SDTV: DesktopX themes
Sunday, August 29, 2004 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
This is the first part in a series of DesktopX videos. This one shows off the power of DesktopX themes.
DesktopX is a program that extends your Windows PC to support true objects. These objects can be used to do all kinds of cool things.
As a practical matter, these objects tend to be used for 3 things:
- Create "super icons" that are animated or change based on system information.
- Put together to make mini-applications that are then exported as widgets. Widgets have less overhead than a typical stand alone program and in DesktopX's case, widgets are .EXEs. You don't even have to have DesktopX running to use them.
- Or put together to build an entire desktop.
This first part focuses on using DesktopX to customize your overall desktop (themes).
You can get DesktopX at www.desktopx.net. It is also part of Object Desktop (www.objectdesktop.com).
JunkInternetMail
Reply #2 Monday, August 30, 2004 9:22 AM
Reply #2 Monday, August 30, 2004 9:22 AM
It would be nice if these were a bit more professionally done...
Or minimally the person doing the vocal navigation of such short videos were to be MORE ARTICULATE and sound less intoxicated...slurring of one's speech takes away the focus of what is being said about such a great product. And you never know who is viewing these...food for thought!
Or minimally the person doing the vocal navigation of such short videos were to be MORE ARTICULATE and sound less intoxicated...slurring of one's speech takes away the focus of what is being said about such a great product. And you never know who is viewing these...food for thought!
Frogboy
Reply #3 Monday, August 30, 2004 11:05 AM
Reply #3 Monday, August 30, 2004 11:05 AM
Well gee, thanks for your "suggestions" Metaphyicalmind. If you don't like them, don't listen to them. I can assure you I wasn't "intoxicated" when I recorded them. I listened to it and as geeky as my voice sounds, it's certainly not "slurred".
dukeofchutney
Reply #4 Monday, August 30, 2004 11:19 AM
Reply #4 Monday, August 30, 2004 11:19 AM
Oh dear, Metaphysicalmind THAT comment was a bit thoughtless, mate - especially seeing as there are few, if any, software companies who'd have gone this extra mile for their users.
CygnusXII
Reply #5 Monday, August 30, 2004 12:37 PM
Reply #5 Monday, August 30, 2004 12:37 PM
Well, aint that a pisser. Now even I can tell that that was a rude and uncalled for comment. I'll go one further, MetaphysicalMind why don't you try staying up till 1 o'clock in the morning, on a freaking Sunday, and do 2 Video's for the Masses. What the heck, do ya want? A full length feature on DesktopX. Go to Hollywood, my friend.
Now as previously posted, I do not mince words about when it is needed, and my frined, you have crossed the line. Might also be the quality of your codec, its' installation, or the current state of your systems install (environment,) that is the problem. Brad always strikes me as having a Connecticut, sounding voice. My Best bud, is from there (Hartford) and sounds just like Brad.
Now as previously posted, I do not mince words about when it is needed, and my frined, you have crossed the line. Might also be the quality of your codec, its' installation, or the current state of your systems install (environment,) that is the problem. Brad always strikes me as having a Connecticut, sounding voice. My Best bud, is from there (Hartford) and sounds just like Brad.
Wet Monkey
Reply #6 Monday, August 30, 2004 12:46 PM
Reply #6 Monday, August 30, 2004 12:46 PM
I watched the video, twice, I thought it was great for what it's intent was nor did I hear any slurring at all. I don't understand people that complain or have a critique about someone trying to add a few little extra and nice services for their users, when they by no means are obligated to. Everyone's an expert . 
Comments like the one from Meta above are not constructive, just self-absorbed drivel and extrodinarily rude. >
Comments like the one from Meta above are not constructive, just self-absorbed drivel and extrodinarily rude. >
dukeofchutney
Reply #7 Monday, August 30, 2004 3:07 PM
Reply #7 Monday, August 30, 2004 3:07 PM
Woooah, easy boys, if MetaphysicalMind has come back and read this far then I'm sure he probably regrets shooting his mouth off before he'd loaded his brain.
No point beating him to a verbal pulp, remember we're a community, not an intellectual click - if you follow my logic.
No point beating him to a verbal pulp, remember we're a community, not an intellectual click - if you follow my logic.
GhoS
Reply #8 Monday, August 30, 2004 8:17 PM
Reply #8 Monday, August 30, 2004 8:17 PM
I wish more companies took the time to showcase their software in mini videos like this. Its such a difference to actually see things in action. I almost always learn some little tidbit I didn't really know about before, or some feature I didn't really use because I didn't understand it til I saw it in action.
The videos don't need to be professionally done. I think too often these days we except people to be like computers and not have any faults. I like the personal touch. Being willing to expose yourself is part of being human. We are too afraid to make mistakes.
Keep them coming Brad, it is much appreciated. I kinda wish theme authors would create short ones for their own DX themes to really show off the work they put into them.
The videos don't need to be professionally done. I think too often these days we except people to be like computers and not have any faults. I like the personal touch. Being willing to expose yourself is part of being human. We are too afraid to make mistakes.
Keep them coming Brad, it is much appreciated. I kinda wish theme authors would create short ones for their own DX themes to really show off the work they put into them.
DBachen
Reply #10 Tuesday, August 31, 2004 11:39 AM
Reply #10 Tuesday, August 31, 2004 11:39 AM
It would be nice if these SDTV videos could actually be found off of the Stardock website. I checked all over and they certainly aren't somewhere obvious. Someone else mentioned an archive so I'd like to assume if the links were put up, there would be links to all of the videos created so far.
Corky_O
Reply #11 Tuesday, August 31, 2004 11:08 PM
Reply #11 Tuesday, August 31, 2004 11:08 PM
Thanks again, Brad.
Always good to add the visual examples to the written instructions. It seems like a great way to address the different learning styles of the users.
I for one certainly learn the best when I have both read and seen the thing I am trying to learn.
Keep up the great support when possible. 
Always good to add the visual examples to the written instructions. It seems like a great way to address the different learning styles of the users.
I for one certainly learn the best when I have both read and seen the thing I am trying to learn.
Keep up the great support when possible.
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Reply #1 Sunday, August 29, 2004 11:41 PM