The Best of Both Phone, and TabletCNET Editors' review
In the pre-OS X days, Kaleidoscope reinvented the Mac interface by changing its entire look and feel. Now ShapeShifter has picked the lock on Apple's Aqua interface. You can easily activate and preview themes through a control panel in the system preferences. The 2.x series improved how themes were installed and downloaded, finally making it easy for the average user. It also addressed some of the minor quirks in the way ShapeShifter handles Aqua's graphical inconsistencies. The results are breathtaking, and the available themes are stunning. Several third-party and individual sites offer even more themes. We recommend ShapeShifter, the new Kaleidoscope, for anyone looking to spruce up the OS X interface.Publisher's Description
From Unsanity:
ShapeShifter is a revolutionary new product that lets you change the overall appearance of your Mac using 'themes'. We're not talking about just desktop backgrounds and icons here, we're talking about everything - the look of windows, menus, apps, buttons, absolutely everything. You don't wear the same clothes everyday, your house doesn't look exactly like your neighbor's - why should the computing interface you use everyday be any different. You personalize your physical workspace to suit your tastes and whims, so why not your Mac?
With ShapeShifter, you can:
- Change the overall appearance of your operating system safely, quickly, and reliably;
- Change the appearance of individual apps to match your theme and your mood;
- Experience things that haven't been possible with Mac themes before;
- Quickly preview themes without actually applying them;
- Use Panther themes in Tiger effortlessly;
- Install different themes for different users;
- Add and remove themes effortlessly.
What's new in this version:
- Compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger".
- Added a Spotlight metadata importer for guiKit files.
- Added ability for themes to skin the sidebar in Tiger's Mail.app.
- Added ability for themes to skin the Dock (Panther and newer only).
- Pretty new installer.
- Resolved issues with themes that use custom 'layo' resources.
- Resolved an issue that made the title of the Apple Menu look odd in themes that use menubar transparency (Tiger only).
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 87 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"TRYING TO TRASH IT ON 10.6.8"
Version: ShapeShifter 2.5
Pros
I Am trying to trash it but the DEveloper ignores my eMails and the uninstall/installer crashes on launch
Cons
AS Above this ting doesn't work on 10.6.8 and I can't trash it.
Summary
Please if anyone can help let me know.
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"GOD AWFUL !"
Version: ShapeShifter 2.5
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Look, these guys have been trying to make this work since the beginning. It crashes, it doesn't work, it NEVER worked. I bought the first versions when I started in OSX and after being the free beta tester for this horrid little program I finally gave up. So here I come back to see if it's improved , well , I don't have my password , that was when I had another email, so I write them, not a word. Their stupid password recovery system is based on the email you had back then WHICH YOU PROBABLY DONT HAVE !
Think I'm going to pay again for what ended up being a reason to do a complete reinstall ? H E double hockey sticks no ! Lousy crashmaster program that isn't supported ! Dump that junk ! -
"wy not for 10.5"
Version: ShapeShifter 2.5
Pros
**** **** ****
Cons
no no no no
Summary
not uppdated for 10.5
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"Works Fine For Me..."
Version: ShapeShifter 2.5
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I've got an Intel-based machine, and Safari 3 beta now sports the theme. All is well here... -
"Shapeshifter screwed up everything"
Version: ShapeShifter 2.5
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I installed Shapeshifter 2.5 (registered) onto my MacPro and rebooted. Then everytime I tried opening ANY PROGRAM that program would fail to open and I'd get a window asking if I want to report the crash. Tossing the Shapeshifter APE in the trash solved my problem. Shapeshifter 2.5 will remain in the trash until this is fixed. -
"Shapeshifter 2.5 makes system unusable"
Version: ShapeShifter 2.5
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
ShapeShifter 2.5 totally screwed up my system to the point where no program could be opened at all. I had to toss SS 2.5 from the APE enabled to the APE disabled folder and restarting. Binned SS2.5 and waiting for 2.6. -
"Shapeshifter is a Great way to change the GUI of..."
Version: ShapeShifter 2.5
Summary
...the OS
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
No problem using it but I have PPC on all my Macs not Intel. I have never needed the developer for anything so I guess I understand the frustation of some of the guys here. -
"Works Kinda"
Version: ShapeShifter 2.4
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Anyone have a license they want to sell? Not quite sure this is worth $20 and I know a lot of people got this as part of the package... adam (at) allenhub.com -
"eh...big deal"
Version: ShapeShifter 2.4
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Got this program through the MacHeist application donation sale.
Wasn't too impressed with this application/haxie. Didn't like that after applying the theme part of the menu bar (by the time) was still in the original Aqua theme while the rest of it was in the applied theme.
What really cause me to give this app such low marks was the uninstall process which didn't work, button grayed out. I manually had to uninstall all the parts (including APE which by the way is a big memory hog). If you going to include an uninstall part of your install process make sure it works, or just don't include it. -
"One of my top apps"
Version: ShapeShifter 2.4
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I'm a gui tweak-freak and I LOVE to change my themes. Shapeshifter has always worked well and allows me to change themes easily and securly. I've never seen a slowdown and have had none of the problems mentioned below. For me, it just works.
There are some problems that are not ShapeShifters fault such as old carbon apps that don't theme well (like BBEdit) and then there is the relative lack of original and sophisicated themes. In fact, there are only a handful of truly usable themes. So many of them are simply derivative of each other and few have the usability I require to use. But, all it takes is one great theme to remake your mac and make it feel 'new' again.
Great application!
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