In case you've forgotten, we're running a contest to design a new set of smiley/emoticons for our forums.  So far we only have two entries posted to the thread and there's just one day left to enter.  Remember, on top of having your smileys used across all of our forums for the next few years, you'll get a free Object Desktop subscription (or 1yr extension).  So for a handful of images, you could get a nice prize and some fame on a site that gets millions upon millions of hit...

Originally released in 2004, StealthOS by MikeB314 is one of the most popular WindowBlinds skins on WinCustomize with over 260,000 downloads since being posted 4 years ago. Yesterday, MikeB posted an updated version of StealthOS for WindowBlinds 6/Vista.  Now StealthOS has a new Start button, Start Menu and numerous other improvements and new elements made possible by WB6 and Vista. If you've somehow missed out on this terrific skin, go download it right now and give it a spin!...

Today is a great day for both desktop customizers, and fans of the NBA as Stardock unveils the NBA line of desktop themes under MyColors! Show your team spirit by covering your Windows PC with custom themes, wallpapers, icons and desktop gadgets done up in your team's colors & logo.  Stardock Design has been working around the clock for months to bring you desktop themes for all 30 NBA teams from the Atlanta Hawks all the way to the Washington Wizards. And it's not all just for show,...

February was one of our best months ever when it comes to great Dreams from the community, and that's saying something after the strong showing in January!  This month, TheMasterBaron really dominates with both Solar Flare and Utopia Prime  on the list. Click through to the full article and watch the montage video of all 8 Dreams.

Microsoft has launched UltimatePC.com , a new website where people can go to learn about the best PCs available and the great things that people do with them. UltimatePC.com also provides Windows Vista Ultimate customers with special offers called Ultimate Exclusives which deliver added value. These offers provide unique products and services at special discounts exclusively for Windows Vista Ultimate customers. Stardock is among those partners selected to participate in the initial launch. ...

It's been roughly a year since the last edition, so Brad is back with the 2007 edition of The State of Skinning.  It's an immense article covering everything from Vista to DesktopX, MyColors and beyond.  If you want a look at how 2007 panned out, and what 2008 has in store, this is a must-read. For me, Impluse and MyColors are the most exciting things coming up in 2008, they're going to bring skinning and the work we're doing here to the attention of people all over the world. ...

I'd like to welcome HG Eliminator to the WC Moderation team!  After many years as an active and positive member of the WinCustomize community, and at the recommendation of virtually the entire existing moderation team, today I elevated HG to the rank of Wizop. HG will be helping out with Avatar, CursorFX, Emoticons, Logons, Sound Schemes and Screenshot moderation. So everyone, please take a moment to congratulate HG on his promotion and wish him well 

We're only 3 full days into March and already the March Screenshots thread on the forums has nearly 30 screenshots posted!  So head over there now, check out what everyone else is running, and upload a screenshot or two of your own. My favorite so far:

Our latest Master Skin comes from Dream maker TheMasterBaron: Utopia Prime. Utopia Prime is a stellar (heh) dream with a sci-fi leaning.  Watch as the Planet Earth slowly spins amid a swirling vortex of light and energy on your desktop.  It is without a doubt one of the most serene and visually pleasing Dreams we've seen uploaded in the year since DeskScapes launched. Utopia Prime is available for just $4.99 (Subscribers get a 20% discount ).  Get your hands on one of ...

This week's poll is a pretty straight-forward one for a change with just two answers: Yes or No. For some time, cell phones have grown in complexity.  Many now even run a version of Windows as the OS.  With this growing complexity comes the ability to customize the look and feel of the user interface.  Sony phones specifically offer a lot of customizability, and Research In Motion, makers of the Blackberry, recently made their phone OS skinnable as well.  So there's a gro...

Last week's poll resulted in a very spirited and interesting debate over the future of wallpaper moderation on WinCustomize.  What was once a topic that would get people seeing red and foaming at the mouth, we had perhaps one of the most thoughtful and constructive discussions regarding site policy that I can remember.  The discussion was actually much more interesting and helpful than the poll results themselves. Go here to read the full discussion. For the poll results, here'...

It's Monday.  Weekend is over.  Time for some killer skins... Enjoy!

From the guys who brought you Samurize comes Cairo, a new Desktop Shell Replacement for Microsoft Windows. The goal with Cairo is to "transform your desktop from the dated Windows user-interface to a brand new system that will change the way you use your computer forever."  Pretty ambitious stuff, but looking at the concept work and screenshots they've released so far, it's at least going to be a damn pretty custom shell! Cairo is rapidly approaching Milestone 1, and they've select...

Seems it's Friday already, and that means Island Dog has a round up of some of the best skins submitted to WinCustomize this past week.  This week was a really strong showing for skinners too!  We have CursorFX and RightClick themes, Tabbed Docks, two stunning Wallpapers (one by Vlad!), and two killer WindowBlinds skins. Great way to end the week, and a stellar way to cap off February.  I hope March sees skins as good as these, if not better!  

Usually when someone gets started skinning a new application, the results are mixed to say the least.  It takes time to learn the ins and outs of the app, and learning what looks good versus what doesn't can take a skinner years to master.  With that in mind, imagine my shock when mkorashy uploaded Artifice WB for moderation. Artifice is colorful, unique and minimalistic.  It's one of the most usable skins I've run in ages.  The amazing part is that this is mkorashy's ...