skin posts

Make Twitter's web interface sexier with Helvetwitter

by Jay Hathaway Sep 14th 2009

Twitter is a lot of things to a lot of people, but "pretty" isn't really the first one that comes to mind. It doesn't have to be that way, though, because you can give Twitter a clean, minimal new look with Helvetwitter. It's a script that lets you view the Twitter website in black and red, with all the type in Helvetica, and plenty of white space for all the words to breathe. This may sound somewhat familiar, because it's inspired by the' Helvetireader script for Google Reader, which made my list of the 10 best Greasemonkey scripts.

Helvetwitter isn't perfect for everyone. One if its big pluses is that it doesn't use the entire area of your browser window, so you can shrink Twitter down and drag it off to the side of your screen. On the other hand, the lack of icons can make it harder to pick out whose tweets you're reading at a glance. The lack of sidebar is both a plus and a minus: I personally don't miss it, but you might if you actually care about trending topics. You can install Helvetwitter in Greasemonkey if you use Firefox, and the site offers instructions on how to set it up on other browsers.

Tags: greasemonkey, helvetwitter, script, skin, twitter, userscripts

Filed under: Google, Open Source, Beta, Browsers

Google Chrome adds better theme support, gallery in the works

by Lee Mathews Jul 30th 2009

Extensions in the wild may be a little slow in appearing, but themes for Google Chrome? They've just gotten a lot easier to install and there may be a flood of them available very shortly.

Right now, there are only two demo themes available -- Snowflake (screenshot) and Camo. Based on the thumbnail in Chrome's new tab, Google has a whole lot more that are nearly ready for public consumption. The actual link returns a 404 error, and then, of course, the thumbnail breaks accordingly.

Once the link goes live, you'll have easy access through Options -> Personal stuff. Buttons have been added to reset Chrome to its default theme or download something new.

It's a huge step forward from the old method - renaming and replacing a .dll in your application data folder. CNet's Stephen Shankland reports that this is working on Mac OS X as well.

To try it out, you'll need to update your dev channel build or download it from Google.

Tags: beta, chrome, google-chrome, skin, skinning, theme

Filed under: Design, Fun, Linux

Mac4Lin brings OS X eye candy to Linux

by Jay Hathaway Jun 17th 2009

There are plenty of people out there who would be willing to give Linux a try if Linux UI designs looked more like Mac OS X. Mac4Lin brings Apple's UI design to a Linux install near you, including great details like app icons and even the Dock. It looks like the Mac4Lin project had been stagnating for a while, but it's finally at v1.0, and looking good.

Mac4Lin works on a variety of Linux flavors, including Ubuntu 9.04 and GNOME 2.26, but there's no KDE version (yet). A lot of third-party apps that use GTK for skinning, like Firefox and Songbird, look great in Mac4Lin. An unstall script is also included in the latest version, in case you decent you don't like the OS X look, and you'd rather go back to your default UI.

Tags: linux, mac4lin, os x, OsX, skin, theme, UI

Filed under: Design, Macintosh

Magnifique: Free OS X theme customizer

by Jay Hathaway Mar 29th 2009

There are quite a few apps out there for OS customization junkies, but Magnifique for OS X stands out from the crowd for a few reasons.

First and foremost, it's free. Second, it doesn't require a full restart once you apply a theme, just a restart of the Finder and the dock. Third, there seems to be a pretty good community of theme designers and users around it, which means help with designing and using themes is readily available in the forums.

Although Magnifique seems to use its own file format for themes (you can't easily snatch themes from other Mac theming apps) there are nearly 30 themes available on the Magnifique website. Even better, you can also download them from within the app itself.

If you look around other Mac themes forums, you'll find some additional Magnifique themes. I haven't run into any problems or glitches so far, but you may want to turn off the "apply custom mods" option if you're running the latest iTunes or Safari 4, because the app-specific elements of some themes aren't as up-to-date as the system-wide elements.

[Via Lifehacker]

Tags: customization, magnifique, os x, OsX, skin, theme

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Freeware

Windows 7 themes for Windows XP and Vista

by Lee Mathews Mar 25th 2009

Not everyone is excited about Windows 7 - there are plenty of XP users that are more than happy to stick with their trusty old OS. Just because you don't want to change the system doesn't mean you can't get Windows 7's update visuals on your desktop.

As is often the case, themers have been more than happy to create transformation packs that allow Windows XP users to skin their desktop to look like Windows 7. Brad wrote about one from DeviantArt users last year - when it was assumed that Windows 7 would look pretty much the same as Vista.

Now, however, we've got some options that more accurately reproduce the superbar and other features that distinguish Windows 7 from its big brother.

Tags: skin, theme, transformation-pack, windows-7, xp-themes

Filed under: Fun, Mozilla, Browsers

How to Chrome out your Firefox

by Jay Hathaway Nov 3rd 2008

When Google's Chrome browser first came out, the first thing everyone commented on was its minimal blue look. Sure, it's got Webkit under the hood, and it was put out by one of the hugest players in the web game, but ... it's blue! If you'd rather have a Gecko-based browser with tons of add-ons, you're probably sticking with Firefox. This doesn't mean you have to compromise: there's a Chrome skin for Firefox that keeps getting better with each update.

It's called Chromifox, and it's available as an experimental add-on. All "experimental" means is that you have to log into the Firefox add-ons site to download the theme, and you install it at your own risk. I've been testing it for about a week now, and I haven't hit any problems. The only thing Chrome can do, UI-wise, that Chromifox can't, is that cute little effect with the transparency and the tabs on top of the window. Unfortunately, your tabs are stuck in the default position in Firefox.

Tags: add-on, Chrome, Chromifox, Firefox, Google, Mozilla, skin, theme

Filed under: Fun, Utilities, Video, Windows, Web services, Microsoft

Add a skin to your skin when you Livecast with Videoskin

by Drew Olanoff Jun 6th 2008

Live video is all the rage with the kids these days. Some of us even hop onto the webcam. It feels like 1998 all over again. But Videoskin has tossed a wrinkle or two in there.

So you know about Camtwist, right? It is an application that lets you add effects and elements to your live video. Neato stuff. But Videoskin is more about fun and presentation and also has advanced technology that Camtwist lacks.

Videoskin lets you basically "skin" what you're showing to the web, and they've put out some free skins for you to try too.

Want to have a business meeting while in the Matrix? No problem.

The program can add a type of "blue screen" effect that removes you from the foreground and background and then tosses in some nifty animations. All on the fly.

You don't need a blue screen though. There's an intellectual algorithm that splits the video image into three parts and separates you from your environment automatically.

VideoSkin warns that the "blue screen" effect is very CPU intensive, but then says that the CPU stands idle a lot, so it shouldn't affect performance. We're not entirely sure what that means, but your experience will probably depend on what type of computer you're using.

Right now Videoskin is only available for Windows on XP or 2000. Good call, don't waste time on Vista.

Sounds super complicated to us, so let us know what your experiences are. Give it a download!

Tags: blue screen, BlueScreen, live video, LiveVideo, skin, videoskin, windows xp, WindowsXp

Filed under: Design, Developer, Macintosh, Productivity

Bezel HUD and Showcase: seamless Quicksilver interfaces for Leopard

by Jay Hathaway Feb 15th 2008

We've written before about Quicksilver, the indispensable launcher app that lets you quickly get to any file on your Mac with just a few keystrokes. Quicksilver is a nice-looking piece of software, but the default interface fits a lot better with the overall look of Tiger than it does with Leopard. Fortunately, German designer Julius Eckert has created some impressive new skins that are particularly well suited to the latest version of OS X.

Bezel HUD is a sleek, compact improvement on Quicksilver's built-in bezel interface. The translucent black look will be familiar to users of HUD-based applications like Twitterrific. Because the design is modeled on an element of Leopard itself, it feels like part of the operating system, which is exactly how Quicksilver is meant to feel.

Eckert has released a second interface called Showcase, built to take advantage of the larger icons in OS X 10.5. Although it takes up a huge amount of screen real estate compared to Bezel Hud, Showcase is perfect for showing off Quicksilver to the uninitiated. It displays your icons at their largest size and reflects them against a black backdrop, which is visually striking and makes it easy to see exactly what you're doing in Quicksilver.

We love the interface work Eckert has released so far, but we're even more excited about what's next. Eckert has posted screenshots and a demo video for SilverFlow, his upcoming Quicksilver UI based on OS X's Cover Flow feature. His sense of how Leopard apps ought to look is so impressive that it's hard to believe he just got his first Mac in December.

Tags: design, Leopard, OS X, OsX, Quicksilver, skin, UI design, UiDesign

Filed under: Windows Mobile, Mobile Minute

Leaked HTC TouchFLO interface for Windows Mobile hits the web

by Brad Linder Jan 31st 2008

There's an unofficial application floating around that may be a beta version of an update to HTC's TouchFLO interface for Windows Mobile. TouchFLO is basically a skin that replaces the default Windows mobile user interface with one that packs nice big icons that are easy to use with a finger rather than a stylus.

Some folks at the XDA-Developers forum have managed to get the application, which bears the codename Manila, up and running. And while it's certainly pretty to look at, it's reportedly quite sluggish. In fact, once you have it up and running, you'll be lucky if you can get your PDA or phone to do much of anything. So we certainly wouldn't recommend installing Manila, at least not until someone leaks a faster version.

[via the::unwired]

Tags: htc, manila, skin, touchflo, windows-mobile

Filed under: Design, Developer, Fun, Internet, Web services, Microsoft, Yahoo!, P2P, Beta

Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Preview is live

by Chris Gilmer Dec 6th 2007

We broke the news the beginning of this year that Yahoo! was busy preparing a complete rebuild of Messenger made exclusively for Windows Vista users. The ground up rebuild has taken quite a long time (11 months), but it's finally here.

Yahoo! Messenger for Vista is officially available as a preview download starting today. There are some important features that are missing in this build, but the significant additions might make up for the lack of features. The changes in Yahoo! Messenger include a complete change of layout, skin chooser, filter-as-you-type for easy searching, spell checker and a convenient tabbed conversation window that controls your desktop clutter. The rebuild also incorporates sidebar graphics that have the ability to show favorite contacts separated from conversation windows. Graphical elements in the new IM take Microsoft's graphic subsystem into play for vector based interfaces and enhanced emoticons. IM's can now be conveniently sent to both Yahoo! and Windows Live Messenger contacts, complete with up to 2GB worth of files.

There are a few features that have been left out of this build that are scheduled for a later date. They are big ones that people do expect to have, be it a beta build or any release and include voice, webcam, chat rooms, text messaging to mobile devices, photo sharing and conferencing. To grab a copy of the new Yahoo! Messenger for Vista preview release, visit http://messenger.yahoo.com/windowsvista.php We will have more on this application as we put it through the DLS wringer.

Check out some screenshots of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Preview in the gallery.

Gallery: Yahoo! Messenger for Vista

Tags: im, layout, messenger, microsoft, msn, skin, tabs, vista, windows

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows Mobile

Spb Mobile Shell - Windows Mobile gets a facelift

by Brad Linder Feb 6th 2007

Spb has released what they're calling an operating system upgrade for Windows Mobile devices, although it's probably safer to call Spb Mobile Shell an elaborate skinning and program launching application.

The program is designed to account for the fact that many new PDAs are mobile phones, while the Windows Mobile operating system is really designed as an interface for tiny computer-like devices. In fact, for the most part, Microsoft's default interface for Pocket PC and Smartphone devices hasn't changed very much at all since Pocket PC 2000 was released. You still have a Today Screen, Start Menu, and separate pages for programs, settings, and connections.

Spb Mobile Shell lets you replace the Today Screen with a Now Screen, which provides some of the info you need most often. In addition to an analog or digital clock, battery info, and weather forecasts, you can customize the Now Screen to include info such as upcoming appointments.

Tags: mobile shell, MobileShell, program launcher, ProgramLauncher, skin, spb

Filed under: Design, Fun, Internet, Windows, Web services, Mozilla

Tinseltown theme for Firefox

by Ryan Carter Dec 20th 2006

I went out looking for a nice, not too dumb holiday theme for my Firefox, call me old-fashioned, call me sentimental, but hey, I like a nice looking theme to go with the holiday cheer. Most normal people look for gifts, I look for themes for Firefox. Don't dis it, you know you do too. The Tinseltown Firefox theme is a great one, featuring light bulbs for back and forward, Rudolph as the refresh button (I don't know why the thought or smell of a reindeer makes you think of refreshing a page, but...) Santa's hat for stop, a gingerbread house for home (makes sense), a present box's top to add a new tab, history is a stocking, and downloads is a gingerbread man. The scrollbars are a nice shade of candy cane, and the background consists of a snowy blue and white scene. All in all, the theme is nice but not too outlandish. Check it out, then let me know what your favorite is here. I am still on the lookout for a few good themes of the holiday persuasion. What do you suggest?

Tags: browser, firefox, holiday, skin, theme, tinseltown

Filed under: Fun, Web services, Google

Google Dark: Insert moody music here

by Jordan Running Oct 12th 2006

Do Google's bright white background and big, colorful logo offend your more somber sensibilities? Google Dark might be the cure for what ails you. It's a Greasemonkey script that replaces the Google home page with a darker, and some might say a little more slick, version. In addition, it makes the logo a little smaller and gives it an updated look, and makes the fonts a big bigger. All very Web 2.0. Unfortunately, Google Dark only transforms the Google home page and not results pages or any other Google sites. I would love to see a more complete version of this script that does all of the above, but I realize that might be asking a bit much.

Tags: black, dark, google, google dark, GoogleDark, greasemonkey, skin, user script, UserScript

Filed under: Windows, Commercial

Object Desktop 2007 for Windows reviewed

by Jordan Running Aug 11th 2006

Object Desktop 2007, described by its maker Stardock as "a suite of desktop enhancement utilities designed to allow users to turbo-charge their Windows experience," is probably best known for WindowBlinds, a program that allows Windows to be "skinned." Object Desktop really is a suite, though, and includes a whole pile of programs like IconPackager for replacing your icons in one fell swoop and WindowFX for adding new visual effects to Windows. CRN has taken the latest version of Object Desktop for a spin and gives it fairly high marks, recommending its interface customization features for kiosk use, but cautioning administrators against changing around interface features that users are accustomed to. Object Desktop 2007 costs $49.95.

Tags: customization, customize, objectdesktop, objectdesktop2007, skin, skinning, skins, stardock, windowblinds, windowfx, windows

Filed under: Internet, Mozilla

A look at the final Firefox 2 theme

by Jordan Running Jul 13th 2006

Firefox 2 Beta 1 may be nearly feature-complete, but there's one thing missing still: the theme. Mozilla designers are still working on the theme that will be the default when the final version of Firefox 2.0 is released. Some mock-ups of the theme have been posted to the Mozilla Wiki, and people who like the Firefox 1.0-1.5 theme will be relieved that it stays true to its roots. Most elements look almost exactly like their ancestors, but a keen eye will notice that everything is, well, shinier. On top of a new luster, some elements have been tweaked to make their functionality more apparent. For example, the Go and Search action buttons are now styled to be more strongly associate them with respective input fields, and the feed icon now glows briefly when a feed is found to draw more attention to it.

[Via Digg]

Tags: design, firefox, firefox2, gui, mozilla, skin, theme, ui

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

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