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

This screencast is a companion to the article I wrote about creating and recoloring Windows icons using IconDeveloper 2.0.  The full tutorial can be found here.

Link: IconDeveloper: Creatings and Coloring Icons from Images

If you have trouble viewing the video, click here for the video.

Introduction

IconDeveloper 2.0 from Stardock was recently released, so what a better time than now to start some walkthroughs about it.  IconDeveloper doesn't get as much attention as other Object Desktop applications, but it's one of the best ones out there for icon creation and modification.

IconDeveloper is not an icon image "editor", what it does is allows users to create their icon with graphics applications such as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, then import them into IconDeveloper where you can create the icon in various formats. 

With IconDeveloper you can easily import a variety of image formats, change the color of icons, do batch conversions, and create new sizes of icons using scaling techniques

Getting Started

IconDeveloper is part of the Object Desktop suite, where you can download it from Stardock Central.  There is a free download available to anyone who wishes to give IconDeveloper a look through first.  Starting IconDeveloper you will be presented with a screen that offers a couple of choices.

1. Create a new icon. This allows you to create a new blank icon.Here you have the choice to:
2. Open an existing icon. Here you can edit an icon or an icon library.
3. Convert image to icon. This is a quick way to turn an image into an icon.
4. Recolor an icon. You can recolors icons and icon packages here.

We will start by converting an image to an icon, as this is one of my favorite abilities.  For my example I am going to take an icon I created a .PNG image in Photoshop for a friends application.  I just select the "Convert image to icon" button, and a dialog box prompts me to browse to the graphic of my choice.  Just select the graphic, and IconDeveloper will give you an option to select the icon size and color depth.

Clicking the Alpha Channel button in the lower left corner will bring you a dialog that will allow you to choose a transparent color.  Since I used a .PNG with the transparency already set, I'm going to leave it as default.As you see in the screenshot above, you can first start off by naming your icon, and selected if it's Vista ready or "other" sizes that are available.  For our tutorial today, I'm going to select "Vista ready" only and that will select the 256x256, 96x96, 48x48px, 32x32, and 16x16 sizes.  You will also notice that each icon will have a preview of that selected size.

Choosing OK will then let IconDeveloper import the image, and create the icon formats that were selected.  Once that is done, your icon will be previewed along with all the other sizes shown in the left side menu. 

Recolor the icon

Selecting the Coloring tab brings you to the window where you have the option to recolor your icon.  If you want to just alter the color slightly, or make your icon a complete new color, IconDeveloper can do that for you without having to open an image editor program.

The next step is choosing the range of colors to change, and this can be adjusted by moving the slider to the desired position.  I'm going to move it to about the halfway mark for now.  The last step is to actually recolor the icon by taking the Hue slider and moving it to the desired position which will change the color.  I gave mine a lighter, and once I'm satisfied with the results, hit Apply and the icons will be recolored. First, take the dropper and select the color you wish to change.  For me, I'm going to select the blue color which is the main color of my image.  If you are feeling adventurous you can select the RGB value by itself.  The selected color should show up, and we can move on to the next step.

Saving and Exporting

If you are satisfied with the way your icon looks, you can either export as an image file such as .PNG, or save it as an icon file (.ico).  Also remember that you don't have to use the recoloring feature, you can simply import your graphic and export it as an icon file.

For more information about IconDeveloper 2.0, and downloads, visit the IconDeveloper page here.

IconDeveloper Screencast

 
Object Desktop 2008 Guided Tour

Introduction

Object Desktop is the defacto standard when it comes to changing your Windows experience. If you want to take control over how Windows looks, feels, and functions, Object Desktop is the way to do it.  Since its original release for Windows back in 1999, Object Desktop and its components have garnered millions of users worldwide.  Parts of it have been licensed to virtually every major technology company you can think of at one time or other.

Over the years, Object Desktop got bigger..and bigger...and bigger to the point where it had dozens of programs that came with it. Needless to say, it became a little unwieldy for the average user.  So for 2008, Stardock has split the product into two versions:

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

In addition, Object Desktop 2008 marks a major change in Stardock's approach to the desktop experience: It will be including content as part of the package.

When someone purchases Object Desktop, they not only get everything that's in it right now, they also get a one-year subscription to ObjectDesktop.net. This digital distribution subscription provides automatic updates plus adds new programs to the suite as they become available.  At the end of the year, users can renew their access to keep getting new updates (and if they don't, they can continue to use what they have forever).

Overview of features in Object Desktop 2008

In the past, a user who purchased Object Desktop would receive in email a serial # and a link to Stardock Central. They then installed Stardock Central and were kind of left on their own to figure out how to get Object Desktop going.  This worked fine when Object Desktop was mostly used by power users.  But by 2008, customizing ones computer had become mainstream and such a clunky first impression was no longer viable.

With Object Desktop 2008, users now install Object Desktop 2008 as a single package which automatically sets up the primary components of the program for the user.

These 6 programs now make up the core of Object Desktop.  Users who opt for Object Desktop Ultimate get those 6 programs plus ObjectBar, RightClick, SkinStudio Pro, TweakVista, IconDeveloper, WindowFX, Keyboard LaunchPad, along with some new programs that are in development that should be out within the next year.

On top of the 6 core programs, however is something new: MyColors themes.  MyColors themes are premium suites designed to use the core parts of Object Desktop seamlessly. In the past, users who purchased Object Desktop were essentially expected to fend for themselves to find cool stuff.  With Object Desktop 2008, users will receive 4 premium MyColors themes through the course of the year plus discounts on all MyColors themes (normally they're $19.95 apiece but for Object Desktop users they'll range between $8.95 to 16.95 depending on licensing requirements).

In terms of value, the individual programs of the core of Object Desktop add up to over $100 not counting the premium themes.  However, Object Desktop remains only $49.95.

WindowBlinds

WindowBlinds is a program for Windows XP or Windows Vista that changes the look and feel of the Windows GUI.  It integrates seamlessly into Windows and allows users to alter the appearance of Windows safely -- it doesn't alter any system files (in memory or on disk).  A user of WindowBlinds can make Windows look like another operating system or something completely original.

WindowBlinds enables users to change the actual Windows graphical user interface to whatever they want. There are literally thousands of different visual styles (skins) to choose from.

IconPackager

IconPackager is the industry standard way of changing all the icons on Windows in a single click. Users choose a set of icons (known as an icon package) and then hit apply and IconPackager will change them all.  For users of Windows Vista, IconPackager is the only program that supports live folder icons on Windows Vista and will automatically enhance XP icons to support Windows Vista.

IconPackager makes it a snap to apply entirely new sets of icons to Windows XP or Windows Vista.

DesktopX

DesktopX is the grand daddy of desktop enhancement programs. It was the first program on any platform to allow users to create mini-applications on their desktops (commonly called today "widgets" or gadgets"). Long before there was a Mac Dashboard or Konfabulator or Windows Gadgets, there was DesktopX.  But DesktopX is so much more than that.  It can build entire desktops from scratch. Its integrated editor makes it a snap to share your creations with others users.

For Object Desktop 2008, DesktopX gets updated to support Windows Vista more fully. Now, DesktopX creates can be exported to be placed on the Windows Sidebar.

DesktopX makes it a snap for users to add cool stuff to their desktop.

The latest version of DesktopX can even export your creations to natively integrate into the Windows sidebar!

DesktopX lets users combine their objects together to build entire desktops of their own design.

DeskScapes

DeskScapes is an animated wall program for Windows Vista. It takes advantage of the new Windows Vista compositor to do animation without impacting performance.  Object Desktop 2008 will come with DeskScapes 2.0 which is designed to run on all versions of Windows Vista.  While currently only available for Windows Vista users, Stardock is investigating some of the recent video driver advances on Windows XP...

DeskScapes runs .DREAM files as animated wallpaper. .DREAM files can contain either video content or dynamic content.

SoundPackager

SoundPackager is a pretty straight forward program. It lets users change their Windows sound scheme. What's amazing is that somewhere along the line, Windows quit allowing users to load up distributed sound schemes. You are now expected to set each sound individually (a far cry from the Windows 95 days).

SoundPackager, by contrast, makes it a snap to make your own sound schemes and distribute them out. It also comes with some really high quality sound schemes.

SoundPackager makes it a snap to create and trade sound schemes. There's already a ton of sound packages available on WinCustomize.com.

MyColors

MyColors combines the 5 preceding elements together into a symphony. A MyColors theme can dramatically alter the look and feel of Windows by changing the Windows GUI, the icons, the background, add widgets, and change the sound scheme.  MyColors themes are created exclusively by Stardock to ensure a bullet proof experience.  We may open it up to others down the line to create MyColors themes but for now, we want to focus on making sure that the user experience is exquisite.

For Object Desktop users, Stardock will be releasing at least 4 MyColors themes per year. The longer one keeps their access to ObjectDesktop.net, the more MyColors themes they'll accumulate.

MyColors brings it all together.

Impulse

While not technically part of Object Desktop 2008, Impulse will debut with it.  Impulse is Stardock's next-generation distribution platform.  Existing users can still use Stardock Central if they want, but Impulse will be available to easily manage not just software but content as well.

Impulse lets users manage, update, and get more software and content for their PC.

Object Desktop Ultimate

Anyone with an active subscription to ObjectDesktop.net on March 31, 2008 will automatically get upgraded to Object Desktop Ultimate free of charge.  Object Desktop Ultimate will be $69.95 for new users.

Object Desktop Ultimate is designed for the ultimate PC power users.  It adds a host of additional programs. While Object Desktop Ultimate is a better deal (you get a lot more for just $20 more), it is intended for users who know are looking to turbo-charge their Windows experience to the ultimate level.

Availability

Stardock is targeting March 31, 2008 as the release date for Object Desktop 2008.  If you have previously purchased Object Desktop but your subscription to ObjectDesktop.net has expired, now would be a good time to renew it so that you automatically get Object Desktop Ultimate.

This screencast gives a visual tutorial on how to create and use color presets in WindowBlinds 6.  For more information on WindowBlinds click here.

Another year has passed!  It's that time of the year again where we look back on last year and do a post mortem on where skinning has been and where it's going. You can see last year's here. 2007 was a pretty big year for skinning. A sucky year but big nevertheless.

What is skinning?

Skinning is the process of customizing the look and feel of something to your personal taste.  If you could change the shape and color of your car, you could say your car was skinnable.  Over the past few years, the concept of customizing the look and feel of computer software has become very popular to the point that "skinning" has made its way from personal computer interfaces to the physical world with products like "SkinIt" (which skin the outside of your computer) . Many hand held devices now come with "skinnable covers". Skinning has become more than mainstream, it's started to become ubiquitous.

For the purposes of this article, I'm going to stick with what's happening on Windows PC since that's where most of the consumer market is these days (Linux is very skinnable in various forms though).

Who am I?

My name is Brad Wardell. I'm the founder and President/CEO of a company called Stardock.  We make all kinds of stuff from PC games like Sins of a Solar Empire / Galactic Civilizations to desktop customization software such as WindowBlinds, Object Desktop, etc. 

To detractors, I'm the personification of evil capitalism gone astray. In the alternative history, skinning was this wonderful grass roots movement full of free and wonderful technologies. Then, one day, this greedy, blood sucking creature came and commercialized it -- buying out all the pure hearted freeware developers and then brain washing them to become my robotic minions of pestilence. But to fans..I, um, well if I had fans they'd probably say I have nice hair. Or not.

But on a more accurate note, while it wouldn't be accurate to say we invented skinning. We were probably the first or one of the very first to create software with the explicit intent of changing the look and feel of the user interface back in 1994 with a program called Object Desktop for OS/2.  We didn't call it skinning back then. No, we called them Dynamic Interface Modules (DIMs). Cough.  For some reason, DIMs didn't take off as a name. Skins, coined by people modding the video game DOOM, did. 

Object Desktop for OS/2 (1994). See the tabbed "dock" on the bottom and the "side bar" on the right? The program also changed icons and the window borders, buttons, scrollbars, etc.

Suffice to say, I've been into this stuff for quite a long time.  This article is by no means complete as I do not know about all things skinning in all places in the universe. But I do try to keep up with what's relevant and what sorts of cool new stuff is being made to give users more power over their computing experience.

2007: Not a great year for skinning

Windows Vista has not been good for skinning.  First, it's a lot harder to customize things in the OS because of all the "security" features. Secondly, supporting 64-bit Windows Vista is a pain in the butt for desktop enhancement developers which makes customization painful for those users who have the highest end version of Windows.

On Windows XP, skinners had two viable options for skinning the entire OS. You had WindowBlinds (which Stardock makes) or you could patch a .msstyles file using StyleBuilder and then anyone who was running a cracked version of uxtheme.dll could use the subsequent .msstyles visual style to change the look of Windows.  On Windows Vista...well, things aren't quite so nice (unless you're a user of WindowBlinds which is really nice - for Stardock anyway).

Vista: Msstyles

Windows Vista has .msstyles too but the format is obfuscated. In XP, the format was literally documented. So there is no StyleBuilder equivalent to making a .msstyles file on Vista. Instead, it involves hex editing your own .msstyles bit by bit. Even then, only small parts of the Aero (the default Windows Vista skin -- that glassy look) have been changed so far in the resulting Vista .msstyles.

So basically, even if you manage to resource hack out your own msstyles file for Vista, it's probably going to look pretty similar to Aero except for different bitmaps in different places.

And as if that wasn't enough, getting your system to run these .msstyles can be a pain as it involved cracking uxtheme.dll still but also a couple of other files -- which tend to get overwritten on occasion by Windows Update.

The one piece of good news for uxtheme patchers is Rafael from WithinWindows.com has been keeping on top of the updates to uxtheme and provided regular updates to the patches when they get broken.

Skinning-wise, the selection of skins is pretty slim. The Neowin.net community for Vista msstyles is probably the best one I've seen on the net for collecting the best .msstyles. If someone makes an editor, this may change but it won't solve the issue of the underlying tech getting broken with new updates to Windows. For instance, a Windows update this past Fall broke all of the existing .msstyles.  On the bright side, it's all free.

ProjectX by SweatyFish Vista .msstyles theme

Next-Level by VaThanx

The main problem problem skinners are running into with msstyles on Vista (besides the fact that they're incredibly time consuming to make a skin) is that they're ultimately derivatives of Aero. The skinners don't really have control over transparency, shape, button placement, etc. So you ultimately end up with something that is similar to Aero.  But most people like Aero and the price is right.

Vista: WindowBlinds

Stardock's WindowBlinds 6 works natively on Windows Vista. When run, it incorporates itself into the Windows Vista DWM and is actually slightly faster than Aero on moving and resizing of windows.  Because WindowBlinds has an editor and its skins can run on both XP and Vista, it has a lot more skins. But that also means there's a lot more crap for it as well. That's the #1 criticism of WindowBlinds by users - lots of skins, lots of them ugly.  By contrast, because msstyles on Vista require real dedication to finish, the completed ones tend to look nicer (as a %) than the typical WindowBlinds skin.  But there's a lot more WindowBlinds skins and hence more good skins as well -- but users do end up having to wade through a lot of junk to get to them.

Aero Metal by Stardock Design

Harmony by VStyler

One thing that would help out the WindowBlinds skinning community would be to take better screenshots of their work. A lot of the skins are actually pretty good but look horrible in screenshots. Looking through the WindowBlinds gallery on WinCustomize one doesn't even need to look closely at the thumbnail to go "Blech" at the screenshots. Wallpapers should offer a contrast to your design. Purple on purple is not your friend.

So when it comes to actually changing the Windows experience, WindowBlinds has the upper hand by far but it comes at a price. It's $19.95 whereas patching your system files is free.

2007: Vista makes life tough

What is it with Microsoft and confirmation dialogs? Ever try to edit your Windows Live Messenger contact list? Go ahead, try to delete a contact. I'll wait.  Confirmations. You can't get rid of them.  Copying a file from a network drive gives you a confirmation dialog too -- as if I had a muscle spasm when I dragged and dropped files.  But all that's a picnic compared to trying to actually integrate new features into the OS.  That's because the User Account Control system (UAC) is evil.

How evil is it? It's diabolical. For example, to keep hackers from easily writing their evil stuff (one presumes) UAC will create virtual, temporary directories and paths that fool the application into thinking it's actually working. Only later, during a wide beta does one realize that no, it's not actually working because it's not putting the data in the directory you told it to but rather some other directory that may or may not be there when you reboot. The whole thing has made my cry several times. And there's nothing more awkard than hearing a grown man curl up in the fetal position on the office floor sobbing loudly. No one knows how to respond to that.  That's what the UAC has done. That's what it's brought me to.

2007: Skinning too damn popular

Most users know about skinning at this point. Many consumers expect their favorite programs to be skinnable. Heck, even Valve's Steam is skinnable!  In the old days, people had to smoke or drink to be cool. Now you just make your app skinnable and you're cool. Come on, everyone else is doing it...

Even Steam is skinnable

Of course the downside of that is that evil capitalistic bastards who would grind your bones into powder if they could sell it (come on over, I have something I want to show you..) are hiring up all the skinners because there's just so much demand for people with an ounce of design capability. And we're only at the beginning of this trend as we'll see later.  So that means that communities full of free cool stuff are losing a lot of their most talented people to the bone powder producing corporations.

Combine the migration of skinners to a gazillion different programs to make the bucks with the fact that there's now a gazillion different versions of Windows to deal with and you have a lot fewer skinners per app.

Meanwhile, the number of users into this stuff just keeps growing and growing!

2007: Advances in Skinning

In 2007, advances mostly meant getting the thing to work on Windows Vista.  Some programs had a harder time than others.

WindowBlinds

At the risk of showing my bias, I think most objective people would agree that the biggest news in skinning last year was the release of WindowBlinds 6. With its support for native glass on both XP and Vista, animated start menus, and in-depth skinning of Vista controls, it was a bright point in an otherwise transitional year.

Turbo for WindowBlinds 6

DeskScapes

Despite only working with Windows Vista Ultimate Edition, DeskScapes has helped make the case that yes, people want animated wallpapers. Typically 3 or more .Dream files (animated wallpapers) fall into the top 20 each week on WinCustomize.  With DeskScapes 2.0 arriving in 2008 which promises to bring animated wallpapers to all users of Windows Vista and possibly beyond that too, animated wallpapers could be a huge thing next year.

DeskScapes on Windows Vista Ultimate

Talisman

Developer Lightek hasn't been resting on its laurels either. Their popular alternative shell for Windows, Talisman, was updated to work with Windows Vista this year.

Talisman replaces Explorer with one that users can design themselves.

Aston Shell

Like Talisman, Aston Shell is on its x.9999 version which is largely the existing version but working with Vista. I suspect this year both will launch their next-generation editions.

Aston Shell

Like Talisman, Aston Shell will replace your entire Explorer shell with one that users can apply themes to that radically alter its appearance.

Which one you prefer depends on tons of factors I won't even try to touch.

Adobe Air

What? You haven't heard of Adobe Air?  Adobe Air is Adobe's attempt to let people create web applications that work also on the desktop.  Should these count as skinnable? It's hard to say. But it's a platform that skinners are looking seriously at.

Microsoft Silverlight

Silverlight could be best described as a .NET version of Flash.  It and Adobe Air are essentially competitors. Both are cross-platform and both sing a similar siren song to skinners to go play with them.  Like Adobe Air, the question of whether this is a skinnable platform or not is obvious.  That remains to be seen. Skinning, it seems has evolved to where entire platforms are being made just so that people who like to make custom stuff can make more and more complex stuff.

2007: Things that tanked

Remember widgets? Remember gadgets? These were going to take over the world.  Didn't happen.

In fact, CNET, like us, were so wrong about widgets that they listed widgets being successful as their single worst prediction of 2007.   As I was going through my notes for this article, I wasn't trying to fit any particular narrative, I simply recognized a pattern that all of the major downers of last year were related to widget-related programs.

Windows Sidebar is a dud

Just how big a failure is the Windows Vista Sidebar? Even though it's trivially easy to skin, hardly anyone bothers to make skins for it. Heck, most people just turn it off once they figure out how to. It's just completely useless. The Sidebar gallery on WinCustomize has had 1 skin since October. WindowBlinds 6, which supports Sidebar skins has virtually no skins for it.  If you look at the screenshots of people using the Sidebar, you can tell they're not really using it. A clock and maybe a CPU meter?  Take a look back at the screenshot at the start of this article from 1994. That sidebar (Control Center for OS/2) was more useful than the Sidebar. At least it had really good virtual desktops built in. The gallery at Live.com is similarly depressing. The Sidebar should just be quietly taken in back and shot.

Stardock DesktopX 3.5: MIA!

And where's Stardock's own DesktopX 3.5? Helloooo? Each month Stardock has said "it's coming out this month!" (I should know, I'm the one who was saying that).  Besides the fact that it proves I'm a filthy liar, what else does DesktopX 3.5's absence mean?  It means developing for Vista is a huge pain in the butt.

DesktopX does widgets and desktops. DesktopX widgets largely consist of a trillion weather widgets.

For example, many of the best DesktopX widgets make use of low level system info to tell you useful things about your system. But not on Vista. On Vista, that sort of info is locked out. Forget it.  DesktopX has included a special library called DXPerf for years which contains a ton of little functions that let widget makers create all kinds of interesting and useful content. It's dead in Vista. It'll have to be rewritten.

Then there's scripting. Microsoft apparently really has it out for VB Scripting as all kinds of work had to be done to make sure that scripts work right.  Now, I don't want to make it out that having better security on Vista is a bad idea. It's not. Good for Microsoft for taking it more seriously. But it does mean the transition is a huge pain in the ass.

None of this means that DesktopX is d0med. There are people who like widgets and gadgets and the like. But I think what you'll end up seeing is DesktopX transitioning more to building desktops rather than widgets.

The saddest part of all: The most significant new feature for DesktopX 3.5 is that it can create content for (wait for it) The Windows Sidebar!

Yahoo has ruined Konfabulator

Konfabulator was once a really innovative little program for the Mac and later the PC that let users create desktop widgets with Javascript. It got pretty popular - it peeked just as the widget craze was peeking and got bought by Yahoo.  Good for Arlo Rose and co.  But bad for Konfabulator and its commuity.

Yes, this is an actual Yahoo Widget (Konfabulator)..widget these days. This is the currently highlighted one.

Rebranded as Yahoo Widgets, it took about 2 years for Yahoo to run it into the ground.  Prepare yourself, here is the new Yahoo Widgets home page.  Gone are the forums for discussing widgets. Gone is the really slick, useful, and easy to use gallery. And gone are the cutting edge, sweet looking widgets.  Gone is the community support.

Yahoo Widgets isn't dead. But it might as well be.

Windows Presentation Foundation a great API waiting for decent apps

Okay. Vista's been out a year now.  So...where are those WPF applications? You know, the ones that showed the fancy glass effects and 3D animation right on the desktop.  WPF apps, in theory, are supposed to be able to be made using a drawing package. Super cool 3D mega apps! I'm so ready.  I've seen the demos. Yahoo's next-gen instant messenger is going to use it. I know, I saw it um, 2 years ago. So go ahead, try it out. It's really pretty.  Apparently they're waiting until SP1 ships so that it runs decently. So there's one app..

I happen to be quite a fan of Windows Presentation Foundation. But the performance just isn't there yet.  Windows Vista needs to get more hardware acceleration at the desktop level. So it will be interesting to see what SP1 brings.  But in 2007, WPF was a ball of suck.

2008: I can see clearly now, the rain is gone

So for skinners, 2007 kind of sucked.  If you were a user of Windows XP who decided to let other people be the first to migrate to Vista, you got to sit back and watch developers and skinners cater to the small % of people who had moved to Vista.  If you were a Vista 32-bit user, you got to see apps slowly and inconsistently work.  And if you were a 64-bit Vista user, two thugs in orange jump suits beat the crap out of you and threw you out telling you to wait yer turn.

But 2008 will be different, I promise*!   (*not a promise)

2008: Object Desktop grows up, exits basement, gets job and girlfriend

Object Desktop is the grand daddy of the skinning world. It has millions of users in one form or other of it. It's the program of choice by power users to transform their Windows experience. If you want the "ultimate Windows transformation" you get Object Desktop.

Popularity has not been kind to Object Desktop. Sure, the money is good but it was not a product designed for casual users.  Object Desktop 2007 is a suite of desktop enhancements. And by suite I mean like 20+ different programs. A power user would buy it, download it, and then carefully use each one.  By contrast, the general consumer buys it, downloads it, and then quickly runs through every program turning everything on at once -- on their 5 year old spyware infested PC, and then calling (by phone of course) Stardock support screaming that "it broke!"

Since Stardock still wants the money (needed to buy the rare tears of ultimate agony that I use to cheat death another day) of mainstream users and the power users, it is splitting Object Desktop into two products: Object Desktop and Object Desktop Ultimate.

Object Desktop 2008 will be a totally new experience. A user who buys it gets a single link to a single download which downloads and installs the core components already properly configured. Moreover, it's just the core pieces of Object Desktop: WindowBlinds, IconPackager, DesktopX, SoundPackager, MyColors,  DeskScapes.  Not the 20+ programs that users could hang themselves with if they weren't careful (one can imagine what a day at tech support at Partition Magic must have been like when it became really popular).

Then for power users, Object Desktop Ultimate is there which includes the 20+ programs. That way, power users can still go crazy customizing their desktop and mainstream users can buy something for $50 that really takes care of all the basic customization stuff they want without sifting through power user utilities.

2008: MyColors! Look at me! Look at me!

I hope I am making the narrative clear here: When skinning got started, it was basically just geeks like me messing around with our computers. Then one day, skinning became hip and all these people came rushing in who had never heard of regsrv32 or how to modify registry keys.  Let me put it like this: In 2001, the #1 skinning site at the time, skinz.org got around 3,000 unique visitors per day. Today, WinCustomize.com gets around 100,000 unique visitors per day. And that doesn't count deviantART which gets 30X that traffic (though not for skinning).

MyColors 2008

Stardock's big 2008 goal is to be able to provide for all these normal people without sacrificing the cool stuff it provided to power users.  MyColors is one example of this.  It basically integrates all the various customization technologies together and sells consumers completed themes.  Users don't have to worry about the software, there is no software, just the themes and the program (MyColors) to choose which theme to apply.  Some might argue that MyColors will take sales away from Object Desktop.  Stardock would respond that that is a feature. For people who just want to make Windows look like a particular theme are better off just getting a MyColors theme letting the users who are really into this stuff get Object Desktop.

There are already hundreds of MyColors themes including partnerships with the NCAA, NHL, NBA, GM, Ford, and many other companies to provide branded themes as well as inspirational themes.  MyColors will also come with Object Desktop with a few free themes given out each year.

2008: The Icon Problem Addressed

Golly Windows Vista has pretty icons.  Too bad Vista basically ignores all icons over 48x48 if they're not the new 256x256 icons. Which means that programs without updated icons look ugly on Vista.

IconPackager 4

IconPackager 4 will let users on Vista automatically recolor, resize, and choose their own live folders. That means the cool icons that have been made over the years will have a home of Vista again.

2008: 64-bit users get to sit at the table

You people with your fancy 64-bit PCs yelling about not getting enough love. Well, that's what you get for having fancy schmancy PCs.  Besides, a goodly % of 64-bit PC Windows users are dummies anyway.  If you don't have at least 4 gigabytes of memory (and even then, it's barely worth it) and have a 64-bit Windows PC for desktop use then suck it up because you probably made a dumb decision. 

I realize that statement will generate tons of flame comments by nerdlings living in basements everywhere but it's the truth (or 50+ year olds who think 64-bit computing is inherently faster or better and will spend hours talking theoreticals about it while ignoring the practical reality of it on the desktop with today's programs). 

Now, for those of you with 64-bit PCs with 4 gigs or more, I can sympathize.  Not personally of course, I wouldn't be caught dead with a X64 Windows unless I really really needed at least 8 gigabytes of memory for something (like a 64-bit SQL server but then, I wouldn't have that on my desktop).  But I'm more likely to get decent support out of Visual Studio for my Quadcore than I'm going to need 8 gigs of memory any time soon.  Yes, the comments section is where you get to flame me for my ignorance.

...ANYWAY... this year Stardock plans to seriously look to support X64 across the line.

2008: Silverlight 2.0

Will Silverlight 2 from Microsoft be a big deal? Redmond Magazine describes it as follows:

"The expectation is that Silverlight is going to follow something close to the page model in WPF, which is not the same as the Web page model or the Windows model," says Rockford Lhotka, Microsoft MVP and principal technology evangelist for consultancy Magenic Technologies Inc.

In fact, Silverlight 2.0 is a lot closer to WPF than many people think, asserts Guthrie, who describes the technology as a compatible subset of both .NET and WFP in a recent Channel9 video.

"Everything that we've added is designed to be system.namespace-compatible with .NET," he says.

That includes the subset of the Common Language Runtime, core base class library, Language Integrated Query (LINQ), the networking stack and the XML stack. Unlike JavaScript, Silverlight version 2.0 supports cross-domain network access, which allows an app to callback to servers other than the one from which it was downloaded.

Silverlight 2.0 also promises a much richer UI controls framework, according to Guthrie. Developers can use the familiar server-side .NET controls model (WinForms, ASP.NET) with the vector-based graphics model of WPF. Version 2.0 includes layout, templates, styles, databinding and list controls, among other features. VS 2008 tool support for databinding is expected in the MIX08 timeframe, according to Guthrie.

"Everything that's in Silverlight from an API perspective is in WPF," he explains, including properties, methods and syntax. "It's still a subset, but a much bigger subset than people were imagining."

So will Silverlight matter in 2008? I think we'll start seeing some proto-sites with it that make use of it. Microsoft has the pieces, they just have to get them together.

2008: Skinners take center stage

Supply and demand. They say that's a big deal. Who knew.

Skinners have the commanding heights now over developers. Now, everyone has a platform for skinners. Silverlight wants you. Adobe Air wants you. Stardock wants you. Lighttek wants you.  Even my pet turtle is working on something called MegaDesk. I think 2008 is going to be the battle of content.

In the past, software developers would toss something out on the net and say "Hey, look what I made!"  Over time, that model of doing things began to change. 

When Konfabulator came on the scene, Stardock didn't take it seriously because DesktopX was technically superior to it.  Why would anyone choose Konfabulator over DesktopX? Konfabualtor could only do Javascript. DesktopX could do JavaScript or VB Script.  Konfabulator widgets had to be made with a text editor. DesktopX included a built in editor with built in support for animation, states, etc.

But Konfabulator then proceeded to kick DesktopX's ass because Konfabulator understood something Stardock didn't - people don't give a crap about the technology. They care about the content.  The technology does matter, just ask someone whose patched uxtheme and after a Windows update can't boot (oh wait, I forgot, that scenario never happens according to their very vocal advocates, damn phantoms).  So while technology matters, it only matters insomuch that it lets the content work. Whoever has the most/best content wins.

In 2008, the actual skinners are the limiting factor. Everyone wants them, but there's only a finite supply of them. One result: Master skinning will continue to grow.

 
Programs like Impulse will allow users to manage not just their software but their content too demonstrating the increasing importance of content

Master skins are the concept in which skinners who have been in the skinning community awhile are able to sell their creations.  The Master Skin program has been a tremendous success.  I've seen the numbers and some skinners could live off their creations if they were doing it full time.  Some people may long for the "old days" but the days of Winamp and WindowBlinds being the only games in town are long gone. Now, skinners are busy making web 2.0 websites, working for companies designing UIs for their applications, etc.  The demand for talented skinners is huge these days.  And we'll all have to adapt to it.

Conclusions

So there you have it.  2007 was a bit of a sucky year for skinners.  Vista was a pain in the ass to get existing things working on.  If you want to create cool new stuff on Vista, it's very painful unless you use Windows Presentation Foundation but if you do that, you'll find that your app is incredibly slow until SP1 arrives. And with so many new platforms to choose from, the skinning community is extremely fragmented.  And plus, Bill Gates retired which just makes me sad.

But 2008 looks much better. The transition to Vista should be completed soon. The software will get polished. More focus will be put on the actual skins. And skinning will likely  move from just being mainstream to ubiquitous.  

So hold onto your hats, this year should be a great ride!

Today I present the final part of our Ask a Moderator series.  For the last four weeks, I've been putting questions, submitted by the community, to the folks who help keep this site humming along day-in and day-out so you could get a better picture of who these people actually are, and why they put so much time and effort into WinCustomize.

With this being the final set, I'd like to thank all of the moderators who participated, and all the users who submitted questions.  I hope everyone's found this series entertaining and informative.  Hopefully we'll be able to do more of these in the future

Question 1 -

How many hours a day do you mod? (HG_Eliminator)

Wizop WOM
	Total, probably 5 hours, at least.  Never really counted.  Am on 16-17 hours a day, even if I'am not in front of the computer, but check things out all the time.
Super Wizop Koasati
	Hard to say. I spend as much time here as possible, but don't know how much time I spend on any one thing.
Wizop starone
	As far as modding, anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, depending.
Sir Zubaz
	I am here all day reading the forums.  I check the queue every five hours or so to see if there is anything that needs my attention
Wizop Quentin94
	When i'm not too sick and i can be in front of my PC?... All the day
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	Depends. Some days I'm here a couple of hours, other days all day. I usually try to have breaks. The longest I've done in one continuous effort was 4½ hours. Some mental case decided it might be fun to mess with the ratings so I had to do an emergency clean up - took 4½ hours, sigh... only took me 30 seconds to exile him though    Sometimes when you are investigating possible rips you could spend hours looking at other sites. So, how long do I mod? - as long as it takes...
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	Depends on the day and how many submissions there are.  I like to also keep up on the forums, even if I don't actively comment.
Admin Jafo
	At the moment...about 2 or 3, [house renovations/construction happening].  Normally it's more than 50% of the day, the longest stint was about 30-something hours with 4 off for sleep.
Wizop Erk.
	As soon as I get home from work, I hit the mod queues in the sections I have access to ..the length of time depends on what's waiting. I download and test everything I moderate, so some days take a little longer than others if there's been heavy upload activity.
Super Wizop Snowman
	That very much depends on how many uploads needs to be traken care of.
Snidely Whiplash
	I'm usually in and out of the site numerous times daily. i spend maybe 2 hours a day looking thru the mod queue.
Moderator elvee
	It is hard to say but I try to give myself an hour or two each day, more on weekends.

Question 2 -

Wizop WOM
	I've been with this site , seems like forever, and as a non skinner I wanted to help in some way.  I subscribed so when I was askeded, I accepted as another way to give back.
Super Wizop Koasati
	Jafo, and DavidK locked me a room with no computer , and refused to let me have any coffee until I accepted the offer. Seriously, I wanted to help in whatever way I could.
Wizop starone
	Enjoy the site, and was glad to be able to contribute.
Sir Zubaz
	I wanted to be able to rub RomanDA's face in the mud that I had a higher rank than him.   Just kidding (sorta)!  I wanted to help Zoomba and Jafo and everyone who makes this place happen.  I thought I had something to add to what they did.
Wizop Quentin94
	I Love this site I wanted to help moderation team and wanted to contribute to the site.
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	I wanted to help out and do something useful and worthwhile.
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	I'm not sure either happened.  LOL  When WC started, there weren't many community members that were interested, and there weren't a lot of Stardock employees in general.  So, since I was active in the skinning communities, I started moderating.
Admin Jafo
	As a mod? .... after the ill-fated week I lasted as admin on skinz.org I saw it as a second chance to 'prove' it wasn't me that 'killed' skinz.org...
Wizop Erk.
	I wanted to be able to 'give back' to the site I'd come to know & love, after a few years of mostly 'taking' [downloading] things. It gives me a sense of worth [or value] to be able to help out.
Super Wizop Snowman
	One would be quite a tosser if one did'nt accept.......
Snidely Whiplash
	I had ot be talked into it, honestly. Boxxi and Jafo contacted me regarding it and I asked for specifics. After talking to Brad and Koop, i decided to give it a shot.
Moderator elvee
	I love WC and all the folks here. Not being a skinner, I have always did what I could to help out. When I recieved the invite, I saw it as a chance to help in ways I couldn't before.

Question 3 -

Wizop WOM
	I check the Q's first, then the admin forum, the libraries and lastly, the forum.
Super Wizop Koasati
	Community forum, Admin/Moderator forums, then the queue.
Wizop starone
	The first thing is what needs to be modded, the second is the admin board, then forums.
Sir Zubaz
	I check the Super-secret moderator forums to see what happened overnight.  That tells me if the spam level is high or if there's a hot topic in the forums or the like.  Then I check the queues I moderate.  Then I head to the forums to see if anything jumps out at me as needing attention.
Wizop Quentin94
	Admin forums, Moderation Queue, My replies, PM, Galleries, News, Articles, Forums, and my skins.
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	The first thing is the moderator forum so I know if I've missed anything. Next, I get to the skin queues. After that is done, I have a quiet read of the forum.
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	I first look in the moderator queues to see what is in there.  I then check the Admin and moderator forums to see if there is anything that I need to look into.  Then I go out on the forums to see what is up.
Admin Jafo
	First...the Forums - Recent Posts ...to check for 'wild activity'/multiple responses that could indicate a 'flame'. Second...the Admin/Moderator Forums ...to check if there's been any issues within the past 6 hours since I was last on.
Wizop Erk.
	I check the front page of WC for relevant news, and to see what's been going on, then I hit the moderation queues, then finally the forums. I usually have an idea whats waiting anyway, as I usually have a browser window open to WC and the admin forums whilst at work, to keep an eye on the [WC] forums [for spam, etc].
Super Wizop Snowman
	I check for new (public) uploads in the libraries, then onto the modding queue.
Snidely Whiplash
	I go first to the Windowblinds que to see if there's anything there that blows me away. if there is, i pass it on thru to the public library. the second place i go is the wallpaper que and leave comments regarding those.
Moderator elvee
	Routine...Check the forums, Load up Admin forums, Check Mod Queue, Then back to forums...the recent posts that is. Finally I load up WC Browser for skins.

Question 4 -

Wizop WOM
	I can barely use a paint program, so the answer is no, and never have.  Tried one of those canned puch button programs but was to embarrassed to upload it.
Super Wizop Koasati
	Heck yes....... I'm addicted ya know. I do a lot of stuff, experimenting and whatnot, but don't upload as much as I used to.
Wizop starone
	Yes, but....still working on the same blind it seems.
Sir Zubaz
	Have you seen my skins?   In addition to making me more aware of how I state my opinions, being a mod has cut down on my "skinning".  All a part of Zoomba's master plan I think.
Wizop Quentin94
	Are you kidding? YES
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	I don't really have the time. I'd like to add Vista features to my skins, but I just end up banging the keyboard - SKS6 just gives me pc rage...
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	Oh, I try....and I fail miserably.  I think I'll stick with my camera for my art and let the more talented people create the skins.
Admin Jafo
	Yes....I do a wee bit...but I don't have the time to devote to it any more [otherwise I'd be doing the Litestep theme/s for the new Community Skin project/s]...but I have been tweaking the odd Winamp skin [quicker to do].
Wizop Erk.
	No ...personally I felt I wasn't that good at it anyway
Super Wizop Snowman
	It's exactly 2 years since I quit skinning, and can't really say I miss it But yes, I have tried picking it up again, but I never get any further than opening up Paintshop Pro.
Snidely Whiplash
	Nope. I was never a skinner to begin with. i leave the skinning to the guys and gals who actually know what they're doing and have the talent to take concepts in their minds and finalize them with skins we are all privileged to use.
Moderator elvee
	I wish I could do it in the first place!  I Have alot of respect to those that can, but I try a little here and there.

Question 5 -

Wizop WOM
	As I'am single and the kids are grown, except for my 5 year old grand daughter, I have no problems in this area.  When she calls, I come running.  She comes first.
Super Wizop Koasati
	My wife, and kids used to think we were all nuts, now they know we are for a fact. It bothered Julie at first, but not anymore. She doesn't get skinning, but she gets that I love it.
Wizop starone
	Well, granddaughter thinks she is the only one entitled to my time (and is constantly talking), so have to be sporadic.  Pet doesn't complain as long as he gets a petting now and then (and gratefully he doesn't talk.)
Sir Zubaz
	My family puts up with it.  The oldest daughter is more interested now that I have the DeskScapes beta installed but otherwise could care less.  My wife is more understanding after a visit to Stardock HQ and the realization that yes, they are real people on the other end of the line.
Wizop Quentin94
	My Family understand it hehe. Friends? hum with the marriage and divorce i lost some many (and my health don't allow me to leave the apart so...), the only best friend i still have in France, well she understand me she's like me . So the only ones to cry about the time i spend on the site and skinning are my cats Well i can understand i often forget to give them food or water thought i often forget to eat too
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	Friends? Family?
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	My husband has threatened many times to chuck my laptop out the window.  Need I say more?
Admin Jafo
	Keeps me off the streets and out of the pubs...so not all bad.  My cat usually spits a dummy about 2am and demands I call it a day...
Wizop Erk.
	Most people I talk to about it initially show interest, but when I start getting technical, I see that familiar 'glazed look' in their eyes
Super Wizop Snowman
	Oh boy.... Basically skinning ruined my marriage - or rather, my addiction to skinning did! So I've sure seen the downside of being in this business. Living on my own now (though in a relationship) does give me all the time I need/want to spend on WC, but from past experience, I have "seen the light" and am now able to leave the PC behind and tend to real-life as well.
Snidely Whiplash
	Oh, my pups don't seem to mind very much. as long as i take a break and pet them or take them outside every now and then, they're cool with me being here.
Moderator elvee
	My Wife doesn't mind so much as she used to as long as I make time for her   My Cats? Well as long as I feed them, give them some love and keep the Cat Box clean, They are Happy.

Skinning first started getting popular around 1999. Back then, it was mostly about skinning Winamp and WindowBlinds.  Today, people expect to be able to customize virtually every aspect of their PC experience. From the moment someone boots to the time they shut down, everything a user sees they now anticipate the ability to personalize somehow if they choose to.

In the beginning, the content came from the community. The software itself was developed within the community as well. A given program would go through many beta iterations and technically savvy users would report problems they had, post their system info, and work with the developers to fix the problems. 

Because the community was essentially a partner in the production of the software, the software was relatively cheap. $10 to $20 was the typical price for any customization program. After all, if the user base was actively part of the development process and they were the ones providing the bulk of the content, how could anyone justify charging more than that?  And, as a practical matter, community participation drastically lowered the cost to develop skinning software which in turn opened the door to lots of freeware and shareware developers, working out of their houses, to create cool stuff.

When Windows XP came along in 2001, things began to change. Skinning became much more mainstream. The ratio between consumers of software/content to producers of software/content changed dramatically.  Once skinning went mainstream, users expectations began to change.  The number of people willing to create content dramatically decreased as a % of the user base.

In addition, the community that once would provide in-depth reports on bugs evolved into a community that increasingly would provide reports like "This is broke, it don't work on my computer. How could you release this buggy mess????" The same community that produced incredibly talented skinners increasingly became a community of consumers waiting for someone else to make things for them.

As the skinning community became more consumer-centric, the costs of providing software and content for that community increased. In many respects, the "community" of year year is long. Now it's a "market". Increasingly, unconsciously, even internally the word "market" has begun replacing the term "community".  The "skinning market" differs from the "skinning community" in that the former expects the software developers to do it all while the latter sees themselves as part of a team with the developers.

The net result is that most users simply want to buy a product and get really high quality content and not mess around with "community" content. Which, naturally, means that fewer people, as a % are willing to use the various editors and tools to create community content.

Similarly, today's users often become irate at the notion of running into bugs in software marked as betas. Very few users are willing to even try out betas and give feedback. Moreover, some people who do try out betas and do post expect that every issue they consider important will be quickly addressed and will stop contributing feedback if their particular issues aren't responded to in a timely way.

So what does this mean?

I predict we'll see the following trends:

1. Content will begin to be provided as an additional optional service. For example, a user might buy WindowBlinds for $20 OR have the option to buy WindowBlinds Plus for $40 which includes a 1-year subscription to WinCustomize.com.
2. WinCustomize.com subscriptions will continue to evolve to where content becomes increasingly the value-add users get.  Discounts on "Master Skins" and free content from Stardock Design will become the norm.
3. Users who contribute help in testing betas, giving feedback, generating content, helping in the community will get free subscriptions.

That's the 3 thigns I think will happen in the future as the skinning world adapts to becoming mainstream. In my mind, that's the best way for skinning to grow while saving its own soul.

Hopefully, people aren't taking what I'm writing as "complaining".  What I am doing is making observations about how the skinning world is evolving over time. The mainstreaming of it is altering the perceived relationship between the people who make stuff and the people who use stuff. The unspoken social contract between the two was traditionally that we developers make our stuff cheap and in return the users make the content and help us track down problems in an open and symbiotic way.  But that relationship has changed to being more akin to a traditional producer/consumer relationship. Which is fine if that's what the...market has chosen.

Three weeks back I made a post asking the community to come up with a series of questions they always wanted to ask the Moderator Team.  Well, after over 70 replies, I was able to extract 20 excellent questions.  Over the next month, I will be asking the mods 5 questions a week and posting the results each Friday for you to read, enjoy and pick apart. 

This week, we heard from WOM, Koasati, starone, Zubaz, Quentin94, Fuzzy Logic, elvee, Jafo, Hankers, Erk, Snowman and even KarmaGirl.  Enjoy!

Introductions...

To start off, I asked each moderator to talk a little bit about how they became a mod, what their skinning background is, what they do professionally, and what they help cover here at WinCustomize.

Wizop WOM
	I became a mod 2 years ago, I think.  Time flies.  Took me 6 months to become a member and that was only after the wife told me I couldn't use her account anymore.  Met a lot of people here that I call friends and only wished that they lived closer.  I'am a non skinner but my ex-wife is a skinner so I know what it takes to skin.  I'am retired from the Army and the Post Office.   I mod Dreams, LogonVista, Rainlendar, Syametrix, ScreenShots, Wallpapers, WindowBlinds and CursorXP.
Super Wizop Koasati
	I started skinning in 1999. Actually started with wallpapers. Getting past Moderation at skinz.org was tough back then.  I moved on to small skinnable apps like BeatNik, QuickChanger, and several others (just can't remember the names at this time).   I started creating NextStart themes, and later HoverDesk.  I was a beta tester for HoverDesk, until development ceased.   I've make a few WindowBlinds, but nothing special.  I love making Dock Icons for ObjectDock. I've also made a few dock backgrounds. I honestly don't remember when I became a mod.  I was recruited by DavidK, shortly before he left us.
Wizop starone
	Well, as everyone knows, have just recently become a mod.  As far as skinning, have tried my hand at all of it from winamp (never again), wmp, sys, wb's, icons, cursors, etc.  As far as professional (hum, how far back do you want to go with this?), well anyway, most of the years as a legal secretary.  Have written and published a poem book.   Am retired now and raising my 5 year old granddaughter (very interesting to say the least). I have been assigned Logon Vista, icons, winamp, and WinMedia for moderation.
Sir Zubaz
	My name is Aaron and I'm not a skinner.  I've been a Stardock app user for years though, back to OS/2 days.  In the past year I've submitted a few things and I have more stuff for personal use that I can't bring myself to submit publicly. I've been a mod for one year, two weeks although it seems I've been here forever. I'm able to moderate all the galleries but stick to mostly ObjectBar, DesktopX, Soundpackager, and Dreams.  I don't consider myself a good enough artist to moderate anything else unless there's a backlog and I can help out.  I also moderate the forums.  The nice thing there is that we have a good community and it's rare that I have to do anything more than PM a user that we all need to act like part of the community.  I like helping out on technical easy issues so Stardock support can focus on the harder stuff and serve the users faster.
Wizop Quentin94
	I became a member on August 2006, subscribed on december 2006 and became a moderator on November 2007.  I like help around in forums and share my works and little contributions.  I found here so many friends and very nice peoples (Wishing meet them in future), it's a great place, like another home. I made/make WindowBlinds, Wallpapers, IconPackages, DX Objects, DX widgets, DX Themes, Suites, CursorXP/FX, Bootskins, LogonsXP, LogonsVista, ObjectDock backgrounds and Icons, Rainlendars, ObjectBar2, RightClick, Avatars, Misc. Icons, Xion and Sound Schemes. I'm a cashier and agent of reception for a cinema operator.  I draw, I've also written poems but never had the time.. Ok never had the courage to meet an editor I mod DX Themes, DX Widgets, DX Objects, Misc. Icons and ObjectDock.
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	I became a moderator on 7th June 2004. I 'found' skinning shortly after getting my first pc in May 1999. I started changing the colours almost immediately, then found I could change icons etc with Desktop Architect. I then discovered Neoplanet, a skinnable browser which still works today. By the summer I'd stumbled across WindowBlinds. Suddenly my pc had a new purpose! In 2001 I made my first WB skin, and the rest is history... Currently I'm working for a small accountancy practice. Mainly running a payroll bureau, but also doing clients' VAT returns etc. Up until last September I spent 15 years as a Payroll Manager for a large manufacturing company. I moderate whatever needs doing. I don't have Litestep, so that's the only one I don't moderate at all.
Moderator elvee
	I became a Mod almost a year ago and it really took me by surprise.  I don't call myself a Skinner though I have dabbled with Cursors, Single icons, DesktopX, Walls and Suites, but suites are not skinning I have been with Wincustomize since it's inception, coming over from Skinz.org. I indirectly work for Miss Utility locating underground cables, Telephone and Electricity. I moderate CursorXP, DesktopX, (themes, packs and widgets.) Misc. Icons and ObjectDock.
Admin Jafo
	I became a moderator [Wizop] a long time ago...before there was carbon-dating....ah, found it....July, 2001.  We'd all come from skinz.org...where I'd lasted a week as 'admin'.... [I still maintain there's no relation ].... I started skinning in '98 [Litestep and Winamp]...though had done those silly things like changing the shape/colour of your command cursor in DOS..... My professional background is in Architecture ... started in '72 ... still learning... I have since been promoted to 'Admin' so can/do access virtually all the galleries/forums/etc., keeping a quiet, gentle finger on the Wincustomize pulse.....
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	I have worked for Stardock since before there was a WinCustomize.  I actually remember the day that Brad went running through the office talking about the impending demise of Customize and how we needed to create a place for the community.  I don't skin, but I manage the Stardock Design team (at least I pretend to).
Wizop Erk.
	I was asked to become a moderator about a year ago, after hanging around the site, and on #stardock irc on a daily basis since about 2003. I used to help folks out as much as I could, and I think that was 'noticed' by the higher-ups.... My skinning background is mostly of a personal nature ..I do it for myself. I've been around the skinning scene for quite a long time though. I've uploaded a few wallpapers here, but none worthy of checking out - just trust me on this.   I make my own objectdock icons if I need one, though I never share them. I've also made several attempts at ObjectDock backgrounds [with tabs], and succeeded once. I never use it [the background]. I'm currently trying to throw together some xion skins for personal use, but work gets in the way often and I find myself putting things like skinning aside due to being tired. This annoys me sometimes, as I love using Photoshop, but never seem to find the time to fire it up these days.  My professional occupation is in tourism. I run a visitor information & booking office in Cairns, Australia. It's a job I love doing, because I get to meet some wonderful people from the world over. I have friendships that go back over 10 years with folks from overseas I've met through my job. I've been in Tourism/Hospitality pretty much all my life. In my position as Moderator here on Wincustomize, I look after ObjectDock, Windowblinds, Rainlendar and DX widgets, along with other mods who help with those galleries as well. I also keep an eye on the forums and skin comments sections when I can.
Moderator Hankers
	I became a Mod about 1½ years ago.  I don't consider myself a skinner and I'm happy to decorate my desktop with skins from several of the talented skinners here on Wincustomize. Retired now but in my other life I was in Training and Computer support. I moderate Winamp, Icon Packages, Xion and ObjectDock and a lot of my time is spent assisting users in the forums (any that Zu has not gotten to yet).
Super Wizop Snowman
	When did I become a mod?  I do believe it was waaaaay back in late 2003. I was 'headhunted' from Skinbase   Been a member here since just a few hours after Jafo signed up. We "originated" from the same skinsite - the mother of all skinsites, the good ol' Brown Site: skinz.org If it's skinnable, I probably know about/of it. I quit skinning back in February of 2006, and up untill that time I have created some 425 skins for various applications + I keep the largest (known) private skincollection - The Skinventory. I've been working at a storage facility/warehouse for the largest electronics renting company here in Denmark - L'easy, for the past two years. For moderation, I'm more or less an "allrounder".

Question 1 -

Wizop WOM
	I really don't get excited by any skinner when I'am looking to see what needs to be modded.  I try hard not to be prejudiced by who the skinner is, that way I can be neutral and give everyone a fair shake.  As for whick skinners suprise me, I'd say SKoriginals and I.R. Brainiac.  They do some very different windowblinds.
Super Wizop Koasati
	I honestly try to ignore the uploaders name, and concentrate on the upload.  I can tell you, I've seen more than a few that excited more 'before'   I opened, than 'after' I got it open.
Wizop starone
	Actually I look at the media before the names.  Judge the content and not the names.
Sir Zubaz
	I try to avoid noticing who is submitting what.  I don't want to be biased.  That being said, there are some artists that have such a unique style that it's a thrill to see their work.  I love the ones that push the envelope.  IRB, RomanDA, sViz, vStyler, mikeB
Wizop Quentin94
	I try to don't read the name of the artistes just judge the upload, i always download the skin and install/open it before all (even see the screenshot, the name or the description)   I'm excited by upload with originality and quality.
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	I never bother looking at names, I just download and test.
Moderator elvee
	When it comes to Modding submissions, I have to put my personal likes and dislikes on the side. I don't wish to look at names and treat each one fairly.  The community spirit keeps surprising me:) Projects, Contests, You Guys Rock!
Admin Jafo
	I tend to only get excited by what I call 'reliable names'.... meaning uploads that can be 'trusted' to either work and/or have appropriate permissions .... and thus not be a potential 'drama'.  The process of approving/refusing/checking uploads can be quite tedious....perfect example is the 30 meg screensaver....that had to be downloaded and checked [and installed/uninstalled] THREE times before appropriate permissions were properly included.
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	No, I really don't look for the names,  just look at the submission.   There are a few that I see the same stuff from over and over again.  I always wonder if they try anything new or if they are stuck making fractals and cutting out clip art.
Wizop Erk.
	I also try NOT to look at the artists name on a submission, so I can be fair & unbiased in my application of it's initial rating, before I 'send it out to the masses' ...but there are plenty of folks here that make quality work that I love to be surprised with when opening a file downloaded for checking.
Moderator Hankers
	I don't check the names. I download, make sure it works,is in the proper file format and ensure that the permission has been included if required.
Super Wizop Snowman
	No artist in particular "excite" me more than any one else. In fact, who made the skin doesn't matter one bit to me. I judge the skin(s) by it's look/feel, not by who made it!   Having been in "the business" for nearly 10 years makes me very hard to surprise. You coulde say that "I've seen it all

Question 2 -

As a moderator, what do you see as your daily challenge?  (Philly0381)

Wizop WOM
	I guess trying to maintain my kool and not get upset when people either rag on you or the other mods.  All you can do is your best and learn to do it better.
Super Wizop Koasati
	No answer provided...
Wizop starone
	Daily challenge is getting it right.
Sir Zubaz
	The biggest challenge for me is walking the line between being "one of the guys" and being Big Brother.  I don't ever want to lose being a part of the community and I think I'd retire if I thought I was losing that.  (OK, now the truth . . . spelling/typing is my biggest challenge . . but you all knew that already, right?)
Wizop Quentin94
	Challenge? My best Daily moderator's challenge is to write a correct english and to be understandable
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	Finding the time to do everything which needs to be done. There's this thing called real life which keeps getting in the way. Today is typical of late: Got home from work, cooked the dinner, went shopping, cleaned the cooker, then sat down here to type this and have a coffee. Once I've done this quiz I'll be into the shower then off to bed. No time for moderating today!
Moderator elvee
	To be fair and nonjudgmental.
Admin Jafo
	Seeing that everyone is enjoying the site [Wincustomize] and skinning .... as much as they 'should' be, and with minimum 'agro' from what we would call the 'silly people'.
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	Looking at everything with a fresh eye and trying to see things as others would see them.
Wizop Erk.
	Getting it 'right' ...to my standards and/or satisfaction. I sometimes walk away for a few minutes if I've been inundated with some particularly "questionable" work and have had to rate low as a result. This way I come back with fresh eyes & a fresh attitude for the next submissions. On the forum side, I rarely have to do much other than clean up the odd spam post, as most of our great community are a fantastic bunch, and are old enough/smart enough to take care of themselves.
Moderator Hankers
	There's no 'challenge' being part of this great community.
Super Wizop Snowman
	Picking out the "rotten apples"! With tens of thousands of skins available, it can be hard telling the rips from the real deal.

Question 3 -

Coffee or tea?  (ALMonty)

Wizop WOM
	Coffee, coffee, cofee.  An avid coffee drinker but only in the am.
Super Wizop Koasati
	Coffee!! I love coffee, don't like tea.
Wizop starone
	Coffeeeeeee by all means.
Sir Zubaz
	Mostly coffee.  My wife makes it for me if I clean the press.  Otherwise I may have tea to avoid making it myself.  It just tastes better when she does it.
Wizop Quentin94
	Coffee, Tea, Coca... but mostly Coffee. All the day.
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	Coffee of course. Tea is for grannies...
Moderator elvee
	Tea is way much better:)
Admin Jafo
	I'm ambivalent...easy-going.... as long as it's a drug I'm FOR it ... [did I say that out loud?]
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	Coffee....Coffee...Coffee!
Wizop Erk.
	Coffee, ...home brewed [Dripfilter] ..none of that freeze-dried 'instant' crap they call coffee.
Moderator Hankers
	Coffee - made with freshly ground coffee beans. No instant!
Super Wizop Snowman
	COFFEE!!!! Tea is the worst way of getting people to consume hot water... yuk.

Question 4 -

Do you ever get temped to "accidentally" press the exile button when someone is being silly?  (Fuzzy Logic)

[Note: "Exile" bans an account from using the site in the future.  Only Super Wizops and above have this ability]

Wizop WOM
	Hehe, no but I don't have the exile button capability.
Super Wizop Koasati
	Never accidentally.
Wizop starone
	Aw Fuzzy, silly is part of life.  Have to have humor these days.  I believe it is known as survival.
Sir Zubaz
	I've never wanted to exile someone for being silly.  I have thought that some folks were pushing the line of hospitality and deserved the boot.  Thankfully, we mods have a forum where we can discuss "problem children" and issues.  Usually, as a team, we find a way to address the problem without resorting to drastic measures.  I never take a exile lightly.  I see it as partly my failure for not finding a way to resolve the situation without losing a member
Wizop Quentin94
	I don't have the exile capability. But admitting i've it, no i don't think i exile someone accidentally for being silly.  Exile is the "end option", i believe we can sometimes and hopefully many time find a solution by dialog (Pms or Emails).
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	Hmmm, you still can't tell when I'm being flip... That was a humourous response to people asking silly questions [Zoomba - I decided to use a few of the silly questions for fun] As for exiling in general, some one would have to do something really serious for it to get that far. There's an established route to follow when someone misbehaves, starting with a friendly pm. Exiling someone would be a very drastic step, and would be discussed on the admin board before any decision was taken. Spammers etc are gone immediately, they aren't part of the site or the community. So are warez users - zero tollerance.
Moderator elvee
	What exile button? We get an Exile Button?
Admin Jafo
	Yes.... used to be almost daily ...now it's probably more 'monthly'. [either means people are getting less silly...or I'm more tolerant, and yes, I have the button.... it's big, red and shiny [well, it isn't....but it would be if I had my way]]
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	Never by accident..but the temptation does exists sometimes.
Wizop Erk.
	I think I was holding the door when these were given out ...I missed getting mine. ...umm Zoomba??
Moderator Hankers
	There is no 'Exile Button' on this rock.
Super Wizop Snowman
	No never.

Question 5 -

Wizop WOM
	No, never have, but I have had to bite my tongue a few times and not lay into someone like I would if we were face to face.  Have to remember that I represent Wincustome, so I have to watch what I say.  To bad, so sad.  Hehe.
Super Wizop Koasati
	Yep.
Wizop starone
	Hum, throw your hands up and walk away?  Shucks no.  Gotta have challenges.  Sort of like doing a blind I'd say - very challenging.
Sir Zubaz
	There have been times when real-life (tm) has weighed heavily upon me and crap happened here that made me want to walk away.  But in the end . . . this place is home and it improves my life.
Wizop Quentin94
	Not really, i love challenges. But we are humans (at least some of us), and someday that could happen.  Happened only once, when someone didn't understand me (not a language problem but don't want listen), but in this case i passed it to another mod, and looked at it later
Overseer Fuzzy Logic
	Not for a while... though if I don't get any free chocolate soon I may just go walkies...
Moderator elvee
	No way. It becomes 'stop and regroup time'.
Admin Jafo
	Once or twice.... but I'm a sucker for punishment.  Actually...it's a great community [WC] ... great Proprietors [Stardock] ... great bunch of people to get to know and be involved with.  I wouldn't be seen dead anywhere else [silly saying...implies you'll see me dead here - which I'd hope won't be the case...at least not before I finish typing this]...
Big Cheese KarmaGirl
	Nope.  Too many cool things happening all the time to ever get discouraged by any minor conflict.
Wizop Erk.
	No, never ...I really think they'll have to surgically remove me if it ever came to that point.
Moderator Hankers
	There have been times and probably will be more. We are only human (except for Fuzzy - he has pointy ears).
Super Wizop Snowman
	Oh yeah, many a time!! But in this business you don't quit - you die