What's new in version 1.9? + support for PNG and alpha blending (not only in 2K/XP). + support for 32 bit icons with alpha channel. * taskbar border is removed (with disabled Autohide and enabled Lock taskbar option). * taskbar icons in Windows XP now have transparent background. + "native" shadows for text in Windows XP (optional). * fixed bug with reading ANK files. * fixed bug with drag'n'drop to the Quick launch plugin. + better support for multimedia keyboards. + improved autorun for CD/DVD in Windows 2K/XP, new autorun.plg plugin for Windows NT/9X/ME. + autostart is disabled while booting in safe mode. * improved work of context menu in the Main menu plugin. + new options for the notebook.plg: Print & PageSetup commands; user can set an icon for toolbar item. * fixed display/configuration bugs in the vert/top panel plugins. + new analog clock plugin with numerous advanced features like layered display, date display, new antialiased hands, shadows, "ghost mode", etc... (read plugin's documentation for more info). Theme Wizard: + Themes are now sorted by names. + Current Theme is highlighted. * Fixed bug with adding fonts. + AltDesk skin can be saved within Themes now. Aston Master: * fixed bug with negative coordinates in the plugin settings. + tooltips for all elements. + new features to save/load settings and skins of any standalone plugin. What's new in version 1.8.2? ! Significantly increase stability!!! (More bug fixes than you can shake giant baobab at ;). + New Shell Swapper: - New option: "Install the shell for All Users or for Current User only". - Shell Swapper can be used as the shell. - Aston startup modes (to protect Aston from errors that occur if Explorer or IE extensions are used). - Shell Swapper can restore system colors, cursors, icons etc when switching the shell. * Fixed: slow logoff in XP. + Added new plug-in "VertPanel". + Added new options: - "Autoload from registry" (enables/disables autoload from registry - now you don't have to hold down to prevent autoload). - "Loading an shell objects". + New "Icon offset" option (for toolbars). * New "find files" algorithm (more stable). * Fixed: GPF during "Recycle" if there is an open any plug-in menu. * Fixed: some tray icons are missed at startup. * Fixed errors in "TopPanel" plugin. * Some improvements in "TopPanel" plugin. * Fixed: zero divide error and CPU usage histogram errors in CPU95nt plug-in. + Some improvements for Zoom (now you can setup zoom screen refresh timer; it properly shows transparent apps in Win 2K/XP). + Some improvements for ClipView (it supports new formats - CF_OWNERDISPLAY, CF_HDROP (files); tooltip shows text when CF_TEXT format is available). + New significant features in Notebook (up to 7 sheets with changeable names, icons; password protection for each sheet (AES algorithm); read only mode). * New "Icon" option for Terminator2 plugin. * Fixed: memory leak error in QuickLaunch. * Fixed: memory leak error in DeskPanel; icons positions error. * Fixed: stretched wallpapers error in 256 colors screen mode. * Fixed: 3 GPF at Aston exit. * Fixed: toolbars disappear when fullscreen windows aren't open. * Fixed: sometimes Thwizard doesn't save toolbar caption properly. * Fixed: Thwizard doesn't save control panel icon properly. * Fixed: some A-master errors. * Fixed: user can't launch system folders in Win95 + Win98 (except SE). ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.8.1? * Fixed bug: the "Panel caption" option doesn't work. * Fixed bug with Y-position of toolbars. * Fixed bug in the "Element's editing" dialog. * Fixed bug with Theme Wizard with theme creation. * Fixed bug: smetimes a little CPU overloading. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.8? + Added: new advanced ANK format for animated icons!!! + Added anim files support. + A-Master's appearance changed. + Added new plug-in "TopPanel". + Added skins for toolbars' captions. + Added new options "Lock Taskbar". + Added context menu setup. + Added: font type setup for "Tip of the Day". + Added "Panel on the top" and "Smooth toolbar appearance" settings are can be different for different toolbars + In Win XP/2000, configuration files can be kept in ...\Documents and Settings\%UserName%\Application Data\Aston\ folder to support for local and roaming profiles. * Fixed bugs in SHDOCTOR. * Fixed bugs in "Quick launch" panel. * Fixed bug in "Setup tray icons" dialog. * Fixed bugs with Theme Wizard with theme creation. * Fixed bug in Main Menu. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.7? + Added: support for jpg files (directly, without converting to bmp). + Added: the "Setup tray icons" command. + Added: the "Task manager" command to context menu of taskbar (in Win NT/2000/XP). + Now you can drag'n'drop icons to the "Quick launch" panel. + Added: new "Hint format" option for the "Taskbar clock". * Fixed: disappearance of icons when change the screen mode. * Improved algorithm of wallpaper's stretching. * Fixed bug with the "PopupFolder" menu command. * Fixed bugs in "Quick launch" panel. * Fixed bug with non-rectangular shape of toolbars. * Fixed bug with copying of desktop elements. * Fixed: flickers applying the theme. + Added: tooltips in "Toolbar's setup" dialog. + Improved most of plug-ins. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.6.2? * Fixed bug: the "stretch skin" option doesn't work in the "Quick launch" panel. * Creation of shortcuts for the directories is improved. * Fixed bug: during loading, ..\windows\system folder pops up on the screen. + Added: the "Network connections" dialog in Win XP. * Fixed bug: invalid options cause a crash in the "Theme wizard". * Fixed bug with installation of the fonts from a theme in Win XP. * Fixed bug with extracting of an icon from the UPX-executable files. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.6? + Transparency for the menu, taskbar, toolbars in Win2k/XP. + New options for the main menu and tasbar. + Now, the "StayOnTop" option separate for taskbar and toolbars. * Fixed bugs with applications' autoload from the registry, the "RunOnceEx" key is now supported (important for IE setup and Windows Update). * Fixed bug with transparency in notebook. + New context menu for the desktop elements. * Fixed bug with "Computers' find" in Win NT4, Win98. * Fixed bug with "application toolbars" in Win XP. + Assigned font for the "tip of the day". * Fixed bugs with some applications: ZoneAlarm, 602 office, "multimedia keyboard" utility. * Fixed bug in "Popup folder" with long filename. + Added new utility SHDOCTOR, which can easy prevent "shell not found" problem in Win9x/ME. * Fixed bugs with Theme Wizard with theme creation and removal. + 256-colors video modes are now supported. + Now, "Recyle bin" icon renews automatically in Win 98, (and NT4, Win 95 with IE 4.0 or later). + Keyboard layout indicator is now supported XP. * Fixed bug: the taskbar covers up the portion of screen in "Half-Life". * Fixed bug with drag'n'drop in main menu setup. * Fixed bug with "Cut" - "Cancel" in setup. * Fixed bug with wallpapers' setup. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.5? + Added new powerful "Theme Wizard" (instead of "Theme Creator" and "Theme Manager"). + No 10 elements limitation in the trial version. + New nice interface, Win XP visual style. + Built-in themes are replaced. + Added new MenuEx.plg (instead of LsMenu & Menu97). + Added *.ICL-files support! + Added "Network Connection Status" support (Win 2000, XP). Rasmon.exe was removed. + The "Start" button can be in a three states. + Added the shadows for icon's text. + Users can create the own profiles. + Added new "Lock" option for the icons on desktop. * Fixed _nasty_ bug with icon's overlay image! + Added Windows icons customization. + New button "Edit tips.rc". + Added new commands: "Lock Workstation" ("Switch User" in XP), "Show/hide tray icons". + Added new menu commands: Popup Contol Panel, Popup Desktop. + Now Aston's setup will create the default theme, which can be used at uninstall. * Fixed bug: logon delay in Win XP. * Fixed bug in PrintMon. * Fixed several bugs in Shell Swapper. * Fixed bug with drag & drop on the desktop. * Fixed bug with icon's offset setup. * Fixed bug with hidden explorers in NT4. + Remaked nearly all the plug-ins, improved their functionality (especially, Quick Launch, Terminator, Mail Checker). * Fixed bug with the "Minimize all" button in the quick launch. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.4? + Support for Windows ME/XP added. + "Files find" dialog is able to call with Win ME/2000/XP. + "Computer search" dialog is able to call with Win ME/2000/XP. + "Fonts", "Network Neighborhood" and "Printers" folders are accessible with Win ME/2000/XP. * Some bug with tray icons fixed (Win XP). + Folders can be opened using Win ME/2000/XP command prompt. * Some bug with IE fullscreen fixed. + TaskManager's "Hide when minimized" option is now works with Win 2000/XP. + "Win" key now calls main menu (Win 2000/XP). + CPU monitor supports new AMD processors. + Options to turn off left/right toolbar added. + In Notebook plug-in: Ctrl+A hotkey added ("Select All"). + Recycle Bin, CD-DISK icons renews automatically (Win ME/2000/XP). ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.2.6? + Added command "Empty recycle bin" to context menu of recycle bin. * Fixed bug with Shell Swapper in Win ME. * Fixed bug with "Dialup Networking" dialog in Win2000. * Fixed bug with Audio CD autorun. * Fixed bug with selecting wallpapers in win2000 * Fixed bug with very long tooltips. + Improved setup of toolbars. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.2.5? + Added import explorer icons into Aston. + Added context menu for Start button. + Added context menu for Main Menu items (Win98,2000 only). + Added setting for icons offset in toolbars. * Fixed bug: taskbar over fullscreen apps. * Fixed bug with applications' autoload from registry. * Fixed bug in Main Menu with empty first item. * Changed algorithm of loading *.bmp (RLE4,8) files. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.2.4? + Added network connections monitor for Win2000. * Quick launch panel changed, so it resizes automatically depending to icons' quantity. * Fixed bug in Printmon. * Enhanced hotkey control. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.2.3? + Now, WIN key can be used in any hotkeys setting. * Fixed bug with toolbars appearance. * Fixed bug in "Wallpaper Changer" plug-in. * Changed plug-ins API format, please download new versions of all plug-ins. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.2.2? * Fixed bug with ICQ startup. * Found bug in Corel Draw (cause a crash) and we made patch for it. * Fixed bug with executing any *.html files from the local disks in Win2000. + Added support for Win2000 systray. * Changed user interface of Theme Creator. + CPU monitor supports more than one processor in WinNT/2000. + Added new plug-in - Wallpaper Changer. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.2.1? * Fixed bug with long filenames in plug-ins section. ------------------------------------ What's new in version 1.2? + Added: skin on Taskbar and Systray. + Added: partial support for *.scf files. + Added: support for "MacVision" shell. + Added: double click on taskbar clock show the dialog of adjusting the date and time. + Enhanced functional possibilities. + Enhanced support for DDE. + Vastly raised stability (added: explorer-like exception handler). + shswdos.exe - now works at quick computers. * Changed: algorithm of work with *.ani files (prevents from error on some video cards). + In themes possible to include *.jpg files as wallpaper. + In themes possible to include the plug-ins' configuration information, system colors and cursors.