Archive for the “Object Desktop” Category

The planning for Object Desktop 2009 has begun!  The great thing is that we are looking for your input on what you would like to see.  Feedback is always important, and we want to hear your opinions on things like:

• Looking for a feature?
• Looking for a new product?
• Want something changed?

Give us your input!

Object Desktop 2009 Suggestions

Updated might not be the right word, as this was almost a complete re-write.  This guide, which I wrote a while ago shows you the best and easiest way to change Windows XP to look like Vista.  The applications and skins that I show do not contain any spy-ware or anything like that.  Some of the applications are a free download, and others might require a small purchase. 

Read the full guide at the link below.

Link: Make XP Look Like Vista

Object Desktop 2008 was just released, so I created a screencast which walks you through what is included with both Object Desktop 2008, and Object Desktop 2008 Ultimate.  Each application gets a brief overview, along with a look at Impulse.  This is great for anyone who might not be too familiar with the popular applications that are included.

Link: Object Desktop 2008 Guided Tour

Today, Stardock has officially launched Object Desktop 2008 and Object Desktop 2008 Ultimate.  Object Desktop is a suite of utilities that enables users to completely personalize the Windows experience - change how Windows looks, feels, and functions to suit the user’s preference. The 2008 version of the suite is split into two tiers: Object Desktop 2008, and Object Desktop 2008 Ultimate. The standard version is set at $49.95, with the Ultimate edition tagged at $69.95. Customers with current Object Desktop subscriptions will be upgraded to the Ultimate edition of the software for free.

Object Desktop 2008 will included the following core components:

• WindowBlinds
• IconPackager
• DeskScapes
• SoundPackager
• DesktopX
• New exclusive skins, wallpapers, gadgets, etc.

Object Desktop 2008 Ultimate will include everything above, plus the following components:

• TweakVista
• SkinStudio
• IconDeveloper
• 6 other additional applications

More information can be found at www.objectdesktop.com.

Object Desktop 2008 is scheduled for a late March release, and today on WinCustomize, Brad showed off what Object Desktop 2008 will look like.  If you are not familiar with what Object Desktop is, it’s a suite of desktop enhancements to change the look, feel, and function of Windows Vista and XP.  What’s new in 2008 is that Object Desktop will be split into two.

• Object Desktop (WindowBlinds, IconPackager, DesktopX, DeskScapes, SoundPackager, MyColors)
• Object Desktop Ultimate (the above plus over a dozen other programs)

The exciting part is anyone with an active subscription to ObjectDesktop.net on March 31, 2008 will automatically get upgraded to Object Desktop Ultimate free of charge.

Link:  Object Desktop 2008 Guided Tour

Since it has been over a year that Vista has been released, we have seen the customization of Windows Vista slowly, but surely start to take hold.  Skinning had a rough start with Vista for several reasons, but one of the main ones was that not everyone was rushing out to put Vista on their PC’s.  Then of course, people had to learn how to customize Vista, which at the time it was a bit limited.  I would get so many questions on a daily basis from users from dozens of forums asking about what Stardock “had up its sleeves”.

WindowBlinds 5.5 was launched in March of last year, and finally gave those users a means to change their visual styles, and even use their favorite ones from XP.  When WB 5.5 was released I heard from hundreds of users who claimed Vista will be the end of WindowBlinds because Aero is so “perfect”. 

At the same time we had the .msstyle advocates drooling over a hack that allowed non-signed Vista themes to be used.  While Vista .msstyles had a brief period of popularity, people seemed to quickly lose interest in themes that were nothing but re-colored Aero mods.  That really wasn’t the fault of people who were making the visual styles, it’s just that the limitations of Vista really doesn’t allow much beyond that.

Read the full article: Link

2008 is going to be an exciting year for both Object Desktop and skinning. This year we will see some significant changes in Object Desktop, one of which is the creation of two versions of Object Desktop that will cater to both consumer and power users both. 

Some other highlights:

• IconPackager 4
• IconDeveloper 2
• DesktopX 3.x
• DeskScapes 2
• SkinStudio 6
• MyColors

You can read the full Object Desktop 2008 discussion here, which has much more details. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Link: Object Desktop 2008 discussion

The great folks over at CyberNet News are celebrating their 2nd anniversary, and for this occasion they are having a ton of giveaways.  Among the many giveaways offered are a subscription to Object Desktop and Multiplicity Pro from Stardock.  Object Desktop is the suite of desktop enhancements that include WindowBlinds, IconPackager, DeskScapes, and much more.  Multiplicity is an application that allows users to control multiple computers with a single keyboard and mouse.

Head on over to CyberNet and read their product reviews, and more information about entering.  The contest deadline is December 4th, so be sure to hurry!