Just a suggestion. Look to Uncle Sam aka US of A. Analytical Graphics Inc. has a 3D program that does satellite telemetry for the government. Why not approach them with an app similar to windowblinds that will give them a different 'feel' as it were for the desktops they use. Look at Sysmetrix and what its capable of, monitoring systems and such. Deskscapes is powerful enough. Why not real time images that can keep track of all they have up there. I'm sure they already have something similar but the user experience might draw others into the fold and breath new life in a rather lackluster space program. May not be easy but the payoff could be extravagant considering how much into making money the government is. Just a thought.   

The first half of that disappoints me greatly.

The second half scares me, because if you don't like DX well enough to use it, how can we have faith that you'll give it the attention it deserves?

Deserves?

Hell, yes. Deserves. DesktopX is one of Stardock's most powerful apps, it just needs love.

What?

I've said this on the ObjectDesktop 2011 thread, whatever you decide to do the only qualification should be if you make it available to the community is that it works.

Brad: With regard to IconPackager, couldn't you do something with Chaninja's "LaunchIcons"? Could it be integrated into IconPackager, maybe as a deluxe version?

http://launchicons.com/

I know that it is difficult to keep up with the changes but I would like to be able to skin all of my apps (ie8, office, etc.)

i know what you mean, images can be flipped expanded ect with just a finger touch nowadays and yet we are still stuck with stagnent items that dont do many exciting things like that (apart from a few animations we can do).... wb should be like that too, but yeah we are being left behind......

i would ask Sviz  for help she is amazing at coding and could probably help.

It was meant to stir the creative juices. If one company can do it and be successful who's to say others can't do the same. It all points to what Object Desktop is capable of. Apps like Deskscapes that can generate amazing images in the hands of experienced people. Sysmetrix monitors just about everything a computer does. You don't think it can do more. Look at DX. That app is like SMX's big brother. Rainlendar is among the simplest apps. It has eight controls and I've used them all. Controls only do what you tell them to just like a computer. What I'm driving at is the versatility inherent in the combined apps. What's stopping it from going to the next level. Farfetched? Maybe. 

I dunno whether it's a legacy from my years with alternate shells [Litestep] but my use of skinnables/skinning these days is all about the 'I', not the 'G' in 'GUI'.

Functional access to 'stuff' defines my use of it all...even Windowblinds only for the Z-order handling and 'roll up'.

Whether or not every pixel is cute...or even matches is not important to me these days...

Well, you probably like my stuff then...

Unless I missed something I don't think you guys did a single thing to fix DesxtopX 4 after you received feedback from it. How could it possibly have a chance? Heck, I think Redneck Dude still uses 3.5, and if he can't use DX4 then ....

I would love to see new stuff but even more..., I'd love to see the core stuff working and more promises kept when it comes to the announcements/goals. Good luck on whatever path you choose to take.

Ironic too, because 4.0 comes with 2 of my skins pre-installed...and I can't use it....irony is so ironic...

Boxxi I love that idea I have a set I was working on and only stopped because I needed to make the target configureable by the end user.

I kinda finished one up and uploaded it here to my personal site only (to keep it out of the galleries) . That way

Brad and You can take a look here... https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/desktop_gadgets/135/

Best part is if we make it's target user configureable it run on the DX platforn (    RND ) so not really any new software needed just some fine tunning!

I see what you mean Harley, and that is real nice, but I was thinking about a way to update IconPackager rather than involve DX technology. To put it a simpler way..... animated icons within IconPackager.

Does this mean that IP will receive little or no further development?  If so that's sad!  There are several tweaks that would make it more useful, user friendly and attractive to non=believers.  The addition of in-app skinning to user defined desktop and other shortcuts would be phenomenal and make IP almost complete as an icon packaging tool.

Sure, animations and the like would be nice, but I'd rather see IconPackager skinning user defined icons before new stuff is even considered.  I mean, how hard could it be when the primary skinning engine is already there?

As for saying that skinning is taking a back seat because Windows these days is nice enough by default, it sounds almost defeatist and like we don't have a great deal to look forward to in 2011. I mean, really, is this the way you'd like to see a company you are a customer of presenting the upcoming year?

I know if it were me, and I developed software for Windows, I'd be thinking more positively than that... and I wouldn't be telling my customers that it's all getting too hard.  Nope, I'd be looking for new and improved ways to make my products look more attractive to as big an audience as I possibly could.

For the past few years Stardock has been the only company producing any kind of skinning software that's worth a cracker, but that has gone into decline over the last couple of years (with updates far and few between on some apps, others disappearing and some, like DX 4, plain broke) and that is more likely the cause of downward spiraling sales. 

It isn't Windows, because Stardock's hardcore customers still want the customisation apps, regardless of how pretty you say Windows has become.  We just aren't prepared to accept the mediocrity Microsoft dishes up in the way of a GUI.

Satisfied customers hang around, pass on their experiences to others, but if there's nothing to write home about (an old expression referring to lacklustre, etc), sales will suffer.  I know people who like what they see when I show them my customised desktop, and all that I can do with it, but their interest in getting it for themselves completely evaporates when I tell them how much ObjectDesktop, ObjectDock Plus and CFX Plus cost me.

So for mine, I'd be thinking perhaps a few dollars from a lot of people rather than alot of dollars from a few people... discount coupons for word of mouth referrals, perhaps, loyal customer benefits, even, and maximising customer satisfaction to boost customer loyalty.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I am a loyal customer and wish to remain so, but I honestly don't know for how long if things continue along this trend where custiomisation has played second fiddle to gaming.  Sure, gaming is where the money is, but if you're not big enough to successfully diversify into both customisation AND gaming, you have to decide to be one or the other.  You owe that to your customers, because both markets will suffer unacceptable (to the customer) corner cutting until you do.   So which is it to be?

So who am I?  I'm the dipshit nobody who plays court jester in the (increasingly dying) WC forums, with the hope of keeping them alive.  Am I a businessman with years of experience running my own show?  Nope, I'm just a customer who has had experience in retail, promoting the products my employers wished most to sell. And they ignored me at their own peril. It was all well and good being up there high in the loft balancing the books and doing the figures, but when they ignored the down to earth knowledge, considering what ordinary people think/want/need, it was game over.

Anyhow, have a nice day.

Hardcore customers cannot be the sole source of income.  New people must always be buying the service and unless they are unhappy with what they have (think Luna) then they won't buy.  This is especially true as the economy continues to contract.  

Lowering prices any more for core apps may actually devalue them more than anything and not generate sales.  It's a thin line.

By focusing on productivity enhancements (of which WindowFX is a good example [with a smattering of eye candy]) Stardock can reposition themselves in the market they started out in (OS/2) and market to a wider audience.

I understand that hardcore customers cannot be the sole source of income, which is why I suggested discounts for word of mouth referrals/sales... and to get word of mouth product praise to generate 'new' sales, hard core customers must be kept satisfied with the products on offer. Like I said, manufacturers/developers/retailers need to keep a finger on the pulse of the man in the street to succeed.  If they don't and ignore the majority of consumers they're doomed to fail. 

Advertising and marketing strategies account for a percentage of sales, but word of mouth is the best advertising/promotion a company can get, so yes, it comes down to businesses getting in touch with their human selves and leaving profit take care of itself.  That's the trouble with many businesses, they worry too much about books and figures while forgetting and/or neglecting the human element of trade... their customers.  Sadly, too many businesses put their customers last... and suffer for it when they could be doing so much better with some plain courtesy and consideration.

Business is a symbiotic relationship (customers/clients and the developer/manufacturer) and many businesses would be better served to remember it.... for when customers feel disenchanted, disheartened, disenfranchised, they are no longer loyal and spend elsewhere., and given various comment in the WC forums, diminished sales (and let's not entirely blame the GFC), it would seem quite a few Stardock customers have done just that.

Just saying... we're important, too.