I have two programs that we make that should be on every computer but aren’t. Why that is remains a mystery to me. Poor marketing? Maybe. I am not sure.
Those two programs are:
1. DeskScapes (www.stardock.com/products/deskskapes) which gives your Windows PC animated wallpaper. I love this program. I have a little cottage running in the background with snow falling. I love it.
2. WindowFX 4 (www.stardock.com/products/windowfx) which lets you get a lot more usability out of Windows. This one is a harder program to explain other than to say that every feature in this program should have been part of Windows in the first place.
Quick video:
http://screencast.com/t/On8vqDPDu
Have you ever actually tried WindowFX 4?
I would be curious to know what you feel is hogging resources in it.
Yeah me too
My process viewer tells it uses Winfx432 4k memory, 6 threads, 0% CPU and winfx64 uses 5k, 6 threads and 0% CPU.
Wow what a hog (if you have 1980's 640k IBM that is)
Obviously a troll. Don't feed the troll
A mystery to me as well. Great software, fun and so special.... great dreams, super effects.
Unclear to me why everyone, or many more wouldn't want them.... I'd bet marketing has something to do with it.
If the premise that Windows customization has declined because the current OS's aren't as ugly as XP, then it follows that more effort be made on the non OS affecting software... that which enhances the existing... Windowsfx and DeskScapes would certainly qualify as well as CursorFX, and DX.
Also, perhaps SKS could be made more transparent and "sequential" with helpful tips, perhaps...sort of a 'pop up winwiki'?
Might encourage more folks (like me) to give it a whirl.
Also... I wouldn't call them " most unappreciated" ... I think "least appreciated" might be closer. I don't think folks are actually negative about them.... just neutral or ignorant of how cool they actually are.
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I remember when DesktopX was the least appreciated and most exciting Stardock app. Oh well.
Pretty much depends on who's looking at it. To a person who spends most of their time on the desktop.. okay, they might be cool. To a gamer? They don't do anything for a gamer. Can't see your desktop while a game is running, and all the fun stuff you can do with windows doesn't really do anything else. Undoubtedly SD has a sizeable fanbase of strictly app users, but most of the new blood coming into the SD community as a whole are gamers. It is not surprising that these apps don't get a whole lot of attention.
Right on, Mike! I couldn't agree more!
"Undoubtedly SD has a sizeable fanbase of strictly app users, but most of the new blood coming into the SD community as a whole are gamers. It is not surprising that these apps don't get a whole lot of attention"
I strongly suspect there are very few 'strictly app users' in SD's fan base as I cannot recall coming across too many 'app users ' who were not also into games/gaming as well....at least to SOME degree.
Stardock's application software is all about changing the OS GUI in one form or another....and so many games also have customizing options eg creating 'mods' for them.
It's simply that the PC itself provides avenues for customizing, whether it be the GUI OR its applications/games....
Why aren't they on my computer? I find all of those effects and animations distracting.
I wish I had discovered it sooner...
ditto....and looking forward to trying it.... I gather it works on multiple monitors...
and will investigate WindowFX 4 too, on new machine...
thanks for the reminder/heads up..
Deskscapes? Really? I remember when it was all the rage a few years ago, when Vista came out and then when it became available for XP. For me it's just novelty, just something to show off when non-techie types are nearby. Other than that, meh. Haven't even tried it on my new 7 machine, guess I haven't looked/found any worth trying.
Amen brother.
Sorry to hurt your feeling as program developer. The main issue is, the latter one (productiveness) got more important than former (hogging/prettiness).
I used deskscapes on my XP system for the effects. I personally find the starts/stops in the animation to be a bit annoying, but I don't know if it behaves the same way on 7/if it has been changed to fix this issue since. I would probably get more use out of Deskscapes if I could browse the cool effects people have made from within the program.
Windows FX I haven't tried because it doesn't have a killer must have feature on it. I love the window snapping in Windows 7, and I could see getting it for that for a non-windows 7 OS.
Sorry to hurt your feelings as incompetent to judge but you really don't know what you are talking about. Obviously you haven't got a clue how Windows handles drawing. You just think it moves so it should use resources. Winfx doesn't use resources, it just make Windows behave in a way previewed in the design of Windows.
My process viewer tells it uses Winfx432 4k memory, 6 threads, 0% CPU and winfx64 uses 5k, 6 threads and 0% CPU. Logically because it only needs to check process ID's and their state and tell Windows to alter the state .
As Brad said, why this wasn't included standard in Windows is bizarre.
But not being a programmer you wouldn't understand that.
As for Deskscapes. It doesn't use resources, the movie being played does. So depending on the type and compression of the movieclip the GPU/CPU get loaded.
Clear now, Footshooter?
Have not used WindowFX 4 but I do occasionally use Deskscapes. I think it was Fuzzy who said about having windows open most of the time and that is my experience also so in all actuality I do not understand why Deskscapes is a must have. I like it but do not look at it enough to enjoy it. And why do not Deskscape skinners use sound with the clips. Is that not supported? It is a shame to have a lovely waterfall or ocean scene without sound.
The one app. that I cannot do without is ObjectDock especially the tab docks. I still do not know why the new release has not addressed the tab font text color though. There are times when it would be nice to be able to recolor it.
I guess I will download WindowFX now and give it a try.
There some dreams with sound. waterfalls and such. I personally switch the sound of, because you can't listen to the radio or music if it is overlaid with rushing water
On a multimonitor system it's very cool. If you're busy it is good to calm the mind to just look at the animation for a while, with some appropriate music. Now i have a coral aquarium with Satie's gymnopedia's. Very soothing.
"There some dreams with sound. waterfalls and such"
That is good to know. I have about 20 dreams and the ones I tried have no sound. Is there an option in Deskscapes to enable it? I like having nature sounds like rain on when I sleep. I too find it helps me relax. I guess because our house had a tin roof when I was a young lad.
https://forums.wincustomize.com/404146
There is a post about sound, JC
Thanks for the link tazgecko. I will check it out.
Special for you, FutileEmotion:
http://lifehacker.com/5085657/aerosnap-brings-the-windows-7-snap-feature-to-xp-vista
'JC'?
HE's here? ....
? Been here for a while Jafo Been up for a while too. Still only 5am here.
I also solved the sound problem with Deskscapes. I simply was not downloading ones with sound, lol
WinCustomize is just that type of place
Your PC in your bedroom?
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Been up for a while too. Still only 5am here.
