Aston 1.8 released.

http://www.astonshell.com/
from WinCustomize Forums
New version of Aston now available.

Aston - Desktop manager and Shell replacement for Windows 9x/Me/NT/2K/XP.
Aston fully replaces standard Windows Desktop and delivers a host of new features.
It's nice and easy to work on a computer with Aston installed. Aston doesn't require a powerful and expensive machine. With Aston your system is much more stable. Small footprint in RAM and few processor resources yield higher performance.

Features:

- Nice looking, easy-to-change interface.
- Skins for all elements.
- Detailed setup of any element.
- Simple visual configuration. (No need to deal with complicated *.cfg files.)
- Toolbars of any size with plenty of levels.
- Any size & shape icons, can be animated.
- Plug-ins, also Litestep's.
- Hotkeys.
- Shell Swapper.
- Install & Uninstall.
- And much more...

Website: http://www.astonshell.com/
Download URL1: http://www.astonshell.com/dl.php?aston.zip
Download URL2:http://www.astonshell.com/dl2.php?aston.zip

Screenshot1: http://mirror1.astonshell.com/pic/scr_xp.jpg
Screenshot2: http://mirror1.astonshell.com/pic/scr_desktop.jpg
Screenshot3: http://mirror1.astonshell.com/pic/scr_aqua.jpg

What's new in version 1.8?
+ Added: new advanced ANK format for animated icons!!!
+ Added anim files support.
+ A-Master's appearance changed.
+ Added new plug-in "TopPanel".
+ Added skins for toolbars' captions.
+ Added new options "Lock Taskbar".
+ Added context menu setup.
+ Added: font type setup for "Tip of the Day".
+ Added "Panel on the top" and "Smooth toolbar appearance"
settings are can be different for different toolbars
+ In Win XP/2000, configuration files can be kept in
...\Documents and Settings\%UserName%\Application Data\Aston\
folder to support for local and roaming profiles.
* Fixed bugs in SHDOCTOR.
* Fixed bugs in "Quick launch" panel.
* Fixed bug in "Setup tray icons" dialog.
* Fixed bugs with Theme Wizard with theme creation theme.
* Fixed bug in Main Menu.
7,945 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OK people... I have a question. I am torn now. After looking at Talisman and then Hooverdesk I was very close to buying Hooverdesk but now I see this. Has anyone used this if so how easy is it to use and to configure it to suite there needs?

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, if all you're looking for is eye-candy (ie: themes), as a longtime ODN subscriber, I agree. what ODN doesn't have is a true shell replacement!

What *I* want to do is (in XP, BTW) is replace my shell with something like Litestep/HoverDesk/Aston or whatever. I want to run that shell with either no theme at all or, at most, a right-click popup menu (iTunes brushed metal, preferably, if I MUST have one), and then do everyhthing else shell related with DesktopX, ObjectDock, and ObjectBar. (Oh...and of course, WIndowBlinds ) If I'm not using Explorer as anything more than to start ODN, I see no sense in using all that memory or processor time.

Has anyone here suceesfully done this, what shell did you use and how how was it set up?

If it is too involved to explain here, drop me a note at note at floyd_r_turbo @ h o t m a i l . c o m.

Many thanks!
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree with you Floyd thats what I want to do. I currently use DesktopX/objectbar/windowsblinds/objectdock also.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OD is a very nice product, but Aston is EXTREMELY easy to use and configure. The shell is very stable, and does indeed use very little of the system resources. It's very versatile for what it is, although it doesn't skin Windows at all (although the swing-out side-bars are a GREAT idea).

This was the first program I started skinning with, and really came to enjoy it. I eventually bought OD because of WindowBlinds, but I would gladly recommend Aston to anyone.