Widget Ideas

Reply #1 March 23, 2005 2:34 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I still want to do a widget that shows the cdcover of an mp3 playing. But I would have nothing against someone else doing it.

Reply #2 March 23, 2005 3:28 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

There are several that do this already, especially the iTunes ones.

Reply #3 March 23, 2005 6:34 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

Oh, I must have missed that.

Reply #4 March 23, 2005 6:37 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ok, heres what I am hoping for. I want to work a DX menu into the normal windows start panel. When I click on the start button the start panel opens and inside are switches to control weather, meters, etc. Gef, and Jachra gave it a go but the idea died when we just could not code a start button to open the start panel AND the dx menu in the start panel at the same time. During the GUIO I had designed a skin just for this purpose but I guess I was too confident that the start button issue could be worked out. It could be a DX coded start button that is layered over the normal start button (so you never see the the normal start button) that activates the start panel and the dx menu. If anyone thinks this can be done I would be more than glad to provide a mock up windowblind and dx switches to better explain my idea.
I know that it is easy to use a DX coded button to open the start panel but can the button be coded to activate the DX menu at the same time? I will post a screen shot of what I am thinking as soon as possible. Thanks for any attention to the request.

Reply #5 March 23, 2005 6:38 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

sorry my bad and it wont let me edit it now.

In this desktop screenshot there are a few differnet start panel versions. You will see
empty spaces to allow for some switches/buttons. Hope it helps explain my request. http://nighttrain2002.wincustomize.com/about.aspx?SID=4239&UID=686510

Reply #6 March 23, 2005 8:28 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd like a really good ftp drop. The one that is here does not work very well.

Reply #7 March 23, 2005 9:31 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I still want to do a widget that shows the cdcover of an mp3 playing. But I would have nothing against someone else doing it.

There is also a very nice one for WMP made by Scott in the Objects section that works flawlessly if exported as a widget (for those who despise iTunes like myself).

Reply #8 March 23, 2005 11:59 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I've tried on several occations, and failed, to create a simple spellchecker widget. Something I'd be able to paste in a paragraph or word into. I know it's possibile, I just don't have the programming background to "get 'er done!"

Reply #9 March 23, 2005 1:16 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd like a really good ftp drop. The one that is here does not work very well.

You mean drop any file to the object and it'll automaticly upload it to a ftp site?

Reply #10 March 23, 2005 2:18 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I know that it is easy to use a DX coded button to open the start panel but can the button be coded to activate the DX menu at the same time?

I think that is easily achieved by using something like the following in the script of the dx start button:

Sub Object_OnLButtonUp(x,y,dragged)
desktopx.object("startmenuObj").visible=true
End Sub

...however the problem would be how to make it hide when the start menu hides again

Reply #11 March 23, 2005 2:52 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I would like to see an FTP object that allowed both uploading and downloading files.

Reply #12 March 23, 2005 2:58 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

You mean drop any file to the object and it'll automaticly upload it to a ftp site?

Yes, there is one on wincustomize already, but it doesn't work too good.

Reply #13 March 23, 2005 10:50 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I've Always Wanted a Widget That's Something Like The Simple OB Theme. A Nice Little Side Menu That Appears On Mouse Over. Just Somewhere To Put File/App/Folder Shortcuts Or Maybe Fav Links Simply By Right Clicking On the Menu And Adding What You Want.
Being a Skinnable Widget Would Be a Bonus.

Reply #14 March 23, 2005 11:11 PM from JoeUser Forums Top

I would like to see a comic strip widget. There is an object, but it just isn't very elegant. And allow it to have multiple instances run and be able to control the size. I think that would be a lot of fun.

Reply #15 March 23, 2005 11:36 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd like a widget that shows your shutdown options. It could be situated horizontally and/or vertically, and could be minimized to the system tray. Perhaps it could let you decide the amount or type of buttons to be visible. I just think it would be cool to Log Off or Hibernate (my fave) from the desktop - from a 'shutdown widget'.
*looks around* Im probably all alone on this, ha ha.

Reply #16 March 23, 2005 11:46 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

A lottery checker widget...preferably for the Mega Millions lottery.

Here are some more ideas...

eBay Item info widget...updates with latest prices, etc.

UPS package tracking widget

Sports scores widget...baseball is about to start...

a dictionary/thesaurus widget...which returns the info in the widget itself...not launch a website

A Shoutcast internet radio widget is something I would use...

That's all I can think of right now...

Reply #17 March 24, 2005 6:21 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

however the problem would be how to make it hide when the start menu hides again

yup, that was step 2. I was thinking that maybe the DX menu in the start panel could be on a timer or something. After 10 seconds it closes. Not the preferred function I know. LOL If anyone has any ideas, let em rip.

Thanks for giving it some thought Tiggz.

Reply #18 March 24, 2005 3:31 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

Night Train: What if you were to have a timer start after the menu is visible. If the user doesn't move their mouse in the menu area after, say 2 seconds, it disapears. The menu would stay active if there was a "onMouseOver" event, and would close on "onMouseOut". Dont know if this would work though.

Reply #19 March 24, 2005 5:21 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I still want to do a widget that shows the cdcover of an mp3 playing. But I would have nothing against someone else doing it.

I have a piece of code that downloads an album cover from amazon, but I stopped making a widget that used it because the current dxplayer plugin doesn't yet do everything I'd like it to do. If/when it gets updated then I'll be able to carry on and make my aero-esq media widget

Reply #20 March 24, 2005 7:37 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd like to see a widget that can control media other than WMP. I never use a microsoft product when I can use something better. Maybe just a widget that can control an external music or video player through its built in keyboard shortcuts. I'd try and do this myself, but its hard enough just to edit a widget to my liking, let alone program one.
From Above:

Sub Object_OnLButtonUp(x,y,dragged)
desktopx.object("startmenuObj").visible=true
End Sub

Why would you want to drag a sub, why can't you just eat it.

Reply #21 April 13, 2005 1:08 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

some sort of msn widget plug-in would be nice!!

Reply #22 April 13, 2005 6:00 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

Deathkitty, the DX plugin can control winamp as well, cool player too I think.

Reply #23 May 2, 2005 1:59 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

Re: the startmenu.
Opening could be done with an object set to open the startmenu in the normal way, and have a script that runs on mouse button up that makes visible the 'extra' menu bits and brings them to the Always on Top. Then set the focus to the extra menu. Then have a script on the extra menu that calls on the On_KillFocus event to make it dissapear. That way when the user clicks elsewhere the menu. If that's unsuitable (because it would lose focus when the user does anything with the normal menu) maybe you could also check where the mouse is when it loses focus and determine if thats outside of the startmenu area if so then hide, otherwise reset focus. I dont know, maybe this is bad ideas, but it might also give you some.

Reply #24 May 2, 2005 11:27 AM from WinCustomize Forums Top

I would like a Widget that would show CPU temperature on my desktop.

Reply #25 May 4, 2005 2:23 PM from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks guys for thinking about my idea. Unfortunately you are all speaking some wierd alien language. If anyone wants to help out on a project , please contact me. craig at cdoman dot com. All I know is I want to make this thingy turn on that thingy and then other thingys magically appear.