Windows Desktop Customization: HOW DO YOU DO THIS?

I am seeing some really nice date/time/weather/system tool information sitting RIGHT ON the desktop. It looks like is embedded on he desktop. Looks VERY nice. I would like to know how to do this? Whether its an application, theme, widget, or something. I am running Windows XP, not sure if its a Vista compatable thing only.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I used the search function and I am either blind or retarded. I also search pages upon pages in the "Show off your Vista or XP Desktop" thread.

Here are some examples of what I am trying to do:

 

That's normally a Windows Vista thing only, however, there are a number of sites that provide downloads for a Windows XP version of Vista's sidebar. Just do a search on sidebar for Windows XP. You should find something.

 

i think the programs used works with xp as well.. not sure tho.
the programs are:
1) Rainmeter
2) Rainlender
3) ObjectDock Plus

Only thing is... is that u might not be able to do the transparency effect.

All you need to do is download those programs (most are free, except objectdock but they have a free version) then go to sites like deviantart or wincustomize to download the skins / themes you want. Not hard, might take some time but i enjoy doing it =P

 

I have the Google Desktop Sidebar and ObjectDock downloaded. I am just curious about the time/date/weather/system infomation programs that site RIGHT ON the wallpaper that are transparent.

 

I second those except the free edition of objectdock is good enough and don't forget AveDesk: http://www.avedesk.org/

Yahoo widgets and rocketdock are also pretty good.

 

rainmeter with customizations found on deviantart.

 

the second shot is EMERGEDESKTOP .. an alternate shell

 

actually no =P the second shot is my desktop and i did not use EMERGEDESKTOP. Its just objectdock plus with customized text icons and removed the startbar.
Might start experimenting with EMERGEDESKTOP tho =]

 

hey whats the one for weather? and can anyone help me find a uxtheme patcher for sp3? i got xp pro w/ sp3

EDIT* i have rainlender

 

the one for the weather is the H.U.D skin for rainmeter

 

wait do i have rainmeter if i have rainlender? sorry im a noob

EDIT*

nvm i figured out everything

 

Thanks for everyone's help. I ended up coming up with this:

 

nice billiton~!
oh btw if u want im sure u can up the transparency on ur objectdock so u wont see the toolbar at all =P

 

Thanks man, but I like having a little hint of the background haha!

 

anyone using the picture.browser+wallpapers? im having trouble do that

 

question for jeffy (or whoever else who knows)... what is the thing on the lower right hand corner displaying cpu/gpu/hd temps? thats something im looking for.

 

i thought you could only do that in vista, it's cool

 

In the very 1st post of this thread, how do you get your desktop to look the 1st picture?

 

didnt someone say it before? its objectdock, rainlendar and rainmeter. although i dont know about docks so it could be rocketdock or something...

 

Hmmmm... I have them, but my desktop just doesn't look as good

 

Its Rainmeter. There are lots of skins and mods for rainmeter available to DL from wincustomize / deviate art and such. Many of them will have configs to show cpu usage / ram usage / hd space / etc

 

does rainmeter come with a plugin to read gpu temps, or does it use a 3rd party app like everest or gpu-z?

 

jeffyjai: your desktop is really nice. nice wallpaper and the thingy that's in the middle...what is that?
ooh i realised ur clock is on the window on the wallpaper..how did u do all that?

 

How much system resources does rainmeter use?

 

My Rainmeter is currently using 10mb of memory and less than 1% of total CPU usage.

 

when you run a rainmeter script you can just click on it and move it around. so you run that clock script and just move it to the window, then it should automatically always open there again

 

Does anybody have the exact name os the vista visual style, icons and railmeter theme used in the third screenshot? They are are fresh.

 

also anyone knows the dock theme for the 2nd and 3rd pics ?

 

oh yeah.. i forgot about that. lol thanks!

 

Lol, someone reppin' my Forum Name on wallpaper ;]

TMAC ftw.

 

Here you go

I didn't use any theme, just the icons only

 

I prefer satin remix. Looks better.

 

but how do u get the icons to open up vertically niGht kiD?like in the 2nd pic

 

That's Stacks Docklet