How about an Update Stardock.

Other projects currently have priority.  'nuff said. 

ObjectDock is still in development, although there are no timelines that I can give out. 

Please, don't ask for timelines. Only bad things happen when they are given out.   

Keep watching in the forums for Brad's updates as to what is coming out. He's been doing a great job of keeping us up to date on all the programs.

I use ObjectDock Plus and have not had any problems thus far. There is a post that talks about what you want to see added to ObjectDock. Have you check it out and identified things that you would like to see?

I know that nobody likes to be tied to a timeline. That's understandable, but when you are selling a product, there is nothing wrong with providing a general timeline to keep your current customers happy.



Please point me in the proper direction for one of Brad's recent update posts, because I see nothing posted refering to updates from now back to at least April, and I see no pinned posts refering to any updates.



I use OD+ also, have for several years, and have not had major problems. Unfortunately, the few I did have(yes - I sent help tickets in) were not addressed/solved because they could not replicate them which I accepted and found my own workaround.



Again, please point me to this post(yes, I do know how to use Search - that just returns a bunch a misc posts). This would be a perfect post to pin at the top of the forum. I really like OD+. There are features I would like to see added so I would like to add them to this 'feature request' post. I find myself looking to other products for other features, ex. like live reflections for dock items. Winstep has them and it really adds a nice effect, but IMO, Winstep is an inferior prodect in some respects and can't touch OD+ overall.

I get concerned when I see what seems like a lot of resources and advertisement poured into Stardocks games and things like Impulse (which in my opinion does not enhance my Object Desktop experience at all compared to Stardock Central). It does not seem like some of the 'fringe' items in Object Desktop and My Desktop are getting enough priority and seems like some of them are out of development. That's why I'm looking for an update on OD+.

Thanks.

The thing is . . and I love updates as much as the next guy . . that you bought version x.  There's no need to become "concerned" about no updates because really . . you got what you bought.

As far as lack of updates for ObjectDeaktop, WB JUST got animations on PleaseWait and improved compression for other animations.  Those are HUGE updates.  I'd also bet that, like in the past, different projects bleed into others.  The Impulse dock technology will likely roll over to ObjectDock when the time is right.  And perhaps the animation for WB may get leveraged by CursorFX.

Stardock may take time between releases . . buit it's always worth the wait.

With OD+ I would agree 100%. With Object Desktop, that's a different story because I pay a yearly fee to receive updates for the components. Granted, there have been some pretty good updates (like with WB that you mentioned) and some kick ass additions like Descapes. But like I said, some 'fringe' things (ex. ..like RightClick still don't support .PNG transparency and still use magic pink) and there are still compatibility problems with Objectbar and WB, WindowFX seems to be in a transition point between XP support and Vista support, it seems like LogonStudio for Vista has some problems with SP1, the Enhanced File Dialog does not work in Vista, DesktopX, while updated last year with 3.5, it took forever and seems to be losing steam with it's user communit. RomanDA seems like the only one making any serious push to develop objects and re-establish a user base large enough to entice Stardock to continue serious development. (see https://forums.stardock.com/309508)

I'd like to see a stronger push towards Vista compatibility and tighter UI consistency amond Object Desktop components. How can Stardock seriously brand Object Desktop as 'Object Desktop 2008' when all of the included components are not even 100% Vista compatible? - Vista was released on Nov 30, 2006.

Please don't get me wrong. I really like Stardock and their software. I think you get a heck of a lot for the price of Object Desktop, but when you pay a fee to receive updates for a year, some info on upcoming plans and timelines is only fair. Hypothetically speaking, for all I know (without being told anything different by from Stardock), they have no plans to update anything for the next year, and I wasted my $$ on my subscription. I know that this is not the case, but do you see my point? The only thing on the "Coming Soon" link on www.stardock.com page is games.

I agree that some years the subscription is a friggin' monster deal and other years it's just good.  Nature of the beast I guess.  I've known folks who took a year off because what they had was "good enough" and they could renew at any point during the year for the same price if something amazing happened.

I also agree that a more unified UI for all of the ODNT apps would be nice.  But after trying to do some mock-ups of what they would look more unified there was always somethin contrived.  Someday I hope that some of the apps would be built with the same DesktopX framework that GalCiv and TPM used so that customization by the user would be possible.

Time tells . . . and I'll bet that OD+ 2 will be worth the wait.

I was not going to post as I did not reply to all the comments from my last post about this same subject but I just cannot help myself.

Zubaz, it is clear where your loyalties are however it does not take a monkey to figure out the issues here, look at all the posts asking for an update as to the status of an updated or new version of OD+. People are not necessarily looking for free updates just a new and improved version of OD+ which was promised a long long time ago.

To say we got what we paid for is not necessarily true as there were details on the site stating that OD+ would receive full Vista x64 support soon, which in reality it has not. This statement was removed some time ago, not surprisingly.

All we users are asking is that SD provide some sort of official feedback, let us know what the real status of it is, is it really being developed? From what I have read and due to the lack of official blog I cannot help to assume not.

Like CaptainBeaker I have not had major issues with SD+ and soldier along but we all want new and improved things and in most cases like mine are happy to pay for them.

I am pretty fed up with people just brushing off others when they air they views or request an update. Stating that other projects have priority is pretty poor. As a company SD should provide some sort of timeline or guideline after all they or their representatives stated a long time ago that a new version was being developed!

Please don`t waste your time replying to this and defend SD, there are really no excuses for not providing an official update and some sort of idea when we may see it.

I have the same attitude when I buy a car, a TV or a phone - in other words, hardware. This is software, though. The platforms change and evolve. It just doesnt work that way if you want to keep your customers coming back, buying your products if the product they bought some time ago suddenly doesnt work the way they expect it to any longer, because - for example - they moved from a 32bit to a 64bit OS and a pop-up tells them to wait for a future version...

SD is still a relatively small CO. while yes some times the updates are slamming and most expedient. Other times the updates will be slower in coming. This is relative to what SD is doing when new projects come up they can eat up the resources and slow updates, but those new items often add to the benefits we receive. 

How? Well any new revenues brought in means more devs can be hired or more freebies for the community, or both, etc.. patience has been well rewarded By Brad and the SD crew. Every time a new Prog or extra has been made, the community at large has benefited,It is one of the reasons SD has come so far. While yes it can get annoying to wait for an Issue to be fixed, I will add that most CO's don't hop on every little issue as SD does, even delegating time to an Issue only one customer has. Much less reward the community and it's customers with so many freebies etc.. when was the last time you got a free item from a Company just for being a customer?

Yes my loyalties are to WC and SD because they treat customers (me) well. Even on the slow years ,I still always felt Ive gotten my $'s worth. The skins brought me here. The service and programs merited my $$. The Kindness and generosity of the community made this home.




I run OD+ on Vishta64 and it works fine for me. Tho I do not need some of the stuff Ive seen people requesting in threads.

I agree completely. I that's the major reason I'm a paying/subscribing customer.



Well, when you get right down to it, none of us need any of the UI customizing products that Stardock makes. It's about making our little virtual computer worlds more rewarding and hopefully a little more productive. OD+ meets your needs now, at this time, because at some point in the past people were "requesting in threads", because it didn't meet their needs at that time.

My loyalties are based on years of good service by good people.  Nuf said.No one has brushed off comments here.  I know that the developere have seen the feature requests and the bug reports.  You don't think they don't want to improve their products?  you think they don't want to keep the customer happy?  Stardock is a business . . they need to spend time on the things tha sell REALLY WELL so they can update the things that sell less . . like ObjectDock.Start your own software company, set a deadline, miss it because stuff happens and see how your users flame you.    There are pros and cons either way. 

As to the point that 64bit was coming . . well . . I feel that pain.  I really do.  But the version you bought works as advertised.  And the new version, when released, will be updated to work with the new OS you chose to install.

very true, being here since the beginning im one of the folks who has been voicing my opinions and thoughts just as we want everybody too. My point was that as far as I know OD+ works relatively well on vista 64. sure the "Always on top" bug is an annoyance, but not massively Important to me. So I deal with it and wait for the fix. I know it will come.

Believe me SD is not brushing folks off. It's just some times things get boggled down. Patience is well rewarded.

As for time lines? I know it's nice to get a time line to hope for.. but in the recent past Folks have not just reminded SD of a passt time line and then accpeted the appology and explination of why it's not met. It was ridden in to the ground to the point it got annoying even to those of us who it didnt concern, at times being nothing more than a flame fest for those who like to cause trouble. So I cant really blame SD for possibly being apprehensive to throw out more time lines.. Trolls typically ruin it for the rest of us..

I do know that SD releases one major upgrade in a year, so within a billing cycle a customer gets his one major upgrade.
I also realize SD typically goes well beyond that at times and has released a few major updates on one year and not asked for extra$$ either, unlike other companies do. not to mention SD typically offers them as part of the sub, where as major point releases with most companies are a seperate purchase.

I realize this is still little consolation to your query, but the best answer that can be offered any more is. When it's released.

We'll, if nothing else, these threads can be very entertaining, and I guess I'll have to settle for that.  

By the way, here is a hypothetical post. If I received something like this, I'd be completely happy.

---

CPTBeaker,

Stardock has great things in store for Object Desktop and Object Dock for '08.

- DeskktopX - currently developing the following v4.0 features:
- the ability to export DX objects as ObjectDock docklets
- customizable object reflections for each added state

- ObjectDock - currently only planning minor v1.9 updates:
- bug fixes for z-order issues
- adding some positioning enhancements
- adding reflection effect, unfortunately this version won't be live for docklets

- Updates to other components are on hold for the remainder of the year in order to put more resources on Demigod.

We hope to implement these changes by September 08.

Thanks for your support of Stardock products.

- The Stardock Development Team


or

CaptainBeaker,

ObjectDock, ObjectBar, and WindowsFX will probably not see any updates beyond occasional bug fix releases. These packages will not see any functionality enhancements or new features this year. We are currently reallocating development assets for new products.

We are however excited to announce game packs for Galactic Civilizations II and Game Packs for our soon to be released game, Demigod.

Thanks for your support of Stardock products.

- The Stardock Development Team

Seems to me that things change, priorities change, sometimes there isn't a definitive, even ballpark answer to be given. Hyperdesk is a wonderful example of this..  

No one likes to make promises that because of unforseen circumstances can't be kept.. and honestly I don't blame them because as soon as It's a day late..the flames start.

Well said CaptainBeaker!

Zubaz, you are still missing the point. Comments are bening brushed off as no official updates have been provided.

I am a self employed global software implementation consultant, I work to multi million dollar budgets and strict project plans of which the timelines are often not met, however they are there and they give a goal to work to. Now, I am pretty sure that SD does not just come in every day and say, "well perhaps we will do 10 minutes on OD+ today, nah, maybe not" They must have some sort of timelines/milestones that they work to for all their products, so they must have a rough idea when the deliverables will be met. If they are not met then just let the users know, "Sorry we have fallen behind but are still hard at it and will keep you updated on the progress"

Again, the whole point.... people just want to know, how OD+ is progressing and a rough estimate when we may see it, a new beta version or even a taster of what new features may be waiting for us.


Cheers guys!

Captainbeaker if they gave you a deadline and didn't make it for 1 reason or another you'd be mad at stardock....

How it's progressing is not part of what you bought with your subscription.  Would more info be good?  Yes.  Reply #2 was the official word from Stardock.  At the moment  . .that's it.  Until more . . we all wait.

Please don't speak for me. And no, I would not be upset. What upsets me is a lack of information.



Island Dog, you are a big contributer here and I applaud you! However, I'd like to know what your offical role with Stardock is. Are you a developer on the OD+ team, or are you, for lack of a better description, the Front Page Editor or 'man on the scene' for Stardock/Wincustomize News? If you are within arms reach of the coders or part of the team, would it be so bad or hard to post a reply something in line with my 'hypothetical' Stardock replies? It might put an end to speculation and requests for the same thing pretty quickly.

Maybe I'm making a bad assumption about Stardock's developers as compared to other smaller software companies like Directory Opus's GPSoft-for example. I can post a question and get a concise answer back from Jon, the head of software development. Maybe I'm incorrectly assuming that I should get something back from Brad or someone directly associated with OD+ development.

I have had A LOT of experience with Microsoft MVPs in the official community forums for Windows Home Server over the last six months discussing file corruption issues and the lack of official feedback from MS. One-line responses are the only thing any of the WHS team members would ever give. There were dozens of posts constantly asking for feedback or information. At least with them, I expected it.

- I suppose I should concede and throw up the white flag and just wait.

I'm not a developer, I'm just stating what I know.  ObjectDock has not been discontinued and 2.0 is scheduled for development.  However, I don't give out any type of time line because I can't guarantee they would be met for whatever reason. 

As of right now, I believe it has already been publicly stated that there will be no more major revisions to ObjectDock until the 2.0 release. 

 

Thanks.

Could we not at least have a solution to the "Tabs Always On Top" bug with OD+? That would be a big improvement to this already excellent and indispensable application.

You mean the bug that when you hover over an icon, the description appears *behind* the window? I'd really like to see that fixed as well.