terminology
themes and suites
Friday, July 29, 2011 by ChristopherHugh | Discussion: OS Customization
Within the context of the WinCustomize web site and Stardock software, what exactly is a 'suite'? Is it a type of theme file used by certain software? If so, which software products use suites? How are suites and WindowBlinds and DeskScapes different from each other?
Reply #2 Friday, July 29, 2011 12:42 AM
I think I understand. I couldn't tell from the gallery because the screen shots seemed to be nearly identical between WindowBlinds and suites and themes.
And the last question in my original post is incorrect. I meant to say: How are suites and WindowBlinds and DesktopX Themes (not DeskScapes) different from each other? So, setting aside suites, how are WindowBlinds and DesktopX Themes different?
Reply #3 Friday, July 29, 2011 12:50 AM
WindowBlinds "skins" Microsoft Windows elements (like the start menu and opened windows; DesktopX creates tools (widgets, gadgets, and objects such as weather, meters, calendars, etc.), that can be "skinned". There doesn't seem to be much that DesktopX can't do; you can bypass the start menu with a DesktopX theme, for instance.
Reply #4 Friday, July 29, 2011 12:56 AM
A suite is a combination of skins made by various programs such as WindowBlinds, DesktopX, IconPackager, and a bunch of others. They are applied with a program called Theme Manager.
Reply #5 Friday, July 29, 2011 12:58 AM
I can't do any better than that, Willistuder. Thanks! 
Reply #6 Friday, July 29, 2011 12:59 AM
Oh, okay. It's taking a while to wade through all of the Stardock products. I think I have a good grasp on what they all do, finally. Thanks. 
Reply #7 Friday, July 29, 2011 1:04 AM
you can also make your own Suite's from any of the skins aka Theme Manager suports
- Wallpapers
- Sounds (SoundPackager)
- Icons (IconPackager)
- Visual Styles (WindowBlinds)
- Mouse cursors (Windows and CursorFX)
- Widgets (DesktopX)
- Animated Wallpaper (DeskScapes)
- Logon Screens (LogonStudio)
- Screen Savers (Windows)
- MP3 Players
- Boot Screens (BootSkin)
- Launchers (ObjectDock, WorkShelf)
you can only get Theme Manager in ObjectDesk Top
at which ObjectDesk Top comes with
Tiles
WindowBlinds
DeskScapes
Fences Pro
IconPackager
SkinStudio
Theme Manager
DesktopX
WindowFX
IconDeveloper
SoundPackager
Keyboard LaunchPad
and more.
Object Desktop is only $49.95. For users who want to keep getting updates to the programs after the first year, they can renew their access for only $34.95!
DesktopX
DesktopX is a program that lets users build their own desktops. It does this by giving users access to desktop objects. These objects can come in all sizes and shapes. They can have scripts attached to them, they can be combined together to form mini applications or turned into an entire desktop.
Objects - DesktopX supports desktop objects. Objects can be live data or just images. They run as part of the DesktopX environment.
Widgets - DesktopX objects can be exported as mini-applications called widgets. Widgets are similar to objects except they are actual programs (.EXEs) that run in their own memory space.
Gadgets - DesktopX widgets can be exported as stand-alone programs (.EXEs) called gadgets that require no additional files or run-times to be installed.
Reply #9 Friday, July 29, 2011 7:31 AM
Thank you for the informative reply. Yes, I plan on purchasing Object Desktop.
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Reply #1 Friday, July 29, 2011 12:19 AM
A Suite is a collection of like themed skins, normally made from the graphics used in a WindowBlinds. In the WinCustomize Gallery Library there is a section for Suites. The Suite is downloaded and applied using Theme Manager. Within the Suite you can find themed skins for WindowBlinds, ObjectDock, DesktopX, CursorFX, etc.