SNEAK PEEK: DesktopX 2 Pro
Tuesday, November 18, 2003 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
TURN these...
INTO these...
DesktopX Professional enables developers to export DesktopX objects as stand alone programs.
Because DesktopX has been designed to create "desktop widgets" so easily, creating software such as MP3 players, calendars, stock tickers, resource monitoring, messaging, and various "desktop gadgets" can be done in minutes rather than months.
Here is a sample of a few applications created in minutes with DesktopX
| Program | Download | |
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Desktop Pet This little fish will swim around your desktop. Notice how smoothly it does so. Unlike most "desktop pets" already available, this one supports alpha blending, a feature of DesktopX. |
[Download] |
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Snowflake Desktop These snow flakes will fall gently on your screen |
[Download] |
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C-net Download File Monitor Display the 6 most recently added files to Download.com |
[Download] |
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Elegant Analog Clock This simple analog clock adds polish to your desktop |
[Download] |
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Betanews News Ticker This news ticker displays the latest headlines from Betanews.com |
[Download] |
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CPU & Net Meter This program will display your network traffic and CPU use. |
[Download] |
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Calendar This simple calendar will sit on your desktop with the current month's view. |
[Download] |
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Stack n Sack This game shows how Flash and DesktopX can be mixed together seamlessly. |
[Download] |
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Stardock's DesktopX Object Library Take a look through the DesktopX library of objects. Created by users from around the world, these objects give a sampling of the types of applications DesktopX can create. |
[Visit...] |
The different versions of DesktopX
| Feature |
Free |
Enhanced |
Professional |
| IconX enhanced icons |
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| Create objects |
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| Create themes |
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| Exporting of objects and themes |
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| Scripting support via Javascript and VB Script |  |
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| Import objects and themes from the Internet | |
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| Enhanced IconX configuration | |
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| Run Premium objects and themes |
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| Desktop security features |
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| Export objects as stand alone executables |
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| Purchase |
N/A |
$499 |
joetheblow
Reply #2 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:10 AM
Reply #2 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:10 AM
I am gald I am not the only one who love this program.
I can't WAIT until I get my new computer... and a job to buy the new computer along with Object Desktop.
I have so many ideas!!!
I can't WAIT until I get my new computer... and a job to buy the new computer along with Object Desktop.
I have so many ideas!!!
joetheblow
Reply #3 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:33 AM
Reply #3 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:33 AM
I'm glad I was lazy on writing a proposal to my school about improving the online experience.
I included DesktopX and telling them that they should use more client side applications and make the desktop a tool when the student is on-line.
Does the stand alone need the Desktop X program running?
By stand alone, you mean that I can mak a whole program within DX and link up to other apps on the desktop or within the executable?
I included DesktopX and telling them that they should use more client side applications and make the desktop a tool when the student is on-line.
Does the stand alone need the Desktop X program running?
By stand alone, you mean that I can mak a whole program within DX and link up to other apps on the desktop or within the executable?
Frogboy
Reply #4 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:45 AM
Reply #4 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 11:45 AM
Stand alone programs don't need DesktopX or any special files. It creates a single .exe that could be run on anyone's system.
I could, for instance, take any DX object here on WC, export it as an .exe and send it to my mother in law who has WinME and no DesktopX and it would run.
I could, for instance, take any DX object here on WC, export it as an .exe and send it to my mother in law who has WinME and no DesktopX and it would run.
IPlural
Reply #5 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 12:23 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 12:23 PM
Possibilities keep expanding 
On the off chance this sounds cheezy to some, get over it
now, something I am wondering is this. My sons TiG4 has a voice recog that is a widget I think?
Anyway, I am wondering if someone was to put the time and effort into creating a widget such as
that "Load Explorer page *www.stardock.net*" and it actually works, could this be compiled with
DesktopX as a stand alone?
Or say a voice interface to the DayTimer in Outlook and adding appointments and such.
These things if done as DesktopX widgets could in fact be compiled for stand alone?
mmm, going to ask anyway, but I think I know the answer is *yes*
On the off chance this sounds cheezy to some, get over it
| Thank you Stardock and WinCustomize for your time and efforts across the board. |
now, something I am wondering is this. My sons TiG4 has a voice recog that is a widget I think?
Anyway, I am wondering if someone was to put the time and effort into creating a widget such as
that "Load Explorer page *www.stardock.net*" and it actually works, could this be compiled with
DesktopX as a stand alone?
Or say a voice interface to the DayTimer in Outlook and adding appointments and such.
These things if done as DesktopX widgets could in fact be compiled for stand alone?
mmm, going to ask anyway, but I think I know the answer is *yes*
dan.wright
Reply #8 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 3:26 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 3:26 PM
c242, it's really $499, which as others have said elsewhere is really a good deal for what you are getting ... late
IPlural
Reply #9 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 3:37 PM
Reply #9 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 3:37 PM
yeppers...
The possibilities from a commercial perspective in creating stand alone apps with the functionality
of DTX built into it is the key thing about it.
Dektop Intergrated Games, Utilities, you name it pretty much from what I get form it all.
The possibilities from a commercial perspective in creating stand alone apps with the functionality
of DTX built into it is the key thing about it.
Dektop Intergrated Games, Utilities, you name it pretty much from what I get form it all.
bakerstreet
Reply #10 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 4:11 PM
Reply #10 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 4:11 PM
It is really revolutionary when you think about it, and not what a 'corporate' entity would normally do. Puts a lot of power in the hand of someone with skinning experience.
My one vague worry is what is gonna happen when people start selling these. No one will really pay for our stolen skins, so ripping them off for a profit on other sites relies upon advertising revenue. Now, I wonder if we won't see skinner's DX Objects carted off to sell as standalone apps.
Also, would selling objects like weather checkers and others that rely upon third party data require the skinner to update them when the hard-coded sources are changed or lost? If someone pays their $9.99 for a weather object exe, they might get antsy if it suddenly stopped working. Could be kind of hairy.
Stardock has done something very interesting that I didn't foresee. I hope it isn't abused.
My one vague worry is what is gonna happen when people start selling these. No one will really pay for our stolen skins, so ripping them off for a profit on other sites relies upon advertising revenue. Now, I wonder if we won't see skinner's DX Objects carted off to sell as standalone apps.
Also, would selling objects like weather checkers and others that rely upon third party data require the skinner to update them when the hard-coded sources are changed or lost? If someone pays their $9.99 for a weather object exe, they might get antsy if it suddenly stopped working. Could be kind of hairy.
Stardock has done something very interesting that I didn't foresee. I hope it isn't abused.
Frogboy
Reply #11 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 4:12 PM
Reply #11 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 4:12 PM
We'll go after anyone who tries to distribute any skinner's work without permission.
Frogboy
Reply #12 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 4:13 PM
Reply #12 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 4:13 PM
But realistically, one thing I think will happen is that companies will be looking to pay DesktopX object makers to create widgets for them. We have several very large pending deals for doing just that. It won't be long before we're having to farm out this stuff to DesktopX object makers.
c242
Reply #13 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 5:11 PM
Reply #13 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 5:11 PM
I just dreamt about having a licence for my company. You can virtually do anything with it with the scripting. At the moment I am programming a lot of MS Access frontends based on sql/access backends (a whole new and complete ERP system from scratch, that's the reason You don't hear much of me at the moment). Virtually I could do the same using Desktop X and VBA Script and Active X controls doing sort of corporate design, right ? Or would that be an overkill ?
Frogboy
Reply #14 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 5:40 PM
Reply #14 Wednesday, November 19, 2003 5:40 PM
c242: For that you would actually need DesktopX Enterprise which is more expensive. DesktopX Pro only allows Internet Explorer ActiveX controls. Custom ActiveX controls require Enterprise.
But yea, if you can put them in IE windows you could probably do a pretty significant app that way.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, November 18, 2003 8:56 PM
Now, if I start giving blood, now...