Web McDeb is back online

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.mcdeb.com/">http://www.mcdeb.com/</a><br /><br />Debbie McCormick, known to many as "Web McDeb" is back online with a twist. Her new site is a combination blog/theme collection with links to her themes hosted at Pocket PC Themes. Her newest one is really nice looking - understated, yet it has some flair. I sound like I'm talking about pants!<br /><br /><img src="HTTP://WWW.POCKETPCTHOUGHTS.COM/images/mcdeb.jpg" /><br /><br />Anyway, check her site out.

[Don't Panic!]

This is NEWS, GREAT NEWS. Thanks for the info Jason.

Don't Panic!
Bobby

[marlof]

I am very happy Debbie returned. She's one of the true passionate Pocket PC people, and I love her work!

[isrjt]

I had a feeling that she could not stay off-line for very long. It is good that she is back.

[spg]

Glad to hear that she is back online. Her themes are some of the best, if not the best out there.


Debbie McCormick, known to many as "Web McDec" is back online with a twist.


Web McDec? Don't you mean Web McDeb?

[marlof]

Web McDec? Don't you mean Web McDeb?


Yup, typo corrected, thanks!

[M]

I am very happy Debbie returned. She's one of the true passionate Pocket PC people, and I love her work!


Too bad the example given (PocketPC Blue Theme) isn't her work, but taken from Apple. She as much as admits it in the comments for the item... shameless.

[McDeb]

Too bad the example given (PocketPC Blue Theme) isn't her work, but taken from Apple. She as much as admits it in the comments for the item... shameless.


Shameless? Well I guess I am because I really don't have anything to be ashamed of. Yes, that background is very very similar to the Mac background. I wanted it to be close to the Mac background, because I like the design. No reason to hide that. No reason to be ashamed.

[Jason Dunn]

She as much as admits it in the comments for the item... shameless.


Um, I would tend to think that if someone was ashamed of something they wouldn't admit to it. :-) If she says where the artwork comes from, I don't see a problem with it myself. Heck, 98% of themes out there are other people's work transformed into themes. :D

[Steven Cedrone]

Too bad the example given (PocketPC Blue Theme) isn't her work, but taken from Apple. She as much as admits it in the comments for the item... shameless.

Shameless..... :?:

McDeb has been doing skins for a long time, obviously much longer than you've been involved in the Pocket PC community (otherwise, you wouldn't have even written that comment....).

Steve

[M]

Too bad the example given (PocketPC Blue Theme) isn't her work, but taken from Apple. She as much as admits it in the comments for the item... shameless.

Shameless..... :?:

McDeb has been doing skins for a long time, obviously much longer than you've been involved in the Pocket PC community (otherwise, you wouldn't have even written that comment....).

Steve


Oh, I'm sorry -- I guess that makes it OK. My bad...

[Steven Cedrone]

Makes what OK.... :?:

Are you complaining about making a theme based on Apple artwork????

99% of the themes I have seen use artwork from other sources. What is your point.....

[M]

Makes what OK.... :?:

Are you complaining about making a theme based on Apple artwork????

99% of the themes I have seen use artwork from other sources. What is your point.....


I see it like this... would you tell your child it was OK to take someone else's paper at school, change a few words, and turn it in as their own? Maybe we've been desensitized by the fact that "everybody" downloads "free" music from the internet -- but everyone doing it doesn't make it legal or right. When I was younger, we knew copying software was wrong, which is why we called it "piracy" (everyone did that back then, too).
I don't care if someone uses Apple artwork, or any other copyrighted work, as long as they ask permission and give credit. The implication above and at the McDeb site was that it just looks like something Apple did. Well, it looks pretty darned close. Even if McDeb didn't start with the copyrighted work, but just imitated it, it is still wrong. That's like just hearing a catchy tune on the radio, then figuring out all the notes, recording it and putting your name on it. Still wrong.
I've only been in the PPC "community" a few months, but I do remember when another PPC site "borrowed" some artwork (a screenshot) from this site and made a few minor modifications, without giving credit. There was quite an uproar over here; it shouldn't be different when you're being infringed upon vs. being the infringer. I'm sorry, but I don't see a difference; it was wrong then and this is wrong now.
So my point is, I believe copyright theft is wrong, no matter how many people do or how nice the folks doing are, or how long they've been doing it. Theme authors should at least give a credit (just like you had to on your book reports when you were in school) when they use someone else's work.

I'm sorry my use of the word "shameless" was misunderstood. If you do something wrong, and you don't feel bad about it, that's shameless. Maybe it's the wrong word for when you do something wrong and you don't even know (or think) it was wrong.

[McDeb]

Hey M...I agree with just about everything you said. The difference is I never tried to pass that background off as completely my own intellectual property. I came right out and said that I'm using a background that is similar to the Mac background. Am I trying to sell the work of someone else? NO! I actually thought it was pretty interesting, putting a windows logo on a Mac looking background. By the way, you have not complained about the windows logo, or the words "Pocket PC". How come?

There are thousands and thousands of themes out there with images that were not authored by the theme designer. At least I made this one myself. Yes, the background is similar to the Mac. I like it that way. If you don't like it...don't download it. Simple as that. I really won't lose any sleep over it.

I must also make clear that I have NEVER condoned passing off the work of someone else as your own. Never have...never will. The vast majority of the images that I use in my skins and themes are either designed by me, or from royalty free collections. Those that use logos are used with permission or without objection. I'll admit that I never asked for permission to use a standard windows logo. That thing is everywhere and I've never had a problem.

[isrjt]

I appologize ahead of time, but it is not in my nature to stay quite.

Are we all so bored that we have to fight about this. Come on. I don't know what the weather is like where you live, but here it is spring. Turn off the stupid computer and go outside.

In the past week we have been lectured about content, language, being nice, being mean. Not liking palm , not liking Pocket PC. Where's that Java guy?

This is quite possibly the best Pocket PC site out and we are reduced to slapping eachothers hands over trivial items - Jason and the gang don't ask for much and provide a lot to this community so quit your whinning.

Contribute positively, object constuctively or shut your hole!

rant, rant, rant...

[McDeb]

Amen.

[M]

Debbie - I guess it's a fine line within a big grey area. I know you don't mean any harm, and I doubt Apple (or Microsoft... I didn't even really notice the Windows logo, to be honest) will feel any pain. However, it doesn't matter if you aren't selling it. And, while I'm not clear whether you actually started with the Mac background and enhanced it, or made this one from scratch (if you did, kudos -- it's very good), again, it's not the bits that have been copyrighted, but the idea. I'm not aware that either this image or its likeness is in the public domain, and you don't appear to have asked permission from Apple (or Microsoft). That's the only information I have, so if I'm wrong, I'm sorry for the fuss.
Bottom line - it doesn't really matter what I think or what you think; e-mail Apple at [email protected] and ask what they think.

[M]

Contribute positively, object constuctively or shut your hole!

rant, rant, rant...


Oh, that's positive. I guess when you disagree with someone else's explanation of their "thoughts," it's not a positive contribution to the community. Wow, that's too bad.

Jason, please delete my account on this site, so that my "hole" may be permanently shut.

[Jason Dunn]

it doesn't really matter what I think or what you think; e-mail Apple at [email protected] and ask what they think.


I agree with most of what you're saying "M", but as soon as you involve copyright lawyers, oh boy, it all goes to hell. :-) I remember playing a video clip from a movie at a trade show - the video clip was demoing the multimedia on a Pocket PC, and of course it was giving free publicity for the movie. Guess what happened? A guy from Sony came over and told me to stop playing the clip because I didn't have permission. Stuff like that just kills me - I was simply playing a clip that's on TV that Sony has to PAY for - and I'm getting in trouble.

I don't think Debbie was pretending that she invented that concept in that skin - like I said, I think 90%+ of the themes out there are based on someone else's artwork, concept, design, etc. As long as someone isn't charging for it, and they say where the image came from (within reason), I personally don't think it's immoral. Then again, I also rip CDs I own, so I'm a BAD person to some people. :wink:

[Jason Dunn]

Jason, please delete my account on this site, so that my "hole" may be permanently shut.


I'd rather not, as long as you're ok with people sticking up for Debbie and the work she does. :) I don't know her that well, but she's always acted in an honest fashion with all her skins/themes.

[McDeb]

Yeah, M...stick around. It's okay to have an opinion. And I certainly respect yours.

This new theme is for you. All original work:

http://www.mcdeb.com/images/entry_images/seabreeze.jpg

Download it here (http://www.pocketthemes.com/download.php?op=viewdownloaddetails&lid=10759&ttitle=PT-seabreeze)

:D

[isrjt]

M, I did not mean for that comment to be directed only to you and I understand your comment. It just seems that this week we have seen more whinning, misunderstanding, and finger pointing than most. I come to this site for the great news and yes I even enjoy the arguements. I especially miss the java guy. He could stir up trouble out of nowhere. But I think you picked the wrong person to point fingers at. sorry if I offended you, I meant to offend everyone...

Oh yeah that contribute positively... it just sounded cool, usually I have the vocabulary of a fifth grader. :(

[Steven Cedrone]

sorry if I offended you, I meant to offend everyone...


Well said!!!! Rock the boat!!!!

Turn off the stupid computer and go outside.

Gonna do that now!!!(But leave the computer on, so it can do real work (http://members.ud.com/services/teams/team.htm?id=44BBA3BA-8261-4D70-AC2F-0B06B4E67D17))......

[TQBrady]

I think this discussion is a little silly. They're free themes. Most free themes are based on copyrighted content, but are not produced by the copyright holders. Oh well.
Like McDeb said, why pick on the Apple background but ignore the Microsoft stuff?

Anyway, I am curious about something. McDeb: you keep saying the background looks "very similar" to a Mac background. Is it NOT the actual file? I'm just curious. If you drew that yourself imitating the Apple background that's quite impressive!(I am not offended by either answer, just curious :wink: )

[McDeb]

Anyway, I am curious about something. McDeb: you keep saying the background looks "very similar" to a Mac background. Is it NOT the actual file? I'm just curious. If you drew that yourself imitating the Apple background that's quite impressive!(I am not offended by either answer, just curious :wink: )


Actually, I worked from an image that came with this XP Visual Style (http://www.themexp.org/view_info.php?id=2). I re-created it as best I could in Ulead PhotoImpact. I wanted to play with the image and see how it was done. I liked it, so I made a theme out of a cropped out portion. You will notice it is not identical, but it is close. I'm going to try the same design in other colors.