Mac OS X Lion Skin Pack does an excellent job of emulating the look of Lion OS X. This includes windows, folders, Trash can and even the Dock. Of course, it doesn't include the functionality of Lion - you can't use Spaces for example or such things as Finder and Spotlight but the overall look is quite impressive.

If you want to give Windows an OS X makeover, then Mac OS X Lion Skin Pack will impress your friends.

Download Mac OS X Lion Skin Pack for Windows 7 13 in Softonic

If you can’t wait to have Windows 8 – at least in appearance - 8 Skin Pack is the perfect desktop theme for you. It customizes the start-up screen, wallpaper and taskbar, as well as the aspect of Explorer windows.

The best thing about 8 Skin Pack is its incredible ease of use. To install the theme, just run the EXE file contained in the ZIP archive. The program even patches the uxtheme.dll file automatically – a necessary requirement to use third-party themes. Likewise, if you want to remove it, simply go to the program’s list in the Control Panel and click Uninstall.

On the downside, 8 Skin Pack requires a system reboot in order to be able to use it.

With 8 Skin Pack you can already start enjoying Windows 8 – even if still have to wait for Microsoft’s new operating system for a few months.

Download 8 Skin Pack for Windows 7 11 in Softonic

Windows 8 Transformation Pack give you the look and feel of Windows 8 on older
Windows versions. The Metro design, themes, wallpapers, icons, sounds and other features can all be yours with this excellent free theme pack.

Features

Windows 8 Transformation Pack automatically installs several design changes and programs. The freeware comes with an imitation of the new Modern style and adjusts menus, cursors, screensavers and system sounds to emulate Windows' 8th version. You can also configure individual elements of Windows 8 Transformation Pack via the wizard.

Usability

Windows 8 Transformation Pack adds pizazz with its own Modern apps. By clicking on the tile store, you can manage programs and play mini updates or add extra apps. Standard elements include apps like Clock, Calendar, system settings, Gmail, Hotmail, Twitter, Facebook, Internet Explorer, Music and Photo Gallery.

Quality

Windows 8 Transformation Pack is a worthy successor to the popular Seven Transformation Pack. This early version of Windows 8 is a pretty impressive mimic. If Seven Translation Pack is anything to go by, as Windows 8 gets more advanced, so too will Windows 8 Transformation Pack, so keep an eye out for even more updates.

Conclusion

If you want a taste of Windows 8 on XP, Vista or Windows 7, download Windows 8 Transformation Pack asap!

Download Windows 8 Transformation Pack 7.0 (8TP) in Softonic

The same gameplay is the same in this version where you fire the Angry Birds at pigs, but this time the birds are characters from the Star Wars Rebellion and the Empire is played by the evil pigs. The levels take a lot of influence from the movies so Force powers exist and settings are easily recognizable in Angry Birds Star Wars for Windows 8.

But Angry Birds Star Wars for Windows 8 is still the same game that Angry Birds always presents with a different overall theme. You will not be surprised at what the game presents and it is more nostalgic for fans who get to see the Star Wars universe mixed with the Angry Birds universe.

Angry Birds Star Wars for Windows 8 is a great game for Star Wars and Angry Birds fans alike.

Download Angry Birds Star Wars for Windows 8 in Softonic

Scribblenauts Unlimited is actually the fourth installment of the Scribblenauts puzzle series. The gameplay in Scribblenauts Unlimited is similar to previous versions. You play the role of Maxwell whose objective is to collect "Starites" (magical objects born out of the happiness of others) by using objects that you create but in Scribblenauts Unlimited, it's more adventure based than previous versions. The ultimate aim is to collect enough Starites to banish an ancient curse.

The fun thing about Scribblenauts Unlimited is that you are only limited by your imagination in solving puzzles. Need to train a dog to do trick to complete a level? Just invent a stick and hey presto, you have a stick to train your dog with. Need a flying bike to get to your destination? No problem, just invent one. From the very start, Scribblenauts Unlimited shows you how to play by entering objects and adjectives to create the objects you want. If you type wrongly, the game will make suggestions as to what you actually meant.

Scribblenauts Unlimited takes place in a large world that you can explore which is different to previous versions of the game where you chose the individual puzzle to explore. You can cross into areas with different themes and accept challenges from characters within the game. The main aim of Scribblenauts Unlimited is to solve multiple puzzles set by characters before you are awarded with a Starite. There are also smaller challenges within the adventure that reward you with Starite shards. If you collect ten of these shards, you can earn one Starites.

The most entertaining thing about Scribblenauts Unlimited is definitely the types of objects you can create. You can have a lot of fun just creating anything that springs to mind without even solving the puzzles. The graphics are well animated and the soundtrack is not bad either.

Scribblenauts Unlimited is a great original and fun game that's unlike any other puzzle game you've played before.

Download Scribblenauts Unlimited in Softonic

As with most of the other applications that come bundled in Microsoft Office 2013, Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 includes a redesigned welcome page that's actually useful. You are given a list of recently-opened files on the left as well as a grid of templates to get started. You can also search at the top for more templates if you don't see one to your liking. Clicking or tapping on a template will give you a window to choose a variation of it.

As with most new releases of PowerPoint, Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 includes a bunch of new themes, templates, and transitions. Microsoft also included some basic photo editing features. You can choose a filter for the photos you import into Microsoft PowerPoint 2013. These editing features are basic and feel a bit like an afterthought. You'll still want to use a program like Photoshop to do heavy photo modifications.

Speaking of photos, you can now import both photos and videos from the internet. Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 integrates with the services you've linked to your Microsoft account. You can pull in video from YouTube and photos from Facebook.

Formatting photos and arranging them has improved in Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 as well. There are the new guides that are consistent across Microsoft's Office products. Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 is smart enough to show you how your graphics will be aligned with other graphics on the slide.

SkyDrive integration is in full effect in Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 so you can pick up working on your presentation from any device that has SkyDrive linked. There's even a PowerPoint web application to do some basic edits. You'll still want to use a computer or tablet that has Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 to do serious work.

New to Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 is the 'Presentation View,' which throws up a handy prompter screen on setups with multiple monitors. There is an elapsed timer so you can help pace yourself and not run over a certain time. You can have notes on the side of your slides so you won't be tempted just to read off of the slide. This happens all unbeknownst to people in the audience.

PowerPoint 2013 has received many updates that make it easier to use and continues to be one of the best applications for making presentations. Be sure to check out our in-depth look at PowerPoint 2013's new features here.

Download Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 15.0.4420.1017 in Softonic

Reminiscent of the Mac desktop background, Animated Desktop Wallpaper Starfield is an animated wallpaper that shows stars moving in front of shades of blue and purple.

One nice thing about Animated Desktop Wallpaper Starfield is that you can change the underlying wallpaper while keeping the star animations. This allows you to create virtually endless combinations of desktop backgrounds with your animated stars.

If, on the other hand, the animation makes you dizzy, you can choose to disable it entirely. Unfortunately, the starry animation is the primary features that makes this wallpaper stand out, so if you disable it you lose most of what makes Animated Desktop Wallpaper Starfield special and unique.

For astronomy lovers, Animated Desktop Wallpaper Starfield will make a beautiful addition to your PC's desktop environment.

Download Animated Desktop Wallpaper Starfield 1.8.1 in Softonic

Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7, Windows 8 Charms Bar Skin offers two separate skin options for your RocketDock. One is transparent and the other is black, giving you the option to switch easily and to whatever suits your current aesthetic.

To make use of Windows 8 Charms Bar Skin, you'll need to first download and install Rocketdock, a nifty little app that gives you a Mac-style navigation bar for your PC's desktop. Then unzip Windows 8 Charms Bar Skin and move the "Transparent charmbar" folder into the RocketDock program's skins folder. Strangely enough, the black bar option is named "settings," which could get confusing. You'll also need to move that in the same manner though.

Windows 8 Charms Bar Skin's Startmenu.exe file also needs to be moved into the RocketDock folder. Once done, Windows 8 Charms Bar Skin should work and appear once you launch RocketDock though.

Setup for Windows 8 Charms Bar Skin can be a bit of a pain, but once done you'll have two great new skin options for your RocketDock navigation bar.

Download Windows 8 Charms Bar Skin (for RocketDock) in Softonic

While Windows 8 users may be missing the traditional start menu, Windows 7, Vista, and XP users can also benefit from installing Start Button 8. It is a fully customizable start menu that features the ability to create smart folders or 'virtual groups.'

Users have the ability to skin the start menu and button. Included with the application are some fun Angry Birds themed buttons and some pretty lack luster skins for the start menu. Start Button 8 differs a little from the stock start menu by making it quicker to access items. You only have to hover over an item for it to expand.

There is also an integrated search bar in Start Button 8 but its performance is a bit lacking as the stock Windows 7 search is quicker. While it's nice to see all of your options automatically appear when hovering, it requires users to be precise with their mouse movements.

For Windows 8 users, Start Button 8 offers a way to get back the traditional start menu. It doesn't block access to the Windows 8 Modern UI but it does make it a bit more cumbersome to get to. You'll have to activate the 'charms' and click on 'Start' to get into Metro.

It's also a bit disappointing that Start Button 8 doesn't disable booting into the Windows 8 Modern UI. Many users who are using Windows 8 as a desktop operating system will likely benefit from this feature. Hopefully the developers will include it in the future.

Overall, Start Button 8 offers a few unique features but its performance and interface give little reason for users to replace the stock start menu.

Download Start Button 8 4.53 in Softonic

Windows usually comes with a dearth of apps out of the box but Windows Essentials 2012 solves this problem. It's a big download but that's because it comes with Live Messenger, Photo Gallery, SkyDrive, Live Mail, Live Writer, and Movie Maker. Let's take a deeper look at each program.

Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger hasn't seen much changed. There's tabbed browsing, Facebook/Linkedin integration, and the ability to log chats. The interface is almost exactly the same as Windows Live Messenger 2011. We would have liked to have seen some more changes to make Windows Live Messenger 2012 relevant in this crowded space. See our full review of Windows Live Messenger 2012 here.

Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery and Movie Maker are the highlights of Windows Essentials 2012 as they received the biggest overhaul. Both programs are now designed for Windows 8 in mind and feature the Microsoft ribbon interface.

You can now tag people in photos in bulk. There's still great social network integration for quick, seamless sharing. There is also a new 'auto collage' feature which blends photos you choose into one fluid picture.

SkyDrive

SkyDrive is perhaps the least exciting but necessary app included in Windows Essentials 2012. Similar to Dropbox's approach, SkyDrive creates a folder that syncs to the cloud and between machines. Make a change to a document on one machine and every other machine you have linked to your SkyDrive will update that document to the latest version. Integration is seamless and you'll soon forget about it, which is good.

Windows Live Mail

While competitors Apple has their default Mail application, Windows doesn't come with a mail client out of the box. Windows Essentials 2012 solves this by bundling Windows Live Mail. It is a solid mail client that offers a good way to manage your mail on the desktop.

There's an offline mode but Live Mail offers little benefit to those who want to manage their mail exclusively in a browser. The Outlook.com redesign helps to make the web site feel like an app so Live mail might not benefit users who prefer the web interface.

Windows Live Writer

Windows Live Writer is the oddball of Windows Essentials 2012. It is basically a writing app that integrates with your Blogger, Wordpress, SharePoint, and other blogging services. You can write, attach photos, and edit the theme of your blog from the application but its features are limited enough that users may as well use the website to make changes. It's a basic WYSIWYG editor that lacks features that would be useful for intermediate and expert bloggers.

Windows Movie Maker

Last but not least, we have Windows Movie Maker, which is the stand out application of Windows Essentials 2012. This basic video editing tool remains great while offering a few new features.

Movie Maker now takes advantage of hardware acceleration, which will speed up video exporting and encoding. There is also a new video stabilization feature, which will be a boon to those with cameras that don't offer this feature. Videos now output to h.264 by default.

The interface of Movie Maker has stayed the same for the most part but integrating audio is easier as you can now look up music from services like AudioMicro, Free Music Archive, and Vimeo Music Store. The video timeline also features a wav form so you can easily see where audio is placed within the video.

Final Words

Windows Essentials 2012 is a great suite of applications that will satisfy most Windows users. While some of its included apps struggle for relevance, many included apps are actually very useful. Best of all, its free and you can select which programs you want to install so you aren't forced to install the entire Windows Essentials 2012 suite.

Download Windows Essentials 2012 16.4.3503.0728 in Softonic

Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, the Coliseum, the Great Wall of China, Petra, Christ the Redeemer and the temple of Chichén Itzá are the 7 new Wonders of the World, according to the latest voting.

7 Wonders Of The World Theme brings the best of the seven most awesome sights in the world to your desktop. The 25 images included are high-res, and the themepack includes some great personalized icons and sounds.

As with all themepacks, you don't have to make much of an effort to install it - just double click on the file and it will do all of the work for you.

Great images of some of the most awesome sights in the world - what's not to love about 7 Wonders Of The World Theme?

Download 7 Wonders Of The World Theme for Windows 7 1.0 in Softonic

If you are sick of the Window's task bar and want to modify your computer's interface a bit, the Winstep Nexus Dock is a great, free way to try out a dock. The Winstep Nexus Dock is feature-packed with tons of themes, widgets, and options to configure behavior and looks. It can even serve as a fully-functional replacement for your task bar if you wish.

The Winstep Nexus Dock is familiar because it shares so many features and looks of ObjectDock, one of our favorite taskbar replacements. While they look similar, we found that ObjectDock is actually more intuitive to use and customize. There's no doubt that the Winstep Nexus Dock is feature-packed but the menus and options are spread all over the place and you really have to learn to use the program.

There is a pro version of the Winstep Nexus Dock available which allows you to create multiple docks, nest docks, create shelves, and much more. We think that the free version will be enough for casual users, though.

Overall, the Winstep Nexus Dock is a great, free dock app that can be as simple as an app launcher or as functional as a Windows taskbar replacement. Check out ObjectDock if you want something with a more intuitive interface.

Download Nexus 12.2 in Softonic

With the live-action The Avengers movie set to hit theaters this Spring, some diehard fans might be feeling a bit nostalgic for the original comics. With 15 high quality wallpapers, Avengers Theme for Windows 7 will hit the spot for fans new and old alike. If you're looking for a desktop theme with images from the upcoming movie, check out The Avengers Windows 7 Theme.

Avengers Theme for Windows 7 offers a range of wallpapers, from classic drawings all the way up to more recent, giving you a variety of different drawing styles in one theme set. Some of the most popular Marvel heroes are included in Avengers Theme for Windows 7, including Captain America, Spiderman, Iron Man and Thor to name a few. Many of the images depict battle scenes, giving you plenty to look at and enjoy.

It would've be nice if Avengers Theme for Windows 7 had included customized desktop icons or mouse pointers to complete the Avengers feel. Even without them, this theme set offers lots of great choices to pick from.

Avengers Theme for Windows 7 is a great way to amp up for the upcoming movie or get back to our Marvel Comics roots if you're a long-time fan.

Download Avengers Theme for Windows 7 in Softonic

If you're always trying to find ways to make your computer look as new and impressive as possible, Windows 8 Start Panel is a lightweight app that'll get the job done superbly. It goes along with other programs that try to simulate what Windows 8 is expected to look like, such as Windows 8 Theme.

Windows 8 Start Panel looks very much like what the official video of the Windows 8 interface presented.
The app works on Windows XP, Vista and 7 PCs and offers a lot of stand-out features. It introduces tile organization, where everything on the interface is introduced on a colorful, minimalist Start screen. Some of these tiles in Windows 8 Start Panel include Socialite Tile for Facebook, Tweet@rama for Twitter, News Tile, Weather Tile and more.

Windows 8 Start Panel also includes a tile that lets you play music, and other games like Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja.

Unfortunately, there's no way to currently change the green background to another color of your preference.

Windows 8 Start Panel is a fun, lightweight way to give your current Start menu a Windows 8 appearance.

Download Windows 8 Start Panel Full 3.0 in Softonic

If you're a huge fan of Spiderman, you probably can't wait for the franchise's next movie. Now you can decorate your desktop while you wait with The Amazing Spiderman Windows 7 Theme.

The Amazing Spiderman Windows 7 Theme is a Windows 7 theme for fans of the popular comic book hero who's subsequently made his way into movies, games and more. With this theme you'll be able to change your PC desktop background to one of several options, each of which features actor Andrew Garfield, the newest casting choice to play Spiderman in the upcoming movie.

While the images in The Amazing Spiderman Windows 7 Theme are crisp, they're very similar to one another. In fact, many of the movie stills are rearranged into other wallpapers, so once you've seen one others might seem very familiar to you as well. Many of these wallpapers also don't have any text on them, which might not make all diehard fans happy.

The Amazing Spiderman Windows 7 Theme has wallpapers of impressive quality, although some pictures are unfortunately repetitive.

Download The Amazing Spiderman Windows 7 Theme in Softonic

You can already play your favorite hero in a half-shell on your PC. Now you can submerge yourself in it every time you use your computer with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme.

Fans of Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael will love the over 25 desktop backgrounds that come included in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme. These images are of high quality, and some even have artistic touches that make the protagonists look like they've been drawn or rendered in parchment. There are a great variety of options to choose from that'll leave even the most ardent TMNT fans satisfied.

That's just the beginning too. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme has a lot of neat little extras that really make it stand out. In addition to the many different desktop backgrounds, there are also customized desktop icons and custom sounds. Even your mouse cursor can be transformed to get it in character with the spirit of the rest of the theme.

The only real downside to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme is that a few of the backgrounds are a bit busy and make it difficult to locate your desktop icons.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme is a comprehensive Windows 7 theme that doesn't miss any detail.

Download Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme for Windows 7 in Softonic

If you're a serious Twihard, you've probably already decked out your computer with various Twilight-themed programs, like Twilight IM icons or a wallpaper depicting a scene from one of the movies.

Twilight Breaking Dawn Theme can let you continue your obsession on your Windows 7 desktop. More a set of desktop backgrounds than a true theme, Twilight Breaking Dawn Theme includes 10 image stills from the newest film, "Breaking Dawn." These images largely focus on the protagonist couple, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, although they also feature other characters like Jacob and other members of the Cullen family.

It would've been nice for a set like this that calls itself a theme to include something a little extra as well, like customized desktop icons. Unfortunately, Twilight Breaking Dawn Theme is simply a collection of images from the Twilight film, and nothing more.

Fans of the Twilight movie series will love the set of 10 movie stills that comes included in Twilight Breaking Dawn Theme, although it's a Windows 7 theme in only the most basic sense of the word.

Download Twilight Breaking Dawn Theme for Windows 7 in Softonic

Naruto: Shippuden is a popular anime series that was originally adapted from the second part of the Naruto manga series in Japan. The series follows an adolescent ninja who's striving for recognition and respect within his village.

Fans of this series will enjoy the Naruto: Shippuden Theme that will dress up their Windows 7 desktop with a variety of images from the fifth installment of this popular series. The images are high quality, and taken directly from the series. Naruto: Shippuden Theme features several popular characters among the selected images, including Naruto, Sakura and Konohamaru, among others. There are also many images with a reddish hue, playing on the darker themes of this installment, when Naruto finds himself in prison.

The film from which these images is considered not suitable for children, although the images included in Naruto: Shippuden Theme are of high quality. It would've been nice to see some customized icons included in this theme pack as well to really make it stand out.

Naruto: Shippuden Theme is a nice but simple theme pack for fans of the anime series.

Download Naruto: Shippuden Theme for Windows 7 in Softonic

Zune Skin Pack for Windows 7 is based on the Zune player by Microsoft. This Zune Skin Pack allows you to completely change Windows 7 and comes with an easy to use installer.

The result is a minimalist desktop with various icons, mouse cursors, fonts and windows in Zune style. The pack changes every aspect of Windows 7 giving your machine a complete Zune makeover. It's a bit dark but that's part of the Zune look and there's not much you can do about it.

If you're a Zune fan or just want a change for Windows 7, Zune Skin Pack transforms your desktop.

Download Zune Skin Pack 1.0 in Softonic