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Skarny
Skarny
Join Date 10/2002
+45

Desktop Gadget alternatives?

November 8, 2014 4:47:48 AM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Any suggestions from peeps on a desktop widget engine? Windows 8 compatible.

I would love something that can render with more speed/flexibility than DesktopX used to be able to.

e.g. LittleBoy once released a canvas plugin for DesktopX that let me draw to a HTML5 Canvas direct to the desktop rather than in a browser window.

I'd use that...if DesktopX was still supported and had a chance to get other bugs fixed.

Because I'd like to play with animations and a bit of 3D if the engine supports that it would be ideal.

Any suggestions? I will still use DesktopX if I have to, but I keep running into limitations/bugs which frustrate development.

Thanks

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Skarny
teddybearcholla
Join Date 12/2002
+760
Reply #1 November 8, 2014 7:29:14 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Bump!!

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Skarny
gevansmd
Join Date 12/2008
+50
Reply #2 November 8, 2014 11:11:31 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

xWidgets

 

http://www.xwidget.com/

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Skarny
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
+2198
Reply #3 November 8, 2014 11:44:03 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I like XWidget. But I haven't created any.

 

 

Yet.

 

 

http://www.xwidget.com/

 

 

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Skarny
ShotmanMaslo
Join Date 11/2007
+7
Reply #4 November 8, 2014 5:57:04 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Rainmeter.

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Skarny
ALMonty
Join Date 01/2002
+242
Reply #5 November 8, 2014 7:03:07 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I found Windows Sidebar for 8, 8.1, 8.1.1 and Windows 10. It works just like the sidebar for Vista and Win 7. I have it working on my Win 8 desktop and 8.1 laptop.  http://www.deviantart.com/art/Windows-Vista-Sidebar-For-windows-8-and-10-64bit-493046190 .

 

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Skarny
LightStar
Join Date 12/2002
+1504
Reply #6 November 8, 2014 8:21:14 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

If you're using Windows 7, this site has a ton of gadgets: http://win7gadgets.com/

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Skarny
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
+2198
Reply #7 November 8, 2014 11:05:30 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

  Guys, he wants to make them, not use them. 

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Skarny
Skarny
Join Date 10/2002
+45
Reply #8 November 9, 2014 3:06:18 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Thanks for the responses - I've downloaded xWidgets and started testing how it works - lots of familiar concepts. Documentation is a bit sparse though, but should be able to figure it out. Cheers.

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Skarny
JuniorCrooks
Join Date 01/0001
+269
Reply #9 November 9, 2014 6:35:21 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I know how to make xWidgets. If you need any help just let me know.

 

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Skarny
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
+2198
Reply #10 November 9, 2014 7:04:00 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

JC, I may holler.

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Skarny
JuniorCrooks
Join Date 01/0001
+269
Reply #11 November 9, 2014 10:43:07 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Any time Jim.

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Skarny
Skarny
Join Date 10/2002
+45
Reply #12 November 10, 2014 1:01:27 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Seems straight forward enough - all quite familiar - though I liked just working direct with the desktop as the 'environment'.

Looks like most of the things I am wanting to see improved are part of xWidgets2 an beta by end of month to try from the author

Cool that you can deploy them on Android too

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Skarny
BigDogBigFeet
Join Date 12/2005
+405
Reply #13 November 11, 2014 2:00:11 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I downloaded and installed XWidget from the above mentioned link and I now have virus issues.  I am running Herd Protect scan now.  Yesterday Malware Bytes caught and removed some PUPs and toolbar and now there remains unicar by citgen that keeps re-installing itself.

I did by the way choose advance install and de-selected all add-ons that were set to default install with XWidget.  It seems they have an infected installer out there for it.

The XWidget setup file has been flagged by 4 separate virus scanning engines as containing malware.  I'll keep you posted.

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Skarny
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
+2198
Reply #14 November 11, 2014 3:52:20 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Been using XWidget for a good while with zero problems/flags.

 

BDBF, Avast and MSE flag my gadgets as malware and effectively stop my usage of them.

 

False Positives. I'm sure you are getting the same with XWidget, unless you downloaded from an infected site.

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Skarny
Wizard1956
Join Date 01/2008
+2202
Reply #15 November 11, 2014 4:05:53 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I just downloaded XWidget from http://www.xwidget.com/  using the Mirror link on that page. I scanned the zip file with AVG and MWB. I scanned the extracted folder with same.

I ran the exe and the program installed with NO toolbars, PUP's or add-ons of any kind. There was nothing I needed to opt out of. Period. On launch, it placed 3 widgets on my Windows 7 desktop, all of which worked and were easily closed. It did leave a process running (xwidget.exe) in Task Manager.

I don't know what you got from where, BDBF, but the installer I got from the legit site was fine.

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Skarny
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
+2198
Reply #16 November 11, 2014 4:39:26 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

BDBF, Wizard is correct. Do NOT use the big brown download button. Use the mirror link, it doesn't have any wrapper/addons.

But, I installed the one WITH the wrapper (big brown button) on a VIRTUAL machine and I was able to decline all addons and install without a hitch. Malwarebytes found nothing when scanned, and Advanced System Care Antivirus, which uses BitDefender engine, also found nothing.

 

I shall now scan said VM for malware, after the install.

 

But I would never trust an installer shared via One Drive. Just not safe.

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Skarny
Skarny
Join Date 10/2002
+45
Reply #17 November 11, 2014 5:13:45 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Not good things to hear - I assume the third party website (one of those old download.com type websites that used to be good but are now full of awful install wrappers and adware) is at fault and not the actual xWidgets program. However, I would have thought they would request their product to not be made available via that mirror if there are such issues.

I downloaded the 'portable' version (no installs needed) and not getting any issues.

I never tried the others as I went straight for the portable version when I saw the link.

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Skarny
Wizard1956
Join Date 01/2008
+2202
Reply #18 November 11, 2014 5:15:59 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Skarny,I used the "Mirror" link and got a clean installer, if you need to install, go that route.

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Skarny
Skarny
Join Date 10/2002
+45
Reply #19 November 11, 2014 5:20:52 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Some of the large clocks by the creator "Jimking" are pretty cool Relation of yours RND?

This sort of style (below) I like - but there's a lot of variety in the gallery - just the usual suspects of course, weather and clocks and cpu meters

I'm still of two minds whether I will find building things in xWidget any easier than DesktopX - I am very intrigued by the built in animations/FX but there are things in DesktopX I am just so used to working with (e.g. Objects having multiple states to switch between and editable via the UI).

Hoping the v2 hinted at in the xWidget forums is actually coming.

I haven't tried it yet, but being able to create android widgets makes my juices flow too lol.

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Skarny
BigDogBigFeet
Join Date 12/2005
+405
Reply #20 November 11, 2014 6:18:30 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Well there's the difference I chose OneDrive.

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Skarny
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
+2198
Reply #21 November 11, 2014 6:54:25 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting BigDogBigFeet,
reply 20

Well there's the difference I chose OneDrive.

Yup, that is the one I installed on my VM version of 7. But still, MWB and my anti virus scanned it all clean. I declined the addons with no problem.

 

Still, the best options are the mirror version, or the portable.  

 

Quoting Skarny,
reply 19

Some of the large clocks by the creator "Jimking" are pretty cool Relation of yours RND?

 

No. I thought it was Kinger as well, his name being Jim King, be he says no.  

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