Is Stardock planning some of these ideas?

Updates to Virtual Desktops and WindowFX

Published on April 6, 2008 By cavalierex In Object Desktop

In the past, I described some possible Exposé- and Concentrate-like effects that could be added in an update to WindowFX, especially for Vista. (See https://forums.stardock.com/166992.) Now, I'd like to broach the subject of an update for Virtual Desktops, which perhaps dovetails nicely with WindowFX effects.

Consider the following screenshot from a program called Yodm3d for Vista (courtesy of the How-To Geek) -- It's similar to what you might find on a Linux or Mac OSX box:
Yodm3d screenshot

Or how about Cube Desktop, which has some alternate presentations (e.g., 6-face cube, CoverFlow, and carousel).

CubeDesktop screenshots

Multiple virtual desktops are handy when you're working on several different projects simultaneously -- or if you go back-n-forth between totally different things. They help organize the work environment for each different scenario. The eyecandy is not necessary for multiple desktops (Stardock's old virtual desktops toolbar for the Windows taskbar is sufficient), but desktop-shifting animation is very helpful for keeping mental tabs on what is where. It's similar to the Alt-Tab and Flip-3D functions, which help to visualize what programs are open.

On that note, CubeDesktop also gives live previews of desktops:

CubeDesktop live preview

and also gives an Exposé-like presentation of open windows in each virtual desktop for easy task switching:

CubeDesktop Exposé-like preview

I've been a loyal Stardock customer for years... I love the company... I love its products... So the question for you guys is, Does Stardock have some of the features (i.e., updates to Virtual Desktops, WindowFX, and more) planned for this year?

Best Regards,
~ Alessandro (cavalierex)

Comments

GhoS

on Apr 07, 2008

Pretty interesting stuff. I especially like the Virtual Desktop Preview. I don't particularly need a cube, but switching is slow on my machine, don't know if its faster with a cube system.
I definitely think Stardock can do far more with WindowsFX on Vista, just not anything they have to show for it yet.

cavalierex

on Apr 08, 2008

I don't particularly need a cube

I agree... I don't need a cube either. But having animation of some sort (whether it be rotation, or sliding, or fading, or whatever) is really useful to let the mind "catch up" to what is happening. It's sort-of "intuitive."

What CubeDesktop has that I REALLY like is the desktop preview -- That's the best part of the whole thing, I think. Works just like the taskbar previews for regular application windows, with live previews. The CoverFlow is kinda nice but is more or less just eyecandy, like Flip3D. The Exposé view is terrific.

ZubaZ

on Apr 08, 2008

In Vista it'd be nice to see an extension of [Win-key]-[tab] for virtual desktops.

cavalierex

on Apr 08, 2008

extension of [win-key]-[tab] for virtual desktops

If [Win-key]+[tab] is assigned to Flip3D, what would you propose?

* Assigning virtual desktop switching to [win]+[tab], with the option to reassign Flip3D to [alt]+[tab] or just forget about it (since not everyone uses Flip3D)?

* Integrating it into Flip3D as an extension, where the desktops are flipped, too; or where you first choose the desktop and then can flip through the application windows?

* Assigning it to a different hotkey, e.g., [alt]+[win]+[tab]?

Neat ideas... keep 'em coming...

cavalierex

on May 18, 2008

*bump*

Anybody else have thoughts about this?

Cheers!
~ Cavalierex.

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