Stardock has released what may be the final beta for WindowFX 3 before it is released to the public.  WindowFX is a program that allows Windows XP users to add a ton of user-chosen special effects to their Windows experience.

WindowFX 1.0 introduced users to alpha-blended shadows for windows on the desktop.  Since then, WindowFX has continued to add new features and new effects.

WindowFX 3 takes advantage of many of the same technologies that allowed WindowBlinds 5 to see such a significant performance improvement over previous versions of WindowBlinds (such as making use of more video card hardware acceleration).

New features in WindowFX 3 include a host of new effects for minimizing and maximizing windows, taskbar thumbnail previews, an alternative Alt-tab previewing behavior, and more.  WindowFX 3 will be $19.95 on its own or can be purchased as part of Object Desktop. 

Users of Object Desktop can download the beta for WindowFX 3 right now.