I use to subscribe to OD years ago when I was in I.T. and I just loved it - the unique styling; unlimited themes; DesktopX; ObjectDock; WindowBlinds; CursorFX; Gadgets...
Thought I would re-visit now I'm working from home again, and it seems only a shadow of what it was:
DesktopX scrapped; many of the Gadgets just old and buggy; WindowBlinds Styles individually costly... I could go on
Compared with the versatility of what it used to be, I think Stardock should - at least - include ObjectDock & CursorFX in with the overall Object Desktop package because - as it is - it just really sucks compared to what it used to be.
A real shame as, I for one will nor be renewing my subscription when the time arrives
I agree. Not like it was some years back. I can understand the skinners that want to make a few bucks for their work, but i think in the long run, they are just cutting off the branch they are sitting on.
Totally agree they should charge for their work, but when they average between $6-$12 it can get expensive - as WindowBlinds is one of those apps where you are constantly changing the style/theme (that's what makes it so interesting). So being so costly, it just spoils the whole novelty of it
Come on Stardock - get back to where you were!
There are hundreds of skins that are free. A lot of Win 7 skins work on 10.
DesktopX has been gone for many years (last version was released in 2005). ObjectDock and CursorFX were never in Object Desktop, but back when they were over $14 each, we gave discounts to Object Desktop customers to get them for cheaper. Object Desktop is also much less expensive than it was. For $29.99 you get Fences ($9.99), Multiplicity ($19.99), Groupy ($4.99), DeskScapes ($4.99), WindowBlinds ($9.99), Start10 ($4.99), etc. We still package free content with the customization products as well as host the community that creates free content. We used to create premium content ourselves and charge for it under Stardock Design, but the community has taken over that role.
I just renewed my subscription but I am thinking that it might be my last. The only thing I really use is windowblinds and start 10 and I am not sure if it is worth it anymore, I seldom buy master skins for reasons I won't get into.To each their own but for myself it's just not as fun as it use to be.
Of course not. Fences and Start 10 are great. BUT, with DesktopX & gadgets gone, rarely a new icon package and very few skinners left, there really aren't as much fun as it used to be.
I'm not sure what has happened other than you forgot the customization customer. ObjectBar gone DesktopX gone IconX gone Right Click gone ObjectDock gone and by gone I mean Legacy only.
Content wise the windows customizer is greeted with:
On Home Page New section which is the default...
Page 1: 6 Dreams, 1 Screenshot, 1 Wallpaper, 1 WindowBlind (update only not new content)
Page 2: 8 Dreams, 1 Desktop Gadget.
Page 3 8 Dreams, 1 WindowBlind (update only not new content)
Page 4 8 Dreams 1 Wallpaper.
Page 5 8 Dreams 1 WindowBlind (update only not new content)
I'm not really trashing Dreams but rather you have cultivated a limited number of skinners who work in just 2 products. This has effectively driven the customizers away.
I wouldn't mind putting in some effort to skin a bit now and more later when I retire but for that I would need other software products like ObjectBar or DesktopX.
have to agree. Even though the quality of work being uploaded here is the usual high standard, its a bummer when logging in you are presented with mostly dreams and masterskin windowblind themes. I have absolutely no objection to skinners earning money for their work, they deserve it, but we also pay to access this site without the ad's only to have nothing to see. Yes the occasional update to a theme. The occasional wallpaper but other than that, not much else on offer. I for one wont be renewing my WC or OD subs once they expire as i cant justify the cost anymore.
You're right this is when there was still multiple categories and participants.
As a Master Skinner, you must understand that a bunch of the Master Skins you see are merely updates with fixes that were needed after Microsoft screwed things up with Windows 10 v1803 and 1903. As an example, 14 of my last 18 skins submitted are updates, and I have a lot more to go. The site does need to do a separate Master Skins area though, I will agree with what others are saying in that regard.
Well Nimbin, I'll make you happy, as a Master Skinner I was subsidizing my Social Security with my Master Skins sales, but at this point, I'm tired of getting beat up for selling my skins, so, I'm calling it quits, I was working on a new Master Skin, but I'm not sure if I'll upload it now, it's really disheartening, to me, I can't help it there are not enough people who are interested in skinning, so that there'd be more free ones for all to choose from. With that said, I'll just find something else to subsidize my Social Security, it just isn't worth it, or fun anymore, so, this is me saying goodbye, and I'll decide what to do with my Master skins, more than likely, I'll just have them deleted, but I'll decide at a later time, I wish I could say it was fun, but I can't.
Sorry to hear this Don.
Nothing last forever and no good deed goes unpunished.
Wish skinning was as simple and enjoyable as it was when I first started, just a set of images and a text file. It was time-consuming even then, but a fun challenge to master the tricky little details of making all the puzzle pieces fit visually and to come up with an interesting look. There are some greatly talented skinners still producing very high quality skins here. paid and free. Just not as many as before. Biggest reason in my view is the greater complexity, with the resultant greater time commitment - just too much for an amateur hack like me to tackle any more. But it was a lot of fun while it was doable, in no small part because of all the help that was available from other skinners.
Just some thoughts. Carry on.
I think some are still missing the point, no one is attacking any individual skinner and no one is saying that a master cannot sell skins, in fact quite the opposite has been made clear, that still does not take away from the issue that there are more Master skins being uploaded or updated than there are free ones but I know someone is going to tell me that there are still plenty of good free skins which there are, just not many new ones. I am trying to be tactful because sometimes I am not but if you are a master skinner and are offended by what some people are sharing than you need to get over yourself and perhaps try to contribute in a constructive way to come up with a solution unless of course you just don't care. I don't know what the solution is but this has been going around in circles for some time and it is aggravating that there is not the will or imagination to remedy this. Feel free to dump on me for what I am saying, I don't care and I am not here to be your friend and now that I have grown up a bit I can take your harsh words.Like it or lump it but customization is not what it use to be and if something is not done it will continue to be on a downward spiral. I understand that there are not as many skinners as there use to be, that is no one's fault but at the same time is there not a solution for that?, can we not try to get some skinners back providing they have not passed on or they just do not want to skin any longer, can new skinners not be trained or is everyone just to busy to teach? I know that Dave has taught me a lot but I still don't know what I am doing half the time. It would be great if there could be some online lessons or some skype sessions to train new skinners or is this just a pipe dream?I am just rambling and giving my 2 cents whether you want to hear it or not because those who remain silent or inactive will never be a part of the solution. I am also perplexed that there is software that can be skinned that has been tossed in the sea of forgetfulness and it baffles my mind why it is still being sold.
When there are responses such as this to the repetitive threads critical of the current state of skinning in general and/or Object Desktop in particular it's no wonder the activity is in a state of ennui.
When those who do are met with criticism from those who 'want' it's no wonder people just say 'enough is enough' and cease.
Being critical of something is almost always detrimental, no matter how 'constructive' you'd like to claim it to be.
I'm not so much 'saddened' by people giving up as annoyed that the actions of others leads to it.
Yes, once upon a time there were a heck of a lot of people skinning, and around a dozen sites catering for them all.
That was then, this is now.
Skinning used to be [relatively] easy...heck, even I was doing it, but no thanks to Microsoft it got quite a bit harder....particularly with this forced-beta process which is the current OS [10], quite happy to break things at every revision - and Joe Public still thinks it's the same OS that was released years ago.
It isn't.
One thing that has NOT changed, however is the general perception that skins [for whatever] SHOULD be free.
Just ask Treetog and Alexandrie what reception they got when they were the 'first' to go commercial a decade and a half [plus] ago.
That bit hasn't changed....and likely never will.
Don. Not once in my post did i say that master skinners should give up. I was not criticizing you or any other skinner. I am pointing out what are the facts. One look at the front page of WC will prove my point. I said and stand by my comment that skinners deserve to earn some money from their work, I don't recall seeing anywhere i have said otherwise. I cant stop you from giving up, i hope you don't, but don't put this on me if you choose to stop skinning, that is not fair, not warranted and quite frankly insulting. I've been a member of this community and WC for 13 years and in the beginning contributed a number of skins of my own. All were free and freely given. That's just me. I have purchased a large number of masterskins over the years so i think i have contributed to the skinning community here quite a lot. Like i said, if you want to stop skinning, that's on you, Not anyone else. For you to feel this way must mean you have been thinking this way for awhile.
Whoa! Didn't mean to open a 'can of worms'...
It's just that, seriously, years ago when I was 'into' OD and peripheral apps it was just sooo much fun. DesktopX was like an awesome GUI together with the 'Gadgets'.
I have a dual-screen rig and just thought it would be real nice to get a unique set-up using OD & DTX etc. So I pays my well-earned GPB and when I get into it, it's like a desert with tumbleweed blowing around - so sad
So my comment about including ObjectDock & CursorFX was just to glean some value-for-money from my perspective
I don't have an issue with skinners charging for their work either; but if I go for e.g. 10 skins; that's probably going to be in the region of $70-$80 and I may never use some of them again - fickle as we are
If they were around £2 each you would probably get more people looking and a resultant increase in skin sales
But that's just WB; it's the overall lack of what it used to be that's prompted my thread and the packaged apps in OD have limited appeal to me personally - so, "I won't be investing; I'm out"
It is what it is.
Right now in Major League Baseball there are changes which have transformed the game. It's not the same game it once was. Many folks are unhappy about it.
Similar here. Take it or leave it or make the best of it. I choose to make the best of it.
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