![Cobalt Zin[cave]](https://skins15.wincustomize.com/0/1/1354/20/5/preview-20-5-100x75.jpg?d=991713824.453)
Submitted for your approval. [Win2k and XP only]
Sunday, December 23, 2001 by zmatrix | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Hello, I am seeking comments on the following desktop enhancement tool:
http://zmatrix.n3.net
Before you even bother however, please let me warn you that it is only compatible with windows 2000 or windows XP, and active desktop must be turned off for the best behaviour. So please don't complain about the product just because it doesn't run under 9x.
http://zmatrix.n3.net
Before you even bother however, please let me warn you that it is only compatible with windows 2000 or windows XP, and active desktop must be turned off for the best behaviour. So please don't complain about the product just because it doesn't run under 9x.
1Renegade
Reply #2 Sunday, December 23, 2001 7:33 PM
Reply #2 Sunday, December 23, 2001 7:33 PM
Hey Z
I was about to download to check it out, but noticed that the version available from the c/net link is only version 1.2.1 rather than your most recent version 1.2.4, why is that, and when will your most recent version be available?
Thanks
Renegade
I was about to download to check it out, but noticed that the version available from the c/net link is only version 1.2.1 rather than your most recent version 1.2.4, why is that, and when will your most recent version be available?
Thanks
Renegade
zmatrix
Reply #3 Sunday, December 23, 2001 8:25 PM
Reply #3 Sunday, December 23, 2001 8:25 PM
re: hidden desktop icons. Thanks for the feedback Koasati. However, i'm not sure what you mean by hiding your desktop icons. If your icon layout changes while the program is running, you can right click on the icon for it in the system tray and select refresh... kinda inconvenient, but i *think* it would deal with your problem (correct me if i'm out to lunch).
re: latest version. Good eye Renegade. The truth is that CNet just sends download requests right back to my website so the version that you get from CNet is always the same version as shown on my website (ie: always the latest version). The reason I bother with the CNet re-direct is because it's a convenient way to track how much downloading is done, and it gives downloaders a place to enter comments (even if it is just a complaint about the fact that it doesn't run under 9x... sorry, i'm bitter :0)). The reason the CNet version number is out of date is because CNet takes their sweet time in updating details on their site, I submitted an update request over 2 weeks ago and they have yet to change it... what can you do?
Z.S.
re: latest version. Good eye Renegade. The truth is that CNet just sends download requests right back to my website so the version that you get from CNet is always the same version as shown on my website (ie: always the latest version). The reason I bother with the CNet re-direct is because it's a convenient way to track how much downloading is done, and it gives downloaders a place to enter comments (even if it is just a complaint about the fact that it doesn't run under 9x... sorry, i'm bitter :0)). The reason the CNet version number is out of date is because CNet takes their sweet time in updating details on their site, I submitted an update request over 2 weeks ago and they have yet to change it... what can you do?
Z.S.
rmiles7721
Reply #4 Sunday, December 23, 2001 8:31 PM
Reply #4 Sunday, December 23, 2001 8:31 PM
Has it been tested with Litestep, Desktopx, or Nextstart? Just wondering how compatible it is with them before downloading.
zmatrix
Reply #5 Sunday, December 23, 2001 8:48 PM
Reply #5 Sunday, December 23, 2001 8:48 PM
Mr D,
Nope, sorry to say that it hasn't been tested with those shells. So I guess it's up to you to make the call as to whether it's worth trying with them. If you do however, I would appreciate info on how it performs.
Z.S.
Nope, sorry to say that it hasn't been tested with those shells. So I guess it's up to you to make the call as to whether it's worth trying with them. If you do however, I would appreciate info on how it performs.
Z.S.
Koasati
Reply #6 Sunday, December 23, 2001 11:56 PM
Reply #6 Sunday, December 23, 2001 11:56 PM
I'm using NS, and that's how I hiding the desktop icons. The program doesn't work unless I un_hide them.
zmatrix
Reply #7 Monday, December 24, 2001 1:58 AM
Reply #7 Monday, December 24, 2001 1:58 AM
Koasati,
Oh, I see now. I hadn't tested under NextStart, so the fact that it even works is news to me. Thanks for the info, I'll see what I can do about the problem.
Z.S.
Oh, I see now. I hadn't tested under NextStart, so the fact that it even works is news to me. Thanks for the info, I'll see what I can do about the problem.
Z.S.
Jafo
Reply #10 Monday, December 24, 2001 6:59 PM
Reply #10 Monday, December 24, 2001 6:59 PM
Nope...doesn't work in LiteSTEP...pops up 2 error messages instead....although does work in Explorer [Win XP]....
zmatrix
Reply #11 Monday, December 24, 2001 8:53 PM
Reply #11 Monday, December 24, 2001 8:53 PM
Thanks for the info Jafo.
Now, LiteSTEP is only alternate shell i've used in the past, and I remember that it takes the place of explorer, and given that my program looks for the desktop as it exists when explorer is around, I did kind of expect it to fail with LiteSTEP. The fact that Koasati says that it will work with NextStart (with some problems) surprised me, must be that either NextStart runs on top of explorer (without replacing it), or it does a damn good job of looking like explorer to other applications.
Anyways, I don't know why I bothered to explain that since you guys probably know all this stuff.
Z.S.
Now, LiteSTEP is only alternate shell i've used in the past, and I remember that it takes the place of explorer, and given that my program looks for the desktop as it exists when explorer is around, I did kind of expect it to fail with LiteSTEP. The fact that Koasati says that it will work with NextStart (with some problems) surprised me, must be that either NextStart runs on top of explorer (without replacing it), or it does a damn good job of looking like explorer to other applications.
Anyways, I don't know why I bothered to explain that since you guys probably know all this stuff.
Z.S.
Koasati
Reply #12 Monday, December 24, 2001 11:05 PM
Reply #12 Monday, December 24, 2001 11:05 PM
NS isn't really a shell. It's a start menu replacement/desktop enhancement kind of thing.....
zmatrix
Reply #13 Tuesday, December 25, 2001 1:17 AM
Reply #13 Tuesday, December 25, 2001 1:17 AM
Ah, cool, that makes sense then. As long as it doesn't replace explorer as the shell.
Jafo
Reply #14 Tuesday, December 25, 2001 7:08 AM
Reply #14 Tuesday, December 25, 2001 7:08 AM
Yes...a lot of people confuse shells with enhancements.....and LiteSTEP totally replaces Explorer, and has so many detail permutations that it's just possible that one version or another just 'might' allow the proggy to run....either that, or some clever type will find a work-around....
zmatrix
Reply #15 Tuesday, December 25, 2001 3:57 PM
Reply #15 Tuesday, December 25, 2001 3:57 PM
Maybe some day I'll sit down, install litestep, and crank out a version specifically tuned for it. I am a little hesitant because it took a lot of work to figure out how to get it to run on the desktop of the explorer shell, and I'm afraid it would as much to get it to work with litestep. Then again, it's likely that the litestep shell would have better documentation for this type of shell enhancement. The MS documentation is really light on this stuff for the explorer shell. I had to fire up active desktop and attach a message listener to it so I could figure out what was going on inside that allowed it to draw stuff on the desktop without overwriting the icons...
Neoguigui
Reply #16 Wednesday, December 26, 2001 6:34 AM
Reply #16 Wednesday, December 26, 2001 6:34 AM
Works nicely with desktopx!!!
that's cool!!!
nice work!
that's cool!!!
nice work!
Jafo
Reply #17 Wednesday, December 26, 2001 6:55 AM
Reply #17 Wednesday, December 26, 2001 6:55 AM
zmatrix....it's quite a spiffy proggy....much more fun than the old Matrix screen savers. It's a pity it doesn't like 'STEP because with the versatility of LiteSTEP you could create quite a neat 'Matrix' theme with the proggy as a basis...
zmatrix
Reply #18 Wednesday, December 26, 2001 2:39 PM
Reply #18 Wednesday, December 26, 2001 2:39 PM
Thanks for the positive comments.
Jafo, I promise that I'll look into litestep integration eventually (work and 'deus ex' addictions permitting :0) ). I have considered in the past just opening up the source to allow others to do just this kind of extension. What do you think? Would anyone here be interested in that sort of thing?
Jafo, I promise that I'll look into litestep integration eventually (work and 'deus ex' addictions permitting :0) ). I have considered in the past just opening up the source to allow others to do just this kind of extension. What do you think? Would anyone here be interested in that sort of thing?
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
Reply #1 Sunday, December 23, 2001 7:21 PM