From technology to politics to video games; these are the random thoughts of a geek with too much time on his hands

It's almost that time again, time for a refresh and a new snapshot of Object Desktop for 2008.  This year, in addition to the regular refresh to the suite of customization tools, we're splitting it up into two separate groups: Object Desktop and Object Desktop Ultimate.

The Guided Tour explains exactly what that split means, and talks about new tools such as Impulse, an updated DesktopX, the new MyColors and more.

It's a great read and should give you a good idea of what to expect come the end of this month (projected launch of Object Desktop 2008) and answer most of your questions.

 


Comments
on Mar 12, 2008
Wow~~~I Like it~~~Ah....But I want know some more details~~~~
on Mar 12, 2008
Second attempt.....

Brad may well be showing off Object Desktop 2008 but, judging by the 'obvious' care and attention they have lavished on, and how well they have kept their promises regarding Deskscape 2.0, I would expect this to be ready sometime around the summer of 2011. I, for one, will not be holding my breath in anticipation nor believe anything this entirely unprofessional company swears, a classic case of over promising and under delivering and STILL no sign of the software they promised to be ready in February 2008 back in November 2007, raising everybody's expectations, and, even worse in my book, STILL no delivery date on the horizon either, only smart-assed comments from smug denizens on this forum. Way to go, Stardock, obviously, a piece of free software is not worth your consideration when you can hope to force people to buy your 'wonderful' Object Desktop, full of useless gadets, to get something you, yourselves, decided to market for free....oh yeah, way to do business, NOT.
on Mar 12, 2008
Don't you understand why they aren't giving a release date? To prevent this whining about "you said it would be ready by this date, and now it's not! Filthy liars!!" There are unexpected bumps when creating software for a new platform or OS, it will be ready when it's ready. Would you rather them release it ahead of time, when it's clearly not ready just to be "on time" and then deal with the aftermath of "you released this beta crap and it broke my machine!" or wait until it's solid and stable? I'll take the latter.

If you think you can produce a piece of software in a similar fashion with a dead-set deadline and still deliver on time when issues arise, then have at it and good luck.
on Mar 12, 2008
Even Microsoft couldn't do it... doubt he'll have much luck.
on Mar 12, 2008
  
on Mar 12, 2008
force people to buy your 'wonderful' Object Desktop
No one is forcing anyone to buy anything as far as I can see. However I do agree with Bebi Bulma that SD would be tempting fate by announcing projected release dates because as she says anything could happen during the development process and this would only give ammunition to the whiners and moaners. On a personal level I must say the new stuff looks like it will be great and I look forward to using it as and when it is released.  
on Mar 12, 2008
and how well they have kept their promises regarding Deskscape 2.0,


Nobody "promised" a definite February release.  Our goal was February, but we felt DeskScapes wasn't ready for release, so it's slightly delayed.  Would you really prefer we released something that wasn't ready?


Way to go, Stardock, obviously, a piece of free software is not worth your consideration when you can hope to force people to buy your 'wonderful' Object Desktop,


You are not "forced" to do anything, and how do you think your "free" software development is funded?


on Mar 12, 2008
Wow....reeelax. I agree: Give a date, and you risk expectation-disappointment-anger.

If I could do something like OD2008, I'd be damned proud also.

harrym, you've got some anger issues to deal with. The LAST thing in the world Stardock deserves is the label (libel?) "entirely unprofessional". Really, I don't know what problems you ran into, but try solving the problems, not screaming at the people who try to help....and they really do. I've never had anything but great interactions with those folks, and with the exception of Zubaz's spelling (  ),
I've found them to be honest and serious.

Signed,
A Grateful Stardock Fan
on Mar 12, 2008
How do I always end up in these posts?    
on Mar 12, 2008
it looks totally wicked..........cant wait till it comes out!!  
on Mar 12, 2008
How do I always end up in these posts?


Zu, don't you know that you are the comic relief for the forums?

harrym, it seems to me that if really wanted deskscapes that bad, you would either suck it up and show some patience AND gratitude (SD doesn't have to produce free software you know) or you could learm some program languages and build a company to rival SD.....

I can't understand how you come to the conclusion that SD owes you anything......
on Mar 12, 2008
In November we announced that we would have DeskScapes 2.0 publicly available in February.
We have failed to have a stand alone public version available for a variety of reasons, primarily, the difficulty in dealing with so many different hardware configurations on Vista.

We have DeskScapes 2.0 beta on Object Desktop. ODNT users are more used to dealing with beta software and are giving us feedback which we're working through. If someone wants it bad enough, get Object Desktop.

Otherwise, you'll have to wait until the public beta which, we hope, will be in the next couple of weeks.

Bobbyhundreds, please read the Stardock response above and tell me what YOU think that says then....

harrym, it seems to me that if really wanted deskscapes that bad, you would either suck it up and show some patience AND gratitude (SD doesn't have to produce free software you know) or you could learm some program languages and build a company to rival SD.....I can't understand how you come to the conclusion that SD owes you anything......


Not that I feel any need to justify myself to anyone here but, I absolutley couldn't care less if the software never gets released, I think it's gimicky and not really worth the fuss, that's not my issue at all and all you people in your indignation at me have totally missed the point. My issue is, I made an enquiry which was polite and reasonable regarding a release date which Stardock, not me, had quoted, all I wanted to know was, if it's not going to be reased when you said, can you give me, and others like me, an idea when it might be released instead. The answer I got ? It'll be ready when it's ready.......I'll just let that speak for itself.
Regarding programming languages, I am a professional programmer, I could add some many things to this but I won't....and finally, I'm sure you'll be glad to hear....your last line...I can't understand how you come to the conclusion that SD owes you anything.....
Where on earth did you get that from, did the voices in your head tell you to say that because at no time did I say or even suggest that Stardock owed me anything, deary, deary me......



on Mar 12, 2008
harrym, it seems you feel the need to interject yourself and your feelings regarding the release of deskscapes into threads that have absolutley zilch to do with the release of the application. i've read numerous posts advising you that the app will be released when it's ready for the public. i don't understand why you continually harp on the subject, to be honest. the app was not promised to be released in Feb. maybe it won't be released until April, i don't know. i'm not going to lose any sleep over it, tho. nor will i rant about it in various threads. please refrain form creating posts such as the ones you've posted here, i beg of you.
on Mar 12, 2008
I accept that referring to Stardock as a company as unprofessional was harsh and unfair on my part and I apologise unreservedly for doing so.