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Join Date 12/2001
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Aston 1.9.2 released

Fast and beautiful Desktop replacement

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June 29, 2006 12:49:29 PM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Aston Shell is a Desktop replacement software, which saves your time and computer resources while giving your Desktop a unique look. Many Desktop enhancers just waste your resources. Unlike them Aston replaces your old Windows Desktop with a new one, which is faster, more beautiful and can be tuned to look and behave the way you like.

Aston

Key features:
* Fast, stable and highly responsive even on slow computers
* Easy customization of any Desktop parameter
* Hundreds of free Themes
* Lots of advanced features (hotkeys, Toolbars, freeform animated icons)

Download: Aston 1.9.2. Link: Aston website
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Warprunner
Join Date 03/2004
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Reply #1 June 29, 2006 9:09:05 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
This looks pretty nice. But I don't understand the advertisement on here. Are they affiliates? Will products here be interchangable eventually? Same skinners here as there? What is the connection outside of the product itself?

As a subtle but true comment...all else pales to DesktopX !!!
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Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
+1845 sdemployee
Reply #2 June 29, 2006 9:33:42 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
The 'connection' is that Shell alternatives, etc are all part of the entity called 'skinning' ...
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DocX
Join Date 11/2001
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Reply #3 June 29, 2006 10:49:16 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Ya I wondered why the advertisement for some other form of skinning as well? I suppose its admirable to show the (world of skinning) I know some very talented people making skins for this platform but does it work in conjunction with windowblinds? its not like im going to use windowblinds and then get this and use it too...? or am I wrong? Maybe its better? Should I (upgrade to this and get rid of windowblinds?) Just things that pop into my head while checking this out...
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vStyler
Join Date 11/2004
+919
Reply #4 June 29, 2006 10:55:31 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I would imagine that the connection is that advertising generates revenue.. for Stardock.

...and what better place for Aston TO advertise than a community of customizers
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Chasbo
Join Date 01/2005
+1046
Reply #5 June 29, 2006 10:59:52 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I was using the Beta of 1.9.2 but the account I was using got messed up so it was deleted and I got rid of Aston as well. I used Aston before I used WB's on my old win98 computer. It's great! Yes and Kudos to Brad for putting this on. I am a connvert to WB's now mainly because for my money Object Desktop is the complete package. Anyways what you can do is create another account and then run Aston on it. Just make sure you specify that it is for that account only. Aston is really a nice alternative to Exploder!
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BSassi4Me
Join Date 04/2004
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Reply #6 June 30, 2006 1:58:22 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I am with everyone else wondering why tis program is being advertized here...is this program compatible with windowblinds, will there be a conflict if both programs are being used at the same time...just need to find this out before trying this new programs....thanx hope to hear a response real soon
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George Rogers Jr
Join Date 07/2002
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Reply #7 June 30, 2006 2:32:42 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Correct me if I'm wrong (& probably am) but Aston is a TOTAL SHELL REPLACEMENT for the default Windows Explorer Shell....something WB is not(skins only) meaning it can't be used as an easy fast switch/go back alternative - I've always wanted to try this because it looks so awesome, but after going to the website you find so many of the useable themes have the same problem Dx has: "resolution restrictive" - meaning your screen resolution must match the theme being offered & so many at Aston are in the 1024x768...I run 1280x1024 & there wasn't awhole lot to choose from....
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JcRabbit
Join Date 03/2001
+290
Reply #8 June 30, 2006 2:49:55 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Guess a history lesson is in order here.

Wincustomize was created when the most popular skins repository site at the time (we're talking 2001 here), Skinz.org, went down the drain because of the eFront scandal. At the time, Stardock was just one of the players, although, without a doubt, already the major player. Back then there were still many popular skinnable applications, shell replacements, you name it.

Anyway, the other major skinning site left was Deviant Art, but it soon became obvious that its focus was more on art than on skinnable applications.

Although Stardock owns Wincustomize, part of the initial success of Wincustomize had to do with Brad Wardel taking the decision of NOT making it a skins repository for Stardock applications only. By taking this decision, he ensured Wincustomize's popularity - and in the process accepted a big responsibility (this said, Stardock is the company paying the bills for Wincustomize, so they are entitled to do with it whatever they please, including booting out all the sections not related to Stardock).

That is why even to this day you have non-Stardock sections on the Gallery panel, and even more available when you click on [More]. Wincustomize became THE skinning repository of choice for both skinners, users and skinnable application developers. This is also why you will see non-Stardock applications advertised here - but note that you will see none at Stardock.com.
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AND1FX
Join Date 08/2005
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Reply #9 June 30, 2006 5:39:45 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
anyone kno where to get that wallpaper in the screenshot?

please please please please please!
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kin242
Join Date 02/2005
+2
Reply #10 June 30, 2006 6:14:15 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
If you are secure in the value of you own product you dont have to worry about talking about what the competition is doing.

Looks interesting though.
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slagny
Join Date 09/2001
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Reply #11 June 30, 2006 9:12:26 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
AND1FX -- anyone kno where to get that wallpaper in the screenshot?


Don't know if you'll find it here - CrystalXP.net - but they have some awesome wallpapers that are similar.
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Frogboy
Join Date 03/2001
+2419 sdemperor
Reply #12 June 30, 2006 10:57:37 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
WinCustomize may be owned by Stardock but it supports ALL skinning.  We want people to make news items on things  that are truly skinning related that they've made.
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Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #13 June 30, 2006 11:08:48 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

 JcRabbit ...pretty well summed it up, thanks, Jorge...

There are several 'shell' replacements/alternatives out there which provide other, different options to that afforded by Explorer.exe and its subsequent enhancements.

Any of these shells still benefits from such proggies as Windowblinds and others.  Since the beginning of Windows-skinning people have used alternate shells as well as Windowblinds in particular...as part of a whole skinning experience.

As Frogboy said, we're all about supporting ALL skinning.....particularly in as much as we [skinners] are [or should be] interested in all facets of skinning.

There's more to [skinning] life than just walls and icons....

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Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
+493
Reply #14 June 30, 2006 1:25:56 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Looks good to me. Might have to investigate this proggy a little more closely   
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Fourth Letter
Join Date 04/2004
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Reply #15 June 30, 2006 1:43:40 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Whats with all the corporate whores ?? You're supposed to show alternative skinning options it's good business practice ! No business should be afraid of competition and the fact that Stardock are always happy to show us alternatives on a web site they run shows you why many of us will always support Stardock.
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scorpNZ
Join Date 12/2005
+17
Reply #16 June 30, 2006 11:18:47 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
What's this eFont scandall you talk of jcRabbit,i just googled but there is no mention,so wots the goss ??
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ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
+917
Reply #17 June 30, 2006 11:36:46 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
What's this eFont scandall you talk of


eFront
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Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #18 July 1, 2006 1:07:44 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
eFront was a dot com advertiser that financially screwed and/or ruined the sites it took over.  There was also an infamous  ICQ log that was 'made' public that showed it's owners to be lower than pond scum and [allegedly] criminally corrupt.  Fortunately eFront didn't survive....I think knee-cappings fixed it/them....
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Steeler Sandy
Join Date 04/2002
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Reply #19 July 1, 2006 5:05:18 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Well, I tried this little prog...and ended up having to do a Restore, because I lost the ability to use the normal windows shell. I used the Shell Switcher. Everything seemed ok, 'til I uninstalled Aston, and restarted my pc. I thin could get only my wallpaper to appear. No icons, taskbar, etc.
Other than that, it is a pretty cool program.
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JcRabbit
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #20 July 1, 2006 9:05:09 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
There was also an infamous ICQ log


I still have that log, hehe. Loved the part where Sam Jain is ICQing this girl and keeps boasting about firing people. Doh! What a nerd.
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Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #21 July 1, 2006 10:15:31 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Jorge...my fave was the bit about siccing their Legal dept onto the leakers/distributors of the log....that same log that included comments about how they would screw over their own legal dept by not paying them...
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joeKnowledge
Join Date 03/2004
+2
Reply #22 July 1, 2006 3:27:06 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
LOL
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Wet Monkey
Join Date 07/2001
+1
Reply #23 July 2, 2006 12:07:00 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I have had the same problem as Steeler Sandy with this program. For some reason, Aston seems to be re-wrting something because after un-installing and re-installing and un-installing again, both from the Aston menu and the control panel add/remove I can not get the explorer shell to come back for some reason, an .ini file or a registry entry somewhere, or both, that is not getting deleted during the un-install is my guess. It's somewhat of a pain becuse until I can figure out what I need to tweak after un-installing, I have to leave Aston on my system just so I have the Aston shell switcher to get back to explorer or I just get a blank screen with no start bar, icons etc.

Not trying to put this app down, in fact it's pretty nice in a number of ways and it's obvious that the developer has put in a good amount of time, energy and love into this product but I'm a OD subscriber running DX Pro and not to sure I really need this but the un-installer needs a good looking over and a easier way, other than a system restore to get your system back.
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JcRabbit
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #24 July 2, 2006 2:40:25 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
This is probably one of the main reasons why alternate shells (i.e.; programs that replace Explorer as the shell instead of enhancing the existing shell) are not for everybody. Getting back to Explorer is actually pretty easy once you know how, and as long as you are confortable with editing the Windows Registry. I also bet the answer is probably prety high up in Aston's FAQs.

This is just an observation, by the way, not an attack on anyone: as a developer myself, I too have to live with the fact that very few people actually read the documentation. Most of the time they won't even read the application's Introduction screen, they just click Ok to get on with it, accepting the defaults without even realizing what they are.
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Wet Monkey
Join Date 07/2001
+1
Reply #25 July 2, 2006 4:54:11 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Interesting observation JcRabbit and probably true in some cases. However after following the instuctions on the Aston site step by step numerous times with no change in the way that the shell startup file is overwritten, it is a little discouraging for an otherwise good application. I happen to be one of those people you don't believe reads anything but in fact I read everything, especially when I spend hours trying to un-install one program. I believe that I should not have to edit the registry to un-install this and that programs like this should not require a geek degree. I work for a software developer and I know what you are saying, albeit very generalized, but since you responded to my post with why "people like me" should not use these types of programs, I felt inclined to defend myself. This could be just a little cleaner process for all of us less gifted morons.
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