A cool Windows feature

Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

A cool Windows feature - 11/10/2004 22:21

No, it's true! Check this out. It's the Windows "Active Desktop (TM)" feature that has been around forever. I always thought the feature was kinda silly and I didn't like the idea of something to slow down my computer. But a friend of mine showed me how he has his setup and I love it! If found a weather map at www.weather.com and some WebCams from around Detroit. A simple "Right Click" to get the url of the .jpg was all it took! Then, copy that url into the Active Desktop setup and tell it to refresh every 15 or 30 minutes. Neato. I might setup my webcam now and have a realtime picture of my backyard or something on my desktop.

I'm sure there are some 3rd party solutions that do this, but this is pretty neat out of the box.
Posted by: drakino

Re: A cool Windows feature - 11/10/2004 22:35

Good lord, that is a scarry screenshot. IE, MS Outlook, Frontpage, and the XP Fisher Price theme all in one go.

*shudders*

Anyhow, yeah, Active Desktop does have some interesting uses. At my old house, we had a Windows box in the living room for web browsing something seen on TV or whatever, and we used AD to load a server status web page that also listed the health of the internet connection. So at a glance of the web station, I knew if something was wrong.

Konfabulator on the Mac is similar, as all the "widgets" are just little web pages with javascripting and such. 10.4 will integrate that technology, called Dashboard.
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: A cool Windows feature - 11/10/2004 22:39

I just have a basic WinXP Home install, so I only have two themes to choose from. I didn't have any luck downloading any.. (do I need Plus?). At least I changed from the default green one!
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: A cool Windows feature - 11/10/2004 22:55

Quote:
do I need Plus?

No, but MS sure would be happy to sell you some themes for $20. Just Google for "xp themes".

But the Win2k theme is still much better than the default XP one, IMO. And Tom's, too, apparently.
Posted by: tonyc

Re: A cool Windows feature - 11/10/2004 23:18

Quote:
I might setup my webcam now and have a realtime picture of my backyard or something on my desktop.

Or, you could *gasp* look outside.

Yeah, Active Desktop isn't bad. I used to use it, but these days, I never even *see* my computer's desktop (which is very analagous to how I never see my real desktop) so it's not very useful. I typically have 20+ windows open and unless I do a "Minimize All," I'll never see my desktop. I even gave up on setting wallpaper for the same reason... I literally never see my desktop once my PC is finished booting.
Posted by: msaeger

Re: A cool Windows feature - 11/10/2004 23:49

Here's mine (insert evil laugh):)



And on an off topic note. How come no one cares when apple steals ideas and incorporates them into the OS.
Posted by: Heather

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 00:07


Here's mine (insert evil laugh):)


EEEK! Teletubbies!
Posted by: Dignan

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 00:26

Quote:
these days, I never even *see* my computer's desktop

I'd be the same way, except that everything I download goes straight to the desktop, and I figure out where I want it to go from there. My dekstop is my temporary space. I even have a program running that lets me do a quick "minimize all" by dragging the cursor to a corner of the screen that I choose.

And while we're on the subject of desktops, I must recommend that program, Iconoid. I think it was first suggested to me on this board (what's new), but I want to mention it again. It's a fantastic little program. I mave it purely to give me transparent backgrounds on desktop icon text, which IMO is the single cosmetic improvement of XP over 2K. It's nice not having all those uglly boxes of contrasting color over whatever background image I have up.

Anyway, download it here. And just because everyone else is, I'm posting my desktop. Hooray for clichéd BBS activities! (and sorry for the current anime obsession).
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 00:47

speaking of those boxes... I forgot how to turn mine off! (running xp)
Posted by: genixia

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 01:10

Quote:
I never even *see* my computer's desktop (which is very analagous to how I never see my real desktop)

LOL. Chronological filing rocks!
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 01:29

Someone just asked me how to do this... and damn is my way of doing it a pain in the butt!

Right Click on your desktop
select properties
click on the desktop tab
click "customize desktop"
click "web"
click "new" and add url of .jpg, click "okay"
back at the "web" tab, highlight your new additon and click "properties"
hit the "schedule" tab
click "edit"
hit the "schedule" tab
click the "advanced" button
enter today as the start date
check "repeat task" and set your duration.
then click "okay" about ten times to get back to your desktop.
Posted by: drakino

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 01:38

Quote:
And on an off topic note. How come no one cares when apple steals ideas and incorporates them into the OS.


You mean the Konfabulator - Dashboard issue? Well, lets see. Konfabulator is actually a steaming pile of crap from a programmers prespective. It's overly resource intensive, and provides desktop widgets or accessories.

Apple has webcore in the OS, so the logical step is to do something with it. They had "Desk Accessories" in older Mac OS releases, and now have decided to bring them back, just as they have brought back other features like spring loaded folders. With webcore in the OS, it made sense to make the new versions use web standards instead of a traditional programming language. It is possible Apple was inspired by the work on Konfabulator. It's hard to say though.

If your talking about the Sherlock - Watson issue, well, the Watson developer did turn down Apple's offer to hire him. In that case, Watson was simply an evolution of what the old Sherlock did, so Apple refined the idea and implemented it in Sherlock 3.
Posted by: FireFox31

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 01:46

I can't resist posting the background.

Resized down from 1600x1200, Windows 95 in all it's glory. Oh, and trusty Winamp 1.55 is probably too old to respond to taskbar Minimize All. Can you guess the version of Microsoft Word?
Posted by: msaeger

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 02:10

I am talking about Konfabulator. Wether it's crap or not if MS does the same kind of thing everyone says they are evil, stealing ideas, and trying to take over the world.
Posted by: DeadFire

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 02:19

I find desktop icons rather annoying, and so I'm another fan of Active Desktop.

Hooray for clichéd BBS activities!
Posted by: ineedcolor

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 02:21

Those Detroit shots look like they came from my balcony! I wonder where those cams are?
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 02:26

FireFox31: You have more icons than trees!

Deadfire: Sweet wallpaper!

ineedcolor: Actually, the one of the RenCen is from Windsor looking across the river into Detroit... www.clickondetroit.com (I think under weather?)
Posted by: ineedcolor

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 02:28

BTW, here's my screen...clean eh?



Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 02:29

Where'd all your stuff go?
Posted by: Dignan

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 03:08

Quote:
I find desktop icons rather annoying, and so I'm another fan of Active Desktop.

Then you should also check out Iconoid. It has a bunch of options for hiding desktop icons.

Posted by: Daria

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 03:12

Quote:
Here's mine (insert evil laugh):)
And on an off topic note. How come no one cares when apple steals ideas and incorporates them into the OS.


In Soviet Russia, idea steals apple.

Apple's gotten ripped for things, but seeing as they're like tiny compared to Microsoft, you couldn't hear the ripping from more than about 20 feet away; The dozen or two people who cared just weren't that loud.
Posted by: drakino

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 04:56

Quote:
I am talking about Konfabulator.


Here is a good explaination of the situation, basicially proving Konfabulator has no grounds to say Apple ripped them off. Similar products existed as well long before Konfabulator, the only thing it did different is that "it used the advanced features of Quartz". I'm pretty certain Apple programs will do that too...
Posted by: frog51

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 06:16

When your profile is stored on the network it makes sense to have as little as possible on the desktop, so this is mine.

Sadly on Friday I'm getting upgraded to XP...I asked if they'd let me run my corporate install as a VM under Linux, but my IT department got tectchy at me for that one.
Posted by: andym

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 07:56

Quote:
I'd be the same way, except that everything I download goes straight to the desktop, and I figure out where I want it to go from there. My dekstop is my temporary space.


Glad I'm not the only one then!
Posted by: Shonky

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 08:29

Quote:
Quote:
I'd be the same way, except that everything I download goes straight to the desktop, and I figure out where I want it to go from there. My dekstop is my temporary space.


Glad I'm not the only one then!


There are many of us. Usually it just works out to one per company so we don't ever meet.

My desktop currently has about 10GB of "stuff" on it. Left hand side is the temp space and just fills top to bottom, left to right. Right hand side is commonly used stuff grouped into lines. Admittedly the temp space side is getting a little cluttered. I usually clean up every few weeks. See attached for a cluttered desktop.
Posted by: andym

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 08:48

Yup that looks familiar....
Posted by: andy

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 09:21

You knows that just pressing the Windows key and "D" takes you straight to the desktop, right ?
Posted by: Shonky

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 10:40

Windows key does a few things like that. Some others off the top of my head:

Windows + F : Opens a search window (used to be F for Find before MS went all trendy and changed everything to "Search" - didn't change the shortcut though)
Windows + E : Opens an explorer window
Windows + U : Opens Utility Manager - Narrator/Magnifier etc
Windows + R : Opens a run command window

I think there are few others
Posted by: SonicSnoop

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 10:59

Well since every one else is posting their desktop here is my work one.
Posted by: SonicSnoop

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 11:11

Win+L locks the workstation
Posted by: jmwking

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 11:50

Windows key? I still use my trusty, clicky, heavy IBM PS/2 keyboard from the early '90s. And I have three spares I, um, liberated from one of our offices: "Wouldn't you like a nice new, clean keyboard?"

No Windows key shortcuts, but a great weapon of self defense. (And a nice pen and screwdriver holder across the top edge.)

-jk
Posted by: andy

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 12:01

Quote:
Windows key? I still use my trusty, clicky, heavy IBM PS/2 keyboard from the early '90s. And I have three spares I, um, liberated from one of our offices: "Wouldn't you like a nice new, clean keyboard?"


If you ever feel the need to own such a keyboard with a Windows key take a look here:

http://www.pckeyboard.com/customizer.html

All the look and quality (and noise) of those old IBMs, but with Windows keys as well.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 12:10

Quote:
You knows that just pressing the Windows key and "D" takes you straight to the desktop, right ?

But this way I can just whip the mouse cursor over to the bottom right. It's a very quick motion, useful when there's something I need right at that moment.

What I wish is there were some way to change a program so that it doesn't respond to the "minimize all" command. I don't want Winamp on my second monitor to minimize with everything else.
Posted by: SonicSnoop

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 12:18

You could always install Serious Samurize and create a config with all that you need from winamp and have it locked to your desktop that way when you minimize all its still there.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 12:20

Hmm, I'll have to give that a try.
Posted by: jmwking

Re: A cool Windows feature - 12/10/2004 17:47

Quote:
If you ever feel the need to own such a keyboard with a Windows key take a look here:

http://www.pckeyboard.com/customizer.html

All the look and quality (and noise) of those old IBMs, but with Windows keys as well.


Bookmarked!

thanks,

-jk
Posted by: JaBZ

Re: A cool Windows feature - 13/10/2004 10:18

arrrgh need to change this disturbing trend :P

just saw the other thread
Posted by: TigerJimmy

Re: A cool Windows feature - 13/10/2004 19:13

By the way, these are the world's greatest keyboards!
Posted by: frog51

Re: A cool Windows feature - 17/10/2004 12:07

Why not just right-click on any image on a web page (ie a page of webcam stills) and select Set as Desktop Item?

Nice and easy.
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: A cool Windows feature - 17/10/2004 14:23

So that's what that does! Thanks!