Well, after much deliberation, I finally decided to blog...er, publish. In addition to highlighting and reviewing great DesktopX skins, "I Love DesktopX" will have tips and tricks as well as frequent rants...er, commentary.

Enough with the introductions. Let's get on with the show!

My four favorite skins from the month of January.

Outstanding General Info

Prowler Widgets by Bilbo1930

Bilbo1930 has always turned out gorgeous general info widgets and this one is no exception. Slick is the word for it. I love how small this thing is, because when a widget takes up too much real estate, I minimize it. And when I minimize a widget, it'll be closed not long after. Not with this, though.

It displays a lot of infomation for such a small package: weather (including a ten-day forecast), calendar, meters, cursor--I love combination widgets.

Did I mention the animations? Signature Bilbo stuff. I like the way it splits apart, but the scrolling weather does tak a bit more CPU. Graphics are killer--by vStyler, no less. My only nit is that the text is a bit small. But I suppose if you're going to make a compact widget, somthing's gotta give. Overall, though, it's awesome.

It comes with two widgets: one light and the other dark. I prefer the dark one.

Most Creative/Original

Tread Plate Effect by theAVMAN

I haven't visited the DesktopX objects gallery very often, but for this article I had a look, and I was delighted to see the place was still alive. Not only that, but there were also some pretty cool objects uploaded in the last month or so. I was lookign for something out of the ordinary and I certainly found that with the Tread Plate Effect object.

I know theAVMAN mostly for his 'blinds and cursors, so it was a surprise to see he's been turning out DX objects. When I saw this, I thought, "Now that's pretty clever!" And it's so simple, too--one of those, "why didn't I think of that" ideas.

This object basically gives your wallpaper (any wallpaper) that treaded metal look. The only setback is that it overlays your icons--not so minor, but there's really no way around this in DX. It looks perfect on black and white walls, medium gray, and lighter shades.

AVMAN's already done one with raindrops and I can just imagine the texture possibilites to come.

Most Innovative/Resourceful

Rainbow Clock 1.0 by Vad_M

Rainbow Clock 1.0 is a clock that can skin itself to match any WindowBlinds theme. Let me say that again. This is a clock that will match ANY WindowBlinds theme...automatically...as in, you don't have to crack it open in DX Builder adn do it manually. My mind is officially blown. AND it's a gadget, so if you have WB but not DX, you're good.

It's technically still a beta version, but I can't begin to imagine how many lines of code and how many months of hard work have gone into this already. If you know Vad_M, you know you're getting a worhtwhile, high-quality product.

DX Theme of the Month

Flash Live System DX by PuterDudeJim

If you're not familiar with PuterDudeJim's DX stuff, just have a stroll thruogh the DesktopX themes gallery and you'll get acquainted real fast.

This theme is based on the WindowBlind "Flash Live" by 1MrPaul1. It's done in the sidebar style and the graphics are beautiful. The color combination makes it feel open and lightweight and I love the easy to use, easy to navigate layout.

As with most of Jim's themes, it's got sound effects, too. I especially like the one for weather. Overall, it's clean, usable, and darn near perfect.

Toggle Time Format

Here in the U.S., we use the 12-hour clock, but many places overseas use the 24-hour clock format. How do you decide which format to make your digital clock widget for distribution? How about both? Put this script into a text object to make your digital clock internationally friendly.

Dim timefrmt

'Called when the script is executed

Sub Object_OnScriptEnter

            timefrmt = object.persiststorage("switchfrmt")

            If timefrmt = "" Then timefrmt = 3

            object.SetTimer 1,1000

End Sub

Sub Object_OnTimer1

            ttime = FormatDateTime(now,timefrmt)

            object.text = ttime

End Sub

'Called when L-click is released

Function Object_OnLButtonUp(x, y, dragged)

            If Not dragged Then

                        If timefrmt = 3 Then timefrmt = 4 Else timefrmt= 3

                        object.persiststorage("switchfrmt") = timefrmt

            End If

End Function

The script works in three parts:

-OnScriptEnter, we check storage for the user's preference. If none exists, we set the 'timefrmt' variable to the 12-hour format and start the timer.

-OnTimer, we get the current time in the chosen format using a vbscript function called FormatDateTime, and then set the object text.

-OnLButtonUp, we toggle between formats and save the user's preference to PersistStorage.

Resources:

About FormatDateTime - W3Schools

More tuts on time - Scripting 101 (pdf) ,  Scripting Time Displays

The Gadget Gallery and What it has in common with Carnegie Hall

Huzzah! There's a new gadget gallery and it's just for gadgets. Finally, we get some organization.

For everyone who uploaded a gadget to the widget gallery, re-up in the gadget gallery. Island Dog says to PM him to get your download counts transferred (be sure to include your download count in the PM), but alas, your comments and rating will go bye-bye.

What is a gadget and why is this such a big deal? A gadget is a stand-alone (.exe) mini-application. It does not need DesktopX installed on your computer to use it, which means your friends and family no longer have an excuse not to use your mini-apps. *evilgrin*

I'll probably still primarily upload to the widget gallery, but I'm happy that we now have four galleries showing off the full specturm of cool things you can do with DX, from simple eye candy to handy utilities, and from complex desktop makeovers to high-quality productivity applications.

The announcement of the new gadget gallery did bring up some interesting conversation as to what to expect from the gallery. Well gadgets, of course, but there's a little issue that's come up, on and off, for a while now about the content of the DX gallery. To sum up, there's a boat load of re-skinned clocks, meters, calendars, etc, uploaded to the gallery, making the not-re-skinned clocks and original work hard to find. This is part of the reason why the gadget gallery was created adn I tend to think it's a step in the right direction.

First, to be clear, anyone can submit any kind of gadget there--no restrictions. Second, it will be moderated for quality, so as weith several other galleries on WC, some skins will be visible in the main gallery while others might only be visible on your personal page. Third, and this is very important, if your skin doesn't appear in the main gallery, do not despair!

Do what you like because you like to do it. I can't stress that enough. I love seeing new skinners take such an enthusiastic interest in DX, and it's disheartening to hear talk of being discouraged. It can be frustrating to spend hours, days, and weeks on something, and then not have it recieved as you would like, but do not let a rating or a gallery make you feel like you're wasting your time--nothing is lost when knowledge is gained.

The bar on the gadget gallery may be slightly elevated but that doesn't mean you can't reach it still. Yes, getting better at DX can be hair-pulling maddening, at times. But that's why the DX community is teeming with people ready and willing to help you figure it out. That's why we write tutorials and throw out interesting tidbits, because we've all been there and know that it sucks to go bald.

So, ask in the forums, PM/email a DXer, read the User's Guide, visit the Wincustomize Wiki, see the DesktopX Tutorial section on WC, crack open a widget/theme/object in DX Builder and tinker around, but for heaven's sake do not give up. Practice, practice, and practice some more. That's the only way to get to better, and that's the only way to get to Carnegie Hall, but know that you don't have to travel alone.

I put it to you:

Are you pleased with the addition of the new gallery, and what do you expect its impact will be on DXing and the DX community?

Share your thougths/stories/ideas on learning DX.

What DX skins caught your attention in January?

Sound off below. Thanks for reading.

Another busy week comes to a conclusion, and with that comes the weekly edition of This Week in Skinning.  This week we were overrun with ports, but some original creations also made their way in, and here is where you can catch up with those.

Now for this weeks picks!

Cursors themes, DesktopX themes

Icon Packs

Dreams (Animated Wallpapers)

Wallpapers

WindowBlinds

WindowBlinds 7 internal alpha on Windows 7 beta

Unmodified WindowBlinds skin (i.e. skinners won't have to necessarily make any changes to support Windows 7).

WindowBlinds 7 betas will probably show up on Object Desktop this Spring.

We are getting many new users, and the e-mails with people asking how to customize this, and customize that are steadily increasing.  We have several guides out there, but some are a bit dated, so I wanted to start with a fresh series with the latest versions of applications used to customize your desktop look and feel.

We will cover a variety of applications, and for the most part, they will work with either Windows Vista or Windows XP unless noted otherwise.  Many of the screenshots I will be showing  will be based on Windows Vista, but you will get very similar results on Windows XP as well.

Some applications are free and some require a purchase to use the full versions.  The best way to get the total experience is to subscribe to Object Desktop which is a suite of most of the applications I will cover in this series.

With that being said, lets start with Part 1 which will cover the beginning steps of customizing your Windows desktop.

Changing the Boot Screen

One of the first things you see when you turn on your computer is the boot screen which typically consists of the Windows logo.  This is the first area we can skin using BootSkin.  This is a free, stand-alone download for XP users, and Vista users can get BootSkin Pro through an Object Desktop subscription at this time.  XP users should note that due to various BIOS and drivers in motherboards, BootSkin is not compatible with all systems.  Windows XP boot screens are limited to 8-bit images, and Vista boots screens can have high-resolution images as the boot screen.

Changing the bootskin is as simple as just choosing which bootskin to use, and selecting apply.  Next time you reboot your computer, you will have a new boot screen.

• Link: BootSkin
• Link: BootSkin gallery
• Link: BootSkin XP gallery

Customizing the Logon Screen

After your PC boots, the next screen most are presented with is the logon screen.  This is where you are prompted to login as a particular user, and this area is just as simple to change as the boot screen was.  This time we are using LogonStudio, which is a free download, and versions are available for both XP and Vista.  LogonStudio Vista is also downloadable through Impulse.

You can also use LogonStudio to create your own logon screens from your own images.  LogonStudio XP has an integrated editor, and LogonStudio Vista has a simple drag and drop creation feature.

Link: LogonStudio

A New Cursor

By this time you on the actual desktop, and this is where the options become much greater.  Lets start with one of my favorite applications, which is CursorFX.  In the past, many of you might have heard or used CursorXP, well CursorFX is the replacement for that, but CursorXP cursors will work with CursorFX.  As the name implies, CursorFX is the tool you can use to change your mouse cursor to one of thousands available.  Many cursors are available to download, and they range from simple cursors to ones that have some wild and detailed animations.  An editor is also included allowing you to make your own cursors as well.

CursorFX Plus adds enhanced features like special effects, resizing, and recoloring of cursors, among many other features.  CursorFX is free for both XP and Vista, and the Plus version is available for $19.95 which adds many additional features. 

• Link: CursorFX
• Link: CursorFX gallery

That wraps up the first part of this series, and next time we will cover changing the visual style of Windows.  After you download the applications shown above, you can find thousands of skins for them at www.wincustomize.com. 

Now let me make it clear from the start that I’m just looking for feedback on features you would like to see for WindowBlinds in Windows 7.  Many people are trying the Windows 7 beta, and through your experiences so far, is there anything different you would like to see WB try to accomplish? 

Please be specific and screenshots and mockups would definitely be welcome.

Over the past couple of days, there has been quite a few rumors that big-name game retailers were going to cut down sales of titles such as Dawn of War II.  The reason behind this was that executives didn’t like the fact that the game would install the Steam client, which includes their store.  Let me point out again that this is a rumor, but it does bring up a good point. 

Impulse Reactor is slated to be released this spring, and this will allow game developers to use the Impulse system, without the need of installing client software.

“However, the next version of Impulse Reactor, as Wardell revealed to Big Download in an exclusive phone interview Thursday, will also have a feature that will give developers a way to protect their game's IP without some of the issues that have plagued other DRM set-ups such as Steam or SecuROM (used in a number of Electronic Arts titles.)

As Wardell explained to us, developers who use the next version of Impulse Reactor can include a small DLL that will allow developers to use Stardock servers for registration and updates. For example people who install a game with Impulse Reactor for the first time might be asked for a CD Key and an email address. Once that's done the game is registered with Impulse Reactor servers.”

I don’t want to impose too much on Big Download, so head over there and check out the rest of the article. 

Read more at Big Download.

And another week is down, which means another edition of This Week in Skinning.  Lots of good stuff going on this week, and don’t forget the WinCustomize Subscription Drive is still on, so tell your friends.  Speaking of subscriptions, we also released Aero Frost this week as a WinCustomize Subscriber premium skin.  It’s a fantastic skin, so be sure to grab it in the subscribers resource area.

Now for this weeks picks!

BootSkins (XP and Vista)

DesktopX (Themes and Widgets)

Dreams (Animated Wallpapers)

LogonStudio (XP and Vista)

Wallpapers

WindowBlinds

The latest Demigod blog on IGN is up, and I think the title alone is reason enough to read.  This blog gives a great intro into the story of Demigods, and of course, why they fight. 

“Demigod is a strategy game that adds a host of action RPG elements such as item purchasing, spells, battle experience and much more in order to add a new dimension of skill and excitement for players of real-time strategy games.

Because of Demigod’s RPG roots, the question arises, why are these Demigods fighting? What is their ultimate goal? The short answer is simple: Godhood. The long answer has a great deal more to it. “

That’s all you are going to get from me, now head over to IGN and check out the rest.

Link: Demigod – Why We Fight

So there I am, doing an all nighter at Stardock, minding my own business as I logon to people's machines to read their private email when lo and behold, I find a mother lode of secretly stashed work in progress skins from Stardock Design.

Now, I don't even know the names for some of these skins. I don't know when they're coming out or in what form. But there's some cool stuff here. And this is just the tip of the iceberg (I'm too lazy to take screenshots of all of them).

Oh and look what I found, a mark up of the next version of MyColors!

They're going to want to kill me you know so this will be my last post for awhile.  I'm going to have to "go away for awhile".

It seems like Windows Vista just came out yesterday.  And now Windows 7 is coming.  What does this mean for WindowBlinds users? The answer is: A lot.

First off, the reports are true, Windows 7 is better than Windows Vista.  It is also true that Windows Vista has gotten treated unfairly.  Vista was just released too early.  I bet Microsoft rues the day they didn’t address what was in this post (and yes, I talked to Jim Allchin at the time about it).

But as good as Windows 7 is, it’s pretty hard coded.  If you love glass (Aero) and that Windows 7 super bar, then you’re all set and can stop reading.

Let’s take a visual tour here.

In all, Windows 7 is going to be an awesome upgrade.  I think one of the directions we’re going to see WindowBlinds evolve is to provide more personalization options for users, enhance functionality and usability of programs and the OS.

The WindowBlinds 7 betas will likely start to show up on Object Desktop in the next couple months. At that point, you’ll have a better idea of the direction we’re going to take. 

We’d like to hear from you.  Let us know what features you’d like to see in Object Desktop in general and WindowBlinds in particular.