DesktopX 3 is coming!
And a new website is on the horizon...
Monday, February 7, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Stardock, the world's leading developer of OS enhancement utilities, announced DesktopX 3 and DesktopX 3 Pro today which will be released on March 1st.
DesktopX is the program that helped introduce the concept of desktop content that does more than icons but aren't traditional applications (what later became known as "widgets"). With DesktopX, users could design their own mini-applets or entire desktops and export them for others to use. First released in 2000, DesktopX has received millions of downloads, including over 2.5 million downloads on CNET's Download.com alone making it one of the most popular OS enhancement programs of all time.
DesktopX 3 includes a host of new features over DesktopX 2. But most importantly, it is being presented in a whole new way. In DesktopX 3, the development environment is separate from the user portion. In previous versions of DesktopX, the content creation aspects were integrated with the end user portions. With DesktopX 3, users who just want to use widgets and desktops created by others can do so without interacting with the development environment.
"The entire presentation of DesktopX is being streamlined and simplified," said Alberto Riccio, Project Manager of DesktopX. "The people who want to add calendars or media players or stock tickers to their desktop can do that without ever having to deal with the full DesktopX configuration interface as they did before."
The part that Stardock expects to make the most waves is the release of DesktopX Pro at $69.95. DesktopX Pro allows users to take their widgets (exported content that requires DesktopX to be installed) and turn them into gadgets (stand alone programs that can be sent to any Win2K/XP user without additional downloading).
DesktopX Pro opens the door for ambitious software developers to create new, innovative software at a fraction of the time.
Shae Petersen, founder of Dmense Solutions and known widely for his efforts at 545 Studios (developer of Aimutation, Greybook, and countless other programs) sees DesktopX Pro as a way to create small, high quality programs quickly and easily. "DesktopX Pro will let Dmense to create slick, highly functional mini-programs that we can then provide to our customers in a timely manner."
To facilitate developers and customers, Stardock is also announcing a new website called DesktopGadgets.com. This new site will enable developers to upload their gadgets, set their price, and if they pass moderation become available for sale with the revenue split evenly between the author and the site. DesktopGadgets.com is expected to launch in April.
For widget/gadget developers and users, DesktopX 3 has a significant advantage over other widget enabling programs in that ActiveX controls and WMI features are directly accessible from DesktopX enabling a much wider range of widgets to be developed (i.e. a whole world beyond clocks, weather widgets, and RSS feeds). For example, where other widget enablers might have to include explicit support for developers to create battery meters, DesktopX provides direct WMI access to the complete WMI interface for battery information. In other words, developers aren't limited to what Stardock thought of for creating content.
DesktopX 3 will be available in three forms on March 1, 2005:
- A DesktopX run-time for $14.95 for those who just want to run objects, widgets, and desktops created by others.
- DesktopX Standard for $24.95 which will allow users to design their own desktops, widgets, and objects for personal use or for sharing with others.
- DesktopX Pro for $69.95 which allows for objects and widgets to be exported as gadgets (Stand-alone programs) that anyone can use.
The home page for DesktopX is http://www.desktopx.net. DesktopX 3 standard will also be part of Stardock's Object Desktop suite of desktop enhancements (www.objectdesktop.com).
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Reply #42 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 1:02 AM
At least Jafo see's something of what I am talking about. If I go to the airport and am flying coach, and get an upgraded seat then I am flying first class. When I have a subscription to Microsofts' Windows Server Subscriptions then when their Server OS is upgraded, I receive a new version in the mail, in a product pack. This has happened with WINNT, W2K, XP and finally Server 2K3, it is a part of the Volume Licensing Subscription Service. As long as I subscribe, or belong to an entity, or do work for an entity that subscribes this is the way it works. The City get every Version of Every Office Product, and Server OS, and Desktop workstation OS, and they get new cd's every month.
It all comes down to this statement.
Q: What do I get when I purchase Object Desktop?
A: Object Desktop includes all its components, plus a full year of updates, along with any new programs added to Object Desktop during that year. At the end of the year, users can renew their access to new updates and new components at a discounted price of $34.95.
The sad part is that Brad decided to fork the development, and neuter one side of the fork. The ODNT side. If you do not see that you are blind, and asking to pay..nay clamouring to pay..additioinally for the privilidge of using the non-neutered fork.
I can sit here and bang away all night. Somewhere between June 03 and December 03, DX Changed and ODNT was no longer getting the full program development. You can do the web searches for yourself as I grow too weary to point them out any more. Google Groups holds alot of information, and you can almost chart the split, with Brad being so prosaic about StarDock products, and the potentials for DX. Somewhere in there Brad decided the Subscribers were not going to get all of the Upgrades they thought they were. If you ask me PRO, is one heck of an upgrade seeing as I never knew I was usuing standard version, that was somehow lost in the web sites development.
| The overall idea of this is to make DesktopX 2 into something that will enable users to create pretty much whatever they want without having to be a programmer. Use it to create a custom desktop environment. Or use it to create a specific little program that you can send to your friends and family who might be using DesktopX just to have pretty icons on their desktop. Let me give you a perosnal example: My friends and family already run DesktopX. Once DesktopX 2 is out and I migrate them all to it, I'll be able to email them objects. An example of objects would be a perosnalized photo album. The album object would only be a couple hundred K. But once they have it up, it owuld load up pictures from my website complete with captions. And think about it -- it's a heck of a lot easier to do that then to send them a photo album program. While I could create a website that is a photo album, this is a much more personalized way of doing it and I can integrate things together which you can't do on a web (for instance, put context-voice overs on differnet pictures). My personal view is that if DesktopX 2 is successful, it may totally revolutionize the way end users look at the net and their computers. Wheras before, only software developers could do this kind of stuff, with DX 2, we'll be closer to making the Internet and your personal computer work together in a way that is accessible to casual users. Brad |
Here's when the light went off!
Seriously I grow weary, and unconvinced. There is to much FUD, being thrown around that it is tiring.
I do not agree, I will not agree and on that we can all agree.
Reply #43 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 1:10 AM
DX Since v0.10 or there abouts I think. The very beginnings. I am nothing more than a hack, though. I pretend to be nothing more than a hack. I am an opinionated, over confident red-neck with an attitude.
Overly oppinionated and under educated, and three teeth in my head.
Reply #44 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 1:27 AM
The ability of Pro to create STANDALONE programs (read WITHOUT needing DesktopX to be installed on the user's system) is what has ALWAYS set it apart - well that and the price.
What has happened now is that Pro is affordable to a lot more people.
It's akin to having VBScript capabilities in MS Excel. You can create a VB macro in Excel but for someone else to use it, they will need Excel. However, if you were to buy Visual Basic, then you could possibly (according to skill) create a standalone program to do the same thing.
Are we getting through yet?
Reply #45 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 1:49 AM
| I do not agree, I will not agree and on that we can all agree. |
Cygnus, me old mate...there comes a time when pig-headdedness is only attractive.....on a pig...
Perhaps it's a cognitive issue, but to me I see no issue at all with DX. DX Pro, etc.
Question.....were DX Pro named 'Aardvark Pro' would there be the same 'concern'?...
Reply #46 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 1:56 AM
Reply #47 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 2:11 AM
Reply #48 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 2:13 AM
Secondly - and this will take a little longer. It may take a little time to see how the Gadget.com thing affects the range of new & interesting Widgets that would otherwise have become freely available to DesktopX owners. Will all the new quality Widgets that would have been on offer freely to DesktopX owners be hived off to Gadget.com, and the Widget/Object library stagnate ?
I'm not even sure what happens if Developer A creates a Coffee Making 'Gadget' and shortly after Developer B creates a similar 'Widget'. Will it be allowed on the library even though it is in competition with Developer A's Gadget - or will there be some sort of individual patenting that restricts others from developing Widgets for distribution that are similar to Pay-Per-Own Gadgets ?
So like I say, I'll wait and see, make a judgement based on how I percieve the balance works for me.
On a personal note - I hope Stardock can see its way clear to making sure Tiggz gets his hands on a complimentary Pro Version ASAP.
Reply #49 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 2:41 AM
| I'm not even sure what happens if Developer A creates a Coffee Making 'Gadget' and shortly after Developer B creates a similar 'Widget'. Will it be allowed on the library even tho it is in competition with Developer A's Gadget - or will there be some sort of individual patenting that restricts others from developing Widgets for distribution that are similar to Pay-Per-Own Gadgets ? |
I would say all is fair, so long as neither ripped the code from the other. If you're selling gadgets, expect competition, both in the form of freeware and priced gadgets, widgets and objects. Not from only other DX skinners, but from Konfab, Kapsules, etc. As for copyright you'd have to go here http://www.copyright.gov/ submit you gadget for copyright and pay the associated fee, which I believe is $30. Even without copyright, the community will protect each other as they always have when it concerns rips...meaning most skin sites will not host rips.
Reply #50 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 3:46 AM
| Pro allows creation of widgets which run in their own memory space AND do not require DesktopX present to run |
Cygnus - just to reinforce PJ's point. I think the key issue is that you are mistaking what is meant by EXE creation. DX Standard which you have as part of ODNT and will always have as part of ODNT can create EXEs, they just require DX to be installed.
DX Pro is very distinct and therefore there is no justification in placing it in ODNT. It was relatively good value as a rapid development tool at $499. I find it hugely disappointing that this thread isn't being used to applaud the fact that it is not much much cheaper!
Reply #51 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 4:02 AM
| I still fail to see the downside you seem to be trying to draw out of this. |
pjpowell I don't know who the 'you' is - but I note that you come to this as someone who writes blogs around coding in DesktopX - always appreciated
. So for you I'm sure it represents a greater field of opportunity and more power to you - I think it's great 
. (Of course I also recognise and appreciate the wider possibilites are there for anyone who puts the effort into learning).But isn't it reasonable as an end user of DesktopX to wonder if the present coders/developers that contribute to Wincustomize libraries are going to concern themeselves with Widget Development when they can earn from Gadgets over at Gadget.com?
Its the proportion of developers that go this route that is the potential downside for the Widget library and end users. Its how much the very reasonable price tag of DesktopX Pro is traded off against my having to pay for Gadgets that would once have been presented as Widgets, because potentially some Widgets won't be developed anymore by the more accomplished coders.
Like I said - I don't know how these differing relationships will actually evolve. It's quite possible that DesktopX 3 will attract additional developers who will also contribute new & exciting Widgets that we wouldn't otherwise have had.
If it sounds like I'm sitting on the fence - it's because I am. That was my point, it's not just about the ability of the program, its partly about the relationship of the program and the developers with Wincustomize, its libraries, end users etc. I'm not sure how it will change, if at all - so as I said, I'll wait and see.
Ultimately my point was - I'm not sure how folks are going to make a judgement about gains and losses until this has been out in the wild for a bit.
(This was edited slightly because Martin's post came inbetween)
Reply #52 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 6:10 AM
Reply #53 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 7:17 AM
Sure - that may be the case with many Gadgets - possibly even some programs will be produced as a premier Gadget and then a Lite version available as a widget. I'm sure there are many possibilities.As I say my point is not that I make a value judgement - my point is that there is no mileage in doing so until we actually see how these relationships work out.
Reply #54 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 9:39 AM
I do I have to agree with one complaint, though... ODNT is supposed of be a group of software that "is a desktop extension suite designed to allow Windows users to turbo-charge their Windows experience." (Stardock Central description) It has always been implied that ODNT is all about customization... WindowBlinds, DesktopX, ObjectBar, IconPackager, EnhanchedDialog, WindowXF, etc.... yet products that don't really "customize" windows such as: ObjectZip, DriveScan, ControlCenter, OjbectEdit, ObjectSweeper, etc. have been included while "customization" applications such as CusorXP and ObjectDock have not been included. Now, I'm not complaining that I didn't not recive the "pro" versions of CursorXP and ObjectDock with my ODNT subscription, but I do think it should be more clearly stated what the goal of ODNT is and the programs in ODNT more thoughtfully thought out. Just due to the fact that ObjectDock has the word "Object" in it, I would have thought it would have been part of "Object Desktop". Perhaps I'm looking too deeply into things, but I think, in the future, more thought should be given to product names and placements within ODNT as to not confuse subscribers. Anyway, just a few thoughts… Thanks Frogboy for everything you and the rest of Stardock does... my computer would not be complete without you!
Reply #55 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 12:12 PM
| possibly even some programs will be produced as a premier Gadget and then a Lite version available as a widget |
I also see the possiblity of companies who want their name on your desktop working with developers to create gadgets that are free, but have branding on them. It's already happening with suites like Zippo from Pixtudio and with WMP skins from The Skins Factory. Best two examples I can think of.
Reply #56 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 3:56 PM
Cygnus - DesktopX 2/3 can already export its content as EXEs. You are confusing Stand-alone programs (DesktopX Pro) with DesktopX dependent programs (DesktopX's widgets).
There is nothing inconsistent with what I've written. DesktopX 3 Standard can export your objects as EXEs that run on any system that has DesktopX installed.
Reply #57 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 3:58 PM
| I really appreciate whomever deleted my last message, that was a real sign of maturity, and it really convinces me I wrong here. So wrong in fact that my post got deleted. Now ain't that a hoot. |
I deleted your message because you couldn't tell what you wrote because you didn't close your quote tag and so the entire comment had become unreadable. So whatever you wrote, feel free to rewrite but remember to close your tag.
Reply #58 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 4:19 PM
| All I am asking is for Brad to fix and clarify in writing the issue at hand and delineate they differences between the two, different products and state the difference on the ODNT Web Site, and remove the White paper or fix it to reflect the current state of affairs. Is that so, wrong. Unless the written word is fixed, there is too close a similarity, and Stardock intent is not clearly defined. I am sure I am not the only one that feels like this. I am sure that I am the one saying something though. If Brad doesn't fix the discrepencies then he is condoning misrepresentation, and furthering it, by trading on the similarity. |
The product differentiations are pretty straight forward. DesktopX Enhanced has ALWAYS come with Object Desktop. It continues to be enhanced and updated. DesktopX 3 is a MAJOR new version of DesktopX and Object Desktop users continue to get it.
DesktopX Pro could have been called anything, it could have been called GadgetBuilder (which, believe it or not, was thrown around as a possible alternative name to DesktopX Pro).
But it touches on a greater issue and that is, Object Desktop as a value. Right now, someone who buys Object Desktop for $49.95 gets the following programs (and more):
- WindowBlinds
- WindowFX
- IconPackager
- IconDeveloper
- SkinStudio Pro
- DesktopX
- Keyboard LaunchPad
- TweakShell
- Theme Manager
- RightClick
- Object Sweeper
- IconX
- ObjectMedia
- Enhanced Dialog
- DriveScan
- ObjectBar
- ObjectEdit
- Tab LaunchPad
And a couple other things. That's 18 programs for $49.95. The user also receives any updates to these programs plus any new programs that we add to this mix (Enhanced Dialog is new for instance, RightClick is new, and we have other things coming out in this).
On average, the user is paying less than $3 per program. I would argue that's a pretty good deal. Even if the user only uses say 3 or 4 of these programs, it's a very good deal.
We have never ever implied that every program we make (universally) is going to be part of Object Desktop. Any more Object Desktop programs we make will be added here.
No features from regular DesktopX have ever been stripped out and put into the Pro version. At some point we decided to work on the corporate market and decided to make a program that would allow us to easily create super-customizeable programs. One of the results of that was DesktopX Professional which could take DesktopX (enhanced) content and export it as a stand-alone program.
A stand-alone program with DesktopX Pro therefore includes a copy of DesktopX's runtimes in order to work. When you purchase Object Desktop, you get a license to use DesktopX for yourself. You obviously don't get the right to start handing out copies of DesktopX to friends, companies, colleagues, whatever. But with DesktopX Pro, that is exactly what happens. Therefore, we have to charge more for it.
Previously we charged $499 for DesktopX Pro. The problem was that the cost of it was too high to entice developers. So with the coming of DesktopX 3, we decided to lower the price of DesktopX Pro to $69.95 and see how well it does there.
But it was never designed to be part of Object Desktop. It was never part of Object Desktop. And it never will be.
Even as-is, we're having a hard time adding more features to Object Desktop at the current price point. While most software goes up in price over time for the same thing (look at MS Office), Object Desktop's price has not only stayed the same but the user gets a lot more with it.
Cygnus, you bought Object Desktop at the beginning. So you know how much was added to it during that time. I can't understand how anyone could possibly feel they aren't well treated by us with regards to it. Every year we add new things to it. We are constantly enhancing our components. In the past few weeks, SEVEN of the programs of it have been updated. Some of which were pretty significant updates (WindowBlinds 4.5, SkinStudio 4.5, Enhanced Dialog added, RightClick added).
If you want to see a very straight forward difference between DesktopX and DesktopX Pro go here: https://www.stardock.com/products/desktopx/downloads.asp
Reply #59 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 4:37 PM
I will say this for you Brad, you are a Marketing Wizard. I do not think anyone can manipulate the masses as well as you seem to be able to.
Reply #60 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 5:45 PM
| as the community get fractionalized by the widget vs Gadget, crap. |
I don't think it will happen. Hasn't happened with folks like essorant, Pixtudio and SkinPlant creating premium skins and suites
I'll give our community much more credit than you have.Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
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Reply #41 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 12:41 AM
Profit is the grease of corporate wheels.
"Premium skins"....Wincustomize "Subsriptions"..."Pro Version Apps"
Companies need to fund less successfull apps losses and development costs somehow.
Cygnus just enjoy your ODNT subscription.
Because that too will pass....
The woderfull people arguing with you will eventually be crying because the ODNT will be offered in multi-product modular teirs with the "PRO" Products comanding top dollar.
Keep helping folks....the more free development work you do...the higher the cost of the product you develop
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