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MyColors Replacing Premium Suites

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MyColors Replacing Premium Suites

One place to get all of your premium content

http://mycolors.stardock.com
from WinCustomize Forums

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.

46,008 views 86 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
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Works perfectly fine for me. :NOTSURE: - You have the latest build for WB?
Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top
why should we have to install yet another application to get a premium skin?
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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.   :CONGRAT:  :CONGRAT:  :CONGRAT:
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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?   :D
Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top
....the MyColors themes are $9.95 with the ODNT discount.
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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.  :NOTSURE: 
Reply #60 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.

Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
....the MyColors themes are $9.95 with the ODNT discount
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It was 4.95 before MyColors with ODNT Discount ...  :CONGRAT: 
Reply #62 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Points:

1. When do ODNT subs get their first free My Colors Suite? Will we have a choice of skins to choose from, or will we have to take what they'll give us?

2. I would rather prefer a suite without the My colorss app to apply it. Please listen to our pleas on this. When you already have a whole menu of programs to mess with your desktop, My Colors is pointless redundancy.

3. I also agree that the price is a little too hefty. Can't we compromise with somthing in the neighborhood of 6 or 7 bucks?

Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Didn't know whether to post here or not, but couldn't find mycolours in the forums. I received my update notification in the email and re-downloaded the pirate desktop as I had lost the last download :( Anyhow, when I apply it I do not have live folders, they just default back to the standard windows folders :( Currently using Vista Ultimate 32bit Other suites seem to work fine (Cosmos, Magic etc)
Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Same happens to me, I have support ticket lodged last week and problem has been handed over to sw developers. I can get them by rebuilding icon cache, repairing icon images and repairing system folders in settings of iconpackager then applying skin again and rebooting.
Reply #65 from WinCustomize Forums Top
At least with the theme manager skins, I could download it, unzip it, and apply only what I wanted
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+1 For this. I've suggested an option to select what MyColors applies,Visual style,IP, or WP in any combination from a given theme would be a big bonus. Casual users may get confused by different icons,power users have customized sets. Some people have family pictures and such for WP and don't want it changed either. Some may even want the wp and icons and no VS(why? 'cause you can!).It should be a choice,imho.On the plus side MC is much,much smoother and faster at applying/restoring than the old theme manager. My two cents.
Reply #66 from WinCustomize Forums Top
MyColors does have options as to what components applied.
Settings tab >> I want to see advanced options when applying suites then you select what you want applied ip, wb, wp etc
Reply #67 from WinCustomize Forums Top
News flash, this just in:"All you need to do is check "I want to see advanced options when applying suites" under the Settings tab in MyColors, then apply the Diamond theme, and you will get a dialog box where you can select which components to apply. From there you can uncheck everything except the Windowblind..."Forum post by RPGFX eh, NOW they tell me! Is So stoopid, shuda knowd day hid it!!! ;p  ;p  X-( 
Reply #68 from WinCustomize Forums Top
....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.
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Actually, the "Inspired" themes are 50% off, because Stardock isn't paying licensing fees for them. The sports and other corporate themes have licensing fees that cost Stardock extra, so that cost is added onto the cost of having the MyColors "all-in-one" package.
Reply #69 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just noticed something about the new suite delivery system. The graphics are coded. Unless I am missing something, this means we can't use any of the graphics to make widgets and such. I do have Mustang working now, on both my XP PC, and Vista Laptop. But in the blinds folder, the graphics are coded. I was hoping to make a DX Theme, for personal use, of course. Unless I could get permission from Stardock Design to release it. But with coded graphics, I can't make it to begin with. Bummer!
Reply #70 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Unless I am missing something, this means we can't use any of the graphics to make widgets and such.
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Yeah, they encrypted the images to prevent piracy.
Reply #71 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, they encrypted the images to prevent piracy.
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Yeah, I had read that a few days ago. But I just realized that it also means that we can't make addons for the skin, which is a big part of the community joint effort, like everyone doing an addon for the rogue proton gold suite of skins. It stifles the creativity process.  (:( 
Reply #72 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I listened yesterday to the WC Skincast. The guys talked alot about how cool it is that a blind is made, and then a bunch of skinners make addons for it, so that you end up with a full suite of matching items for the desktop. The coded graphics will hurt that process, unless there is a way to first get permission to use the graphics, and then have a way to decode them? I hope this is a passing trend that Stardock decides to can.
Reply #73 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I hear what you are saying Jim . . but just because Stardock Design skins are encrypted doesn't mean community skins can be.

You may be able to get the graphics from Stardock for unauthorized add-ons (either for personal use or public distribution).  (I think I recall WebGizmos doing docks like that.)
Reply #74 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You know, I think we could make the images available, we'd just not include the UIS file.
Reply #75 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You know, I think we could make the images available, we'd just not include the UIS file.
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That would be cool, Brad. I hope you choose that route, or something similar. I have the mustang suite, and I am dying to make a DX theme with it. Probably for personal use, unless it turns out real good and I get permission to share. But I can't even make it now, due to the coded graphics.


You may be able to get the graphics from Stardock for unauthorized add-ons (either for personal use or public distribution). (I think I recall WebGizmos doing docks like that.)
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Yes, I once got permission for the Dragon skin, and the Turbo. But they were not coded. If I get permission now, I will also need to know how to decode the images.