Neil Banfield Posted December 19, 2001 Share Posted December 19, 2001 Originally posted by DJP It will be cracked just like windowsblinds. You only need to input a serial, so it's easy to hack. If you already know about stylesxp then you already know much about computers and you know your way on astalavista. :) If u were a newbie you only think windowsblinds can be used for skinning. Right? . It is true that all software will be cracked eventually. No matter how hard you try to prevent it, it will still happen. They seem to be linking serials to machines, but thats a long term support nightmare as what if the user changes machines or reinstalls or changes hardware? To me thats not the way to treat your customers by forcing them to contact support just because they have a new PC. It sounds similar to the MS activation system, and even MS had to rework their system a bit. It also has no real impact on piracy as there will be a serial number generator released thats probably better than their own internal one (happened with WB) A little bit bit of topic. If you really want to screw up your computer, try this. First uninstall stylexp and then delete uxtheme.dll. Windows then prompts you and ask for the original xp-cd. That's called windows file protection. Continue using your current skin. Then Reboot. Windows starts and then.... you only see icons, nothing more. Looks really ugly. It happened to me when i was trying windowsblinds. hehe And believe me, it's really hard to select the default luna skin when you see only icons on your screen and nothing more. Thats due to the msstyles engine being a bit buggy to start with and it getting upset when the current theme is unsigned. Your installation of WindowBlinds had no impact on that. There are a number of little issues with themes in general anyway and thats before you attempt to use unsigned themes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binary Posted December 19, 2001 Author Share Posted December 19, 2001 Yes like neil said when everything goes black, thats because windows tries to use a non signed theme, but yet wont revert back to luna, because as far as it knows it is running a valid theme. Another MS goofup... (add it to the pile) not WB fault :D BTW something that has been annoying me .... Why is it that both Neil and Frogboy generally only comment in posts which mention stardock or their products? Do you guys have a life outside the company? I never see you join in any other convo. :( Have some fun!! get to know people, because if you just talk about your products people will just think of you as spammers :( Let us see who u really are! ;) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mortensen Posted December 19, 2001 Share Posted December 19, 2001 Why is it that both Neil and Frogboy generally only comment in posts which mention stardock or their products?Because if they chat outside of Stardock topics then it normally is dug up later and used to try and make them look bad [i've seen it happen before].They seem to be linking serials to machines, but thats a long term support nightmare as what if the user changes machines or reinstalls or changes hardware? To me thats not the way to treat your customers by forcing them to contact support just because they have a new PC. It sounds similar to the MS activation system, and even MS had to rework their system a bit. I never really though about it but it does seem a pretty frustrating system for them and the customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binary Posted December 19, 2001 Author Share Posted December 19, 2001 sucks anal is a very descriptive term :ermm: :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixelCloud Posted December 19, 2001 Share Posted December 19, 2001 or maybe i'll just rewrite the program.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven P. Administrators Posted December 19, 2001 Administrators Share Posted December 19, 2001 Originally posted by Ishmael Good thinking Mortensen about what in your mind makes a proper company. Winamp has been made by less than 6 people and they sure wouldn't constitute proper in your mind either. The skins you are complaining about too were also not made by tgtsoft, actually a couple you complained about were made by people in these forums. No you don't get nothing, you get the ability to use any msstyles file you want with stylesxp. Ishmael Um Winamp is free and mortensen complained about coughdrop (a tgtsoft skin) and praised rodium edge (a community skin) Thought Id clear that up. They also said in the beginning that style xp would stay free, but Style Builder would cost money, go figure DJP I luv your Sig LOL - Good one mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaosAD Posted December 19, 2001 Share Posted December 19, 2001 ok, I was just over at Themexp.org and this was posted by eclectic_echidna, apparently he owns TGTsoft, anyway this is what he is saying: I am getting nicely worded hate mail. Mostly because of misinformation propagated by third parties, so here it is in plain language. * Style XP + StyleBuilder is shareware. Not freeware. * Style XP is currently a service and a simple tray application with some nice original skins. Arguably not yet worth $20 but will be by RTM. * StyleBuilder is very close to a release candidate. Already worth $20. RTM will be $19.95. * For those who don't think that Style XP will be worth $20. A free file patch with instructions will also be released around RTM time. All of your styles will be still be usable. Themexp.org will still be around. Since both of those products are "new", and in beta, you can download them for FREE right now. All of our Beta and RC products will be free until they go RTM (at which time there will be an evaluation period). Note that a few bugs exist in our registration system, so in a few rare instances you will get a message telling you to register. Send mail to sales@tgtsoft.com, and I will help you out. It's that simple, we have bugs, you still get free beta. Now, we would be colossal morons to flip a switch and start charging people money for using our software, esp. since it has been free all of this time. * Will Style XP RTM will be worth $20? It?s up to you, get the patch for free, or register it. The features we are feverishly working on right now are HOT. But we don?t want to give away that secret. I can?t wait till RTM! I guess time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyecannon Posted December 19, 2001 Share Posted December 19, 2001 Well, I just uninstalled stylesXP and copied over the hacked uxtheme.dll file. I can totally see paying for Style Builder, but NOT for StylesXP, which is just ONE file. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mephistocorugan Posted December 19, 2001 Share Posted December 19, 2001 hate to put a bad vibe on the circle-jerk y'all got going, but firstly, y'all should at least allow tgtsoft to put out something with new features before they're excommunicated for charging for a 'featureless crack' second, if y'all remember the license agreement each and every one of you read through and agreed to, well, agreed to at least, i doubt many of y'all read it or else have very selective memory about doing so, it plainly states the following: (bolding added for emphasis) USE AND EVALUATION PERIOD. Businesses and/or corporations are not permitted to utilize this software for the creation of styles without a current license agreement with TGT Soft LLC. You may install and use one copy of this software on one client computer. A copy of this software is considered in use when loaded into temporary memory (i.e., RAM) and/or installed on a permanent storage device (i.e., hard disk, CD-ROM, etc. You may also use a copy of the software on a home or portable computer, provided only one copy of the software is in use at a time. You may use an evaluation copy of the software for only twenty (20) days in order to determine whether to purchase the software. You may use a beta copy of the software for only ninety (90) days in order to test its features. so either uninstall/reinstall, throw the hacked uxtheme.dll in your system32 folder, or just wait and see what they start putting into stylesxp to add value before judging them communist pigs and wanting them skinned in the town square for wrong-doing... and just for the record, i'd say the same about any company that had not yet released a full product but was already getting sliced and diced because of jumping the gun a smidge, including stardock, ms, *cringe* even apple... now i feel dirty having said the 'a' word... :old: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binary Posted December 19, 2001 Author Share Posted December 19, 2001 hmmmm good point, I dont read agreements lol :p, but fact remains that they said it was going to be freeware.... :ermm: :( And they should make it clearer on their site that it is infact shareware. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurting101 Posted December 19, 2001 Share Posted December 19, 2001 Wow. 11 pages of post, most of which don't want StylesXP to be freeware. Is there anyone that is going to buy it out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmaacckkoo Posted December 19, 2001 Share Posted December 19, 2001 People with a SOLUTION to this (i.e. Do we have to just get Styles XP 3 and everything will be ok?), go to https://www.neowin.net/bboard/showthread.ph...=&threadid=8284 It is hard to sort through these posts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binary Posted December 19, 2001 Author Share Posted December 19, 2001 thats interesting Kaos Perhaps they should mention that to their beta testers.. and on their website :( I was lead to believe style XP was going to remain freeware by a person who works at TGTSoft, mainly because I didnt ask if it was going to be shareware, but that should have been made clear. *shrug* whatever I am getting sick of computer companys anymore. Most are heartless, conceeded, monopolistic, dont give a damn about your customers type corporations. Please, show me one that isnt and I will rejoice in the rebirth of proper company policies and ethics ;) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenreaper Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 Originally posted by Binary I am getting sick of computer companys anymore. Most are heartless, conceeded, monopolistic, dont give a damn about your customers type corporations. Please, show me one that isnt and I will rejoice in the rebirth of proper company policies and ethics ;) Stardock? They effectively lived off the good-will of their customers when moving from OS/2 to Windows. They had essentially nothing to show for Windows, but managed to sell Object Desktop subscriptions to people who had bought it on OS/2, because those people believed Stardock would deliver. That's what I call loyalty. ;-) If you want to be really cold about it, Stardock *has* to be good to their customers, or they won't resubscribe next year. But I think it goes a bit further than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaosAD Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 I agree Binary, what is even more interesting is the fact that I have emailed TGTsoft about this thread, seeing how he replied at ThemeXP.org. 11 pages later and still a no show. He has a chance to try to clear the air here but I think the damage is done. I for one will use just the dll on my system but as you pointed out the real damage was done with the skin authors. As much as this community stood behind TGTsoft when they were getting slammed, this is some pay back. At the very least they could try to clear the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericlims Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 Yo...Yo..PPL!! 12 Pages of posts..and still..no solutions?!! Maybe I'm being thick or something but can someone plzzz... Show me like how it is to solve this s*** ...like probably a tested solution??! I am apologise if I'm sounding rude or anything..but as the days draws closer to an end..one just can't help but wonder..hmm..'When is my StyleXP gonna expire?!!!' so...pls..really help if u can ppl..:right: 'Neowin Forever':D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenreaper Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 Well, if such a "solution" were posted, I would expect it to be deleted immediately, otherwise I'd suspect the moderators weren't doing their job properly . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binary Posted December 20, 2001 Author Share Posted December 20, 2001 I dont think we need a solution, it's shareware and thats all there is to it, but it would be alot nicer if they explained to us why it became shareware, and if they made a couple of changes making it clearer on their site. btw I'm not overly worried because I have the 1st non public "alpha" of it, so I dont need to worry, I am concered for you guys, who were told it was going to be free, and now its not.. at least at this moment. I do take back some of the stuff I said earlier about them tricking you, it probably isnt their intention, but they should put more info on the website. Also I didnt read the agreement, so thats my fault, but how many people read the agreement anyways? :) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericlims Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 So am i to understand that if i unistalled the StyleXP 4 and reinstall the Ver. 1 or 2..it'll be fine? And if so..what bout them reg. keys..any mod. or deletion.. Binary, can u mail me the ver. 1 then plz.. My email: ericlims@hotmail.com Many thanx.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyecannon Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 there is a solution, uxtheme.dll copying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinh Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 this thread has gone crazy, i will just sit here then... :sleeping: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3nd3r Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 me too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stass Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 ok then someone will just have to make a crack/serial/or reg nr.. ? any one can make it.. DO it... i can using xp whit out style xp ;P its suxxxx so ger redy... will will crack it.. wi will crack it =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s0rce Posted December 20, 2001 Share Posted December 20, 2001 send it to me please lgordon@home.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickedkitten Veteran Posted December 20, 2001 Veteran Share Posted December 20, 2001 goddammit meph what the hell are you thinking? you aren't supposed to put sensible answers in a thread like this dammit. Thats almost as bad as someone going on the Jerry Springer show and making sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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