We would still encourage everyone supporting our products, but in slightly different way.
So from the present moment free key candidate works evaluation would be done by a jury – Aston Review Team (A.R.T. or A.R.T. group).
Jury is headed by Gladiators Software
Advisor team consists of:
Maksim Kolesnikov (aka McSIMM)
Nikita Evgenov (aka Smanic)
Daron L. Olesch-Williams (aka The PC_Mechanic)
Taras Brizitsky (aka SacRat)
Roman Osadchy
Work examination process would be the following:
Competitor for a free key submits a theme to our site and checks a special field in submit form.
Jury members examine it, share their opinions, rate the work and create a small summary.
Gladiators Software members finally decide if work really deserves a free key or not.
Free key is sent to a person; otherwise he gets comments about what he/she should do/change in order to make his theme get the key.
Those themes, which brought their creators free registration keys for their quality are marked with a special symbol (key).
This way any competitor theme would get an objective evaluation and its author will get a response about quality of his works. This is especially important to beginners, as many works are left without comments.
Which theme deserves a free key and which is not? First of all it must be interesting i.e. have certain artistic value, be an expression of its author’s original idea. And, surely, this work must be done on a high technical level. Permissive waste in graphics is not permitted.
Don’t hurry! Anyway, most of you will get free keys sooner or later (or won’t get at all, - depends on Gladiators :))
It's possible to use 3rd party wallpapers, creating ports etc., but only from the original authors' permission! Information about original author (name/alias and contact URL/e-mail) must be placed in theme description. It's also allowed to place permission text in readme.txt. Using any elements from other Aston themes is prohibited.
Each theme MUST have: -Wallpaper -Both Toolbar skins -Start button and Main Menu skins -Quick Launch skin -Taskbar and System Tray (all states and elements) skins -Toppanel plugin skin
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: -Original Cursors -System Icons -Skins for all plugins -Desktop icons
RECOMMENDED: -ANK and ANI animation -Support for multiple resolutions
2 Veratil: Yep. Yuo can get the free key for making a good plugin
Date:09.04.2003 Name: Rate:7
Can I Have the registration key too? This web is Very Cool (me & my friends said) =) Good Work Aston Team =)
Date:09.06.2003 Name: Rate:
doesn't making a theme require an installed version of aston shell already? tried the demo and it timed out (after 30 days?) and could no longer use it. so, then, how does one go about making themes without the shell? thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated. thank you.
Date:09.06.2003 Name:nerio Rate:
am ok with ric .....my shell doesn't work properly then the result was that i can't make any theme!!!! or at least config it correctly...... could you find the solution?????:(
Date:09.06.2003 Name: Rate:
i created a theme hoping i might get a free key but i didn't even get an email :(
Date:09.08.2003 Name: Rate:10
No comment.It is fine!
Date:09.09.2003 Name:AlphaOmega Rate:
Well, i ordered mine, typed in the key. It asked me to log off and then when I logged back on it asked me to register????
Date:09.11.2003 Name: Rate:
2 AlphaOmega: email to support@astonshell.com 2 Other: 30 days are quite enough for making a theme
Date:09.12.2003 Name: Rate:2
Everything is cool but one thing...NO ACTIVE DESKTOP....that the only reason im not buying this program, thats the reason, im not wasting my time with it. Thats my opinion an it wont change....some of you like it....dont tell me why the actuve desktop its not important...because it is...Everybody has the right to their own opinion!!!!!!!!!
Date:09.16.2003 Name:hijinx Rate:
MoG, Active Desktop is part of the Explorer shell (Windows default shell). Aston, among many others is a REPLACMENT SHELL.
No replacement shell will provide you with Active destop if it is the active shell.
If you want to skin the Explorer shell, find a program that will do that.
Most ppl I know find Active Desktop a resource hogging, in your face pain in the arse. But if you like it fine that is for you.
Now, go yell at the Linux ppl for having the nerve to create an OS that won't run your favorite windows proggie.
Date:09.17.2003 Name: Rate:9
I'm using Aston. I cracked it, but didn't spread, coz I really liked that proggy (only desktop proggy that I liked in windoze). I wanted to support the company (indeed not spreading pirated copy is well enough support anyways..) so wanted to buy. But heck, this really does not worth 30 bucks. but maybe 20 or 10 bucks.. for such a guy w/ limited budget. Anyways, just want to say that put a paypal accont so ppl like me can support it .
Date:09.18.2003 Name:ric Rate:
smanic - 30 days may be enough time to create a theme. however, if aston was previewed before this policy took place and the 30 days had expired, one is up a creek without a paddle. because an uninstall/reinstall aston thinks you've already used your 30 days. understandable; however, can no longer run aston demo as 30 days had expired. oh well, there are other worthy 'free' shells out there. peace and well wishes.
Date:09.18.2003 Name:moo! Rate:
I could still test out themes (making one atm) when Aston was over its time limit, the "Register" dialog box was just continually open. No big problem, but it would get in the way for regular use I assume :P
Date:09.19.2003 Name: Rate:
2 ric and others: We can make a favor! Send us your drafts and if you're really going to make theme you'll get your free key!
Date:09.30.2003 Name: Rate:
I will try my hardest to get a theme finished based on MEDAL OF HONOR. And Call Of Duty. So I can get a free key, hehe.
Date:10.04.2003 Name: Rate:1
My, my, we have more tight-fisted, would-be users commenting here than you could shake an aston theme at.
Go boil you're heads children, either that or cough up the dosh - good grief, you'd think Gladiators Software was a registered charity...
Date:10.05.2003 Name:danilloOc Rate:10
great way to elevate the product ;)
Date:10.07.2003 Name:rags Rate:10
Just surfing the web and ran into Aston. This is the best thing I have seen for Windows Xp. I love the fact, that I don't have to be restricted to the orginal crap that comes on the computer when you buy it. Very impressed with the people who create the theme's and the time and effort put into making them. I am looking fwd to seeing how much more this takes off.
Date:03.28.2004 Name:LameMaster Rate:
recently I created I theme but I didn't get a free key, my guess is that the theme wasn't good enough. Now I'm creating a new one that should be slightly better then the first one
I wana free key :D
Date:05.11.2004 Name: Rate:
I want a key for my aston desktop now!!! this is a powerfull program please very good work
Date:03.25.2005 Name: Rate:10
Hi, i´m nick and i like aston so much and please please please give me one key, because i love aston really and i woult create my desktop. please please please please please please please give me one key. Greetings to the aston team!!!!!!!!
