TweakVista 1.5 was released today by Stardock.  TweakVista is a utility that enables users to optimize the performance and behavior of Microsoft® Windows Vista. The program has been designed to allow both casual, non-technical users to safely use it as well as contain a host of advanced features for power users to dig into the internals of Windows Vista.

Just an example of some of the features of TweakVista include:

• Security Handling. Users can now easily and safely adjust the way Windows handles security prompting including the new UAC (User Account Control)
• Memory Optimization. TweakVista knows which start-up services different types of users will typically use and offers recommendations on what services to disable. Users can easily switch between different profiles (including the default) based on their needs to maximize performance and memory use.
• Resource Control. TweakVista has several features for keeping an eye on and flagging programs that use excessive amounts of resources (memory, CPU, or system handles) as well as integrating seamlessly with built in hardware diagnostic reports.
• Start-Up Management. TweakVista not only will display and enable users to control what programs are loading on start-up but will identify in plain English what these programs do.
• Performance Assessments. TweakVista uses the new Windows Vista assessment features to benchmark nearly every aspect of a user’s PC and allow them to submit their results for comparison with other users of similar or upgraded hardware.  Reports indicate where the user's PC ranks amongst other submissions.
• Cost of Use and Carbon Footprint Analysis. TweakVista calculates the cost of running your PC. In addition a Carbon Footprint index is calculated. How "Green" is your PC?
  

The TweakVista 1.5 update brings:

• Improved startup programs and process list layouts
• Added sorting to Processes
• Improved snapshot load time
• Improved tooltip information
• Limited Windows7 support
• Added SMART drive attributes
• Option to disable built-in skin/use WindowBlinds skinning

TweakVista is part of the Object Desktop Ultimate suite of desktop enhancements, or available as a stand-alone application for $19.95.  A free trial version is also available for download.

For more information visit www.stardock.com/products/tweakvista/

Stardock is excited to announce the release of WindowBlinds 6.4.  WindowBlinds is an application that allows users to change the complete look and feel of both Windows XP and Windows Vista using skins, also called “visual styles”.  WindowBlinds does not alter system files, so it’s completely safe to use, and it uses the latest in hardware acceleration features so it will not affect your PC’s performance.

Aside from just changing the visual style, WindowBlinds gives you control over them by allowing users to change the colors of the skin, adjust opacity and blur levels, change skin fonts, change Explorer window backgrounds, and much more.

What’s new and updated in WindowBlinds 6.4:

• Support for glass menu bars on Windows Vista
• Support for a different mouseover image on the right hand side of the Start Menu
• Control over the background color of the Start Menu "Programs" list
• Double clicking the top left of a per pixel window will now close it on Windows Vista
• Control over the search box text color & font
• Better control over the Start Menu fonts & colors
• New section to allow a custom mouseover image used on the "Programs" link on Vista versus the legacy solid color
• Start button overlay now supports animation

WindowBlinds is part of the Object Desktop suite of desktop enhancement, and is also available stand-alone for $19.95.  Visit www.windowblinds.net for a free trial download.

Stardock is pleased to announce the release of SoundPackager 1.2.  SoundPackager is an application that lets users change the default Windows sound scheme to one of many available for download.  This is done by applying “packages” of sound files which allows you to easily change to custom sounds without having to change each individual sound file.  Changing to a new sound package just takes a couple of clicks, and restoring to the default Windows sounds is just a click away.

What’s new in this update:

• Added option to toggle default skin
• Improved the left panel options for clarity
• Added Windows Default Sound to Package list
• Added option to back up existing sound scheme before application
• Improved sound package restoration

SoundPackager is included with an Object Desktop Ultimate subscription, and also as a stand-alone application for $19.95.  More information, including a free download is available at www.soundpackager.com.

Woo hoo!  Another Friday and another weekend Impulse Sale!  We have a great mix of both games and software on sale this week, including a few that I especially recommend.

• Dawn of War – Dark Crusade $3.99 (normally $19.99)
• Titan Quest $3.99 (normally $14.99)
• Multiplicity Professional $13.99 (normally $49.95)
• Defender of the Crown $3.99 (normally $19.99)
• TweakVista $3.99 (normally $19.99)
• Genie Backup Manager Home 8 $37.48 (normally $49.98)
• Genie Backup Manager Pro $52.45 (normally $69.95)

Get more info and be sure to download Impulse by visiting www.impulsedriven.com.

Quick video demo of Fences in action.

Download at https://www.stardock.com/products/fences

If you have a Windows PC you should download this program. Seriously.

Before…

After…

Stardock’s new killer app: Fences. Download it, it’s free!

https://www.stardock.com/products/fences

Stardock is excited to announce its most innovative desktop utility application since the popular WindowBlinds today – Stardock Fences for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. The free application from Stardock clears desktop clutter and provides consistency and organization for groups of files on the desktop. Fences allows users to literally “draw” labeled shaded areas on the desktop which become movable & resizable “containers” for desktop icons. These groups arrange and hide the files on the computer's desktop solving the "constant mess" problem that has plagued the desktop since its inception.

To help solve another weak point of the desktop - the mere appearance of clutter, Fences offers a novel quick-hide feature. Users can double click the desktop and all of the icons will fade out. When users double click again the icons will return. Users can pick and choose which desktop icons hide when the feature is activated.

Visit the Fences website to see more screenshots and videos of Fences in action, and for your free download.

• https://www.stardock.com/products/fences/index.asp

After a lot of speculation over the last couple of months, we finally have confirmation on the Windows 7 SKU’s.  At first look, it looks like Windows 7 Professional will be the way to go.

Windows 7 Starter
Market: Emerging markets, with new PCs only
Key features: Enhanced taskbar, Jump Lists, Windows Media Player, Backup and Restore, Action Center, Device Stage, Play To, Fax and Scan, basic games
What's missing: Aero Glass, many Aero desktop enhancements, Windows Touch, Media Center, Live thumbnail previews, Home Group creation

Windows 7 Home Premium
Market: Mainstream retail market
Key features: Aero Glass, Aero Background, Windows Touch, Home Group creation, Media Center, DVD playback and authoring, premium games
What's missing: Domain join, Remote Desktop host, advanced backup, EFS, Mobility Center, Offline Folders

Windows 7 Professional (superset of Home)
Market: Mainstream retail market
Key features: Domain join, Remote Desktop host, location aware printing, EFS, Mobility Center, Presentation Mode, Offline Folders, Media Center
What's missing: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD

Windows 7 Enterprise
Market: Volume-license business customers only
Key features: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD
What's missing: Retail licensing

Windows 7 Ultimate
Market: Retail market, limited availability
Key features: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD
What's missing: Volume licensing

Link: Neowin.net

I’m running the BETA of Windows 7 and it’s been running so well that I’ve decided to make it my quasi-production machine.

Windows 7 is a massive usability upgrade from any previous version of Windows.  Much of the changes are just minor in terms of effort but just make the whole system feel a lot better designed.

For example, if I want look at my connected devices I see this:

Notice I don’t see a bunch of crap. I just see the stuff actually connected to the machine. It’s a very nice change from what has been in Windows before.

One of the purposes of this series of articles is to let you know what programs I have problems with, and which ones work right.

Over the coming weeks and months I’ll give you generalized reports on the progress of our software (Stardock’s) running on Windows 7 as well as highlighting cool little touches in Windows 7.

Now, for the purposes of making life hard on Stardock, I’m not just running a beta of Windows 7, I’m running a beta of Windows 7 64-bit.  By the time Windows 7 is released, all applicable Stardock software must run on this machine.

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.