RSSStardock Reinvents Windows Desktop
By Nate Mook | Published March 16, 2005, 8:41 PM
From Apple to Microsoft, desktop widgets -- or small applications that display information such as weather or stock quotes -- are on everyone's mind. Both companies are slated to include such functionality in their next operating systems, but Stardock has taken the idea one step further with DesktopX 3.0.
Stardock, known for its Windows customization software such as WindowBlinds, this week launched the third generation of its DesktopX platform. The new release is being billed not only a as way to extend the Windows desktop, but also as a rapid development tool for designing stand-alone programs Stardock calls "Gadgets."
The concept of mini-applications that sit atop the desktop is not a new idea; DesktopX has touted user-created objects since its first release in 2000. Former Apple employee Arlo Rose launched Konfabulator in early 2003 to also serve this purpose. Even Apple has targeted desktop widgets for inclusion in Mac OS X version 10.4.
Stardock, however, has added a twist to differentiate DesktopX 3: Widgets can be exported as executables that run on any Windows machine without DesktopX installed.
The idea, according to Stardock CEO Brad Wardell, is to encourage the development of sophisticated mini-applications - not simply clocks and CPU monitors. "The clocks and weather forecast widgets are really just the tip of the iceberg. Developers will be able to create a whole new kind of freeware, shareware, and commercial software using DesktopX," says Wardell.
To aid this process, DesktopX 3 handles the visual work while a developer adds programming logic using JavaScript or VB Script. In an example offered by Stardock, an application to display BetaNews RSS headlines was created in just five steps. The result can then be exported as a Gadget and shared.
Stardock is hoping to spawn a marketplace for Gadgets and has opened a new Web site to this end. Developers can submit applications built with DesktopX and name their own price, which is then evenly split between the developer and Stardock.
But consumers looking to enhance the Windows desktop aren't the only intended customers of DesktopX 3. Stardock is preparing a release for enterprises that creates complete desktop replacements, which make use of the security features in Windows and are designed for kiosks or secure desktops.
DesktopX 3 comes in three flavors starting at $14.95 USD for basic widget support. DesktopX Standard with the ability to develop widgets runs $24.95, while DesktopX Pro adds Gadget exporting for $69.95 USD. A limited demo is also available for download.
played around with version 3 and its really interesting. i like it and suggest you all try it
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|I would agree that this program isn't something for everyone. But it most certainly isn't a memory hog. Though like any program it does require memory to do its thing.
Stardock is constantly improving their product and this version of DX is an example of that. I've seen it go from a program with promise but highly unusable to a program that is easy to use and has enormous potential as long as people take the time to learn it.
It does have a learning curve, but for those who enjoy adding usefulness at the click of a button without having to download another program, then this is for you. This helps you make Windows your own.
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|I like using this software when I'm in Windows( rarely).I prefer Linux.(Xandros v3)-(SuSe Linux 9.2)Linux actually has programs that you can use to customize your Desktop, like DesktopX and Windowblind.(Free)
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|I was an Object Desktop owner/subscriber for years. This year I did not renew, not because there were free alternatives, but because the stuff that was available for free showed more innovation and creativity. The visual styles that are available for free, without using WindowBlinds, often look better and have better functionality. As for widgets, I've been using Kapsules for a while now and it works great. There are plenty of useful and attractive widgets available. I'll grant that Stardock is not responsible for the themes or widgets that people make for their program, but perhaps they should think about hiring a few designers to put out quality themes, widgets, icons, etc. since there is no reason to buy the program without them.
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|Maybe you should actually look at DesktopX 3 before condemning it.
Here's a shot from their website of some of the widgets that come with it: http://www.stardock.com/...s/desktopx/dx-feb05.jpg
I have a couple of these widgets imported onto my dekstop right now. Total memory use is only 10 megabytes and they look great. As for the rest of what you said on their whole suite, Object Desktop, you're entitled to your opinion. I don't agree though. There's been a lot of great stuff done with Object Desktop recently IMO.
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|Object Desktop has continued to receive a great deal of meaningful updates. Let's say you stopped getting updates at the end of 2004, then so far you've missed WindowBlinds 4.5 which lets you change toolbar icons, progress animations, change the color of skins via hue/saturation, and a bunch of other features. And it supports alpha blended start menus.
DesktopX 3.0 comes with a bunch of high quality widgets made by our own design team.
There's also been the release of RightClick, a whole new program. And ObjectBar 2 is nearly out which will be able to embed DesktopX 3 widgets in its bars.
As for the quality of the content made, there's been some really outstanding skins, themes, icons, etc. made, particularly recently. The GUI Olympics was last year, for instance, there was a lot of remarkable and innovative content created.
But none of that has to do with DesktopX 3 which is what this article was about.
I can't see how anyone could say that DesktopX 3 isn't extremely innovative. Kapsules (which is developed by someone who works at Stardock btw) is a fine widget enabler. But DesktopX is much more than that.
Check this link out for more info to get a fuller idea of just how much is new in DesktopX 3:
http://www.stardock.com/products/desktopx/tour.asp
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|Loaded this through two versions now and it reminds me of the old "Flying Toasters" screensaver app by After Dark in the early 90s, an absolutely horrid app that was nothing less than a system vampire, sucking your memory resources until they were dry. I presume BetaNews was paid for this article, much like the Bush Administration pays for its news?
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|I'm sorry but you obviously have an agenda against them. I've used this for a couple years now and it works as advertised. It uses approximately 30MB of memory , but if you have a descent computer with 512-1000MB of RAM (which is pretty much standard these days), then it runs fine. It does NOT have memory leaks so it doesn't run out of control. I have left it up running for weeks at a time and it doesn't cause any problems.
In fact it is very, very useful. I leave the weather module up on my desktop at all times so i don't have to go to the advertisement-laden weather websites anymore. Also, the stock ticker is quite nice. All the information I want on my desktop whenever i need it.
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|You're comparing a desktop enhancement to a screen saver? Do you even know what DesktopX is?
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|Is they never work as reliably as the shell they are replacing/running underneath. Programs expect certain GUI functions available. These customized shells are a blast to play with. Their draw quickly fades as you start to notice that they are eye candy and really aren't helping you get work done any quicker.
Oh well, to each their own. I used one for about 6 months but it never seemed as stable as a system without, so I won't even bother again. STability and reliability is king.
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|DesktopX isn't a shell replacement. You use it with Explorer (or whatever shell you choose) not instead of it.
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|This is true.. desktop x and all the apps that come in stardock object desktop are just simply programs that run atop your existing windows shell to make a few more bells and whistles.
If you wanty an alternative shell, check out GeOS Shell, or perhaps talisman... there used to be a kicka** shell replacement called reveal but it has long since went byebye :( I luffed reveal *sniff sniff*
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|DesktopX is a component part of Stardock's Object Desktop. Object desktop is a suite of applications that attempt to componentize many features of a windows desktop. It is called object desktop because that's the name it used back when it was just an OS/2 application suite, OS/2 being object oriented (as opposed to windows object linking and embedding technology).
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|I guess something's been done about the Memory the application uses. It's a nice application though but I believe it's ok if they could do something about the memory issue.
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|i agree with the above. i like stardocks apps, however after running on a machine for week, i notice severe system lag, and had to uninstall.
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|I agree. I've tried DesktopX, ObjectBar, and WindowFX, and they've all been too buggy to keep permanently (or buy). The only Stardock program that I use is ObjectDock, which is very stable.
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|Windows 3.1 was "buggy" too. Windows XP is much better.
Simiarly, you should try DesktopX 3.0 before saying it's "buggy".
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|Good luck uninstalling these apps from Stardock if you have to. Usually takes a system reformat to get rid of all its hooks into your system.
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|That's nonsense. Uninstall the program, reboot, and you're set and that's the worst case scenario. In the case of something like DesktopX, you just right click on the system tray icon and unload it and it's off. It has no hooks.
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|all apps in the object desktop suite are easily uninstalled using stardock's installer. after your reboot be sure and clean out desktopx and windowblinds directories as any skins or themes you installed will not be removed. I have never had a problem since the inception of any of the components of object desktop or for that matter the entire suite.
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|I want to use Desktop X, BUT I CANNOT GET ANY HELP ANYWHERE. STARDOCK FORUM, WHICH DIRECTS ME TO MY OUTLOOK GETS NO ANSWERS FOR MONTHS. i'VE TRIED JOE USER, MSFN, NEWIN.NET, WILDERS, AND WINCUSTOMIZE FORUM.
PLEASE HELP. i HAVE WIDGETS THAT WONT CHANGE DATES ON THE CALENDAR AND WEATHER WON'TLET ME UPDATE MY ZIPCODE. i'VE UNINSTALLED AND REINSTALLED THE SAME OLD INFO STAYS THERE
pLEASE EMAIL ME eric0668@yahoo.com
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