ObjectDock Plus adds a ton of extra features that help turbo-charge your Windows desktop. See Screenshots!

Extra features include:

* Tabbed Docks
* Multiple Docks
* System Tray support
* Custom icons for system tray icons
* Fly-out menus
* Smart edge docking
* Taskbar grouping
* Multi-monitor support
* Tons of customization features

DesktopX is a revolutionary program that you can use to enhance your desktop with objects.

These objects can do pretty much anything you can imagine. For example, an object could be a calendar, a news reader, a weather checker, a stock ticker.

DesktopX objects can even be combined together to build your own custom desktop. DesktopX has been used by studios for the creation of custom computer interfaces in movies and TV.

Benefits of DesktopX include:

* Enhance your existing desktop. Give your desktop icons shadows, make them as large or small as you want, make them react to mouse events, and more!

* Increase productivity with DesktopX objects. Any type of "widget" or "gadget" that you could imagine having on your desktop can be created with DesktopX.

* Security. DesktopX's integration with M'zoft's secure desktop APIs allow users to lock down desktops (requires DesktopX Professional).

* Direct access to ActiveX controls. No need for a compiler or some other development tool, DesktopX can put COM objects (ActiveX controls) right on your desktop.

* Incredible extensibility. DesktopX objects can be extended with VBScript or Javascript and soon C#, and XAML. Want to learn how to use industry standard languages and see rapid results from your efforts? Try DesktopX.

* Distributable. Once your object or your desktop is completed, you can package it up as a single file and upload to the Internet or distribute all over the world. If you have DesktopX Pro, you can even turn those objects into stand alone applications!

* Low overhead. DesktopX is optimized to use as few resources as possible.

"WebBlinds is an Internet Explorer extension that makes IE 5 or later a fully skinnable web browser. It uses WindowBlinds technology (called DirectSkin) to do this. Users can mix and match their toolbars, animated throbber, and general akin from their component parts.

Because it integrates with Internet Explorer, users don't lose out on any of the compatibility or functionality in IE. Moreover, it uses much less memory than a fully featured stand alone skinnable browser might use while at the same time having just as much, if not more flexibility than a separate skinnable browser.

With WebBlinds, users get the best of both worlds -- A skinnable browser that is Internet Explorer."

DesktopX is a revolutionary program that you can use to enhance your desktop with objects.
These objects can do pretty much anything you can imagine. For example, an object could be a calendar, a news reader, a weather checker, a stock ticker.

DesktopX objects can even be combined together to build your own custom desktop. DesktopX has been used by studios for the creation of custom computer interfaces in movies and TV.

Benefits of DesktopX include:
Enhance your existing desktop. Give your desktop icons shadows, make them as large or small as you want, make them react to mouse events, and more!

Increase productivity with DesktopX objects. Any type of "widget" or "gadget" that you could imagine having on your desktop can be created with DesktopX.

Security. DesktopX's integration with M'zoft's secure desktop APIs allow users to lock down desktops (requires DesktopX Professional).

Direct access to ActiveX controls. No need for a compiler or some other development tool, DesktopX can put COM objects (ActiveX controls) right on your desktop.

Incredible extensibility. DesktopX objects can be extended with VBScript or Javascript and soon C#, and XAML. Want to learn how to use industry standard languages and see rapid results from your efforts? Try DesktopX.

Distributable. Once your object or your desktop is completed, you can package it up as a single file and upload to the Internet or distribute all over the world. If you have DesktopX Pro, you can even turn those objects into stand alone applications!

Low overhead. DesktopX is optimized to use as few resources as possible

DesktopX Professional enables developers to export DesktopX objects as stand alone programs.

Because DesktopX has been designed to create "desktop widgets" so easily, creating software such as MP3 players, calendars, stock tickers, resource monitoring, messaging, and various "desktop gadgets" can be done in minutes rather than months.

Info:
http://www.stardock.com/products/desktopx/pro.asp

Window blinds are versatile home design elements. They come in a variety of materials, fabrics and style to suit your tastes. We'll look at several materials.

1) Metal. These are the original blinds. For many years, aluminum was the predominant metal used in blinds. It's durable, affordable, cleanable and flexible. The slats come in a variety of lengths and widths to fit any space or taste.

2) Wood. This is a popular choice for window coverings for the warm touch it gives to a room. It's not a great choice when the room is prone to humidity, such as in a bathroom or a kitchen. They're not good choices in humid geographic areas either. Wood can warp, crack or swell, rendering them useless when they won't open or close correctly, or the louvers won't move. Wood is used in Venetian blinds and woven blinds.

3) Cane. You'll see this in woven blinds. The slats are very thin, and they're only adjustable as an entire unit, not by a single slat. Light filters into the room through the thin slats, that are usually tied together with rope. They add a very natural look to a room.

4) Vinyl. This is the most popular material for blinds. It can take on the look of wood, but it's also very low-maintenance. It won't crack or warp like wood, and it doesn't attract dust like wood blinds do. Miniblinds are most often vinyl. They're among the most popular type of blind, due to their thin slat and their versatility.

5) Fabric. Sometimes you'll see fabric backed with a stiff material to create slats. These are exceptionally nice when they complement the décor in a room. Fabric can be used to bring a room together.

Blinds can be used by themselves, or layered with other window treatments. The severe lines of blinds can be contrasted with the softness of curtains or a valance, providing a polished, finished look.

Blinds can work in any room with windows. They can be horizontal or vertical, small or large. They can be subtly colored, and offset with a bold curtain or punchy valance.

Blinds are not only functional, as they keep light out and can act to obscure drafts from cracks around windows, but they're decorative as well.

Blinds can make a great addition to any room. They've advanced so much in recent years, that you can get the look of yesterday with the technological advances of today.

Linden Walhard regularly creates long articles on news dealing with curtains and home design. You can see his writings on window blinds over at http://www.shades-blinds-shutters-guide.com .

In many homes and most offices, blinds are commonly used to give shade and privacy to the place. Unlike curtains, the amount of light that can be let in can be controlled if you have installed blinds on your windows. Many people feel that the problem with having blinds is the installation. This can be true, but these people neglect the fact that there are also other things that have to be considered before purchasing blinds.

I. Style
Blinds can come in different styles, the most popular of that are Venetian blinds. Decide on what style you want depending on the functionality and design of your windows.

1. Roller Shades
These are made specially treated opaque or vinyl fabric wrapped around a dowel. They employ a spring or a beaded cord system to roll the fabric up or down. This is good if you want to have complete privacy and to protect the furniture from fading. The ends can be straight or shaped, and trimmings or contrasting braids can be added to the design.

2. Roman Shades
These blinds have a cord woven thru the fabric that allows you to raise or lower the shade in an accordion pattern.

3. Venetian Blinds
Also called horizontal blinds, they have horizontal panels made of wood or aluminum that can be adjusted to change the level of sunlight that can be allowed in the room. These are available in different widths ranging from 16 mm to 50 mm.

4. Pleated Shades
These function similarly with Venetian blinds and have flat horizontal fabric panels. To let light enter from the top of the windows, you can have those that have top-down design.

5. Vertical Blinds
They have vertical panels that can be adjusted to control the amount of light that enters. It can also be pulled to one side or both sides of the window to allow total natural illumination. Different types of fabric may be used in sizes from 89mm to 127mm.

6. Honeycomb Shades
They are also known as cellular shades. These shades, thru layers of fabric capable of filtering light, can let light in and keep the heat or cold outside, thus giving the room insulation to save on your energy bills.

7. Woven Wood Shades
These are usually made of bamboo, and blocks direct sunlight from coming into the room but allow some natural light to come in.

8. Mini Blinds
Also known as macro, micro or aluminum blinds. These have one-inch or two-inch slats to adjust the amount of light that enters the room.

9. Shutters
These have parallel slats, or louvers, that can be adjusted to change the level of privacy.

II. Measurement And Installation
The blinds should be unobstructed that when it is fully extended, it can still hang freely. For accurate measurements, it is recommended that you use a steel ruler. Cutting the Blinds is necessary to make the blinds fit the size of the windows. Before cutting the blinds, measure the desired width from one edge of the bracket to the other. The size of the winding mechanism should be deducted first before cutting the lath, the tube and the fabric to the correct size. To cut the tube, a mini hacksaw can be used, while for the fabric, it is recommended that you use a cutting knife or a sharp pair of scissors.

Resources:
For more great window blind related articles and resources check out http://www.qualityblinds.info

WindowBlinds is a program that enables Windows users to completely change the look and feel of the Windows user interface. Users customize Windows by using visual styles (skins) created for WindowBlinds. With these skins on windowBlinds, WindowBlinds can change the look of Title bars, WindowBlinds can change the look of borders,WindowBlinds can change the look of Task bar, WindowBlinds can change the look of Start button, WindowBlinds can change the look of Start menu, WindowBlinds can change the look of Progress animations, WindowBlinds can change the look of Toolbar icons, WindowBlinds can change the look of Explorer Views, and virtually every other part of Windows!

WindowBlinds is the only program that can customize the GUI of Windows XP without having to alter system DLLs.

Features:
Skins WindowBlinds virtually every aspect of the Windows GUI Clean and easy configuration dialog. Tons of configuration options for users
Animation supported on titlebars, buttons, and many other elements on WindowBlinds. WindowBlinds can Change the color of any visual style on the fly Per-application visual styles
Safe, reliable way to change the look and feel of Windows Learn about more WindowBlinds Features


Benefits of WindowBlinds vs The XP visual style engine:
Zero-Footprint Mode
True Alpha-Blending support
Outstanding Application Compatibility
Integrated into .Suite files
Hardware acceleration
Multiple Font Sizes, Colorizing, and more.
Can add additional visual styles without altering system DLLs.
Learn about more WindowBlinds Benefits

System Requirements of WindowBlinds:
Windows XP/2003 and Windows Vista (when available).
Windows 2000, ME, 98 users can use WindowBlinds Classic (v4.6).
1GHz or faster processor recommended
60MB free drive space
256MB RAM
Note: A 16MB DirectX 8 or later compatible video card with appropriate driver support is required for per-pixel alpha-blended skins. Some integrated graphics solutions and lower-end cards from before 2004 may not be able to use per-pixel skins.
Languages Supported by WindowBlinds:
Azerbaijani, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French,
German, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish,
Portuguese - BR, Russian, Spanish, Serbian (Srpski), Swedish, Turkish
Note: The interface has been localized for these languages, but the documentation and help (where available) will be in English.