CORPSECORPS  After attempting to use this further, i find i was way too generous. Nothing about this application is intuitive, logical, or properly explained.

It rarely if ever even properly does what it's supposed to.

.  
(Version 2.8.1)

CORPSECORPS  Want to like it, but it's awkward as hell and showing it's age.

The Shadows, Tools, distortions and transformations that can be set within the Viou window, to be applied to the icon going on top are great.

Being able to choose a premade icon from a list of sets is an interesting feature conceptually, but unless one doesn't mind a hodgepodge of folder images, you're going to have to paste the same folder to every one on the system. I don't find this feature useful. Also, many premade folders are pre-Leopard and not really appropriate for cover-flow.

The ability to add a 'logo' to the mix seems like an afterthought as it's position and size are fixed.

--

THE BIGGEST LIMITATION of Viou is that the image being composited on top MUST be an icon within an application or already applied to a file. NO .icns FILES OR IMAGES ALLOWED!

Given that restriction, the ability to "preview" images from the contextual menu seems out of place, as does the thumbnailing of mostly outdated PICT files.

An easy way of getting an image or icon set from an .icns file composited with another icon, and applied to a disk or folder is one of the scarcest abilities in Leopard, so it's too bad this only operates on icons already applied to folders or apps.

--

Bugs:

Rendering problems when moving some sliders and clicking check boxes.

Mousing over "Add a logo" gives the tool-tip for "Expert Mode".

Logo drop zone has no tool-tip, nor do the drop zones on the panel, and their exact functions are somewhat vague.

When i dropped the wrong things on some of the regions, and then clicked 'Abort' or 'skip' in the error dialog, Viou consistently crashed the finder. (10.5.4)

.  
(Version 2.8.1)

JTHEISS  OMG! Joyous day! When I went to Leopard/intel, 3 of my must-have shareware/freeware apps were broken. iCalViewer, iChatter and Viou. iCalViewer was fixed almost immediately, iChatter is unfortunately no longer supported, and now Viou is updated! For all of you that love to have folders with icons that identify what's inside them, Viou cannot be beat. Really simple to set up a default icon scheme and then it's just a matter of right clicking on a folder and selecting what app inside you want to badge that folder with. You can even do multiple folders at once. This is one of the best apps out there, hands down. And it's free!  
(Version 2.8.1)

MORJOVY  19 MB of what ?????????????????????????????  
(Version 2.8b)

D.LAUNAY  Hello, I am the developer, just want to let you know the Archive is 10.5 (Leopard) only ... and that, mistakenly.

A new release, with Tiger compatibility will so be available soon.

All 10.5 user can use actual archive and 10.4 users must wait for the shortly coming release.

Sorry for inconvenience.  
(Version 2.8b)

DOGBERT1  Although the platform section says PPC/Intel, this appears to be an Intel only version and not a Universal Binary. At least that's what Get Info shows.  
(Version 2.8b)

KILLER KLOWN KAR  Been using Viou for quite awhile. Currently have 2.5 installed, and yes won't launch on Tiger .11 Intel  
(Version 2.8b)

JIMW  It seems to work for Leopard on my Mac Pro - as good or better than it ever did. For me it is a must have utility and I am happy to see it updated for Leopard.   
(Version 2.8b)

NIGHTHAWK090  Just downloaded and to try it out.....no luck!!! Would not even open on Tiger....using 10.4.11.........  
(Version 2.8b)

NIGHTHAWK090  Just downloaded and to try it out.....no luck!!! Would not even open on Tiger....using 10.4.11.........  
(Version 2.8b)

LAINSNAVI  Looks like the download is already unavailable. Probably too much server traffic or something since the site is going so slow. Hopefully it'll be back up soon! I used this app constantly a few years back and was always hoping they'd release a new version.  
(Version 2.8b)

SOUNDMAN  Hey, I've been using this great little app for years. Glad to see that developer is still supporting it. Worth a good $20 in my opinion!  
(Version 2.8b)

CROW  I really look forward to the new Leopard version. Now that Apple has changed their icons, Viou is needed more than ever! :)  
(Version 2.5)

JIMW  During an exchange of comments with the developer of Folder Icon X the author of this product insinuated that their would probably be no more development of Viou. Since I felt that this was a baseless assumption, I contacted the developer of Viou to inquire about the future status of it. Here my response to the developer of Folder Icon X, approved by the developer of Viou:

After contacting the developer, through his website, I have received an extremely prompt, courteous and informative reply indicating that Viou is still very much alive and well. In fact it is undergoing future development, and has an anticipated release date sometime after Leopard comes out and will be fully compatible with Intel Mac's. As to why it is taking so long, the developer confirmed that much of my conjecture in my previous comments was fairly accurate.

My previous comments summerized to the author of Folder Icon X are as follows:

The developor or group developing Viou is probably on a limited budget and time and most likely has another job, developing Viou and his other software in his spare time. His website indicates that he is also working on other projects. I would conjecture that a new version might be coming out sometime after Lepoard is released that would be fully Intel compatible. The fact that the product has not needed updates, aside for full Intel compatibility, is testment to its quality and stability.

Viou is not dead.   
(Version 2.5)

JACKWEB  So does this work on an Intel Mac??

Will it cause a crash or corruption on the new machines, and under Tiger?

Please someone reply :(  
(Version 2.5)

TWISTERMC  Works great and free. What could be better?  
(Version 2.5)

RAYCON  Please, please, please! Make this for Intel! I miss this software dearly since purchasing my new Intel iMac. It was one of those utilities I used daily.  
(Version 2.5)

HENDO  *sigh* if only it wasn't such a big download...I have dial up and its not worth the time downloading this..I mean I want it...but it's too big  
(Version 2.5)

JSL  Absolutely amazing. This is exactly what I was looking for and then some. Very powerful and flexible. A fantastic program, thanks much!  
(Version 2.5)

ANONYMOUS  Lovely!

Could you dump the artwork into a separate download please? Cheers!  
(Version 2.5)

ANONYMOUS  Great program. Just what I've been looking for.  
(Version 2.5)

JIMW  This product has morphed into one of my must have utilities. It is especially useful with a "2-Button" mouse. I have used this version since it was release, now under 10.3.7, and it has been stable and has worked almost flawless for me. It has replaced a multitude of shareware options that are currently available. Yes it does have a few limitations, but considering its price and the alternatives, they are less than minor irritations. Also, with a little creativity, it can be used in ways beyond its original concept to create all sorts of speciality Icons as others have mentioned. For instance, it can be used to create colored background folder to replace the unpleasant feature that the "label" function of the Finder creates, which is putting a colored stripes across your listings in all views except "Folder."

Its minor shortcomings for me include, limited documentation, which is quite improved from previous versions, and an initially, somewhat confusing GUI in the actual application. It is however worth spending some time learning due to its features and capability. The utilization and flexibility of background folders , as previously commented on, I also agree with.

This app does what it says and more. It customizes your desktop in a conservative and useful way. It has become one of my "can't live without." apps. I highly recommend it without reservation.   
(Version 2.5)

ANONYMOUS  Good program, bloated download. Author should make the folder art folders a separate download, or separate downloads. We don't all have access to high speed lines.  
(Version 2.5)

ANONYMOUS  Great idea -- why so HUGE!?  
(Version 2.5)

OCIDEPHUS  A perfect example of the one program that will not work on my iBook Dual USB 500. It crashes every single time without even starting up. Anyone have any idea why?!?  
(Version 2.4.2)

BDOG  YES YES YES! You have brought back a very easy way to impliment a feature I missed from the OS 9 days. I used to use this plugin called "Icon Tools" and it would make application folder icons using the first alphabetical application in the folder. Well Viou takes it to a whole new level! Now it will prompt you if there is more than one application and let you choose! It will show you the progress as it changes icons in a very nice little utility window. And you can customize the way it makes the folder icons. So you can have it position the icon perfectly, set a shadow, and all the other stuff! SWEET!!! :D  
(Version 2.4.2)

SHARK  Wow once you learn how to use this it becomes really usefull for making your own personal icons. Big high five to the developer.  
(Version 2.4.2)

DARYLF2  Wow. Why is the download 19 MB?  
(Version 2.4.2)

ANONYMOUS  I've just downloaded and tried it, and so far so good.

As usual, others are charging for apps. with less features than this one, so I'd like to congratulate the developer, encourage him to keep up the good work... and to keep this app. free, too! ;-)

As for the contextual menu, read the document that comes with the app.: if I'm not mistaken, it must be placed into the Contextual Menu Items folder in your (i.e., the user's) Library folder for it to work properly, so I guess it has to be installed as many times as the number of accounts sharing the same machine (if the app. is intended to be used by all users, that is), which perhaps sounds a bit weird but is a small "fee" to pay. I suppose this will be fixed with any new version.  
(Version 2.4)

AVFOLK  EXCELLENT idea and execution. Superb, well thought out controls. Nice implementation of WYSIWYG design, good choice of icons and backgrounds. Very very nice. THANK YOU!  
(Version 2.4b)

CP  HEADS UP: Use the contextual Menu at your own risk. When I installed it it worked fine but crased EVERY other icon related application on my Mac. Even apps unrelated to Viou. It also goofed up my contextual menu for Stuffit. I thought my system was having trouble but on a hunch I removed the Viou contextual menu & restarted the finder & all works fine now.

TO THE DEVELOPER:

My contextual menu for Viou did not appear as a package. It appeared as a folder and you could browse the contents without choosing "show package contents". I suspect this is related to the trouble. You might want to look into it.  
(Version 2.3)

ANONYMOUS  The contextual menu works but the application itself crashes before it opens.  
(Version 2.3)

ANONYMOUS  "A conflict with some applications (internet explorer) has been solved."

What about the conflict with Dreamweaver MX, solved or not?  
(Version 2.3)

ANONYMOUS  v2.2 bugs :-( dangerous update. back to previous version  
(Version 2.2)