iStyle - March 21, 2004
Author: COTL GUI Studio
Version: 1.0
Reviewed by: Phillip Ryu
User Rating: 
62%
COTL has already made a name for itself with the popular and well received AquaPro. Now, it's interpretation of Apple's consumer line of hardware cements this themer's reputation as one of the upcoming greats. It's the theme for your iLife.
Aesthetics
iStyle's design is based heavily on Apple's consumer line, and the iMac and iPod seem to be the main sources of inspiration. Windows and menubars imitate the iMac's white plastic, and buttons and scrollbars are a shiny chrome. In fact, most of the elements look convincingly real, thanks to consistent lighting and great artistry. Scrollbars fit very snugly into either ends (though I'm not sure if they're quite chrome), and the buttons look pressed when selected, which, believe it or not, is often not the case. Realistically pressed, and definitely not a failed rendering, or just a color shift. One minor issue, however, are inactive widgets. For some reason, they are darker and more pronounced than when active, which is rather nonstandard behavior, and a bit confusing. However, whether intentional or not, they do not detract much from the theme's aesthetics.
iStyle is generally colorless, and this works well in both concept and execution. The simple white and silver aesthetics are definitely not boring. However, the very few instances of color that do show up stick out rather ungracefully. The two major examples is the battery menu widget and window close widget in unsaved documents. Primary colors simply feel out of place in iStyle, especially bright reds.
Finally, the menubar. While the menubar by itself is perfectly satisfactory, including the little chrome Apple, open and selected menus are not. Instead of the expected chrome for menu selections, COTL uses flat grey, and I don't understand why. I highly recommend that the artist promote consistency within this theme by using chrome menu selections. Other than that, the aesthetics are in good taste, and definitely well done.
Usability
Thanks to the conservative greys and whites of iStyle, the theme is very usable. Even Aqua designed elements don't look too out of place, which is unfortunately always a factor in judging usability. Another potential problem of too much brightness is skirted neatly here, as the whites are actually very light greys, and elements sharp chrome that stands out effectively. For a theme that could use some improvement in this regard, see Milk.
One definite flaw, however, are the push buttons. Unfortunately, the sharp shadows and grey of chrome results in some loss of readability with these buttons. Of course, the text is still readable, but it takes a second look.
Extras
As one of the first themes to take advantage of ShapeShifter's new application skins, iStyle's extras deserve some attention. Now, with a single click of the "apply" button, users are welcomed with a fully skinned Safari, iChat, and iTunes. Mostly, this means chrome buttons instead of plastic ones, but this helps tremendously in the whole experience, and the effort is greatly appreciated. One question: why is iTunes grey?
There are also several desktops included. Two are pretty standard, one with a stylized Apple logo, the other with the Panther X, but both are designed for widescreens, and additional versions are requested for no- widescreen users. Most interesting is a collection of "iPod Silhouette" inspired desktops, designed for user with OS X's animated desktop feature. While nothing really changes (no cool dancing animations), users can have seamlessly changing colors, which is a nice addition.
Conclusion
iStyle is another fine COTL offering, and one that I am sure many users will enjoy, for it's simplicity, usability, and polished aesthetics. While a few issues remain, most that are quite negligible, iStyle is quite a polished product. The only thing I could ask for are a few more application skins in the future, and perhaps several more desktops. I recommend Snow.E and World of Aqua Drives as complementary icon sets, though Apple's own match quite well.
Comments
Posted by argus at March 22, 2004 04:57 AM | Edit | Delete
Very fine theme. Nuff said, this theme speaks for itself.
I do agree with the reviewer about the menus. They seem well not quite part of the theme. I don't know if chromalizing (new word) them is the answer. i think the author wanted usability here and chrome touches might not have been in his vision plan.
Dark or black always seems to go with chrome or whitish themes.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Posted by gautch at March 22, 2004 02:47 PM | Edit | Delete
Nice simple theme. Like Argus said, i do have to agree with the reviewer on the menus. Chromalizing can be nice but i feel it needs to be in moderation. i think the walpapers are a little cheesey.. especial because of the chrome. I just scrolled up to give it a final once over, and i have to say it feels kinda like a plastic chrome-ish.. I still donno if ill use this much. Nice work though.
Posted by gautch at March 22, 2004 02:49 PM | Edit | Delete
Argus, what in the world were you doing at 4:57am reading reviews? sheesh.. hehe.
Posted by derdomi at March 22, 2004 02:58 PM | Edit | Delete
Use this theme now since it's out and it definetly rocks. One fo my top 5 now. However black menus like the ones in black milk would be very cool. Black menus in white themes are just too cool. Kudos to COTL to develop this.
Posted by Mushu at March 22, 2004 03:20 PM | Edit | Delete
The reviewer said that this theme looks "convincingly real". I personally don't like this theme because it looks so *fake*.
Posted by kwyjibo at March 22, 2004 04:27 PM | Edit | Delete
One of my fav skins. Just... beautiful.
Posted by Daniel Grenell at March 22, 2004 04:53 PM | Edit | Delete
it's nice looking, but it seems unpolished to me for some reason...
Posted by esXXI at March 22, 2004 04:58 PM | Edit | Delete
One of the most enjoyable GUI kits available to date. Everything looks very smooth and very sleak. They did a wonderful job, although I'm sure a few of us would love a tweaked version that doesn't have heavy-black inner-glowing for selected buttons / inactive widgets.
Posted by merlin at March 22, 2004 05:41 PM | Edit | Delete
chrome, aqua, metal...
it's so passé
... or I wish it was
Posted by Gorux at March 22, 2004 06:08 PM | Edit | Delete
"Extras: Application skins are greatly appreciated, and desktops work." Why did u give it a 7.8 then?
Posted by wibs at March 22, 2004 07:15 PM | Edit | Delete
From the review:
"One question: why is iTunes grey?"
That's a limitation with ShapeShifter/ThemePark thanks to the way Apple made iTunes, and it's certainly nothing that iStyle should be judged poorly because of. If anything the fact that there's an iTunes skin (which are quite annoying to make) should give it big bonus points.
Posted by Gorux at March 22, 2004 07:31 PM | Edit | Delete
I have to agree with wibs.
Posted by Phillip Ryu at March 22, 2004 08:45 PM | Edit | Delete
First, wibs: I realize this, but I think it feels out of place. No doubt it's better than without a skin at all, but still, it's not perfect. On one hand, it's not the themer's fault. On the other, it does mar the experience a bit.
Gorux, the reason is, extras could be better. There are themes out there (JetBlack, [f]Platinum) with icon sets and cursor sets, so again, there's room for improvement. Desktops are also not the most creative. Does that answer your question? The majority of the points are for the excellent application skins, but there are points left to be filled.
Posted by deej5871 at March 22, 2004 08:50 PM | Edit | Delete
I also agree with wibs.
Posted by deej5871 at March 22, 2004 08:54 PM | Edit | Delete
Gee, Phil you posted right at the time between when I loaded the page and when I posted..
Anyway, about the iTunes skin, I think it would have marred the experience much more and felt more out of place had he left iTunes untouched and it would have been completely aqua. So, I *again* agree with wibs and think he should get big bonus points for having the skin at all.
Posted by wibs at March 22, 2004 09:03 PM | Edit | Delete
I can understand that, phill. There's no doubt that Apple put a lot of polish into iTunes, and if the skinned parts of iTunes make the app itself look like a terrible hodgepodge of elements then the themer needs to ask himself if their work will really be better than a half done version of iTunes. Of course if they decide iTunes looks better untouched they'll be docked points in the review here, but, well... can't please all of the people all of the time, I guess.
Posted by Phillip Ryu at March 23, 2004 06:39 AM | Edit | Delete
Ok guys, let me rephrase. Yes, I think the iTunes skin is not perfect, but I definitely did not take off points for its flaws. Instead, I gave big points for iStyle's great application skins. :)
Posted by Mark at March 23, 2004 06:48 AM | Edit | Delete
I find this iStyle theme absolutely exquisite! Never tire looking and working with it.
Posted by at March 23, 2004 08:06 AM | Edit | Delete
I don't really care for the scroll bars or the Apple menu icon. Those need to be reworked to look like the rest of the theme... that's what's keeping me from using this beautiful theme. There's always something that keeps me from using an otherwise nice theme.
Just in case anyone is wondering... I found the most complete OS X theme ever! It's called Aqua. Everything matches and it's soo easy to install.
Posted by at March 23, 2004 04:25 PM | Edit | Delete
i'd really love to try this most complete OS X theme ever, but you didn't give a download link!
Posted by Joy at March 24, 2004 03:10 AM | Edit | Delete
It suits me perfectly. I love the Safari and iTunes skins.
A good friend of mine saw my laptop tonight and said, "Oh my god! We're using the same theme!!!"
It's absolutely lovely. Thank you.
Posted by brian at March 24, 2004 04:33 PM | Edit | Delete
those menu highlights are REALLY annoying me. They don't match the rest of theme. then again im going via SS's and not actual use.
Posted by Dace at March 24, 2004 08:35 PM | Edit | Delete
The proper word is "chroming" or "chromize", not "chromalizing". Get a dictionnary, and while you're there...get a life. It's just a theme. If you don't like it don't use it.
Posted by Dace at March 24, 2004 08:39 PM | Edit | Delete
One more thing, I like the theme but find the chrome often looks more like lead. :/
Posted by Tom at April 9, 2004 10:23 AM | Edit | Delete
I don't like the buttons and the chrome either. But it is my theme though.
Posted by Heiesuke at April 30, 2004 10:22 AM | Edit | Delete
i had just recently used this theme and i must say it's pretty kool, for some reason i kept thinking Mil was installed. i'd love an itunes skin, but heh i'd love an itunes skin for every theme. oh i meant an itunes makeover skin. will someone teach me to skin lol. all i can do in return is draw stuff.
Posted by starwxrwx at June 24, 2004 03:54 AM | Edit | Delete
pretty nice theme, i think the way the windows seem to be coming at you at the top is wierd but is growing on me
one thing i *hate* is the green battery status icon in the menu bar - urg! it clashes horribly with everything else, esp if i use the multi-national keyboard menu - please someone change it to grey to black or sumthing nice like that! unfortunately i need the battery status for my ibook or else i forget to plug in my charger ;P
Posted by discmakers at August 12, 2004 02:13 AM | Edit | Delete
Always enjoy reading your blog. Thanks!
Posted by news- at August 19, 2004 03:23 AM | Edit | Delete
Posted by text link at August 19, 2004 09:23 PM | Edit | Delete
I totally agree. Thanks for the post!