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Is GUI skinning fading?

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Is GUI skinning fading?

from WinCustomize Forums

I've been tracking the rate in which GUI skins (WindowBlinds / msstyles) since 2001.  What I do is see how many new skins are created each month and then check on the rate of creation.

It is a good indicator of how popular skinning is.  Now, from a purely competitive point of view, msstyles compete with WindowBlinds skins. But Stardock, as a company, benefits from and overall interest in skinning.

At the start of 2004 there were about 2,550 WindowBlinds skins and 1100 msstyles.

Now, April 12 there are about 2785 WindowBlinds skins (not counting GUI Olympics entries) and 1212 msstyles.

This is looking at ThemeXP.org mainly as the site for msstyles. deviantART is a good site too for msstyles but they get even fewer msstyles than ThemeXP does.

So since the start of the year, nearly twice as many WB skins have been made.

Yea, I know, yippie for WindowBlinds. But does it mean that the GUI skinning "craze" has peaked and it's starting to move back towards being a more techie thing? Obviously not good news for those who use uxtheme patching programs but WindowBlinds has really become really popular partly because of how popular skinning, as a whole has become.

Thoughts?

 

8,905 views 27 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think Renato hit the nail on the head.
Complexity of skinnning has increased dramatically. I realize that is due (in part) to a clamour for more features. Be careful what you ask for I guess

The increased complexity isn't just with windowblinds either. Winamp and Litestep are two more examples. The complexity involved with skinning Litestep can be frightening when scripting is involved. I'm sure other shell (and enhancments) are in the same boat.


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Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Now, the million dollar question is, WHY is msstyle skinning fading? No, I don't think it's due to limitations in the format.


I'm a newcomer to Windows Blinds/Object Desktop and Wincustomize. In the past I used the paid program for msstyle files. I gave it up when its hidden startup service caused a fatal error due to a conflict with my boot time disk defragmenter. Having to use "Last Known Good" to get an XP system to do anything is a sinking feeling. Found the problem documented at Raxco's website. There are other odd little side issues using the msstyles approach but the LKG events pushed me into choosing system stability over a few extra color choices in the GUI.

The next thing I knew I was at Stardock's doorstep looking for usable, functional alternatives. I could go on and on about how pleased I am with my recent Stardock/Wincustomize purchases and their stability but that would put this post off topic.

I will say that originally I chose that other program over StarDock's because I couldn't figure out what the heck I wanted/needed to get from the old Stardock site layout. I was glad to find that it had been re-designed. I was able to zero in on answers to my questions a lot easier and ended up buying this time around.

Sharon



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