DesktopX 3 Journal: Day 4

The new face of DesktopX 3..

http://www.desktopx.net
from WinCustomize Forums

The most visual change in DesktopX 3 over its predecessors is that when the user double clicks on the DesktopX icon, they will be presented with a clean, easy to use, interface.

The beauty of DesktopX has traditionally been that it makes it easy to create really cool stuff. That has also been its problem too. DesktopX tightly integrated its development environment with the user environment. The net result is that the poor guy who just wants to put a neat CPU meter on their desktop or a really nice drive object on their desktop had to also mess around with the development environment. And no matter how simple the DesktopX development environment is, it's still a developer's environment.

This also allows us to provide more options for users.  The run-time version of the program (DesktopX Client) is only $14.95 (about half what other commercial widget enablers provide and has far more features). The full blown DesktopX will be $24.95 but also comes with Object Desktop.  With that version, users will be able to mold their own desktops to their own desire, make widgets, etc.  And then there's DesktopX Pro which introduces gadgets -- the next evolution of widgets. Widgets require the widget enabling program to be installed. Gadgets are truly stand alone. In fact, the DesktopX 3 UI is a gadget.

desktopx
18,854 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Go Go Gadgets
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Very nice. It's looks like this will be a great improvement.
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Will themes be resolution independent?

More than half the themes out there won’t display properly at 1600x1200.

That’s very frustrating and the main reason I quit using DX a year ago.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Looks pretty cool!!!
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
stubby - I have the same problem as you since I like large monitors with a very high resolution. Most of what's out there doesn't scale right so I'm very limited on what I widgets and such I can use.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Realy nice update, a good job from Martin! I have a suggestion ... I think it would be cool to have a free reader version for who want to only use themes (like flash web site) and a builder with an encryption code who protect our works for modifications! For who want to see our work codes, other people can ask the artist for it!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Themes can be resolution independent already. It's up the the theme author to do it.

For instance, Galactic Civilizations II's screens are basically DesktopX themes and they're resolution independent.

Think of themes much like web pages. Some websites are hard coded for a particular resolution. Others are resolution independent. It's not Internet Explorer's fault that the theme author didn't make their page resolution independent.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
All themes should be resolution independent. It should not be up to the author to make it so it should be hard wired into DX format.

I don’t have the time or the spare ram to create my own themes. Bottom line I can’t use most of the themes out there. And it’s always the theme I like that doesn’t work at my resolution don’t ya know.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

We're software developers, not magicians. Perhaps with Longhorn and its compositoer we could rescale everything on the fly, but again - think of themes like websites. It's up the the maker of teh theme/website to decide whether they want their theme to be resolution independent.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is realy not that hard to make a theme resolution indepentant. You can usaly do it without and scripting at all. But most people just dont bother. Thats can be the differanse between the a good DX skinner and a great one.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well all programs are magic to me so as far as I’m concerned you’re a magician.

This is my third year subscribing to Object Desktop and I love WB. When I’m looking through the WCB and find a blind I like I just apply it and presto changeo it works. I like that, But DX not so magical.

I’m very good with PhotoShop so maybe one day I’ll find the time to create my own themes but not today. Just saying that is why I don’t use DX. Love your other tricks though.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I awnt the pro versions. I want to tuse it for my presentations. When is the first alpha/beta comming out? I got a project hand-in just after easter break. (hint hint)