If you have Object Desktop, you can now download ObjectBar 1.99d. This is sort of a release candidate. ObjectBar 2 is a complete re-design of the popular Windows bar creation program. The idea behind ObjectBar is that every operating system has some sort of "bar" or "wharf" or "dock" or "finder". ObjectBar lets you create your own. And there's nothing else out there quite as configurable and yet powerful as ObjectBar via a fairly straight forward GUI.

In order to be able to be a super-set of all the various bar interfaces found out there, ObjectBar is full of features. Here's a sampling:

• Powerful taskbar support. Users can create taskbars that group tasks like Windows or have their own custom groups and filtering. So you could, for instance, have a bar with two taskbars right next to one another. The first one would filter out all but the programs you are really interested in keeping track of and the other could be "the rest". Even dissimilar programs can be put into a task group.
• System Tray support. ObjectBar supports having its own system tray. For those of you with Object Desktop and ObjectDock Plus, all those updates to the system tray support that have benefited DesktopX and ObjectDock Plus were actually done for the benefit of ObjectBar 2.
• MFU support. ObjectBar can track your most frequently used programs (similar to what's in Windows XP) but let you put them wherever you want.
• Super-Easy Menu support. Some people create DesktopX themes that have menus and such but they're not very configurable or flexible. ObjectBar's menus are incredibly easy to set up. It also supports tear off menus.
• Skinnable. ObjectBar can inherit your WindowBlinds(TM) skin or you can build your own. ObjectBar 2 comes with a .NET skin editor that makes it easy for peopleto create their own skins.
• Virtual Desktops. ObjectBar includes support for the Stardock Virtual Desktops which can be embedded in a bar.
• Hot Keys. Any short-cut or menu can be assigned a hot-key to launch it. Imagine creating a host of specialized pop up docks/menus that come up upon a hot-key selection.
• Widget support. One of the big new features in ObjectBar 2 is support for DesktopX 3 widgets. This is not intended such that users will just stuff off the shelf DesktopX widgets in their bars (though they can). Instead, it's designed to enable ObjectBar theme makers to have much more control over the look & feel of their bars. Rather than spending hours trying to create a skin that can support CPU meters or RSS feeds, a DesktopX widget, which is much easier to create, can be used.
• EXE exporting. Another hot new feature in ObjectBar 2 is that bars can be exported as executables (basically identical to exporting widgets in DesktopX). A simplified configuration menu is provided when users of the EXE use it. In effect, companies and power users can create their own alternatives (or enhancements) to the Windows start bar and export them for others to use. This feature should be bulleted several times as it's impossible to communicate the significance of this feature: YOU CAN DESIGN YOUR OWN BARS FOR END USERS TO USE AND CONFIGURE.

Stardock is hoping that ObjectBar 2 will help push skinning up a notch. The ability to incorporate widgets into bars means that the task of skinning is simplified while at the same time the promise of creating truly remarkable looking creations is ever greater.

If you don't have Object Desktop you can get it (or renew access to it) at www.objectdesktop.com