I
originally reviewed Object Desktop over a year ago and
after taking a good look at the 2005 version of the software,
I must say that my enthusiastic review stands the test
of time. Stardock, the developer of Object Desktop, has
done nothing less than improve on this already great software.
If you are familiar with 'skins', software that allows
you to manipulate the look and layout of an interface for
a program, Object Desktop could be described as the mother
of all skins. It allows you to your whole computer operating
environment.
We
do all sorts of things in our work and home environment
to make it our own. The color of paint on the walls,
the pictures we hang, the bric-a-brac strategically placed
here and there. Somehow, it makes our space our own;
it says a bit about who we are to the casual on-looker,
and to ourselves. So why should the environment that
we look at just about all day long (oh go on admit it,
you sit there in front of that monitor just as long as
I do) look like everyone else’s? Even the formerly
novel Windows XP environment must be wearing thin on
you by now. If a little individuality, style, and statement
is what you want for you computer, look no further than
Object Desktop 2005.
Object
Desktop 2005 is really a suite of programs that, alone
or in tandem, change the look and feel of your desktop
and Windows environment. For instance, with the WindowBlinds
module (so popular that it is also available as a separate
download for $19.95), you can apply new styles to the
Windows operating system to change the look of your title
bar, menu buttons, push buttons, radio buttons, scrollbars,
and even the Start menu. And I'm not talking about just
the color either, I mean the look and feel of everything
in your Windows OS—the way it responds as well
as the way it looks. There is a whole community of users
and artists that design new looks and make them available
to other registered users for no additional charge. These
fine generous souls make use of SkinStudio which is included
in the Object Desktop 2005 suite. SkinStudio will aid
in the development of your own skin if you have some
graphic design skills.
And
what would a different looking window be without a cool
effect to accompany it? With the WindowFX module, all
your windows can be animated to open with a side scroll
or furl down, you can have them close with a twisting
motion or just fade away. You can set the transparency
level of windows not in use or have them only come into
full view when activated. There are dozens of effects
and settings in the module.
Three
other included modules, IconX, IconPackager and IconDeveloper,
will give your desktop icons new meaning, not just a
new look. I use IconPackager because I'm really just
an avid end user and the StarDock community of users/artists
are a talented bunch and they have already developed
hundreds of free icons for me to download. For the über-organizer,
IconPackager will let you create a separate icon for
every drive on your computer and—wait for it—every
folder on every drive. If you are of the mind, IconDeveloper
will help you create your own icons, even from previously
designed bitmaps or .PNG files. IconX is a program for
your icons that allows you to resize, zoom on mouse over,
drop a shadow under them and just generally give them
some energy.
How
about that Start menu? We can change the look of it using
WindowBlinds but really, we can do even better with Object
Desktop. How about a more powerful, fully configurable
Object Bar instead? In late 2007, Microsoft Vista will
have just such a gizmo. But you can have it now with
Object Bar. Maybe that cool Mac OS X dock is more your
style? You can choose your Object Bar from hundreds of
offerings on the web, or design the perfect one yourself.
Do
you feel you have choices missing from your context (right-click)
menus? Object Desktop includes RightClick, a little program
that allows you to fully configure, reconfigure and redesign
the context menu.
The
Gadgets module provides desktop level applications to
control your MP3 player, monitor stocks or visit web
sites among hundreds of other uses. Have a calendar ready
at hand, or the local weather forecast. You may be familiar
with similar mini-programs (sometimes called Widgets)
on both the Windows and Mac platforms. Object Desktop’s
gadgets are similar in nature and functionality. The
DesktopX module is designed to take your desktop to a
new level with custom icons and functionality through
Gadgets.
You
can mix and match the aforementioned modules to redesign
your desktop or you can use the Theme Manager to just
get the whole thing done in one fell swoop. Want to have
everything looking like a Picasso painting? A kids Cartoon?
An H. R. Giger fantasy? This is the place and the Stardock
community is more than willing to cater to your every
whim. Nice folks.
I've
only scratched the surface of this suite. Also included
in Object Desk 2005 are the following components:
