Island Dog Island Dog

Stardock Announces Object Desktop 2016, a Complete Windows Customization Experience

▼

Stardock Announces Object Desktop 2016, a Complete Windows Customization Experience

Object Desktop 2016 is loaded with software applications and capabilities for customization, desktop enhancement, and personal productivity

from Stardock Forums

Plymouth, MI - September 1, 2015 - Today, Stardock announced the release of Object Desktop 2016, a popular suite of over a dozen different software applications that give PC users the tools they need to make Windows® work they way they want it to.

Object Desktop 2016 includes popular software applications such as Start8 /Start10, Fences, DeskScapes, WindowBlinds, Tiles, and more. Additionally, this suite now also features two new software applications, Multiplicity and SpaceMonger, as well as the beta version of Fences 3, a popular desktop organization app.  The suite has also seen Windows 10 compatibility and feature upgrades for WindowFX, Launch, and other products with more on the way.

The applications in Object Desktop 2016 offer many customization options, enabling PC users to customize the Windowsuser interface to look and behave how they want it to. Popular customizations include bringing back the Windows 7 style Start menu, organizing desktop shortcuts, adding virtual desktops, applying animated wallpapers, and creating many other stunning visual effects.

Object Desktop 2016 also provides essential applications to improve a user’s personal  productivity such as the ability to organize, control multiple PCs with a single keyboard and mouse with Multiplicity, and manage PC, network, and cloud storage with SpaceMonger.

Owners of the the Object Desktop Suite receive product updates and new product additions at no charge during their license period.

Object Desktop is available for $49.99 and can be downloaded at www.objectdesktop.com.

 

About Stardock

Stardock is a developer and publisher of PC games and desktop software founded in 1991 by nationally recognized technology expert Brad Wardell. Located in Plymouth, Michigan, Stardock is a powerful leader in the video gaming and software development world.  Its PC games include Sins of a Solar Empire, the critically acclaimed Galactic Civilizations series, and the highly anticipated upcoming Ashes of the Singularity. Stardock puts the user experience first through software that enriches the Windows experience for everyone from casual computer users to highly technical professionals. Products offered by Stardock include Start8, Start10, Fences, WindowBlinds, Multiplicity, and more. www.stardock.com

software
275,933 views 74 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 49

Windowblinds needs no description. It's essentially THE Windows customizer..

That may be true, but without Iconpackager the job is incomplete... especially in Win 10.  Dressing up the Ui with WB skins goes just so far, and without a utility to change butt ugly system icons [especially in Win 10], there seems little point applying a nice dark theme when the pastel/pale icons remain unchanged.

Even applying a fantastic looking wallpaper is ruined when MS' system icons cannot be changed.  Win 8/8.1 icons aren't that flash to look at, but those of Win 10 have to be the absolute worst OS icons ever created, so some word as to whether or not IP will be updated is needed.  It would allow users to move on to find alternative apps should updates for the last 2 OSes not be forthcoming. 

I mean, how hard can it be?  It's either yay or nay.

Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Question?

I'm going to assume something and I do know what can go wrong with that. So maybe I should say make a guess.

My best guess is when WindowBlinds is released for win 10 and it works. After that SKS will be modified to what ever changes are needed to allow WB's to work on win 10.

Is this a fair guess?

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top

and working on a few more things.

I don't have a status about IconPackager at this time. When I learn something I will share, but as I said, WB/DS are two that are being worked on right now, and we'll go from there.

Uhh now im exited that is like a hint hint hint, that gives me hope, that iconish something, shall it rise from the ashes and brighten up our desks!
:grin:

Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Things are about to get really cool again on the customization side...

...you will see  ;)

Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting danioc, reply 54

Things are about to get really cool again on the customization side...

...you will see  ;)

We can only hope.  Promises have been made before.    :-"

Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top

daniocreply 54Things are about to get really cool again on the customization side......you will see  We can only hope.  Promises have been made before.

 

Hi Philly,

I'm not making promisses, I'm just saying based on things I see and hear :)

In my opinion things got slower because Microsoft made lots of radical changes in the recent Windows versions.

Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting danioc, reply 56

radical changes in the recent Windows versions

The rad in 8 went belly up. Some improvement in 8.1 but 10............yikes!

Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Uvah, reply 57

The rad in 8 went belly up. Some improvement in 8.1 but 10............yikes!
Quoting danioc, reply 56

I'm not making promisses, I'm just saying based on things I see and hear
In my opinion things got slower because Microsoft made lots of radical changes in the recent Windows versions.
Danioc usually knows what he's talking about :star:

Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Things are about to get really cool again on the customization side... ...you will see

 

:grin:

Reply #60 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Uvah, reply 57

Quoting danioc,
reply 56

radical changes in the recent Windows versions



The rad in 8 went belly up. Some improvement in 8.1 but 10............yikes!

Hey. I happen to prefer 8.1 over 7 or 10.  So there... :P

Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top

So  backatcha. I got 8.1 too...ha ha ha.  :P :P

*double tongue sticker outta*

Reply #62 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I just received notification that my copy of Windows 10 is ready for download.  With most of the SD software I use incompatible I am going to wait a bit longer.  I use Fences Pro, Deskscapes and WindowBlinds among others.

I find the logic of waiting until the OS is released a little difficult to follow.  The purpose of the preview releases is to give developers time to prepare so that updates are ready to go when the OS is released.  

I hope the updates are available soon.

Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If I am not mistaken folks who are on the Fast Track with Microsoft are getting regular updates, the rest of the folks the have updated to Windows 10 will be getting what some are calling a major update sometime in Oct or Nov.  As always, I could be wrong.  :sun:

Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 63

If I am not mistaken folks who are on the Fast Track with Microsoft are getting regular updates, the rest of the folks the have updated to Windows 10 will be getting what some are calling a major update sometime in Oct or Nov.  As always, I could be wrong.  :sun:

 

I meant Stardock's updates to make their software compatible.

Reply #65 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 60


Quoting Uvah,
reply 57




Quoting danioc,

reply 56


radical changes in the recent Windows versions



The rad in 8 went belly up. Some improvement in 8.1 but 10............yikes!



Hey. I happen to prefer 8.1 over 7 or 10.  So there... :P

Same here.... 'cept I don't/won't use Win 10... can't customise it and it's a nosy bastard.  Yeah, some of the snooping stuff can be turned off/disabled, but then there's the hard-coded stuff under-the-hood that can't be.  It was MS' contingency plan from the star, to be transparent about all the stoppable stuff, but hard code the main ones into the core itself.

I do worry about that finding its way into Win 8.1, though it can't be delivered via a regular 'update'... so beware the next service packs for Win 7 and 8.1, me thinks.

Reply #66 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 

I think I was misunderstood about the radical cahnages in recent Windows versions.
I don't mean visually, I mean under the hood changes that affect how skin based apps work.
Here is a simple analogy:
Lets say a skin app is designed to change a Windows square based UI, then Microsoft launches a new OS that will no longer have those squares, instead it will only have triangles, the skin appeal no longer work. You’ll have to change it to start working with triangles now.
If you look windows 8, the Explorer window changed a lot, not radically but changed, now in Windows 10, it did changed way more, there is a new set of window frames all across the OS. and that’s what I meant on that previous post :)

 

Reply #67 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting danioc, reply 66

Lets say a skin app is designed to change a Windows square based UI, then Microsoft launches a new OS that will no longer have those squares, instead it will only have triangles, the skin appeal no longer work. You’ll have to change it to start working with triangles now.

 

The Windows UI used to use square based UI and people loved it.

Windows switched to triangles, and instead of people being forced to become well versed and proficient with the triangles, the skin apps said Poo-poo.. we will make the triangles look like squares again so nobody ever becomes proficient with triangles or ever accepts triangles.

Then, when the triangles change shape a little bit, to.. trapezoids, we will still have to use squares to customize!!!

 

No matter the analogy, its a bucket load of crap until the trapezoids and triangles are skinned.

Reply #68 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Phoon, reply 67

No matter the analogy, its a bucket load of crap until the trapezoids and triangles are skinned.

Perhaps not the words I'd have chosen, but I couldn't have said it better.  The makers of the theme changers for Win 8 and 10 [as seen over at DA] can do it [alter the UI, Icons AND cursors] with the one app, so it's NOT impossible. 

Reply #69 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Starkers,
Amateur and unofficial hacks are very different from official apps that have companies behind them.

Also, sorry if I sparked any bad feeling or anger, I just wanted to help.

Reply #70 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting danioc, reply 69

I just wanted to help.

As you do many times and I thank you for it.

No need for an apology.

Reply #71 from WinCustomize Forums Top

^ That.

Reply #72 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting danioc, reply 69

Also, sorry if I sparked any bad feeling or anger, I just wanted to help.

I'm sure any information you can share we thank you.

Reply #73 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting danioc, reply 69



Starkers,

 

Amateur and unofficial hacks are very different from official apps that have companies behind them.




Also, sorry if I sparked any bad feeling or anger, I just wanted to help.

Yeah, it's often said that MSStyles perform system hacks and etc, buy they've been around for over 10 years so I don't know that they're so amateur.  Besides, that was not the point.  The fact is, they can change the icons in Win 8 and 10, albeit using a slightly different process.  The point is that it CAN be done and HAS been done.

As for sparking anything, you did nothing and have nothing to apologise for. :)

Reply #74 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Phoon, reply 67

Quoting danioc,
reply 66

Lets say a skin app is designed to change a Windows square based UI, then Microsoft launches a new OS that will no longer have those squares, instead it will only have triangles, the skin appeal no longer work. You’ll have to change it to start working with triangles now.



 

The Windows UI used to use square based UI and people loved it.

Windows switched to triangles, and instead of people being forced to become well versed and proficient with the triangles, the skin apps said Poo-poo.. we will make the triangles look like squares again so nobody ever becomes proficient with triangles or ever accepts triangles.

Then, when the triangles change shape a little bit, to.. trapezoids, we will still have to use squares to customize!!!

 

No matter the analogy, its a bucket load of crap until the trapezoids and triangles are skinned.

To labour the analogy to the point of pain and tedium...

Microsoft changed to triangles that cannot be skinned no matter what you do...other than add a fourth side and make them squares and thus skinnable.

From 8 onwards MS has systematically eliminated inherent skinning capabilities by degrees so that each iteration of a skinning enabler has had to jump through more hoops to get there.

It's a 'dumbed-down' GUI that needs a more intelligent solution than the 'good old days' of XP and before...;)