New Free Skin from Stardock Design: Solarion
WindowBlinds 6 and Vista Optimized
Thursday, October 4, 2007 by Zoomba | Discussion: WinCustomize News
To go along with the launch of WindowBlinds 6, Stardock Design has been hard at work putting together some fantastic professional-quality skins for everyone here. The best part is they're free! You've already seen Adamant by Alexandrie. Today we've got a new one from MikeB314!
Are you looking for a new skin that has a bit of a retro feel while showing off some of the new, fancy features of WindowBlinds 6 and Windows Vista? Well, to fill that need, MikeB314 put together Solarion, a retro skin with a new feel. It's completely free to all users. Enjoy!
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ZubaZ
Reply #22 Friday, October 5, 2007 7:40 AM
Reply #22 Friday, October 5, 2007 7:40 AM
Many of the master skinners were selling work around the web before Stardock hired them.
By hiring them, Stardock has likely improved their marketability and general presence. Nothing has changed except the visibility is higher here. That's a good thing for skinning and skinners everywhere.
Now there is one place to go to get the very best skins (free and pay) and one place for new skinners to go and say "I want to make skins like that!"
Good for Stardock; Good for the skinners; and Good for the users!
By hiring them, Stardock has likely improved their marketability and general presence. Nothing has changed except the visibility is higher here. That's a good thing for skinning and skinners everywhere.
Now there is one place to go to get the very best skins (free and pay) and one place for new skinners to go and say "I want to make skins like that!"
Good for Stardock; Good for the skinners; and Good for the users!
Jeffrey Bombard
Reply #23 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:00 AM
Reply #23 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:00 AM
bobbyhundreds, not kidding, maybe it's just temporary but right now all of the latest and greatest skins in my opinion are the master skins. There are some really good alternatives, but the master stuff has more appeal to me. I haven't used a new blind in months and that is rare for me. Even after downloading v6 I'm back to an old blind.
In my opinion and peoples will vary, Optix would be a high 9 this is a 6-7ish. I feel Optix has a much nicer feel to it, once again my opinion. Not to mention I was never into the whole retro thing. Maybe it's just one skin and I'm reading too much into it...
However the thing a lot of the people commenting here need to understand is I am a content consumer. I would be willing to bet that the majority of Windowblinds users are content consumers, not content creators. When I bought Windowblinds it was a bit like a television, I bought the TV because there was a lot of free content available I wanted to watch. Now I can continue watching the same programs that I always watched but all of the good TV programs coming out are pay per view. How the actors and TV show producers get paid is not my concern, I bought a TV because I wanted to consume the available content. I have no interest in pay per view TV. When good content stops becoming availabe my TV loses it's value. TVs lose value the TV maker loses customers. Simple.
I do not think I am entitled or due anything from anybody, whether or not people charge or do not charge doesn't affect me. What concerns me is the availability of good free content, and this should be what concerns Stardock as well. I am not blaming skinners for anything, every skinner is entitled to thanks and appreciation from everyone. The only thing I am doing here is stating the truth of how I feel about the current state of affairs as it pertains to WindowBlinds the product and content available for it.
It's not about paying people for their work, because as a content consumer my concern is whether or not there is good content available. period. I don't watch TV wondering about how the actors get paid. Stardock sells a player for what used to be free content, now the good content is not free and some people are not going to want to buy a new player. This is not my opinion, this is a business reality. Whether or not "some people" is only me or a larger number of customers is open to speculation. Stardock has a vested interest in having good content available and if the community that origanlly provided this free content is shrinking there is a number of ways Stardock can handle this from encouraging people to skin to actually hiring professional skin designers to create free content to fill the gap. If from day one the content was not free that would factor in to people's decision to purchase the product, however that is not the case and by changing that aspect they will distance some customers like myself. If Stardock is fine with that then so be it. It's their company. However if the the content consumers like myself feel that not enough good free content is available to warrent buying the next version of the program, that is the reality that Stardock has to deal with.
In my opinion and peoples will vary, Optix would be a high 9 this is a 6-7ish. I feel Optix has a much nicer feel to it, once again my opinion. Not to mention I was never into the whole retro thing. Maybe it's just one skin and I'm reading too much into it...
However the thing a lot of the people commenting here need to understand is I am a content consumer. I would be willing to bet that the majority of Windowblinds users are content consumers, not content creators. When I bought Windowblinds it was a bit like a television, I bought the TV because there was a lot of free content available I wanted to watch. Now I can continue watching the same programs that I always watched but all of the good TV programs coming out are pay per view. How the actors and TV show producers get paid is not my concern, I bought a TV because I wanted to consume the available content. I have no interest in pay per view TV. When good content stops becoming availabe my TV loses it's value. TVs lose value the TV maker loses customers. Simple.
I do not think I am entitled or due anything from anybody, whether or not people charge or do not charge doesn't affect me. What concerns me is the availability of good free content, and this should be what concerns Stardock as well. I am not blaming skinners for anything, every skinner is entitled to thanks and appreciation from everyone. The only thing I am doing here is stating the truth of how I feel about the current state of affairs as it pertains to WindowBlinds the product and content available for it.
It's not about paying people for their work, because as a content consumer my concern is whether or not there is good content available. period. I don't watch TV wondering about how the actors get paid. Stardock sells a player for what used to be free content, now the good content is not free and some people are not going to want to buy a new player. This is not my opinion, this is a business reality. Whether or not "some people" is only me or a larger number of customers is open to speculation. Stardock has a vested interest in having good content available and if the community that origanlly provided this free content is shrinking there is a number of ways Stardock can handle this from encouraging people to skin to actually hiring professional skin designers to create free content to fill the gap. If from day one the content was not free that would factor in to people's decision to purchase the product, however that is not the case and by changing that aspect they will distance some customers like myself. If Stardock is fine with that then so be it. It's their company. However if the the content consumers like myself feel that not enough good free content is available to warrent buying the next version of the program, that is the reality that Stardock has to deal with.
vStyler
Reply #24 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:22 AM
That's exactly what they are already doing... just beacause you don't like the skins they have released isn't their fault, the way I see it they are going above and beyond what might be logically expected of them. Like you said though, it's your opinion and your entitled to it, I don't think your going to find many who agree with you. Honestly saying that all of the good content is now gone is probably offensive to the hundreds of sinners that aren't Master skinners yet. These skinner's need to be encouraged not downtrodden.
Reply #24 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:22 AM
to actually hiring professional skin designers to create free content to fill the gap.
That's exactly what they are already doing... just beacause you don't like the skins they have released isn't their fault, the way I see it they are going above and beyond what might be logically expected of them. Like you said though, it's your opinion and your entitled to it, I don't think your going to find many who agree with you. Honestly saying that all of the good content is now gone is probably offensive to the hundreds of sinners that aren't Master skinners yet. These skinner's need to be encouraged not downtrodden.
ZubaZ
Reply #25 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:31 AM
At least he's honest. Although mixing "the truth" and "how I feel" can be disengenoius.
I think that there are many excellent skins available for free. I think that your standards have changed over the years and you've become spoiled by the level of skins produced by the master skinners.
Oh well.
Reply #25 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:31 AM
stating the truth of how I feel
At least he's honest. Although mixing "the truth" and "how I feel" can be disengenoius.
I think that there are many excellent skins available for free. I think that your standards have changed over the years and you've become spoiled by the level of skins produced by the master skinners.
Oh well.
bobbyhundreds
Reply #26 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:41 AM
As I said (and you too),it's clearly down to personal preference,just because you don't like a skin doesn't mean it is substandard or not as good as the old days,it just means that YOU don't like it.
So are you saying that the none master skinners skins just aren't good enough for you?Because if you are then you know what the solution is,make your own or buy Master skins.If on the other hand you think it is unfair to have to purchase skins I really don't know what to say apart from look around you,stuff costs money,and in the case of the master skinners here it is well deserved in my opinion.
Reply #26 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:41 AM
maybe it's just temporary but right now all of the latest and greatest skins in my opinion are the master skins. There are some really good alternatives, but the master stuff has more appeal to me.
As I said (and you too),it's clearly down to personal preference,just because you don't like a skin doesn't mean it is substandard or not as good as the old days,it just means that YOU don't like it.
So are you saying that the none master skinners skins just aren't good enough for you?Because if you are then you know what the solution is,make your own or buy Master skins.If on the other hand you think it is unfair to have to purchase skins I really don't know what to say apart from look around you,stuff costs money,and in the case of the master skinners here it is well deserved in my opinion.
ZubaZ
Reply #27 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:48 AM
I disagree with him on his definition of great skins and his assertion that it will kill the user base.
Reply #27 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:48 AM
If on the other hand you think it is unfair to have to purchase skins
I don't read his posts as being unfair. Just that Stardock (and the skinners they've hired) are killing thier base of users by only having the great skins for pay.I disagree with him on his definition of great skins and his assertion that it will kill the user base.
vStyler
Reply #28 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:55 AM
I'd be willing to bet the user base hasn't decreased in recent memory.
Reply #28 Friday, October 5, 2007 9:55 AM
I disagree with him on his definition of great skins and his assertion that it will kill the user base.
I'd be willing to bet the user base hasn't decreased in recent memory.
Philly0381
Reply #29 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:14 AM
Reply #29 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:14 AM
Jeffrey, I took the time to go back and read your replies. They were put together with thought and opinion. Then I read the rest of the replies that dealt with yours.
I am left with one overiding theme. You don't want anything to change. When you first came to Stardock and WB things were a certain way and you liked it, trust me you are not alone in that thinking. Now some years later things have changed, alot of us here feel for the good. Don't get me wrong it's fine to want things to always stay where and how they first started. Sorry, it just doesn't work that way.
I will agree that not all change is good. For instance over the air TV, used to be no more than four or five channels to choose from. Without cable or satellite you now can get upwards to 10 channels and in some cases more. Problem I have is that the so called major networks are all now showing reality programs. Not an improvement as far as I can see. So I have satellite services. In other words, things change, we move on.
What I like about all that has happened here and elsewheres is that my ability to choose has not been taken away from me. Much more important than anything else that has been posted here.
Jeffrey, choose what you want and move on. If you choose to stay here, great, if not that's your choice.
Have a great day.
I am left with one overiding theme. You don't want anything to change. When you first came to Stardock and WB things were a certain way and you liked it, trust me you are not alone in that thinking. Now some years later things have changed, alot of us here feel for the good. Don't get me wrong it's fine to want things to always stay where and how they first started. Sorry, it just doesn't work that way.
I will agree that not all change is good. For instance over the air TV, used to be no more than four or five channels to choose from. Without cable or satellite you now can get upwards to 10 channels and in some cases more. Problem I have is that the so called major networks are all now showing reality programs. Not an improvement as far as I can see. So I have satellite services. In other words, things change, we move on.
What I like about all that has happened here and elsewheres is that my ability to choose has not been taken away from me. Much more important than anything else that has been posted here.
Jeffrey, choose what you want and move on. If you choose to stay here, great, if not that's your choice.
Have a great day.
Frogboy
Reply #30 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:19 AM
Reply #30 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:19 AM
The Master Skin process was designed to help encourage new skinners to get into skinning.
I think there's a major variable being ignored: Most of the good skins we speak of in the past are made by people who have left or no longer have hobby time to justify continually making them.
Like anything, new people need to rise up. Master Skins is one way to encourage this because only someone with MASTER access can make them which requires a great deal of effort and having demonstrated their capability and passion over the course of time to make their way up.
There is a significant misconception if someone thinks that Treetog and Alexandrie and Essorant and all the other long long LONG time skinners are going to simply continue to crank out amazing skins indefinitely.
Like all hobbies, once you get to a certain level, it becomes work at which point it's not a hobby. Master skins encourage skinners who have reached a certain level to still makes skins even when it's not a hobby.
We need an incentive to get NEW artists into skinning. Master Skins is that carrot.
btw, does anyone else see the irony in discussing this in a news item announcing the second (in less than a week) free skin from Stardock Design?
bobbyhundreds
Reply #31 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:22 AM
Fair point Zubaz,I get your drift and I have to agree with you that it is not killing the user base.There are too many up and coming skinners for that to happen.
Reply #31 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:22 AM
I don't read his posts as being unfair. Just that Stardock (and the skinners they've hired) are killing thier base of users by only having the great skins for pay.
Fair point Zubaz,I get your drift and I have to agree with you that it is not killing the user base.There are too many up and coming skinners for that to happen.
ZubaZ
Reply #32 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:30 AM
Reply #32 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:30 AM
btw, does anyone else see the irony in discussing this in a news item announcing the second (in less than a week) free skin from Stardock Design?
I also got a chuckle out of that Brad.
bobbyhundreds
Reply #33 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:56 AM
Certainly do.
There's no pleasing some people.
Reply #33 Friday, October 5, 2007 10:56 AM
btw, does anyone else see the irony in discussing this in a news item announcing the second (in less than a week) free skin from Stardock Design?
Certainly do.
There's no pleasing some people.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #34 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:10 AM
Reply #34 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:10 AM
To go along with the launch of WindowBlinds 6, Stardock Design has been hard at work putting together some fantastic professional-quality skins for everyone here. The best part is they're free!
NightTrainthedark
Reply #35 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:20 AM
I thought it was ironic too until I realized the main point he is making is that supposedly ALL the good skinners are under Stardock mind control.
Reply #35 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:20 AM
does anyone else see the irony in discussing this in a news item announcing the second (in less than a week) free skin from Stardock Design?
I thought it was ironic too until I realized the main point he is making is that supposedly ALL the good skinners are under Stardock mind control.
Philly0381
Reply #36 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:23 AM
Well, we all know that to be true!
Reply #36 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:23 AM
I thought it was ironic too until I realized the main point he is making is that supposedly ALL the good skinners are under Stardock mind control.
Well, we all know that to be true!
ZubaZ
Reply #37 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:27 AM
Wait . . . just a minute . . maybe I'm *not* a master skinner
Reply #37 Friday, October 5, 2007 11:27 AM
I thought it was ironic too until I realized the main point he is making is that supposedly ALL the good skinners are under Stardock mind control.
*I* am still free.Wait . . . just a minute . . maybe I'm *not* a master skinner
Jeffrey Bombard
Reply #38 Friday, October 5, 2007 12:26 PM
Reply #38 Friday, October 5, 2007 12:26 PM
I'm not saying anyone is under mind control, just that the incentive for them to produce master skins is greater than that of free skins and thus the balance has changed. It is people stretching my words with comments like "mind control" that really make me appreciate posters with an understanding open minded tone like Philly0381 and Zubaz. You can disagree but I would appreciate it if people didn't put words in my mouth.
As far as irony is concerned... it is not about the number of skins it is about which skins I personally prefer. I personally find it strange that they find irony in something that is somebody elses opinion. There is no irony, it is an opinion you agree or you disagree either is fine.
Perhaps I'm just being a bit too cynical and pessimistic, and perhaps I'm spending too much time reminiscing about the good ol' days.
I'm not going anywhere 'till my OD subscription runs out anyway, I'll reevaluate then I guess.
I understand the idea behind the carrot, I think it is faulty, but I understand what frogboy is saying. The whole idea behind a carrot is that it has to be something attainable or just out of reach to keep you intrested, if it is too far out of reach it doesn't work as a carrot. Try putting a carrot 2 miles in front of a horse and see if he runs for it. The only way someone would make it to 6 years or however long it takes is through enjoying the process. While I can see the validity of having masters skins to keep the old skinners skinning(but that could be done if Stardock payed them directly), in my opinion having master skins does absolutely nothing to get new skinners into skinning. For this I think you need a better carrot. I hope this can be taken as constructive criticism because that is how it intended, I say this because I do hope to see more new skinners.
From the carrot comment it seems like the master skins idea was like throwing on a band aid before actually knowing what the injury was, and that scares me. While seeing the current "masters" leave would be very sad indeed, it must also be considered that an event like that is what allows a newer skinner to step up and fill the void, that is a very real carrot. Please people don't take this the wrong way, I don't want anybody to leave. All that I am saying is that if the master skins program was designed to fix a problem, perhaps the root cause of the problem needed a little bit more analysis.
As far as irony is concerned... it is not about the number of skins it is about which skins I personally prefer. I personally find it strange that they find irony in something that is somebody elses opinion. There is no irony, it is an opinion you agree or you disagree either is fine.
Perhaps I'm just being a bit too cynical and pessimistic, and perhaps I'm spending too much time reminiscing about the good ol' days.
I'm not going anywhere 'till my OD subscription runs out anyway, I'll reevaluate then I guess.
I understand the idea behind the carrot, I think it is faulty, but I understand what frogboy is saying. The whole idea behind a carrot is that it has to be something attainable or just out of reach to keep you intrested, if it is too far out of reach it doesn't work as a carrot. Try putting a carrot 2 miles in front of a horse and see if he runs for it. The only way someone would make it to 6 years or however long it takes is through enjoying the process. While I can see the validity of having masters skins to keep the old skinners skinning(but that could be done if Stardock payed them directly), in my opinion having master skins does absolutely nothing to get new skinners into skinning. For this I think you need a better carrot. I hope this can be taken as constructive criticism because that is how it intended, I say this because I do hope to see more new skinners.
From the carrot comment it seems like the master skins idea was like throwing on a band aid before actually knowing what the injury was, and that scares me. While seeing the current "masters" leave would be very sad indeed, it must also be considered that an event like that is what allows a newer skinner to step up and fill the void, that is a very real carrot. Please people don't take this the wrong way, I don't want anybody to leave. All that I am saying is that if the master skins program was designed to fix a problem, perhaps the root cause of the problem needed a little bit more analysis.
vStyler
Reply #39 Friday, October 5, 2007 2:29 PM
Reply #39 Friday, October 5, 2007 2:29 PM
I dont see why Master status wouldn't be a good incentive for someone to start skinning, I'll be honest with you, financial gain and the enticement to be my own boss is exactly why I took initiative to start skinning years ago, and that was before people even thought about selling skins, In fact I was the first to sell a non-WB "Visual style."
Nowadays in the world of multimedia, google and a wealth of tutorials the learning the "trade" is infinitely more streamlined. 6 Years doesn't apply.
Also, It wouldn't take as long these days, my case may differ as I got into it much earlier on. Moreover it's a way to motivate current skinners to be more productive and to improve on skills they may have otherwise overlooked. I know this because I personally know some of the skinners working towards it and who I might add are now additionaly motivated AND producing good skins.
Nothin wrong with the carrot or the reasoning behind it. It's worked and it's working.. just fine. I ask you to be open minded.
Nowadays in the world of multimedia, google and a wealth of tutorials the learning the "trade" is infinitely more streamlined. 6 Years doesn't apply.
Also, It wouldn't take as long these days, my case may differ as I got into it much earlier on. Moreover it's a way to motivate current skinners to be more productive and to improve on skills they may have otherwise overlooked. I know this because I personally know some of the skinners working towards it and who I might add are now additionaly motivated AND producing good skins.
Nothin wrong with the carrot or the reasoning behind it. It's worked and it's working.. just fine. I ask you to be open minded.
NightTrainthedark
Reply #40 Friday, October 5, 2007 5:23 PM
It took you 19 paragraphs to make that completely obvious point? I don't think so.
As a skinner, yes my feelings are hurt but I am not barking back because of that. I just think you are wrong.
Forgive me if I analyze your analysis.
You started by blaming Stardock for the quality of skins that are being released by some Master Skinners (Stardock Design).
By questioning the quality of the work that is being released and blaming Stardock, are you not saying that the Stardock Design team doesn't care about their reputations? In a long winded way you are saying that they have sold out and therefore cannot think for themselves anymore. Hence the mind control comment. It is called hyperbole. It's all over the internet. Please get used to it.
1 year ago we had 3 premium skins to choose from as subscribers. Now we have many. How exactly has the Master Skinner system harmed anything? People cried for years for more premium skins. They finally got what they asked for. They aren't bad skins. I guess they just aren't what you had hoped for. Understandable. Noone has ever made a skin that met my taste perfectly, except myself.
I started skinning so I could match my personal taste.
Jefferey, See if you can answer this 1 question in 1 sentence.
When it comes time to reevaluate, what has to happen between now and then for you to resubscribe?
Reply #40 Friday, October 5, 2007 5:23 PM
I'm not saying anyone is under mind control, just that the incentive for them to produce master skins is greater than that of free skins and thus the balance has changed.
It took you 19 paragraphs to make that completely obvious point? I don't think so.
As a skinner, yes my feelings are hurt but I am not barking back because of that. I just think you are wrong.
Forgive me if I analyze your analysis.
You started by blaming Stardock for the quality of skins that are being released by some Master Skinners (Stardock Design).
By questioning the quality of the work that is being released and blaming Stardock, are you not saying that the Stardock Design team doesn't care about their reputations? In a long winded way you are saying that they have sold out and therefore cannot think for themselves anymore. Hence the mind control comment. It is called hyperbole. It's all over the internet. Please get used to it.
1 year ago we had 3 premium skins to choose from as subscribers. Now we have many. How exactly has the Master Skinner system harmed anything? People cried for years for more premium skins. They finally got what they asked for. They aren't bad skins. I guess they just aren't what you had hoped for. Understandable. Noone has ever made a skin that met my taste perfectly, except myself.
I started skinning so I could match my personal taste.
Jefferey, See if you can answer this 1 question in 1 sentence.
I'm not going anywhere 'till my OD subscription runs out anyway, I'll reevaluate then I guess.
When it comes time to reevaluate, what has to happen between now and then for you to resubscribe?
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Reply #21 Friday, October 5, 2007 7:19 AM
There are many other sites that have premium content and had it before Stardock Design.
but go ahead, blame Stardock for... not sure what.
If all skins were free, people would go back to complaining about having to buy the software. Stardock cannot win becuase they are a business. There will always be the "what have you done for me lately" clients.
I have clients that bought houses from me 8 years ago that call me to complain that their house needs repainting and I should be responsible for it. I tell them that when the sun burns out, I will then work it into my contracts that they will get lifetime guarantees on their paint.
and then theres the clients that... I had a rough week.