[ann] Widgets For Desktopx

With DesktopX 2.2 nearly out the door and all the talk about widgets, I thought this would be a good time to bring up some of the cool widgets that exist for DesktopX.

Widget article for DesktopX

Here are a couple of samples:

The top and bottom parts slide in and out like drawers.

A really cool sticky note widget:

A simple digital click.

A series of arcade games:

http://skins2.wincustomize.com/_Martin_/wi...80sClassics.jpg

Google search bar.

And of course..

and hundreds of others.

DesktopX 2.2 should be out this upcoming MONDAY. It's a free download.

That version will also let you hit a hot key (Defaults to F9 but it can be any) to toggle showing/hiding your widgets.

-----------------------

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// Seph

#203685

Hmmm... what is this?

#203770

A pay-to-use version of Avedesk? :canadian:

#203782

Originally posted by kgraphik@Aug 18 2004, 06:37 AM

A pay-to-use version of Avedesk? :canadian:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmm, Maybe you dont want to pay for desktopx,

it is strange, when it comes to buy things people start

to complain, anyway, i have checked out avedesk and tell me

something, what is it good for? I cant find one single widget or

anything that would be good for me. It does not enchance my life

much to have a digital clock on the desktop or something that shows

the current status of my computer or what weather there is anywhere.

This seems to be the kind of program you write where you have nothing

else to do.

#203795

DX is a good app and a lot more powerful than Ave.

It may be more than most people require, but it has always had a lot of potential and more scope than Ave. This is also due of course because DX has just been developed a lot longer.

I find using Ave and DX widgets, which don't require DX to be loaded, together works very well. Best of both worlds.

But I do like Ave for more day to day use, not sure why, just do.

#203800

They are both very similar.

Everything (hold the arcade games) that frogboy showed isalready acheived with avedesk, except with avedesk you don't have to pay for the use of it.

I dont like DesktopX merely because its a pay-to-use app, why pay for what you can get for free? Plus I beleive avedesk is an allround better application with much faster development and better features.

By the way? Where did you get the impression that desktopx is alot more powerful than avedesk? Its very much the other way round.

#203821

How can that be?

They built the Policitical Machine with DesktopX... I cannot see AveDesk being able to do that for one example.

I'm not trying to 'fanboy' Stardock or it's products or Ave as I like both, but I was just stating what I believe from my experience.

Btw way, whats wrong with paying to use something that proves useful? DX has been around for a long time before Ave filled a void for free apps and I have used it myself for over 2 years.

#203840

Some people have to many bills to pay to buy programs that you dont really need to run your os.

#203843

Hahaha.. your funny.

Damn I can stretch to $20... I must be an exuberant *****

Congrats on your condescending attitude.

#203858

Anything you can do in desktopx can be made in avedesk. Simple

#203861

Originally posted by alilm@Aug 18 2004, 11:48 AM

Anything you can do in desktopx can be made in avedesk. Simple

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not by a long shot. Some of you clearly have never used DesktopX.

1) DesktopX supports animation at a very basic level.

example:

In my script I could create a timer and then say Object.Rotation = x

And it'll rotate the object. I'm pretty sure Avedesk doesn't allow rotation from scripting.

Similarly you can to Object.Width =x to increase the width of an object from the script. Same for color, and tons of other things.

Or you can put together a whole series of frames, tell it how many frames there are and how many ms for each frame and it'll play it.

2) DesktopX supports ActiveX controls. None of the others do (to my knowledge anyway). That's a pretty huge difference because with that you don't need any programming. Now obviously a PLUGIN author can access ActiveX controls but the scripter can't.

example:

With Avedesk you had to wait for someone to program an iTunes control. With DesktopX, iTunes, Media Player, Web browsers, etc. can all be done by non-programmers because they can access any ActiveX control on your system.

That also means flash.

3) I could be mistaken but I believe AveDesk doesn't support object cloning/creation/deleting via script.

4) DesktopX also can build entire desktops (themes).

5) One thing some of you need to realize: DesktopX is a FREE download. It doesn't time out. The shareware version lets you run widgets, create objects, make themes, etc.

Just because an enhanced version exists doesn't mean that you can't freely use DesktopX. The enhanced version adds some security features, ability to export widgets (as opposed to just objects but you can USE widgets made by others) and the ability to use premium objects/widgets.

Now, I don't want to make it sound like I'm down on AveDesk. I'm not. The differences I describe above have more to do with the philosphies and backgrounds of the two products.

With AveDesk the original Desklet author writing in C++ can do pretty much anything they want just like any other programmer can. The differences I talk about have more to do with the scripting. Desklets came from the Docklet movement where each one was a DLL.

SysStats (btw, I'm having trouble finding the latest SysStats download) is designed to allow people to make some scripts. So AveDesk + SysStats (correct me if I'm wrong) gets you quite a bit of scripting ability.

AveDesk widgets are more easily skinnable once they are done. So once someonen creates a GOOD AveDesk widget, others can then upload new skins for it. With DesktopX, you can modify the original object but it's not as straight forward as the skin IMO. So that's an Avedesk advantage I believe.

AveDesk widgets have more configuration built in. With DesktopX widgets, the author controls all the configuration options available to end users. With AveDesk, it provides a bunch of config options PLUS the author can add to them. So I'd say that's an AveDesk advantage as well.

But overall, DesktopX has a LOT LOT more to it than just running weather and iTune widgets. As soemone else said, it has a far greater scope.

One final point:

There is nothing stopping someone from using both. There is no "overhead" pentalty for using both. DesktopX widgets are self contained.

#203953

Originally posted by FrogBoy

I'm pretty sure Avedesk doesn't allow rotation from scripting.

Not from scripting, since avedesk widgets aren't scripted yet, but the DeskletSDK allows rotation at a basic level. AveDesk internally uses a layering system where each layer does have its own hue, saturation, rotation, etc...

3) I could be mistaken but I believe AveDesk doesn't support object cloning/creation/deleting via script.

You are mistaken

Dim av 
set av =CreateObject("AveDesk.Application")
Dim d 'as desklet
for each d in av.runningdesklets
   if d.about.name = "FTP Droplet" then
      Dim newD ' as desklet
      set newD = d.clone
      newD.visible = true
   end if
next
'herd Powered©

Anyhow, DesktopX and AveDesk are two applications based on different philosophies. Yadda Badda hoonka poonka :canadian: , I posted on this before somewhere, will digg it up after dinner.

Anyhow people, this is about DesktopX

#203964

Originally posted by alilm+Aug 18 2004, 01:48 PM-->

QUOTE(alilm @ Aug 18 2004, 01:48 PM)

Anything you can do in desktopx can be made in avedesk. Simple

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shutup, Al, you're gonna ruin everything.

#203978

True, I haven't used DesktopX in a long time, simply because of my bad experiences with it.

#203989

Here's my take on this...

Development History

Stardock pioneered desktop 'widgets' for Windows users with the initial release of DesktopX. At the time, DesktopX could offer a level of interaction with the GUI that had only been dreamed of by Win32 users. As time progressed, smaller, freeware apps have picked at DesktopX's dominance. Most notibly, Samurize broke new ground. Not only was this application free, it could perform many of the same functions that were popular with DesktopX users. Now we have AveDesk 1.1, Kapsules and Samurize, all freeware apps that can come close to or exceed what we are familiar with DesktopX being able to do. Now DesktopX 2.2 is available, and Stardock wants to raise the standard in interaction with the Win32 interface. The question is, have they? Stardock has an excellent reputation for raising the bar and pushing the customization community forward.

Fairness

I'm a little dissappointed with the majority of responses so far in this thread. Aqua-Soft has always tried to create an open enviroment for developers, and dismissing a new application out of hand is just not being fair. It's ok to like AveDesk and DesktopX, this isn't an 'us vs. them' situation. Where we need to go from here is to try DesktopX 2.2, review it completely, and inform the community. The review needs to be honest and complete, comparing DesktopX 2.2 not only to other applications, but also to it's previous incarnations. Honestly, the community should be excited that Brad Wardell, the big fish at Stardock, stopped by to actively include the Aqua-Soft community in this release of DesktopX. The least we can do is to treat him fairly and with the same respect we would treat Alilm or Herd.

Standards

I would like to believe the members of this community have high standards for their GUI. Stardock has always tried to open the boundries for the customization community, giving each of us the freedom to expand the usability of our Win32 machines. Developers like AndreasV have pushed these standards even farther, inspiring other developers to rise to the challange of what each new application does. This is good for you, the end user. To dismiss an application without a proper review breaks this cycle, and in the end lowers the high standards we have as a community.

If you have DesktopX 2.2, I want a volunteer to review it for the community. I let my Object Desktop subscription expire last year, otherwise I would do this personally. AveDesk 1.1 is everything DesktopX should have been... but what is DesktopX 2.2 now? I want a reason to renew my subscription, I want a revolution in the customization community. From what I've seen in the small previews above, DesktopX 2.2 might just be that revolution.

#204005

Very nicely said deadzombie

If I can help out, I have a OD subscription. Problem is I'm limited by time (aren't we all ) and the more difficult problem, my reviewing skills are considerably lacking.

But I can give it a shot or work something else out.

#204022

It is very true that the majority of users who frequent AS have their favorites, and militantly defend them. But theres nothing wrong with that, it just helps out program viability, albeit not exactly for those new apps.

Getting back on topic...

I was invited to get a preview of DesktopX 2.2 and I was very impressed by it. I would definately like to read a comprehensive, non-biased review!

#204050

After a little discussion on this, I'm going to review this. I love every new application that benefits the customization community, and I have fairly good experience over the long term as an end user, so I think I can be fairly unbiased. Besides, I rather enjoy reviewing applications... you can ask AndreasV about this, I like to push new apps to their limits. (will anyone every really need to use 40 sticky notes on their desktop?)

Look for this review after DesktopX 2.2 is released next week. If you want to give input on what you like or dislike about DesktopX 2.2, send me an email at deadzombie@houston.rr.com. Don't send me emails saying you hate it or love it, but give a little explanation about bugs, features that impress you, tweaks that catch your eye or problems you want think Stardock should address. I will consider everything in my review, because after all, this is so the community can get the full story.

#204062

Avedesk, DesktopX and Samurize where all made for different puproses and all are better at something than another. However to me it doesn't seem like that matters around here. All that matters here is whether a program is free or not. =p I always see people bash programs because they are not free even if they haven't tried them yet or they tried an old revision and therefore think it can never be improved.

I tried out Avedesk, and I liked a few things about it but there where some things I thought would be good for it but you can't request or talk about improvements or give any kind of feedback of that kind because it's a freeware program so you have to be happy with what you get. So I choose not to participate in freeware release threads.

It also makes me think of why some people might choose to charge for their work so they can spend more time on the project. Time that would take away from a "real" job that puts food on their tables. Almost makes me think that software is a bad business to be in.

So I choose to just try out the programs for myself and figure out what I like best on my own. =p And I repeat, being free doesn't automatically make something better.

#204128

One of the key things that people seem to have ignored is that you don't HAVE to pay for DesktopX. There is also a free version here: http://www.stardock.com/products/desktopx/downloads.asp

It should be clearly remembered that development of ALL applications of this type is good for the community in general. Not only does it push them more into the mainstream, but it keeps a strong vein of development going as people look to add more features.

Without this, the products would become stagnant and eventually worthless.

You don't have to be an either/or man!

#204671

Exactly. And (free or not) concurrency pushes established corporations to keep

their pace at innovations in training.

It would be a loss if no one else than StarDock developed these kind of apps,

even to StarDock itself and since FrogBoy said that the 'tide is large enough to

float a number of boats' he seems to live it.

As for StarDock and DesktopX, it has always been a tough job to maintain

compatibility with operating systems even Microsoft itself doesn't support

anymore, and with 95 getting ten years old next year, and NT4 9 years,

it is really on time even for DesktopX to drop this legacy stuff.

Take WindowBlinds 3.x for example, the 4er versions are 2000/XP only

and a coming version of DesktopX could really lose the weight of drawing the

Desktop on its own, if it hasn't already.

The more the user has for choice, the better for all; single mindedly bashing this

for that is of no use even for the fovored app.

#204684