What is Kaleidoscope?

Kaleidoscope is the ultimate in user interface customization for the Macintosh, letting you switch between completely different interface designs provided by plug-in modules called "Schemes".

Here are two of the schemes included with Kaleidoscope, designed by Arlo Rose, formerly of Apple's Human Interface Design Center:

If you want something less elaborate, Kaleidoscope also comes with several schemes loosely based on the shapes and layout of standard Apple platinum interface, but with creative new colors:

Or for a more conventional interface, Kaleidoscope can make your Mac look like it is running a different operating system, or even another version of the Mac OS:

But that's not all. There are several THOUSAND other third party schemes available from our Kaleidoscope Scheme Archive.

Kaleidoscope is compatible with all versions of the Mac OS ranging from System 7 through Mac OS 9.1. Under Mac OS 8 and later, it takes advantage of the Appearance Manager, so that any Appearance-savvy application automatically uses Kaleidoscope's interface. Kaleidoscope fully supports the new interface features introduced in Mac OS 8.5, including 32-bit icons, proportional scroll bars, window proxy icons, and sound, and Kaleidoscope does not suffer from those annoying black and white menus that plague Mac OS 8.5.

Kaleidoscope is shareware. You can download a fully functional version of Kaleidoscope from this site, and you are welcome to try it out free of charge. However, if you use it for more than a couple of weeks, we ask that you pay a $20 registration fee. The payments are handed by Kagi, a payment processing service. You can either register online by credit card using the links on this site, or you can send a cash, check, or credit card payment by mail or e-mail to Kagi. Kaleidoscope comes with a "Register" application that creates a customized registration form to send with your payment. Once you register, Kagi will send you instructions to remove the shareware reminder message that Kaleidoscope puts up at startup.