The 1.0 version of the WinCustomize Browser now publicly available
Tuesday, October 15, 2002 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Stardock has released the WinCustomize Skin Browser (WSB) to the general public. WSB is a program that talks directly to the WinCustomize.com library database to allow users to instantly access the thousands of icons, themes, skins, wallpapers, and more on their computers.Not only does it make it easy to access all that content, it can directly apply it to your system. So a user who finds a good Windows Media Player skin can simply press the "Apply" button and WSB will download and apply the skin to Windows Media Player. Same for Winamp, WindowBlinds, Wallpapers, icons and more. If a user needs a particular third party program to use to apply a particular type fo file (such as CursorXP for cursors), WSB will prompt the user and offer to install the program automatically for them.
The program also has an Outlook Express style interface for participating on the message forums, a one click access chat room, integrated web browser, and advanced search capabilities. Best of all, the whole thing is only a little bit over a megabyte in size.
The freeware version of WSB allows users to access the most recently submitted skins, themes, icons, wallpapers, etc. along with a listing a pre-selected list of content in each library.
An enhanced version of WSB is available to users who subscribe to WinCustomize.com which costs $20 for two years (around 80 cents per month). Subscribers get access to reserved high speed bandwidth, no ads, premium subscriber suites, and 1000 free impressions on the upcoming text ad network.
Download WSB at: https://www.stardock.com/products/wincustomize
Screenshots:
https://www.stardock.com/products/wincustomize/sb-oct02a.jpg
https://www.stardock.com/products/wincustomize/sb-oct02g.jpg
https://www.stardock.com/products/wincustomize/sb-oct02f.jpg
https://www.stardock.com/products/wincustomize/sb-oct02c.jpg
https://www.stardock.com/products/wincustomize/sb-oct02e.jpg
John Hamp
Reply #2 Tuesday, October 15, 2002 7:16 PM
Reply #2 Tuesday, October 15, 2002 7:16 PM
It's working here fine. Check your computer's date and time?
Frogboy
Reply #4 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 2:26 PM
Reply #4 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 2:26 PM
We haven't bene able to find any problems but just to be safe, we're going to be slipstreaming a new version that doesn't have any expiration date system at all in it just to be safe.
TasT
Reply #5 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 4:03 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 4:03 PM
I got it to work But I had to clear the entier registry entry for the browser and reinstall...
Researcher Guy
Reply #6 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:15 PM
Reply #6 Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:15 PM
Please don't become like every other bunch of money grubbing computer jockeys out there. If you're selling something - say so. I hate going to a "recommended" download only to discover that I'm only a second-class citizen unless I'm willing to pay more to "belong". When I forked out the bucks for Object Desktop I expected to actually feel like a "Level 3: Object Desktop / Stardock customer / Elite User" instead I'm starting to get the impression that I'm a "mark". 
joda
Reply #7 Thursday, October 17, 2002 10:26 AM
Reply #7 Thursday, October 17, 2002 10:26 AM
I too am a OBNT subscriber but I realize that unless Wincustomize is going to be wholly subsidized by Stardock, they have to pay for their Web presence somehow so I support their attempts to self finance. However I feel that with a ODNT subscibtion, Stardock should be willing to furnish the wincustomize browser with the proceeds going to offset Wincustomize costs.
Acesover8ts
Reply #8 Friday, October 18, 2002 11:54 PM
Reply #8 Friday, October 18, 2002 11:54 PM
I am new to object desktop having just seen the program and buying it 5 days ago. I was recommending object desktop to my two sisters and brother. I just spent $50 on this program 5 days ago and now I have to spend another $20. So why on earth didn't they just say $70. I probably would have paid it. If I pay $20 this time, what is going to get released next that will cost another $20. I was expecting a package deal for a year with free updates then buy again. Well, they just lost 3 more object desktop sales. I need to take a break, I am confused of just what I bought.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, October 15, 2002 6:50 PM
Heh. That's an ingenious marketing scheme. Have users download the browser, and immediately prompt them that their eval period is up and they must register to the tune of $19.95...
Anyway, thought I'd drop a line to let you know that the Standard version of the browser has already timed out, at least for me (and I've never had it installed before today).