New Layout, New Prizes
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If you’re reading this post from your RSS reader, you would not have seen our awesome new site layout. So come on over to the site and see just how great it is. Thanks to Daniel Sachs, whom many of you know as Jukov, we at My Today Screen have a new site layout, logo and branding.
So what’s with the new branding? As Daniel puts it:
“my” device could be any device, but it is “mine” and it is “my” today screen. The colors are close to the colors of WM 6 but with a funky orange twist, since it is “my” today screen.
That alone captured what we wanted to do with this site.
Win Some Prizes
We’re so proud of this layout that we wanted to give away from prizes. So all we need you to do is leave a comment below telling us what you think of the new theme. That gives you one chance.
With new theme, we’d love to add new content as well. So if you have suggestions as to what new content you’d like to see us come up with, put them in the comments below. That’ll earn you another chance.
Up For Grabs
What’s in it for you? How about a title from SBSH’s library? You get to choose what you want. So we’ll pick 3 winners and you get to pick your software. How’s that?
When Does This Close?
You’ve got till 12pm (Eastern Time) on June 4th to submit your entries. After that, we’ll choose 3 winners and announce them here.
By entering this contest, you authorize My Today Screen, and its representatives, to provide your personal information (such as, but not limited to your name and email address) to the sponsors of this contest should you be selected as a winner. Your personal information will not be sold by My Today Screen, or otherwise retained for any purpose except that described herein.
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Hi, guys, I would like to congratulate you on the new layout and branding as well as on the smooth migration.
I would also like to note the pleasure of working with Tariq and Doug on this project, as well as their professionalism, approach and great ideas.
I hope this work will be my small contribution to MyTodayScreen’s success now and in the future.
Jukov
Daniel, you are far too modest.
All Tariq and I did was through our pie in the sky ideas at you. You did an amazing job. And we look forward to having you around MTS for a long time to come. 
Doug
Its a different template. Not necessarily better or worse. Just different. I dont like the logo however. That needs some improvements, and you need to pick one and stick to it. That’s how you gain recognition.
As far as content goes, I would like to see MUCH more free stuff. You guys do a lot of commercial software reviews, but how about some stuff us poor people can load up and try on the weekend for free?
Very nice look. Clean and easy to navigate. I especially like how it is so well laid out. Easy on the eyes.
Hope it goes well.
Hey, Bryan. Actually, the original logo we had was never intended to be the permanent logo. We have been working on creating a new logo almost since the launch. After a few false starts, we found Daniel who came up with what you see here. Obviously, we are pretty excited about it.
As for freeware, you already know about The Arcade, which highlights 5 free games each month. In June, Tariq is getting ready to kick off Freeware Square, which will highlight five non-game freeware programs each month. Of course, if you have one specific program in mind you would like us to look at, drop me a line.
Doug
I like the color mix, with the accents of orange, rather than overpoweringly orange!
Keep up the good work!
I like the new look. But then I liked the other look too.
I like the new design, but I really don’t care for the new logo. The PDA element looks very rudimentary, like it was composed in a minute or two by a novice. I know it’s supposed to be merely a visual reference to a general class of devices than a picture of an actual device–and in that it succeeds–but I think it could be done much better. The typefaces are okay, but the size of the “My” is not consistent with the “Today Screen” (compare the height of the M, not including the “tail,” to the T and S, and the width of the first Y to the second), which deemphasizes it too much. The coloration I could take or leave (the O seems to be a different color solely for the sake of adding some color), but while the “shiny” effect is certainly in vogue and I’m not generally opposed to it, I think here it’s a bit overdone, like an early ’80s heavy metal album cover.
I hope I don’t sound too negative. I think the overall design is really great, but the logo… not so much. I like the concept of the logo–I can see, and like, where the designer was trying to go–but not the execution.
yeah Jordan, I thought the PDA thing needed some help. It could be generic, but make it more detailed. And the fact that the “My” is separated from the rest is not optimal. The reflection puts the website tag (”Another look…”) too low, making it seem somewhat detached as well.
Looks good!! Brett
I don’t know. It’s easy to be critical. After a few comments about the “device” in the title–yeah, it looks kind of cartoonish, but the other ones around the orange category buttons look Ok, so maybe all you need to do is remove those red and green buttons and it will just look like a device screen. Anyhow, my biggest Ah-Ha comes from realizing that when you graze sites by way of an Rss feeder, you often don’t even visit the site itself, so when I did did it was—Whoa!!! Look at all the color! Very impressive. So, I’ll give it an 8, cause I like the Beat and you can dance to it……Keep it up.
Thanks, GreatDay. And glad to finally see you commenting over here.
I agree with you about RSS reading. There have been some sites where I completely missed a whole generation of site themes because I only read the RSS. 
Funny you mention the red and green buttons. That was something we actually debated for a little while. I think it makes the device look a little less like just a generic screen and more like a PDA phone.
Also, for those of you who have not noticed, take a look at our new Cafe Press store by clicking the orange My Shop button. There, you can purchase all manner or My Today Screen merchandise. Personally, I am a bit partial to the mugs myself.
Doug
Well, IMHO (which is just that. “my”), I like the new layout and the new brand. Generic makes sense if the site isn’t devoted to one specific device, or family of devices. Variety is the way to go. More readers instead of just Axim’s. (Although I still go there for help!)
Here’s a challenge for you. I’d like to see a shoot out between PI & AF. Has been done, but would like to see/hear your take.
Ssschmidt.Ask and ye shall receive…well, almost. Watch for our July Shootout, which will be based on Smartphone PIMs. Agendus, PI8 and Agenda One.
Doug
Drat. Foiled Again. But wouldn’t trade my tilt back for my 3125. Touch Screen is what I missed. But…. You are missing SBSH Papyrus in the Smartphone PIM category. Granted, PI Smartphone was initially a rebranded Papyrus, but SBSH has been following their usual pattern of frequent updates.
Besides, I’ve read numerous comparisons of the “Big 2″. The functionality of both is very similar. Main difference is in the “getting there” of the menu layouts. Granted, they both tend to have ’something’ different, but eventually will be comparable.
Wow. Long comment.
No contest entry, I don’t need reg keys for SBSH PPC software anymore.
* Logo - I agree with the comments that the WM device is the weakest point. It looks like two rectangles with rounded edges on top of each other, and then rotated a bit. But maybe that’s not a big problem, perhaps it can be improved a LOT of it has a color. Now that it’s white it looks unfinished, so maybe with some (gradient? shining grey?) color it might look way better.
* Side bar - For me it’s really important to have a side bar that isn’t cluttered. Ads take up quite some space (probably 50%) but I understand that a lot of things need to be paid for. Anyway, the tabbed boxes for Articles and You Say make up for that, they use space efficiently.
* Site header - Looks good, apart from the device in the logo nothing needs to be done about it. The advertisement next to the Home - About - Advertise - Contact looks cool, having the extra vertical space.
As Ken and GreatDay said, I like the orange accents and the shade of blue. Nobody commented on the cool retro style of the “My” text (wow, how old must I be to remember when *that* style of font for the “My” was popular—shades of the Electric Company on PBS!). The PPC graphic doesn’t bother me…sometime understated stylizations are better…a device with green (on or call) and red (off or hang up) conveys the general idea without tying to any device in particular. A PDA? A smartphone? A portable media player? Who knows? Use your imagination to fill in the blanks. The 3D aspect of the new logo is nice too. Gizmo out in front, the logo on a reflective surface behind it. Unless my eyes are failing me…
The browser tab icon is a nice touch too!
Since we are getting some quite biting remarks on the new logo, I feel the need to explain the approach.
The logo consist of two elements. The main pda/smartphone/PMP/whatever mobile device and the My Today Screen text.
The text is divided into two parts. One becomes a part of the logo where it changes to solid, but more free personal style, representing tweaked interface as well as a feel from a past (spot on breley). The rest of the text is more formal representing present and future, and balancing the, so called, “cartoonish” feel of the logo.
Which gets me to the next point. The logo. Multi-use branding requires simple, graphical image easily reproduced across media (just like is done with the shop) and easily recognizable (aka fax test), the best logos we know of are just like that. Think of microsoft, mcdonalds, nike, adidas, apple, engadget, aximsite, you name it. Making it colored, gradient, would lessen the effect of simple recognizable graphic statement. Overall making the logo in that fashion allows the site to use it in variety of way, applying different styles, adding elements, without changing the origin, keeping the familiar, iconic representation of the site.Just have a look on the Shootout Features Article graphics or the navigation buttons. The orange “o” is not “just to add color”, it’s a button, “on” indicator, power source, the centre of the logo.
I know that the latest buzz on the web is complicated, curly, oldfasioned-like logos, floral effects, huge headers, etc. So what, tomorrow it will be a different style, with different approach, but it is only that - style. It certainly isn’t branding.
Anyway I, as well as Doug and Tariq, appreciate any criticism, constructive and straight-forward alike, so thank you guys.
And for all of you liking the new site and branding, thank you and I know what you mean. I like it too.
By the way, unrelated to the logo issue, I’d like to comment on Bryan’s remark of “you need to pick one and stick to it. That’s how you gain recognition.” I think you gain recognition by quality content, strong community, and variety of services. Logos are just that - logos, but what do I know, right?
On the logo issue - when you think “Microsoft, Nike, Google” or whatever, the first thing that pops into your mind is the logo. Not a page of search results or an OS disk. It is the logo. And you need to keep the logo consistent throughout all your publications (print, web, etc). You can have more detailed logos. Take Google. They have a gradient logo with shadows. That is the web version. But that same logo works in greyscale or true black and white. I believe that your logo is inconsistent within itself. From the very simple MS Paint style PDA, to the highly rendered text. I believe that if you would take your PDA, and make that fit the look of your web version, it would be highly beneficial. You could use that PDA on a simpler, B&W (fax style) logo. When creating logos, you do not simply make one and use it for everything. There are multiple logo detail levels , for different uses (Color, Grayscale, B&W only). Hope that helps.
The new layout looks great. Usually check out the site by the RSS feed! Happened to have some time to spare this morning, so came by the site.
The new layout is bright and cheery! The colors are easy to look at and they enhance the readability. Add in a pretty good layout…and you’ve got a winner here guys! I recommend you keep it!
Hello,
The new layout from this website is wonderfull. It’s a verry clear working site and it’s easy to found the blog itmes.
The logo (the mobile part) use the same font as mine own company text logo style.
congratulated with your new design.
Regards Paul
Great new theme. Keep up the good work.
Site looks incredible!
Jukov, Great Job. Not a designer myself, but the logo works for me!
I especially like the side bar, neat and concise.