Stardock & Vista Compatibility

A quick look at the next few months

Published on January 31, 2007 By Zoomba In OS Customization

NOTICE: THIS POST IS NO LONGER CURRENT.

With the launch of Windows Vista this week, questions are coming up regarding our plans to update our software to support the new operating system. You've already seen Brad's article on our product roadmap where he discusses programs such as LogonStudio Vista and the new versions of IconPackager, WindowBlinds and DesktopX. The article is a great look at what we've got cooking for the next few months.

However, people have been looking for some sort of compatibility list for our applications, to know what they can use right now with Vista, and when they can expect the rest of their favorite applications to reach a "Vista Ready" state. To help everyone out, I've put together the following chart for what we have in the pipe right now. This is a sort of sneak-peak into our release schedule up through the first half of 2007. If you don't see a product on this list, it means it's either not on our first half 2007 calendar, or we are still investigating what will need to be done to update the program for Vista. Do not take an omission from this list to mean that a given program is being abandoned.

	Vista Status	Vista Version	Testing Phase	Targeted Release
DeskScapes	Ready	1.0		February 2007
BootSkin Vista	In Development	1.0		Spring 2007
LogonStudio Vista	In Testing	2.0	Beta	Spring 2007
CursorVista	In Development	1.0		Spring 2007
TweakVista	In Development	1.0		Spring 2007

WindowBlinds	Ready	5.5		February 2007
IconPackager	In Testing	3.5	Beta	February 2007
DesktopX	In Testing	3.5	Alpha	Spring 2007
ObjectDock	Ready	1.5		Currently Available
IconDeveloper	Ready	1.5		Currently Available
SkinStudio	In Testing	5.5	Alpha	Spring 2007
Theme Manager	In Development	3.0		Spring 2007

KeepSafe	In Testing		Alpha	Unknown
Multiplicity	Ready	1.1

We will periodically post updates to this chart to keep everyone as up-to-date as we can on our progress towards Vista compatibility. As you can see from the chart, we already have our flagship product, WindowBlinds, ready for Vista, and other core customization applications such as IconPackager and DesktopX are very close to being released. On top of that you can see some of the brand new products we're developing just for Vista such as TweakVista.

With the launch of Vista, it's a very exciting time for GUI customization and we're working as fast as we can to deliver the next generation of customization software.

EDIT: Fixed bad info on Multiplicity. Version 1.1 works fine with Vista.

Comments (Page 1)

DBS0849

on Jan 31, 2007

Hey, What about improvements to current versions for XP? And pleeeeeeese could someone explain what happened to Sound Packager??????????

Zoomba

on Jan 31, 2007

This article is about Vista compatability. Nowhere have we ever said anything about abandoning XP, in fact we've generally stated our continued commitment to XP.

People have been looking for information regarding what Stardock products would work on Vista. And it's only a look at the immediate future in terms of development and releases.

I feel I made both points pretty clear in the article.

Frogboy

on Jan 31, 2007

SoundPackager is still coming. We are just short of developers right now to get everything done. We're hiring so if you know anyone who wants a career in software development, send us your resume.

As for Windows XP, Stardock will be supporting and ENHANCING Windows XP based software for a long time to come. But right now, this week, is Windows Vista's day in the sun.

LittleBearJason

on Feb 01, 2007

Stardock Central needs some additional testing on vista too after the funky behavior I saw on it earlier.

Life is a Game

on Feb 01, 2007

Can't wait for the Spring 2007

Lotherius

on Feb 01, 2007

Yeah, well windowblinds isn't working for me on Vista.... I get windows classic interface whenever I try to apply themes.

AzDude

on Feb 01, 2007

I think your doing a fine job on the transition to Vista so far , logon for Vista working great and waiting to see how the others will preform - keep 'em coming Boys !

Frogboy

on Feb 01, 2007

Yeah, well windowblinds isn't working for me on Vista.... I get windows classic interface whenever I try to apply themes.

Which version of WindowBlinds are you using? 5.5 betas work.

Neil Banfield

on Feb 01, 2007

I need to point out that the current version of Multiplicity works on Windows Vista. I am unsure where this 1.5 reference came from.

LittleBearJason

on Feb 01, 2007

Yeah, well windowblinds isn't working for me on Vista.... I get windows classic interface whenever I try to apply themes.

Which version of WindowBlinds are you using? 5.5 betas work.

Here is the proper procedure I used to get this to work. It happened to me too.

Install WB. When its done installing, it tells you so. press "ok"

Restart your computer.

Once youve rebooted, you can install skins normally.

Dont attempt to install a skin after installation otherwise things get borked.

badboythemer

on Feb 02, 2007

Umm thats not all together true mate , as i installed the vista blinds version 5.50 (build 89 x86 - Vista Edition , and proceeded to reboot , and after it restarted i still found that trying to apply a skin only skinned the pc in windows classic ( YUCK!!) the only way i have thus far found around this is to restart the pc each time after i apply a skin , plus have the override default settings set to use the task bar and start menu of the skin i just applied.

Any other way will not work

disfarce

on Feb 02, 2007

Hasn't read anything about WindowFX for a while...
Is that product dead?

Zoomba

on Feb 02, 2007

Just because a product isn't on the above list doesn't mean it's dead. That's just a look at the next few months in terms of updates.

kin242

on Feb 02, 2007

Is objectdock for vista a new premium version? I bought the objectdock plus program last year and so far it seems to work fine- last build on SDC is 14/11/06 though...

RTWright67

on Feb 03, 2007

Glad to see XP is still going to be supported, but I've also upgraded ( And struggling with it might I add ) to Vista. Lots of hardware ( Sound and Video ) issues to deal with. Largely due to my system, it's almost 7 years old. I'm upgrading it soon as my return comes. But all of that aside, I do have a question.

I noticed you have Logon Vista already, so it's nice to see you're seperating the Vista art from the XP. Will you be doing this for all of the products? If so I'd definitely suggest on the product list side of your website, put a seperator between XP's and Vista's stuff. Like have Vista on the Top half and XP on the bottom half. That is once all or most of it's working. It would make looking for the right one much quicker.

Also I personally love what you've done with the site. Very clean looking. I didn't get to vote, but you'd got a big thumbs up from me! Anyways, keep up the good work, can't wait to see everything fall into place!

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