testing out a new look skin site

**Spoons** · September 27, 2003, 12:42 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

the points to note:

1. easy to submit a skin by clicking on "upload skins"
it will only allow for a pic no more than 42KB in size to upload. the size is set by me to keep loading time down to a minimum. then you will see an option to put a URL in for the download of the link. or just email the skin as per usual.

2. catagories for specific skins is easy to make to suit that skin type. also that makes for easier browsing of skins.

3. to make a comment or review is as simple as it is here to reply to a thread.

4. it uses this forums user database. so if your logged in here it will show who you are on the skin site too.

5. simple and clean but more proffessional looking and less cluttery.

**xoas** · September 27, 2003, 01:15 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

Overall, I like this format very much. I especially like what you have done with the reviews which creates a much closer link between reviews and the skin download and also makes it easier to compare reviews of particular products.
I do wonder about how easy it will be to categorize skins in a way that doesn't evolve into a very large number of categories and which would still stay user-intuitive (for example, I would probably never think of categorizing the Desert Eagle skin under "Sports" and I am not sure whether I would consider car audio skins as part of the same family as "audio hardware."
I would also like to see possible cross-referencing schemes for skins so that I could call up all of Narler's skin at once, for example.
I also wonder what you might have in mind for discussions (about "My 10 Favorite Skins" for example).
But definitely I think you're headed in the right direction!
best wishes,
xoas

**Spoons** · September 27, 2003, 01:47 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

thanks for the comments/suggestions Xaos.

the closest thing to seeing all skins by author at the moment is by clicking on "all products" (i need to edit the lag file to change "products" to skisn) then sort by "manufacturer".

creating better catagories to suit will surely be up for discussion on getting that right. just testing at the moment to see how it all looks.

there is some sort of cross referenceing there that doesn't appear to work or i don't understand how it works yet. as in when viewing a skin there is a key word part that is supposed to cross reference. but i haven't figured that one out properly yet.

there is also a "add to watch list" which i guess is like adding a skin to your favourites.

**donny** · September 27, 2003, 03:29 PM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

I like it... it is good that the reviews are now closer.. it will be especially important when we'll have more skins, so that when someone is choosing what to download he/she can see what other people are thinking... also in this way we will have more reviews... maybe we should even form a special reviewing crew so that all the skins have reviews

**donny** · September 27, 2003, 03:31 PM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

I also like the upload part...
especially this part
"Skin Name (e.g. Stereo Ga Ga):"

**Spoons** · September 28, 2003, 08:34 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

thanks for the feed back Donny. the actual skin file upload isn't an option just yet. only an option to upload a snapshot of the skin. there is provision for supplying a download link though that i would then download and re-upload to the appropiate place. so for now it's either supply a download link for the skin or email the skin to skins@dbpoweramp.com and i or Spoon will upload it after. as all skin uploads will be admin approved before being visible.

**donny** · September 28, 2003, 12:52 PM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

well it's easy to me - I have my skins on my site so I always just supply the link. Other people probably don't have such an options...
admin aproved is probably the best way of doing stuff - just in case...

**Spoons** · September 28, 2003, 01:18 PM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

yes, admin approval just means the skin will be tested locally first for authanticity and scanned for virus check before releasing to the public. it's just a procedure.

**Spoons** · September 30, 2003, 11:54 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

you will notice that there are random pics of skins at the footer of the forum that link to the actual skin on the skin test site. just a continuation of testing out stuff.

**Spoons** · October 01, 2003, 01:20 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

by clicking on "key word" now works. it didn't work before. if you look at a skin and ckick on a key word in the key word field it will bricg up a list of other skins that also have that key word in the skin title and or skin description.

**Spoons** · October 01, 2003, 01:59 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

what are the suggested catagories for the current skins in the database?

also will the skinners have a go at going through the sumbit a skin process so we can assess that part as well.

keep in mind that there is a 42KB pic size limit for uploading pics. also no gif's and only use jpeg or png.

just take a look at what skins you have made and i haven't put on the test skin site yet and submit the skin to see how the whole process works.

thanks.

**donny** · October 01, 2003, 09:41 PM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

OK just uploaded matrix revisited

after submit it deirected me to the review page - to make a review on my skin I think...

**Spoons** · October 02, 2003, 12:24 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

yes it will re direct to a post your review page after submitting a skin. but of course you don't have to make a review, just click out of it. it's just the way it is.

so you found it easy to follow understand? also now you will have an option to click on "my skins" link and it will show any skins you have uploaded. you will now also be able to modify your submission. check out that part also.

thanks.

**xoas** · October 02, 2003, 12:46 AM

Re: testing out a new look skin site

Here are some suggested categories:
Sports, Receivers/Amps, Stereo/Music Related, Digital Music Players/Programs, Colors, Car and Car Audio, Movies/Television, and Abstract/Futuristic/Misc.
This scheme would allow for each of the skins currently available on the skin site to be assigned to a category (although there might be some disagreement about which category a particular skin shuld be assigned to). It might also be worthwhile to think about assigning skins to multiple categories to allow easier finding of skins by trait (for example you could set up "Textures" as a category to highlight skins-such as Narler's Billet Alloy and Metalastic skins and the 3-D Wood skin- which feature great textural effects, or a practical category such as 20 Band EQ).
Anyway, perhaps these ideas might help.
best wishes,
xaos

testing out a new look skin site

testing out a new look skin site

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