Weekly Widget Report

Recently I recieved permission from the site administrators to compile and make a weekly post regarding new widgets each week for Kapsules. It was suggestion however, that users here (and elsewhere) might take more interest if this report of sorts was for every widget enabling application out there.

I feel that this is a great way to highlight each program and get the word out on new widgets for each. Afterall, the widgets really make the app. Please feel free to lend your suggestions, but keep in mind that this is intended to be a summary of widgets.

What I had in mind:

• A 'section' for Kapsules, AveDesk, Konfabulator and DesktopX
  
• Preview screenshots for each widget (hosted at imageshack of course, or directly linked with permission)
  
• Short description of the widget
  
• Current widget rating (if applicable)
  

To that end, and since I really dont use any other widget app other than Kapsules, I will have to rely on you - the user - to let me know what new widgets you would like showcased for the week. I have setup an email address with gmail (because its good at trapping spam) specifically for people to email me details on widgets for the report. kapsules@gmail.com.

Please feel free to send a short description if you like, but make sure to include a link where the download can be found. For instance, a link to the widget's card on www.widgetforge.com, the information page on www.wincustomize.com for DesktopX widgets, or even a forum post here on AquaSoft. If the demand is there for Dashboard widget's I would be happy to include those as well.

I'm relying on your input and suggestions for the report, so please help a brutha out

#337866

It's hard to keep up with you're posting everywhere!

Think it's a good idea; however, I must point out that you forgot SysStats. I know it's not standalone but, there are plenty who use it.

Also, just an idea instead of making more work for yourself. Why not just combine feeds into one feed? I know Phil's new site automatically generates the updates. Just a thought.

#337876

When SysStats has defined, packaged widgets I'll include it. It's for the same reason that I didnt include Samurize in there. (Btw, feel free to correct me as I'm quite ignorant about the application) I didnt feel that entire configs/skins really counted as widgets.

[edit]

Just took a look at SysStats again to make sure I didnt insert my foot into my keyboard (is this the correct website http://sysstats.needlemen.com/ ?). SysStats appears more to extend an API base to desklets for AveDesk and ObjectDock more than it's a standalone widget app. If people were interested in Desklets I suppose those could be added to this list, but I am concerned that would open up a can of worms and every app with a plugin architecture would then be requested. Just a thought.

#337882

You're right it really is more of an extension by definition. I see at some point Judge may make it standalone. Plus it's ability to be a docklet maybe rules it out. It would be nice if someone integrated it into there app due to the flexibility in creation/customization.

#337900

you know SysStats is a heavy player in the widget community and I feel that I would be nice to see it listed here, with your project.

I am the type of person who boots the laptop or computer and right there every day I have SysStats running on my desktop.

perhaps in some way you can encompus SysStats in a chapter or apendix of this development that you are fostering.

btw, I like what you are doing, and think that this is a very creative step on getting the info out... Kudos to ya !

#337931

This is a great idea, but will this be only for windows widget applications?

Like Konfabulator is 2 platforms Mac OsX..if so, would you add a section for Dashboard too? Apple sucks in that category..

thanks

-=LT=-

#337932

I'm a bit confused---where exactly are you posting this?

It sounds like a good idea, though .

-NC

#337975

What exactly do you mean by 'defined packaged widgets'? What are most such 'packages' other than a ZIP file with a different file extension? In fact I just downloaded a Kapsules 'widget' from widgetforge and what do you know? Its a ZIP file with a .config file, a few PNGs and a.kap fle which is actually (in this case) just a VBScript file. In other words, about the same as your average SysStats 'config'. I also used to be a regular developer of DesktopX widgets and, what do you know, they were just ZIP files with the same sort of contents as above. Ditto Konfabulator. Ditto Aveinst files for AveDesk. Ditto Samurize configs (which I also used o develop).

Everything is packaged as ZIP file with a different extension.

Each config file runs using its own instance of config.exe. Each is as independent as any widget from another program.

Example of more "widget" oriented configs. Each item floats, independently using its own graphics and can be packaged in individual SAM files for easier distribution.

#338062

Heya Judge, good to hear from you on the topic and I'm glad theres an interest in this, but getting a little worked up there aren't we? This isnt a contest or any reason to get all riled up. No one is insulting your work, your character or your mother. You know I'm not being compensated for doing this right? It's something I felt people would enjoy, and rants like that certainly take the enjoyment factor out of the equation. I would love to share this info with the folks here, but if it's going to get a bunch of people's panties in a bunch (or 'exploding in frustration') then there's really no point in continuing the discussion and people will have to read about it elsewhere. I'm not even going to bother if it's going to start a pety flame war about who's not included, as if it were personal. I'm just out to share some happy joy joy widget info.

At any rate, this is exactly the can of worms that I was speaking of in my second post. Plugin apps are all well and good, afterall, I used to write code for geoshell back in the day and loved it. It's where I got my start. But I'll reiterate standalone widget application. There are two keywords in there; standalone and widgets. SysStats, while a great extension is just that, an extension of some rather nice API through COM. As much as it may sting, SysStats is definately NOT standalone. It's integrated into object for other products. While configs sure are great stuff, they arent widgets. It's for that same reason that I didnt mention including DesktopX Desktops/Themes or Samurize configs. That's an entire interface, not just a widget. That's a much much much larger scope than I care to write on each week

Samurize... Hmm. I'm aware that there are single, downloadable widgets for Samurize but from what I was able to gather it was the configs that were updating daily moreso than the individual widgets. If there are updated and I receive info on them, I'll be happy to include them.

I'll also be more than happy to include Dashboard widgets if people are willing to send me the info on them. I dont have a mac available, and I'm not savvy on the Dashboard scene

And thanks to the folks who have sent me info on stuff already!

#338099

There are no 'rules'. It's just what I'm willing to post on. I was just about to post a giant explanation about this (again) but I'm just not willing. If you dont get it, sorry.

If you're that upset about it please contact Pe8er and request that the permission granted to me to post this weekly report be revoked. Although you'll be soley responsible for denying the members here the information I'll be compiling for them.

#338138

To recap for anyone trying to make it through the discussion, this is what I will be posting on (so far).

(due to a structured archive sorted by date)

Konfabulator Widgets

DesktopX Widgets/Gadgets

Kapsules Widgets

(relying on user information)

Samurize Widgets (not full configs)

AveDesk Desklets (made for AveDesk, including desklets which utilize SysStats)

AveDesk AveScript Widgets

Dashboard Widgets

#338147

Again, I ask:

Is this going to be on the A-S front page, or widgetforge, or something else completely?

-NC

#338317

Well I'm definately posting it here in 3rd Party Applications. (Actually the first one will be tomorow morning - had to wait for the Konfab update) If the admins or whoever decide that it's front page worthy then I'm sure you'll see it there

#338339

Due the holidays the report will return this coming Monday.

#345621