Sunday, January 13, 2008

Vista Transformation

If you've been dreaming to have Windows Vista installed on your computer but your hardware doesn't meet the minimum requirement, there is a program that will transform your GUI to look like Vista. Everyone will never notice it's the same old XP(or2003).

Features

Vista Transformation Pack will replace many of the resources in Windows XP/Windows Server 2003. It can change such things as:

  • Boot screen
  • Welcome Screen / Logon Screen
  • New msstyles files (visual styles)
  • New desktop and file icons
  • New toolbar icons
  • Progress Dialogs
  • Sounds scheme
  • System Tray icons
  • New Wallpapers
  • Windows Media Player Skins
  • And much more

Changes in Version 8.0.1

-Fixed pre-configuration specifications to improve performance (Removed unstable applications from list)
-Fixed TrueTransparency’s stability (some settings in skin causing input hook problems)
-Fixed Visualtooltip configuration when user accidently deletes the configuration files in there
-Removed backup files’ status and put CPU model instead (obsolete checking)
-Updated system files’ status report to “Out of sync” and repairing system files information
-Updated user account configuration system for more subtle performance

Changes in Version 8.0

-Added CPU Speed information in Welcome Center
-Added saving setup information file to save setup configuration for later uses with unattended transformation support
-Added installation background
-Added “System optimized” in Setup Configuration to configure the user account corresponding to machine’s spec
-Added TrueTransparency 0.8.5 (Glass border with ported AeroStyle skin)
-Added WinFlip 0.42 (Vista 3DFlip)
-Fixed KB925902 hotfix issues with file processing animation
-Fixed Media Center program execution error
-Fixed rebuilding icon cache bug on non-current users during the processes
-Fixed Styler’s installation checking bug (always set toolbar to styler mode when possible)
-Fixed failing to apply Vista screensaver
-Fixed program name in Add/Remove Programs
-Fixed subscribing Windows X’s shrine to be default homepage bug in Welcome Center
-Fixed visualtooltip’s advanced configuration bug
-Fixed WindowBlinds 6 skin installation compatibility
-Moved hotfix warning to user guide file to prevent confusion
-Re-arranged welcome dialog for richer information
-Replaced Extras in Welcome Center with Community link to forum
-Removed configuring user account’s status report
-Removed obsolete dialogs (WindowBlinds warning, Before transformation, Donation, FAQ and Q&A)
-Removed Vista Live Messenger 8.1 skin
-Updated Setup Configuration in Welcome Center to cover on everything
-Updated setup transformation to pre-configure current user account before finishing the transformation
-Updated theming engine configuration
-Updated Vista Sidebar to version 2.3 Lite
-Updated Vista Sidebar user account configuration in Welcome Center
-Updated ViStart to build 2661
-Updated ViOrb to version 2.0
-Updated VisualTooltip to version 2.2
-Updated Welcome Center to pre-configure user account with system optimized option on the first run in that user account

Screenshots

Setup’s user interface with saving setup information for later use feature

Vista Transformation Pack - Express Mode (Simplify the transformation in single page)

Boot Screen

Logon Screen

Desktop Screenshot (Yeah…not WindowBlinds)

Vista Transformation Pack - Welcome Center (Refined Maintenance Center)

Vista Transformation Pack - Configure User Account (Personalise Vista experiences’ per-user configuration)

3DFlip (Rendered by WinFlip)

Download

Source: http://www.windowsxlive.net/?page_id=15

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Let's talk healthy with PAPA GEORGE



Can a laugh every day keep the heart attack away? Maybe so.

Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to a recent study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The study, which is the first to indicate that laughter may help prevent heart disease, found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease.

"The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart," says Michael Miller, M.D., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

"We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. Thiscan cause a series of inflammatory reactions that l lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack." Miller said that the most significant study finding was that "people with heart disease responded less humorously to everyday life situations." They generally laughed less, even in positive situations, and they displayed more anger and hostility.

"The ability to laugh -- either naturally or as learned behavior -- may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer," says Miller. "We know that exercising, not smoking and eating foods low in saturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease. Perhaps regular, hearty laughter should be added to the list." Miller says it may be possible to incorporate laughter into our daily activities, just as we do with other heart-healthy activities, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. "We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously,"

Miller says. "The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day." - By Michelle W. Murray





"Why it's good to laugh?"
  • Laugh because it strengthens your soul.

  • Laugh to heal.

  • Laugh simply because life isn't always meant to be constant drama, 24-7.

  • Laugh at yourself. Everyone needs to.

  • Laugh at bloopers.

  • Laugh at someone else's laugh.

  • Laugh when the stress gets so bad, and things spiral out of control. You may wonder what's next, and something may be headed your way, but for a brief moment, a good laugh is a relief. and something may be headed your way, but for a brief moment, a good laugh is a relief.

  • Laugh because that's another way of thanking someone for the gift they've given you.

  • Laugh at weirdness.

  • Laugh at stupidity.

  • Laugh at inappropriate things. It's healthy to take a walk on the wild side and get a laugh from Chris Rock, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, old Eddie Murphy standup routines.

  • Laugh at things that you shouldn't laugh at as an adult. For guys, it's simple. Farts never get old.

  • Laugh at children and the innocent, silly things they say.

  • Laugh because sometimes there's nothing like the feeling of going into hysterics, having snot bubbles come out your nose and your head start throbbing that it feels like an intense headache has developed.

  • Laugh because as a human we were given this trait. And it would be a waste if it wasn't put to use.