AltDesk 1.6 released
A new version of popular VDM is available for download.
Sunday, November 6, 2005 by Gladiators | Discussion: WinCustomize News
We're glad to introduce you AltDesk 1.6 final, a powerful, flexible and easy to use Virtual Desktop Manager. AltDesk makes your daily work easier by implementing Virtual Desktops which you can use for storing various groups of tasks. You can also easily swap tasks between Desktops, immediately get access to certain tasks and much more. AltDesk give you the power of multiple displays on a single screen.
What's New in AltDesk 1.6:
+ New skin format
+ New default skins
+ Easy skin installation
+ Redesigned configuration interface
+ Very fast wallpaper switching algorithm
+ Hight quality resampling algorithm for stretching wallpapers
+ Wallpapers can be set from both shell (Explorer or Aston) and AltDesk's configuration menu
+ Task previews: small thumbnails, displaying certain window's content
+ New localization system currently supporting 10 languages (more coming soon)
+ Comprehensive help system includes skinning tutorials and translation guide
+ Window's "Always on top" and transparency properties can be adjusted by right-clicking its icon in AltDesk
+ "Fade" effects
+ Updated application's icon
+ "Reaload skin" hotkey for skin developers
+ New NSIS-based installer
+ Tray icon now cannot be disabled
+ "Cycle thye list of desktops" behavior is now default
+ AltDesk's window cannot be dragged out of the screen unless you disable a corresponding check
* Numerous bugfixes and engine improvemenets (see the program's documentation for a complete list)
WebSite: Link
Download: Link
What's New in AltDesk 1.6:
+ New skin format
+ New default skins
+ Easy skin installation
+ Redesigned configuration interface
+ Very fast wallpaper switching algorithm
+ Hight quality resampling algorithm for stretching wallpapers
+ Wallpapers can be set from both shell (Explorer or Aston) and AltDesk's configuration menu
+ Task previews: small thumbnails, displaying certain window's content
+ New localization system currently supporting 10 languages (more coming soon)
+ Comprehensive help system includes skinning tutorials and translation guide
+ Window's "Always on top" and transparency properties can be adjusted by right-clicking its icon in AltDesk
+ "Fade" effects
+ Updated application's icon
+ "Reaload skin" hotkey for skin developers
+ New NSIS-based installer
+ Tray icon now cannot be disabled
+ "Cycle thye list of desktops" behavior is now default
+ AltDesk's window cannot be dragged out of the screen unless you disable a corresponding check
* Numerous bugfixes and engine improvemenets (see the program's documentation for a complete list)
WebSite: Link
Download: Link
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internetworld7
Reply #2 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:08 AM
Reply #2 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:08 AM
*DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!*
The default skins are nice but once you go looking for other skins, forget it! Their awful! Also if you don't like it as I didn't, uninstalling this completely can be very difficult. Install at your own risk. You've been warned!
The default skins are nice but once you go looking for other skins, forget it! Their awful! Also if you don't like it as I didn't, uninstalling this completely can be very difficult. Install at your own risk. You've been warned!
scorpio-logic
Reply #3 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:11 AM
Reply #3 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:11 AM
I don't think internetworld7 likes your news, Galdiators... 
Chasbo
Reply #4 Monday, November 7, 2005 10:37 AM
Reply #4 Monday, November 7, 2005 10:37 AM
I am a former Aston user. I used to use Aston shell and alt desk. I don't use Aston shell anymore because it doesn't like McAfee. Aston people say it's McAfee's fault, whatever. I used to use Alt Desk but when I switched to WB all that Aston stuff got swept under the rug. I got the email from Gladiators/Aston about the new Alt Desk so here is my report: #1. Wouldn't accept my registration info. I dunno why. I emailed them about it. #2. Whenever I switched to another desktop I'd lose the wall I had on. The old version didn't have these problems. UNINSTALL. I don't really need it anyway.
PoSmedley
Reply #5 Monday, November 7, 2005 12:16 PM
Thanks for the heads up. I have been looking for soemthing like this, but am always nervous about the install/uninstall stuff.
Reply #5 Monday, November 7, 2005 12:16 PM
| *DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!* |
Thanks for the heads up. I have been looking for soemthing like this, but am always nervous about the install/uninstall stuff.
ZubaZ
Reply #6 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:58 PM
Chasbo/INW7: how does AltDesk compare to Stardock's Virtual Desktops? I have read that VD integrates into ObjectBar, RightClick and the Window's start bar but haven't tried it yet. I forget where I am in Multiplicity and am not ready for virtual desktops yet but I AM interested for the future.
Reply #6 Monday, November 7, 2005 2:58 PM
| AltDesk 1.6 released |
| *DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!* |
| so here is my report |
Chasbo/INW7: how does AltDesk compare to Stardock's Virtual Desktops? I have read that VD integrates into ObjectBar, RightClick and the Window's start bar but haven't tried it yet. I forget where I am in Multiplicity and am not ready for virtual desktops yet but I AM interested for the future.
Buttermaker
Reply #7 Monday, November 7, 2005 4:31 PM
Reply #7 Monday, November 7, 2005 4:31 PM
I agree that this is a piece of junk. I should have read the comments on here first before installing it on my PC. I uninstalled it only 5 minutes after installing it. As far as deleting it, I had no problems. I give AltDesk a 1 star out of 5, only because I feel sorry for the person that designed it.
cavalierex
Reply #8 Monday, November 7, 2005 5:07 PM
Reply #8 Monday, November 7, 2005 5:07 PM
I recommend Stardock's Virtual Desktops. It integrates right into the Windows' taskbar. Skin designers can also put it into desktopX skins.
Download Virtual Desktops from Stardock Central.
Download Virtual Desktops from Stardock Central.
scorpio-logic
Reply #9 Monday, November 7, 2005 5:23 PM
Reply #9 Monday, November 7, 2005 5:23 PM
I like SDVD better. But I've only just switched from MSVDM, so I am not so much an expert on virtual desktops.
Phoon
Reply #10 Monday, November 7, 2005 5:51 PM
Reply #10 Monday, November 7, 2005 5:51 PM
I use NVIDIA video cards. The nView Desktop mangager has some great tools in it, one of them being a very nice Multiple Desktop Manager. It's all included in the Nvida Driver package.
MBoyer
Reply #11 Monday, November 7, 2005 6:00 PM
Reply #11 Monday, November 7, 2005 6:00 PM
Chasbo: I had the same issue with losing the wallpaper on a desktop switch. I went in the the preferences, and on the "Virtual Desktops" page, right click the wall and select "Apply these wallpaper to all desktops" and the problem went away.
All: I love that the representation of the desktops can be skinned. The icons and "hover preview" are also nice features. IMO
All: I love that the representation of the desktops can be skinned. The icons and "hover preview" are also nice features. IMO
Urgo
Reply #12 Tuesday, November 8, 2005 7:07 AM
Reply #12 Tuesday, November 8, 2005 7:07 AM
How much extra resources does SDVD and altdesk take in a xp system with only 1gb of ram?
werewolf
Reply #13 Tuesday, November 8, 2005 7:56 PM
Reply #13 Tuesday, November 8, 2005 7:56 PM
I've been using Alt-Desk for a looong time and have never had any problems whatsoever.
This new version does indeed speed the switching of wallpaper when you change desktops. The new skin format is really sweet and there are tons of skins to suite even the most finicky user...ahem. The reload skin feature is a nice addition as well.
Just for fun, I used the SD VWM and Alt-Desk at the same time and had 50 vdms active at once. What a hoot
I can do the same thing with Alt-desk alone and have no problems.
Those of you who seem to be having difficulties might want to hop over the forums and see if someone can help you out.
This new version does indeed speed the switching of wallpaper when you change desktops. The new skin format is really sweet and there are tons of skins to suite even the most finicky user...ahem. The reload skin feature is a nice addition as well.
Just for fun, I used the SD VWM and Alt-Desk at the same time and had 50 vdms active at once. What a hoot
I can do the same thing with Alt-desk alone and have no problems.Those of you who seem to be having difficulties might want to hop over the forums and see if someone can help you out.
scorpio-logic
Reply #14 Tuesday, November 8, 2005 8:05 PM
I have 3 desktops running right this moment.
1. Is my WC browser, which I am using to post.
2. Is running my graphics editors, Photo Filtre and Paint.NET and Icon Developer
3. Is doing a Spybot scan as I type.
I have 410 mb free of a total of 1 gig. I normally, one desktop, run with 550 free (give or take 10).
Reply #14 Tuesday, November 8, 2005 8:05 PM
| How much extra resources does SDVD and altdesk take in a xp system with only 1gb of ram? |
I have 3 desktops running right this moment.
1. Is my WC browser, which I am using to post.
2. Is running my graphics editors, Photo Filtre and Paint.NET and Icon Developer
3. Is doing a Spybot scan as I type.
I have 410 mb free of a total of 1 gig. I normally, one desktop, run with 550 free (give or take 10).
Urgo
Reply #15 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 8:00 AM
Reply #15 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 8:00 AM
scorpio is that SDVD or altdesk you are using?
edit
thx for the heads up on the other question.
edit
thx for the heads up on the other question.
Cyberworld
Reply #16 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 11:06 AM
Dunno exactly but right now i've got only 400mb free and not running anything!
Reply #16 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 11:06 AM
| How much extra resources does SDVD and altdesk take in a xp system with only 1gb of ram? |
Dunno exactly but right now i've got only 400mb free and not running anything!
mrbiotech
Reply #18 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 9:59 PM
Reply #18 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 9:59 PM
internetworld7 - I cannot replicate the situtation you describe under WindowsXP, nor with Windows2000, each of which are running McAffee's. The uninstall worked flawlessly on both systems as well. Might be assuming a lot here, but, you did run the uninstaller, right? 
Also sounds like you didn't search very hard to find skins. Aston's site has a bunch, but you should also check out DeviantArt and Customize.org.
I've been using and testing AltDesk for about three years and it's been the easiest, most stable, and most functional virtual desktop manager I've yet seen. Stardock's VWM is nice because it integrates into the taskbar, but that inherent feature prevents the bulk of alternate shell users from employing it. Stardock's VWM also runs really slowly on my test systems with virtual-desktop changes taking between 3-10 seconds, sometimes pegging the CPU (that was using different wallpapers on each desktop, too). Stardock's is still beta, however, and I expect they'll iron those bugs out.
What's really fun about Altdesk is the "skinnability." No other VWM (with the exception of LiteStep modules) permits more skinning flexibility. It's currently the only VWM that supports per-pixel or alpha-blended graphics, drop-shadows, transparency effects, and free-form design.
If this sounds like an advertisement, it's actually a personal endorsement. It's a product I've been very happy using for three years and it's served me very well. Apparently there are those above who could not figure it out. I'd still recommend this to anyone.
Also sounds like you didn't search very hard to find skins. Aston's site has a bunch, but you should also check out DeviantArt and Customize.org.I've been using and testing AltDesk for about three years and it's been the easiest, most stable, and most functional virtual desktop manager I've yet seen. Stardock's VWM is nice because it integrates into the taskbar, but that inherent feature prevents the bulk of alternate shell users from employing it. Stardock's VWM also runs really slowly on my test systems with virtual-desktop changes taking between 3-10 seconds, sometimes pegging the CPU (that was using different wallpapers on each desktop, too). Stardock's is still beta, however, and I expect they'll iron those bugs out.
What's really fun about Altdesk is the "skinnability." No other VWM (with the exception of LiteStep modules) permits more skinning flexibility. It's currently the only VWM that supports per-pixel or alpha-blended graphics, drop-shadows, transparency effects, and free-form design.
If this sounds like an advertisement, it's actually a personal endorsement. It's a product I've been very happy using for three years and it's served me very well. Apparently there are those above who could not figure it out. I'd still recommend this to anyone.
ZubaZ
Reply #19 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 11:30 PM
Reply #19 Wednesday, November 9, 2005 11:30 PM
You know what I like about WC (one of the things)? The low occasion of fanboys. I can't think of another company that would allow competing products as much visability and have posts pro and con for said products.
And thanks mrbiotech
And thanks mrbiotech
mrbiotech
Reply #20 Thursday, November 10, 2005 2:12 AM
Reply #20 Thursday, November 10, 2005 2:12 AM
I had exactly the exact opposite observation of WC and fanboys. Still, AltDesk is genuinely one of my fav's - it'd be a pity that people dismiss it because of one or two comments. The least I could contribute on its behalf is my honest assessment.
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Reply #1 Monday, November 7, 2005 12:52 AM
Now we need an "arrow" skin and a silica skin