Shapeshifter: Do you use it?

[zelmo]

Until recently, I'd never really thought much about changing the theme on my Mac, although I knew people who did it. I have been playing around with the demo of Shapeshifter for the past few days, and I am liking it, particularly some of the darker (surprise, surprise) themes. I'm not sure if it's just a temporary infatuation or something I would stick with though. I suppose I'll ride out the 15 day demo and see how I feel then.

A few questions:

1- Anyone else play with Shapeshifter, and if so, was it a passing fancy or not?
2- What theme do you use most frequently? Do you change up themes or stick to one?
3- Are there other sources for skins, aside from the ones Shapeshifter directs you to?

Theme: Fear Platinum3
Icons: eXec
Cursor: Fear Platinum Shard
Desktop: Sweet Slumber - Sweet Oblivion V1

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

It does look cool, but I don't use it because I fear it might mess up some deeper components of OS X/my system.

 

[realityisterror]

I played with it for a few days... maybe a week or so, but it got old...

Most themes are a little too extreme and can be tiring on the eyes after awhile, but good ole' aqua never gets old

reality

 

[wrldwzrd89]

I'm not really into theming my Mac, and I consider ShapeShifter and all of its cousins to be "dangerous hacks" - therefore, I don't use them.

What I would like is for Apple to offer some more user interface customizing options in the OS, such as using that great built-in color picker to choose custom colors for user interface elements.

 

[ipacmm]

I used it back in 10.3 but once I upgraded to 10.4 I just never went back to it.

 

[Flying Llama]

I use it, bought it. It can't harm anything system-wise because it changes things on the ram and on the fly, nothing is permanent. Your original files are there and in place in the system, just when you open a new app or login it uses the theme's resources instead of the ones in system, so it's 100% safe. I used it a lot on panther, though I didn't use any exagerated themes that got old. On tiger I switch back to aqua once in a while because I miss my unified toolbar look. I like shapeshifter.
Other places for themes? Of course! The ones shapeshifter offers you are just starters. There are a ton at resexcellence.com, maxthemes.com is nice, macthemes.com has good reviews and nice themes too. When shapeshifter get a way to apply the unified toolbar look I will use it pretty much always. And it doesn't cost that much, like $25 or something.
All up to you!

llama

 

[cleanup]

It's 20 bucks. I bought it. Here's a screenshot.



Btw, to the topic-starter: there are a lot of different sources for skins. Try the GUI Customization Forums at MacNN, or try http://www.macthemes.net, and http://www.maxthemes.com, and http://www.guikit.com, among others.

 

[eva01]

I don't because it makes everything take up way too much RAM

 

[Flying Llama]

I don't because it makes everything take up way too much RAM

Takes up 7mb of RAM on my system...

llama

 

[dubbz]

I've been trying the demo between various installations, but eventually stop using it because I worried it might take too much RAM (although judging by another post, it might not do so..)

I might have to try it out again so I can check out the very cool looking skin from the "How did he do this to the Finder?" thread. I'm a sucker for dark themes (although I'm also a fan of the Milk theme).

 

[ham_man]

It looks like it would be fun, but I am scared of screwing up my system and would rather have the 20 bucks that would cost go to something more useful, such as Tinkertool System or Candybar...

 

[ITASOR]

I like to use my system to the max. Looks are important to me, but who needs more looks than OS X? If all you want it looks, try XP.

I mean maybe it only takes 7MB RAM, but I could have a whole other program open using that 7MB RAM.

Noone, noone can tell me it works just as good as regular OS X (meaning graphic messups, etc.)

 

[Flying Llama]

Wait a minute, is the shapeshifter process aped? If so it's only using 1.23mb of RAM since I just updated.

llama

 

[eva01]

Takes up 7mb of RAM on my system...

llama

on mine it made my programs use double the amount of RAM they usually did

I had it installed Finder was taking up 40MB, i uninstall it finder goes down to 17

 

[Flying Llama]

[SNIP]

Noone, noone can tell me it works just as good as regular OS X (meaning graphic messups, etc.)

Actually, I can, if you download and apply a Tiger updated theme from a trusted source (the most trusted is usually maxthemes.com). I have never had a single graphics glitch or messup, wrong color of text or anything out of the ordinary with any maxthemes tiger approved theme, not to mention many others. Theming use to be worse, no longer the problem. The only problem I can think of no longer having the unified toolbar look.

llama

 

[Flying Llama]

on mine it made my programs use double the amount of RAM they usually did

I had it installed Finder was taking up 40MB, i uninstall it finder goes down to 17

Hmm, what version of shapeshifter were you using, and what theme? My finder is taking 18mb on my theme-applied system.

llama

 

[esXXI]

Just to shout in: Shapeshifter does not edit any of your system files - it redirects calls the resources file normally used to the theme's, and this only happens when an app is loaded (the slow down is negligible). It does not make the application run slower during use, use more RAM, etc.

I don't use it much myself, apart from testing because I do themes for it.

 

[homerjward]

after reading this thread i downloaded it (havent bought yet) and applied the "eylo" theme. looks realy nice and no noticeable slow down. seems like a great app!

 

[Flying Llama]

Just to shout in: Shapeshifter does not edit any of your system files - it redirects calls the resources file normally used to the theme's, and this only happens when an app is loaded (the slow down is negligible). It does not make the application run slower during use, use more RAM, etc.

I don't use it much myself, apart from testing because I do themes for it.

Thank you! At least someone understands...
And man I love your stuff! (guikits, desks etc)

llama

 

[eva01]

Hmm, what version of shapeshifter were you using, and what theme? My finder is taking 18mb on my theme-applied system.

llama

weird maybe the version i had was just buggy, it was the trial version :/ who knows maybe my computer just didn't like me for those days, but i never went back to it after that either.

 

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says...I do not use it...I actually like my OS X the way it is...too many of the themes out there are way too "loud" loooking and must get really tired on the eyes....why mess around with the system when I don't need to....oh yeah!

 

[ITASOR]

after reading this thread i downloaded it (havent bought yet) and applied the "eylo" theme. looks realy nice and no noticeable slow down. seems like a great app!

MAN! THAT'S UGLY. Sorry, but man, how could anyone use that and get any work done?

 

[nightdweller25]

I've had it for a while and didn't use when I installed Tiger, but a month ago I started using it again and it really rocks. This is my theme:

 

[Flying Llama]

You know guys (and gals ), you don't have to apply the theme desktop pic... you can use your own. I know, just checking, because it seems that every screenshot of a themes OSX uses the theme desktop.

llama

 

[zelmo]

Just to shout in: Shapeshifter does not edit any of your system files - it redirects calls the resources file normally used to the theme's, and this only happens when an app is loaded (the slow down is negligible). It does not make the application run slower during use, use more RAM, etc.

I don't use it much myself, apart from testing because I do themes for it.

Awesome. I really like Niqu. I can see that being in the rotation if I decide to purchase SS. You are very talented.