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The Collective: Customize Your Computer & Your Phone With Star Trek March 18, 2009

by John Tenuto , Filed under: Merchandise, Review, Science/Technology, Trek Franchise , trackback

Computers and technology have always been a big part of Star Trek, and now two new licensees are offering Trekkies the chance to customize their own technology with Star Trek. Firstly Hyperdesk is offering a new Original Series theme for your Windows PC. And Coveroo is offers a series of laser etched backs for your cell phones and mobile devices. TrekMovie takes a closer look with reviews both below.

 

Hyperdesk Star Trek The Original Series Windows Desktop Theme

The Skins Factory is a world leader in user interface, skin and theme designs, and their Hyperdesk division have been making a number of popular desktop themes, including many licensed themes (for Disney and others). And now they have added Star Trek to their roster. Hyperdesk offers fans the ability to customize their entire Windows XP environment with detailed and fun Star Trek icons and wallpapers. For $14.95, fans can download a program to all their personal computers that transforms the computing experience into a Trek themed wonderland. The program includes three Hypedesk themes based on the original Star Trek that changes the Windows environment into one of the Starfleet divisions, either Command (with yellow being the dominant color appropriately), Engineering (red), and Sciences (blue).


Hyperdesk TOS theme allows you to switch from command gold (top), science blue (bottom left) or engineering red (bottom right)
[click image to see all three]

What is especially nice about Hyperdesk is its attention to detail. For example, the Help icon is McCoy’s medical equipment, or the MyVideos icon is of the desk monitors from the original show. Also great is that this a product with a purpose. It isn’t a collectible, it is a utility that makes computing fun. And according to Skins Factory CEO and Art Director Jeff Schader, they tried to stays "as close to canon as possible." A fan himself, Schader tells TrekMovie:

I went after the Star Trek license almost immediately after launching Hyperdesk, having been a Trek fan my entire life. It was a natural choice when it came to licensing properties for our desktop themes… stick with what you know….The idea behind the design of the actual Windows theme came after an hour-long conversation with the incredibly talented Mike Okuda. The idea was to take the look of the 1701’s bridge consoles which was made of black lacquer, the high gloss glass and buttons and blow it out over the whole desktop.
 


Some of the icons used in the Hyperdesk TOS theme
[click image to see more]

The Hyperdesk Star Trek Original Series Windows XP Theme includes:

For more info and to purchase & download the theme – GOTO Hyperdesk.com.




Your Star Trek theme literally beams onto your desktop (top to bottom: command gold, science blue, engineering red)
[click images to see full detail for each version of the theme]

For now, the program is only available for Windows XP, but Hyperdesk plans to release the TOS theme for Vista, PS3, PSP and possibly OS10. They are also looking into doing themes based on the new Star Trek movie, and The Next Generation (and maybe more Trek). More info and purchasing info at Hyperdesk.com

 

Coveroo Star Trek laser-etched mobile device customization

Coveroo is a product that replaces the back cover of cell phones and MP3 players with plates that have customizable Star Trek designs. Fans go to the Coveroo website and select their mobile device (and color) and then the design they want (with many available). Then for $19.95 Coveroo laser etches a customized back cover for your device and mails it off to you. Snap it on and you got yourself a Trekkified phone. You can also get a customized iPod, but because the backs of iPods are not removable, you have to order a new one from Coveroo.


Just a fraction of the ways you could customize your Blackberry

The choices of images that can be etched include an amazing variety that really allows for customization. In fact, many choices include the option of adding a logo or emblem to a character design. Some of the options include aliens or villains (The Borg, a Klingon, Ferengi, tribbles) and their emblems; the main characters of the original Star Trek (including the QUOGS); Starfleet emblems and technology; Mirror Universe icons, and many more etchings.


After selecting your device and design, Coveroo sends you a custom back for you to put onto your mobile device (backs pictured: BlackBerry Pearl 8110 -pink w/ Command Insignia & 1) Samsung U340 with Captain Kirk)
[click to enlarge]

Coveroo has a great product here, both because of the many options of characters and emblems from various versions of Star Trek, and the nicely detailed renderings. Like the Hyperdesk items, Coveroos have a purpose and utility to them and they would be nice and unusual gifts for fans.

For more info or to order your own ‘Coveroo’, GOTO Coveroo.com

Customizable = Smart
As a sociology professor, one of the main themes I discuss with my students is the notion that modern cultures are customizable experiences. from credit card designs to educational plans, from how people enjoy their favorite shows to Internet interactions (like MySpace and ITunes). In societies where this is the zeitgeist, it is appropriate that Star Trek products go customizable, and it is especially appropriate for your phone or computer with Star Trek’s technological narratives. It is also good to see Star Trek products like these which should appeal to that younger generation which (along with the new perfumes to QUOGS). Customizable technology products like Hyperdesk and Coveroo are good examples of this idea, as they are a new kind of Star Trek product that appeals to a variety of fans. What is great about both is that each company has embraced Star Trek in the design elements and theme-ing, unafraid to be funny or ironic (McCoy’s medical equipment icon = help, or communicator grill etchings to turn your phone into a communicator). This kind of hipness is something students and younger fans enjoy, and it has value to more mature fans. Star Trek is back, and now its customizable.

Comments»

1. Skagen - March 18, 2009

Cool! dare I say it… my first first?

2. Steve W - March 18, 2009

Mac versions?

3. VERG - March 18, 2009

First! Love it.

4. VERG - March 18, 2009

awww maaan…

5. Christine - March 18, 2009

Very cool.

Wish I wasn’t broke. :D

PC FOR THE WIN.

6. They call me Stasiu - March 18, 2009

Very snazzy desktop themes; would love to see how the publisher tackles the TNG interface.

7. WhatInBlueBlazes?! - March 18, 2009

Wow. I’m actually quite impressed by the attention to detail.

8. Blake Powers - March 18, 2009

They need to make a LCARs distro of Linux.

9. Starship Conductor - March 18, 2009

I purchased Hyperdesks “Star Trek Desktop Theme” last week and couldn’t be happier! The attention to detail is awesome! I highly recommend this product!

10. BND - March 18, 2009

I’ll just print oot this page and then affix the images ta’ me telly phone and me computie wit’ some spit and glue…

‘Course I just hooked me typewriter up ta’ me tv fur me computie…

Maybe I won’t use that pink Kirk slip though… seems a bit… adult. I mean, personally, I dunna want ta’ see Kirk on me coveroo…

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…

11. T2 - March 18, 2009

I love it, already decided to get it…although, yeah, I would definately love to see a TNG Movie-Era LCARS version. Awesome stuff here.

12. ProperTrekkieUK - March 18, 2009

Not much iphone stuff…or vista, damn it…why am I too high tech to get a furturistic layout? :P

I want LCARS for my iphone and vista PC anyways, if your going to do it, might as go the whole way huh!! Anyone think lcars would be cool????

13. Star Knight - March 18, 2009

I think ill wait for the TNG customization, hopefully it’ll be LCARS. ^.^

14. OneBuckFilms - March 18, 2009

I really like the looks of this. Problem is, I’m running Vista :-)

15. Shunnabunich - March 18, 2009

I’m just waiting for someone to do a PADD casemod for their iPod touch. :)

16. Kayla Iacovino - March 18, 2009

@8 – Yes, they do! Erm, get to work on that, would ya?

17. Schultz - March 18, 2009

Popular LCARS screensaver for Windows and Mac (UB) — System 47:

http://www.mewho.com/system47/

18. NaradaAlpha - March 18, 2009

am I the ONLY one who wants a vista customization based on the new enterprise computer look from the new film?

19. Mini - March 18, 2009

For all mac users… It’s not a complete star trek interface, but iconfactory has some insignia icons…

http://iconfactory.com/search/?q=star+trek

20. Blake Powers - March 18, 2009

18. No you are not… ::raises hand::

21. The_BORG - March 18, 2009

No BORG stuff? OUCH!

22. 7 of 69 - March 18, 2009

Hyperdesk only works for XP? I know there are a lot of Vista haters out there, but seriously, it’s what came on the darn machine if you bought a computer in the last couple years.

23. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 18, 2009

Hi, I’m the guy in the quotes up top :-)

We’re definitely going to be releasing this in a Vista format.

If our TOS theme proves to be popular, then TNG is a go as would a theme based on the upcoming movie.

LCARS… It’s an incredible user interface. It would never work as a Windows theme. LCARS is a touch-screen based UI where Windows is very structured in its format. I wouldn’t create a theme for any Star Trek series if I didn’t think we could pull off the quality it deserves. Now with the iTunes and WMP 11 audio remotes. Those could be LCARS-based as could the wallpaper. But the actual windows frame wouldn’t work. Just thought I’d clear that up.

24. Ran - March 18, 2009

For Ubuntu Linux:

http://www.ubuntu-art.org/content/show.php/LCARS-Desktop+GTK+Theme?content=92578

25. Captian Cameron goes Berserk!! - March 18, 2009

sweet.

26. Driver - March 18, 2009

Nice. I wonder if CBS ever tried to sue NBC for infringing on their “eye” logo used for the Enterprise’s science division emblem.

27. Smitty™ - March 18, 2009

17:

I love that screensaver, though I wish there were a TOS version.

Oh neat even the Trek Quogs are in on the cell covers!

$14.95 for the Trek themes? Might have to wait a few weeks to get that!

-cs™

28. scifib5st - March 18, 2009

Really too bad this will not work on the new LG VU cell phone, it would be a great skin.

29. Rastaman - March 18, 2009

I think the icons are really detailed and look fantastic! But I’m disappointed that there are only three wallpapers to choose from.

30. Jas in Perth - March 18, 2009

Hyperdesk doesn’t work on Vista. Darn. Scotty’s words are ringing in my head now (”why on earth would you want that bucket of bolts!”).

31. Adrian Patrick - March 18, 2009

Love their work. I have the WMplayer remote – very cool. Can’t wait for the Vista Hyperdesk!

LCARS actually would work with the windows frame. Several console shots showed various moving windows etc. Just takes a bit of imagination.

32. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 18, 2009

Jas: Hyperdesk is coming to Vista as is the TOS theme. While Vista is the newer system, the majority of people are still on XP and 1 out of 3 people revert back to XP from Vista :-)

But it’s coming.

33. Jas in Perth - March 18, 2009

Jeff: Thanks, that’s really great to hear. Coming from a computing background, I use a highly personally configured version of Vista Ultimate (i.e., de-nannyfied) but I still have a great fondness for XP Pro. I remember configuring one of my first computers at work (a pentium 100 in 1995) to boot up with LCARs wallpaper and holodeck sound effects. Hyperdesk has brought back all those memories. Someone may have already asked this above but will there be an Abrahms Trek theme for Hyperdesk?

34. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 18, 2009

Jas: Depends on J.J. and Paramount. I think there’s a good chance. The new Trek is closer to our regular style of design so it would be a good fit for us.

This theme has some cool sounds. When you launch the Hyperdesk application you can hear the 1701’s bridge sounds. Also the widget has animation fx and sounds. I have it set up so that when you launch the widget you hear the transporter’s energize first and then it beams in. And then when it transports out (the playbutton ring) you hear it dematerialize. All the buttons on the widget have a different button sound from the series. It’s a fun theme.

35. McCoy's Gall Bladder - March 18, 2009

I’ve got to get the Mirror Universe one

Hellacool

36. Rooster - March 18, 2009

Ditto on LCARS jailbreak for iPhone.

37. EFFeX - March 18, 2009

This looks great, I might have to make a purchase!

38. Jas in Perth - March 18, 2009

Jeff: Sounds awesome. Eagerly looking forward to the Vista version. No pressure :-)

39. Capt Mike Of The Terran Empire - March 18, 2009

Ok. Im totaly Geeking out here. This is the coolest and i already got it for my Laptop and it’s the best. Now can you do one of the Terran Empire. Now that would be better.

40. AdmNaismith - March 18, 2009

I want my computer to look like an Starfleet LCARS terminal, not STAR TREKtm ‘themed’ with STAR TREK gobbed right into the middle of the whole thing, with those nonsensical icons. It might as well say ‘I “heart” Capt. Kirk’ and ‘Spk Fr Evr’ on the wallpaper.

I’m looking for something a little cooler than this..

41. John Tenuto - March 18, 2009

I do heart Captain Kirk. And Spock is forever.

42. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 18, 2009

I do heart Captain Kirk. And Spock is forever.

43. Jordan - March 18, 2009

Mac or bust!

44. Other OSes - March 18, 2009

Create a Mac AND Linux version and I’ll buy them!

45. illogical - March 18, 2009

Let me guess… no mac version. Sigh.

46. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 18, 2009

The skinny on a possible Mac version.

There’s an app called Facade that is supposed to be launched sometime in the near future. If and when that launches, all of our themes including Star Trek will be ported over to OS X. We’re just waiting patiently for it to launch. I all ready have an understanding with the creators of the app and we’re going to work together.

Now if you have Boot Camp on your Intel Mac and XP you can run the theme.

47. Third Remata'Klan - March 18, 2009

Very cool. Too bad I won’t be getting any of it. (Don’t own a cellphone or iPod, and my wife would never go for the desktop themes on our computer….)

48. Jim - March 18, 2009

I just purchased the Skins! There are SOOO many different combinations to choose from! It’s worth it if your a great star trek fan!

49. Jim - March 18, 2009

to #32

I DID change back from Vista to XP! I personally hated Vista i did get it when it first came out so hopefully they will work out all the bugs which did not sell me on that

I personally added my own sounds for windows in TOS style, so now my computer is all TOS!

50. Sogh Ho'neH jorDe' taI-VamPyr - March 18, 2009

Klingon Desktop Skins and sounds?

51. Shunnabunich - March 18, 2009

@46

I’m greatly looking forward to Façade, too, and it’s really good to hear someone like you is on board with them.

I agree, though, that LCARS just doesn’t quite work as a window style — it wants to be its own thing, in its own space.

(off on a tangent…) I think what I’d really want to do if I were gung-ho about LCARS is invest in a small touchscreen (I believe one can be had for a few hundred dollars), and build some kind of application launcher that runs on that secondary screen, letting me tap out sequences of buttons to launch apps, bookmarks, scripts, etc. Maybe with some Quartz Composer eye-candy for sensor readouts and such. :) I suppose that project’d be much easier if I could write (any) code to save my life, ha.

52. Jon S. - March 18, 2009

Mac? MAC? HA HA HAAAA!

53. DAK23 - March 18, 2009

I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I made my own theme. Just used a simple icon & cursor maker, used sounds from the show, and viola! For instance, my recycle bin full is the turbolift doors closed, and when you empty the recycle bin, the doors open, and you get the ‘whoosh’

54. Imrahil - March 18, 2009

Excellent…I might pick this up when the Vista version comes out.

55. TrekBill - March 18, 2009

I would vote for a Mac version too!

56. Gary - March 18, 2009

Will there be a Windows 7 version?

57. The TOS Purist aka The Purolator - March 18, 2009

Remember, the Arrowhead is NOT the TOS Starfleet logo! It’s the Enterprise Badge that only Enterprise crewpeople wore! I wish people would remember that.

58. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 18, 2009

Gary: Yes.

59. cpelc - March 18, 2009

http://www.startrekicons.com

this site is excellent…you’ll need a .Rar extractor though

60. Ensign Ro- (short for Roland) - March 18, 2009

OK, I’m sold. Those screens and the attention to detail are superb. Nicely done. Checking my finances right now…

61. The Governator - March 18, 2009

Its Mac or nothing.

62. John - March 18, 2009

Why is it always TOS that gets the attention? Why couldn’t the theme be based on TNG, DS9 or VOY?

63. Rick - March 18, 2009

Whine, whine, whine…and 57, who forgot that exactly?

64. Julio - March 18, 2009

Those desktops are hella cool, and I’m not paying $15 for them.

65. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 18, 2009

John (#62): Because its always best to start at the beginning. The new movie aside, the goal was to do the themes in the following order:

TOS
TNG
Borg
Klingon

and see where it goes from there.

66. T£O§G¥ - March 19, 2009

NO KLINGON Themes!!!

The Empire will not quietly standby and allow this abomination!

67. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

Oh and I’m thinking about doing the Mirror Universe too. That was really good idea 2 people had.

68. NaradaAlpha - March 19, 2009

#57–tell that to JJ ABRAMS!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

also Jeff please try for a design based on the computer screen layout of the Enterprise in the new film, (the type showed on the film’s website) and also one based on the NX-01 computer screen layouts:)

69. Mark Lynch - March 19, 2009

Well I just bought it….

Just waiting for the 209Mb download to finish, 45% and counting.

Hope the boss doesn’t see this. Sheesh 209Mb for a theme? Better be damned good. :)

70. Tarrax - March 19, 2009

And I was so hoping we left the silly “first!” garbage to other sites. How sad……

71. Tarrax - March 19, 2009

61. The Governator “Its Mac or nothing.”

Given that choice, I’d pick nothing. ;)

72. ensignHarris - March 19, 2009

waiting for vista version!

73. Cheve - March 19, 2009

I’ve got the Hyperdesk.

Quite preety.

74. raffie - March 19, 2009

Lol, XP.

75. Curveball - March 19, 2009

Here’s a another cool fan vid,
combining
DARK KNIGHT
and
STAR TREK!
Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfNv34c2YJ4

(PS: Sorry for the Spamming ;)

76. thorsten - March 19, 2009

@67…

Great work, Jeff!

I am a macevangelist, so here is a link to “Refresh Trek” by Dave Brasgalla from the iconfactory. It is free set of folder icons, nothing close to Jeff’s Hyperdesk.

http://iconfactory.com/freeware/preview/retk

77. Irishtrekkie - March 19, 2009

Coveroo dont seem to surport any nokia phones (well i see one), :(

78. Ralph F - March 19, 2009

Another vote for a Mac version.

79. Michael - March 19, 2009

Why would a company begin a launch of the newest technology and go backwards on the latest pc operating system? They should have held the release till their software was compatible with Vista & XP adn windows 98. I will get the Vista once avail. but this seems pretty dumb out of the gate.

80. Andros - March 19, 2009

I’d get that Coveroo thing for my Blackberry if it didn’t actually say “Coveroo” on the bottom!

81. Jim - March 19, 2009

has anyone found the Font being used for the interfaces in the new movie yet?

82. Gary - March 19, 2009

Since Windows 7 is essentially an update of Vista, will the Vista version (when its finally available) work with Windows 7 or will the Windows 7 version be totally different?

83. Bill - March 19, 2009

#82

Not really. You’re right that Windows 7 is primarily an update of Vista in many important ways, but the interface has changed in a way that – while not drastic – would definitely effect how a theme looks. I would think separate (but similar) themes would have to be created for Vista and 7.

84. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

Bill is correct.

85. I am not Herbert - March 19, 2009

Cool, but I Trek-ified my cell phone and computer years ago…

…now just waiting for that bluetooth Communicator… =)

86. John from Cincinnati - March 19, 2009

Very, very cool!!

87. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

Just a quick note… on the full shot of the icons, I put the Sciences Folder when I was supposed to put the Command folder. It’s fixed on our site but not here. In case someone noticed.

88. Captain Dunsel - March 19, 2009

#23 – “LCARS… It’s an incredible user interface. It would never work as a Windows theme. ”

Boy, you can say that again. Back when IBM was just starting to bring out OS/2, I was one of the early people they went to with the beta versions. I advised them then and there that the windows model was the wrong one, and that they should look SERIOUSLY at LCARS. Realizing that it was nothing but clever artwork, I tried to explain to them that there was nevertheless an actual, workable interface model there, which was FAR superior to the “overlapping windows” model. Who knows – had they listened, maybe OS/2 (which was vastly more advanced under the hood than Windows 3.x) might have survived and even triumphed in the battle with Miscrosoft.

89. Captain Dunsel - March 19, 2009

#80 “I’d get that Coveroo thing for my Blackberry if it didn’t actually say “Coveroo” on the bottom!”

I had exactly the same thought. Sounds like something I might have had printed on my jammies when ST:TOS first premiered. Same reason I won’t buy a Kangol hat – Nice hats, but I don’t want the name on the back of my head. If you want me to wear or carry your d&^n logo, YOU pay ME.

(OMG, I’m starting to sound like Harlan Ellison…)

90. Chris Basken - March 19, 2009

#12: “Not much iphone stuff…or vista, damn it…why am I too high tech to get a furturistic layout?”

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=307367971&mt=8

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=306241303&mt=8

91. thorsten - March 19, 2009

@90…

99 cent sound like a bargain…
but who is Dana?
;))

92. GNOME it, please - March 19, 2009

I would LOVE to see this offered for the GNOME interface so Linux, Solaris and FreeBSD users could purchase it.

Alright, KDE, too, if you must. ;)

Seriously, I’m tired of this OS segment being ignored. We’re hardcore Trekkies and Trekkers. I would welcome a Mac version, but please consider the other UIs (GNOME, KDE). You might not believe that there’s profit to be made. I would argue otherwise with the right marketing.

93. GNOME it, please - March 19, 2009

I would LOVE to see this offered for the GNOME interface so Linux, Solaris and FreeBSD OS users could purchase it.

Alright, KDE interface, too, if you must. ;)

Seriously, I’m tired of this OS segment being ignored. We’re hardcore Trekkies and Trekkers. I would welcome a Mac version, but please consider the other UIs (GNOME, KDE). You might not believe that there’s profit to be made. I would argue otherwise with the right marketing.

94. GNOME it, please - March 19, 2009

Btw, I hope The Skin Factory takes the initiative to reach out to other Trek fan sites to promote their Trek product. it really is phenomenal.

95. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

You would be surprised how not reachable they tend to be :-)

96. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

I did post a response but it didn’t seem to stick. I’ve contacted Ubuntu twice and while I received responses back nothing ever came of it. I don’t own a Linux box but if you know an open source way to theme a lot of distros and themers who can port our work then who am to ignore the Rules of Acquisition? :-)

97. HoS'etlh - March 19, 2009

Any time frame on the Vista release?

98. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

2 months or less.

99. Grady Christie - March 19, 2009

Very cool. May have to shell out the $14.95

100. Hesht - March 19, 2009

Wow AWESOME!

101. HoS'etlh - March 19, 2009

98. Jeff – The Skins Factory – March 19, 2009
2 months or less.

Sweet. Is there a mailing list that one could join to be kept up-to-date?

102. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

Sure if you send me an email I’ll add you. You can reach me at jschader at theskinsfactory

103. HoS'etlh - March 19, 2009

102. Jeff – The Skins Factory – March 19, 2009
Sure if you send me an email I’ll add you. You can reach me at jschader at theskinsfactory

Done and done!

104. Spock Forever - March 19, 2009

Jeff. I think it’s wonderful that you’re participating in this feedback.

To the earlier point about Linux and your Star Trek theme:

- If you’re looking to port to GNOME (the desktop environment on numerous Linux distros), then try a mailing list on: art.gnome.org

Emailing companies like Ubuntu isn’t going to give you the information you need. They only care if you’re trying to obtain a service or solution offering, ie $$. ;-)

I really think you’d find community support for getting your product onto the GNOME desktop.

- Alternately, if you Google for creating GNOME (or KDE) themes, then use Sun’s free, open source VirtualBox product at virtualbox.org I run multiple Linux distros from my Windows machine. (And my MacBook Pro, too.) It’s very easy to use. Just download VirtualBox, make sure you allocate hard disk space (say 5-6 gigs), then use VirtualBox to install a Linux .iso (downloaded freely off the ‘net from Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat, etc. – Ubuntu rocks!) and you have a development environment on your Windows machine! With VirtualBox, you can even install more than one OS, provided you have enough hard disk space.

A lot of us would like to see your products offered for multiple OSes. I’m eager to explore your other offerings, too. Although the Star Trek theme really, truly rocks…

105. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

Spock Forever: I’ll look into GNOME and KDE this weekend. I’ve known about them for a long time, but never really looked into them in depth. A friend/peer of mine did the Crystal SVG icon set for KDE.

Selling themes is a two-fold deal. Delivery and distribution. Delivery would be I guess using GNOME and/or KDE (by the way, which one is more robust and stable?). Distribution would be harder since I don’t know much about themes and the Linux community. I also don’t have a venue to sell the themes to the Linux community. Contacting Ubuntu was a way for us to have a distribution channel. Question is will Linux users resent having to pay for themes? That’s a big question.

I’ll also look into VirtualBox, though I never thought emulators as a great way to experience an OS. You can’t theme an OS without knowing an OS. I’d probably go buy a laptop and install the distros directly. Dell has some that are Linux ready I think.

HoS’ethl: I’ll add you now. I received your email.

106. Chris Basken - March 19, 2009

91: “but who is Dana?”

Brother. He does the code, I do the graphics and (in this case) the sounds.

107. Spike the spike - March 19, 2009

Just Widows, eh?

As a computer professional — (I fix Windows garbage every, single day It is SO god damn stupid), — I will never understand the general public’s insistance on using a program which is still built on 30 year old technology (though I guess I shouldn’t really complain since I’m weathering the recession).

Don’t you think Star Trek related product should actually be, at least, capable of handling the 21st Century?

108. Spock Forever - March 19, 2009

Jeff – VirtualBox isn’t an emulator. It runs another OS within another OS. Think virtual environment. Think Boot Camp – but able to run multiple OSes at the same time, from within one OS! You’re only limited by hard disk space and RAM. The OS runs natively – no emulation mode.

“A friend/peer of mine did the Crystal SVG icon set for KDE.” – VERY cool.

I don’t believe most users of Ubuntu (or Linux in general) would resent paying. After all, Star Trek is a licensed property; you can’t freely distribute such content (unless you have something worked out with Paramount that we aren’t aware of).

While Linux is a champion of the open source movement, there are a number of commercial offerings for the OS platform. Not everything must be open source. Open source provides the framework and foundation for you to build your offerings from. In this case, a GNOME (or KDE) theme specifically for Star Trek which should be offered for sale, not free. After all, you have licensing fees to pay.

Thanks for even considering GNOME, KDE, Mac, etc. Keep up the great work. :) I just bought the WInXP version. Simply incredible!

As to KDE or GNOME? Depends on which UI is more popular. That’s a debate without a definitive answer. :) Stability-wise, they’re both very stable. Ubuntu (the most popular distro at the moment) ships with GNOME as the default. Worth considering. See which community (KDE or GNOME) is more helpful. ;-)

109. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 19, 2009

Spock Forever:
VirtualBox sounds cool. I’ll give it a look.

Actually CBS Studios Inc owns the Star Trek license. Paramount I believe owns partial movie rights. I could be wrong about the Paramount part but not about CBS. That site that had some 2D icons that were based on TOS had Paramount as the copyright holder. I’m sure they’ll be getting a notice some day soon about that one. :-)

Glad you like it :-)

110. Mac Rocks! And so does The Skins Factory, Inc.! - March 20, 2009

#52 – I have the pleasure of running Solaris, Windows XP, Windows Vista and 2 flavors of Linux (via Sun’s VirtualBox – free open source software) on my Apple MacBook Pro. Yes, ALL of those OSes on one system. (I do developer work.)

Mac? You betcha. Apple makes incredible tech.

And *if* The Skins Factory (makers of Hyperdesk) would offer their Star Trek-inspired software for other OSes, I would happily purchase and run it. The Windows XP version ROCKS. It’s truly beautiful. They owe Anthony Pascale (Trekmovie.com owner) and John Tenudo (writer of this article) a free version or two. This article inspired me to buy it.

Here’s another vote for a Mac, Linux and Windows Vista (and 7) versions of the Star Trek software!

111. Jeff - The Skins Factory - March 20, 2009

Well Vista is in the development phase. Here’s a shot of our DarkMatter: Subspace theme on Vista: http://skinsfactory.deviantart.com/art/Hyperdesk-DM-Subspace-Vista-115698029

Icons aren’t fully applied yet. But my Vista box (which is an iMac with Boot Camp running Vista) is themed. We’ll have versions for both Vista Basic and Vista Aero. I can’t wait to run Trek on Vista.

112. Raktajino - March 22, 2009

Well I bought this and installed it on Friday night but it doesn’t completely work. I don’t know why. At least the wallpaper doesn’t install – and I can’t find them in the folders anywhere – so I don’t know what else I may be missing. Tried to submit an error ticket, but they actually don’t accept them. Then I tried to sign up for their forums and – 2 days later – still waiting to be approved to post a message. Very disappointed.

113. Jeff - Hyperdesk - March 23, 2009

Odd. People post in the forums all the time and I never have issues with our ticket support system. The wallpapers are here: C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\StarTrekTOS

Once in a great while we get an issue with someone having a problem with Hyperdesk not applying the wallpaper. It’s really infrequent so i think it probably has to do with a conflict somewhere with another app. Anyway the wallpapers are there waiting for you :-)

114. Jeff - Hyperdesk - March 23, 2009

Odd. People post in the forums all the time and I never have issues with our ticket support system. The wallpapers are here your Windows folder in the Resources Folder in the Themes folder. There you’ll find your Star Trek theme folder:

Once in a great while we get an issue with someone having a problem with Hyperdesk not applying the wallpaper. It’s really infrequent so i think it probably has to do with a conflict somewhere with another app. Anyway the wallpapers are there waiting for you :-)

115. Jeff - Hyperdesk - March 23, 2009

People post in the forums all the time and I never have issues with our ticket support system. The wallpapers are here your Windows folder in the Resources Folder in the Themes folder. There you’ll find your Star Trek theme folder:

116. Jeff - Hyperdesk - March 23, 2009

Raktajino what’s your email address so i can email you where you can find your wallpapers.

117. Jeff - Hyperdesk - March 23, 2009

whoah. Ok that’s odd. I posted the first response and it didn’t show up. Took 4 times. Oh well sorry about the quadruple post. Anyway the first post (and second) tells you where you can find the wallpapers :-)

118. Leonel - March 26, 2009

Confused.. because I thought I had posted a comment. Anyone know of any good places to get Star Trek themes for Windows Mobile?

119. victor mendoza - April 3, 2009

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