Help build a better Kapsules

With the early morning release of Konfabulator for Windows, many are flocking to the website to try out this Mac software on their Windows machines.

In an effort to continuously make Kapsules a better application, I would love to hear some feedback on what Kapsules can improve upon, what Kapsules lacks, or what in Konfabulator (or even other similar applications) you would like to see, or think that Kapsules should include or have.

This is NOT a 'which application is better' thread. I am honestly looking for constructive critisism in an effort to improve Kapsules and offer more appeal to use the application.

Thanks very much for lending a hand.

#227186

I very much like the Konsposé Feature of Konfab. The darkend Background while all wigets are on Front is great.

#227214

my vote goes to some kind of widget builder

i`m not a programmer and i can`t write scripts but i`d still like to be able to make widgets

#227218

I think you have done a Fantastic job with Kapsules very good on the system ram and cpu! Maybe some more widgets rss readers and such

#227219

I second that Unbeliever. It would be great otherwise....I have to start learning xml >.

#227221

It's good to learn XML anyway... everything is starting to use it.

As to the other request, probably best if andrew follows that up Don't want to step on toes.

#227223

my vote goes to some kind of widget builder

i`m not a programmer and i can`t write scripts but i`d still like to be able to make widgets

this is why i've stuck with samurize.... need something for the everyman to use, not just the geekishly elite...

#227232

Well we do have a Konspose-type function, it was actually integrated into a beta prior to it's inclusion in the mac version of konfabulator at the time. Win + K brings all widgets to top level, Win + K again sends them to their previous window level, and there is now an option in the latest beta to have Win + K bring them to a regular, non-always-on-top level. Would you prefer if there was a fancy background to that as well?

This is good stuff. I'm making notes of all this feedback. Please do keep it coming!

#227236

@wookietv and others:

I can't script doesnt count - anyone who can go buy his daily needs at a shop has already proven that he's got enough brains for that task - its just try and error in the learning, some text adventure puzzle where you arent given more hints than "I can't take the 'all' " and hey presto there you go.

Legions of web / HTML designers employ script blocks with mostly not knowing what they do and so can you!

Hope I dont insult anyone, but apart from GWB anybody ( e.g. GHWB ) can learn scripting without being a member of the geekishly elite!

#227241

how about an optional, customizable background with transparency?

#227262

it's not that i can't do it, it's more of i don't want to have put time into doing it.

without being user friendly, a large percentage of the potential user base will install it, look at it for 1 minute, say to themselves, 'now what the fork am i supposed to do?' and then uninstall it.

if the idea of kapsules is to be a learning base for a computer language, then it's succeeded... if it's designed to be user-friendly, then i would say it has not. i will say this, though, i have not tried it since earlier in it's development. if it's gotten better, then throw the virtual pie at my face....

a decent analogy would be this... would you rather spend your time using dos command line entry with various switches, etc. or a more intuitive GUI that explains your options and uses a click-and-choose fashion.

#227266

I would like to know how Kapsules is not user friendly (sincerely), based from the current version, that is. From the beginning a simplistic and easy to understand user experience has been a goal of mine. Please do share your thoughts (but I would ask that you take a look at the current version, as past versions are just that.. that past )

#227286

Yeah ! Background would be awesome ! Also it would be nice if the Hotkey would be user-defined....

#227332

Can you give me some more detail about the 'background' you would like to see?

I'll add the hotkey config to the TODO list

#227381

Well i or an example like dark backgrounds, so i use white as the textcolor for most widgets. Now, when i have a lot of windows open and bring the widgets to the front they´re hard to read. So i would like a Background that is black but transparent. So that the widgets are shiny on top and the rest is faded out a bit... hope you know what i mean...

#227387

So youre talking about when you do a Win + K and bring all the widgets to the front, you would like a background there so that all the widgets are easily distinguishable from the other windows below them? I hope I am following you here

#227405

Exactly. That´s it !

#227419

Ok. So what config options would you like me to add to this? These were my thoughts...

- Optional on/off

- Color selection

- Opacity (Transparency) selection

- Image tile (changeable)

- Center image (default a K - kapsules logo) (changeable)

Any more anyone can think of?

#227485

The reason I could use Konfabulator over Kapsule is the widget itself. Konfabulator have more widget and in general the graphic are more beautiful,

but don’t get me wrong I like Kapsule very much it is a really good progam.

I am sure with time the number of quality widgets will growth!

#227492

yeah, the reason i was so exited about konfab is how many widgets are in there library.

#227500

yeah but 98% are utter crap... >.

#227502

Let's keep this on topic please :cough:seph:cough:

#227572

A few things Andrew:

1.) A labelling system. Objects must have the ability to be labelled!

2.) Certify objects. Stardock does this for DesktopX, and to know that the people behind the software pass an object makes a world of difference. It will also raise standards of objects being made.

3.) Inspire the community. Stardock has done this, and right now its probably the only thing going for Konfabulator - youve got to inspire youre widget makers, either with a contest or a new widget idea.

Thats it. Over all Kapsules is very solid.

#227599

1) So you would like to see a visual label on the screen then. Can you elaborate on this some more?

2) We already do. I personally have looked over every widget uploaded. While I dont have the time to debug each of them for the developer, there are a set of standards that a widget has to meet before it gets approved for the widget forge.

3) I agree. But without monitary backing, its difficult.

Thanks for the kind comments.

#227611

Here's what I mean:

Click for full size, side by side example of Kapsules running with another popular widget app. All the widgets on the left are Kapsules, on the right another app that allows global labelling.

See how I could become confused without labels? Is the FTP Drop for CAD top or bottom? Does Aqua-Soft really want to see CAD PDF's in the monthly screenshot thread?!

I know Kapsules is more than just glorified icons, it's a whole world of mini-apps. But the dual FTP Drop is a do or die feature for me, so global labelling is a must (or even just adding a label field into the widgets).

Thanks Andrew.

#227618