Is there any way to make that ugly, useless blue retweet tabby thing disappear? It's always in the way and I do not tweet - birds tweet.
Can it be removed/hidden/stopped/blown up?
Thanks.

------EDIT------

Please go to this thread to continue the discussion:

Thank you.

Walkerpbus. For example you are on a vacation and not able to check giveaway site for a day you cannot download and activate the software in that case you can look at the previous giveaway comments and look for a better software which is free and with more facilities.

@ walkerpbus

What's wrong with that? You can go back to former giveaways to read the comments.

To be honest, I'm not quite sure if I understand your question.

graylox

Why does GOTD page list yesterday & day before page?

Please get rid of that annoying "Stickr" software on GOTD pages! Although it could be useful on the right websites - those where people share a common degree of seriousness (or lack of it) about their participation - on pages open to everyone, the lowest common denominator ends up setting the tone and taking up lots of space - purely to annoy others and waste their time.

Some clarification please, WR, or anyone else. How would I, or anyone willing, go about this? My interpretation is that you would use the contact form to send an e-mail to GOTD requesting this status. Am I understanding that correctly?

The impression I'm getting is that you and Bubby, and maybe some other people who I haven't seen identified in the time that I've been coming here, do as much volunteer moderation as you can. Then, GOTD staff drop in, occassionally, just to make sure there isn't a horrific backlog of unmoderated comments. The problem that I have with this is that many of us would like to see GOTD staff (how many actually are there? I sometimes think only 1 or 2.) become MORE, NOT LESS, engaged in this project.

It's not that I'm criticizing, it's just that if some new member asks me how aware GOTD is of the comments people post over there, after a year of coming there, I would still have to say, "I don't have the slightest idea". I don't mind someone here setting me straight, but in my 7 months as a forum member, I still haven't seen any evidence to whether or not they actually spend much time reading anything posted over there. I've seen them step up and try to solve certain problems, but I don't even have any way of knowing whether that's because they saw a bunch of comments on that problem, or whether somebody like you or Bubby zipped off an email to them. Unless they have VERY few staff, I'm not sure of the wisdom of volunteer moderators. I figured you and Bubby were doing it because you were on really good terms, at least through e-mail with the team, because of the good service you both had given to the project. That you were exceptions to the rule, not just that you were one of few who were willing to volunteer, altough I doubt it's THAT simple.

Also, I'm not following you on the tags. Maybe, I need to look at some other forum posts, but the only ones I saw just now had links to the GOTD freeware library. Are there others that go to out of house sites, or is GOTD getting some payment from members who post to the freeware library if they get a search engine hit? I'm not up on the mechanics of earning payment through search engine hits, so I'm probably just ignorant, but I'm not following you.

There is a site that gives download statitics for the giveaway project. I've forgotten the url though.

As for commitment; you don't really need to commit, just moderate the comments whenever you feel like it. At least then there would be more moderation. If a few community members did this, it would make things better.

To Rezidue,

The giveaway site makes money via the forums as well. If you look at any post in the forums theres a Tag to the top right of each thread, which lists genuine tags for the post and then a pile of others that link to other sites. the giveaway project has got a high standing with the big search engines, so it's used as a vehicle to generate revenue through these tags; though you'd probably never guess.

Post a phrase on the comments section and then make a search. You'll see what I mean with respect to the giveaways high standing.

regards

WR

But your points valid, regardless.

Whoops! You're right watcher, I was comparing votes to comments not downloads. I would have no way to know how many people downloaded the software. I am guessing that there are a lot of the thumbs down votes that did not download.

Hey, Hoss. When you're giving those stats, do you have access to the number of actual downloaders, or are you just talking about comparing to the thumbs up/down votes? I'm assuming there are probably many who don't even vote thumbs up or down, so, if you're comparing to the votes, there's probably even less that comment. Which only serves to reinforce your point.

Damian, I've seen a lot of ups and downs here. Considering that around a thousand people voted on Online Armor, I'm not sure that the site's having problems. I sympathize with you, it's hard to tell, really. As I say, interest seems to ebb and flow.

WR - today's giveaway is, perhaps, the perfect example of what you're saying. Only 9 comments, apparently because nothing's been approved since the first hour and a half. Perhaps I'll volunteer, but right now my schedule's unsettled, so I'm afraid to make a committment I might not be able to keep.

Maybe it's getting close to the end? What kind of revenue does this site make anyway?
I can't see it as viable unless there's some kind of profit - Damian

Another thing to consider is that only about 9% of downloaders actually leave comments. I went back to the last 5 or 6 giveaways to check and there was 1 that surpassed the 10% mark. That was Paragon Drive Copy 9.0 which had a 15% comment rate. There was also 1 that only reached the 6% mark. The average was about 8 or 9%. So, while the 2% you mentioned might seem low, there isn't as many commenters as one might think.

Hi opensourcesoftwarefan

The same thing happened with the game giveaway site. It got to a stage where the comments were being moderated only 3 or 4 times a day; so I volunteered to moderate the game giveaway comments section and made sure I moderated as often as possible. Within weeks of doing so there was a big increase in the number of useful comments being made. I don't moderate the applications side of the giveaway though as I'm not willing to devote enough time to the software itself. I think you can only moderate fairly if you know the software. Moderation seems okay on the giveaway site during the week; it seems to be only at weekends when the comments aren't moderted much.

The comments section for both the regular giveaway page and the game giveaway page are staffed by volunteers. It gets a bit tedious spending the whole weekend moderating for free, but I love the site and have gained a lot from it, so don't mind helping out; besides I've got lots of time on my hands now that I was forced into retirement by a motorist who wasn't paying attention.

Maybe you could volunteer to do some moderating occassioally at weekends. Even a few extra moderating sessions would be helpful. That would be great and relieve the pressure off the likes of BuBBy, whose's been moderating for most of the giveaways life.

Regards

Whiterabbit

Hi all,

It seems to be a pattern and trend that very few software users' comments are posted by the GiveAwayOfTheDay team on the GiveAwayOfTheDay software-download site.

All comments meeting the forum's commenting criteria should be posted quickly and should be given an equal and fair chance to be read and seen by others. For example, 379 people downloaded today's GiveAway software, but only 9 comments (2%) were posted.

Why? Why? Why?

The whole point of allowing customers to post their feedback is so others may benefit by their comments. However, if this feedback is not posted at all, or if this feedback is posted late in the day, then this defeats the entire purpose of the feedback.

The GiveAwayOfTheDay team must satisfactorily resolve this matter very soon.

Thanks.

Kaman25 you said:
<If I had a complaint it would be that screen savers don't turn me on. Although it would be kewl to have one that you could put keywords into and have it display random pictures from the Internet. Something that would come on and save the screen but also have some function.>

Check these two links out,
http://flickrvision.com/
http://play.blogger.com/

All you would need then is a program to open the window and go to the link when you have been away from your computer after a set time. There is probably a script out there somewhere that will do just that.

clash and slash worlds away
http://www.enkord.com/games/clashnslashworldsaway/

Bonjour Goody :*)

Yes Yes Yes, I do know *exactly* what you are talking about!!!!
There is like a Point de non-retour, probably different for everybody.
If you get in that zone, it's hell.
Like you said, it's like the switch gets stuck on "ON" and then we just keep going & going ... ...

I did a 6 day stretch in the mid-80's, end of October. It was hard enough that I still remember it clearly. Happened just *ONCE*, got me scared.

I kept working during all of it. Unable to do that anymore, body refuses to follow!!

My usual is 2 to 3 days. If your usual is 4 days, must be very tough indeed, specially if you keep on going to 60-72 and more.

Yeah, mind becomes fuzzy, don't know what's real or not, drifting in & out. Very confusing!!!
Agreed, not the good kind of *Fuzzy* at all ...

You telling me you managed to drive like that? You must have been scared, oui?

Past a certain point can't eat either, staring at walls seems interesting :*) In the beginning I keep blabbing & giggling, then go very quite. Then get in a very bad mood :-(

What do you do when you are in the middle of it? You just go on as usual?
Is there something you do that helps stop it?

Anyway, glad to know there is somebody out there that understands what I'm talking about, cause when I say I'm stuck "ON" or I'm fuzzy, ppl think I'm loopy ...
Well, yes I am loopy :D - But not that kind of loopy ...

Ciao
Awake Mangoette

LeKanaw, where did I send you wrong? sorry about that, anyway.

FWIW, if I have a 'white night' and can't get to sleep, the best I can hope for is 42-44 hours up- as soon as I pass 45 hours, I'm stuck 'on' (not sleepy anymore- tired, some) and fall over between 60 and 72 hours. drives the wife nuts.

I've had to push it a time or three on the road and start hallucinating a bit when I get to 95 hours- not good ones, alas.

Bonsoir Goody :*)

You are bad!! :-(
You sent me on a voyage yesterday that lasted many hours!!!
And when I say many hours, I really mean it, since I had one of those insomnias ...
Was up for ~34hrs, again !!! *sigh*

Anyway, your link sent me to that thread, that I hadn't followed that close.
It's links galore in there!!!!!
So then got to Lady Gray's post ... Oh boy!!!
Well, her links led me to another and another and on it went ...
In the meantime got lost in the InterTubes, had 2 FF opened w tons of tabs each ...
Kept bumping into lots of interesting articles & tutôs.
Haven't finished yet, have BMed *entire* sessions to got back and read more!

Just wanted to say: I hate you!!! There, I said it!!
Bwaaahaahaaa

Huhmm, also wanted to Thank you :D
Got a lot of answers I didn't even had the questions for yet ;-)

Ciao
Tired Mangoette

thanks- I just got tired of nearly nobody engaging their brains before, during, or after hammering on keyboards.

if you look here you'll see what I'm doing to spammers.

Salut Goody

Indeed!!
Couldn't have said it better myself.

Wassup w all this complaining?
I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to find Softs/Games every damn day!!
Let alone control what other promotions/offers these cies &/or distributors decide to do elsewhere ...

Some people have no business sense!! Grrrr
This gimme gimme attitude is getting on my nerves!!!!!!

Mangoette

I guess it bears repeatimg:

there seem to be some posters that just don't grok that the goatd team isn't in control of what's offered. or the exact conditions. they can ask but not compel.

if tou want better stuff, ask authors of software you want to see if they would consider a giveaway for the coverage and advertisement value- just be real polite.

that's my suggestion for keeping gaotd viable.

be part of a solution and voluntarily join the team rather than carping about lack of relevant giveaways.

Much as I like GOTD I think it a bit deceptive to represent limited versions, freely downloadable elsewhere, as 'give-aways'.

"Moderators don't work for GAOTD."
I thought so.

The forums are THE place for readers to share information and answer each others' questions, which happens in abundance and often skillfully, but based on your responses, why even have forum topics for software requests or other types of suggestions? Operating on the basis that we <i>hope</i> someone who can do something <i>might</i> see these comments does not seem to encourage such contributions - and I saw some good ones appear to go unrecognized.. Kinda disappointing.

OTOH, I really appreciate what you both do as moderators. I've seen very useful comments from you both. I know all about working for free, as I am volunteer ticket manager for a musical group in Austin TX and a volunteer usher at a historical theater, and I've done some volunteer web work. Give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back for me.

To date the GOTD team don't officially respond to suggestions or requests - unless they are of a nature that probably demand some form of response (Such as the Amerisoft DVD Ripper issue).

I know that they check the forums - because they have responded to issues I have raised with them. In terms of announcing that a game or program is being considered or accepted for a future giveaway - this has never been the case. The GOTD team have not announced upcoming giveaways in the past, which is probably to cover themselves for schedule changes or possible changes in plans.

The only announcement of a future giveaway is the "possibility" that Monday will include a repeat of the Amerisoft DVD Ripper. This is obviously to avoid the moaning that would result if someone missed the giveaway and weren't forewarned.

While Lee said - neither of us work for GOTD (or GAOTD - as Lee prefers), it is probably more accurate to say we are not "employed" by GOTD - but we do "help out" in these forums "where and when we can".

*sigh* overworked, underpaid.

I check the forums on and off normally between 0800-0000 GMT+10 (On the other side of the planet from Lee)

Moderators don't work for GAOTD.

We also don't view every thread 24/7/365

I check on and off from around 5 a.m. till 10 p.m. gmt.

I have seen some excellent suggestions in the forums (see below)* and replies by a Moderator, but (no disrespect BuBBy) with no response from anyone who seems to have the authority do take action on them. Why no such response? How does that work? Are Moderators not working for GOATD? How about a followup note within such topics on what "the team" had to say about some of these suggestions?

I haven't been here long enough to read through ALL of the forum posts, but I did try to do some research before asking this, and did not see much in the way of an informative response to good suggestions - or to bad suggestions, for that matter. I'm open to correction if I missed something.

*For instance:
Repeating some of the most popular giveaways is a <i>great</i> idea, if the software mfgrs would do this.
"Suggestions for Comments area"
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/772?replies=28
"Suggestions on Forums"
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/695?replies=13
(Not that LadyGodiva makes the only good suggestions - they were just the first two I zeroed in on.)

2.) Probably would be good for giveawayoftheday.com. Everyone would be a beta tester, but not so good for the company who is trying to sell software. I doubt that would happen unless Giveawayoftheday plans to make their own software.

I also love the service! Who wouldn't? I have two sites I'd like to see added.

1) retro.giveawayoftheday.com For people who were not here at the beginning. I'd like to try every program and game since day 1. Also to have a chance to get a program that at first I didn't need but then later said, "Oh <explitive deleted> I needed that program I saw on GAOTD!"

2) beta.giveawayoftheday.com We could download the beta version of the software, find the bugs and make suggestions and then when the full release comes out the people who helped with the beta would get the software free (even if it was hundreds of dollars)

If I had a complaint it would be that screen savers don't turn me on. Although it would be kewl to have one that you could put keywords into and have it display random pictures from the Internet. Something that would come on and save the screen but also have some function.

What say you?

I find it frustrating that so many posts obviously do not belong in the product post, but should be posted in the forums.

I'm not sure what can be done about many of these problems--they are related to the SPAM problem and the rapidly decreasing volume of 'real' information in the net.

It would seem that some sort of filter could remove many of these comments before they were actually posted and perhaps send the "filtered out" comment back to the submitter labeled "inappropriate"although I don't know how easily that could be done.

It also seems odd to me that the email messge telling me about the GOTD is not sent until 4 hours after the GOTD is posted. But I suppose it is possibly a measure of how popular the site is....