DesktopX 2.21 has been released.  DesktopX is a program that extends Windows to support true objects on the desktop. These objects are used to do everything from have "super icons" to being combined together to create "widgets" as well as building entire desktops.

DesktopX is actually what Stardock used to develop the user interface in The Political Machine. With DesktopX, Stardock was able to create the actual game screens and prototype them at the same time. The finished screens were then exported out of DesktopX and are read in by the 3D engine in The Political Machine to display the screens. As a result, Stardock's graphics team could literally draw up the user interface how they want including fonts, positioning, alpha blending, etc. 

This same technology will be used to create Galactic Civilizations II. 

DesktopX is a free download at http://www.desktopx.net