Hi there
It's been quite some time again that I haven't send any news, so here's some, and yes it may includes some rambling for those that could be interested.
Soft7's future.
My polls wasn't pointless but here's what I thought about it. It appears many people following me and interested enough to answer my polls still enjoy Soft7, so I first wish to say that I'm truly grateful for that and I really appreciate it, and I'm also happy if I can help make your desktop betterNow, on my side, my preferences regarding customization, and my style as a designer as of course evolved a bunch after all this time. And to be honest, yes I still like Soft7 2.0, but I haven't used it for several years, because it's not my style anymore. I sincerely think it's flawed, not that great looking for some part and doesn't suits a lot of wallpapers, even if my goal was to make a new theme that could be a Windows default enjoyable by everyone. So even as a design product I'm not so happy about it when I look at it today.
But could I make it better if I'd be making Soft7 3.0 or something ? Well I've tried And for those interested, here's how it looks : s30.postimg.org/pdwf8fcq9/Soft…
But what I can read from the result of the polls, is that people don't like changes. And apparently don't like the styles I personally enjoy these days. So I both think that I would not entirely enjoy working on a new version of Soft7, and maybe you wouldn't like what my version of Soft7 3.0 would be in the end. All that including a lot of work making a theme for an OS I don't even use anymore :/
So yeah... I don't see Soft7 3.0 happening on Windows 7... Sorry to disappoint.
But once again, I wish to recommend Radiance. I think it's close from Soft7 for you to enjoy, and as you can see, it's close from what I could do working on 3.0. I think it's more sharp, more good looking and would suits more desktops and wallpapers than Soft7 2.0.
New style, new dA logo, evolution, ...
So my style and what I like has changed. What I wish my desktop could look like ? : Wannabe 9 or 10 or something.I've also read a lot of bad things regarding the new dA logo, and of course there's the result of my last polls that shows that when Windows 10 is about to happen, most people wish to stay on Windows 7.
Please, don't forget your will for change when you're looking for something to change the appearance of your desktop, or simply when you come to deviantArt in the first place. Because you know that dA is the place where you'll be able to find something that is simply different, original, well crafted, and just special. It is because Artists have a particular vision over things that they work on their own stuff and do something original, something different. Artists are always the one making the world evolved, and that is our passion that pushed us (we're all artists on dA ) to create what we do.
I am truly sad when I see the same people that comes to DEVIANTart criticize something because it's out of the ordinary and that not everybody would get at first sight. Deviants we're supposed to be, not mainstream, not easy on the eye.
And above all that, I even think the new dA logo is clever because it's both letters and just a sign (like the Nike swoosh). It even respect the old logo by linking the two initials, it's still green but you can feel the evolution and how it's now contemporary (next to the outdated previous one).
And yes it suits well my new logo as well
I truly love it. Boldly Facing The Future
Change is awesome
What's next ?
First, I'm waiting for Windows 10 to come out, and then I'll see if Win Style Builder works better with it than with Windows 8. I know it's Windows 8's fault, but the end result is that WSB keeps on crashing for me, it makes me spend even more time working on a theme just because of that, many times losing my progression as it crashes and sometimes even corrupted the theme making it useless and having to import almost everything in a new one. In any way it's really not easy to work with and I don't have the time and the same passion to spend that much time.
I really have good hopes in Windows 10, I already like Windows 8 and like the changes that will happen in 10. And I'm not afraid of changes again. We'll see then what are our possibilities regarding customization and how we can make this OS even better in our own way.
Speaking of changes. I believe I've lost my interest in working in the design world. I still love graphic design, but not as a work, not with all the stress it involves and passion someone must have in order to always work with evolution on an everyday bases. I love to see the evolution, but working with it is something different, and I just don't feel this is something for me anymore.
So, life changes :yeay:
Not something easy to do and I'll see where the wind takes me. And I don't know yet how much free time I will have this year in order to make things for dA.
And maybe the passion will strikes back, maybe not
Customizers
A small word about this awesome group Like every other group on the subject, we lack Contributors, people participating in the voting process. And in general I think there's a lack of motivation in the Customizing community. But yes the group is still alive !
I've diminished the number of votes required for the submissions to be accepted or not. I hope it will help, that there will be less expiration, and less wait before an answer. I'm very sorry about all that. Never hesitate to submit something again if it expires, it doesn't mean that we didn't liked it, you have to know that some submissions even expires at 5/6 yes... but the last person to vote just didn't show up at this time ^^ And we're a hard crowd, so getting a 5 "yes" 5 "no" can happen... and having 10 people voting is already huge these days
I wish the changes will smoothen the process.
And also, if you think the group suits you, you can always ask to become a Contributor Just write a bit about why you'd like it (it's not a real job so don't be afraid ) and I'm sure the team would be happy to have some new active members
Anyway, I hope you are all well and I wish you the best of year for 2015, no matter where you are or what you stand for
And don't hesitate to share your thoughts about customization in general, or everything you find interesting to speak about