Plymouth, MI (July 19, 2005) - Stardock, the world's leading developer of Windows enhancement software, announced DesktopX 3.1 and DesktopX Pro 3.1 today.

DesktopX is the revolutionary program that gives power users and novice users alike the ability to design their own custom Windows desktops.

DesktopX works by giving Windows its own native desktop object system. With it, users can add objects to their desktops that can do nearly anything the user imagines. Objects can be combined together to create mini-applications or used to build entire desktops. Users can then export their creations as widgets (for the mini-applications) or as entire desktops (.desktop files).

To get users started, DesktopX comes with over a dozen different widgets including a stock-monitor, RSS reader, weather monitor, Computer resource monitor, currency conversion, media player, dictionary, search engine front-end, and more.  It also comes with several .desktop files and a bunch of packaged desktop objects.

DesktopX 3.1 Pro adds a relatively new concept - gadgets. Gadgets are the same as widgets but with one key difference: They don't require the creating program to be installed on the computer. They're truly stand-alone programs except they have all the benefits of widgets (easy to create, low memory and resource requirements).

"We think gadgets are the next stage in widget evolution," said Alberto Riccio, Project Manager of DesktopX. "If a third party creates an outstanding widget, they have to tell their users to go and download the corresponding widget enabling program such as DesktopX, Konfabulator, Kapsules, etc. This results in widgets always remaining relatively simple which is why there's thousands of clocks and calendars and few more meatier things. But with gadgets, the user exports their creation and anyone running Windows 98 to Longhorn can use it. Companies and individual users are not in the position of having to buy their own license of the widget enabling program, they just get the gadget."

To encourage gadget creation, Stardock will be launching a brand-new website called DesktopGadgets.com in early August. It's a site that enables gadget creators to submit their creations, name a price (including free if they want to give it away) and distribute it. Revenue collected is split 50/50 between DesktopGadgets.com and the gadget creator.

DesktopX 3.1 improves on 3.0 through numerous usability changes to make it easier to use, along with a new, more sophisticated widget/desktop creation environment.

DesktopX comes in 3 forms:

• DesktopX Run-Time (client) for users who simply want to use widgets and desktops ($14.95)
• DesktopX Standard which includes a widget/desktop development environment ($24.95)
• DesktopX Pro which allows users to export their widgets as gadgets -- stand-alone programs ($69.95).

A shareware version of DesktopX Standard is also available for download on the DesktopX website. DesktopX's home page is http://www.desktopx.net . The standard version of DesktopX also comes with Stardock's Object Desktop suite of desktop enhancement utilities.

[What's New List]

Developer:
Stardock Corp. (www.stardock.com)
15090 Beck Rd., Suite 300
Plymouth, MI 48170
Website: www.desktopx.net
Media Contact: Kristin Hatcher ([email protected]) 734-927-0677 x105

Requires:
Windows 2000 or Windows XP
(exported gadgets should work on Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Longhorn)

# # #
About Stardock:
Stardock is a Midwestern Windows software development company. It is best known for creating software that extends and enhances to functionality of Microsoft Windows. Its principle product is a suite of desktop enhancements called Object Desktop (www.objectdesktop.com)  which includes its popular utilities WindowBlinds, DesktopX, ObjectBar, IconPackager, SkinStudio, RightClick, Keyboard LaunchPad, and much more. It is a Microsoft gold partner ISV.

It also runs the worlds most popular desktop customization website called WinCustomize.com (www.wincustomize.com) which receives over 3 million unique visitors each month.

Stardock has also developed popular PC strategy games such as the award winning Galactic Civilizations (www.galciv.com)  and The Political Machine (www.politicalmachine.com) . Its game software is available at retail as well as through its innovative electronic distribution network TotalGaming.net (www.totalgaming.net).

Screenshots (objects, widgets, desktops):