Omnimo: desktop Windows given fashion makeover with Phone 7 Series flair

Can't wait for Windows Phone 7 Series, but can't hack the emulator, either? Don't lose hope, Windows junkies -- you can still bring some semblance of WP7S order into your life with this Metro UI-inspired desktop HUD. Based on the open-source desktop customization platform Rainmeter, the "Omnimo UI" will overlay your desktop with a minimalist, tiled interface not unlike the one you've been drooling over for weeks, with live hooks into many useful services (including Gmail, iTunes, Steam, Twitter and SpeedFan) as well as the usual widgets and a host of program shortcuts. The best news of all? It's available now for all versions of Windows since XP, completely free of charge; simply follow the source links or flit over to Lifehacker, where good folks will teach you how it's done.

[bjsguess Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:50PM]

Running it now - pretty cool interface.

[Howell Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:11PM]

@bjsguess
Me too. I think it would be perfect to get a HP Slate and put this on it.This makes it easy for me to get to the programs I would use on that device but at that same time I still have a fully functional Windows 7 PC.

[bjsguess Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:16PM]

@Howell

You are right on. This thing screams finger friendly :)

I don't think I will keep my desktop like this for long but it is a nice break from the traditional look.

I just need to figure out how to get more than 2 RSS feeds.

[obobo Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:24PM]

WHY OH WHY would anybody want that butt ugly monstrosity on their screen?????????????????????????????????????????????????

[Howell Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:26PM]

@bjsguess
To be honest I'm not sure why companies don't skin their devices more. They're willing to completely skin their mobile phones but not other devices? I think if Dell, HP, Sony etc. started releasing skinned tablets (to the extent of how HTC and Motorola skins their phones) they would be much more successful. I know I would be more interested to get one. Rather than using Windows 7 operating system which is meant for a mouse or touch pad.

[p0p0 Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:11PM]

@obobo Thats what I ask people about OS X but they never take their head of their ass long enough to tell me. Just muffles and giggles is all I hear.

[Jimbojones Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:22PM]

I tried it, it's so so .... it was gone in 10 minutes. If my screen would be touch, then maybe I would keep it.

useless candy

[LAY Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:27PM]

@bjsguess

I just installed it on my tablet. I must admit it is pretty snazzy! Some of the tiles are more versatile than others though, but the great thing is that you can add or delete them as needed.

And for a Rainmeter skin, it sets the bar very high.

[LAY Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:30PM]

@LAY Oh and on the web browser tile, you can "cycle " the picture to change it from Chrome to Fire Fox to even Safari! Very Cool!

[vlad786 Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:44PM]

@bjsguess
nice!

[sirphunkee Posted Mar 30th 2010 9:58PM]

@bjsguess

yes, and this style looks a hell of a lot better on desktop than it does on a phone

(disclaimer: this statement has no connection or relevance to my preferences in moble OS's...it's just what my eyes are telling me)

[hmmwv Posted Mar 31st 2010 10:42AM]

@Jimbojones You answered the question yourself, you don't have touch screen so this is not for you.

[Proverb Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:51PM]

This needs 30 pieces of flair

[MastaQ Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:27PM]

Look, if you want me to have 30 pieces of flare, couldn't you just make the minimum 30 pieces?

[Eal Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:35PM]

@MastaQ We want you to want to wear the flair

[juanvaldez Posted Mar 30th 2010 9:09PM]

@MastaQ "Are you the type that goes for the minimum? Look at WP7S, see, now it wants to do more than the minimum. It wants to have more flair hidden, leave space blank and cut off messages, to attract the eye to their being more content."

"So, you're saying you want me to wear more flare but to hide it?"

[SolidSnake Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:52PM]

Cool beans.

[Sam of the Sun Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:19PM]

@SolidSnake Cool beans?

[SolidSnake Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:37PM]

@Sam of the Sun
Cool beans.
Snake never stutters, even when he sounds lame....

[Peter Moore Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:35PM]

@SolidSnake

So. . . Cool beans?

[SolidSnake Posted Mar 30th 2010 9:22PM]

@Peter Moore
Cool beans.

[Karate Tortoise Posted Mar 30th 2010 9:46PM]

@SolidSnake
Hot Beans?

[Levi Posted Mar 30th 2010 11:58PM]

@SolidSnake
cool beans: keener than bees' knees

[thunderbollock Posted Mar 31st 2010 5:40AM]

@SolidSnake

COOOOOOL BEEEEEEAAAAANNSS !!

[SolidSnake Posted Mar 31st 2010 5:53AM]

@Karate Tortoise
No, cool beans.

[Kaboof Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:53PM]

but I need my desktop to download all the interesting stuff... I download everything to my desktop...

[Pedobear Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:54PM]

microsoft is on a "binging" roll

[inertone Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:56PM]

@kb24istrash ...no

[techlord Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:57PM]

@kb24istrash

My Cat is Better

[SolidSnake Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:57PM]

@techlord
Your mom is better.

[DougieBear Posted Mar 30th 2010 9:52PM]

@SolidSnake

Your moms cat is better.

[spike121 Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:58PM]

@kb24istrash
You know what else is better?

Unicorns.

Haven't seen one of those? Oh. Wait.

[rwalrond Posted Mar 30th 2010 6:59PM]

Hmm, hp slate could be the first windows phone 7 tablet look alike with this.

[Mr Oos Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:05PM]

@rwalrond

I like your style.

[Howell Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:12PM]

@rwalrond
Hey- you know what they say, "great minds think alike". ;)

[blindguymcsqueezy Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:19PM]

@rwalrond
Why wait buy the Archos 9 and do it.

[rwalrond Posted Mar 30th 2010 8:33PM]

@blindguymcsqueezy No offense to the Archos guys, but i'm expecting much better performance from the HP Slate. If not it will be an epic fail from HP. I guess we will find out soon enough.

[HAVOKK Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:00PM]

"windows junkies".. Funny according to engadget there are no apple junkies.. just good people.

[Proverb Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:08PM]

@HAVOKK Fail

[HAVOKK Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:11PM]

@Proverb Truth doesn't fail my friend.. It is those who ignore or pretend truth does not exist that fail.

[Anatidae Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:29PM]

@HAVOKK Well, nearly every Engadget editor has a bio claiming their favorite computer is a Mac of some type.

For the most part, buying an Apple product turns many people into closeminded fanboys. I wonder if that happens with brands of hammers? Stanley Fanboys?

[LAY Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:54PM]

@Anatidae

I will admit I will buy anything made by Black & Decker.

[ThatDudeSolo Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:00PM]

Looks like a board game.

[Leroysboy Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:14PM]

This is Microsoft last shot. If they can't pull this one, it's a wrap.

[bjsguess Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:18PM]

@Leroysboy

You do realize that this isn't from Microsoft right? This is someone coming up with their own them based off shots of WP7S.

[trwrt Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:16PM]

I can't believe people clutter their workspace up with these useless widget thingies. I paid good money for those pixels, I'll be damned if I'm going to waste them on some junk I only really need to look at a couple times per day.

[AlienSix Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:26PM]

@trwrt /s?

[KeegdnaB Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:20PM]

iTunes?

You meant Zune right?

[IcyStorm Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:44PM]

@KeegdnaB There is an iTunes panel included.

[KeegdnaB Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:45PM]

@KeegdnaB not a branded one

and they still neglected mentioning Zune, even though it's a core part of the UI