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The dawn of a new year, 2015, now approaches, or has already approached, either way it means that it is now time to reset our Community Promotion Ads!

What are Community Promotion Ads?

Community Promotion Ads are community-vetted advertisements that will show up on the main site, in the right sidebar. The purpose of this question is the vetting process. Images of the advertisements are provided, and community voting will enable the advertisements to be shown.

Why do we have Community Promotion Ads?

This is a method for the community to control what gets promoted to visitors on the site. For example, you might promote the following things:

  • cool Ubuntu applications
  • the site's Twitter account
  • Ubuntu scripts or power tools
  • cool events or conferences
  • anything else your community would genuinely be interested in

The goal is for future visitors to find out about the stuff your community deems important. This also serves as a way to promote information and resources that are relevant to your own community's interests, both for those already in the community and those yet to join.

Why do we reset the ads every year?

Some services will maintain usefulness over the years, while other things will wane to allow for new faces to show up. Resetting the ads every year helps accommodate this, and allows old ads that have served their purpose to be cycled out for fresher ads for newer things. This helps keep the material in the ads relevant to not just the subject matter of the community, but to the current status of the community. We reset the ads once a year, every December.

The community promotion ads have no restrictions against reposting an ad from a previous cycle. If a particular service or ad is very valuable to the community and will continue to be so, it is a good idea to repost it. It may be helpful to give it a new face in the process, so as to prevent the imagery of the ad from getting stale after a year of exposure.

How does it work?

The answers you post to this question must conform to the following rules, or they will be ignored.

  1. All answers should be in the exact form of:

    [![Tagline to show on mouseover][1]][2]
    
       [1]: http://image-url
       [2]: http://clickthrough-url 
    

    Please do not add anything else to the body of the post. If you want to discuss something, do it in the comments.

  2. The question must always be tagged with the magic tag. In addition to enabling the functionality of the advertisements, this tag also pre-fills the answer form with the above required form.

Image requirements

  • The image that you create must be 220 x 250 pixels
  • Must be hosted through our standard image uploader (imgur)
  • Must be GIF or PNG
  • No animated GIFs
  • Absolute limit on file size of 150 KB

Score Threshold

There is a minimum score threshold an answer must meet (currently 6) before it will be shown on the main site.

You can check out the ads that have met the threshold with basic click stats here.

4
  • If it OK to use HTTPS links to images/urls?
    – Wilf
    Jan 10, 2015 at 1:16
  • @Wilf according to the rules above, "Must be hosted through our standard image uploader (imgur)", so that would rule out external hosting. That being said, exceptions have been made in the past (see this answer). If in doubt, open a question here on Meta. Jan 10, 2015 at 7:27
  • @NathanOsman - just i found that for things that need HTTPS imgur can do it happily (e.g. the inkscape one below i.stack.imgur.com/1DfhT.png). I mainly use this so no security errors occur when the web page is HTTPS but the contents is not - web design and development not always that fun cos of fixing stupid errors... I think it be fine unless usersuse a network that blocks HTTPS, in which case the flippin thing won't load.
    – Wilf
    Jan 10, 2015 at 17:18
  • @GraceNote shouldn't there be a new one?
    – AAM111
    Jan 14, 2016 at 23:58

28 Answers 28

31

Ubuntu Touch

2
  • You might want to consider updating this with an image of the BQ Aquaris. (Hint: this might help.) Apr 15, 2015 at 18:12
  • Yeah, I think I'll change the wording too since they are preferring Ubuntu phones instead of touch now.
    – Mateo
    Aug 23, 2015 at 16:49
23

See all questions with active bounties http://stack-exchange-dynamic-ads.herokuapp.com/askubuntu.com/bounty.png

2
  • How did you get this ad into the system? Normally it rejects ads without images... Feb 17, 2015 at 21:44
  • 1
    It's a special one, works on all StackExchange sites.
    – Donarsson
    Feb 23, 2015 at 10:10
23

Everything Ubuntu. Daily.

22

LibreOffice: The Document Foundation!

1
  • Hi! as the resident fella who gets frustrated by ads without borders, do you mind adding some borders to this ad so it meets our creative requirements? Thanks!
    – stevvve
    Aug 24, 2015 at 21:20
21

Ask Ubuntu Meta - Customize Ask Ubuntu

8
  • Customize Ask Ubuntu? Not convinced
    – don.joey
    Jan 3, 2015 at 9:07
  • @don.joey Hey, I'm the one who actually designed that, what would you propose the tagline to be? Kindly see this first
    – Parto
    Jan 3, 2015 at 21:31
  • 9
    I am thinking of - "Improve Ask Ubuntu!" What do you think?
    – don.joey
    Jan 4, 2015 at 13:33
  • @Parto I hope I did not discourage you stating I am not convinced. I just think that you cannot customize AU in AU meta.
    – don.joey
    Jan 4, 2015 at 13:34
  • @don.joey Changed.
    – Parto
    Jan 5, 2015 at 11:37
  • 1
    @Parto upvoted! Just one detail: Ask Ubuntu (and not ubuntu) would be nicer.
    – don.joey
    Jan 5, 2015 at 13:22
  • @don.joey Hahah. Noted. Lemme change :-)
    – Parto
    Jan 5, 2015 at 18:42
  • @don.joey Done.
    – Parto
    Jan 5, 2015 at 18:48
20

WebUpd8 is an Ubuntu / Linux blog which delivers daily news, tips and application reviews.

1
  • Thanks forgot to copy it...
    – Wilf
    Jan 10, 2015 at 1:09
17

Inksacpe - Draw Freely

17

VLC media player is a free and open source media player, encoder, and streamer made by the volunteers of the VideoLAN community. VLC uses its internal codecs to work essentially on every popular platform and read almost all files, CDs, DVDs, network streams, capture cards and other media formats!

14

Review

5
  • Hi! I'm on the team that makes sure paid advertisers adhere to creative specifications (among other things). Do you mind adding borders to this ad? Thanks!
    – stevvve
    Aug 24, 2015 at 21:20
  • 1
    @stevvve - paid? would love to be... done anyway.
    – Wilf
    Aug 25, 2015 at 13:23
  • 1
    Hahahaha I included that part so you know we have strict guidelines for them, and that those standards come from somewhere-- not just making them up to make your life extra fun! :-)
    – stevvve
    Aug 25, 2015 at 15:13
  • @stevvve we haven't seen this as part of the requirements for for community promotions for years - here is the community post from 2011: meta.askubuntu.com/questions/1089/… Is this something recent?
    – Mateo
    Oct 25, 2015 at 20:38
  • @Wilf can you post an updated one of this for this year's ads? The review queues are growing again.
    – muru
    Mar 18, 2016 at 20:55
12

A free, open-source game of ancient warfare

12

darktable | the photo workflow software

1
  • superb image editor for all levels of photographers but sometimes crashes and takes up a lot of resource, at least in my case. Jul 9, 2015 at 9:34
12

Join your fellow community members in chat!

7
  • The design of the image could be improved, e.g. by using less red, especially removing the reddish fog above the screenshot.
    – Byte Commander Mod
    Oct 25, 2015 at 17:56
  • @ByteCommander: I agree! That's an artifact of gnome-screenshot... feel free to edit and replace! (I'm not good with graphics programs)
    – Fabby
    Oct 25, 2015 at 18:49
  • 1
    @Fabby: I think I've improved it, but if you don't like it please revert it back or let me know what needs improving upon. :)
    – user364819
    Oct 26, 2015 at 9:55
  • Ubuntu font! Ubuntu font! Can we haz Ubuntu font?
    – muru
    Oct 26, 2015 at 12:26
  • 2
    @muru: Done! :)
    – user364819
    Oct 26, 2015 at 13:00
  • @ParanoidPanda: I like it!
    – Fabby
    Oct 26, 2015 at 21:35
  • He, that's me =)
    – A.B.
    Nov 13, 2015 at 9:08
11

Pipelight allows you to use Windows only plugins in Linux browsers. It supports Silverlight, Unity Webplayer, Shockwave, Flash and more.

1
  • Hallloooo! This ad requires a border because it has white space near the outside of the ad. Do you mind adding a border in to appease the ad ops gods? Thanks!
    – stevvve
    Aug 24, 2015 at 21:21
11

Chromium is an open-source browser project that aims to build a safer, faster, and more stable way for all Internet users to experience the web

1
  • Perhaps better link a page from which it's more obvious how to install on Ubuntu?
    – Nemo
    Oct 17, 2015 at 19:06
8

Unix & Linux Stack Exchange

9
  • I tried to make it the sharpest as I could. If you have little suggestions I can probably take care of them (simple stuff like borders / background etc). Also this is just a baseline; If someone has better skills than me at GIMP and / or a better idea, feel free to edit; here is the original sprite in SVG: cdn.sstatic.net/unix/img/sprites.svg
    – kos
    Nov 13, 2015 at 8:03
  • how about Unix on line, then &, then Linux?
    – muru
    Nov 13, 2015 at 12:12
  • @muru I thought about it, but I don't know if I'm allowed to modify the logo that way. Let me see if I can find the rules for reusing the logo.
    – kos
    Nov 13, 2015 at 12:16
  • their favicon is a staggered U, &, L, so I suppose some degree of accommodation to the form of presentation can be made.
    – muru
    Nov 13, 2015 at 12:24
  • @muru Ok, apparently these rules apply; the problem is they mention "Do not distort or alter our logo in any way.". I think so as well, it's not that I'm altering it that much. I'll make it, let's see if they have something to object.
    – kos
    Nov 13, 2015 at 13:02
  • don't worry too much. Ask on U&L Meta. I'm sure they'd agree.
    – muru
    Nov 13, 2015 at 13:08
  • @muru Done. What do you think? You were right, looks way nicer than before!
    – kos
    Nov 13, 2015 at 13:54
  • "Unix", "&" and "Linux" are all X-centered and Y-centered in their third of the height, but "Unix" and "Linux" the relatively to the height of "U" and "L". Maybe I should center those according to the height of the other letters.
    – kos
    Nov 13, 2015 at 14:01
  • looks great! +1
    – muru
    Nov 13, 2015 at 14:01
7

Blender is a free and open source 3D animation suite. Learn more

5
  • 2
    +1, however, for a future version of the image I would recommend to somehow make it a little more obvious that this ad is not about a computer game. For example, the image could be diagonally split into two parts: the upper half would be just like now but the lower half would show the wireframes of the 3D models.
    – Chriki
    May 31, 2015 at 13:15
  • Ooh okay, makes sense. Perhaps I can edit it?
    – KhoPhi
    May 31, 2015 at 20:58
  • Looking at this answer, it indeed seems to be possible to improve an ad. Not sure about the exact “rules” for this process, though.
    – Chriki
    Jun 1, 2015 at 10:32
  • yes, you can edit and improve.
    – Mateo
    Oct 25, 2015 at 17:25
  • Well, the image is up for editing/replacing. Can't wait to see what new image comes up!
    – KhoPhi
    Oct 25, 2015 at 17:30
7

Lauchpad

5

An open-source editor for experienced web designers & programmer, that supports many programming and markup languages, but focused on creating interactive websites.

2
  • Yeahhh this needs a border to meet our specifications. Please update the ad as soon as you can. Thanks!
    – stevvve
    Aug 24, 2015 at 21:22
  • 3
    @stevvve - done as well, would it be easier to a 1px border to the adbox itself :)
    – Wilf
    Aug 25, 2015 at 13:28
4

Flightgear - Fly Free!

1
  • Gimp XCF file here, if you want create your own (also for when I lose it later :)
    – Wilf
    May 30, 2015 at 21:24
4

Support the FIRST Robotics proposal on Area51.SE!

4

GNU Parallel - for people who live life in the parallel lane

3
  • Can you take a minute and add a border in? Borders are required for ads with white (or near-white) space along the edge of an ad. Thanks!
    – stevvve
    Aug 24, 2015 at 21:22
  • 2
    It is not mentioned in the image requirements. Can you take a minute and change the image requirements to include this requirement? Thanks!
    – Ole Tange
    Aug 25, 2015 at 7:09
  • Grrrumble they were at one point a part of the requirements. I'll speak with the powers that be to get this cleared up. :-) Thanks!
    – stevvve
    Aug 25, 2015 at 15:14
4

Visit elementary OS Stack Exchange

My pronouns are He / Him

4
  • 1
    The official name is "elementary" without the OS last time I looked... ;-)
    – Fabby
    Nov 18, 2015 at 16:09
  • I know that, but I wonder why in the world they say "The image that you create must be 220 x 250 pixels" if they're going to accept also image sized 440x500px.
    – kos
    Nov 18, 2015 at 16:24
  • Ok. I'll have to redo mine for 440x500 I guess :(
    – kos
    Nov 18, 2015 at 16:31
  • @Tim: I bow to your screenshot! ;-)
    – Fabby
    Nov 18, 2015 at 20:53
0

Arts and Crafts Q&A

-2

Check out the Area 51 Remote Sensing Proposal

0
-3

Help this community grow -- follow us on twitter!

1
  • This is a demonstration post to indicate how this should look when an ad is posted. It also doubles as your twitter ad, but it's up to you if you wish to promote it by voting.
    – Grace Note StaffMod
    Jan 1, 2015 at 3:23

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