DesktopX 2.4 improves widget support

New version supports configurable widgets

Thursday, December 16, 2004 by Frogboy | Discussion: DesktopX

Software developer Stardock has released a significant update to DesktopX today.  The world's most popular widget enabling program has found competition growing from programs such as Konfabulator, Avedesk and others.

While those programs do not support DesktopX's ability to build complete desktops and distribute them, they do support a robust "widget" architecture. Widgets in the desktop customization market are mini-programs that are designed to reside on your desktop. Where the desktop was once the exclusive home to icons, widgets (and DesktopX objects) allow users to extend the desktop functionality of Windows.

DesktopX widgets can be brought to the front with a function key (default is F9) or hidden entirely until needed (default is F10). But DesktopX widgets were previously not very configurable by end users. If a user wanted to change the color or tweak the shadow or even the Z-order, the user had to load DesktopX, import the widget, make the changes, and then re-export them.  With version 2.4, users can go to the properties of the DesktopX widget and change them directly.

"One of the key advantages DesktopX has over other widget-enabling programs is that DesktopX widgets are EXEs that can be run without running DesktopX.  However, many users requested the ability to be able to modify how those widgets functioned without having to import them into the DesktopX environment.  We consider 2.4 really the start on this journey," said Brad Wardell, Product Manager of DesktopX at Stardock. "Future versions will add labeling, and plugin configurability right into the context menu. Eventually a DesktopX widget will have all the advantages of a stand along program while using a fraction of the memory and resources that a typical stand alone program uses."

DesktopX 2.4 is a free download. Stardock provides an enhanced version that supports premium widgets as well as the ability to export content as widgets.  The enhanced version is available stand alone or as part of Stardock's overall suite of desktop enhancement utilities called Object Desktop.

Visit www.desktopx.net to get the new version of DesktopX.

 

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John Hamp
Reply #1 Thursday, December 16, 2004 1:19 AM
Ooh "CraptopX". Well the loser living in his mom's basement crowd has spoken.
Istari
Reply #2 Thursday, December 16, 2004 1:25 AM
Okay, I'll bite.

ScottK must be using some piss poor monitor if he thinks the widgets in that screenshot are awful. Stepping through them...

I see a fish swimming on the desktop. Konfabulator and Avedesk can't even do animated widgets like this. Ditto for the globe. I have that globe and know it spins fluidly and the animated lava lamp.

The picture frame widget looks just as good as the Konfabulator one and Avedesk doesn't have one at all. The iTunes widget looks as good as any Avedsk similar widget. I like the Konfabulator one better visually though so Konfab get a point finally but there are a lot of other media player widgets for DesktopX.
Latin4567
Reply #3 Thursday, December 16, 2004 1:38 AM
What a loser
Frogboy
Reply #4 Thursday, December 16, 2004 1:40 AM
ScottK - isn't it a school night?
DigitalCHET
Reply #5 Thursday, December 16, 2004 1:44 AM
ScottK

You know, even if they are crappy looking (which quite clearly they're not), DesktopX gives you the ability to easily create your own widgets and objects. You can create your own images and add your own functions to them quite easily.

To come to the home of DesktopX and begin insulting its creators and contributors and putting down the software seems rather childish to me. By your own behaviour it seems you still have a few years left in elementary school.

Could you please post a link to some of the widgets you yourself have created for any of the other software you mentioned?

Thanks.
ScottK
Reply #6 Thursday, December 16, 2004 1:48 AM
Those have to the crappiest looking widgets ever. Konfabulator, AveDesk, and Kapsules don\'t have to worry about competition from CraptopX. They actually have talented people making widgets instead of the five year olds at Stardock. Good luck on having your no talent CraptopX \"artists\" graduating from elementary art school and mastering the use of MS Paint. Maybe in the next decade or two you\'ll come fractionally closer to producing the professional looking widgets found in other programs instead of something that looks like it came from a Saturday morning cartoon.
Unbeliever (Anonymous User)
Reply #7 Thursday, December 16, 2004 3:29 AM
Look all the yesmen come to Fagboy's rescue.
Stardock Fan (Anonymous User)
Reply #8 Thursday, December 16, 2004 7:02 AM
ScottK, if you don't like DX why are you wasting your time writing in this thread? Funny
Stardock Fan (Anonymous User)
Reply #9 Thursday, December 16, 2004 7:03 AM
..and maybe you shouldn't even BE HERE at all
Island Dog
Reply #10 Thursday, December 16, 2004 8:21 AM
I can't believe people actually come here to flame a product which they probably never used.
mormegil
Reply #11 Thursday, December 16, 2004 8:55 AM
As one of the Elementry school artist, I would like to say thanks skottK for you wise and well thought out argument. Perhaps you shoul show us some of your fine work? so we can all learn form the master.
BlueDev
Reply #12 Thursday, December 16, 2004 10:32 AM
lol, what a tool. So good to know this is the level of intelligence out there.

Nice work on Desktop X guys, the widgets are looking better, the interface is greatly improved. Keep it up.
Draginol
Reply #13 Thursday, December 16, 2004 10:44 AM

Ah Unbeliever (if that is you), yes, people who would object to some loser coming on and referring to DesktopX as "crapware" and other silliness are "yes men".  But I guess that's the kind of logic one can expect from someone who calls people "fagboy".

Septimus
Reply #14 Thursday, December 16, 2004 11:15 AM
Damn Unbeliever, I have a real hard time believing that is actually you and really hope that it's just someone using your name and being a REAL ASSHAT! (as is ScottK)

Whoever it is really needs to get a life over this stuff. If this really is you Unbe, then sorry man, I have lost the modicum of respect I had for you.
butch123
Reply #15 Thursday, December 16, 2004 2:03 PM
Wow it really shows you are a person, who has never used Desktopx, The again maybe your mummy would not buy it for you.Because only a child vents this way.
HG_Eliminator
Reply #16 Thursday, December 16, 2004 2:58 PM
yes i too would like to see the widgets built by this master of all that is graphical.....
HG_Eliminator
Reply #17 Thursday, December 16, 2004 3:01 PM
i mean "dude ur stuff sux" sure was a strong arguement....wow did ya think it up all by ur self ? or did ya have friends help?
RomanDA
Reply #18 Thursday, December 16, 2004 3:07 PM
As a fellow "Elementry school artist" i would like to say.. kiss my .... oops.. wait i cant say that ... Scott's MOM might be rading this to him, and i dont want to offend her. Its not fair to blame the parents for a child that turns out so screwed up.

I agree with mormegil:
Perhaps you shoul show us some of your fine work? so we can all learn form the master.


PLEASE oh Paint Shop Pro Master.. show me what a "REAL" widget looks like.


Poster (Anonymous User)
Reply #19 Thursday, December 16, 2004 3:49 PM
Easy fix, have all anonymous postings go through moderation. Threads that are as childish as this one has become - becomes threads of the past (and not to be repeated).
Gollums
Reply #20 Thursday, December 16, 2004 3:58 PM
>> instead of something that looks like it came from a Saturday morning cartoon

Um, what if I'm using ToonXP? Awesome suite btw!

I wish I had the time to waste giving advice on things that I don't understand that will be promptly dismissed!

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