Originally Posted by code177 (Post 337018)

I'm wondering if there's a dedicated N900/Maemo5 themes website, for downloading themes and 800x480 wallpaper "packs". I haven't found any, so I'm thinking now would be a really good time to get on that.

What do you guys think? Useful?

Originally Posted by andrewfblack (Post 337036)

that is the purpose of this section, and downloads.maemo.org

Originally Posted by code177 (Post 337045)

A couple of notes:

1. 90% of N900 owners aren't going to have a clue what "a maemo" is. It's unlikely the average N900 owner is going to wander over here without a deal of searching, and when they get here, they're going to be like, "buh o.O".

2. downloads.maemo.org isn't really set up to distribute wallpapers. Widgets yes, themes and wallpapers, not so much.

just my 2 cents. I could be wrong, but that's how I see it.

--
edit: and honestly, even for distributing widgets and apps we could do with a more user centric approach, especially if we're trying to hook the normal person. Which is not to say I don't appreciate the downloads section - I think it's awesome. But I think it might be a little complex and overwhelming for most people (also slow).

Originally Posted by code177 (Post 337045)

A couple of notes:

1. 90% of N900 owners aren't going to have a clue what "a maemo" is. It's unlikely the average N900 owner is going to wander over here without a deal of searching, and when they get here, they're going to be like, "buh o.O".

2. downloads.maemo.org isn't really set up to distribute wallpapers. Widgets yes, themes and wallpapers, not so much.

just my 2 cents. I could be wrong, but that's how I see it.

--
edit: and honestly, even for distributing widgets and apps we could do with a more user centric approach, especially if we're trying to hook the normal person. Which is not to say I don't appreciate the downloads section - I think it's awesome. But I think it might be a little complex and overwhelming for most people (also slow).

Originally Posted by jandmdickerson (Post 337089)

I think a great user centric way is to go to the application manager on your device and look for the application you want (they are in categories) then install them. In fact I like this better than browing some forum or website. Moreover, if I want a review I can always read the download section of maemo.org to get some other users feedback befoer instaling.

Does this sound like a good idea? ;)

Originally Posted by endorphinum

simply google images for "800x480".

Originally Posted by andrewfblack

I can start a sticky thread for backgrounds so everyone can post there backgrounds there if they want. If your making multiple backgrounds or if you want you can make your own thread will all your backgrounds.

Originally Posted by lardman

Don't forget downloads.maemo.org

Originally Posted by andrewfblack

that is the purpose of this section, and downloads.maemo.org

Originally Posted by code177 (Post 337692)

I get that you guys are loyal to this site - as we all are - but I don't understand your aversion to the idea of having more sites out there that cater to the N900, I really don't.

We all want this device and Maemo5 to really take off and become something widespread and used. I think that's fairly clear by the number of community-led promotion threads and ideas we have here.

The thing is, the kind of thinking I'm seeing in this opposition is exactly the same kind of thinking that's the reason linux hasn't been adopted by the mainstream. You are expecting the average person, even the average tech industry person, to behave and think in the same way you do. This simple isn't true.






This is going to be lost on about 95% of the people who will own an N900 within the next year. You must remember that the N900 isn't just a niche product, it's selling out all over the world, and most carriers in Europe are promoting it as the next best smart phone, and offering it at super low prices on contract.

These are not people who are going to search through threads on a forum to find wallpapers. It's not 1995. The first thing new n900 owners are going to do is go to google, and type in "n900 wallpapers" or "n900 backgrounds". They will then click the first couple of links that look promising. If they don't come to an easy to use, 'here's all your wallpaper options download now' website, they're going to give up, and then they're going to feel dissatisfied about their lack of ability to customize their n900. They're going to say, "if i had an ipod, i wouldn't have any problem finding wallpapers", and that's what they'll tell their friends.

And sorry guys, but amount of people who will search for "800x480 wallpapers" on google images over "n900 wallpapers" is probably... a fraction of the people in this forum.




Unfortunately, downloads.maemo.org is only awesome for themes (which are basically apps) and apps. As I mentioned previously, it's not set up for easy, mass distribution of wallpaper images. As a side note, most times I've been there it's taken over 20-30 seconds to load, at which point I've closed the tab and typed "n900 apps" into google. Which I guarantee, is what most people will do.

But again,I go back to my original point. What issue do you guys take with more websites that provide services for n900 users? Even if they are services they can potentially find elsewhere, how is that possibly a bad thing?

Originally Posted by andrewfblack (Post 337700)

I used to run a site out side of maemo.org and I closed it be cause why should I spend money on hosting a site if maemo.org will host it for free.

Originally Posted by andrewfblack

Its not that we are so much against another site if someone wants to pay to host it and design it then I would most likely put my themes there as well, but no one is offering to do just saying we need one.

Originally Posted by code177

Edit: I just picked up n900themes.com/n900wallpapers.com so I'll see what I can do about getting a site up in the next few days.

Originally Posted by andrewfblack

To be honest I've been doing Maemo themes for 2 years now and I can count the number of themes designers who have released a Maemo theme on on hand.

Originally Posted by Rotkaeqpchen (Post 338129)

Who wants to have the domain? I'll give it away for free...

Originally Posted by andrewfblack (Post 337163)

This site is for end users there are alot more end users here then devs .... the perfered way to get your themes out there is to put them in extras and put a post here talking about your theme and show a few screenshot.

Originally Posted by code177 (Post 339386)

N900 Wallpapers site is up fyi, http://www.n900wallpapers.com - Themes version to follow in the next week or so.

Originally Posted by endorphinum (Post 339385)

THAT's exactly what i have been talking about!
As a teacher at a private design academy there is one thing that i
can confirm to you without a doubt: 1 out of 10 designers might be
so curious and have the fun, the time and be so patient to try to get something into the extras repository.
The rest simply will give up as soon as they have to learn
anything about packaging.

Most of the designers i work with ofen enough even do not know how
to name filenames correctly (using special chars, spaces etc.) and
now you want them to get into repository handling ?!
Good luck!

Originally Posted by code177 (Post 339544)

So I'm thinking at the moment that it may not be worth me making an n900themes version of the site - it's simply far less demand than for wallpapers and the infrastructure is already set up here. However, is there a way i can filter the downloads section there just for themes? I'd like to be able to point n900themes.com directly at maemo.org.

How does that sound to everyone?

Originally Posted by thecursedfly (Post 339712)

actually a "desktop environment" category may include also things different from themes only since it's quite a generic term.... :p

Originally Posted by thecursedfly (Post 339712)

actually a "desktop environment" category may include also things different from themes only since it's quite a generic term.... :p

Originally Posted by tehkseven (Post 340048)

Will the current theme maker work for Maemo 5?

Originally Posted by tehkseven (Post 340048)

Hey guys,

Interesting thread.

I'm Paul from Tehkseven.net. Jon and i are really interested in the Maemo 5 platform, especially the theming aspect.

Will the current theme maker work for Maemo 5? We're eager to start developing themes for the platform asap.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Paul

Originally Posted by rcadden (Post 345292)

Another problem in having themes *only* available in the repositories is the matter of screenshots. While apps, for the most part, can be described with an icon and a text description, themes, obviously, cannot. It is entirely necessary to have at least one, but maybe several screenshots, so that you can see how it will look before you bother downloading and installing it.