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DesktopX 3 is coming!

▼

DesktopX 3 is coming!

And a new website is on the horizon...

http://www.desktopx.net
from WinCustomize Forums

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).

42,804 views 91 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Those two products happen to have similar name but are indded a very different products. Just like ObjectDock and ObjectDock Pro.


No you are drawing the difference yourself. where on the StarDock site, prior to the PRO $499 version was there ever a distinction? I do not have to fear looking foolish. If I do I accept that fact, but you must prove me to be playing the fool. I am not new to ODNT, so please do not confuse me with someone that is without a clue. I know of exactly what I am speaking. It the white paper that was published prior to the 'PRO' version was still around you would also.
So here's the Timeline
1999: Teams up with developer Alberto Riccio to lead the project. DesktopX Whitepaper released. It envisioned a program that would extend Windows to support "live objects" that could have scripts of any scripting language attached to them. Clocks, calendars, MP3 players, Factory monitoring, Stock tickers, system resource monitoring are the kinds of things one might want to have on the desktop. Things that don't make sense to have as a full blown application but are still useful.

2000: DesktopX 1.0 is released. It allows users to add objects to their desktops and use those objects to add functionality or to design completely new desktops. These objects and desktops can then be exported for others to use making it much easier for users to create content that was once only possible by expert software developers.

Most of the early objects were cosmetic in nature - "super icons". Internet Explorer "objects" that zoomed up in size on mouse over, Animated icons on the desktop, and more made DesktopX 1.0 an early hit. The first clocks, news tickers, system resource monitors, mail checkers, MP3 players and other "live" objects begin to show up.

2001: DesktopX 1.3 released. It enabled users to begin attaching scripts written JavaScript or VB Script to be attached to objects.

It is also about this time that Stardock runs into the downside of such ease of use -- buggy content makes DesktopX itself look frail. Since all objects run in the same memory space, if one object is buggy, it brings down all of DesktopX. Also, some objects could use tens of megabytes of memory (this in 2001) due to animation causing some new users to conclude that DesktopX itself was not just buggy but consumed too much memory to be practical.

2002: Stardock begins development of DesktopX 2. The goal is to allow users to export their objects as programs that run in their own space as .EXEs. The term "widget" is used to describe these exported objects.

2003: DesktopX 2.0 released with support for exporting objects as widgets. Lots of objects, widgets and themes are made.


2004 things Change, when the power of Widgets and gadgets are Surmised.
My questiions goes like this... For five years DesktopX was one unified product, now all of a sudden it isn't. Why?

Now here's a blast from the past. Directly from the white paper. http://tinyurl.com/6jcdr

DesktopX is a object frame work that provides Windows users with the ability to have “living” objects on their desktop. A living object is an element on your desktop that can receive as well as send messages to other objects, other programs, and other components of the operating system.



Its goal is to make it possible for users to create very customized desktop user interfaces. DesktopX is part of Object Desktop whose overall goal is make the OS flexible enough to be tailored to the user’s particular needs. Windows, by default, is a fairly one-size fits all proposition. In reality, to maximize productivity the desktop shell should be designed to meet the rather specific needs of a given company or individual.



The net result is that companies and individuals will be able to create desktop “themes” that transform the Windows desktop to their exact needs. These themes are made up of DesktopX objects which can range from being simple pictures to being light weight applications in their own right. These objects can easily be traded back and forth (the same with themes) with other users with minimal effort.



For instance, an individual’s DesktopX theme might be something similar to a Litestep theme in which their favorite programs and commonly used tasks are placed in a sci-fi or fantasy setting. Each object could animate itself when the mouse is over it, it could play sound depending on the event, etc. But because it’s broken into parts, a DesktopX theme, unlike Litestep, is resolution independent. Which means that there is no such thing as a “this theme is a 800x600 theme”.



A corporation might use DesktopX to monitor factory resources and keep a department team in easy communication as well as lower training costs by having their desktop display only the items necessary for their efforts. One DesktopX object might be displaying the temperature on a blast furnace and if the reading becomes abnormal, it my vocalize “Blast furnace temperature alert!” An object containing the list of team members and their status might be up in the top right. By clicking on a member name, it might interact with ICQ or some other instant messaging program to let the user send them a message. Meanwhile, the network drive object might have a small pie chart on it displaying how much drive space is currently available on it.


Where in this is it reffered to DesktopX PRO?

Conclusions



If you’ve managed to stick through this document, hopefully you have a better understanding of what DesktopX can do for you. Whether your need for customization of the desktop is for a corporate kiosk, an IS department, or personal enjoyment, DesktopX is designed to fulfill that role.



Over the coming months, it will be exciting to see what sorts of things users are able to create. What types of incredible objects users make. DesktopX merely provides the building blocks, it will be up to DesktopX users to really show what a next generation desktop will be like.



Where is the differetiation? There isn't one. It was never a seperate product until 2004, and it was spun off, yet the ODNT Documentation never reflected the fact, hence it is a mistake, and should be rectified...(Again)
Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You keep digging that hole bigger and bigger Cygnus.

The fact remains is this.

Your ODNT subscription WILL NOT be changed because of this "seperation". You will STILL get DesktopX Enhanced. YOU NEVER HAD PRO BEFORE, AND NEVER WILL HAVE PRO UNLESS YOU BUY IT! It has ALWAYS been like that! Whether you knew about it or not...

Now please, stop these idiotic rants, they are pointless.
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cygnus, you're the one doing the painting here...you're taking half-fact and trying to paint them as whole truths, and you way way off...move on!

Wicked.
Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Too much whining...Stardock didn't take anything away from the ODNT subscription. That's all there is to it.
Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Again: DesktopX Pro has existed for over a year. It's not "all of the sudden" popping into existence.

Secondly: A white paper of 1999/2000 doesn't mean anything since it never implied that you would be able to generate stand-alone programs.

DesktopX, in that white paper is clearly defined as an environment that can run live objects on the Windows desktop.  That is what DesktopX enhanced (standard) does.

DesktopX Pro is designed to let people take those objects and export them to be stand-alone programs. So they don't remotely fit into the white paper concept.  

I am not sure why you are even arguing this. We're not going to include DesktopX Pro in Object Desktop. The time for that debate would have been a year ago when DesktopX Pro was first released.  And even then, it would have been the same answer. 

Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I understand the distinction, the fork, the whatever. I'm happy with what my ODNT subscription (and my totalgaming.net subscription) but I too have questioned the sometimes arbritary decision of what is included and not included.

ObjectDock+, CursorXP, Logon Studio, Bootskin . . . these seem like logical fits for ODNT. Keyboard launchpad, springfolders, object sweeper, object zip, tweakshell, drivescan etc . . not so much.

I just wish there was more . . "structure" . .or understanding on my part what makes up part of ODNT and what doesn't.
Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top
whining.. painting.. half fact...
Why because I see a difference. I do not care what any of you say. I am not splitting hairs here. I am stating published fact.


Ok, we can make this simple. Here's Brad on Usenet.
Oct 29 2003, 9:20 pm 2002: DesktopX Pro won't be part of Object Desktop. The only difference between
regular DesktopX and DesktopX Pro is the ability to export objects as
executables. DesktopX Pro will be out in November for $499. There will be
an upgrade price for Object Desktop users who are interested in that.


Now this is already a stated feature of DesktopX as it is described in the Time Line on StarDock very own site.

Stardock begins development of DesktopX 2. The goal is to allow users to export their objects as programs that run in their own space as .EXEs. The term "widget" is used to describe these exported objects.

How can this be DesktopX PRO and yet DesktopX? Here's a kicker for ya.
Written by Brad Himself. Not to forget the second to last bulleted item Mentions developers.
But this is a review for DesktopX 2.1 not 'PRO.'
http://tinyurl.com/6cjkk [XPThemes.com]


Full history at: http://sdcentral.stardock.com/public/dx/production/history.htm

* Registered users can now export their objects as programs (.EXE) that can run on any computer that has DesktopX installed. These are called widgets and run like any other program.


Actually it's kind of hard to prove my point when I have to write the same thing over and over. 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.


Now I have been playing fair here, to this point and everything I have said is defendable. You might not like what I say, or agree, but I can defend it. So tell me deleting my post is fair?
Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Someone here is deleting my post and I don't care what you say now... It doesn't matter.
I can understand If I am cursing you or saying something untrue. I know this was last years discussion, and it is this years discussion, because you refuse to fix the errors. Fix or remove the white paper, clean up your trail of errors, and make the record straight, on the ODNT Pages. It's that simple or do you want it to continue. Something similar to this very issue was brought up, almost 5 years ago, and your attitude was the same then as it is now. Which goes to prove your not going to change at all. But hey that's OK, right because I am just another user you can pooh..pooh.
Reply #34 from WinCustomize Forums Top
but a gadget made by pro does not require DX to be installed ..registerd users get to export widgets exactly as it states ... pro turns them in to non dependant applications.. not requireing DX to be on the pc to run..
Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just realized what a circle jerk this is... I'm done. Say what ya like.. Think what ya like.
I really do not care. It's all sychophants, toadies and apple polishers to me, from this point.
I'll readily stand to WC's defense with the best of them, but when it comes to being told I'm wrong, when the facts are in black and white... Well, that's another story. God love all of ya, and on another topic we can find a better debate, but I am not going to budge on this one. If It means I feel like StarDock is screwing me, then that's the way I see it, and no amount of diatribe is going to change my mind. That's it..go on about your merry ways and, ohhh!..and ahhhh!.. over the Kings NEW Clothes.
Reply #36 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If It means I feel like StarDock is screwing me, then that's the way I see it, and no amount of diatribe is going to change my mind.


How are they screwing you? ODNT came with DesktopX Enhanced...and...ummmm...ODNT still comes with DesktopX Enhanced. Explain it to me in 3 sentences or less and I'll personally buy you a copy of DX Pro.
Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cyngus,

It appears that you are getting mixed up with the terms being used.

DX 2.X (Today)
There are 3 ways to export your work; DXPacks (Objects), Widgets (Stand-alone executables that require the user to have DX 2.X installed), and Applications (Complete stand-alone executables). DXPacks and Widgets are what you can produce with your current ODNT subscription version of DX 2.X, and you need to buy the $499 DX 2.X Pro version to export an Application.

DX 3.X (Tomorrow)
There will 3 ways to export your work; DXPacks(Objects), Widgets(Stand-alone executables that require the user to have at least DX 3.X Run-time), and Gadgets (complete stand-alone executables). DXPacks and Widgets are what you will be able to produce with your ODNT subscription version of DX 3.X, and you will need to buy the $69 DX 3.X Pro version to export Gadgets.

I can't see how you don't understand how this is an improvement to what Stardock is offering us today...

Wicked.
Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top
DX standard exports widgets that require DX to be installed......DX pro exports them as applications that dont require DX to be installed . i mean ya cant get much simpler than that .... and no where do i see it say that the widgets will NOT require DX to be installed
Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think it's somewhere between a case of semantics and product descriptions not being retroactively revised.

In all reality a product description from 2000 cannot predict the future and provide 'exclusions' for something not-yet even developed.

No-one is being 'screwed' here, not at all.  In fact there seems to be a price-point reduction from 499 to 69....

 

As for comment removal...I was late to this thread so have no history to check one way or the other, but with T-Man's recent bug-squashing within the last 24 hours anything is possible...

[thanks for fixing things, Pat]...

Reply #40 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cool. Now people who just don't get it for DesktopX can now just download widgets and stuff and not have to worry about the desktop/widget making.

I'll get DesktopX Run-Time for my friends!!! (Or just buy DX Pro and make the widgets/gadgets - not themes because that is DX Corporate - gor my friends)

One thing though:
I think, if a person needs to, should be able to edit a few things in a DX theme or widget in DX Run-Time. Other then that I agree with everything that is going on here (even the 69 dollar price for DX Pro so that companies and widget creators can sell there work)
Reply #41 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Stardock is a company.
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 javascript:editor_insertHTML('ucCommentForm_comments_txtBody',' ')
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Reply #42 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I totally understand that there is a difference, and accept that fact. But I am not convinced that there isn't enough of a difference to warrant excluding 'all iterations of DesktopX' from the ODNT Subscription, and forking the development and justifying it.
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
http://tinyurl.com/4ztm4 [Google Groups]


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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just in case anyone was wondering where I get the nerve... I've been here for a long..long time.
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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
DesktopX NEVER forked. The DesktopX to be included in ODNT is the SAME DesktopX that has always been in ODNT - with the same abilities.

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 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Can you say Konfabulator rip offs when you look at the widgets above... I thought Stardock was out to prove how much better Dx is and not just trying to cop a style.
Reply #47 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #48 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It seems like a wait and see thing to me. First of all I want to get my hands on DesktopX 3 and see what I can do with it for myself. Can I still make my own system and URL based widgets - that sort of thing.

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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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!