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Thanks Ahmad "Talisman Desktop" (Talisman) is a desktop alternative and shell-replacement for Windows 9x/ME and NT/2000/XP, capable of transforming your desktop into an interface organized as you like. The program's basic purpose: Launch other applications in a new interface, instead of the standard Windows desktop. But the opportunities presented by "Talisman" are much broader. The program does not limit your computer fantasies - draw anything you like and arrange it as your imagination tells you to. When you get tired of looking at the same screen - change it all over again. If you are in a good mood - throw flowers and favorite photos on the screen. If you're not feeling so bright - leave the black screen with lonely Norton Commander or winking Bill Gates. Create invisible buttons - they will open those places and the pictures, known only to you. Construct galleries of the best pictures and photos. Simply create your own little world, created by and for you, instead of staring at the same lines of icons on your desktop, year after year.

Whats New
1. New LVDM (Virtual Desktop Manager) plugin.
2. New LDrive (drive space indicator) plugin.
3. New "commandmenu " command allows to bind the menu of last used commands and the list of all available commands with any inputbox object (see default theme as example).
4. Improved procedure of drawing of menus and HTML objects.
5. Bug corrections.

Download: Talisman Desktop 2.31 (3.3mb)
View: Whats New
Screenshot: >> Click Here <<
News source: Lightek Software

And as far as patches go, as far as we can guess right now the only patch that is going to work will be the ever popular "Reset" patch. If you slipstream a corporate version of Windows XP as you’re supposed to do, it will upgrade the algorithm. Note that the slipstream patches the DLL files which generate the CD keys, it doesn’t replace them. This is why you cannot slipstream a non corporate version of Windows XP and drop the corporate files in and expect the installation to work properly. Windows also checks for the DLL files version numbers and if they don’t match, errors will be created during install. It could be possible to find these DLL’s, replace the version numbers with those of SP1, and put them back into the installation media, but you’d also have to find a way to replicate the Microsoft signature on the DLL’s as well as the CAB files for setup to actually copy the files to the hard drive.

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about this is that the current Corporate users of Windows XP are going to have to get a new CD-key reissued for their versions of Windows with SP1. Microsoft has decided that the cost of current corporate customers having to get a new CD-key is less that what they are losing in the market of Windows XP being distributed as a corporate installation amongst warez users. Microsoft is also planning to warn those with corporate editions of Windows XP to not let the CD-keys slip into the mainstream. The EULA is going to be rewritten to fit a new type of ‘Corporate release’ and it’s been rumored that if a customers key is to get into the market, Microsoft may take legal action against those consumers.

Another rumor that is running rounds at Redmond is that Microsoft may actually include a type of “Phone home” feature in the corporate versions of Windows XP only. This feature would connect to a Microsoft server upon connection and deliver the IP address of the connected computer and what the Installation ID is. Before privacy advocates begin screaming, realize that if Microsoft was to want to do this, they could very easily make provisions in the EULA that they (Microsoft) have included a feature that makes sure the Corporate edition of Windows XP is not installed on more computers than it’s contract is made out for, and the computers IP address and the Installation ID may be transmitted to a local Microsoft server thought 128-bit encryption. No more information would be transmitted to the servers, and for more information, see the Microsoft Privacy Statement. It’s a possibility, as corporate versions of Windows aren’t exactly tailored for use by home and everyday users, so the EULA could very well be expanded to include such a feature.

As far as activation goes on a legal copy of Windows XP, BetaONE slipstreamed their copy and it installed and activated without any problems. The algorithm for normal customers will stay the same apparently. So far, only the corporate version of XP gets the new revamped algorithm feature. It’s one less feature I can do without personally.