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EXAMINING TECHNOLOGY AND PUTTING IT TO USE68 | MAXIMUMPC | HOLIDAY 08 | http://www.maximumpc.com
THEME WINDOWS WITH
WINDOWBLINDS
If you want to make a dramatic
change to the look and feel of your
desktop, theming is the place to
start. With the right application and skin,
you can transform your Windows desktop
into a work of art.
A quick trip to Google will net you more
Windows customization apps, tutorials, and
crapware than you can shake a stick at, but
we’re going to focus on just one Windows
skinning program: WindowBlinds. This
isn’t the only theming tool available by any
means, but it works on XP and Vista, is share-
ware (the free version is actually functional),
and takes just a couple minutes to set up. So
grab yourself a copy of WindowBlinds and
let’s get started.
The app comes preloaded with sev-
eral starter themes. To enable one, simply
choose a theme, click Apply My Changes,
and voilà—you’ve themed your desktop.
The preloaded default themes are fine, but
they’re not mind-blowing. To find a better
premade skin, check out deviantART’s ex-
tensive collection of WindowBlinds themes
(http://tinyurl.com/48vj9z). Just find a
theme you like, download it, and double-
click the WBA file to install the theme
alongside the defaults.
Finally, if the artist in you is dying to
express your vision to a T, WindowBlinds is
packed with options, so you can customize
each theme to your heart’s content.THEME WINDOWS WITH
WINDOWS
Granted, Windows comes with
a built-in method for changing
themes—namely, the Uxtheme.dll
fi le. Unfortunately, the Uxtheme.dll fi le only
allows you to use offi cial Microsoft styles by
default. However, the fi le can be patched to
allow you to apply any custom style to your
installation. This approach doesn’t provide
the same number of options a full-service ap-
plication like WindowBlinds off ers, but since
Uxtheme skins Windows using the same na-
tive methods that Windows uses by default,
it’s generally easier on your system resources.
On Windows XP, the free application
UXTheme Multi-Patcher takes care of patch-
ing the fi le for you. On Vista, try VistaGlazz.
In both cases, it’s wise to create a system
restore point before proceeding—just to be
on the safe side. Then follow the prompts and
restart your computer.
Now that your Uxtheme.dll is patched,
you’re ready to apply custom themes. Again,
artist community deviantART boasts a large
and impressive collection of themes (http://
tinyurl.com/vr3hz) you can download and
install into C:\Windows\Resources\Themes.
Once installed, applying a theme is as simple
as right-clicking your desktop, selecting
Properties (or Personalize in Vista), then click-
ing the Themes tab. Select your new theme,
hit Apply, and you’re done.Want to streamline your desktop without the weight of extra applications? Try
swapping out your default icons for more attractive alternatives—like any of the
free icon sets from DryIcons (http://dryicons.com/free-icons). To replace a folder’s
icon, for example, right-click the folder, choose Properties, and fi nd the Customize
tab. Then click the Change Icon button, which launches a simple dialog from where
you can browse for the icon you want to swap in. Next, try auto-hiding your taskbar
for a fuller screen experience by right-clicking any empty space on the taskbar,
clicking Properties, and then ticking the Auto-hide taskbar checkbox. Last but not
least, clear off considerable desktop clutter and better showcase your wallpaper
by disabling desktop icons. In Vista, right-click the desktop, select View, and then
untick Show Desktop Icons. XP users, right-click the desktop, select Arrange
Icons By, and then uncheck the Show Desktop Icons entry.SIMPLE FIXESNo-Install Desktop Tweaking
DITCH THE TASKBAR FOR A
ROCKETDOCK
The Windows taskbar is functional—
but it’s not sexy. Mac users have boast-
ed about the utility of the OS X Dock
for years, but in the end, the joke’s on them: The
free Windows application RocketDock brings
the same functionality, and then some, to your
Windows desktop.
The app has a minimal footprint (around
12MB), is completely skinnable (from the
icons to the dock itself), and offers a huge
repository of free addons for customizing
your dock to perfection. Customization
aside, RocketDock, like the OS X Dock, let’s
you minimize windows to and launch ap-
plications from the dock.
Out of the box RocketDock under-
whelms, but spend a little time browsing
through the addons (http://rocketdock.com/
addons) and digging through the application
settings and you’ll soon have a dock with a
look and feel you can be proud of.2 3
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