My first ever fanmail (and I can't read it...)
 

Somehow, amongst all the spam and virus email, this got through:

E ai cara Beleza, Eu queria saber como vocês fazem estes skins para o winamp. Eu queria saber o programa que vc usa e algumas dicas de como fazer skins profissionais, Me falar um pouco de tudo de como fazer os famosos skins se me ajudar lhe agradeço.

(I really like that cool little thing under the "c" in the last word - English is so boring, no tildes or accents or anything)

Someone in GD was kind enough to translate it as follows:

["e ai cara beleza" COULD mean "it's dearly beautiful"] ...i wanted to know how you guys make these skins for winamp. i want to know what program you use and some tips on how to make the skins look professional. if you tell me even a little bit of how to make the [celebrity / famous] skins, i would appreciate the help.

Sounds like he wants to make Britney Spears' skins. What should I tell him? I am assuming he doesn't speak or write English, otherwise I would just send him here.

tell him britney spears sux tally-wacker for coke money and to make a skin thats stylish :)

I dunno. It's sounds pretty legit to me, but I'm not sure what to tell you.

I have never gotten skin fanmail :(

Well, if you get one, then we are tied:D

I wouldn't say he means "celebrity skins" but famous (good and well known) skins...

I've gotten stuff like this before, I usually just reply that I don't speak spanish, french, german or whatever language the request came from.
if it's in english, I just sent them to the known skinning sites, and tell them if they have any more questions that they can probably be answered in these forums.

guess that's all you can do, if this person doesn't speak english, there's not much you can do to help him or her.

Hmm, you might be right. That never occurred to me because I don't think my skin is in any way "famous". But he is asking for help, and what programs are used. Perhaps I'll point him to PS, PSP and GIMP.

In this case, it's Portuguese.

its spam, he wants to be ur little bumboy so he can hack ur account... thats my guess , lolz ;)
i dont even reply to these.

I got one fanmail once, in english :), for my 1st avs pack :):).

No habla espanol...Aye carumba senor!:p

One of my wierdest fanmails was in spanish, asking if they could include "Luxor" on their spanish egyptology site called "¡EGYPTOLOGICIMANIACOS!" :)

Fanmail or Pre-Skinners I like to call them are usually about getting you to foot the work somehow. I've always just replied with the basics and run it through a translator....

Although, this doesn't always do well, it at leasts gets the point across

Example:

- English Version
To create your own replacement for winamp graphics please do the following:
- Rename one of the skins that you have from xxxx.wsz to xxxx.zip
- Extract to xxxx directory.
- Open the directory.
- Open one of the xxxx.bmp files
- Change the color
- Your on your way to being like me.

For more extensive information goto:
- http://www.winamp.com/nsdn/

For a more complete graphic application goto:
- http://download.cnet.com

- Portugese (however)
Para criar sua própria recolocação para gráficos do winamp satisfaça fazem o seguinte: - rebatize uma das peles que você tem de xxxx. wsz a xxxx. fecho de correr
- extrato xxxx ao diretório.
- abra o diretório.
- abra um do xxxx. limas do bmp
- mude a cor
- sua sobre sua maneira a ser como mim.

Para a informação mais extensiva goto: - http://www. winamp. com/nsdn/

Para uma aplicação gráfica mais completa goto: - http://download. cnet. COM


- German
Um Ihren eigenen Wiedereinbau für winamp Graphiken zu verursachen bitte tun das folgende: - benennen Sie eine der Häute um, die Sie von xxxx haben. wsz bis xxxx. Reißverschluß
- Extrakt xxxx zum Verzeichnis.
- öffnen Sie das Verzeichnis.
- öffnen Sie eins des xxxx. bmp Akten
- ändern Sie die Farbe
- Ihre an Ihre Weise zum Sein wie mir.

Zu der umfangreicheren Information goto: - http://www. winamp. com/nsdn/

Für eine komplettere graphische Anwendung goto: - http://download. cnet. COM

- Spanish
Para crear su propio reemplazo para los gráficos del winamp satisfaga hacen el siguiente: - retitule una de las pieles que usted tiene a partir de la xxxx. wsz a xxxx. cierre relámpago
- extracto xxxx al directorio.
- abra el directorio.
- abra uno de el xxxx. archivos del bmp
- cambie el color
- su encendido su manera a ser como mí.

Para una información más extensa goto: - http://www. winamp. com/nsdn/

Para un uso gráfico más completo goto: - http://download. cnet. COM

Lol... reminds me of a line from Mel Brooks' "Defending your life"

"We like to call them little brains" ;)

In case you want it, here is a better Spanish translation:

- Spanish
Para crear su sus propios gráficos del winamp, haga lo siguiente:
- Cambie el nombre de uno de los "skins" de xxxx.wsz a xxxx.zip
- Extraiga su contenido al directorio xxxx.
- Abra el directorio.
- Abra uno de los archivos xxxx.bmp.
- Cambie el color.
- Está en camino de ser como yo.

Para una información más extensa vaya a: - http://www.winamp.com/nsdn/

Para una aplicación gráfica más completa vaya a: - http://download.cnet.com

Hehehe, it's funny to see that automatic translation, it makes no sense :D The Portuguese translation seems to be equally flawed, I guess it would be better to send the English one :)

I've only ever got English fanmail. I usually send them here, although I've never seen one turn up. I always send an email thanking people for their kind comments. They took the time to say "I really like your skin" or whatever, I figure I should show my gratitude likewise.

Would make sense to point them in the direction of the above forum but I suppose they might not understand why you sent them there. I had one email (i think about a skin) which seemed to be in Hebrew or something. I couldn't even translate it so I never replied.

Personally, after they beat England in the World Cup and with their 2-0 win today, I've decided to be Brazilian for the past week and a bit (hence the sig :)). All i need now to go with my (one) maraca and Samba whistle are some Brazilian football chants. If anyone can tell me some I'd be eternally grateful!

hi, here is a better german one. the translated version makes no sense. (i hope my english does)

Um Ihre eigene Grafiken für Winamp zu erstellen bitte tun Sie das folgende:
- benennen Sie eine Ihrer Skins um, von xxxx.wsz in xxxx.zip
- Entpacken Sie xxxx in ein Verzeichnis
- Öffnen Sie das Verzeichnis.
- Öffnen Sie eine der xxxx.bmp Dateien
- Ändern Sie diese Datei
- Sie sind auf dem Weg so zu werden wie ich.

Für eine umfangreichere Information:
- http://www.winamp.com/nsdn/

Für eine bessere grafische Anwendung:
- http://download.cnet.com

LOL! ;)

[edit]
shite, i missed my 1983th post. (My B-day) :D :weird:
[/edit]

(It was an Albert Brooks movie)

Aren't you from OC Xerxes? Did you recognize that weird building with the turrets from Irvine in that movie?