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 #62 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 7:45 PM
Cygnus, I tend to have faith in the common sense and intelligence of people.
If everyone else seems to understand but you alone seem to not, perhaps the problem isn't with the "masses" but with you. The other people participating on this thread aren't sheep or "sycophants". I think you do some disrespect from trivializing their intelligence. You're not the only person who's been around a long time.
Besides, in terms of bleeding the life out of Object Desktop, I don't see how that argument holds any weight.
Consider the components of Object Desktop 2000 (and compare that to what we have today):
- WindowBlinds
- DesktopX
- WindowFX
- ObjectZIP
- ControlCenter
- IconPackager
- Tab LaunchPad
- BuilderBlinds
- DriveScan
Price: $49.95. Now, in 2000 you're talking WindowBlinds 1, DesktopX 1, etc. 9 programs total. There's over twice as many today, of much higher quality, and the same price.
I don't think it takes a "sychophant" to recognize that Object Desktop has become a much better value over the years. And DesktopX 3 is a major upgrade and is part of Object Desktop still.
Reply #63 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 8:49 PM
I have addressed my comments to you in this thread Brad, and everyone and their brother is trying to get me to see the Status Quo, and rather than accept that there might be a problem, I am told that I am the Problem. Fine... "yeah... you all are right, and I am wrong"
There are very few ways that threads around here end, when a person disagrees with you. My participation in this goes this far. "I am not wrong." nothing you can say will convince me "you are right." That is the jist of it. I do not agree with you at all. God forbid, anyone should question you, or think they are going to hold you to task.
I am wrong for believing in something that is right before my very eyes, in print?
Flame Me, Character Assisinate me, make fun of Me, Delete my Post or Ban Me, that is your perogative, but you will never convince me that you are right and I am wrong.
But Sire, You have on no clothes...
Reply #64 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 9:30 PM
Cygnus....the single guy marching out of step with the rest of the regiment is still marching in step with the music...and he will always maintain he is right.....but....so will all those others. When put to a vote it is he who is declared 'out of step' as majority rules.
In this case, the majority [bar one] sees no issue with the product, or its description, or its perception as a separate entity.
Sure life would be crystal clear if DX Pro WAS called 'Aardvark Pro', but then again, naming rights are neither yours nor mine.
Bottom line is...last year a proggy cost 499...this year 69.
No matter how you swing it or try to read between lines it's a good thing, as it's a saving of 430.
Really, it's a bloody good thing...
Reply #65 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 9:49 PM
So far I see, only difference is price and ability to export stand-alone programs for sale or give away.
Reply #66 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 10:24 PM
Reply #67 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 10:28 PM
Reply #68 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 10:43 PM
Cygnus: Where have I character assassinated you?
You know, it really gets old seeing people make the assertion that I demand that eveyrone agree with me. I put in some significant time and effort in this thread to try to lay forth my position. I don't demand that you agree with me. I just ask that you read it with an open mind.
You don't agree with me. That's fine. All I can do is put forth my position. We don't have to agree.
Reply #69 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 11:28 PM
*BlueDev supposes that makes him a sycophant now, and is okay with that*
Reply #70 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 1:59 AM
Reply #71 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 1:59 AM
Enchanted and Pro is same. Only thing that differs is ability to create a EXE file that don't need any DesktopX runtime files. Since anyone can use those without buying DesktopX, the $70 price is for LICENSE to give away or sell those stand-alone programs.
Reply #72 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 2:58 AM
all joking aside, perhaps a name change to DesktopGadgets or something would have stopped this 'misunderstanding' Cygnus seems to have before it started. either way you slice it though, it's still a deal for the value - Pro, enhanced or 'enchanted' if you will
or even the simple version for those not worried about changing the widgets. in fact, i can even see widgets becoming better by having to keep the fact that you can't change objects in the simple version. maybe they'll come with modify dialogs or something...
now do i have to worry about pixie dust clogging my cpu fan i wonder...?
Reply #73 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 10:55 AM
Brad, I listed options available to you. I do not think you would do such, but you never truly know someone.
XX I do not Troll, I usually say what I mean and mean what I say. I am not witty enough to be an effective Troll'er.
There is no convincing you guys, and there is no convincing me. This is not a matter of enough people feel a particular way, so that must be right. It's not a matter of Brad being the CEO of Stardock and telling me I misunderstand and am wrong. Its simply a matter that I feel I have enough data (in writing} to support my view, and I am man enough to stick to it till the end. If I was unsure and not fully couched in my belief, then a chance of conversion would be available, but this is not the case. I have not written all that I have to attempt to stir up trouble. I made my case and defended my undestandings, showing every point that they based on. That is all. Now when the time comes for you to do the same, I hope you remember the road you have to go down, because you are paving it right now.
Thank you for your time.
Reply #74 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 11:37 AM
To start with I can completly understand where Stardock is comming from.
Brad gets alot of heat but its a company and he sticks his head out cause he is interested in his customer base.
And while I am looking forward to buying DX3Pro I have to agree with cygnus.
The EXE issue was gray for a while. More on this at the end.
When DX->Exe was first talked about I was so excited, only to find out that it required everyone that wanted to use these new EXE's had to have DX. That was my first dissapointment
but after thinking about it for a few minutes I understood and said it is still a good idea the way they did it cause it allowed me to "lock" my object from prying eyes. After that was clear in my head I got the announcement of the $499 product. I was upset/dissappointed. But again after some thought I understood why it was separate. The price I thought was fair but I was again dissapointed cause it was out of my price range. And so I blew off all my grandiose plans went back to life. Then Stardock announced the price cut. 
Was I shocked but excited.So the way I see it Cygnus's issue isnt that stardock is an Evil lying company but that they were not clear enough in the early documentation. And this is where an "active" customer oriented company is a double edge sword. So they(the developers) start talking up what their doing. FOR GOOD REASON They are excited and want to get us excited. And alot of things can happen between development and release. Including price changes and Product grouping. And from what I can gather this is Cyg's issue. That there was not enough information about the change. BUT I believe Stardock (especially brad) has done an excelent job in keeping us informed of these "Changes" and what they mean.
This is my 2 cents. I hope it made sense as well.
And one last thing is I would like to thank Cyg for speaking up.
--Clayton MeIsMan
aka: Playdough
Reply #78 Thursday, February 10, 2005 12:22 AM
Reply #79 Thursday, February 10, 2005 8:56 PM
One posts a critical comment and BAM!
it`s deleted.
Nice work guys
Reply #80 Thursday, February 10, 2005 10:01 PM
Think twice before you post!
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Reply #61 Tuesday, February 8, 2005 6:38 PM
Are you sure it's not just you failing to understand what the 'masses' have no difficulty in doing?
Seriously, it's a bit like the proud mother looking at his son in the marching parade....'Isn't my boy wonderful....he's the only one marching in step'...