Author Topic: Appaholic - Another nice freeware review page (Read 30,080 times)

mouser · « **on:** September 18, 2007, 01:55 PM »

One of the members of our forum has posted a reply where he mentioned his freeware review site, and i thought it was worth it's own post. No, not because today's review is about one of my programs, just because it looks like a great site well worth a regular visit.

http://appaholic.wordpress.com/

Renegade · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2007, 03:30 PM »

One very good thing to see there...

So I'm scrolling down the page and get to this interesing app - WinDirStat. Tells where your disk space is. Nifty. Let's have a closeup of the screen shot...

WICKED! Looks very cool — Has a wxWidgets / Mac feel to it. Ok - Let's hit the product site...

Screen shot... PUKE! Old Win2K screen shots look like crap.

Lesson - he's actually installed the apps there and probably has some skinning or theme software running. In any event - HE'S USED the software. So many sites or people recommend software without ever using it, which I see as pretty irresponsible. Good to see someone that gets into it rather than reading a feature list and spitting that back out. (That's the really good thing - it's rare.)

relequestual · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2007, 08:51 PM »

im smiling on the inside. thanks ppl!
yes, i use styleXP, I do say on the sidebar that there are no mac reviews, and explain the fact im using a skinning app on XP.
I need to make it more clear possibly, but im limited to wordpress.com for now

any ideas?

and yes, i download and try out all the apps i use. i wouldnt review them if i didnt personally like them and use them!

empyrean · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2007, 09:59 PM »

Excellent work, relequestual! Thanks very much. Several interesting finds just on the first page. I'm baffled by the detractors; if you don't see the use for something, pass on by; no need to trash people. One guy seemed to entirely miss the point that you were talking about Free software.

Darwin · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2007, 10:29 PM »

relequestual - great site and welcome to DonationCoder

plutchok · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2007, 04:19 PM »

Thank you for letting us know about Appaholic. If you're already publicizing utilities blogs, can I take the liberty of plugging mine too? "Jonathan's Tool Bar & Grill" recommends great free and cheap utility software and useful Web sites. Please visit me at http://jonathanstoolbar.blogspot.com . And please tell all your friends! Thank you for your attention.

relequestual · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2007, 11:04 AM »

could i be considered from site of the month sometime?
not right now, but in about 3 or 4 months time when ive moved off wordpress.com and onto a privately hosted site. Then i can really start to work hard on the blog, where as now i dont have a lot of time due to college and work!

mouser · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2007, 12:28 AM »

relequestal, your site was featured in our last newsletter as member site spotlight

relequestual · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2007, 10:02 AM »

oh yeh that's very true!
I'm looking to really raise my profile over the next 2-3 months.
No worries

Cheers

Rel

masu · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2007, 12:38 PM »

nice page thanks for the hint.
especially the hint for teracopy was nice

relequestual · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2007, 02:16 PM »

teracopy is mazin! love it!

suleika · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2007, 10:01 PM »

Quote from: Renegade on September 18, 2007, 03:30 PM

Screen shot... PUKE! Old Win2K screen shots look like crap.

Oh, I feel rather embarrassed suddenly. That could have been a screenshot from my machine. I always hated the soft-look WinXP icons, so I've been using "Windows Classic Style" for years.

You've got me interested in skins and styling now....

mouser · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2007, 12:21 AM »

suleika, I use windows classic style and have no intention of changing to any skinned theme. Don't be ashamed to be classic

plutchok -- your site looks very nice and worth letting our readers know about

Renegade · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2007, 12:26 AM »

Quote from: suleika on October 06, 2007, 10:01 PM

Quote from: Renegade on September 18, 2007, 03:30 PM
Screen shot... PUKE! Old Win2K screen shots look like crap.

Oh, I feel rather embarrassed suddenly. That could have been a screenshot from my machine. I always hated the soft-look WinXP icons, so I've been using "Windows Classic Style" for years.

You've got me interested in skins and styling now....

I used to use the Classic look for a long time, but really, for screen shots, they need to have a bit more appeal. It's got nothing to do with personal preferences and everything to do with making things 'sexy' for potential downloaders/customers. It's a marketing thing.

The Classic look is just dated now, and you either need to use the full XP theme, another theme like Royale (used at Softpedia), or the new Vista look (Aero or otherwise).

Grorgy · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2007, 01:24 AM »

From a user point of view to, its nice to see something being used on a skinned system. Its frustrating for those of us who do like themes to find programs that ignore it or dont allow the theme to work, or worst of all, wont work with it.

relequestual · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2007, 09:54 AM »

yeh i agree.
most decent apps that allow for their own skin also allow for the system default one to work too. for example media monkey. but i still use its own skin. makes it look just that bit more "different"

relequestual · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2008, 07:01 PM »

We have now upgraded and moved the site to www.appaholic.co.uk
please can you update the few links around the site someone?
cheers
very happy!

muntealb · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2008, 06:04 AM »

Your site is an eye killer. Black background and white/grey fonts is not a good choice. Maybe if you will use a single color for the fonts of the articles (not two as it is right now) that would work. But if you will choose a white or grey or beige background you could use more colors for the fonts.

relequestual · « **Reply #18 on:** January 05, 2008, 09:54 PM »

Thanks for the comment on the colour.
Its more of a hobby for myself, and if others like it, thats grate for me. If some dont, oh well.
I spent forever editing that theme and my friend spent an age on the logo. I like the black and white, so its here to stay.

Even if i did want to change it, i have next to no time to actually get a new theme laid out. May I could work on a solution that would enable users to switch somehow. Seen it on websites before. Im thinking of www.imilly.com in the top right hand corner. I dont have the time right now to work it out anyway.

Thanks though, ill keep it in mind

muntealb · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2008, 07:55 AM »

Well, hobby or not, a site must not strain the eyes, otherwise it will lose the visitors. You use Wordpress, maybe you can find a theme that has colors more relaxing for the eyes. Check this blog ( http://www.andreeam.net/ ), it uses also Wordpress and in my opinion it has very nice and relaxing colors.

PhilB66 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2008, 08:24 AM »

Quote from: muntealb on January 06, 2008, 07:55 AM

You use Wordpress, maybe you can find a theme that has colors more relaxing for the eyes.

There are plenty Wordpress Blog Themes out there.

Grorgy · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2008, 08:30 AM »

i like your black theme, i think it looks good, and i'm sick of all the pale pastel sites, its refreshing.

relequestual · « **Reply #22 on:** January 06, 2008, 12:33 PM »

I worked long and hard on editing my theme to be exactly the way i want it. Even if I had 0 visits a day because of it, I would not change it. Ok maybe that's a little extreme, but basically its not about to change! =D

Thanks, one person likes it, thats enough for me.
Yeh, I agree, which is why I chose it. So many freeware blog sites have plain pastel colours. AppAholic is different.

tinjaw · « **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2008, 12:37 PM »

E v e r y b o d y knows Tinjaw always has spare change when it comes to opinions. So here's my two cents.

What matters...
1) Content
2) Content
3) Content
4) Usability/Readability
5) Colors, themes, etc., provided they don't conflict with rule #4, are the choice of the creator and reflect their personality and the personality they wish the sight to have.

You have good content. I am getting a feel for your, and your sight's personality. You may continue.

relequestual · « **Reply #24 on:** January 06, 2008, 02:30 PM »

thank u Tinjaw