Shock Aero

Shock Aero ScreenshotRating: 55 Star Rating

Version tested: 1.35

Description: Shock Aero delivers to Windows XP, 2000, and 2003 the ability to emulate the 3D program selection (Alt+Tab) style employed by Vista Aero or the Macintosh grid/tile program selection screen.

I remember when Vista was first launched so many people in so many forums and freeware groups wanted a utility that does the 3D Aero Alt+Tab program selection for Windwos XP, 2000, and 2003. Shock Aero does exactly this and delivers this function quite competently. Here are some notes on this one.

  • Uses Windows+Tab as hotkey, or you can launch by left-clicking on the system tray icon to. Press the hotkey multiple times or use the mousewheel to scroll through the multiple programs/selections.
  • Your system’s Alt+Tab behavior remains unchanged.
  • Does a really good job with its 3D screen output.
  • Uses 15 megs in memory, which although isn’t quite lightweight isn’t a lot, especially considering the 3D functionality that this program provides.
  • Select Vista Aero or Mac style from the options in the system tray (where you can also set it to start with Windows).

Does it contain malware?:

all the programs from this author prompt one of the anti malware programs that I use, Comodo BOClean, to intervene and warn of a trojan. I strongly suspect that this is a false positive, and have scanned the file with a handful of other products that I trust without issue. I have also emailed Comodo regarding this. Once and if I get a response I will modify this review accordingly, but until then, and despite my endorsement of this product, you install it at your own risk.

All in all a very nice freeware program that will provides to XP users one of the nicer features in Windows Vista. If you want more Vista bells and whistles on your XP machine check out Vista Visual Styles Pack.

[Note: I first found this program on the excellent Appaholic site]

Compatibility: Windows XP, 2000, 2003.

Go to the program page to get the latest version (approx 462K).

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26 Comments so far

  1. [...] Aero (for Windows 2000/2003/XP)Source: Freeware Genius & [...]

  2. Ken on September 30th, 2007

    In my Vista, it already has this function. Press Windows (next to Alt) Tab.

  3. Guest on September 30th, 2007

    @ken:
    O RLY?
    Your Vista has Flip 3D?

  4. Relequestual on September 30th, 2007

    Err yeh, it would have that function already, the whole point is that this app is for those on XP who have the sense not to use vista yet! heck, if the countries leading Uni’s use XP and not vista, doesn’t that say something?

  5. Razor on October 2nd, 2007

    Huh.. Whats the point in trying this with Vista?
    This is meant for Xp users.. Good One buddy…
    Afterall Vista Sucks… Fuckin OS…

  6. [...] sužinoti daugiau? Paskaitykite FreewareGenius apžvalgą, nes kūrėjų svetainėje informacija anglų kalba labai skurdi ir net [...]

  7. [...] via Freewaregenius [...]

  8. [...] Sarah C. wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt[…] via Freewaregenius […] [...]

  9. Anonymous on October 25th, 2007

    Shock Aero 3D won’t work without a serial number, which I can find nowhere!

  10. Anonymous on October 29th, 2007

    You are using the wrong shock aero then.

  11. [...] Want more Vista-like functionality for Windows XP? Check out Vista Visual Styles Pack, Shock Aero. [...]

  12. Michael on November 25th, 2007

    Ken = fail

    XP > Vista

  13. Zen on December 2nd, 2007

    @Michael

    Right on!

  14. Bob on December 20th, 2007

    linked download address is dead

    The right download link that works (to download page) is HERE:

    http://update.docs.kr/entry/Download-Shock-Aero3D-en

  15. twin on January 11th, 2008

    serial number what is it

  16. Anto on January 21st, 2008

    yeah what is the serial number i cant
    find it anywhere i hav searched for about half
    and hour

  17. supes on February 8th, 2008

    Go to http://www.docs.kr and give your email
    registration is free

  18. GM on February 9th, 2008

    http://www.docs.kr can’t be found in DNS, do you know IP address???

  19. [...] are multiple programs that deliver this functionality to XP, including "Shock Aero", previously reviewed on Freewaregenius, and "Shock Aero 3D", designed for PCs with [...]

  20. Chaotzu on March 1st, 2008

    Vista is the best OS ever, I can’t believe that one of its features is now available to xp users. THanks!!

  21. softbooks on March 15th, 2008

    It is really nice but not as smooth as vista’s aero.
    But no problem. It should do more than that of first one. I have something more on softbooks.freehostia.com. Thank You.

  22. [...] switching interface. There are multiple programs that deliver this functionality to XP, including “Shock Aero“, previously reviewed on Freewaregenius, and “Shock Aero 3D”, designed for PCs with good graphics [...]

  23. Anonymous on March 26th, 2008

    Mandatory registration gives it a huge black mark in my book. It’s a shame, since WinFlip is buggy.

  24. Anonymous on July 14th, 2008

    latest version no need register, have fun

  25. Mark on July 23rd, 2008

    I would like to see these 3d flippers with the icon of the program being used integrated somehow because sometimes programs look quite similar.

  26. [...] and I pointed him to the two Vista-style 3D-layering apps that I previously reviewed on this blog (Shock Aero and Winflip), as well as the uber-simple SmartTab, which is almost the opposite of those two in its [...]

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