MyColors Replacing Premium Suites
One place to get all of your premium content
Friday, April 25, 2008 by Zoomba | Discussion: WinCustomize News
As some of you probably have noticed, we've begun moving some of our Premium Suites over to MyColors. And if you've purchased the Pirate or Magic Desktop Premium Suites recently, you'll soon be receiving (if you haven't already) an email explaining that your purchase has been upgraded to the MyColors version of the suite, which have been tested to work in both Windows XP and Windows Vista.
What does this mean for Premium Suites overall? Well, they're being replaced entirely by MyColors Themes. We've begun the process of upgrading older themes such as Omega to MyColors, upgrading the skins and icons to work under Windows Vista.
As older suites are upgraded, if you purchased within a certain time window, you will receive a free upgrade, otherwise there will be a small upgrade fee. In the case of Omega, it's any orders placed since November 30th, 2007 up to the point where the suite was upgraded to MyColors. If you purchased prior to November 30th, you can upgrade for just $4.95. The upgrade price is there because the suite was XP only and has been upgraded for Vista.
Want to keep track of which of our Premium Suites have been upgraded to MyColors? Keep an eye on the Inspired Themes list.
The biggest advantage to users with this switch is now if we upgrade a theme, or fix a bug later on, it can be automatically distributed to all users via the MyColors distribution tool.
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Astyanax
Reply #42 Saturday, April 26, 2008 3:35 PM
Do tell how you got it working. It installs, but doesn't decrypt any suites for me.
Reply #42 Saturday, April 26, 2008 3:35 PM
I am running x64 Vista Home Premium and My Colors works fine for me.
Do tell how you got it working. It installs, but doesn't decrypt any suites for me.
PuterDudeJim
Reply #43 Saturday, April 26, 2008 5:41 PM
Reply #43 Saturday, April 26, 2008 5:41 PM
Do tell how you got it working. It installs, but doesn't decrypt any suites for me.
I don't really know, I just installed Impulse, then My Colors, and all my suites work just fine. I actually have more trouble with My Colors on x32 XP than x64 Vista. This may sound dumb, but you are trying to use MyColors suites, right? The older theme mgr. suites don't work with MyColors. Just checking.
Frogboy
Reply #44 Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:15 PM
Reply #44 Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:15 PM
Where is the logic in this? If I have Window Blinds, why in the world would I even wish to mess with this My Colors?
MyColors is a manager. MyColors uses WindowBlinds.
The reason you'd get MyColors is to get the themes. MyColors will automatically handle updating the themes for you when we improve them.
Frogboy
Reply #45 Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:16 PM
Reply #45 Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:16 PM
The X64 version of MyColors will be out soon. VERY soon or you'll be hearing about deaths at Stardock. Purely accidental of course. Heh, glad I added that last part.
MadDeez
Reply #46 Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:33 PM
Reply #46 Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:33 PM
just have koop call me and provide the details for the wakes and funerals. i'll do my best to attend them all. 
hopefully, everyone will still be alive when i visit the office again.
hopefully, everyone will still be alive when i visit the office again.
Astyanax
Reply #47 Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:35 PM
- I've ventured over to x86 until IP/MyColors are out anyway.. couldn't resist some of those themes.
Reply #47 Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:35 PM
This may sound dumb, but you are trying to use MyColors suites, right? The older theme mgr. suites don't work with MyColors. Just checking.
I tried using the Cosmos theme and it wouldn't apply the theme at all through MyColors, it appeared in the WB Config but the themes images where encrypted still so it was unusable.
The X64 version of MyColors will be out soon. VERY soon or you'll be hearing about deaths at Stardock. Purely accidental of course. Heh, glad I added that last part.
Good to hear... well the first part that is. 
- I've ventured over to x86 until IP/MyColors are out anyway.. couldn't resist some of those themes.
HG_Eliminator
Reply #48 Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:55 PM
oh sure .. now ya tell me ..
Reply #48 Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:55 PM
Never completely grow up, it makes people boring
oh sure .. now ya tell me ..
PuterDudeJim
Reply #49 Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:07 PM
Reply #49 Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:07 PM
The X64 version of MyColors will be out soon. VERY soon or you'll be hearing about deaths at Stardock. Purely accidental of course. Heh, glad I added that last part.
I am running x64 Vista Home Premium and My Colors works fine for me.
Aleatoric
Reply #50 Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:57 PM
Reply #50 Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:57 PM
- Install MyColors
- Open MyColors and install Magic/Pirate
- Close MyColors and Open WindowBlinds
- Choose Magic or Pirate and clic Apply
- Open IconPackager
- Choose Magic or Pirate and clic Apply
That works until you reboot or want to change your skin using WindowBlinds, then all you get is a horked (nearly classic) skin, and it doesn't ever work again until you uninstall and reinstall WindowBlinds. Or, at least, that's what happens to me EVERY time I use the MyColors application. It also changes my WindowBlinds settings, for one, the display icon in system tray option. If the MyColors App is supposed to be the portal for premium skins, it should NEVER break the existing installed applications, for any reason.
Stardock, let us just download the theme file, and apply it as we see fit, without having to use an application that clearly still has some compatibility issues.
- Open MyColors and install Magic/Pirate
- Close MyColors and Open WindowBlinds
- Choose Magic or Pirate and clic Apply
- Open IconPackager
- Choose Magic or Pirate and clic Apply
Astyanax
Reply #51 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:11 AM
- You have the latest build for WB?
Reply #51 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:11 AM
That works until you reboot or want to change your skin using WindowBlinds, then all you get is a horked (nearly classic) skin, and it doesn't ever work again until you uninstall and reinstall WindowBlinds.
Works perfectly fine for me. - You have the latest build for WB?
Aleatoric
Reply #52 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:24 AM
Reply #52 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:24 AM
Latest of everything, updated via Impulse.
Every time I use MyColors, WB gets fubar.
If it's relevant,
Vista Ultimate 32bit version
Even if it worked correctly, all of the time, why should we have to install yet another application to get a premium skin?
I think the MyColors idea is fine for those who don't have (or want) the whole OD thing, but for those of us who do have OD, we should be given the option of getting the skins in the native format, so we can use them as is, without the need for yet another theme manager.
SteveGosselin
Reply #53 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:42 AM
Reply #53 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:42 AM
Aleatoric
Reply #54 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:47 AM
Reply #54 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:47 AM
I already have.
Doesn't change my assertion that we shouldn't be required to use another theme manager when the apps we have are entirely acceptable for the purpose.
ZubaZ
Reply #55 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:49 AM
Out of curiosity . . I haven't checked, how much space on the hard drive is MyColors taking up (without themes)? And with hard drives the size they are . . does it really matter that much?
Me . . I'm sorry . . other than those folks who want to edit a theme more than recoloring . . I don't see a big deal.
Here on the WC forums I may be a minority, but in the bigger market . . I think that most folks may get tired of Luna and ANYTHING different (and easy) will be welcomed. If they have WB and can edit the colors . . even better. Editing images? Meh. That's the minority. And those folks still have all the skins in the WC to edit if they want.
If MyColors is as successful as I think it will be we'll all see more "traditional" skins available to us all.
Reply #55 Sunday, April 27, 2008 12:49 AM
why should we have to install yet another application to get a premium skin?
Think of it like a floppy disk from back in the day. MyColors is just a delivery system for the skin. It's at the producers discretion how to deliver content . . it's up to you to decide if you want to have that content enough to use their delivery method.Out of curiosity . . I haven't checked, how much space on the hard drive is MyColors taking up (without themes)? And with hard drives the size they are . . does it really matter that much?
Me . . I'm sorry . . other than those folks who want to edit a theme more than recoloring . . I don't see a big deal.
Here on the WC forums I may be a minority, but in the bigger market . . I think that most folks may get tired of Luna and ANYTHING different (and easy) will be welcomed. If they have WB and can edit the colors . . even better. Editing images? Meh. That's the minority. And those folks still have all the skins in the WC to edit if they want.
If MyColors is as successful as I think it will be we'll all see more "traditional" skins available to us all.
Aleatoric
Reply #56 Sunday, April 27, 2008 1:01 AM
Reply #56 Sunday, April 27, 2008 1:01 AM
It's not about editing the skin at all, I rarely do that, unless something really doesn't work.
I've NEVER liked the theme manager, and as far as I can see, MyColors is really just another version of the theme manager. When I've used the theme manager in the past, I've had assorted issues, and even when I didn't, what I wanted was one WB theme, another IP theme, etc. While I'm aware that I can change something after it's been applied, it seems pretty silly to me that I should need to apply a theme, then go into another app to apply the other skin, not from the theme, that I want to go with the one item from the theme that interested me.
At least with the theme manager skins, I could download it, unzip it, and apply only what I wanted. With MyColors, it's apparently all or nothing, and on top of that, it screws with my WindowBlinds installation and settings. If it really is just a delivery system, it can just as easily deliver the unzippable theme file, and let me do with it what I want.
I've purchased a *lot* of content from Stardock and various individual skinners. I *DON'T* want an application making all of my skinning decisions for me.
Allow me to download the unzippable theme file, and I'll buy it, otherwise, so long.
ZubaZ
Reply #57 Sunday, April 27, 2008 1:22 AM
Reply #57 Sunday, April 27, 2008 1:22 AM
First . .your WB issues are an issue, not a standard. Your case will be addresed and resolved.
For most people MC and WB work fine together. Once you install a theme via MC you can (should be able to) open all the components in the sundry apps . . . just like suites applied with previous versions of Thememanager.
The biggest problem here is that you don't like Stardock's choices. It happens. Thankfully, you *do* have a choice. I guess it comes down to whether you find a theme you like enough to install MyColors. Otherwise . . . I guess you do with what you have. No fuss, no muss. Everyone's cool, right?
For most people MC and WB work fine together. Once you install a theme via MC you can (should be able to) open all the components in the sundry apps . . . just like suites applied with previous versions of Thememanager.
The biggest problem here is that you don't like Stardock's choices. It happens. Thankfully, you *do* have a choice. I guess it comes down to whether you find a theme you like enough to install MyColors. Otherwise . . . I guess you do with what you have. No fuss, no muss. Everyone's cool, right?
Aleatoric
Reply #58 Sunday, April 27, 2008 1:34 AM
Reply #58 Sunday, April 27, 2008 1:34 AM
Apart from the particular issues I seem to be having with MC (and I did get the Aquamarine skin, installed and applied it with MC, which worked until a reboot, then I had to uninstall and reinstall WB to get *any* skin to work, even Aquamarine), why can't we be given the option in the MC app to download the theme, in addition to applying it? I don't see how this would be a major problem for a company as skilled as Stardock, and it provides a useful option for advanced users. Can't imagine why that would be such a controversial option.
If I recall correctly, the entire purpose of Stardock's customization applications is to allow the user complete control over the look and feel of their system. Seems to me that allowing us to get the theme file, separately from applying it, is a clear expression of that tenet.
I'm all for making it easy and convenient for new users. I just don't think that that means that it's a good idea to leave your advanced users out in the cold.
slagny
Reply #59 Sunday, April 27, 2008 2:18 AM
Bebi, I just added the Mustang to my cart and with my OD discount it was $14.95 and I think Zubaz mentioned something like 50% off.
Reply #59 Sunday, April 27, 2008 2:18 AM
....the MyColors themes are $9.95 with the ODNT discount.
Bebi, I just added the Mustang to my cart and with my OD discount it was $14.95 and I think Zubaz mentioned something like 50% off.
StephanA
Reply #60 Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:19 AM
Reply #60 Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:19 AM
I suggest that MyColors was created to address teen market, mass market and pirating issues. As Zubaz said, it is at Stardock's discretion how to deliver its product.
What I don't like is the delivery of standardized WBs, icon sets and same gadgets. OK, lately there has been an improvement and now Stardock decided to release Master's skins in the same format. What, the same gadgets?! I like gadgets, but to have a calendar on your desktop to remind of today's date and weather that I may check once a month. Thank you, emphatic NO. Bring back a useful rainlendar and sysmetrix!
I used to skin sysmetrix and rainlendars using previous WB skins for my own use. I am not sure, but it looks like I would not be able to do this with MyColors themes.
Anyway, I will stick with what I have and wait for some kind Master skinner to deliver a product as before. Then, I will buy.
Kind regards.
What I don't like is the delivery of standardized WBs, icon sets and same gadgets. OK, lately there has been an improvement and now Stardock decided to release Master's skins in the same format. What, the same gadgets?! I like gadgets, but to have a calendar on your desktop to remind of today's date and weather that I may check once a month. Thank you, emphatic NO. Bring back a useful rainlendar and sysmetrix!
I used to skin sysmetrix and rainlendars using previous WB skins for my own use. I am not sure, but it looks like I would not be able to do this with MyColors themes.
Anyway, I will stick with what I have and wait for some kind Master skinner to deliver a product as before. Then, I will buy.
Kind regards.
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Reply #41 Saturday, April 26, 2008 2:21 PM
Your old suites should work with the old app. No problems.
And for some suites that are migrating to themes (like Pirate and Magic) user are being upgraded for free. I think it depends on how much time was spent upgrading the themes and how recently they were released.