Aqua-Soft ForumsI am quite new to the world of desktop/widgets customization, and have just installed AveDesk. I have heard that there are also programs out there called Rainlendar and LiteStep respectively which also help you to make up your own desktop/widgets environment, but since I have AveDesk now I think it can cover all the jobs hence no needs for me to downoad the mentioned programs?
[Help] Rainlendar & LiteStep
LiteStep is an alternative shell for windows. replacing explorer.
rainlendar is made to be a skinnable calender, avedesk can do calenders with SysStats.
you can use search to find more.
I know there is the shell replacement programs like LiteStep and GeoShell etc., and there is the widget engines programs like AveDesk and Konfabulator etc., but I really don't understand the differance between them (look at the pics: GeoShell / Konfabulator ). The only thing I figured out so far is that shell replacements only change the Windows Explore shell while widget engines are capable of changing almost everything on the screen, true?
The only thing I figured out so far is that shell replacements only change the Windows Explore shell while widget engines are capable of changing almost everything on the screen, true?
Widgets do far more than that. Essentially the make a static non-interactive desktop interactive & places "mini-app's" on the desktop. For example with AveDesk/Sysstats I have a mail checker, RSS feed reader, sticky notes, etc, etc. There is no need for seperate programs and less waste in resources.
Widget programs do not change your existing GUI, they add elements on top of it.
You can mimick many GUI elements using the widget programs and, if you do enough work, get a widget program to act as a new shell.
AeroShell and AveShell are working towards that goal. They are not true from the ground up, shell replacements, they just use existing programs to give you basic shell elements.
Rainlendar makes calendars, simple. It can also easily be skinned and is used by many for its function. Most, if not all, widget programs can give you some kind of calendar. Out of the two that I use, AveDesk uses the SyStats plugin to make 3 calendar versions. Samurize has atleast 3 different calendar plugins which have
different options available to them.
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Most people use AveDesk + SysStats to expand on their current shell, Windows Explorer, by placing widgets on top of the desktop to put certain functions easily at reach. AveDesk be able to work with other shells also, or run on its own as a shell.
AveDesk offers many of the functions that similar programs offer, either by itself or using the SysStats plugin.
Thanks all for your nice and patient explanations. Though still a little confused I have started to gain a basic comprehension on this 
Rainlendar is an actual module that can be used within the Litestep environment as well.