Situation: there are always some small snippets of informaton we want to let users know.

Experienced: in 1.6, we had a "Hint of the Day (http://forums.spybot.info/project.php?issueid=218)" in the results list since we wanted to avoid a too obstrusive popup.

Expected: feedback on the list integration was not too good, so we're looking at integration with a standard popup dialog now.

I think this is a much better solution PepiMK :) You know how the description for threats is hidden by default on installation? You have to click the arrow to make the box pop up with the description of the threats. I think that should be shown by default, that way this "pop up" of hints will help the user easily see what we are talking about. :)

(hopefully)

As I understand it, the hint of the day was added to point out the extra information bar because some users were not aware of it. I personally thought it did the job simply and it, or the location where it appears has never been of concern to me (nor would I have expected anyone to really think it was some sort of spyware).

There are obviously a number of users that are deeply offended by it, possibly the same ones that don't want programs to add items into their right click menus, or have movement in the task bar icons - what ever. I think it is likely that a pop up to replace the hint of the day will just bring on another bout of complaints as was the case with Teatimer, and one has to ask how many users actually benefit from the extra info anyhow.

My preference now would be to simply delete it, go back to how it was before and have no pop up. Include a reference to the info bar in the help file, and if users don't read it and don't ever use that feature, so be it.

Hmmm... well, the popup would have a "Do not show again" option so it would be a one-time thing for those who don't like it.

If this was Mac software, I would probably prefer a side-slider; here on Windows I'm a bit divided.

Using an open-on-start product info box as 129260 suggested also sounds nice.

If the user registry hive thing wouldnt make another update necessary asap, I would probaly say that it doesnt matter at all since the 2.0 results list window is different anyway ;)

I think the only problem with the "Hint of the Day" is that it was confusingly named. All it really needs to say is, "NOTE: Click on the bar at right for details about reported items."

When I first saw the "Hint" message, I thought that clicking the bar would give me different tips for using Spybot, the way some other programs do. Since I very rarely actually find any malware on a Spybot scan, I kept clicking that doggone bar and wondering, "Why do I never get any hints?" :-)

I think changing the message to something less confusing would be an adequate solution.

Hmmm yeah, except for the one hint "see threat details at the right" there are none inside yet, right. That would improve with an overhaul of the hint function ;)

Hmmm... well, the popup would have a "Do not show again" option so it would be a one-time thing for those who don't like it.

If this was Mac software, I would probably prefer a side-slider; here on Windows I'm a bit divided.

Using an open-on-start product info box as 129260 suggested also sounds nice.

ya, with the do not show again option, i think this would be a great fix to stop people from complaining about the hint of the day, yet still showing them what we want to show them. :) I'm also glad you liked my suggestion about having the threat description box shown by default.

I would probably say that it doesn't matter at all since the 2.0 results list window is different anyway ;)

hmmm.... ;)

Anything is better then the current situation where the words "Hint of the Day" are right below the heading "Problem". Instead of in a popup the information might also be incorporated in the top of the main scan page, where there is already some descriptive text "This is the main scan page ...", that user can make disappear and reappear by buttons "Hide this information" and "Show more information".

The latest beta (see download portal) has something very mich like Bilbo said. thanks for that suggestion.

(Previously, we had tried to put ut unto the applictaion load screen, but that did not lead far, since text output during the loading is just sluggish)

I have latest beta version and if I choose to hide it pernamently after new start of S&D I got again Hint of the day.
In the previous non-beta version 1.6 I disabled via registry hint of the day, maybe this is source of problem or not?

And this Hint of the day is better then previous one.