Object Desktop 2005 nearly here
New CD version of Stardock's flagship product
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 by Stardock Central | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Object Desktop 2005 nears availability
Upgrade Windows to the next level with Object Desktop 2005
LIVONIA, MI (April 20, 2005). Software developer Stardock, the world's leading
developer of Windows enhancement software, announced Object Desktop 2005 today.
Object Desktop is a suite of desktop enhancement utilities that enable users to
customize virtually every aspect of the Windows environment. Users with
Object Desktop are able to add a whole range of new features to Windows. When
these programs are put together, it is like having a future version of Windows
today.
Object Desktop 2005 supports Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Stardock is
also working very closely with Microsoft in order to be amongst the first to
take advantage of new features and technology in Microsoft's next-generation
version of Windows code-named "Longhorn".
The programs that make up Object Desktop 2005 include:
- WindowBlinds: A customization utility that enables users to change the look and feel of the Windows graphical user interface (GUI) with their own "visual styles".
- IconPackager: A program that allows users to change all of their icons in a single action by applying a "package" of icons.
- DesktopX: A program that extends the Windows desktop to support true objects that can be combined to create mini-applications called widgets or used to create completely new and unique desktops.
- Keyboard LaunchPad: A program that allows users to assign mouse and other actions to hot keys that work system wide. It can assign clipboard contents to a hot key.
- RightClick: A program that allows users to replace their desktop menu with one of their own choosing that adds functionality and improves productivity.
- Theme Manager: A program that integrates the various programs of Object Desktop (and third party ones as well) into a single interface.
- SkinStudio: A program that allows users to create their own user interfaces and skins for Windows Media Player and WindowBlinds.
- IconDeveloper: A powerful yet easy to use program for creating Windows icons.
- Stardock Central: Allows users to access ObjectDesktop.net, a free service that comes with Object Desktop that allows users to get instant updates to all of the core Object Desktop programs along with over a dozen other Object Desktop programs.
Object Desktop also includes programs such as WindowFX which can add shadows and special effects to Windows, ObjectBar which can add or replace the Windows Start bar and nearly a dozen other programs that allow users to extend Windows in any way a person or company might choose to.
This past year has seen an extensive number of enhancements to the existing programs of Object Desktop as well as new programs being added. For example, RightClick was added this past year. DesktopX 3 was recently released and contains a huge number of improvements and changes. WindowBlinds 4.5 was developed this past year and now supports the upcoming 64-bit version of Windows XP and includes enhanced hardware acceleration for newer video cards.
Stardock also licenses a special version of Object Desktop branded as Theme Manager OEM which enables companies to create custom branded desktops. Companies ranging from Alienware, Blizzard, ATI, Ziff Davis, nVidia, along with several Fortune 500 companies have used this special version of Object Desktop to create custom branded desktops for their users and employees.
One thing that makes Object Desktop 2005 particularly special is its low resource usage. Programs such as WindowBlinds use only a few hundred kilobytes of memory and programs such as DesktopX provide widgets -- mini-applications that use less memory than stand alone programs while having the potential to provide powerful feature sets to developers. Object Desktop 2005 is the first version of Stardock's suite designed specifically for Windows XP users (Windows 98Stardock Central are no longer supported). By standardizing on Windows XP, Stardock's developers have been able to focus on taking maximum advantage of performance enhancing features in that OS. Moreover, Stardock's close relationship with both ATI and nVidia (both of whom use Object Desktop based technologies to varying degrees) has enabled the programs in Object Desktop to take advantage of the latest performance-boosting options in their respective video drivers.
Object Desktop 2005 costs $49.95 and is available on CD or can be purchased electronically. Users
who purchase it have access to all the programs that make up Object Desktop
(nearly two dozen) as well as all updates made to Object Desktop for a full year
after purchase. Stardock is working on major updates to programs such as
ObjectBar as well as adding a new program called Enhanced Dialog to Object
Desktop in the coming months.
Object Desktop's home page is
www.objectdesktop.com. Object
Desktop 2005 will be officially released on May 3rd, 2005.
Object Desktop 2005
$49.95
Requires Windows XP/2000
Developer/Publisher:
Stardock Corporation (www.stardock.com)
Screenshots:
Trademark notices:
Stardock, Object Desktop are trademarks of Stardock Corporation. All othe
trademarks are held by their respective holders.
Reply #3 Thursday, April 21, 2005 7:22 AM
I'm 5 months over subscription.
Using WB 4.2 that came on OD 2002 (claims it's 2004 on the CD label)
Reply #4 Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:14 AM
Pete
BTW...looks awesome....
Reply #5 Thursday, April 21, 2005 10:06 AM
If you have an active subscription to ObjectDesktop.net you can get the Object Desktop 2005 CD for free other than media/handling.
Reply #6 Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:27 AM
Will Stardock post the availability of the 2005 CD for current subscribers when available here on WC, or just at Stardock site?
Don't want to miss any of the action.
Reply #7 Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:40 AM
And the printers ink cartridges will be full?
(My 2002 had horrible print quality)Are there any extra graphics printed on the CD other than the logos?
Right now I think I'm in the same time zone as Stardock.
Reply #8 Thursday, April 21, 2005 9:27 PM
Reply #9 Friday, April 22, 2005 6:39 AM
| Object desktop has been some of the best $$$ ive spent for my computer. I have a blast with it all the time and my computer looks killer cool! |
Same here, but without some of the hardware upgrades I went through, OD wouldnt have worked very well at all.
Reply #10 Sunday, April 24, 2005 8:40 PM
Reply #11 Monday, April 25, 2005 12:58 PM
| #5 by Admin Frogboy Thu, April 21, 2005 10:06 AM If you have an active subscription to ObjectDesktop.net you can get the Object Desktop 2005 CD for free other than media/handling. |
When you renew your ODNT, you don't get new media...probably part of the reason why it costs less than the initial subscription, but I believe it's $10 for the media with shipping included in that.
Reply #12 Monday, April 25, 2005 2:47 PM
| When you renew your ODNT, you don't get new media...probably part of the reason why it costs less than the initial subscription, but I believe it's $10 for the media with shipping included in that. |
When you first start it is about $50.
If you renew, it is about $35.
The CD is $10.
$35 and $10 are $45, whick leaves about $5 extra for first time subscribing.
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Reply #1 Wednesday, April 20, 2005 10:57 PM
Weaksid goes and tries to find a extra $50 for May.
I'm shocked that I'm the first post.....