June, and almost half the year is gone. Where does it go?

Anyhow, I sort of let the cat out of the cellophane bag a few days ago...my desktop is pretty similar to what it was, just a bit simpler.

Using OD3 with Giz's Acrylic docks for OD2 (https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/objectdock_backgrounds/82/}

Wallpaper by adni18 (adni18_0100_48) sligntly modded by me.

Here ya go...

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance" - Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 2, 4.

Our friend BigDogBigFeet...Dennis...just lost his wife, Sarah.

They found each other later in life, but had some time in the sun. Yesterday, he found her at home in extremis, in heart and lung failure with seizures and a blood sugar of 30. An ambulance brought her to the ICU, but her Doctors couldn't help. Her family was summoned.

Her suffering was brief and it was treated, thankfully.

Dennis, thank you for turning to me. I know you are not as well as I and all your friends wish you were. Thank you for being part of us all, our community. You've given of yourself to the community for years.

Now it's our turn to sustain you.

Windows has bloatware. Lots of it, too. That's no secret. Because of it, W11 is slower than it could/should be without it.

"Winhance 5 (the latest version) allows you access to install or uninstall software which comes packaged with the OS: Edge, Recall, OneDrive, CoPilot as well as the ability to install other apps and packages directly from the app. You can choose from the Browsers, utilities, document viewers, and basically anything you want to install/manage or uninstall from the system you’re using, and if you reinstall your OS, not having to go through it all again as your preferences are saved (there's a portion of the video below which shows how). Moreover, it prevents MS from reinstalling stuff you don’t want in updates and patches. Best? it's free.

Along with all of the above, it gives you optimization tools, access to Windows security settings, privacy controls performance and gaming tweaks, update management, power settings as well as optimizations for Explorer, notifications and sounds.

It also lets you customize theme selection, taskbar adjustments, Start menu settings and more.

It only works on 64 bit versions of Windows 11, and the long term servicing channel versions of W10. It's downloadable from Github, or as an msi from Winhance.net " - Brian  Burgess, https://www.xda-developers.com/winhance-customization-optimization-tool-windows-11/

Here’s a video from the dev that explains it all far better than I: What’s new, what it does, etc.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVCaxNDQYs4[/video]

One word of caution, though...brought to you by a fellow whose computer knowledge I regard highly (I like Noah better, though [e digicons];)[/e] ) , Jorge Coelho (JcRabbit) the owner and mantainer of WinStep:

“Seems pretty useful from what I've seen so far... however, there is one reason I tend not to use apps/scripts that disable stuff/debloat Windows, usually you end up having issues with Windows updates later on, which are expecting some features to be enabled by default and croak if they're not. And when that happens it is VERY DIFFICULT to diagnose the cause.“

So in summary, Don't do anything irreversible without having a backup (system and registry) you can restore from.

Have yourselves a great weekend, and remember those in uniform and civilian protectors of America who make that possible!  [e digicons]:sun:[/e]  

Happy May! Spring is sprung...a simple desktop, with blues and greens.

My desktop is Atlantis by adni18, port to Winstep (by the late Master Giz) of Dani's Acrylic 7's docks, wallpaper from Apple Monterey (green mode).

March is upon us and new desktop screenies are in order!

I'm continuing with don5318's Dark Rogue blind, and Red's port of it to Winstep. The wall is from Alpha Coders and its number is 198951, alas no link. It's recolored, anyway...the Dark Rogue ship in a space port.

All I can say is...if only. See the linked article for W11 2025 and abdi's other OS animations.

Abdi is famous for his graphics and animations of "If only MS let it's Art Department determine things...". But, it didn't, or hasn't and we got the mediocre pablum that we have. Worse? It prevents skinning to improve it.

[video]https://youtu.be/6N6R9HVvilg[/video]

I ran into a rather knotty problem when trying to import RnD's port of 2of3's WB "Endeavour" docks into Winstep Extreme.

Luckily for me (maybe not so lucky for Jorge), I was able to catch him on IM and work through this and a problem my weather module had connecting as it turns out due to Bitdefender. Thank you, my friend. [e digicons]k6[/e]  

Turns out, the only way I can get the WSX Preferences Theme Import to work that is, to open the Windows File Manager is by changing to the default W11 skin. I don't think Start11 is at all involved in this.

My current W11 is 24H2 build 26100.3194 from a recent update KB5051987 on 2/12/25. My Winstep Extreme is 24.4 and my WB is 11.02 (017 x64 - Windows 11 Edition). My Start11 is Version 2.51.

I'd supply screenies, but I don't think they'd add anything.

There’s a new browser concept in town: How it can help you to concentrate, work, and de-stress. Opera conducted a survey and found:

58% of participants said they sometimes feel overwhelmed or stressed while browsing the web.

83% of all respondents said they would like it if their web browser made them feel better as they went about their day.

70% of respondents said that browsing the web on their computer (laptop or PC) is less distracting than browsing on their phone.

73% reported that a simplified, decluttered desktop browser interface would help them feel more relaxed as they browse.

75% said they would be interested in a browser that helps them relax through science-based techniques.

64% said that they would find it useful if their browser prompted them to take breaks while they work or browse.  - XDA Developers

So, Opera saw an opportunity and developed what (to me, at least) is a very relaxing browser. It has the usual Opera layout, but the sidebar has new features: Boosts. These are music tracks and sounds designed to boost (hence the name) Beta or Theta brain waves, improve cognition, concentration, relaxation...etc. You really should give it a whirl. After all, what's to lose here?  

And if you think it's for wusses, they even give you the Box method of stress and blood pressure reduction used by the U.S. Navy SEALS.

So, if you're interested, head over to the Opera website learn about it and download it. Setting up the browser is fast and easy.

So, hands high...who knew Microsoft Defender had a VPN included? Well, whether you knew or not, you only have another 24 days to use it before they remove it.

In fact, it’s only because they’re removing it that I found an article telling me I had it!

So, why are they removing it? My guess is as good as yours, but it might be because folks weren’t using it...d’oh...of course they weren’t: No one knew it was there and MS never bothered to tell us!

Btw, VPNs are a good thing as they maintain your privacy and security (vis. financial transactions) for those too shy to ask.

Here's a link to those VPNs XDA maintains are the best:

https://www.xda-developers.com/best-vpn/

The month for desktops devoted to the subject of love. Actually, you can devote your desktops to what you will...just post 'em! Mine is for my love of coffee and skinning!

Havana by vStyler, Winstep port of Havana by WebGizmos and wallpaper by me, AI and Ps: