Skin Spy

from WinCustomize Forums

I want to make a program that spies on you.

That's right. Spies.

But how?

I want us (all of us) to be able to get a list of the most popular skins by USE. No downloads. Not impressions. Not mentions. What skins are people actually using.

So this program would look at what skins and themes you're using and return that data to a central server and then those who ran it would have access to the page that lists them so we can download them.  Afterall, the best skins for many are probably the ones people are actually running.

We used to have something like this built into WindowBlinds but it was a pain and some people complained that it was spying (which is was). Obviously paranoid people wouldn't want to run this and we could expand it to support as many apps as peple wanted. Most popular DesktopX theme? Most popular icon package? Most popular Winamp skin? Most popular Litestep theme, whatever.

We could even have it list most popular programs. so how popular is Samurize vs. Litestep vs. hoverdesk vs. whatever. The important thing is that people would be able to find new emerging customization programs that are getting more popular and know where to download them.

So first off, what kinds of features that those of you who might want to run something like this would want besides what I mentioned?

Secondly, obviously some people wouldn't want this kidn of program since it does return info about your computer (personally I don't care if people know what skin I'm using I make screenshots) but how many of you think this sort of thing would be neat?

28,656 views 105 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
like an "opt in" sort of program that was well advertized as a monitoring device?.. sounds interesting..
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well that's the whole program. You run it or don't run it. It would be in your system tray. So it's the ultimate in opt-in.

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As long as it is off by default, and the check-mark or whatever is easily accessible (ie: not buried behind lots of menus and tabs) I think this actually could be pretty cool.
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Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I wouldn't mind if it sticks to the skinning items. As for what programs and other things, that would bother me.



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Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if it strictly looked at the Stardock programs it wouldn't really be an issue what programs show up... no?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't have a problem with it as long as it's a separate app, not combined with anything else such as DX or WB or whatever. I can see where this would make things a lot nicer, especially in the skin ratings department.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would go for that. Although, I might overload it changing themes so much.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Some way of getting real-world info on popularity/usage would be quite entertaining.....though to get a large 'take-up' with the idea you'd have to make the data being transmitted quite transparent...so no-one would have qualms about 'spyware' surreptitiously intermingled...
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I wouldn't mind using it, as long as I'm able to set when and what info is sent out. Like, have a list, I check the programs to monitor, and be able to send every hour, every day, etc. It would be cool to see what people actually use...
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can see a lot of flame complaints regarding this in the future should it be implemented. People seem really paranoid about spyware issues. I say keep Stardock programs clean of all spyware. It is something to be proud of in these days of hijacked web browsers. If someones computer slows down, you know they are going to complain that Stardock is doing it.
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Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
StarDock, the way it people do business and this messageboard has allowed me to have a different sort of trust with it, than I would with any other company and if you'd asked me to fill out a survery, anonymous or not, to gain marketing data or whatever other reason, I would in a flash, but I cannot get behind this idea with any enthusiasm because what other people are using on their desktop doesn't matter too me, though the feature that I would agree with the most is one to opt-out.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Two things:

Info packets sent to server contains ONLY info you say it will send.

Opt-in with off as a default.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I wouldn't use it.... No offense.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As long as it is invisible and does not interfere with my pc interaction I would not care!
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great Idea...Count me in :0)

Maybe assign numbers to the "users" so if a problem occurs, Stardock will already know your computer information.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I wouldn't use it either. If I want people to see what skin I'm using I'll post up a screenshot or mention it on the forum.
I might reconsider if it came out and got a good response though.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I trully would not use it, I don''''''''t like the idea people knowing what skins Im using as I never show my desktop these days.

Stardock software is the best but I could imagine sales will immensely.

This is nothing personal but why do something like this when Stardock software is going so well, as I would be totally against having this in my desktop customization software.

If you do this, atleast give the option to not install it like Messenger Plus, "I accept, Do Not Install Sponsor Program" of some sort. But even having this I could see sales big time, I don''t think it would be wise since Stardock software is #1.
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Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have no problem with this being implemented. I don't really see it as spyware, more like a counter. The main thing is, I trust Stardock, so I know there are no ulterior motives behind this.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Seem's there is something weird going on with edit posts :o
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My concern would be with the stability of the 'ware'...who's to say that someone from outside of Stardock starts piggybacking? I haven't heard alot of good about spyware...

I wonder if it might not be better to put some sort of utility in the site that serves as an 'identifier, counter' rather than have to run it on my computer...? I don't even know if that's possible, but it could also identify those that have pirated software, too couldn't it? That might be a GOOD thing!!!
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This "feature" could actually already be implemented into SDC without any of the users knowing it...... who knows what kind of data *really* is sent when logging on!

Not that I mind at all. I've got nothing to hide
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This would be an individual program. It wouldn't be bundled with anything.

The whole point of it would be to provide users with access to the most popular skins and skinning programs based on use.

It's essentially Alexa but for skins. I want to call it SkinSpy so that there's no misunderstanding about how it works.

Opt-in/Opt-out doesn't apply here. The only thing the program would do is retrieve this stuff.

Users would have the ability to uncheck what types of skins and apps it monitors but they would only have access to the popularity lists of the things they've checked (i.e. if you don't contribute to the data you can't use it).

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In my opinion, I think you should give this one a miss. Collecting information from people's computers is such a touchy issue I am surprised you are even considering it.

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would have no problem with it. I trust Stardock. But I don't think my data would be too meaningful because I run so many ports and old skins that I've updated.

Rarely do I run the "flavor of the week"