I am apparently part of the split/test of the new widgets and I was directed here from my post on meta.stackoverflow regarding the moving vote widget. Moving animated vote counter widget, can animation be configured off?
Here is the sum and substance of the question/discussion regarding the widget and a suggestion that there should be some way for users to disable the moving object on a per-user-basis. Some may love them, others may want to pick up a hammer and permanently fix it. (a configuration option in between is probably a happy medium):
In the past day or two, the little vote widget for questions has started following the question up and down the window for the extent of the question. If it is a long question, that little widget becomes quite annoying. The original placement at the top-left was a clean and proper placement for the widget.
While I'm all for improvement, I caution against adding all the latest 'gee-whiz' animated bells and whistles just because you can. SO is clean and non-intrusive. The more animated widgets get added, the closer the site moves to the dividing line between clean/enjoyable and annoying. The line is different for all users, and I'll admit that I prefer a clean usable interface without animated distractions.
This isn't a complaint saying remove it, but rather a suggestion that animated parts of the site have some type of user-preference that allows users who find the moving widgets annoying to simply -- turn them off. (or disable moving animations, or something similar)
The script features that update your comment inbox, etc. are all perfectly fine, they provide no distraction because they don't move. Having the vote counter flittering up/down the left side of the browser window is something I would like to turn off. Recognizing others may love it and think it is the greatest thing since sliced-bread, don't de-animate it, but please find a way to allow users to turn it off.
Remember, somebody's latest gee-whiz feature, is a bug to someone else -- if it can't be turned off.