Poll Results: Cell Phone Themes

That didn't come out how I expected

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.

21,233 views 54 replies
Reply #1 Top
I really am just an "Old Fuddy Duddy, A Stick in the Mud". I use my cell phone for two things, to receive a phone call and to make a phone call. The rest of the time it is in the little holder hooked to my belt. Sorry.  ;) 
Reply #2 Top
I would not want cell phone skins...because of the type of user it would attract to the community.
Reply #3 Top
I would not want cell phone skins...because of the type of user it would attract to the community.
End of quote
What type is that?  New?  Young? Hip?   ;)
I wonder if new artist would come along with them and start bringing the cell aesthetic along to other skinnables?

I really am just an "Old Fuddy Duddy, A Stick in the Mud". I use my cell phone for two things, to receive a phone call and to make a phone call. The rest of the time it is in the little holder hooked to my belt. Sorry.
End of quote
I don't understand but would love clarification.  The poll wasn't for "Would you use a cell skin/wall?" but "should cell themes be offered?"  Did you vote no to teh first or second question?
Reply #5 Top
I think it would bring new types of skinners and for those of us that have phones that are multipurpose media phones not used just for talking, to where skins/backgrounds and such are hard to find, it would be a welcomed section. I still have yet to find anything free to semi free that's remotely worth downloading for my samsung upstage. That's just my 2 cents. Either way i'll still live. :p
Reply #6 Top
I voted NO. While I appreciate the direction Wincustomize is heading with MY COLORS and the changes concerning Stardock Central. I am concerned that you might be stretching yourself too thin. Due to the recent number of delays and/or in various new applications, I feel that your attention should be focused on your current roles and responsibilities to your current users. (Who by the way are not here for cell phone stuff.) I feel you need to show us that you can handle the extra burden, I personally am not convinced.
Reply #7 Top
I would not want cell phone skins...because of the type of user it would attract to the community.
What type is that? New? Young? Hip?
I wonder if new artist would come along with them and start bringing the cell aesthetic along to other skinnables?
End of quote
I meant more like....people who take and ask 10,000 questions without giving back anything. People who spend $1.99 on a ring-back tone. Of course for stardock this would be good....but for the community it would suck. If you havent noticed, stardock is on the cusp of "selling out". They are having issues supporting the applications based on the current community. They need to attract the masses, even if it destroys the community. They need to go mainstream.....where all skins cost $1.99. I guess that's what I dont want to see.
Reply #8 Top

I voted NO. While I appreciate the direction Wincustomize is heading with MY COLORS and the changes concerning Stardock Central. I am concerned that you might be stretching yourself too thin. Due to the recent number of delays and/or in various new applications, I feel that your attention should be focused on your current roles and responsibilities to your current users. (Who by the way are not here for cell phone stuff.) I feel you need to show us that you can handle the extra burden, I personally am not convinced.
End of quote

Please do not confuse the expansion of WinCustomize galleries with the addition of application support from Stardock proper.  Adding a cell phone gallery doesn't mean we'd be releasing an application to handle it.  Merely provide a gallery for artists to upload their skins, and for users to download them.  Nothing more, nothing less.

WinCustomize operates largely independently from the software development side of the company.  We do things in support of each other, but I have a degree of latitude when it comes to new content for this site.

Reply #9 Top
[edited - Zoomba beat me to it]
Reply #10 Top
My mistake. I obviously was not thinking clearly. (I can admit my faults, and learn from mistakes I have made.)
I see your point clearly now and appreciate your candor.

The issue I brought up before is mostly a Stardock issue, not Wincustomize. I am sure this error happens quite often, but sometimes the 2 companies seem like Siamese twins.

Minor change to vote: Wincustomize = Yes. Stardock = No.
Reply #11 Top

Ahhhh, you confused me again - you meant Mobile Phones...

I wish you folks would speak English   ;p 

Anyway, I voted yes. Anything which brings in new people is a good thing  ;) 

Reply #12 Top
There are only a limited number of phones that allow customization. Nokia and Sony Ericsson are very popular in customizing but for me I own 3 phone all Motorola and the only way that I have found to customize them is to hack the OS.

DeviantArt has devised a way to send pictures directly to your phone. When you navigate through the pictures off to the side you have a choice "Send to Mobile". I have done this many of times this would be a great idea (or a start)for customizing phones.
Reply #13 Top
I don't understand but would love clarification. The poll wasn't for "Would you use a cell skin/wall?" but "should cell themes be offered?" Did you vote no to teh first or second question?
End of quote


I voted no for themes being offered. There was a second questions? See, I told you I am old! :LOL:  :LOL:  :LOL: 
Reply #14 Top
I voted no for themes being offered. There was a second questions? See, I told you I am old!
End of quote
You voted no to "Should new forums be offered" but your reasoning sounded like a response to  "Would you use a cell skin/wall?" ("I use my cell phone for two things, to receive a phone call and to make a phone call. The rest of the time it is in the little holder hooked to my belt.")

I don't get it.   :NOTSURE:

Reply #15 Top

I don't get it.
End of quote

I wonder if this is a major contributing factor to the poll turning out like it did.  I'd wager that most folks here don't have a cell phone, or only use one for the basic call features.  To this group, the idea of skinning their phone is the height of pointlessness.  Who cares what color the screen is when I'm on a call? 

But I do find the attitude interesting considering we're all involved in skinning the PC, an activity most people see as being the height of pointlessness.  Afterall, who cares what color the window borders are when I'm typing an email?

Reply #16 Top
Okay, now I am confused, I voted no on a new gallery for cell phone themes. Where did I vote no for no for new forums? :NOTSURE: 
Reply #17 Top
But I do find the attitude interesting considering we're all involved in skinning the PC, an activity most people see as being the height of pointlessness. Afterall, who cares what color the window borders are when I'm typing an email?
End of quote


That's the point I was going to make. I'm sure there are plenty of people out the who think skinning your PC is a waste of time. After all, it's just a machine, right? My neighbor is one of those people. He can't understand what the big deal is, and is completely content with that hideous Win blue.

I guess it's all in personal taste, but I can't see how adding a new gallery (and with it new skinners) could be a bad thing for this site.
Reply #18 Top
Zoomba are you just talking about cell phone wallpaper or complete customization (icons, boarders,battery indicators and signal strength indicators)?
Reply #19 Top
Complete customization.  Wallpapers, themes, icons, whatever a phone is capable of.  I see no reason to limit it.
Reply #20 Top
Zoomba are you just talking about cell phone wallpaper or complete customization (icons, boarders,battery indicators and signal strength indicators)?
End of quote
For last weeks poll I read the question "Cell Phone Themes on WinCustomize?" as any kind of theming.  I couldn't guess what Zoomba was thinking or how it was interpetted by others.  Maybe it was too open a question.

Okay, now I am confused, I voted no on a new gallery for cell phone themes. Where did I vote no for no for new forums?
End of quote
I read your post as "No to new cell theme gallery because I wouldn't use a cell phone theme." I extrapolated that to "No to any galleries that I won't use"  In my reply #14 I mistakenly used "forums" when I meant "galleries".  Sorry for the confusion.

Other than mistaking the words . . did I misunderstand your voting/reasoning?
Reply #21 Top
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.
Reply #22 Top
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.
Reply #23 Top
Zubaz, you have hit me square on the back of the head.  :LOL: 

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!!! :LOL:  :LOL:  :LOL: 

Reply #24 Top
/me 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.
End of quote
He's right Zoomba, we need to find a way to poll everyone on the internet that DEOESN't come to the site.   :LOL: 
Reply #25 Top
He's right Zoomba, we need to find a way to poll everyone on the internet that DEOESN't come to the site.
End of quote


What?  :LOL:  :LOL:  :LOL: