Object Desktop 2009 Preview
Friday, September 19, 2008 by Frogboy | Discussion: Personal Computing
It's hard to believe 2008 is starting to come to an end. The yearly snapshot of Object Desktop is starting to come together. This year, however, we're doing to do some things differently. First, we're going to release a lot of updates/new features with the snapshot instead of releasing putting things out bit by bit in the months leading up to it. This way, the release is more of an event.
Object Desktop Today
Let's first start off with Object Desktop as it is today:
Object Desktop is a suite of desktop enhancement utilities that allows users to transform their Windows experience. It comes in two forms: Object Desktop and Object Desktop Ultimate. The Ultimate Edition is designed for power users while the standard
edition is designed for everyone else.
The key parts of Object Desktop are:
- WindowBlinds - which can change the Windows GUI.
- IconPackager - which can change the icons of Windows all at once
- DeskScapes - which can provided animated wallpaper
- SoundPackager - which lets users package and share sets of sound schemes
- DesktopX - which lets users create and use widgets and desktops
- MyColors - which lets users apply professionally created themes that completely change the Windows experience. And Object Desktop users get 4 free ones per year.
Object Desktop Ultimate adds:
- TweakVista - a utility for getting the most out of Windows Vista
- WindowFX - a utlity that lets Windows XP users add special effects to their PC
- SkinStudio - an application that lets usres create skins
- IconDeveloper - an icon creation utility
- ObjectBar - let users create and use their own replacement UI elements to Windows
- IconX - Lets users enhance the Windows XP desktop icons
- LogonStudio - lets users create and use their own Windows XP or Windows Vista logons
- Keyboard LaunchPad - lets users assign hot keys to common actions
- RightClick - lets users replace the desktop right-click menu with one of their own creation
So that's where we are today. Anything not listed above is something that is already probably set to legacy already.
Object Desktop Tomorrow
Now, someone who purchases Object Desktop right now gets everything we do for an entire year which includes Object Desktop 2009. Below are the things we're working on for Object Desktop 2009. All of this is subject to change but this gives you an idea of what we're hoping to accomplish/do within the next year when Object Desktop 2009 is released.
Things that are going to go away...
Some programs are going to be phased out (existing users will still be able to download the latest version):
- IconX is going to go away. Sorry. I like this program too but making it work on Vista would be virtually impossible.
Things that are going to go into maintenance mode (no longer updated):
- ObjectBar. This is one of my favorites but we need to rewrite this to keep it up to date and at that point, we would release a new program based on today's requirements.
So there's the bad news.
Things that are going to get attention for Object Desktop 2009
+ DesktopX.
+ RightClick.
+ Keyboard LaunchPad.
+ SoundPackager.
Things that are going to get a lot of attention but may not be available on the release of Object Desktop 2009 but should be released within a year depending on Windows 7's release date.
+ DesktopX 4.0 (Vista/XP/Windows 7)
+ WindowFX 4.0 (Vista/XP/Windows 7)
+ WindowBlinds (Vista/XP/Windows 7)
+ SkinStudio (Vista/XP/Windows 7)
+ DeskScapes 3 (Vista/XP/Windows 7)
Also, anything that doesn't work on Windows Vista 64-bit by the time Object Desktop 2009 ships gets pulled (other than WindowFX). 64-bit is the future.
NEW THINGS we hope to have available either on the release of Object Desktop 2009 or shortly after:
+ Theme Manager 3.0. Major update, everything everyone was hoping for.
+ BootSkin Vista.
+ StyleVista 1.0. (Ultimate Only)
NEW THINGS that are in development
+ Fences (Ultimate only)
NEW FOCUSES IN DEVELOPMENT
We are looking at Windows 7 closely and one of the things we are going to be looking to do going forward is developing more software that improves system performance and usability as well as improving productivity. Keep a close eye out on Impulse. It's not just a download manager, it's a platform. Expect to eventually see a lot of "cloud" features in Object Desktop that help make Windows faster and easier to use.
To learn more about Object Desktop, visit www.objectdesktop.com.
Stay tuned!
Reply #2 Friday, September 19, 2008 1:59 PM
And the good news from Stardock just keeps coming.
Reply #3 Friday, September 19, 2008 2:58 PM
I have to say, Fences is one of the best desktop utilities I've loaded in years!
Reply #4 Friday, September 19, 2008 3:09 PM
Sounds great! You're right Fences is simple and powerful. Can't wait to see the new goodies.
Reply #5 Friday, September 19, 2008 3:44 PM
RIP Object Bar........
+ RightClick.
Reply #6 Friday, September 19, 2008 4:45 PM
Simply said "Brilliant, its what Stardock is all about, innovation"
Reply #7 Friday, September 19, 2008 4:57 PM
Sounds very good! Count on my support.
What about Object Dock??? We've given SeaBass a lot of feedback and he's passed it along, so what's going to happen with that?
Doc
Reply #8 Friday, September 19, 2008 5:28 PM
Fences... WOW A must have for all windows users from reading the details.. Now all i have to hope for is a nice invite
(Nudge, Nudge have sent request - drengin at live dot co dot uk - thanks )
Reply #9 Friday, September 19, 2008 5:55 PM
Excellent. I am very happy to see that RightClick will receive some attention. It is one of my favorite productivity applications.
Reply #10 Friday, September 19, 2008 6:04 PM
I thought Impulse was replaceing OD? I'm so confused now
Reply #11 Friday, September 19, 2008 6:16 PM
Lookin' good so far. I especially like the idea of a Bootskin Vista! (Hope those Bootskins are still capable of being animated!)
Reply #12 Friday, September 19, 2008 6:17 PM
Sorry to see IconX go. I loved it when I had XP
But I am happy to hear about what is coming down the pipeline!
Reply #13 Friday, September 19, 2008 6:31 PM
ObjectDock isn't part of ODNT.
Reply #14 Friday, September 19, 2008 7:42 PM
Going to a two tiered pricing structure, interesting. Now will have to pay extra for features I'm currently supposed to have with Object Desktop, WindowsFX, IconX and RightClick, but don't work with Vista?
Reply #15 Friday, September 19, 2008 7:45 PM
Sounds terrific about the Bootskin Vista. I was curious though what Stylevista was exactly.
Personally I don't see the big deal with Fences. It seems nice if you usually have lots of clutter on your desktop which I do not understand because the desktop isnt' avaiable when you have windows open. Yes you can click show desktop, but seems an inefficient manner of storing links, etc. Admittedly Fences will help there, but I still think there are better ways to organize things.
Reply #16 Friday, September 19, 2008 9:26 PM
Wow, great stuff. But I noticed no add-ons to the new Object Desktop version such as CursorFX and ObjectDock. Now I understand these are great programs that could make the cost higher for OD, but could make them cheaper by getting a true Ultimate bundle of all the great StarDock software in a single suit. Wouldnt hurt to offer such a package.
Reply #17 Friday, September 19, 2008 10:01 PM
ODNT 2008 was already in two different packages (regular vs. the ultimate package).
Reply #18 Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:08 AM
Reply #19 Saturday, September 20, 2008 7:09 AM
It's horses for courses - I'm a minimal desktop type of user too but I'm trying out Fences to see if it changes my mind. It's certainly a lot better than a bog standard desktop. It might be nice if it incorporated some of the features of the now defunct IconX but then maybe it's those features that Vista can't handle.
Some of my favourite toys are getting attention, so I'm happy.
Is there going to be any move toward more integration of the products - or at least a more conistent user interface?
Reply #20 Saturday, September 20, 2008 8:36 AM
I can't wait for the next WindowFX and Style Vista
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Reply #1 Friday, September 19, 2008 1:40 PM
Sounds good