indication of a new theme being added, you could see that there was a new one by how the 5-columned table of themes was laid out. Now I have to scroll through the horizontal picker bar, and hope i spot a new name, not even knowing if there is a new one or not (at least with the old layout, I already knew something had been added/changed, so could be on the look out for the addition).

Secondly, where have the Free themes vanished to? Solved - They are on the Download page, but why would i normally go there if I already got MyColors via Impulse?

Thirdly, are those of us who extended our Object Desktop subscriptions ever going to get the 2-3 themes we were promised?

Fourth, could we please have update notes when themes are updated?

Fifth, could we please have a way to turn off all the advertising on the weather gadget, especially if we are Object Desktop users too. I already know about Stardock, I know how to get to your pages myself... I don't need the link thrown in my face every time i want to look at the extended forecast (ok, so Accuweather.com probably needs to be there as part of the deal for using them, but even that could be a bit more discreet - especially for people that use MyColors and other Stardock products, who already know where the weather data is coming from).

Sixth and finally, could someone please go back over the current themes and make sure all current and future themes have a decent set of gadgets to go with them. You charge the same for each of them, but some have no gadgets, some have clock, some get weather, others have clock and weather, some have calendar... one in Designs even had a Media Player. Would it be too much to ask for some standard to be created? (It looks like I'll probably have to make my own clocks/calendars for the themes I've purchased where they are missing, but I'm out of luck on ever doing one of the weather gadgets.. unless the plug-in/system used is freely available).

Yours,

 

Ann-Marie

 

PS. the free theme Think Green appears twice in MyColors' list - as 'Think Green' and 'Think%20Green'.

PPS. Ok, a final, final question: Can I tell MyColors where to put the Gadget folder-links it dumps on the Desktop? I have a Folder on the Desktop for these links to keep my Desktop tidy, but every time I change themes, MyColors goes and puts another copy of the link onto the Desktop.

mycolors
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Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Unfortunately, where it really falls down is being able to see at a glance if there is anything new. I'm generally only interested in seeing if there are any new Designs, or Free themes. On the old site, although there wasn't always a direct indication of a new theme being added, you could see that there was a new one by how the 5-columned table of themes was laid out. Now I have to scroll through the horizontal picker bar, and hope i spot a new name, not even knowing if there is a new one or not (at least with the old layout, I already knew something had been added/changed, so could be on the look out for the addition).

This was the first thing I noticed, "where are all the themes?" I would MUCH rather to be able to see them ALL at once. While the new presentation is new and fancy, it just isn't very efficient (IMO). This is especially true for the Collegiate stuff where there are 50+ themes to scroll through.
Fourth, could we please have update notes when themes are updated?

I had stuck in my email to be notified when new themes were released, and then several were released and I got no email.

Oh BTW, when you click on Cosmos, it shows Caracal. https://www.stardock.com/products/mycolors/gallery.asp?p=cosmos
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Well here are a few answers to your questions :)

If you go to the themes page on the lower right hand corner you can see the latest released themes as well as the ones that are coming soon. We are currently in development of a "Here's whats new page" that will showcase the newest releases.

The free themes are technically "free downloads" which is why they are located on the downloads tab.

If you would like to see the enitre list of all the themes, you can visit the "MyColors Store" which is linked at the bottom of all the pages on the links bar.

Hopefully that help a little and thanks for your comments!
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Thirdly, are those of us who extended our Object Desktop subscriptions ever going to get the 2-3 themes we were promised?


Yes, it is coming, but I don't know the ETA for it yet.  We'll keep everyone posted!

Fourth, could we please have update notes when themes are updated?


As for finding out themes are updated, If you go to Impulse, you will see what has been updated.  If there's a major update, something is usually said on WC or the forums about it.

Sixth and finally, could someone please go back over the current themes and make sure all current and future themes have a decent set of gadgets to go with them. You charge the same for each of them, but some have no gadgets, some have clock, some get weather, others have clock and weather, some have calendar... one in Designs even had a Media Player. Would it be too much to ask for some standard to be created? (It looks like I'll probably have to make my own clocks/calendars for the themes I've purchased where they are missing, but I'm out of luck on ever doing one of the weather gadgets.. unless the plug-in/system used is freely available).


The gadgets are generally freebies.  To quote KarmGirl from another post asking about the same thing...

from KarmaGirl -
There is no standard for gadgets in the themes.  They are "bonuses" to the theme.  A base theme is a WB, wall, 26+ icons (most have over 50 icons and some even more).  We try to get a weather gadget into all themes, some have media players, clocks, calendars, etc, but those are not core theme components.


As for the other questions... I can't answer those (due to lack of knowledge).  Sorry!



Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Fourth, could we please have update notes when themes are updated?

As for finding out themes are updated, If you go to Impulse, you will see what has been updated.  If there's a major update, something is usually said on WC or the forums about it.


Knowing a theme has been updated is as easy as looking at MyColors/Impulse.... but thats not what we are looking for. Update Notes = How its been updated.

That said, even the normal Stardock products are starting to lack in those these days. You got an update ! on Impulse, look at the update notes, and see they are 3 versions old.

*sigh*

Yours,

Ann-Marie
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Thirdly, are those of us who extended our Object Desktop subscriptions ever going to get the 2-3 themes we were promised?

We are about to release the first of four this month! :-)

Stay tuned.