Rainmeter
A desktop customization platform that allows you to enhance your windows desktop using skins which can be fully customized and moved to provide you with information where you want it. Rainmeter skins can do things like watch system resources, show emails, RSS feeds, weather, the time, lists, launch programs or even make tweets.
Getting it
You can download Rainmeter from here. To install Rainmeter it's a simple issue of clicking the executable and going through with the install wizard, simple.
Skins
Skins can be found all over the internet and the program comes with a few skins already but a good place to go to find skins is Customize.org. Just give the skins a browse and download the ones you take a fancy to.
Modifying skins
It is easy enough to modify the skins just by clicking the edit button. You will then be presented with a text document which is fairly easy to follow if you want to make some minor adjustments to the skin.
My desktop
On my desktop I have used only Simple Sentence Three, available here on Deviant Art.
I used to have a lot more complex skins which I had modified myself but just a short while ago I decided to stick to something a bit simpler, and it looks better thanks to it.
Final plug
So go ahead and install Rainmeter, it's simple and makes a desktop look really beautiful. It simply adds itself to start up, if you wish, and a small raindrop icon in the notification area. Also worth mentioning, which Mike just commented about, it is definitely not a resource hog. Give it a shot.
Great program. Too bad I never use RSS feeds even though I always have the option readily available!
ReplyDeleteMan, I have a Mac so I don't know if this will work. I'll try it out though. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSad to say Wumbo it doesn't work on Mac and I don't think the alternates are quite as good. Give it a google search though and you might find something similar that you like.
ReplyDeleteThanks for informing that a app like this exist. Going to mess with it now.
ReplyDeleteSick desktop!! Gonna give it a shot for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt looks awesome to bad i use Windows XP :D
ReplyDelete@Boris It's fully XP compatible mate, I used to use it before I upgraded to Windows 7
ReplyDelete@MKD thanks mate :)
It's freeware, isn't it? Maybe I will check it out later. Any cool features for dual monitoring?
ReplyDelete@Parallel, it is freeware correct. In regards to dual monitoring do you mean having two monitors? In that case it's very useful because you can place the scripts anywhere on the desktop. I used to have a clock always showing on my secondary monitor along with some other information, very convenient.
ReplyDeleteOh yes - I can certainly 100% recommend Rainmeter ;)
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't checked it out already, you definitely should. Makes everything a lot cleaner, and isn't a resource hog
Nice post :)
Pretty good if you want to have unnecessary gadgets all over, like how much your hdd works. The clock and that stuff is great though.
ReplyDelete@ Wumbo:
ReplyDeleteTry geektool for mac, not quite as good or easy to use as rainmetre but the mac equivalent
this is insane wow
ReplyDeleteWow I was looking for somthing like this! I'm so downloading this, thanks
ReplyDeleteso it looks like a fully functional desktop where you can interact with various websites, while looking nice too. damn, if my computer was powerful enough i'd do that in a second.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know what adiaphoros, it doesn't even take a powerful computer. Rainmeter currently using 4.5MB of ram, 0% CPU.
ReplyDeletegood post! Following you
ReplyDeleteDownloading right now!
ReplyDeleteThat has to be one of the coolest desktops I have seen in a while. Thanks for the tip off!
ReplyDeleteThat is actually pretty nice!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good gadget. And the skins definitely sound appealing. I wish my desktop was running because my laptop couldn't handle it.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this about quite a bit, its nice to have that level of control over your desktop
ReplyDeleteThis is actually pretty awesome
ReplyDeletegonna try it out
ReplyDeleteI use it, but only the Dock .. and I haven't really modified it .. using the raw version. It's pretty awesome, but I'm too lazy to customize it
ReplyDeletereally interesting, good post
ReplyDeleteholy shit that's amazing!
ReplyDeleteOh man, I love this program. I never installed it on my new computer because I didn't want it to drain cpu. But I actually have no idea how much memory it uses :)
ReplyDeleteWill be following
Never heard about rainmeter, it is a free app I hope... really great. I have the same old desktop costumization for too long, in need for some change here. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteRainmeter is the bomb, I use it for my desktop and change it every so often.
ReplyDeleteRainmeters are pretty cool. I used to have one for my old computer and it never occurred to me to get a new one. I should consider doing that now.
ReplyDeletelooks like a solid program
ReplyDeleterainmeter is nice, I am using it also
ReplyDeleteI had it but got rid of it. I prefer my gadgets and having an animated wallpaper at times. If I had a touchscreen I might reconsider.
ReplyDelete~H. Coct
ooohhh cools my roomy has it.
ReplyDeleteThis is and will always be the best windows customization tool.
ReplyDeleteahh i was tryin to hunt this down the other week.. thanks a bunch
ReplyDeleteIs there a mac version?
ReplyDelete@Endless, I'm afraid there isn't. Geektool is the closest thing to it for a mac but it's nowhere near as good.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what your post is about and what rain you are talking about, but I just adore Byousoku 5cm!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great anime, such a great wallp
@Dootzkie, Oh man yes, an amazing anime indeed, so many terrific scenes for wallpapers. I think I could just go through and take a screenshot every 5 seconds and get tonnes of great walls :3
ReplyDeleteI use Rainmeter atm, it's an amazing desktop customization tool!
ReplyDelete