ObjectBar 2 Preview

DesktopX FUSION

Monday, December 13, 2004 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News

So what ever happened to that ObjectBar thing anyway? You know, the program in Object Desktop that had so much potential to really make Windows into a much more productive environment?

Click on the screenshot to find out. In essence, ObjectBar 2 is almost ready for beta.  One of the big new features in it is that it can incorporate DesktopX widgets.  So rather having to make the ObjectBar "skin" format insanely complicated for doing really advanced looking graph readouts and RSS feeds and all those other goodies people like to put on these kinds of things, users and authors will be able to simply select a DesktopX widget and put it in there. 

As any DesktopX widget/object author can tell you, creating custom looking content for DesktopX is a snap. So you'll still skin ObjectBar in the general sense but the actual "cool" looking readouts can all be done via DesktopX widgets.

The other big change in ObjectBar 2 is an overall simplified way of configuring it. ObjectBar 1.6 (on Object Desktop) is very powerful but very complex to use.  ObjectBar 2 will also replace ControlCenter (there will be a ControlCenter "Theme" that gets included that looks essentially identical to the classic ControlCenter but has more functionality and configurability).

We hope you like what you see.  If you don't have Object Desktop, which is what ObjectBar is part of, you can get it at www.objectdesktop.com.

17 Reply 30 Referrals
qrush
Reply #1 Monday, December 13, 2004 7:58 PM
Hurray! I can't wait! Hopefully some very useful and innovative skins will come out for this program.

Also...I wonder if my article helped at all?


1) Marriage with DesktopX

As mentioned before, DX has the ability to eclipse OB in terms of functionality. At this point OB seems like it could simply be a plugin .dll for DX. Stardock must decide- will OB lie in the shadow of DX? I say no! OB has the potential to rightfully be DX's equal. OB and DX can easily emulate the Windows shell, with much less RAM plus the CPU, since neither program paints itself while invisible on the screen. ObjectBar needs to become the substitute for that chunky lump of blue and green.

THE KEY is that OB must be easier to use and able to be configured as simple as DX is. Only other added features can elevate OB's status, and if OB 2.0 is missing them, if there even is going to be a 2.0, DX may end up annulling any relationship that might have existed.

http://doctornick.wincustomize.com/articles.aspx?SID=2165&aid=13263&UID=726288


sixshot
Reply #2 Monday, December 13, 2004 8:22 PM
Looks good... It'll inherit WB skins, right?

Island Dog
Reply #3 Monday, December 13, 2004 8:34 PM
I never really tried objectbar before, but I look forward to this update.

Hawkeye666
Reply #4 Monday, December 13, 2004 10:08 PM
I can't wait to play with it! I always saw huge potential to it but as the articel says never took the time to build one out and as with Desktop X I always had trouble with resolution dependencies that never seemed to work right with ym resoultions, for instance 1680x1050 now, though has been 1600x1200 for years before this latest laptop.

Abanamore
Reply #5 Monday, December 13, 2004 10:18 PM
I think a GREAT feature would be that instead of taking what would show up in the task bar and show that as the running process, one should be able to tell it what it should be called, depending on some parameters. For example every time you have WMP open you could tell it to say WMP instead of "Currently Playing: Ti..."
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Steve Grenier
Reply #6 Monday, December 13, 2004 10:26 PM
I will have to make a new Mac Objectbar theme for this. Sounds great I'm glad they are updating it. Next is WinFX. Update that and that would kickass.

bipp5
Reply #7 Tuesday, December 14, 2004 2:45 AM
This sounds excellent! I'll be keeping an eye on Object Desktop to see when the beta gets released

Abanamore
Reply #8 Tuesday, December 14, 2004 5:14 AM
What I sincerely hope for the new version of OB is that it stops being the resource hog that it currently is.

I admid I have no technical programming skills whatsoever, but why is an app that just replaces a taskbar with some menu's so relatively heavy on the resources while your fabulous WindowBlinds costs about nothing while it skins the complete GUI and then some.

Change that and I'll definately consider OB as the closing step in skinning the Windows GUI, together with WB and ObjectDock I could finally have the fast, responsive and practical Mac theme I linger for.

My hopes are high.
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Abanamore
Reply #9 Tuesday, December 14, 2004 5:15 AM
What I sincerely hope for the new version of OB is that it stops being the resource hog that it currently is.

I admid I have no technical programming skills whatsoever, but why is an app that just replaces a taskbar with some menu's so relatively heavy on the resources while your fabulous WindowBlinds costs about nothing while it skins the complete GUI and then some.

Change that and I'll definately consider OB as the closing step in skinning the Windows GUI, together with WB and ObjectDock I could finally have the fast, responsive and practical Mac theme I linger for.

My hopes are high.
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Randahl
Reply #10 Tuesday, December 14, 2004 8:56 AM
I am eagerly awaiting this release and will keep my eyes peeled for the tray icon flashing when released! OB was one of the reasons I joined Stardock/Wincustomize many years ago!
Much thanks and kudos to the developer(s) who keep my system looking insane! (This includes all the skinners out there too! I can't forget you all! )

Darkthorn
Reply #11 Tuesday, December 14, 2004 2:50 PM
This is the #1 weapon in the stardock arsenal as far as I'm concerned! All I ask is that you include some good examples with the package for us to see the different new features and how to include DesktopX plugins. And please tell me you are using an XML file format, or have a dll we can link to to externally modify the bars I can't wait to do the next version of my Developer ObjectBar!

rikkie
Reply #12 Wednesday, December 15, 2004 8:04 AM
Any ETA on this ??
looks impressive .

Abanamore
Reply #13 Wednesday, December 15, 2004 12:30 PM
mmm, judging by the screenshot it has cleartype enabled (as seen on the vwm text) but doesnt apply it to the tasks and clock text. is that an impossibility of the program, the fact that those are bitmap fonts, or is it just a mockup?

also it'd be nice if this version didnt include the trayserver.exe, or have it remove trayserver correctly when uninstalling.
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butch123
Reply #14 Wednesday, December 15, 2004 12:34 PM
Really looks great. can't wait.

sryo
Reply #15 Wednesday, December 15, 2004 3:34 PM
edit: heh, doubleposted as the previous message didnt show up

PurrBall
Reply #16 Wednesday, December 15, 2004 3:59 PM
I Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! I use OB every stinking day to 'mimick' the WinXP start panel.

Chef Garry
Reply #17 Friday, December 17, 2004 6:22 PM
OB is without doubt the most functional part of the whole OD suite for me. looking forward to playing with the new version.

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