Stardock has released MyColors 2008. MyColors is a program that allows users to change their entire Windows experience by applying MyColors themes. 

Unlike other customization options, MyColors focuses on allowing users to purchase individual themes rather than purchasing individual programs to customize an aspect of Windows.

There are hundreds of MyColors themes to choose from thanks to Stardock teaming up with the NHL, NCAA, GM, Ford, NBA, and others to create branded desktops. Moreover, Stardock has formed its own design team called Stardock Design by bringing together the art teams from both Pixtudio and SkinPlant into a single design house.

To celebrate its official launch, Stardock is giving away a free theme so users can experience a MyColors desktop for themselves.

Free download at: http://mycolors.starodck.com

Screenshots:

For years, power users have been customizing their Windows desktop by applying skins, themes, icon packages, wallpapers, widgets, etc. 

To the new user, the number of steps in order to achieve a completely new desktop has often discouraged them from getting into it.  How do they get their normal desktop back if they want? What programs are free and what programs aren't? Do I have the latest versions of the various programs?

The answer for most users to those questions has been Stardock's popular desktop enhancement utility suite, Object Desktop.

But now, there's an alternative choice for users who want to apply a particular theme they see and like without having to worry about the software at all.  It's called MyColors.

MyColors allows users to purchase individual themes. The themes themselves contain information as to what software they need to run and MyColors automatically provides the user with the appropriate versions of the software they need to use it.

To ensure there are enough themes of interest to users, Stardock has teamed up with the NHL, the NCAA, NBA, GM, Ford, and many others to create themes for everything ranging from the Corvette Desktop to the Boston Celtics. In addition, dozens of totally original themes have been created as well and more hundreds more are on the way (there's some big announcements coming up).

Later this year, MyColors is expected to be pre-loaded on several major OEM PCs (though Stardock cannot publicly disclose who they are yet).

To celebrate the official launch of MyColors 2008, Stardock is providing a free theme on the MyColors website so that users can try MyColors for themselves. It is compatible with WindowBlinds and Object Desktop.

Get it at: http://mycolors.stardock.com

For years, power users have been customizing their Windows desktop by applying skins, themes, icon packages, wallpapers, widgets, etc. 

To the new user, the number of steps in order to achieve a completely new desktop has often discouraged them from getting into it.  How do they get their normal desktop back if they want? What programs are free and what programs aren't? Do I have the latest versions of the various programs?

The answer for most users to those questions has been Stardock's popular desktop enhancement utility suite, Object Desktop.

But now, there's an alternative choice for users who want to apply a particular theme they see and like without having to worry about the software at all.  It's called MyColors.

MyColors allows users to purchase individual themes. The themes themselves contain information as to why software they need to run and MyColors automatically provides the user with the appropriate versions of the software they need to use it.

To ensure there are enough themes of interest to users, Stardock has teamed up with the NHL, the NCAA, NBA, GM, Ford, and many others to create themes for everything ranging from the Corvette Desktop to the Boston Celtics. In addition, dozens of totally original themes have been created as well and more hundreds more are on the way (there's some big announcements coming up).

Later this year, MyColors is expected to be pre-loaded on several major OEM PCs (though Stardock cannot publicly disclose who they are yet).

To celebrate the official launch of MyColors 2008, Stardock is providing a free theme on the MyColors website so that users can try MyColors for themselves. It is compatible with WindowBlinds and Object Desktop.

Get it at: http://mycolors.stardock.com

In just over two weeks, Sins of a Solar Empire will be made publicly available!  After literally years of development, the big day is just about here.

Creating an RTS with the kind of depth usually only seen in a 4X strategy game wasn't impossible, just very difficult. Thanks to the public beta, we've been able to combine the best of both worlds.  The last public beta of Sins was back in November.  Since then, a huge number of improvements and enhancements have been made to the builds. 

For every RTS player whose seen a good RTS wrecked by cheese tactics, connection problems, dropping players, rushing, or swarming, Sins is for you.  We've been there. We've read the same forums you have.

And for every 4X strategy game player who's tried a real-time strategy game only to discover it was a "click-fest" in which victory went to the guy whose memorized the perfect build order, the arcane hot keys and can micro-manage 50 units, Sins is for you. Sins is the game in which victory is based on OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). Build your strategy and execute on it.

So ask us anything. In the meantime, below are some screenshots taken on my laptop (which I'll be using next week at G4's XPlay to demo the game live). I took these at the minimum resolution so you can see the breadth of hardware support this game has (it looks incredible on state of the art mega machines but will still play fine on your 3 or 4 year old PC).

Some screenshots and descriptions.

We'll follow-up this news item with another with answers to your questions. Ask away!

Obama: I am for the things that are good and against the things that are bad.

Hilary Clinton: Hahaahahahahahaahahahahahahaha!!!!! Hahahahaha! Hahahaha!

Fred Thompson: I'm not your bro and I am going to taze you.

Guilani: There are few problems that can't be solved with more killing.

Huckabee: Vote for me or you're going to go to hell.

McCain: Don't point out my massive flaws or I'll accuse you of playing dirty politics.

Romney: I am for this unless you're against it in which case I'm against it too.

Ron Paul: I shall find a final solution to the alien invader question.

John Edwards: I will sue the rich and give it to the poor, after my 60% cut of course.

Over at IGN was have started our Gamma blog that will start giving details about Sins of a Solar Empire, the gamma testing of it, what issues we're working through, and more.

We'll also be including lots of screenshots in coming blogs.

Visit: Gamma blog

Very annoying Vista behavior is copying files from servers and getting an obnoxious confirmation dialog every time. What is it with Microsoft and confirmation dialogs?

Here's how to get rid of it:

1) Open Control Panel -> Internet Options.
2) Open Security-tab; mark the zone "Local intranet", press the "Sites" button,
3) Un-check "Automatically detect intranet network",THEN
4)  Check "Include all local (intranet) sites not listed in other zones" and
5) Check "Include all network paths (UNCs)".

This post is a quick and dirty way for us to provide you easy access to Sins web assets to make it easier for you to create Sins of a Solar Empire related communities and content.  We'll be updating this post periodically so check back. Let us know what kinds of assets you'd like to see.